ut out of his or her misery, and someone gives that person a deadly dose of morphine, that seems merciful rather than criminal. If we can agree to this, then I think we could also agree that having a doctor close by measuring the dosage and advising the family and friends is a reasonable request. Without the doctor’s previous treatment, the person would surely be dead already. Doctors have intervened for months or even years, so why not sanction this final, merciful intervention?
Life is indeed precious, but an inevitable part of life is death, and it should be precious, too. If life has become an intolerable pain and intense suffering, then it seems that in order to preserve dignity and beauty, one should have the right to end her or his suffering quietly, surely, and with family and friends nearby.
Reading Comprehension
1. In this passage “doctorassisted suicide” actually refers to the practice that doctors                   .
［A］ kill their patients by intentional inducement
［B］ unconsciously help their patients to commit suicide
［C］ propose euthanasia(安乐死)to the terminally ill
［D］ kill their patients with improper prescription
 
2. People may object to doctorassisted suicide on the ground that    
［A］ patients should determine when they want to end their lives
［B］ doctors should be punished if they fail to save their patients
［C］ doctors may make mistakes in their diagnosis 
［D］ doctors should wait until their patients’death is certain
 
3. Who has the power to decide when a person should die according to those who argue against assisted death?
 
［A］ The patient.                      ［B］ The doctor.
 
［C］ Nature.                           ［D］ None of the above.
 
4. When speaking of the role patients play in assisted suicide, the author admits that                     .
 
［A］ it is not up to them to make the choice
［B］ science is a better arbiter than their personal preference
［C］ personal preference should not be taken too seriously
［D］ they are unable to make the choice in some cases
5. The author makes it clear that                   .
［A］ he is opposed to doctor-assisted suicide
［B］ he is in favor of doctor-assisted suicide
［C］ he neither objects to nor favors doctor-assisted suicide
［D］ he thinks it better to leave the issue undiscussed

责任编辑:zhaotingting