Daily News B1 · Intermediate 4 practice tests

Genetically modified pig kidneys help two patients reach human kidney transplants

2 min read 239 words Published Sep 8, 2026

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Intro

For the first time, genetically modified pig kidneys kept two patients with kidney failure alive long enough to receive human kidneys.

Vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
supported verb	verb	Meaning: helped someone or something stay safe, healthy, or working	Example: The nurse supported the patient during the long treatment.
modified adjective	adjective	Meaning: changed to work in a different or better way	Example: The scientists used a modified device in the experiment.
central adjective	adjective	Meaning: most important or main	Example: The central idea of the lesson was easy to understand.
available adjective	adjective	Meaning: ready to be used or obtained	Example: No rooms were available at the small hotel.
significant adjective	adjective	Meaning: important enough to be noticed or remembered	Example: The new results were significant for the research team.

The story

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Two patients with kidney failure stayed alive long enough to receive human kidneys after first being supported by genetically modified pig kidneys. NPR reported the result on September 7, 2026, describing it as the first time this has happened.

The story package does not give the patients’ names or the location of the treatment. It also does not provide details about how long the pig kidneys were used or explain the exact medical process. The central fact is that the modified pig kidneys helped bridge the patients to human kidney transplants.

This result is important because it shows a new use for pig organs in care for people with kidney failure. In this report, the pig kidneys did not replace the human kidneys permanently. Instead, they kept the two patients alive long enough for human organs to become available.

The finding may draw attention to the wider challenge of providing kidneys for patients who need them. However, the supplied report gives no additional information about future treatments, the number of people who could benefit, or whether the approach is ready for common use.

For now, the verified story is limited but significant: genetically modified pig kidneys supported two patients until they could receive human kidneys. NPR said this was the first reported case of pig kidneys keeping patients alive long enough to reach human kidney transplants. The report does not identify the medical team or provide further results from the patients.

Warm-up questions

What problems can people face when they need an organ transplant?
What benefits and concerns might come from using animal organs in medical care?

Comprehension questions

What did the pig kidneys help the two patients do?
What information about the patients is missing from the report?
How were the pig kidneys used in this report?
Why is the result important?
What does the report say about the future use of this approach?

Opinion questions

Would you feel comfortable receiving a genetically modified animal organ? Why or why not?
Should news reports clearly state what information they do not know? Explain your view.