【单选题】

Euthanasia has been a topic of controversy inEurope since at least 1936. On an average of six times a day, a doctor in Holland practices "active" euthanasia: (1) administering a lethal drug to a (2) ill patient who has asked to be relieved (3) suffering. Twenty times a day, life prolonging treatment is withheld or withdrawn (4) there is no hope that it can (5) an ultimate cure. "Active" euthanasia remains a crime on theDutch statute books, punishable (6) 12 years in prison.But a series of court cases over the past 15 years has made it clear that a competent physician who (7) it out will not be prosecuteD、

Euthanasia, often called "mercy killing", is a crime everywhere in WesternEurope. (8) more and more doctors and nurses inBritain, Germany, Holland and elsewhere readily (9) to practicing it, most often in the "passive" form of withholding or withdrawing (10) The long simmering euthanasia issue has lately (11) into a sometimes fierce public debate, (12) both sides claiming the mantle of ultimate righteousness. Those (13) to the practice see themselves (14) sacred principles of respect for life, (15) those in favor raise the banner of humane treatment.After years (16) the defensive, the advocates now seem to be (17) grounD、Recent polls inBritain show that 72 percent ofBritish (18) favor euthanasia in some circumstances.An astonishing 76 percent of (19) to a poll taken late last year in France said they would like the law changed to (20) mercy killings. Obviously, pressure groups favoring euthanasia and "assisted suicide" have grown steadily inEurope over the years. (272 words)
Notes: euthanasia安乐死。lethal致命的。statute book 法典。prosecute 起诉。simmering 处于沸腾的状态。mantle 重任，责任。
A．terminally
B．finally
C．eventually
D．ultimately