Question

    Painkillers (止痛药) are turning out to be a real pain: according to a new study in the British Medical Journal. Taking them for just a week can increase your risk of heart attack by 50%. The research suggested that the risk related to the use of certain drugs was greatest with higher doses (服用量) and during the first month of use. The potential risk may increase by 75% for medicines like ibuprofen (布洛芬) and naproxen, and more than 100% for rofecoxib.

It all sounds bad but, your risk is very low, — say, one in a million — a 100% increase means you still only have a two in a million chance. Of course, all painkilling medication that works can have side effects — nothing is safe and effective. Paracetamol (扑热息痛) has very few unless taken too much, in which case it can cause serious liver danger, but it isn’t very effective. Drugs like opiates are strong painkillers but easy to be addicted and often have other bad effects. Maybe you find that you are in a dilemma now. But don’t despair; you can refer to a pain clinic for some professional guidance. For ongoing pain, music and exercise may be the best choices to help you reduce the feeling of it.

Scientist at Harvard have recently done a quite horrible study on mice. They made the mice experience extremes of hot and cold, applied pressure to their back legs and injected the capsaicin (辣椒素) into their feet. And then they timed how long it took them to respond to the pain. Lack of sleep increased the discomfort, while stimulants (兴奋剂) such as caffeine made them less responsive to pain. This has been widely reported that a good night’s sleep and a cup of coffee in the morning may help reduce pain.

But anyway, don’t throw the pills away because the study also shows taking small doses of drugs, such as for short periods of time can be effective and safe as long as your heart is in good condition.

1.Which of the following painkillers has fewest side-effects?

A.Ibuprofen. B.Naproxen.

C.Rofecoxib. D.Paracetamol.

2.What does the underlined word “despair” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A.Take it seriously. B.Take any risks.

C.Lose hope. D.Feel doubtful.

3.The example of mice is used to show that ____

A.mice can stand extreme pressure

B.good sleep and coffee may decrease pain

C.legs and feet are more sensitive to pain

D.capsaicin and stimulants can help reduce pain

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.How to stop taking painkillers. B.A new way of reducing pain.

C.The risk of taking painkillers. D.How to avoid painkillers’ side effects.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。根据《英国医学杂志》的一项新研究，止痛药正变成一种真正的疼痛。只服用一周就会使心脏病发作的风险增加50%。文章主要说明了止痛药存在的风险，以及说明了其他一些可以有助于减轻疼痛的方法。研究还表明，只要你的心脏状况良好，服用小剂量的药物仍然是有效和安全的。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中的The research suggested that the risk related to the use of certain drugs was greatest with higher doses (服用量) and during the first month of use. The potential risk may increase by 75% for medicines like ibuprofen (布洛芬) and naproxen, and more than 100% for rofecoxib.(研究表明，在使用某些药物的第一个月，服用高剂量药物的风险最大。布洛芬和萘普生等药物的潜在风险可能增加75%，罗非昔布增加100%以上)及第二段中的Paracetamol has very few unless taken too much, in which case it can cause serious liver danger, but it isn’t very effective.(扑热息痛的含量很少，除非服用过量，在这种情况下，它会导致严重的肝危险，但不是很有效)可知，在Ibuprofen，Naproxen，Rofecoxib和Paracetamol四种药物之中，Paracetamol的副作用最小。故选D。

2.词义猜测题。根据上文Maybe you find that you are in a dilemma now.(也许你会发现你现在处于一个两难的境地)以及后文you can refer to a pain clinic for some professional guidance(你可以向疼痛诊所寻求一些专业指导)可知，虽然也许你会发现你现在处于一个两难的境地，但是不必绝望，你还可以向疼痛诊所寻求一些专业指导。故划线单词意思是“绝望的”。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中…a good night's sleep and a cup of coffee in the morning may help reduce pain.(晚上睡个好觉，早上喝杯咖啡有助于减轻疼痛)可知，老鼠的例子表明良好的睡眠和咖啡可以减轻疼痛。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段中Painkillers are turning out to be a real pain: according to a new study in the British Medical Journal. Taking them for just a week can increase your risk of heart attack by 50%. (根据《英国医学杂志》的一项新研究，止痛药正变成一种真正的疼痛。只服用一周就会使心脏病发作的风险增加50%)结合文章主要内容为说明止痛药存在的风险，以及应对方法，故C选项“服用止痛药的风险”符合文章主旨。故选C。