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Where did novel coronavirus come from?
AS COVID-19 spreads throughout China and the rest of the world, an important question has yet to be answered: where did the virus come from?
The latest study indicated that pangolins (穿山甲) may be an intermediate host of the virus, according to Xinhua. However, bats are suspected to be the original cause.
We don’t know the source yet, but there’s pretty strong evidence that this is a bat origin coronavirus,” said Peter Dazsak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, an environmental nonprofit, according to The New York Times. “When you look at the genetic sequence (基因序列) of the virus, and you match it up with every known coronavirus, the closest relatives are from bats,” Dazsak also told CNN.
So why are bats the source of so many deadly kinds of viruses but they don’t suffer from any symptoms? As the only flying mammal (哺乳动物) with long lifespan, bats’ body temperature is high, similar to a fever. It’s this fact that may contribute to bats’ unique immune system (免疫系统) in protecting them from the ill effects of viruses.
But are bats truly to blame for the virus or should we be blaming ourselves? Whether we destroy the forests where bats live or they end up on our plate, it’s the fault of humans for decreasing the distance between us and virus-carrying bats. Bats are an important animal in our ecosystem when it comes to pollinating (授粉) many fruits such as mangoes and bananas. We need to allow them to continue pollination and keep them away from our markets and mouths.
1. What can we learn about the origin of COVID-19?
A. Bats have been confirmed to be its original cause.
B. Pangolins are now considered the most likely source.
C. It’s identified by comparing sources of various viruses.
D. The virus was found to be genetically similar to those seen in bats.
2. Why don’t bats suffer from the coronavirus?
A. Bats have a unique immune system.
B. Their low body temperature protects them.
C. Bats are the only flying mammal to live in groups.
D. Living in caves helps bats fight against viruses.
3. What is the main point the author makes in the last paragraph?
A. Virus-carrying bats should be killed.
B. Humans should stay away from bats.
C. Bats benefit but also harm our ecosystem.
D. Bats could spread viruses during pollination.
