Silent and Deadly

    Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)，or ministrokes，result from temporary interruptions of blood flow to the brain.¹ Unlike full strokes，they present symptoms lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 24 hours². Rarely do they cause permanent neurological damage, but they are often precursors of a major stroke.

    “Our message is quite clear," says Dr. Robert Adams, professor of neurology at the Medical College of Georgia in August. “ TIAs，while less severe than strokes in the short term，are quite dangerous and need a quick diagnosis and treatment as well as appropriate follow-up to prevent future injury.”³

    Unfortunately, ministrokes are greatly underdiagnosed. A study conducted for the 丨National Stroke Association indicates that 2.5% of all adults aged 18 or older (about 4.9 million people in the U. S. ) have experienced a confirmed TIA⁴. An additional 1.2 million Americans over the age of 45，the study showed, have most likely suffered a ministroke without realizing it. These findings suggest that if the public knew how to spot the symptoms of stroke, especially ministrokes，and sought prompt medical treatment, thousands of lives could be saved and major disability could be avoided.

     The problem is that the symptoms of a ministroke are often subtle and passing. Nonetheless, there are signs you can look out for：

    ▲ Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

    ▲ Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

    ▲ Confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding.

    ▲ Difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination.

    ▲ Severe headache with no known cause.

       Along with these symptoms，researchers have identified some key indicators that increase your chances of having a full-blown stroke after a TIA： if you"re over 60，have experienced symptoms lasting longer than 10 minutes，feel weak and have a history of diabetes.

    As with many diseases，you can help yourself by changing your lifestyle. The first things you should do are quit smoking，limit your intake of alcohol to no more than a drink or two a day and increase your physical activity. Even those who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes can improve their odds—and minimize complications if they do have a stroke—by keeping their illness under control.

    If you experience any of the symptoms，your first call should be to your doctor. It could be the call that saves your life.⁵

 

词汇：

transient/"trænzɪənt/adj.短暂的，转瞬即逝的        .
ischemic / ɪs"ki:mɪk/adj.局部缺血的，局部 贫血的
ministroke 小卒中

anywhere / ˈeniweə(r)/adv.在（限定范围内的）,任何一点上；在（或往）任何地方
precursor / [英]pri:ˈkɜ:sə(r)/n..前兆，先兆

follow-up / "fɒləʊ ʌp/n.随访，随访病人，随访病例
underdiagnose/["ʌndədaɪəg"nəʊsɪs]vt. (对疾病）未能做出全面诊断
disability ./ ˌdɪsə"bɪlətɪ/n.残疾，伤残;无能力，无力
dizziness / "dɪzɪnəs/n.头晕，弦晕

indicator / ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)/n.指示者，指示物
full-blown / ˈfʊlˈbləʊn/adj.充分发展的，完善的；（花）盛开的；完全成熟的
minimize / "mɪnɪmaɪz/vt.使减少最第限度；把……说成极不重要，对……做最低估计
complication ./ ˌkɒmplɪˈkeɪʃn/n.并发症，并发病

 

注释：

1.Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or ministrokes, result from temporary interruptions of blood flow to the brain.短暂性局部缺血发作，亦称小卒中，是由于流向大脑的血液暂时被中断而引发的。
2. ... anywhere from a few seconds to 24 hours：此处的 anywhere 不指地方，而是指在(P艮定范 围内的）任何一点上，即几秒钟至24小时不等。
3."TIAs, while less severe than strokes in the short term, are quite dangerous and need a quick diagnosis and treatment as well as appropriate follow-up to prevent future injury. ”“ 尽管从短期 结果看小卒中不如中风那样严重，但也是十分危险的，必须及时做出诊断与治疗，并进行适 当的随访，以避免将来造成伤害。”
4.... have experienced a confirmed TIA.被证实确实经历过小卒中。
5.It could be the call that saves your life.及时打电话给医生有可能会挽救你的生命。

To prevent ministrokes from turning into major strokes, it is impbrtant to____

A:save thousands of lives B:avoid major disability C:seek prompt medical treatment D:prevent future injury

The World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of all people are infected with bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Most times, the infection remains inactive. But each year about eight million people develop active cases of TB, usually in their (51) . Two million people die (52) it. The disease has (53) with the spread of AIDS and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis.
Current treatments take at least six months. Patients have to (54) a combination of several antibiotic drugs daily. But many people stop (55) they feel better. Doing that can (56) to an infection that resists treatment. Public health experts agree that a faster-acting cure for tuberculosis would be more effective. Now a study estimates just how (57) it might be. A professor of international health at Harvard University led the study. Joshua Salomon says a shorter treatment program would likely mean not just more patients (58) . It would also mean (59) infectious patients who can pass on their infection to others.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to examine the effects of a two-month treatment plan. They (60) the model with current TB conditions in Southeast Asia. The scientists found that a two-month treatment could prevent about twenty percent of new cases. And it might (61) about twenty-five percent of TB deaths. The model shows that these (62) would take place between two thousand twelve and two thousand thirty. That is, if a faster cure is developed and in wide use by two thousand twelve.
The World Health Organization (63) the DOTS program in nineteen ninety. DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. Health workers watch tuberculosis patients take their daily pills to make (64) they continue treatment.
Earlier this year, an international partnership of organizations announced a plan to expand the DOTS program. The ten-year plan also aims to finance research (65) new TB drugs. The four most common drugs used now are more than forty years old. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development says its long-term goal is a treatment that could work in as few as ten doses.

A:bring about B:contributed to C:promote D:prevent

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

According to the first two paragraphs,the author thinks that

A:strong measures have been taken by the government to prevent global warming. B:to reduce carbon emissions is all impossible mission. C:despite the difficulty, scientists have some options to prevent global warming. D:actions suggested by scientists will never be realized.

{{B}}第二篇{{/B}}

According to the first two paragraphs, the author thinks that

A:strong measures have been taken by the government to prevent global warming. B:to reduce carbon emissions is an impossible mission. C:despite the difficulty, scientists have some options to prevent global warming. D:actions suggested by scientists will never be realized.

The World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of all people are infected with bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Most times, the infection remains inactive. But each year about eight million people develop active cases of TB, usually in their (1) . Two million people die (2) it. The disease has (3) with the spread of AIDS and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis.
Current treatments take at least six months. Patients have to (4) a combination of several antibiotic drugs daily. But many people stop (5) they feel better. Doing that can (6) to an infection that resists treatment. Public health experts agree that a faster-acting cure for tuberculosis would be more effective. Now a study estimates just how (7) it might be. A professor of international health at Harvard University led the study. Joshua Salomon says a shorter treatment program would likely mean not just more patients (8) . It would also mean (9) infectious patients who can pass on their infection to others.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to examine the effects of a two-month treatment plan. They (10) the model with current TB conditions in Southeast Asia. The scientists found that a two-month treatment could prevent about twenty percent of new cases. And it might (11) about twenty-five percent of TB deaths. The model shows that these (12) would take place between two thousand twelve and two thousand thirty. That is. if a faster cure is developed and in wide use by two thousand twelve.
The World Health Organization (13) the DOTS program in nineteen ninety. DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. Health workers watch tuberculosis patients take their daily pills to make (14) they continue treatment.
Earlier this year, an international partnership of organizations announced a plan to expand the DOTS program. The ten-year plan also aims to finance research (15) new TB drugs. The four most common drugs used now are more than forty years old. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development says its long-term goal is a treatment that could work in as few as ten doses.

11（）

A:bring about B:contributed to C:promote D:prevent

Better Control of TB Seen If a Faster Cure Is Found
The World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of all people are infected with bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Most times, the infection remains inactive. But each year about eight million people develop active cases of TB, usually in their (51) . Two million people die (52) it. The disease has (53) with the spread of AIDS and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis.
Current treatments take at least six months. Patients have to (54) a combination of several antibiotic drugs daily. But many people stop (55) they feel better. Doing that can (56) to an infection that resists treatment. Public health experts agree that a faster-acting cure for tuberculosis would be more effective. Now a study estimates just how (57) it might be. A professor of international health at Harvard University led the study. Joshua Salomon says a shorter treatment program would likely mean not just more patients (58) . It would also mean (59) infectious patients who can pass on their infection to others.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to examine the effects of a two-month treatment plan. They (60) the model with current TB conditions in Southeast Asia. The scientists found that a two-month treatment could prevent about twenty percent of new cases. And it might (61) about twenty-five percent of TB deaths. The model shows that these (62) would take place between two thousand twelve and two thousand thirty. That is, if a faster cure is developed and in wide use by two thousand twelve.
The Word Health Organization (63) the DOTS program in nineteen ninety. DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. Health workers watch tuberculosis patients take their daily pills to make (64) they continue treatment.
Earlier this year, an international partnership of organizations announced a plan m expand the DOTS program. The ten-year plan also aims to finance research (65) new TB drugs. The four most common drugs used now are more than forty years old. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development says its long-term goal is a treatment that could work in as few as ten doses.

61（）

A:bring about B:contributed to C:promote D:prevent

The World Health Organization estimates that about one-third of all people are infected with bacteria that cause tuberculosis . Most times, the infection remains inactive. But each year about eight million people develop active cases of TB, usually in their (51) . Two million people die (52) it. The disease has (53) with the spread of AIDS and drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis.
Current treatments take at least six months. People have to (54) a combination of several antibiotic drugs daily. But many people stop (55) they feel better. Doing that can (56) to an infection that resists treatment. Public health experts agree that a faster-acting cure for tuberculosis would be more effective. Now a study estimates just how (57) it might be. A professor of international health at Harvard University led the study. Joshua Salomon says a shorter treatment program would likely mean not just more patients (58) It would also mean (59) infectious patients who can pass on their infection to others.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to examine the effects of a two-month treatment plan. They (60) the model with current TB conditions in Southeast Asia. The scientists found that a two-month treatment could prevent about twenty percent of new cases. And it might (61) about twenty-five percent of TB deaths. The model shows that these (62) would take place between two thousand twelve and two thousand thirty. That is, if a faster cure is developed and in wide use by two thousand twelve.
The World Health Organization (63) the DOTS program in nineteen ninety. DOTS is Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. Health workers watch tuberculosis patients take their daily pills to make (64) they continue treatment.
Earlier this year, an international partnership of organizations announced a plan to expand the DOTS program. The ten-year plan also aims to finance research (65) new TB drugs. The four most common drugs used now are more than forty years old. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development says its long-term goal is a treatment that could work in as few as ten doses.

A:bring about B:contributed to C:promote D:prevent

? ?阅读下面的短文，文中有15处空白，每处空白给出了4个选项，请根据短文的内容从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案。

A:bring about B:contributed to C:promote D:prevent

Even with the best will in the world, reducing our carbon emissions is not going to prevent global warming. It has become clear that even if we take the most strong measures to control emissions, the uncertainties in our climate models still leave open the possibility of extreme warming and rises in sea level. At the same time, resistance by governments and special interest groups makes it quite possible that the actions suggested by climate scientists might not be implemented soon enough.
Fortunately, if the worst comes to the worst, scientists still have a few tricks up their sleeves. For the most part they have strongly resisted discussing these options for fear of inviting a sense of complacency that might thwart efforts to tackle the root of the problem. Until now, that is. A growing number of researchers are taking a fresh look at large-scale "geoengineering" projects that might be used to counteract global warming. "I use the analogy of methadone," says Stephen Schneider, a climate researcher at Stanford University in California who was among the first to draw attention to global warming. "If you have a heroin addict, the correct treatment is hospitalization, and a long rehab. But if they absolutely refuse, methadone is better than heroin."
Basically the idea is to apply "sunscreen" to the whole planet. One astronomer has come up with a radical plan to cool Earth; launch trillions of feather-light discs into space, where they would form a vast cloud that would block the sun’s rays. It’s controversial, but recent studies suggest there are ways to deflect just enough of the sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface to counteract the warming produced by the greenhouse effect. Global climate models show that blocking just 1.8 percent of the incident energy in the sun’s rays would cancel out the warming effects produced by a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That could be crucial, because even the most severe emissions-control measures being proposed would leave us with a doubling of carbon dioxide by the end of this century, and that would last for at least a century more.

According to the first two paragraphs, the author thinks that （　）.

A:strong measures have been taken by the government to prevent global warming B:to reduce carbon emissions is all impossible mission C:despite the difficulty, scientists have some options to prevent global warming D:actions suggested by scientists will never be realized