Bringing Nanotechnology to Health Care for the poor                 

  Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms. Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter. These include things like beauty products¹ and dirt-resistant clothing. But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine.

  Last week, speakers at a program in Washingtondiscussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries. The program took place at theWoodrowWilsonInternationalCenterfor Scholars. Peter Singer at theUniversityofTorontosays a nanotechnology called quantum dots² could be used to confirm cases of malaria. He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.

  In poor countries, this process is often not followed. As a result, sick people may get treated for malaria even if they do not have it. Such misuse of medicines can lead to drug resistance. Quantum dots are particles that give off³ light when activated. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of targeted molecule. ⁴

  Experts say nanotechnology shows promise not just for diagnosing diseases, but also for treating them. Piotr Grodzinski of the National Institutes of Health⁵ talked about how nanotechnology could make drugs more effective. He talked about cancer drugs already developed with nanotechnology. He says if a drug can target a cancer locally in the body, then much less of it might be needed, and that means lower side effects. ⁶

  Andrew Maynard is chief scientist for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at theWoodrowWilsonCenter. He noted thatBrazil,India,ChinaandSouth Africaare currently doing nanotechnology research that could help poor countries. But he also noted that there is some risk in using nano-materials. He says nanometer-sized particles behave differently in the body and the environment compared to larger particles⁷. Experts say more investment in research is needed to better understand these risks.

词汇：

nanotechnology/,nænə(ʊ)tek"nɒlədʒɪ/ n.纳米技术

matter /"mætə/ n.物质

molecule /"mɒlɪkjuːl/ n.分子

atom /"ætəm/ n.原子

nanometer/"nænə,mitɚ/ n.纳米,毫微米(长度单位，=10_9m)one-billionthn.十亿分之一

dirt-resistantadj.防尘的,防污的

promise /"prɒmɪs/ n.希望,前途

program/"prəʊɡræm/ ( = programme)n.节目,节目单；&为……编制程序

scholar /"skɒlə/ n.学者

quantum /"kwɔntəm/ n.量；量子 dotn.(小）点,圆点

confirm /kən"fɜːm/ vt.确认；证实

case /keɪs/ n.病症;病例;患者

malaria /mə"leərɪə/ n.疟（疾）

misuse /misju:s/ vt.误用,滥用;n.误用,滥用

particle/"pɑːtɪk(ə)l/ n.颗粒,微粒;粒子

activate /"æktɪveɪt/ vt.使激活

identify /aɪ"dentɪfaɪ/ vt.辨认

diagnose /"daɪəgnəʊz; -"nəʊz/ vt.诊断（疾病)

Brazil /brə"zil/ n.巴西

investment /ɪn"ves(t)m(ə)nt/ n.投资；投资额

nano-materialn.纳米材料

注释：

1. beauty product:美容产品

2. quantum dot (QD):量子点。可取代传统染色法,成为细胞内的突光标记物,可进行长时间、多分子、同时检测。

3. give off:放出;发出（蒸汽、光线、烟雾、气味等）

4. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.研究人员正在研究为它们编程的方法,以便如果有靶分子存在时能通过发光辨认疾病。light up点灯;发光。targeted molecule:靶分子。

5. National Institutes of Health (NIH)：国立卫生研究院

6. side effect:副作用

7. compared to larger particles:如果与大一点的颗粒比较起来的话。这是一个过去分词短语,作条件状语。

How can nanotechnology be used to make a drug more effective?

A:By making a drug target the focus of a disease B:By changing the structure of the body cells C:By lowering the side effects caused by a drug D:By letting a patient take a dose as large as possible

School authorities often refuse to face the problem of drug-abuse; government drug-abuse agencies have done too little to inform the public about it; many physicians still seem unaware of it when they examine teenagers. As a result, parents may still be the last to know that their children have fallen victim to the drug epidemic that has been raging for more than a decade among American’s youth. In a survey of a middle-income Cincinnati suburb, 38 percent of the sixth grade and 89 percent of the senior class said they used drug and alcohol; 48 percent of the parents thought their children used alcohol, but only 8 percent thought their children used drug.
Fortunately, there is a new force at work against this epidemic—a nationwide movement of more than 400 parent groups formed to expose and battle drug use among teenagers and preteens. The groups have different approaches and widely varying rates of success. Yet this parental crusade is the only major force in the country to have taken active, organized and effective steps aimed at stopping marijuana use.
Why the concentration on marijuana Marijuana is the illegal drug most used by kids. According to a National High School Survey, 44 percent of U. S. high school seniors had smoked pot during their school years, and one out of seven of these were daily or near daily smokers. There was a close-related connection between pot smoking and subsequent use of cocaine and heroin by young men. Of those who had smoked pot fewer than 100 times, seven percent had graduated to cocaine, four percent to heroin. But of those who had smoked pot at least 1,000 times, 73 percent had gone on to cocaine, and one out of three had graduated to heroin.
Parent groups have found that by stopping their kids from smoking pot, they almost automatically stop all other illegal drugs, and cut down on alcohol use as well. The High School Senior Survey’s statistics show that heavy pot smokers tend to be heavy drinkers, while those who do not use pot tend not to drink heavily.
Since virtually all over the country teenage " partying " has come to mean " getting smashed and getting stoned " on anything from pot to pills to hashish, LSD, and alcohol, some parent groups home in on the partying aspect. Parents Who Care (PWC) was started in 1979 by 15 Palo Alto, Calif., parents who were upset by stories of serious drug problems at parties. They held talk sessions with their children and learned that most of their children had never been to a party where the main activity was not getting high. The parents’ solution: workshops showing kids how to give successful drug-and-alcohol-free parties. Says Margery Ranch, PWC director, " We’ve seen a change in attitude. Young people are feeling more comfortable saying no. /
The main idea of Paragraph 1 is that______.

A:society pays little attention to drug use among teenagers B:drug-abuse has become a common problem among teenagers C:parents are angry at children’s drug-abuse D:children use alcohol more often than drug

School authorities often refuse to face the problem of drug-abuse; government drug-abuse agencies have done too little to inform the public about it; many physicians still seem unaware of it when they examine teenagers. As a result, parents may still be the last to know that their children have fallen victim to the drug epidemic that has been raging for more than a decade among American’s youth. In a survey of a middle-income Cincinnati suburb, 38 percent of the sixth grade and 89 percent of the senior class said they used drug and alcohol; 48 percent of the parents thought their children used alcohol, but only 8 percent thought their children used drug.
Fortunately, there is a new force at work against this epidemic—a nationwide movement of more than 400 parent groups formed to expose and battle drug use among teenagers and preteens. The groups have different approaches and widely varying rates of success. Yet this parental crusade is the only major force in the country to have taken active, organized and effective steps aimed at stopping marijuana use.
Why the concentration on marijuana Marijuana is the illegal drug most used by kids. According to a National High School Survey, 44 percent of U. S. high school seniors had smoked pot during their school years, and one out of seven of these were daily or near daily smokers. There was a close-related connection between pot smoking and subsequent use of cocaine and heroin by young men. Of those who had smoked pot fewer than 100 times, seven percent had graduated to cocaine, four percent to heroin. But of those who had smoked pot at least 1,000 times, 73 percent had gone on to cocaine, and one out of three had graduated to heroin.
Parent groups have found that by stopping their kids from smoking pot, they almost automatically stop all other illegal drugs, and cut down on alcohol use as well. The High School Senior Survey’s statistics show that heavy pot smokers tend to be heavy drinkers, while those who do not use pot tend not to drink heavily.
Since virtually all over the country teenage " partying " has come to mean " getting smashed and getting stoned " on anything from pot to pills to hashish, LSD, and alcohol, some parent groups home in on the partying aspect. Parents Who Care (PWC) was started in 1979 by 15 Palo Alto, Calif., parents who were upset by stories of serious drug problems at parties. They held talk sessions with their children and learned that most of their children had never been to a party where the main activity was not getting high. The parents’ solution: workshops showing kids how to give successful drug-and-alcohol-free parties. Says Margery Ranch, PWC director, " We’ve seen a change in attitude. Young people are feeling more comfortable saying no. /
The author believes that the parent groups______．

A:are formed to work against a physical disease B:are the only force in stopping drug use C:are variously effective in their work D:have achieved great success

School authorities often refuse to face the problem of drug-abuse; government drug-abuse agencies have done too little to inform the public about it; many physicians still seem unaware of it when they examine teenagers. As a result, parents may still be the last to know that their children have fallen victim to the drug epidemic that has been raging for more than a decade among American’s youth. In a survey of a middle-income Cincinnati suburb, 38 percent of the sixth grade and 89 percent of the senior class said they used drug and alcohol; 48 percent of the parents thought their children used alcohol, but only 8 percent thought their children used drug.
Fortunately, there is a new force at work against this epidemic—a nationwide movement of more than 400 parent groups formed to expose and battle drug use among teenagers and preteens. The groups have different approaches and widely varying rates of success. Yet this parental crusade is the only major force in the country to have taken active, organized and effective steps aimed at stopping marijuana use.
Why the concentration on marijuana Marijuana is the illegal drug most used by kids. According to a National High School Survey, 44 percent of U. S. high school seniors had smoked pot during their school years, and one out of seven of these were daily or near daily smokers. There was a close-related connection between pot smoking and subsequent use of cocaine and heroin by young men. Of those who had smoked pot fewer than 100 times, seven percent had graduated to cocaine, four percent to heroin. But of those who had smoked pot at least 1,000 times, 73 percent had gone on to cocaine, and one out of three had graduated to heroin.
Parent groups have found that by stopping their kids from smoking pot, they almost automatically stop all other illegal drugs, and cut down on alcohol use as well. The High School Senior Survey’s statistics show that heavy pot smokers tend to be heavy drinkers, while those who do not use pot tend not to drink heavily.
Since virtually all over the country teenage " partying " has come to mean " getting smashed and getting stoned " on anything from pot to pills to hashish, LSD, and alcohol, some parent groups home in on the partying aspect. Parents Who Care (PWC) was started in 1979 by 15 Palo Alto, Calif., parents who were upset by stories of serious drug problems at parties. They held talk sessions with their children and learned that most of their children had never been to a party where the main activity was not getting high. The parents’ solution: workshops showing kids how to give successful drug-and-alcohol-free parties. Says Margery Ranch, PWC director, " We’ve seen a change in attitude. Young people are feeling more comfortable saying no.

A:society pays little attention to drug use among teenagers B:drug-abuse has become a common problem among teenagers C:parents are angry at children’s drug-abuse D:children use alcohol more often than drug

School authorities often refuse to face the problem of drug-abuse; government drug-abuse agencies have done too little to inform the public about it; many physicians still seem unaware of it when they examine teenagers. As a result, parents may still be the last to know that their children have fallen victim to the drug epidemic that has been raging for more than a decade among American’s youth. In a survey of a middle-income Cincinnati suburb, 38 percent of the sixth grade and 89 percent of the senior class said they used drug and alcohol; 48 percent of the parents thought their children used alcohol, but only 8 percent thought their children used drug.
Fortunately, there is a new force at work against this epidemic—a nationwide movement of more than 400 parent groups formed to expose and battle drug use among teenagers and preteens. The groups have different approaches and widely varying rates of success. Yet this parental crusade is the only major force in the country to have taken active, organized and effective steps aimed at stopping marijuana use.
Why the concentration on marijuana Marijuana is the illegal drug most used by kids. According to a National High School Survey, 44 percent of U. S. high school seniors had smoked pot during their school years, and one out of seven of these were daily or near daily smokers. There was a close-related connection between pot smoking and subsequent use of cocaine and heroin by young men. Of those who had smoked pot fewer than 100 times, seven percent had graduated to cocaine, four percent to heroin. But of those who had smoked pot at least 1,000 times, 73 percent had gone on to cocaine, and one out of three had graduated to heroin.
Parent groups have found that by stopping their kids from smoking pot, they almost automatically stop all other illegal drugs, and cut down on alcohol use as well. The High School Senior Survey’s statistics show that heavy pot smokers tend to be heavy drinkers, while those who do not use pot tend not to drink heavily.
Since virtually all over the country teenage " partying " has come to mean " getting smashed and getting stoned " on anything from pot to pills to hashish, LSD, and alcohol, some parent groups home in on the partying aspect. Parents Who Care (PWC) was started in 1979 by 15 Palo Alto, Calif., parents who were upset by stories of serious drug problems at parties. They held talk sessions with their children and learned that most of their children had never been to a party where the main activity was not getting high. The parents’ solution: workshops showing kids how to give successful drug-and-alcohol-free parties. Says Margery Ranch, PWC director, " We’ve seen a change in attitude. Young people are feeling more comfortable saying no.

A:are formed to work against a physical disease B:are the only force in stopping drug use C:are variously effective in their work D:have achieved great success

Modern Drugs Doctors, sixty years ago, could do little to help victims of polio. Serious cases usually ended in death. In 1955, a vaccine was developed that prevented the disease. Today, polio is no longer a major health problem. Many of the most important drugs that doctors prescribe today have been developed in the last 30 years. Modern drugs are complex, specific and powerful. People need to know more about drugs in order to use them safely. Early people discovered by accident that some of the plants growing around them seemed useful to heal sores, relieve pain, or even cure diseases. These plants were the first drugs. Now plants are still the source of some drugs. Quinine, for example, is a bitter-tasting drug used to treat the chills and fever of malaria and to reduce attacks of the disease. It is made from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the Andes Mountains. The Indians of that region were the first to use the bark as a medicine. The Spanish people probably brought it to Europe in the early 1600s. Chemists learned how to get the pure drug from the bark and in 1944; it was made artificially in the laboratory. Other important drugs, such as hormones and vaccines, are obtained from animals. But most of the modern drugs come from chemical combinations worked out by research scientists. Most people never see drugs in their simple form as chemicals. Instead, they are seen as tablets, capsules or liquids that contain the drug and other ingredients. People use drugs to get different results. Some drugs attack the organism that causes a disease. They cure by killing the organism. Other drugs relieve what we call the symptoms of the disease: the headache, pain, fever or chills, and make the patient more comfortable. These constitute most over-the-counter drugs. People can get them in drug stores. What is the main idea of this passage?

A:The development of modern drugs. B:How to make drugs. C:How to use drugs safely. D:The development of drugs.

Modern Drugs Doctors, sixty years ago, could do little to help victims of polio. Serious cases usually ended in death. In 1955, a vaccine was developed that prevented the disease. Today, polio is no longer a major health problem. Many of the most important drugs that doctors prescribe today have been developed in the last 30 years. Modern drugs are complex, specific and powerful. People need to know more about drugs in order to use them safely. Early people discovered by accident that some of the plants growing around them seemed useful to heal sores, relieve pain, or even cure diseases. These plants were the first drugs. Now plants are still the source of some drugs. Quinine, for example, is a bitter-tasting drug used to treat the chills and fever of malaria and to reduce attacks of the disease. It is made from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the Andes Mountains. The Indians of that region were the first to use the bark as a medicine. The Spanish people probably brought it to Europe in the early 1600s. Chemists learned how to get the pure drug from the bark and in 1944; it was made artificially in the laboratory. Other important drugs, such as hormones and vaccines, are obtained from animals. But most of the modern drugs come from chemical combinations worked out by research scientists. Most people never see drugs in their simple form as chemicals. Instead, they are seen as tablets, capsules or liquids that contain the drug and other ingredients. People use drugs to get different results. Some drugs attack the organism that causes a disease. They cure by killing the organism. Other drugs relieve what we call the symptoms of the disease: the headache, pain, fever or chills, and make the patient more comfortable. These constitute most over-the-counter drugs. People can get them in drug stores. What is the main idea of this passage?

A:The development of modern drugs. B:How to make drugs. C:How to use drugs safely. D:The development of drugs.

Modern Drugs Doctors, sixty years ago, could do little to help victims of polio. Serious cases usually ended in death. In 1955, a vaccine was developed that prevented the disease. Today, polio is no longer a major health problem. Many of the most important drugs that doctors prescribe today have been developed in the last 30 years. Modern drugs are complex, specific and powerful. People need to know more about drugs in order to use them safely. Early people discovered by accident that some of the plants growing around them seemed useful to heal sores, relieve pain, or even cure diseases. These plants were the first drugs. Now plants are still the source of some drugs. Quinine, for example, is a bitter-tasting drug used to treat the chills and fever of malaria and to reduce attacks of the disease. It is made from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grows in the Andes Mountains. The Indians of that region were the first to use the bark as a medicine. The Spanish people probably brought it to Europe in the early 1600s. Chemists learned how to get the pure drug from the bark and in 1944; it was made artificially in the laboratory. Other important drugs, such as hormones and vaccines, are obtained from animals. But most of the modern drugs come from chemical combinations worked out by research scientists. Most people never see drugs in their simple form as chemicals. Instead, they are seen as tablets, capsules or liquids that contain the drug and other ingredients. People use drugs to get different results. Some drugs attack the organism that causes a disease. They cure by killing the organism. Other drugs relieve what we call the symptoms of the disease: the headache, pain, fever or chills, and make the patient more comfortable. These constitute most over-the-counter drugs. People can get them in drug stores. What is the main idea of this passage?

A:The development of modern drugs. B:How to make drugs. C:How to use drugs safely. D:The development of drugs.