Question

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.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.C

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讲了在美国，医师是高报酬职业之一。这是由于他们需要较长时间的学习和高学费投入的缘故。

1.细节理解题。从第 1 段最后两句话 “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.”中可得出答案。故选B。

2.主旨大意题。从第 3 段中“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.”可得出答案，故选D。

3.细节理解题。从第 3 段的 Most would be physicians first attend college for four years… Prospective physicians then attend medical school for four years…They still face three to five years of residency 可知答案为 D。

4.细节理解题。从第 4 段“Sometimes several physicians will decide to establish a group practice, so they can share the expense of maintaining an office and buying equipment.”可找到答案，故选C。

5.主旨大意题。通读全文便知高额学费和职业风险是医师获得高报酬的原因，故选A。

考点：社会现象类阅读。