[A] gold market. [B] real estate.
[C] stock exchange. [D]venture investment.
54.Why can many people see “silver linings” to the economic slowdown?
[A] They would benefit in certain ways.
[B] The stock market shows signs of recovery.
[C] Such a slowdown usually precedes a boom.
[D] The purchasing power would be enhanced.
55.To which of the following is the author likely to agree?
[A] A new boom, on the horizon.
[B] Tighten the belt, the single remedy.
[C] Caution all right, panic not.
[D] The more ventures, the more chances.
Text 5
It is said that in England death is pressing, in Canada inevitable and in California optional. Small wonder. Americans' life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past century. Failing hips can be replaced, clinical depression controlled, cataracts removed in a 30-minute surgical procedure. Such advances offer the aging population a quality of life that was unimaginable when I entered medicine 50 years ago. But not even a great health-care system can cure death — and our failure to confront that reality now threatens this greatness of ours.
Death is normal; we are genetically programmed to disintegrate and perish, even under ideal conditions. We all understand that at some level, yet as medical consumers we treat death as a problem to be solved. Shielded by third-party payers from the cost of our care, we demand everything that can possibly be done for us, even if it's useless. The most obvious example is late-stage cancer care. Physicians — frustrated by their inability to cure the disease and fearing loss of hope in the patient — too often offer aggressive treatment far beyond what is scientifically justified.
In 1950, the US spent $12.7 billion on health care. In 2002, the cost will be $1540 billion. Anyone can see this trend is unsustainable. Yet few seem willing to try to reverse it. Some scholars conclude that a government with finite resources should simply stop paying for medical care that sustains life beyond a certain age — say 83 or so. Former Colorado governor Richard Lamm has been quoted as saying that the old and infirm "have a duty to die and get out of the way", so that younger, healthier people can realize their potential.
I would not go that far. Energetic people now routinely work through their 60s and beyond, and remain dazzlingly productive. At 78, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone jokingly claims to be 53. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is in her 70s, and former surgeon general C.Everett Koop chairs an Internet start-up in his 80s. These leaders are living proof that prevention works and that we can manage the health problems that come naturally with age. As a mere 68-year-old, I wish to age as productively as they have.
Yet there are limits to what a society can spend in this pursuit. As a physician, I know the most costly and dramatic measures may be ineffective and painful. I also know that people in Japan and Sweden, countries that spend far less on medical care, have achieved longer, healthier lives than we have. As a nation, we may be overfunding the quest for unlikely cures while underfunding research on humbler therapies that could improve people's lives.
56. What is implied in the first sentence?
[A] Americans are better prepared for death than other people.
[B] Americans enjoy a higher life quality than ever before.
[C] Americans are over-confident of their medical technology.
[D] Americans take a vain pride in their long life expectancy.
57. The author uses the example of caner patients to show that ________.
[A] medical resources are often wasted
[B] doctors are helpless against fatal diseases
[C] some treatments are too aggressive
[D] medical costs are becoming unaffordable
58. The author's attitude to ward Richard Lamm's remark is one of ________.
[A] strong disapproval
[B] reserved consent
[C] slight contempt
[D] enthusiastic support
59. In contras to the US, Japan and Sweden are funding their medical care ________.
[A] more flexibly
[B] more extravagantly
[C] more cautiously
[D] more reasonably
60. The text intends to express the idea that ________.
[A] medicine will further prolong people's lives
[B] life beyond a certain limit is not worth living
[C] death should be accepted as a fact of life
[D] excessive demands increase the cost of health care
2005
Part B
52. Directions:
Write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following drawing. In your essay ,you should first describe the drawing the interpret its meaning, and give your comment on it.
You should write neatly on ANSWER SHEET2. (20 points)
The picture above symbolically demonstrates how three sons and a daughter treat their old and helpless father. They each stand in a different comer of a football field. The eldest son kicks out the father while the other children are prepared to ward him off. It is sad to see none of them is willing to receive and support their father. What it illustrates is a common phenomenon in today's society: many grown-up children refuse to support their aging parents.
While young people enjoy a comfortable life, their parents are neglected and left in utter poverty, as these elderly people have grown so physically weak that they no longer have the power to support themselves. I think these children have gone against their own conscience and therefore may be put under strong attacks of words and contempt by us. According to Chinese culture, to respect the old and love the young are the traditional virtue and to be kind to one's parents is the height of it. We owe so much to our parents in the they not only gave us life but have done much in bringing us up. It is against nature for us to escape from our responsibility of taking care of our parents when they are old.
On the contrary, we have the duty to pay back their love by making their later years enjoyable and happy. With love and respect for the old, our society will be full of sunshine; Without love and respect for the old, our society will be dark through.
2006年
Part B
52. Directions:
Study the following photos carefully and write an essay of 160~200 words in which you should
1. describe the photos briefly,
2. interpret the social phenomenon reflected by them, and
3. give your point of view.
参考例文
How ironic the two pictures are in describing one of the most widespread social phenomena concerning idol adoration! In the first picture, a young man writes the name of Beckham on his face. In the second picture, another young man spends 300 yuan in dealing with his hair to make himself look like Beckham. The meaning conveyed in the two pictures reveals that in current China some young people are losing themselves.
I am greatly shocked by the enthusiasm for this British football superstar shown by these two young men. Frankly speaking, things of this kind really happen among us. Some people, especially college students, do nothing but concentrate on imitating superstars. This does great harm to their study and growth. If we can’t stop the worsening of this tendency, our own culture will be damaged, and we ourselves will be the ultimate victims.
From my point of view, a lot of measures should be taken to save our losing culture and re-find ourselves. In fact, some measures have already been taken. In my university, campaigns have been launched to educate people to pay more attention to our traditional culture and read more books instead of focusing on our appearances. As a result, we have witnessed some improvements but still there is a long way to go.
