Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors — or doesn’t it?
　　While such vigilant(警覺的)tracking of cancer is a good thing in general, researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly. With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050, it’s important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing.
　　In many cases, screening can lead to additional biopsies and surgeries to remove cancer, which can cause side effects, while the cancers themselves may be slow-growing and may not pose serious health problems in patients’ remaining years. But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so ingrained that when health care experts recommended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer, it caused a riotous reaction among doctors, patients and advocacy groups. 
　　It’s hard to uproot deeply held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data. Certainly, there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine screening, and gained several extra years of life because of treatment. And clearly, people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer, such as a family history or prior personal experience with the disease, should continue to get screened regularly. But for the remainder, the risk of cancer, while increased at the end of life, must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy(預(yù)期壽命).
　　A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening- especially considering the explosion of the elderly that will soon swell our population.
　　It’s not an easy calculation to make, but one that make sense for the whole patient. Dr. Otis Brawley said, “Many doctors are ordering these tests purely to cover themselves. We need to think about the rational use of health care and stop talking about the rationing of health care.”
　　That means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients, and going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care, more is always better.
【小題1】Why do doctors recommend routine cancer screening for elderly people?

A．It is believed to contribute to long life.

B．It is part of their health care package.

C．The elderly are more sensitive about their health.

D．The elderly are in greater danger of tumor growth.

【小題2】How do some researchers now look at routine cancer screening for the elderly?

A．It adds too much to their medical bills.

B．It helps increase their life expectancy.

C．They are doubtful about necessity.

D．They think it does more than good.

【小題3】What is the conventional view about women screening for breast cancer?

A．It applies to women over 50.

B．It is a must for adult women.

C．It is optional for young women.

D．It doesn’t apply to women over 74.

【小題4】Why do many doctors prescribe routine screening for cancer?

A．They want to protect themselves against medical disputes.

B．They want to take advantage of the medical care system.

C．They want data for medical research.

D．They want their patients to suffer less.

【小題5】What does the author say is the general view about health care?

A．The more, the better.

B．Prevention is better than cure.

C．Better early than late.

D．Better care, longer life.

While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight．It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage．
The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks．For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified．That left only one to complete．It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important．
I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong．I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality．When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle．The crowd started to laugh．Clearly this man was not a medal competitor．
I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time．Finally he made his turn to start back．It was pitiful．He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out．
But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed．
No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer．Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did．
A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race．The crowd went wild．You would have thought that he had won the gold, and he should have．Even though he was recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors．
Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race．His country had been invited to Sydney．
In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog．
【小題1】From the passage we can learn that the young man ________

A．made his turn to start back pitifully

B．was skillful in freestyle in the game

C．swam faster than the average swimmer

D．was not capable enough to win the medal

【小題2】The crowd changed their attitudes because ________

A．they felt sorry for the young man

B．they were moved by the young man

C．they wanted to show their sympathy

D．they meant to please the young man

【小題3】According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means _______．

A．it’s amusing to watch a man with awful swimming skills

B．it’s amazing to watch an ordinary man challenging himself

C．it’s cheerful for athletes to act proudly before their competitors

D．it’s brave enough for some athletes to remove the silver medals

【小題4】 What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Compete for Gold!

B．Try again!

C．Break a Record!

D．Go for it!

Driving a car is not just handling controls and judging speed and distance. It requires you to predict what other road users will do and get ready to react to something unexpected , When alcohol is consumed, it enters your bloodstream and acts as a depressant (抑制藥)，damaging eyesight, judgment and co-ordination (協(xié)調(diào))，slowing down reaction time and greatly increasing the risk of accidents. Even below the drink driving link , driving will be affected.
Alcohol may take a few minutes to be absorbed into the bloodstream and start action on the brain. Absorption rate is increased when drinking on an empty stomach or when consuming drinks mixed with fruit juice. To get rid of alcohol from the body is a very slow process and it is not possible to speed it up with any measures like taking a shower or having a cup of tea or coffee.
The present Road Traffic Ordinance states clearly that the limit of alcohol concentration (濃度) is:
● 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood ;or
● 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath ;or
● 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of urine(尿液)
Drivers who cause traffic accidents, or who commit a moving traffic offence(罪) or are being suspected of drink driving will be tested.
Any drive found drinking beyond the limit will be charged. The driver declared guilty may be fined a maximum of HK﹩25,000 and be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and punished for 10 driving-offence points; or temporarily banned from driving.
The same punishment applies to failing to provide specimens (樣本) for breath, blood or urine tests without good excuse.
Drink driving is a criminal offence. Be a responsible driver, think before you drink. For the safety of yourself and other road users, never drive after consuming alcohol.
【小題1】The first paragraph is mainly about_____________.

A．the introductions of driving skills	B．the damage of drinking to your body
C．the effect of drinking on driving	D．the process of alcohol being absorbed

【小題2】 The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “________”.

A．a(chǎn)lcohol

B．a(chǎn)bsorption

C．blood

D．process

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Drinking below the drink driving limit has no effect on driving

B．Alcohol is taken in more quickly when drunk with fruit juice.

C．Having a cup of tea helps to get rid of alcohol from the body.

D．50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of breath is below the drink limit

【小題4】A driver suspected of drink driving_________.

A．should provide specimens for testing.

B．will be forbidden to drive for 3 years

C．will be punished for 10 driving-offence points

D．should pay a maximum fine of HK＄25,000

L1PITOR

ABOUT LIPITOR Lipitor is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise，it lowers “bad，’ cholesterol(膽固醇)in your blood．It can also raise “good'’ cholesterol· Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors， including family history of early heart disease，high blood pressure，age and smoking·

WHO IS LIPITOR FOR? Who can take LIPITOR： ．People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise ·Adults and children over l0 Who should NOT take LIPITOR： ．Women who are pregnant，may be pregnant，or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby． ．women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby． ·  People with liver(肝臟)problems

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR Serious side effects in a small number of people： ．Muscle(肌肉)problems that can lead to kidney(腎臟)problems，including kidney failure ．Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it． Call your doctor right away if you have： ．Unexplained muscle pain or weakness，especially if you have a fever or feel very tired ．Swelling of the face，lips，tongue，and／or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing · Stomach pain Some common side effects of LIPITOR are： · Muscle pain · Upset stomach · Changes in some blood tests

 

HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO： · Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor． · Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor． · Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food． · If you miss a dose(一劑)，take it as soon as you remember．But if it has been more than 12 hours since your missed dose，wait．Take the next dose at your regular time． Don’t： · Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor． · Do not stal-t new medicines before talking to your doctor．

 
【小題1】What is a major function of Lipitor?

A．To help quit smoking.	B．To control blood pressure.
C．To improve unhealthy diet.	D．To lower "bad" cholesterol.

【小題2】Taking Lipitor is helpful for              .

A．breast-feeding women	B．women who are pregnant
C．a(chǎn)dults having heart disease	D．teenagers with liver problems

【小題3】If it has been over 12 hours since you missed a dose, you should         .

A．change the amount of your next dose

B．eat more when taking your next dose

C．have a dose as soon as you remember

D．take the next dose at your regular time

【小題4】Which of the following is a common side effect of taking Lipitor?

A．Face swelling.	B．Upset stomach
C．Kidney failure.	D．Muscle weakness.

【小題5】What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To teach patients ways for quick recovery.

B．To present a report on a scientific research.

C．To show the importance of a good lifestyle.

D．To give information about a kind of medicine

Having one of those days – or weeks – when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster – often within a day or two.
◇Walk it off
Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who’s in a bad mood has low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercises can do wonders towards changing that bad mood.
◇Tune it out
Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts associations with past positive experiences we’ve had.
◇Give yourself a pep talk
Stop and listen to what’s on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper, the pessimistic messages you’ve been giving yourself and then give optimistic answers. ( “I still don’t have a job.” Vs “I have two interviews next week.”)
◇Reduce your stress
Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing, all of which sound complicated but aren’t. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to be against distress is to make a to-do list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options. By taking control over certain areas, you realize you’re not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.
◇Avoid things that won’t improve your mood.
TV may not help much: You need to increase your energy level and stimulate（刺激） your mind – something that the TV show “Neighbors” won’t do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. A better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta（面食）,produce a calming effect in people who have a desire for them.
【小題1】Which of the following may help us stop a bad mood?

A．Doing nothing about it.	B．Exercising and enjoying music.
C．Writing down negative thoughts.	D．Talking about it with neighbors.

【小題2】Why is it suggested that you close your eyes and picture the beach?

A．It helps remove bad mood.	B．It brings us a new technique.
C．It is not complicated to do so.	D．It is an area to be easily controlled.

【小題3】TV may not improve your mood because it    .

A．shows what happens around you	B．does not energize you
C．reminds you of eating and drinking	D．produces a calming effect

【小題4】Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．Energy Level and Stress	B．How to Beat a Bad Mood
C．Bad Mood and Our Life	D．How to Control Your Feeling.

An allergy is a strong reaction to a substance. Many things can cause allergies. The most common cause is pollen (花粉), which is usually produced by trees in the spring, grasses in the summer and weeds in the fall, as part of their reproductive process.
Other causes include organisms, chemicals, plants and dead skin particles from dogs and cats can also cause allergic reactions. So can insect stings and some food.
The most common kind of allergic reactions is itchy (癢的) , watery eyes and a blocked or watery nose. Allergies can also cause red, itchy skin. Some reactions can be life-threatening, for example, when breathing passages become blocked.
It is not always easy to avoid allergies. Drugs may offer an effective treatment. Another treatment used in some cases is called immunotherapy. A patient is injected with small amounts of the allergy-causing substance. The idea is that larger and larger amounts are given over time until the patient develops resistance in his body.
In the United States, experts estimate that up to 8% of young children have food allergies. Every year these allergies cause about 30,000 cases with severe reactions that require immediate treatment. It can result in breathing trouble and in some cases death. It is said that about 100 to 200 people will die. It is said that most of the reactions are caused by peanuts and tree nuts like walnuts.
People can also be allergic to medicines. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says about 10％ of bad reactions to commonly used medicines are allergic. In other words, a person’s immune system overreacts and produces an allergic reaction. The most common reactions include skin rashes, itching, breathing problems and swelling in areas such as the face.
【小題1】Allergies seldom occur in winter because ________.

A．plants don’t usually flower in cold weather

B．people usually wear thick clothes

C．pollen is active below freezing point

D．the weather is too cold for viruses

【小題2】What will happen if one’s breathing passages get blocked?

A．It is nothing serious.	B．One’s life is at risk.
C．One has to be sent to hospital.	D．One is sure to breathe easily.

【小題3】According to immunotherapy, the patient is supposed to________.

A．take some medicines to produce antibodies

B．have immediate operations

C．be given the allergy-causing substance until the patient develops resistance

D．be exposed to enough allergy-causing substances

【小題4】The best title would be _______.

A．The ABCs of Allergies	B．The Cause of Allergies
C．The Treatment of Allergies	D．The Prevention of Allergies

I’m glad to find this comment which has some sort of support in this quest（尋求）I have to eat raw（未煮熟的）foods. I’m an unhealthy 49 years old and have come to the conclusion that it’s now or never, so I am taking a dive into the raw eating lifestyle.
I have to cook for my family and prepare what they want to eat. I’m trying to plan out this better so I have some of these unusual foods ready for myself.
I’ve read several books written by Ann Wigmore and like her approach to the living foods.
Last week I attempted fasting（禁食）and failed. I lasted five days by having carrots, spinach, apples and other vegetarian diets I could get my hands on. I was doing fine until I drank some coffee. I kind of proved it in my mind to have the coffee but it only made me excited and then I couldn’t sleep well and felt hungry and weak. So I stopped and went back to the old way of eating with the family.
This week I started to make a drink called rejuvelac made of sprouted wheat（芽麥）. This is fairly new to do for me and the drink smelled sort of musty（發(fā)霉的）and tasted kind of like a musty lemon. The kids tasted it and almost threw up but surprisingly it tasted good to me. It is supposed to help in digestion（消化）.
I’ve made some attempts to grow wheat grass. I think I have figured that out as long as I keep it away from birds and our horses. I have two habits to get rid of, drinking coffee and smoking. I quit smoking last month but something happened, so I started up again. I’m very frustrated(受挫的) with the smoking and really have a desire to quit for good. Anyhow I will keep this updated on my progress.
【小題1】The author must have ________ before she wrote this article.

A．hesitated at whether she should eat raw foods

B．never eaten raw foods

C．made up her mind to eat raw foods instead of cooked ones

D．been discouraged by her family from fasting

【小題2】The books written by Ann Wigmore which the author has read are probably about ________.

A．fasting

B．losing weight

C．how to be on a diet

D．a(chǎn)pproaches to eating raw foods

【小題3】To the author, the drink made of sprouted wheat ________.

A．might help in digestion

B．might make people who drank it throw up

C．tasted good to anybody

D．was welcomed by the whole family

【小題4】We can learn from the passage that ________ smoking.

A．the author has given up

B．the author will never give up

C．it’s hard for the author to quit

D．it’s easy for the author to quit

【小題5】The author’s biggest worry at present is most probably ________.

A．that she can’t eat with her family

B．that she can’t get rid of drinking coffee and smoking

C．how to get used to raw foods

D．that she doesn’t know whether she should eat raw foods

“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.”
“Two full inches in the first three days!”
These are the kinds of statements used in magazine, newspaper, radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device of such products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to beauty or desirability.
Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoter. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health.
To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug, FDA(Food Drug Administration)can require proof (證明)under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that it is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action ,including seizure (查封) of the product.
One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.
Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings (法律訴訟), and new devices appear continually. Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.
【小題1】It can be inferred that ads mentioned in the text are ______.

A．objective

B．costly

C．unreliable

D．illegal

【小題2】Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. The court is in charge of removing dangerous product.
B. New products are more likely to be questionable.
C. The production of a device must be approved by FDA.
D. The promoters usually just care about profits.
【小題3】FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product ________.

A．if it is a drug

B．if it is a device

C．if its consumers make complaints

D．if its distributors challenge FDA’s authority

【小題4】The Relaxacisor is mentioned as_______.

A．a(chǎn) product which was designed to produce electricity

B．a(chǎn) product whose distributor was involved in a legal case

C．a(chǎn) successful advertisement of a beauty product

D．a(chǎn)n example of a quality beauty product

【小題5】 The author intends to __________

A．make consumers aware of the promoters’ false promises

B．show the weakness of the law on product safety

C．give advice on how to keep young and beautiful

D．introduce the organization of FDA

Obama Still Smokes in Secret
US President Barack Obama has just made life more difficult for cigarette makers. He has just signed a law that will set tough new rules for the tobacco industry. The new law gives the US Food and Drug Administration the power to strictly limit the making and marketing of tobacco products.
At a White House signing ceremony Monday, Obama said that he was among the nearly 90% of smokers who took up the habit before their 18 th birthday.
Obama, who has publicly struggled to give up smoking, said he still hadn’t completely kicked the habit. Every now and then he still smokes in secret.
“As a former smoker I struggle with it all the time. Do I still smoke sometimes? Yes. Am I a daily smoker, a constant smoker? No.” Obama said at a news conference.
“I don' t do it in front of my lads．I don ?t do it in front of my family．I would say that I am 95% cured, but there are times when I mess up, " he said．
"Once you go down this path, it' s something you continually struggle with, which is exactly why the law is so important．The new law is not about me, it' s about the next generation of kids coming up．What we don ' t want is kids going down that path," he said．
Nearly 20% of Americans smoke and tobacco use kills about 440,000 people a year in the United States due to cancer, heart disease, and other serious diseases．
【小題1】The new law makes life difficult for             .

A．Obama

B．tobacco industry

C．White House

D．US Food and Drug Administration

【小題2】What do we know about Obama?

A．He no longer smokes

B．He still smokes as usual

C．He began to smoke at eighteen

D．He is trying hard to give up smoking

【小題3】According to the passage, Obama is most concerned about           ．

A．children	B．officials
C．his family	D．businessmen