A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy (摇头丸) can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson’s disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson’s for the first time.

A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons (狒狒) found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson’s, after receiving three low doses（剂量）of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.

The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. “The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older.”

Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, “This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We’ve long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don’t experiment with your own brain.”

Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, “This comes as no surprise. But people can’t see the effects at first, and they say it won’t happen to them. We’ll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking.”

1. The article is intended to ______.

   A. explain the bad effects of drugs on people’s health

B. warn young people of the risk of taking the drug Ecstasy

   C. persuade people out of such bad habits as smoking and using drugs

D. tell us the links between the drug Ecstasy and Parkinson’s disease

2. We know from the passage that a low dose of Ecstasy ______.

   A. won’t cause serious brain damage

   B. can permanently destroy one’s brain cells

   C. will result in immediate symptoms

   D. may bring on Parkinson’s at once

3.Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments?

   A. Because their brain is similar to human being’s.

   B. Because these animals usually take drugs.

   C. Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment.

   D. Because there is a model in the animals’ brains.

4. The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph probably means that ______.

   A. Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995

B. taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking

C. occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems

D. people have long known that repeated use of the drug damages brain cells

The Olympic Games are seen as the greatest test of an athlete’s ability and are supposed to celebrate the spirit of fair play. But in fact, sportsmen have been using drugs to cheat their way to victory since the Games first began.

       In the early years, athletes ate mushrooms(蘑菇)and plant seeds to improve their performance. Nowadays, this kind of cheating has a name doping(服用兴奋剂).

       Just last month, Britain’s top sprinter(赛跑选手) Dwain Chambers and several American athletes tested positive(呈阳性)for the drug THG. Until a coach secretly gave a sample of THG to scientists, no one knew how ho test for it.

       “We’re like cops(警察)chasing criminals—athletes are always adapting and looking for areas we haven’t investigated,” said Jacquew de Ceaurriz, a French anti-doping expert.

       Since the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, many cheats have been caught out. The most famous case in history is that of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson.

He broke the 100 meters world record in winning gold at the 1988 Seoul(汉城)Olympics. But days later, he tested positive for drug use, lost his gold medal and was banned from the sport. Five years later, he returned to action—only to be found positive again and banned forever.

China has also had problems with drug cheats. At the 1994 Asian Games, 11 Chinese athletes—seven of them swimmers—tested positive for banned drugs. Sports organizations promised that cheating on this scale would not happen again.

Experts are also worried that doping can damage a person’s health. It is believed to increase the risk of liver and kidney(肝肾)diseases, and women may experience reproductive(生育) problems. As long as they can stay ahead of the scientists, it is unlikely the cheats will stop. But experts say there is a limit to what can be achieved and that athletes will not be able to change their bodies using gene(基因)technology.

“For the moment, genetic doping does not exist,” said de Ceaurriz. “Even in 10 or 15 years it will not be done easily—the scientific community(界)will not let it happen.”

Which of the following is not the way that some athletes cheat to their better sports achievements?

A. Eating mushrooms.    B. Taking drug THG. 

C. Taking genetic doping.   D. Eating plant seeds.

How many countries are mentioned in the passage in which there were athletes doping?

A. Two.                 B. Four.                C. Sic.                  D. Eight.

We can infer from the passage that ____.

A. scientists get a lot of information about drugs before the athletes take doping

B. taking doping will never happen again because of the serious test

C. few athletes used drug cheats before the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics

D. problems with drug cheats are still serious though they are severely tested

Which statement of the following is true?

A. Many police are sent to chase criminals of taking doping during the Olympic Games.

B. The drug test was carried out until the 1968 Olympics.

C. There is the possibility that women athletes taking doping will give no birth to a child.

D. Ben Johnson was banned from sports forever for being tested positive for drug use at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The Olympic Games are seen as the greatest test of an athlete’s ability and are supposed to celebrate the spirit of fair play. But in fact, sportsmen have been using drugs to cheat their way to victory since the Games first began.
In the early years, athletes ate mushrooms(蘑菇)and plant seeds to improve their performance. Nowadays, this kind of cheating has a name doping(服用兴奋剂).
Just last month, Britain’s top sprinter(赛跑选手) Dwain Chambers and several American athletes tested positive(呈阳性)for the drug THG. Until a coach secretly gave a sample of THG to scientists, no one knew how to test for it.
“We’re like cops(警察)chasing criminals—athletes are always adapting and looking for areas we haven’t investigated,” said Jacquew de Ceaurriz, a French anti-doping expert.
Since the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, many cheats have been caught out. The most famous case in history is that of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson.
He broke the 100 meters world record in winning gold at the 1988 Seoul(汉城)Olympics. But days later, he tested positive for drug use, lost his gold medal and was banned from the sport. Five years later, he returned to action—only to be found positive again and banned forever.
China has also had problems with drug cheats. At the 1994 Asian Games, 11 Chinese athletes—seven of them swimmers—tested positive for banned drugs. Sports organizations promised that cheating on this scale would not happen again.
Experts are also worried that doping can damage a person’s health. It is believed to increase the risk of liver and kidney(肝肾)diseases, and women may experience reproductive(生育) problems. As long as they can stay ahead of the scientists, it is unlikely the cheats will stop. But experts say there is a limit to what can be achieved and that athletes will not be able to change their bodies using gene(基因)technology.
“For the moment, genetic doping does not exist,” said de Ceaurriz. “Even in 10 or 15 years it will not be done easily—the scientific community(界)will not let it happen.”
(  ) 60. Which of the following is not the way that some athletes cheat to their better sports achievements?
A.Eating mushrooms.        B Taking drug THG.
C. Taking genetic doping.       D. Eating plant seeds.
(  ) 61. How many countries are mentioned in the passage in which there were athletes doping?
A. Two.                 B. Four.                C. Sic.                  D. Eight.
(  ) 62. We can infer from the passage that ____.
A.scientists get a lot of information about drugs before the athletes take doping
B.taking doping will never happen again because of the serious test
C.few athletes used drug cheats before the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics
D.problems with drug cheats are still serious though they are severely tested
(  ) 63. Which statement of the following is true?
A.Many police are sent to chase criminals of taking doping during the Olympic Games.
B.The drug test was carried out until the 1968 Olympics.
C.There is the possibility that women athletes taking doping will give no birth to a child.
D.Ben Johnson was banned from sports forever for being tested positive for drug use at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy (摇头丸) can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson’s disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson’s for the first time.
A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons (狒狒) found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson’s, after receiving three low doses（剂量）of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.
The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. “The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older.”
Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, “This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We’ve long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don’t experiment with your own brain.”
Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, “This comes as no surprise. But people can’t see the effects at first, and they say it won’t happen to them. We’ll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking.”
【小题1】 The article is intended to ______.

A．Because their brain is similar to human being’s.

B．Because these animals usually take drugs.

C．Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment.

D．Because there is a model in the animals’ brains.

A．Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995

B．taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking

C．occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems

D．people have long known that repeated use of the drug damages brain cells

He also started “24 club”， where you would sit in a circle and drink twenty four tall bottles of beer, one after another, until they were gone. I knew there was no future in any of it and that eventually he would self?destruct if he continued using this drug. However, he had been my best friend since grade school, and I didn't have a lot of other close friends. I didn't want to be a loner, but I also didn't want to end up where I thought Jack was going.

I remember finally deciding sadly that it was just too risky to hang out with him any more. And so during my senior year I had to start over making friends. At first I felt awkward, didn't fit in, and felt dumb being alone. But after a few months I made friends with guys who had similar values and also a lot of fun.

My old friend Jack turned into a druggie (瘾君子), barely graduated, and eventually drowned in a swimming pool while intoxicated (喝醉的). It was sad, but I was grateful I had the courage to stick with the_right_decision and long?term thinking at a key time in my life.