TherighttodieItwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsofarguingandfinal16hoursofhotparliamentary(议会的)debatesAustralia’snorthernTerritorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworld

　　Therighttodie

　　Itwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsofarguingandfinal16hoursofhotparliamentary(议会的)debatesAustralia’snorthernTerritorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworldtoallowdoctorstotakethelivesofincurablysickpatientswhowishtodie.

　　Themeasurepassedbytheconvincingvoteof15to10.AlmostimmediatelywordflashedontheInternetandwaspickeduphalfaworldawaybyJohnHofsessexecutivedirectoroftheRighttoDieSocietyofCanada.Hesentitonviathegroup'sonlineserviceDeathNET.SaysHofsess:"Wepostedbulletinsalldaylongbecauseofcoursethisisn'tjustsomethingthathappenedinAustralia.It'sworldhistory."

　　TheNTRightsoftheTerminallyIIIlawhasleftphysiciansandcitizensaliketryingtodealwithitsmoralandpracticalimplications.SomehavebreathedsighsofreliefothersincludingchurchesrighttolifegroupsandtheAustralianMedicalAssociationbitterlyattackedthebillandthehasteofitspassage（通过）.

　　Butthetideisunlikelytoturnback.InAustralia-whereanagingpopulationlifeextendingtechnologyandchangingcommunityattitudeshaveallplayedtheirpartotherstatesaregoingtoconsidermakingasimilarlawtodealwitheuthanasia(安乐死).IntheUSandCanadawheretherighttodiemovementisgatheringstrengthobserversarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling.

　　UnderthenewNorthernTerritorylawanadultpatientcanrequestdeathprobablybyadeadlyinjectionorpilltoputanendtosuffering.Thepatientmustbediagnosed(诊断)asterminallyillbytwodoctors.Aftera"coolingoff"periodofsevendaysthepatientcansignacertificateofrequest.After48hoursthewishfordeathcanbemet.ForLloydNicksona54-year-oldDarwinresidentsufferingfromlungcancertheNTRightsofTerminallyIIIlawmeanshecangetonwithlivingwithoutthehauntingfearofhissuffering:aterrifyingdeathfromhisbreathingcondition."I'mnotafraidofdyingfromaspiritualpointofviewbutwhatIwasafraidofwashowI'dgobecauseI'vewatchedpeopledieinthehospitalfightingforoxygenandclawingattheirmasks"hesays

　　1.Thispassageismainlyabout________

　　A.thedevelopmentandfunctionofeuthanasia

　　B.thepassage（通过）of