Mad Cow Disease

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

• A. to try to convert more readers to vegetarianism

• B. to explain how BSE and vCJD are similar

• C. to describe how BSE affects cattle and humans

• D. to inform the reader about the USDA's role in keeping beef safe

Which of the following accurately defines the risk of contracting vCJD?

• A. The risk is very low, if government monitoring has not eliminated it altogether

• B. People are at risk only if they eat beef that had been fed sheep meat and bone meal

• C. The disease has reached epidemic levels and poses a serious health threat to the general public

• D. There have been no reported cases of vCJD in the last ten years

Which of the following best states the reason for the first paragraph?

• A. It describes how dangerous it is to consume beef in foreign countries

• B. It explains the cause and spread of BSE

• C. It informs the reader about the type of feed that is fed to animals

• D. It describes the dangers of eating meat

As used in the passage, the word "contaminated" most nearly means

• A. filled

• B. affected

• C. ill

• D. infected

According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

• A. It is not possible for humans to be affected by BSE

• B. Cases of vCJD were first reported in the U.S.

• C. The CDC monitors high-risk cattle

• D. Federal agencies are taking BSE and vCJD seriously

According to the passage, how was BSE spread?

• A. Scientists do not know how BSE is spread

• B. BSE is likely spread by feeding diseased sheep and cattle to cows

• C. BSE is likely spread by combining cattle from international herds

• D. BSE is spread genetically from cows to calves