Question

    The year 2018 will mark the 100h anniversary of the deadliest influenza outbreak in history. It is estimated that the influenza pandemic (瘟疫) of 1918 killed more than 50 million people around the world. Other estimates go much higher. Because of a lack of medical record-keeping, we may never know the exact number.

The influenza was a fast killer. Some victims died within hours of their first symptoms. Others died after a few days. “Their lungs filled with liquid and they choked to death.” The 1918 flu pandemic was also different from other outbreaks. It struck many young. healthy people. Viruses usually affect sick or old people.

Although modern medicine effectively controls many diseases, influenza remains difficult to protect against. The World Health Organization estimates that every year influenza kills 250,000 to 500,000 people around the world. Each year, medical scientists develop flu vaccines (疫苗) which offer immunity (免疫) from some influenza viruses. But they can only guess which form of the virus will spread.

Health officials remain concerned about another flu pandemic. New forms of the flu virus appear regularly. One example was the “swine flu” or H1N1 outbreak in 2009. Anthony Faucal, Director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in the United States says that virus caused a true pandemic.

To stop the next pandemic, scientists are now researching how to create a universal influenza vaccine. In October 2017, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the U. S. announced the Universal Influenza Vaccine Initiative. The university said researchers are leading an international effort to develop a universal influenza vaccine that will protect everyone against all forms of the flu anywhere in the world. The university added that researchers will begin tests in early 2018. The Human Vaccines Project, a public-private partnership, is funding the project. However, until a universal influenza vaccine is available, today’s seasonal flu vaccine remains important.

1.Why is influenza difficult to protect against?

A.It spreads too rapidly.

B.It is quite easy to catch.

C.No vaccine is available.

D.It's hard to judge the form of virus.

2.What does the author want to tell by mentioning H1N1 in 2009?

A.New forms of flu virus keeps appearing.

B.It was the most serious in recent years.

C.It was caused by the same flu virus of 1918.

D.The H1N1 virus was deadly as well.

3.What can we learn about the universal influenza vaccine?

A.The development is quite costly.

B.It will be used all over the world.

C.It can protect against all forms of flu.

D.It will soon come into use in 2019.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

【解析】

本文为说明文。2018将是历史上最致命的流感爆发的第100周年纪念。1918年的流感大流行导致全世界超过5000万人死亡。可见流感病毒比战争更致命。为了阻止下一次大流行, 科学家们正在研究如何制造一种通用流感疫苗。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段中的Although modern medicine effectively controls many diseases, influenza remains difficult to protect against.(尽管现代医学有效地控制了许多疾病，但是流感仍然很难预防)及Each year, medical scientists develop flu vaccines (疫苗) which offer immunity (免疫) from some influenza viruses. But they can only guess which form of the virus will spread.(每年，医学科学家们都在研制流感疫苗，可以对某些流感病毒产生免疫力。但是他们只能猜测哪种病毒会传播)可推断出，流感仍然难以抵御是因为专家不能确定病毒的形式。分析选项可知D项符合题意。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段中的Health officials remain concerned about another flu pandemic. New forms of the flu virus appear regularly. One example was the “swine flu” or H1N1 outbreak in 2009.(卫生官员仍然担心另一场流感大流行。新型流感病毒经常出现。2009年爆发的“猪流感”或H1N1就是一个例子)可知，举例是为了说明上句“新的流感病毒还在不断出现”。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中的The university said researchers are leading an international effort to develop a universal influenza vaccine that will protect everyone against all forms of the flu anywhere in the world.(该大学表示，研究人员正在领导一项国际努力，以开发一种通用流感疫苗，保护世界各地的每个人抵御各种形式的流感)可知，通用流感疫苗可以预防各种形式的流感。故选C。