Self-employed private physicians who charge a fee for each patient visit are the foundation of medical practice in the United States. Most physicians have a contract relationship with one or more hospitals in the community. They send their patients to this hospital, which usually charges patients according to the number of days they stay and the facilities (operating room, tests, medicines that they use). Some hospitals belong to a city, a state or, in the case of veteran's hospitals, a federal government agency. Others are operated by religious orders(教会) or other non-profit groups.
Some medical doctors are on salary. Salaried physicians may work as hospital staff members, or residents, who are often still in training. They may teach in medical schools, be hired by corporations to care for their workers or work for the federal government’s Public Health Service.
Physicians are among the best paid professionals in the United States. In the 1980s, it was not uncommon for medical doctors to earn incomes of more than $ 100,000 a year. Specialists, particularly surgeons, might earn several times that amount. Physicians list many reasons why they deserve to be so well rewarded for their work. One reason is the long and expensive preparation required to become a physician in the United States. Most would-be physicians first attend college for four years, which can cost nearly $ 20,000 a year at one of the best private institutions. Prospective physicians then attend medical school for four years. Tuition alone can exceed $ 10,000 a year. By the time they have obtained their medical degrees, many young physicians are deeply in debt. They still face three to five years of residency(实习阶段) in a hospital, the first year as an apprentice physician. The hours are long and the pay is relatively low.
Setting up a medical practice is expensive, too. Sometimes several physicians will decide to establish a group practice, so they can share the expense of maintaining an office and buying equipment. These physicians also take care of each other’s patients in emergencies.
Physicians work long hours and must accept a great deal of responsibility. Many medical procedures, even quite routine ones, involve risk. It is understandable that physicians want to be well rewarded for making decisions which can mean the difference between life and death.
1.According to the passage, it is very unlikely that an American hospital is owned by ______.
A.a church B.a corporation C.a city D.a state
2.The expenses for becoming a doctor are spent on _______.
A.schooling and retraining
B.practice in a hospital
C.facilities he or she uses
D.education he or she receives
3.According to the passage, how long does it take for a would-be physician to become an independent physician in the USA?
A.About seven year. B.Eight years.
C.Ten years. D.About twelve years.
4.Sometimes several physicians set up a group medical practice mainly because _______.
A.there are so many patients that it is difficult for one physician to take care all of them
B.they can take turns to work long hours
C.facilities may be too much of a burden for one physician to shoulder
D.no one wants to assume too much responsibility
5.Which of the following statements could fully express the author’s view towards physicians’ payment in the USA?
A.For their expensive education and their responsibility, they deserve a handsome pay.
B.It is reasonable for physicians to have a large income because their work is very dangerous.
C.Physicians should be better paid because they work long hours under bad conditions.
D.Physicians have great responsibility, so it is understandable that they should be well rewarded.
A butcher watching over his shop was really surprised when he saw a dog coming inside the shop. He went over to the dog and noticed it had a note in its mouth. He took the note and it read “Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please. The dog has money in his mouth, as well.”
The butcher looked carefully and was surprised to find that there was really a ten-dollar note there. So he took the money and put the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing it in the dog’s mouth. The butcher was so impressed, and since it was about closing time, he decided to shut up shop and follow the dog.
So off he went. He followed the dog to a bus stop. The dog stopped and started looking at the timetable. The dog checked out the time, and then sat on one of the seats provided. Along came a bus. The dog walked around to the front, looked at the number, and went back to its seat. Another bus came. Again the dog went around to the front, looked at the number and climbed on. The butcher, by now, open-mouthed, followed it onto the bus.
The bus traveled through the town and out into the suburbs. Eventually the dog got up, and moved to the front of the bus. It stood on two back paws and pushed the button to stop the bus. Then it got off with groceries still in its mouth.
Well, the dog and the butcher were walking along the road, and then the dog turned into a house. It walked up the path, and dropped the groceries on the step. Then it walked back down the path, took a big run, and threw itself against the door. Then again, it threw himself against it. There’s no answer at the house. so the dog waited at the door.
The butcher watched as a big guy opened the door, and started shouting at it. The butcher ran up, and stopped the guy. “Why do you shout at the dog? It is really a genius.” The guy responded, “You call this clever? This is the second time this week that this stupid dog’s forgotten its key.”
1.Which may be the best title of the passage?
A.A clever dog. B.A curious butcher.
C.A cruel owner. D.A second lost key.
2.Why was the butcher surprised when he saw the dog?
A.Because there was a note in the dog’s mouth.
B.Because a dog was not supposed to come into his shop alone.
C.Because the dog was not afraid of being butchered.
D.Because the dog could read.
3.The passage implies that _________.
A.dogs are cleverer than man
B.dogs are our best friend
C.the butcher is a cruel person
D.some people are never satisfied with what they have got
4.The dog threw itself against the door, because _________.
A.it wanted to force the door open
B.it wanted its owner to open the door
C.it wanted to punish itself for forgetting the key
D.it wanted to get the butcher’s help
5.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.The butcher was curious so he followed the dog.
B.The dog didn’t get on the first bus because it was the wrong number.
C.To get off the bus, you should let the driver know by pressing the button.
D.The dog would be driven away by the big guy.
In this modern world, we rush around all day, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages. We are always on, always connected, always thinking, always talking. There is no ___1___ for stillness.
And when we are ___2 ___to be still because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train, we often ___3 ___something to do. Some will play with mobile devices, others will read something. Being still isn’t something we’re ___4___.
This comes at a ___ 5___: we lose that time for ___6__, for observing and listening. We lose peace.
And ___7___ yet: sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crazily, but get ___ 8___done.
Take a moment to think about ___9__ you spend your days. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering ___10 ___, checking on the news and the latest stream of information? Are you always ___11___through your schedule?
Is this how you want to spend your ___12___? If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be ___13___. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. ___14___be in the moment.
Then after a minute or two of doing that, consider your life, and how you’d ___15___ it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more consideration, more ___16___.
Then be that vision.
It’s pretty simple: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. ___17___you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too___18___. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of ___19___ for it.
___20 ___ the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.
1. A.place B.chance C.freedom D.time
2. A.forced B.ordered C.invited D.told
3. A.have B.find C.buy D.get
4. A.familiar with B.curious about C.used to D.interested in
5. A.cost B.risk C.loss D.danger
6. A.play B.food C.sleep D.consideration
7. A.further B.worse C.farther D.deeper
8. A.everything B.anything C.nothing D.something
9. A.how B.where C.why D.whether
10. A.questions B.problems C.phones D.messages
11. A.walking B.rushing C.stepping D.going
12. A.school B.youth C.work D.life
13. A.silent B.patient C.still D.quiet
14. A.Nearly B.Ever C.Just D.Already
15. A.like B.decide C.choose D.need
16. A.activity B.research C.study D.peace
17. A.Because B.Until C.Once D.Unless
18. A.frequently B.slowly C.fast D.quickly
19. A.asking B.sending C.calling D.waiting
20. A.Value B.Miss C.Owe D.Hold
—Jack, could I use your laptop for a while?
—___________. Go ahead, please.
A.With pleasure B.No way C.By all means D.Come on
I paid a fine of 200yuan for speeding. If only I _________ the traffic rules!
A.had respected B.respected
C.would have respected D.could respect
—I did not give offence to you ___________.
—Forget it. Let’s make up.
A.accidentally B.casually C.occasionally D.deliberately