Do you have a sore throat, a running nose and a headache? Do you keep coughing and sneezing? If you do, the chances are that you have a cold or perhaps flu--- but which one? Although both colds and flu are caused by viruses, they are very different illnesses.

Colds, which usually last about a week, affect the nose most. They commonly cause a runny nose and sneezing. Sometimes, they cause a headache, a cough and slightly aching muscles.

Flu is much more serious illness and is caused by different group of viruses. People with flu usually get all the symptoms described above. However, they also get a high fever, a dry cough and much worse aching. Fever is one of the typical symptoms of the flu for all ages. The symptoms also last much longer. Sometimes they don’t disappear for at least two weeks.

Flu can be a deadly disease. The elderly, who are weaker and less healthy than most younger people, can die from flu. This is one reason why old people are advised to have a flu injection before the start of winter when flu is most common. This injection is inexpensive and definitely worth it.

If you have a cold or flu, you must always deal with used tissues carefully. Don’t leave dirty tissues on your desk or on the floor. Someone else has to pick these up and viruses could be passed on. And finally, remember to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze！You don’t want to see the small drop of liquids blown out of your nose and mouth when you sneeze, do you? Disgusting, eh? Now you can understand why it’s a good idea to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze!

1. In paragraph 4, we learn that ______.

A．flu injection can cause death	B．most old people die from flu
C．flu is most common in summer	D．flu can kill old people easily

2.Dealing with used tissues properly is important because ______.

A．it helps keep your classroom tidy	B．people hate picking up dirty tissues
C．it prevents the spread of colds and flu	D．picking up lots of tissues is hard work

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Both colds and flu last the same time.

B．Both colds and flu can be prevented by injection.

C．Both colds and flu are caused by the same viruses.

D．Both colds and flu have an aching symptom.

4.Which is probably the best title for the passage?

A．Cold or Flu?	B．The Different Symptoms of a Cold and Flu
C．Prevention Is Better Than Cure	D．Cover Your Nose and Mouth When Sneezing

 

    Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.

    The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu(流感), and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That's because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.

    The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for.

    Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.

    The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.

Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome(综合症) ，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.

There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.

　

According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help ________.

　A) shorten the duration of the illness

　B) the patient buy medicine over the counter

　C) the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs

　D) prevent people from catching colds and the flu

We learn from the passage that ___________.

 A) one doesn't need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu

B) aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu

C) delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system

D) over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu

According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, ___________.

A) one should identify the virus which causes it

B) one should consult a doctor as soon as possible

C) one should take medicine upon catching the disease

D) one should remain alert when the disease is spreading

Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?

A)A stuffy nose. 　　                     B) A high temperature.

C)A sore throat.　　                       D) A dry cough.

If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents _______________.

A) are advised not to give them aspirin

B) should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome

C) are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination

D) should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever

20. He was down with the flu, and ____ couldn’t come to the party.

A. moreover   B. meanwhile  C. therefore    D. Otherwise

    Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu(流感), and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That’s because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome(综合症) ，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.
　
【小题1】 According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help ________.

A．shorten the duration of the illness

B．the patient buy medicine over the counter

C．the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs

D．prevent people from catching colds and the flu

【小题2】 We learn from the passage that ___________.

A．one doesn’t need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu

B．aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu

C．delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system

D．over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu

【小题3】 According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, ___________.

A．one should identify the virus which causes it

B．one should consult a doctor as soon as possible

C．one should take medicine upon catching the disease

D．one should remain alert when the disease is spreading

【小题4】Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?

A．A stuffy nose.	B．A high temperature.
C．A sore throat.	D．A dry cough.

【小题5】 If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents _______________.

A．are advised not to give them aspirin

B．should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome

C．are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination

D．should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever

There is a joke among flu researchers: “If you've seen one flu season, you've seen one flu season.” The joke is about the unpredictable nature of the flu virus. Every year it looks different, and every strain (类型) follows its own pattern — it's the reason why new strains like H1N1 are extremely difficult to predict.

Dr. Michael Osterholm is a former adviser to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “I know less about influenza today than I did 10 years ago,” he says in a joking way. “Every stone we've turned over, we get more questions.”

The flu rectums every season and the world experiences terrible pandemics (全国或全世界范围流行的疾病), but researchers still do not understand why some strains infect people and others do not; they are not entirely sure about how the flu is transmitted; nor do they understand why some patients become seriously ill while others develop mild symptoms (症状). As a result, when a new strain shows up — like H1N1 — they often have little information to fall back on, and the lessons of previous pandemics are only somewhat helpful. While researchers are still putting together a complete picture of H1N1, for example, its most striking difference with the seasonal flu is that the elder1y are not the most vulnerable (易受攻击的) population.

Influenza's unpredictable nature makes it a moving target for researchers, says researcher Allison Aiello at the University of Michigan. “Even if we had complete seasonal flu data from the past, it wouldn't be much helpful for a new strain of influenza,” she explains.

Whi1e researchers are frustrated by the holes in their knowledge, they say, however, that the pub1ic--health community is generally doing a very good job responding to H1N1 with seasonal flu data that do exist. Studying influenza, says Osterholm, is “like looking through the windows of a house you can't get into because the door is locked.” Gathering the data researchers do have is like “looking through the windows to get a pretty good picture of what the inside looks like.”

One thing researchers do know for sure: the best way for people to protect against H1N1 is to get the vaccine once it becomes available to them.

What do we learn about H1N1 from the passage?

A. In fact it is not a kind of influenza virus.

B. It is quite possible to predict it in theory.

C. Old people are more likely to contract it than kids.

D. Receiving vaccines will be effective to protect against it.

The underlined phrase “fall back on” in Para. 3 probably means      .

A. rely on       B. pass on       C. col1ect      D. exchange

What do we know about previous seasonal flu data?

A. It is useless to study them.      

B. It is still necessary to study them.

C. They are misleading most of the time.

D. They are much more helpful than expected.

Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A. Outbreaks of the flu  B. Symptoms of the flu

C. Mysteries of the flu   D. Risks of the flu