The European Cancer Institute, a privately-funded body in Milan, recently uncovered a database with its own site on the worldwide computer network which can help doctors in treating cancer.  Known as START, the on-line pool of information drawn from 170 leading cancer specialists throughout Europe will be available flee of charge from the end of the year on.

The START idea draws its inspiration from a highly successful US computer database called PDQ which has been in use for more than ten years. PDQ, which is brought up to date every month by a selected group of cancer specialists, has a vast range of information on treatment, screening, prevention, supportive care and drugs which have either been approved or are under investigation. It goes a step further than START by trying to help patients as well as the doctors that treat them. Most of the information is presented in two versions in technical language for specialists and in simplified form for patients. Its principal goal is to spread knowledge.

PDQ exports invite their European colleagues to join their monthly sessions to make the database up-to-date. They also plan to start offering multimedia (多媒体) presentation later this year.

One of the main aims of database services is to give doctors, who are often confused by the enormous volume of new medical research, the opportunity to keep up with latest cancer treatments. Besides, it is believed that giving cancer-stricken patients access to the best available treatments could reduce death rates by up to ten percent.

　　  1. The passage is mainly about——.

　　　　  A. a successful computer database ran by the US

　　    B. a new way of spreading knowledge on cancer

　　　　  C. a new way of restricting cancer development

　　　　  D. a new association of cancer specialists

　　  2. The European Cancer Institute——.

　　　　  A. is sponsored by individuals

　　　　  B. is supported by the governments of European countries

　　　　  C. was established by the government of Italy

　　　　 D. is one of the branch organizations of the UN

　　  3. Which of the following is true?

　　　　  A. The START idea has derived from that of PDQ.

　　　　  B. Both the databases provide information on treatment rather than on prevention.

　　　　  C. PDQ draws its information on cancer from expects all over the world.

　　　　  D. The START information is gathered from all cancer specialists in Europe.

　　  4.  It can be inferred from the passage that

　　　　  A. ten percent of patients all over the world will be saved thanks to the two databases

　　　　  B. doctors have to learn all their lives so as not to be left behind their field

　　　　  C. doctors are always confused by the great volume of new medical research

　　　　  D. PDQ has been presenting its idea on line for more than ten years through multi media

Cancer specialists in Europe and North America are using the Internet to spread knowledge of the latest treatments in the hope that more lives can be saved from the killer disease.

The European Cancer Institute, a privately-funded body in Milan, recently uncovered a database with its own site on the worldwide computer network which can help doctors in treating cancer.  Known as START, the on-line pool of information drawn from 170 leading cancer specialists throughout Europe will be available flee of charge from the end of the year on.

The START idea draws its inspiration from a highly successful US computer database called PDQ which has been in use for more than ten years. PDQ, which is brought up to date every month by a selected group of cancer specialists, has a vast range of information on treatment, screening, prevention, supportive care and drugs which have either been approved or are under investigation. It goes a step further than START by trying to help patients as well as the doctors that treat them. Most of the information is presented in two versions in technical language for specialists and in simplified form for patients. Its principal goal is to spread knowledge.

PDQ exports invite their European colleagues to join their monthly sessions to make the database up-to-date. They also plan to start offering multimedia (多媒体) presentation later this year.

One of the main aims of database services is to give doctors, who are often confused by the enormous volume of new medical research, the opportunity to keep up with latest cancer treatments. Besides, it is believed that giving cancer-stricken patients access to the best available treatments could reduce death rates by up to ten percent.

　　  1. The passage is mainly about——.

　　　　  A. a successful computer database ran by the US

　　    B. a new way of spreading knowledge on cancer

　　　　  C. a new way of restricting cancer development

　　　　  D. a new association of cancer specialists

　　  2. The European Cancer Institute——.

　　　　  A. is sponsored by individuals

　　　　  B. is supported by the governments of European countries

　　　　  C. was established by the government of Italy

　　　　 D. is one of the branch organizations of the UN

　　  3. Which of the following is true?

　　　　  A. The START idea has derived from that of PDQ.

　　　　  B. Both the databases provide information on treatment rather than on prevention.

　　　　  C. PDQ draws its information on cancer from expects all over the world.

　　　　  D. The START information is gathered from all cancer specialists in Europe.

　　  4.  It can be inferred from the passage that

　　　　  A. ten percent of patients all over the world will be saved thanks to the two databases

　　　　  B. doctors have to learn all their lives so as not to be left behind their field

　　　　  C. doctors are always confused by the great volume of new medical research

　　　　  D. PDQ has been presenting its idea on line for more than ten years through multi media