19 Fortunately, most of us enjoy good health, and the agony of watching one’s child die has become a rare experience. (Para. 7)

Meaning beyond words: We are lucky because most of us have good health, and the

pain to see a dying child has also become rare, an evidence which effectively shows the

importance of medical research and the progress it has made.

20 Yet our good fortune should not make us unappreciative. Protection from serious sickness and drugs to combat heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke are all based on animal research. Most complex surgical procedures such as

heart or hip surgery and organ transplantation surgeries were initially developed in

animals. (Para. 7)

Meaning: We should be grateful for our good fortune, though. We should know that

protection from serious sickness and drugs to fight heart disease, high blood pressure and

stroke all come from animal research. Most complex surgical procedures such as heart or

hip surgery and organ transplantation surgeries were also first used and developed in

animal research.

Meaning beyond words: Al these medical advances should be attributed to animal

research, without which no such medical achievements could have ever been made.

21 Techniques to replace defective genes, the cause of so much disease, as well as

the development of synthetic organs are presently undergoing animal studies. These studies, and any subsequent advances, will effectively end if animal research is severely restricted. (Para. 7)

Meaning: The efforts to substitute problematic genes that have caused a lot of disease

and the development of artificial organs are now conducted on animal studies. These

studies, together with the forthcoming advances, wil actual y end if animal research is stopped.

22 In America today, death has become an event isolated from our daily existence.

As a doctor who has watched many children die and seen their parents’ infinite

grief, I am particularly angered by any minute expression of caring for the suffering

of creatures and so little for sick and dying human beings. (Para. 8)

Meaning: In today’s America, death has become far away from day-to-day life. Being a

doctor, I have seen many children die, and I have experienced the tremendous grief of

their parents. Therefore, I am especially mad at the detailed remarks about the suffering

of the animals but so little care for sick and dying human beings.

23 People are too protected from the reality of human life and death and what it

means. (Para.8)

Meaning: People stay healthy and are well protected through medical advances, so they

don’t understand the cruel reality of life and death and what it real y means.

24 Make no mistake, however. I would never advocate needless cruel treatment of

animals. The animal rights movement has made a contribution in making us more

aware of animals’ needs and the need to search harder for suitable alternatives. (Para. 9)

Meaning: However, don’t be mistaken. Don’t assume that I would engage in unnecessary

cruel treatment of animals. The good thing that the animal rights movement has done is

that it has made us more conscious of animal rights and the urgency to search harder for

proper alternatives to animal research.

Meaning beyond words: To make his argument more legitimated, the physician is

conceding a little bit by agreeing with the opponents’ points or concerns. It can somehow

make his viewpoint sound more reasonable and convincing to the public, an effective

strategy when writing an argumentative essay.

25 But if the more radical members of this movement are successful in threatening

further research, their efforts will bring about a tragedy that will cost many lives. (Para. 9)

Meaning: Nevertheless, if the more extreme members of the movement successful y put

animal research at risk, there will be a tragedy which causes many people to die.

26 Hence the real question is whether an uncaring majority can be aroused to protect its future against a loud, but misdirected, minority. (Para. 9)

Meaning: Therefore, the real question is whether we can make the uncaring

public be

aware of the significance of animal research against a minority that are active but in the

wrong direction.

Meaning beyond words: This is the physician’s last appeal to the public and also his

most worried concern. He urges the public to be aware of the significance of animal

research and to take actions against those minority who are active but in the wrong direction.

Note: Misdirect is a derivative word, made up of the prefix mis- and the word direct. Verbs

formed in this way describe or refer to things that are done wrongly or badly. Words that

have been learned are misunderstand, misuse, misprint, etc.