As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our
society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease—especially
in terms of changing our many unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits,
smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift
can be pursued further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight, but
does not eat very nutritious (有营养的) foods, who feels OK
but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an
outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not
drive while drunk, and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but
sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be
at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could
be a lot healthier.
The field of medicine has not traditionally
distinguished between someone who is merely “not ill” and someone who is in
excellent health and pays attention to the body’s special needs. Both types
have simply been called “well”. In recent years, however, some health
specialists have begun to apply the terms “well” and “wellness” only to those
who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are
well are concerned with nutrition and exercise, and they make a point of
monitoring their body’s condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well
take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people
who have a physical disease or handicap (缺陷) may be
“well” in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible
health they can in the face of their physical limitations. “Wellness” may
perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal
that people can strive for. People who are well are likely to be better able to
resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention
on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact
on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life.
1.Today medical care is placing more stress on
________.
A. keeping people in a healthy physical condition
B. monitoring patients’ body functions
C. removing people’s bad living habits
D. ensuring people’s psychological well-being
2.In the first paragraph, people are reminded that
________.
A. good health is more than not being ill
B. drinking, even if not to excess, could be harmful
C. regular health checks are essential to keeping fit
D. prevention is more difficult than cure
3.Traditionally, a person is considered “well” if he
________.
A. does not have any unhealthy living habits
B. does not have any physical handicaps
C. is able to handle his daily routines
D. is free from any kind of disease
4.According to the author, the true meaning of
“wellness” is for people ________.
A. to best satisfy their body’s special needs
B. to strive to maintain the best possible health
C. to meet the strictest standards of bodily health
D. to keep a proper balance between work and leisure
5.According to what the author advocates, which of the
following groups of people would be considered healthy?
A. People who have strong muscles as well as slim
figures.
B. People who are not presently experiencing any
symptoms of disease.
C. People who try to be as possible, regardless of
their limitations.
D. People who can recover from illness even without
seeking medical care.
