China’s breeding ground for a generation of super germs

MC Continuity

RLS - 2005

China’s breeding ground for a generation of super germs

• What are antibiotics and how do they work?

• What are the dangers of prescribing too many antibiotics?

“Now I just buy antibiotics myself. …” It costs him about 60 cents for a box of 24 …. Buying antibiotics in China … (86%) • 35. A. takes time and

money• B. remains unusual

even today.• C. is as easy as buying

aspirin.• D. has always required

connections.

• Does 60 cents sound expensive?

• Does it sound difficult for the man to get antibiotics?

• C = Correct

Up to 90% of people who visit a hospital on the mainland are given some type of antibiotic. (78%)• 36. A. Scientists are worki

ng hard to develop • B. This overuse of antibioti

cs has resulted in• C. And a large proportion

of them come from • D. Such a revolution in pati

ent care demands• … a new generation of dru

g-resistant ‘super-germs’ in the world’s most populous country.

• Is it a good thing or bad thing to have drug-resistant germs?

• The cause must be something negative.

• B=Correct

But because antibiotics … (81%)

• 37. A. have been widely misused and overused,

• B. are not a cure for every known disease,

• C. cannot be taken without a prescription,

• D. are a relatively recent medical discovery,

• … the bacteria they were meant to kill have begun to mutate.

• What is the main message of the passage so far?

• A=Correct

The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has called it one of the most pressing global health problems. (61%)• 38. A. While patients deman

d ever higher standards of care,

• B. Although new diseases are being discovered every day,

• C. Knowing that there is little that can be done to help victims,

• D. With some diseases becoming more potent than ever,

• … doctors are running out of drugs to treat them.

• What is the problem that has been described?

• What does “them” refer to?

• D=Correct

In China, growing global ties mean that public health problems (54%)

• 39. A. can be carried from one side of the country to the other.

• B. are no longer purely a domestic issue.

• C. get media attention quickly nowadays.

• D. leave officials guessing where they will occur next.

• The reference to “global ties” implies that the “super-germs” may spread to other countries.

• B=Correct

However, the outbreak of SARS in 2003 has heightened awareness. (71%)

• 40. A. To promote better public hygiene,

• B. Although prevention is better than cure,

• C. Seeking to reduce the pressure on hospitals,

• D. In an effort to combat the ever-widening abuse,

• … government authorities announced that a doctor’s prescription will be required from July.

• Requiring a doctor’s prescription is a strategy for the government to have more control.

• People won’t be able to take antibiotics freely.

• D=Correct

“I’ve seen programmes on television,’ said Mr. Ye. “But they don’t tell you what else you can take if (75%)• 41. A. it doesn’t fit the

ir agenda.”• B. you don’t take antib

iotics.”• C. it’s a matter of life

and death.”• D. you only read the n

ewspaper.”

• Taking antibiotics is the only method people know.

• B=Correct

… a doctor’s prescription is already officially required … to obtain antibiotics - … Zhang Aiqin, head pharmacist of Beijing’s Anzhen Hospital, said the rule would not work in China because (72%)• 42. A. of concerns over the will

ingness of patients to participate.

• B. many people had already built up sufficient supplies at home.

• C. the manufacturing equipment was not widely available.

• D. of its lax regulations on prescriptions and vast population.

• … “How will each drug store identify which doctor and which hospital wrote the prescription?”

• He seems to be worried about the number of drug stores and the number of doctors.

• The reference to prescriptions being “officially” required implies that they are not required in practice.

• D=Correct

Hospitals rely on selling drugs for the bulk of their revenue and (71%)

• 43. A. offering extra services, like private rooms, also helps.

• B. trying to change the existing situation is essential.

• C. doctors often earn commission from drug companies.

• D. they sometimes refuse to accept credit card payments.

• … In many cases, out-patients pay less than US$1 to see a doctor… but might spend US$30 or more on drugs.

• The writer is trying to explain why the problem exists.

• Part of the problem is there are financial incentives for doctors to prescribe drugs.

• C=Correct

“Doctors always ask if we have medical coverage or if we’re paying ourselves,” said Mr. Ye. (52%)• 44. A. “As professionals,

• B. “To help us recover,

• C. “If we have coverage,

• D. “For the sake of convenience,

• … they always prescribe more drugs and more expensive drugs.”

• When would doctors prescribe more expensive drugs? When would patients be willing to take more expensive drugs?

• C=Correct

Two years ago, the magazine Capital Medicine sent 5 young reporters to 40 hospitals in Beijing. The 5 were first confirmed to have no respiratory symptoms, but they went to the hospitals (64%)• 45. A. complaining of coughs,

sore throats and other mild symptoms.

• B. as a protest against the poor working conditions there.

• C. to interview patients with these problems about their treatment.

• D. looking for patients and staff with similar symptoms.

• Doctors at 32 of the hospitals, …, promptly prescribed antibiotics.

• Who are “they”?• Why did the reporters

go see doctors if they weren’t sick?

• What did they say to make the doctors prescribe medicine to them.

• A=Correct

…some will immediately give … a powerful antibiotic known in the U.S. as the drug of last resort. That, given the current situation,” says Dr. Philip Jenkins, a World Health Organisation expert on drug resistance, (38%)

• 46. A. “will help everyone recover quickly.”

• B. “is the last thing we want.”

• C. “must be the solution.”

• D. “can only help.”

• Does the writer think that prescribing powerful antibiotics is a good idea?

• B=Correct