全国硕士研究生考试英语试卷及答案(4).docx

全国硕士研究生考试英语试卷及答案(4)2003年全国硕士研究生考试英语试卷及答案Text4ItissaidthatinEnglanddeathispressing,inCanadainevitableandinCaliforniaoptionalSmallwonder.Americans#39;lifeexpectancyhasnearlydoubledoverthepastcentury.Failinghipscanbereplaced,clinicaldepressioncontrolled,cataractsremovedina30-minutssurgicalprocedure.SuchadvancesoffertheagingpopulationaqualityoflifethatwasunimaginablewhenIenteredmedicine50yearsago.Butnotevenagreathealth-caresystemcancuredeath-andourfailuretoconfrontthatrealitynowthreatensthisgreatnessofours.Deathisnormal;wearegeneticallyprogrammedtodisintegrateandperish,evenunderidealconditions.Weallunderstandthatatsomelevel,yetasmedicalconsumerswetreatdeathasaproblemtobesolved.Shieldedbythird-partypayersfromthecostofourcare,wedemandeverythingthatcanpossiblybedoneforus,evenifit#39;suseless.Themostobviousexampleislate-stagecancercare.Physicians-frustratedbytheirinabilitytocurethediseaseandfearinglossofhopeinthepatient-toooftenofferaggressivetreatmentfarbeyondwhatisscientificallyjustified.In1950,theU.S.spent.7billiononhealthcare.In2002,thecostwillbebillion.Anyonecanseethistrendisunsustainable.Yetfewseemwillingtotrytoreverseit.Somescholarsconcludethatagovernmentwithfiniteresourcesshouldsimplystoppayingformedicalcarethatsustainslifebeyondacertainage——say83orso.FormerColoradogovernorRichardLammhasbeenquotedassayingthattheoldandinfirm“haveadutytodieandgetoutoftheway”,sothatyounger,healthierpeoplecanrealizetheirpotential.Iwouldnotgothatfar.Energeticpeoplenowroutinelyworkthroughtheir60sandbeyond,andremaindazzlinglyproductive.At78,ViacomchairmanSumnerRedstonejokinglyclaimstobe53.SupremeCourtJusticeSandraDayO#39;Connorisinher70s,andformersurgeongeneralC.EverettKoopchairsanInternetstart-upinhis80s.Theseleadersarelivingproofthatpreventionworksandthatwecanmanagethehealthproblemsthatcomenaturallywithage.Asamere68-year-old,Iwishtoageasproductivelyastheyhave.Yettherearelimitstowhatasocietycanspendinthispursuit.Askaphysician,Iknowthemostcostlyanddramaticmeasuresmaybeineffectiveandpainful