第二篇
New U.S. Plan for Disease Prevention
Urging Americans to take responsibility for their health, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday launched a $15 million program to try to encourage communities to do more to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes （糖尿病）.
The initiative highlights the costs of chronic diseases－the leading causes of death in the United States－and outlines ways that people can prevent them, including better diet and increased exercise.
"In the United States today, 7 of 10 deaths and the vast majority of serious illness, disability and health care costs are caused by chronic diseases," the Health and Human Services department said in a statement.
The causes are often behavioral－smoking, poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.
"I am convinced that preventing disease by promoting better health is a smart policy choice for our future," Thompson told a conference held to launch the initiative.
"Our current health care system is not structured to deal with the rising costs of treating diseases that are largely preventable through changes in our lifestyle choices."
Thompson said heart disease and strokes will cost the country more than $351 billion in 2003.
"These leading causes of death for men and women are largely preventable, yet we as a nation are not taking the steps necessary for us to lead healthier, longer lives," he said.
The $15 million is designed to go to communities to promote prevention, pushing for changes as simple as building sidewalks to encourage people to walk more.
Daily exercise such as walking can prevent and even reverse heart disease and diabetes, and prevent cancer and strokes.
The money will also go to community organizations, clinics and nutritionists who are being encouraged to work together to educate people at risk of diabetes about what they can do to prevent it and encourage more cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society estimates that half of all cancers can be caught by screening, including Pap tests （巴氏试验）for cervical （子宫颈的）cancer, mammograms （乳房X线照片） for breast cancer, colonoscopies （结肠镜检查）, and prostate （前列腺的） checks.
If such cancers were all caught by early screening, the group estimates that the survival rate for cancer would rise to 95 percent.
6 Which of the following is NOT true of chronic diseases in the US?
A They account for 70% of all deaths.
B They are responsible for most of the health care costs.
C They often result in unhealthy lifestyles.
D They are largely preventable.
7 The author mentions all the following ways of disease prevention EXCEPT
A better diet.
B increased exercise.
C less smoking.
D more frequent hand washing.
8 The passage indicates that spending more money on disease prevention will mean
A greater responsibility of the government.
B less need for input into treatment.
C higher costs of health care.
D more lifestyle choices for people.
9 The purpose of the $15 million program is to
A promote disease prevention.
B build more highways.
C help poor communities.
D wipe out chronic diseases.
10 Early cancer screening can help reduce significantly
A the death rates for all chronic diseases.
B the kinds of cancer attacking people.
C the incidence rate for cancer.
D the death rate for cancer.
【参考答案】
6. C 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. D