A new oral medication to treat patients in the early stages of multiple sclerosis(多发性硬化) has shown considerable promise in two clinical trials, researchers announced on Wednesday.

The medication is on track to become just the third oral drug available to M.S. patients, and potentially the safest and most effective, experts said. The second oral drug, called Aubagio, was approved just last week.

The new trials, published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that the drug BG-12, developed by Biogen Idec, reduced relapsing M.S rates(旧病复发率)in patients by about 50 percent. The drug also obviously reduced the frequency of new brain damage , and slowed the progression of disease compared with a placebo(安慰剂).

In the two clinical trials, called Define and Confirm, patients were divided into two groups at random, taking 240 milligrams of BG-12 either twice or three times a day. Patients in a third group took a placebo. The combined results showed that the drug reduced the relapse rate by about 50 percent.

Taking BG-12 twice a day reduced the number of newly enlarging brain damages by 71 percent to 99 percent. The Define trial found a statistically significant 38 percent reduction in the progression to disability. The most frequent side effects were a temporary flushing(脸红)and warm feeling and other symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, cramping and vomiting. Though both types of side effects were common, they tended to reduce after the first few weeks of use and were tolerated by most patients.

However, Interferons, the drugs most commonly used in relapsing M.S., reduce relapses by about 30 percent, and have not been shown to slow the progression of the disease and disability. The newly approved Aubagio also reduces relapses by about 30 percent, and it has the advantage of being an oral drug.

BG-12 is an anti-inflammatory that works by protecting nerves against injury. “The safety track record is well known and appears to be very strong,” said Dr. Robert Fox, lead author of one of the new studies and medical director of the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment.

“It’s a bright day for M.S. patients, but there is a gray cloud in that we still don’t have anything for those with progressive M.S.,” he added.

63. Which of the following is NOT the function of BG-12? 

A. It can slow the progression to disability significantly.

B. It can reduce relapses rates in patients with relapsing M.S.

C. It can decrease the number of brain damages caused by M.S.

D. It can make patients excited and ensure patients have a warm feeling.

64. What can you infer from the underlined sentence in the last paragraph? 

A. BG-12 can relieve the pain from the patients suffering from M.S.

B. There is hope but still a long way to find a cure for progressive M.S.

C. Scientists can not invent medication for patients with progressive M.S.

D. Patients in the early stages of M.S will still suffer a lot in the future.

65. Which can be the best title for the text?

A. Advantages of BG-12               B. Good news for the patients

C. Comparisons between three drugs           D. A new oral medication for the early M.S.

 Wendy ,Carol, Jenny, Tom 和Mark 想观看演出或参加培训.阅读下列材料, 从所给的6个选项中,选出符合各自要求的最佳选项。其中一项是多余的。(5分)

1.Wendy, a student who is interested comedy and acting,will be free on Oct.12th .She wants to relax herself by enjoying some performances, but she has no more than $4.

2.Carol is expected to be free on October 15th. She plans to enjoy some

performances while having a cup of coffee.

3.Jenny, a student who majors in art, is interested in Italian art as well as Chinese art. She will be free after school at 4:30.

4.Tom will go to study in the USA for a master’s degree. He wants to have a full-time special training for several months to improve his oral English.

5.Mark , a worker of an export company, needs to improve his writing and oral English. He can only go to the training class after work every day.

A.ENGLISH  LANGUAGE  CENTER

Classes for beginners for 3 months.

Focus on grammar as well as writing and oral English.

3:00 p.m to 9:30 p.m

Small classes with a maximum of 8 students

Course fee: $300 (10% discount for the first to enroll)

B.HALIFAX  PLAYHOUSE

Ring’s Cross Street, Halifax.

Oct.10th--- Oct 17th on Golden Pond by Emest Thompson.

This is a magical comedy about real people. A well-acted play for everyone.

Don’t miss it.

Time: 7:30 p.m

Price: $3

Tel:36599988

C.LONDON COLLEGE OF ENGLISH

Classes for foreign students of all levels.

3 months, 6 months,9 months and 1 years course.

Focus on spoken language.

Open through all year from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Small class with a maximum of 12 students.

Course fee for English for one year: ;$1,200

Discount at shorter period of study.

Tel:22342381

D.EXHIBITIONS OF OIL PAINTINGS

Gallery of the Central Academy of Fine Art

A combination of Eastern and Western Art 8:00 a.m.

Price: $2 for adults, $1 for students

Tel: 33569875

E.WESTERN ART SHOW

China National Art Museum

European modern art, Chinese art and African ancient art

Open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m from Oct. 6th to 20th

Price : $3 for adults, $1.5 for middle school students.

Tel:25545569

F.GRAND THEATRE

Oxford Street, Leeds

Restaurant and Cafe.

Sep.1st—19th

Admission:Tues.--Thurs. $2-6; Fri.& Sat.$4-8

Sue Townsend’s musical play.

Time: Evenings 7:45. Oct 10th—17th, at 2:30 p.m.

No Monday performance.

All kinds of drinks offered

Tel :52011611

 

Wendy ,Carol, Jenny, Tom 和Mark 想观看演出或参加培训.阅读下列材料, 从所给的6个选项中,选出符合各自要求的最佳选项。其中一项是多余的。(5分)
【小题1】Wendy, a student who is interested comedy and acting,will be free on Oct.12th .She wants to relax herself by enjoying some performances, but she has no more than $4.
【小题2】Carol is expected to be free on October 15th. She plans to enjoy some
performances while having a cup of coffee.
【小题3】Jenny, a student who majors in art, is interested in Italian art as well as Chinese art. She will be free after school at 4:30.
【小题4】Tom will go to study in the USA for a master’s degree. He wants to have a full-time special training for several months to improve his oral English.
【小题5】Mark , a worker of an export company, needs to improve his writing and oral English. He can only go to the training class after work every day.

A．ENGLISHLANGUAGE CENTER Classes for beginners for 3 months. Focus on grammar as well as writing and oral English. 3:00 p.m to 9:30 p.m Small classes with a maximum of 8 students Course fee: $300 (10% discount for the first to enroll)

B．HALIFAX PLAYHOUSE Ring’s Cross Street, Halifax. Oct.10th--- Oct 17th on Golden Pond by Emest Thompson. This is a magical comedy about real people. A well-acted play for everyone. Don’t miss it. Time: 7:30 p.m Price: $3 Tel:36599988

C．LONDON COLLEGE OF ENGLISH Classes for foreign students of all levels. 3 months, 6 months,9 months and 1 years course. Focus on spoken language. Open through all year from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Small class with a maximum of 12 students. Course fee for English for one year: ;$1,200 Discount at shorter period of study. Tel:22342381

D．EXHIBITIONS OF OIL PAINTINGS

Gallery of the Central Academy of Fine Art
A combination of Eastern and Western Art 8:00 a.m.
Price: $2 for adults, $1 for students
Tel: 33569875
E.WESTERN ART SHOW
China National Art Museum
European modern art, Chinese art and African ancient art
Open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m from Oct. 6th to 20th
Price : $3 for adults, $1.5 for middle school students.
Tel:25545569
F.GRAND THEATRE
Oxford Street, Leeds
Restaurant and Cafe.
Sep.1st—19th
Admission:Tues.--Thurs. $2-6; Fri.& Sat.$4-8
Sue Townsend’s musical play.
Time: Evenings 7:45. Oct 10th—17th, at 2:30 p.m.
No Monday performance.
All kinds of drinks offered
Tel :52011611

Dear Mr. Green,

I’m very exciting to learn that we will start a magazine together. That sounds great, and I definitely agree you on that.

Some of the columns what you mentioned in the letter are really my cup of tea. “Cultural Express” gives us a better understanding of the world. Since the people from different parts of the world have different values, it’s necessary to learn from each others. This will offer a wonderful chance. Apart from that, “Blurt Out” is pretty good for Chinese student to learn English idioms and improving oral English. Last but not least, “Entertainment” is so cool! The popular singers, actors or celebrities are so attractively that you absolutely can’t miss this part. Teenagers were just fond of popular things.

Well, I can’t list more. I really can’t wait to read this magazine.

Yours faithfully

Li Hua