Screen Test

1 Every year millions of women are screened with X-rays to pick up signs of breast cancer. If this happens early enough, the disease can often be treated successfully. According to a survey Australia, Canada, the US and Spain, screen women under 50.

2 But the medical benefits of screening these younger women are controversial, partly because the radiation brings a small risk of inducing cancer. Also, younger women must be given higher doses of X-rays because their breast tissue is denser.

3 Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Valencia analysed the effect of screening more than 160,000 women at 11 local clinics. After estimating the women’ s cumulative dose of radiation, they used two models to calculate the number of extra cancers this would cause.

4 The mathematical model recommended by Britain’s National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) predicted that the screening programme would cause 36 cancers per 100,000 women, 18 of them fatal. The model preferred by the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation led to a lower figure of 20 cancers.

5 The researchers argue that the level of radiation-induced cancers is “not very significant” compared to the far larger number of cancers that are discovered and treated. The Valencia programme, they say, detects between 300 and 450 cases of breast cancer in every 100,000 women screened.

6 But they point out that the risk of women contracting cancer from radiation could be reduced by between 40 and 80 percent if screening began at 50 instead of 45, because they would be exposed to less radiation. The results of their study, they suggest, could help “optimize the technique” for breast cancer screening. 7 “There is a trade-off between the diagnostic benefits of breast screening and its risks,” admits Michael Clark of the NRPB. But he warns that the study should be interpreted with caution. “On the basis of the current data, for every 10 cancers successfully detected and prevented there is a risk of causing one later in life. That’s why radiation exposure should be minimized in any screening programme.”

23 Paragraph 2 __________

24 Paragraph 3 __________

25 Paragraph 4 __________

26 Paragraph 5 __________

A Harm Screening May Do to a Younger Woman

B Investing the Effect of Screening

C Effects Predicted by Two Different Models

D Small Risk of Inducing Cancers from Radiation

E Treatment of Cancers

F Factors That Trigger Cancers

27 Early discovery of breast cancer may .

28 Advantages of screening women under 50 are .

29 Delaying the age at which screening starts may .

30 Radiation exposure should be .

A be costly

B harmful

C save a life

D still open to debate

E reduce the risk of radiation triggering a cancer

F reduced to the minimum

答案：ABCD CDEF

Looking to the Future

When a magazine for high-school students asked its readers what life would be like in twenty years, they said: Machines would be run by solar power. Buildings would rotate so they could follow the sun to take maximum advantage of its light and heat. Walls would “radiate light” and “change color with the push of a button.” Food would be replaced by pills. School would be taught “by electrical impulse while we sleep.”Cars would have radar. Does this sound like the year 2000?Actually, 46 and the question was, “what will life be like in 1978?”

The future is much too important to simply guess about, the way the high school students did, so experts are regularly asked to predict accurately. By carefully studying the present skilled businessmen, scientists, and politicians are supposedly able to figure out in advance what will happen. But can they? One expert on cities wrote: 47 , but would have space for farms and fields. People would travel to work in “airbuses”, large all-weather helicopters carrying up to 200 passengers. When a person left the airbus station he could drive a coin-operated car equipped with radar. The radar equipment of cars would make traffic accidents “almost unheard of”. Does that sound familiar? If the expert had been accurate it would, because he was writing in 1957.His subject was “The city of 1982.”

If the professionals sometimes sound like high-school students, it’s probably because 48 . But economic forecasting, or predicting what the economy will do, has been around for a long time. It should be accurate, and generally it is. But there have been some big mistakes in this field, too. In early 1929, most forecasters saw an excellent future for the stock market. In October of that year, 49 ,ruining thousands of investors who had put their faith in financial foreseers.

One forecaster knew that predictions about the future would always be subject to significant errors. In 1957,H.J.Rand of the Rand Corporation was asked about the year 2000, “Only one thing is certain,” he answered. “Children born today 50 .”

A the stock market had its worst losses ever

B will have reached the age of 43 9

C the article was written in 1958

D Cities of the future would not be crowded

E the prediction of the future is generally accurate

F future study is still a new field

答案：CDFAB

What Should I Say to the Person Who Has Cancer?

It is normal to feel that you don't know what to say to someone who has cancer. You might only know the person casually, or you may have worked (1) or lived near each other for many years and have a closer relationship. The most important (2) you can do is to acknowledge the situation in some way - whatever is most comfortable for you. You can show interest and concern, you can express encouragement, or you (3) offer support. Sometimes the simplest expressions of concern are the (4) meaningful.

While it is good to be encouraging, it is also important (5) to show false optimism or to tell the person with cancer to always have a positive attitude. Doing (6) things may discount their fears, concerns, or sad feelings. It is also tempting to say that you know (7) the person feels. While you may know this is a difficult time, no one can know exactly how the person with (8) feels.

Humor can be an important way (9) coping. It is also another source of support and encouragement. Let the person with cancer (10) the lead; it is healthy if they find something funny about a side effect, like hair loss or increased appetite, and you can certainly join (11) in a good laugh. This can be a great way to relieve stress and to take a break from the (12) serious nature of the situation.

When the person with cancer looks good, let them know! Refrain (忍住)(13) comments when their appearance isn't as good, such as "You're looking pale," or "You've lost weight." Cancer and its treatment can be very unpredictable. Be prepared for good days and bad (14).

Refrain from telling the person with cancer stories about family members or friends who have had cancer. Everyone is different, and these stories may not be helpful. Instead, it is better simply to tell them you know (15) about cancer because you've been through it with someone else.

1 Ahard B together C often D once

2 Aword B thing C decision D event

3 Ashould B need C can D must

4 Amore B least C less D most

5 Anot B just C how D still

6 Aother B whatever C these D useful

7 A how B when C why D whether

8 A disease B feelings C concerns D cancer

9 Ainto Bto Cof D on

10 Aturn B take C call D move

11 A him B her C them D theirs

12 A more B less C some D any

13 A upon B out C towards D from

14 A months B days C times D periods

15 A nothing B anything C something D that

答案：BBCDA CADCB CADBC

（責(zé)任編輯：中大編輯）