Globally, about 192.1 million animals are used annually for experimental purposes. Iran has conducted animal-based research dating back to the time of Ibn Sina. Although, like many countries, Iran regulates the use and treatment of laboratory animals, it lacks sufficient enforcement. To ensure ethical treatment of research animals, Iran needs better data about their use, and institutions and individuals need to take responsibility for their care.

Iran’s Ministry of Health, which oversees animal testing, requires all animals are treated according to international ethical standards. However, some institutions that produce or use animals provide substandard treatment, disregarding the ministry’s guidelines. To facilitate better enforcement of established regulations, Iran needs clear, accurate and reliable information about the quantity of animals used in research. All Iranian research institutions that use animals should be required to collect and report annual data on the number of animals they use, the conditions in which the animals are kept, and the animals’ research purpose. Such data would allow Iran to track each institution’s adherence (遵守) to the “3Rs”of animal research: Replacing animal-based experiments with alternative strategies, reducing the number of animals used, and refining techniques to minimize the pain and discomfort research animals experience.

In addition to government enforcement, individual institutions should prioritize the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use. Iran’s medical schools and research institutions should establish an accessible database with comprehensive experimental details to prevent excessive animal studies. Ethics committees shouldn’t approve experiments that use more animals than necessary or methods that require animals when alternative methods are available. In some cases, technical sampling (using a small sample size) can replace experimental sampling (using a relatively large sample size).

Individuals should also take an active role. All researchers must be trained to adhere to ethical principles and understand unnecessary pain or discomfort in animals could affect the interpretation of data.

Maintaining international ethical standards for animal treatment is vital for Iran to establish its global standing in the field of medical sciences. Iran’s government, institutions, individual scientists, and public can work together to ensure ethical animal research.

【小题1】What is the main idea of paragraph 1?

A．The origin of Iran’s animal-based research.

B．The regulations of Iran’s research into animals.

C．The development of Iran’s animal-based research.

D．Moral concerns for Iran’s research animals’ welfare.

【小题2】Why does Iran need better data about the use of research animals?

A．To follow the ministry’s guidelines.

B．To be in control of animal-based research.

C．To ensure the adherence to the “3Rs” in animal-based research.

D．To replace animal-based experiments with alternative strategies.

【小题3】Why should a database with overall experimental details be established?

A．To follow government regulations.

B．To reduce unnecessary animal-based studies.

C．To make research more visible to the public.

D．To ensure the accuracy of experimental results.

【小题4】What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To encourage cooperation for ethical animal-based research in Iran.

B．To promote the use of an accessible experimental database in Iran.

C．To highlight ethics committees’ role in animal-based research in Iran.

D．To stress international ethical standards in animal-based research in Iran.