Question

【题目】阅读下列材料，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

C

A new study provides the best evidence yet that wearing a back brace(背撑) will slow the progression of the most common form of scoliosis(背撑) in adolescents, helping them avoid painful spine(脊柱) operation.

Doctors have recommended bracing for more than 50 years, but until now, there was limited evidence that bracing and other conservative treatments relieved back pain or improved quality of life in patients.

“When you have teenagers who are anxious about wearing a brace to school or what their friends will think, it gave us a bit of heartache to try to convince them if we weren’t certain ourselves,” said Dr. Paul D. Sponseller at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, who was not involved in the study. “In light of this new evidence, we can say we really do have a basis for putting them through bracing.”

In the study, researchers led by Dr. Stuart L. Weinstein at the University of Iowa analyzed data on 242 young patients. The children were all aged 10-15 and they all had a spinal curvature(脊柱弯曲) of 20-40 degrees.

The patients were divided into two groups. One group were used for observation(they did not use bracing) ; the other group were required to wear the brace for at least 18 hours daily

In the analysis that included both groups, the rate of treatment success was 72% among children with bracing, compared with 48% among those under observation. The benefit increased when the participants had longer bracing hours. More than 90% of the children who were successfully treated wore their braces more than 13 hours a day.

When her daughter Maddie was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10, Becky Houser, of North Liberty, Iowa, wanted to avoid operations “at all costs.” So Maddie, a participant in Weinstein’s study, chose to wear a brace.

“We didn’t want to not do anything,” said Houser, who underwent an operation for scoliosis thirty years ago.

After three years of bracing, Maddie, now 13, was thrilled to learn that her spinal curvature was holding steady at 28 degrees. She no longer needs bracing because she has reached the age when children achieve bone maturity.

“We are extremely relieved,” Houser said.

【1】 In the past, when Sponseller recommended bracing he .

A. tried to improve the treatment

B. was unsure about its effectiveness

C. was worried about patients’ life quality

D. considered other people’s opinions first

【2】 Most participants using the brace found .

A. it was a successful treatment

B. long bracing hours were harmful

C. it had both advantages and disadvantages

D. those under observation recovered mush faster

【3】What was Houser’s attitude towards the spine operation?

A. She was uncertain about it.

B. She was hopeful of it.

C. She disapproved of it.

D. She tolerated it.

【4】 Why was Houser’s family extremely relieved?

A. Houser was successful treated.

B. Maddie’s scoliosis was under control.

C. The research was eventually completed.

D. Conservative treatments were finally accepted.

【5】 What is the passage mainly about?

A. The spinal curvature’s progression.

B. The most common form of scoliosis.

C. A detailed analysis of spine operation.

D. A new study on the effectiveness of bracing.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】 B

【2】 A

【3】 C

【4】 B

【5】 D

【解析】

【文章大意】美国科学家的一项研究表明，背撑对于治疗脊柱侧凸是有效果的。

【1】 B 推理判断题。根据第三段中的“it gave us a bit of heartache to try to convince them if we weren’t certain ourselves”可知，过去Sponseller在向病人推荐背撑疗法的时候，并不确信其疗效。因此选B项。

【2】 A 细节理解题。根据第六段中的“the rate of treatment success was 72% among children with bracing”可知，大多数戴背撑的孩子都取得了良好的效果。因此选A项。

【3】 C推理判断题。根据倒数第四段中的“Becky Houser, of North Liberty, Iowa, wanted to avoid operations “at all costs.””可知，Houser反对脊柱手术。因此选C项。

【4】 B推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中的“her spinal curvature was holding steady at 28 degrees. She no longer needs bracing because she has reached the age when children achieve bone maturity”可知，由于Maddie到了骨质成熟的年龄，她的脊柱弯曲度已经固定到了28度，也就是说她的脊柱侧凸得到了控制。因此选B项。

【5】 D 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要报道了一项关于背撑疗法有效性的最新研究。因此选D项。