Abortion1 happens when an unborn2 baby’s life
ends. About3 200
million women get pregnant4 every
year. During the same time5
44 million abortions are carried out6
around the world. Fortunately7, the abortion rate has gone down8 because more
and more people, especially in developing countries9, are receiving a better sexual
education. Better family planning also leads
to10 fewer11
abortions.
Abortions have been performed12 for thousands of years.
The ancient13 Romans and Greeks14 were not very concerned about15 the
lives of unborn babies. In the Old Testament women had to pay a fine16 if
they had a miscarriage17. Abortion laws have changed in most of the
western world throughout the
past centuries18.
Abortion is an issue19 that has been discussed for
ages. Doctors, theologists,
philosophers and politicians20 disagree21 on two issues: Should22 a mother be allowed23 to have an abortion and should an
unborn child be protected?
In the course of the 20th century two groups evolved24. Those who
are in favor of allowing abortion are called the pro-choice25 movement, those
who are against26
it the pro-life movement.
Abortion
and religion: The Roman Catholic Church holds the strictest
position38 on
abortion. It is against ending an unborn child’s life in every case. It claims that39 human life must be respected from the second it starts.
Buddhists think that life should not be destroyed and reject abortion. However40, modern
Buddhism is divided on the issue.
Types of
Abortion: Spontaneous abortions happen naturally. Doctors call them miscarriages. They occur41 for many reasons, for example, because of a disease42 that a pregnant woman might get43 or a horrible event that occurred to her. In an induced abortion the fetus is taken out of44 a mother’s body on
purpose45.
Arguments against abortion
·
Human embryos27 should have the same rights as normal
people
·
Killing28 unborn life is murder29
·
A child is a gift
of God30
·
Abortion disrespects human life
·
Women who undergo31 an abortion may have32 serious psychological problems later on in
life
Arguments in favor abortion
·
Abortion should be allowed if a woman’s life is in
danger
·
Some say that abortion should be allowed if a child is
expected to have a mental deficiency or is going to be mentally ill33.
·
Many doctors and psychologists think that abortion
should be allowed if a woman has been raped34.
·
Everyone should have control over their own35 body.
·
Some young mothers live in poverty36 and are too
young to cope with37 a child.
Vocabulary
1.
Abortion = aborto
2.
Unborn = não nascido
3.
About = aproximadamente
4.
get pregnant
= ficam grávidas
5.
During the same time = durante a mesma época
6.
are carried out = são realizados
7.
Fortunately = Felizmente
8.
The abortion rate has gone
down = o índice de abortos tem caído
10. leads to = conduz a , leva
a
11. fewer = menos (plural)
12. have been performed = têm sido realizados
13. ancient = antigos
15. concerned about = preocupados
com
16. fine = multa
17. miscarriage
= aborto espontâneo
18. throughout the past centuries = ao longo dos ultimos séculos
19.
issue = questão
20.
politicians = politicos
21.
disagree = discordam
22. Should = Deveria
23. be allowed = ser
permitida
24. evolved =
desenvolveram-se
25. pro-choice = a favor da escolha
26. against = contra
27.
embryos = embriões
28. Killing = matar
29. Murder = assassinato
30.
gift of God = Dom de Deus
31. undergo = submeter-se a
32. may have = podem ter
33.
is going to be mentally ill = será mentalmente
doente
34.
raped = estuprada
35.
own = próprio, própria
36.
poverty = miséria,
pobreza
37.
to cope with = lidar com
38.
holds the strictest position = mantém a posição
mais rigorosa
39.
claims that = argumenta que
40.
However = contudo
41. occur = ocorrem
42. disease = doença
43.
might get = pode pegar
44.
taken out of = tirado de
45.
on purpose = de
proposito