For thousands of years humans have used herbs, roots, and other things from nature to cure disease. Scientists looking for new cures often visit traditional healers. They find out what plants are used in healing. Then they look at what the plant contains. They find the active ingredient, which is the chemical in the plant that works to heal. Many of the drugs we use, including aspirin, have come from these natural medicines.

In recent years, many people in the US have been taking what are legally known as dietary supplements（补药）. They may be vitamins or minerals. They may be herbs that help with health problems, such as depression. Some of them are teas. Others are capsules or tablets. They are sold in natural food stores, drug stores, and groceries. Most people think that because these products are natural they are also safe. This is not always true. There are many plants that are poisonous. There are others that have bad side effects.

The New England Journal of Medicine publishes medical research. A recent edition called for the government to regulate dietary supplements. Several doctors wrote to the Journal and told of bad experiences people have had with dietary supplements.

Dietary supplements aren't tested in the same way as drugs. There is not always proof that the supplement really does what it is supposed to do. There is also a problem with purity of the supplements. Supplements have been found to contain things that are bad for the body. For example, the California Department of Health found that of 260 herbs grown in China, one third contained heavy metals. These are minerals such as lead and mercury（水银）. They are very poisonous, even in tiny amounts.

1. The scientists study the cures from the healers in order to _______.

   A．find out if the plant is poisonous

   B．find out what in the plant works to cure disease

   C．look for aspirin in the plant

   D．make sure that the plant can cure disease

2. We can infer from the second paragraph that _______.

   A．it is legal to take dietary supplement in the USA

   B．supplements are safe because they are natural medicines.

   C．all the supplements are poisonous

   D．none of the supplements has bad side effects

3. The underlined word “regulate” in the third paragraph means _______.

   A．punish          B．remove        C．control          D．manage

4. Which one of the following is NOT right according to this passage?

   A．Scientists think herbs, roots can be used to cure disease.

   B．People believe dietary supplements contains vitamins and minerals.

   C．It is right that the dietary supplements are always safe.

   D．Dietary supplements are harmful to your health.

      An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away. Aspirin has long been praised as a wonder drug and has been in your family since you can remember. Not only does it cure pain, it also lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke (中风). But taking the pills daily may not work for everyone.

      Although taking an occasional aspirin or two is safe for most adults to use for headaches,body aches or fever, daily use of aspirin can have serious side effects. Up to 60 per cent of us,both healthy people and those being treated for all types of heart disease, may have some level of resistance to aspirin' s benefits.

      Aspirin keeps platelets(血小板) from sticking, lowering the risk of clotting(结块). People who are aspirin - resistant still get pain relief but not the full blood - thinning effects.

      How do you know whether you' re resistant? New blood tests can help your doctor decide whether to give you a different medicine, especially if you' re at risk or are being treated for heart disease. The tests aren' t yet widely available, but it doesn' t hurt to ask.

      People taking aspirin daily should limit the amount of alcohol they drink because of its additional blood - thinning effects and potential to upset your stomach. Thus you should not have more than one drink if you' re a woman or two dr/nks a day if you' re a man. Does daily aspirin treatment differ between men and women? Recent studies have focused on the effects of aspirin in women, finding that its effects differ between the sexes, and for women, between age groups.

     All in all, aspirin is still an effective, affordable and simple option for many people at risk of heart attack and stroke. Though it is readily available, always check with your doctor before starting daily aspirin treatment.

66. Aspirin has got the reputation of a wonder drug because __  

     A. an aspirin a day keeps the doctor away

     B. it can make people feel less painful

     C. it helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes

     D. it doesn' t have any serious side effects

67. Which of the following statements about aspirin is TRUE?  

     A. Aspirin does have blood - thinning effects.

     B. If you are resistant to aspirin, you won' t feel pain.

     C. People taking aspirin won't suffer from heart attacks.

     D. 60 per cent of people couldn' t benefit from Aspirin.

68. What do we know about the blood tests mentioned in the fourth paragraph?   

     A. The new examination doesn' t hurt at all.

     B. The tests only help aspirin - resistant people.

     C. Doctors do the tests to test new medicines.

     D. Only some people have ever taken the tests.

69. We can/cam from the passage that __  

     A. drinking alcohol will make people feel uncomfortable

      B. drinking alcohol could influence the function of aspirin

      C. alcohol has much greater effects than aspirin on blood - thinning

      D. people should not drink any alcohol while taking aspirin daily

70. What does the writer think of taking aspirin daily?  

      A. People should be careful to make this decision.

      B. This treatment is effective, affordable and simple.

      C. It could be used to cure heart attack and stroke.

      D. Old women should not start this kind of treatment.

In my procession as an educator and health care provider, I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The relationships that I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life. They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages. Let me tell you about Tyler.

Tyler was born infected with HIV: his mother was also infected. From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to enable him to survive. When he was five, he had a tube surgically inserted in a vein in his chest. This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack on his back. Medications were hooked up to this pump and were continuously supplied through this tube to his bloodstream. At times, he also needed supplemented oxygen to support his breathing.

Tyler wasn’t willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease. It was not unusual to find him playing and racing around his backyard, wearing his medicine-laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon. All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him. Tyler’s mom often teased him by telling him that he moored so fast she needed to dress him in red. That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she round quickly spot him.

This dreaded disease eventually wore down even the likes of a little dynamo like Tyler. He grew quite ill and, unfortunately, so did his HIV-infected mother. When it became apparent that he wasn't going to survive, Tyler's mom talked to him about death. She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven.

A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered, “I might die soon. I’m not scared. When I die, please dress me in red. Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too. I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me.”

What is the boy Tyler’s attitude towards death?

A．pessimistic.      B．optimistic.       C．sorrowful. D．fearful.

Tyler requested the writer to dress him in red when he died simply because        .

       A．red is a lucky color.

       B．red right help to cure him.

       C．his mom could spot him easily

       D．he could find more mates by wearing red.

Which of the following might serve as a possible title far this passage?

A．My unusual profession.   B．A caring mother.

C．Mother and son.      D．Dying in red.

The underlined word dynamo in the fourth paragraph here means        .

A．a promising and helpful youth       B．an extremely energetic person

C．a rare and beautiful flower      D．a magic and understanding superstar

In my profession as an educator and health care provider, I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The relationships that I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life. They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages. Let me tell you about Tyler.
Tyler was born infected with HIV: his mother was also infected. From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to enable him to survive. When he was five, he had a tube surgically inserted in a vein in his chest. This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack on his back. Medications were hooked up to this pump and were continuously supplied through this tube to his bloodstream. At times, he also needed supplemented oxygen to support his breathing.
Tyler wasn’t willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease. It was not unusual to find him playing and racing around his backyard, wearing his medicine - laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon. All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him. Tyler’s mom often teased him by telling him that he moved so fast she needed to dress him in red. That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she could quickly spot him.
This dreaded disease eventually wore down even the likes of a little dynamo like Tyler. He grew quite ill and, unfortunately, so did his HIV - infected mother. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to survive, Tyler’s mom talked to him about death. She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven.
A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered, " I might die soon. I’m not scared. When I die, please dress me in red. Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too. I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me. "
64. What is the boy Tyler's attitude towards death?
A.  optimistic.      B.  pessimistic.   C. sorrowful.              D. fearful.
65. Tyler requested the writer to dress him in red when he died simply because ________.
A. red is a lucky color                 B. red might help to cure him
C. his mom could spot him easily        D. he could find more mates by wearing red
66. Which of the following might serve as a possible title for this passage?
A. My unusual profession.                 B. A caring mother.
C. Mother and son.                         D. Dying in red.
67. The underlined word dynamo in the fourth paragraph here means ________.
A. a promising and helpful youth       B. an extremely energetic person
C. a rare and beautiful flower          D. a magic and understanding superstar

In my procession as an educator and health care provider, I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The relationships that I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life. They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages. Let me tell you about Tyler.
Tyler was born infected with HIV: his mother was also infected. From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to enable him to survive. When he was five, he had a tube surgically inserted in a vein in his chest. This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack on his back. Medications were hooked up to this pump and were continuously supplied through this tube to his bloodstream. At times, he also needed supplemented oxygen to support his breathing.
Tyler wasn’t willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease. It was not unusual to find him playing and racing around his backyard, wearing his medicine-laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon. All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him. Tyler’s mom often teased him by telling him that he moored so fast she needed to dress him in red. That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she round quickly spot him.
This dreaded disease eventually wore down even the likes of a little dynamo like Tyler. He grew quite ill and, unfortunately, so did his HIV-infected mother. When it became apparent that he wasn't going to survive, Tyler's mom talked to him about death. She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven.
A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered, “I might die soon. I’m not scared. When I die, please dress me in red. Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too. I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me.”
【小题1】What is the boy Tyler’s attitude towards death?