Zero tolerance on GMO

Chances are not very high genetically engineered American wheat, discovered in Oregon State recently, has landed on the Korean shore. Nor may the so-called GMO crop contain much substance harmful for health, as the U.S. government assures.

But local companies were right to suspend imports until the government unveils its inspection results this week. As far as food safety is concerned, one cannot overemphasize the importance of precautionary steps.

This is why Japan did the same on the government level. Seoul should have followed the example of Tokyo instead of leaving the matter to importers. And we must point out this is not the first time the government’s handling of genetically

modif

ied organisms has left some room to be desired.

For example, the government makes it

mandatory

to indicate the inclusion of GMO crops only when they are one of the five major ingredients in a food product. Other Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan and Thailand,

obligate

producers to let consumers know a specific food contains GMO if it accounts for 5 percent of its total weight.

The EU, which maintains a “zero tolerance” policy on this issue, calls for indicating

ingredient

s even if GMOs account for 1 percent or more.

Also, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety once

refuse

d to provide detailed information on the nation’s imports of GMO crops, as requested by a civic group, under the pretext of it being a “trade secret” of the importing companies. It revealed a regretful corporate-first mindset on the part of public officials, given that consumers have to rely on the government for their safety and health.

The nation, which purchased up to half of its total wheat imports of five million tons from the United States, and one third of this from Oregon, last year, needs to remain doubly alert.

Regardless of the inspection results, this should serve as a wakeup call for a more detailed and transparent administration of imported food.

This is The Korea Times editorial for Monday, June 3, 2013.

※ 다음에 나오는 문제들은 본 사설에 나오는 중요한 어휘들로 구성된 토익, 토플, 텝스 기출 및 예상 문제 입니다.

※ Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the highlighted part or fill in the blank with a suitable one.

1. The city council members found that they would have to

modify

their plan if they wanted it to be accepted.

① decorate

② accomplish

③ alter

④ detain

2. Elementary education becomes

compulsory

and universal in England by the Education Act.

① mandatory

② complementary

③ complete

④ critical

3. Soldiers are obligated to obey their superior __________ he happens to be.

① whomever

② whatever

③ whom

④ whoever

4. This process is called photosynthesis and the essential

ingredients

it requires are carbon dioxide and water.

① chemicals

② components

③ glues

④ liquids

5. Our proposal for the meeting was

turned down

.

① refused

② accepted

③ changed

④ published

[해설 및 정답]

1. [번역] 그 시위원회 위원들은 받아들여지기를 원한다면 그들의 계획을

변경해야

할 것이라는 것을 알았다.

[정답] ③

2. [번역] 초등교육은 영국에서는 교육법에 의해

의무적이며

보편화 되었다.

[정답] ①

3. [해설] whoever = no matter who (be동사에 대한 보격<보어>이면서 ‘양보’ 부사절을 이끄는 경우의 복합관계대명사)

[번역] 군인들은 그들의 상관이 누구이든 복종할 의무가 있다.

[정답] ④

4. [번역] 이런 과정은 광합성이라 불리고 광합성이 필요로 하는 필수

요소들

은 이산화탄소와 물이다.

[어휘] ingredient (혼합물의) 성분, 요소, (요리 등의) 재료(component, part, element)

[정답] ②

5. [번역] 그 회의에 대한 우리의 제안은

거부되었

다.

[어휘] turn down 거절, 거부하다(reject, refuse, veto); (소리, 빛 등을) 줄이다, 약하게 하다(reduce)