Question

    It was a red-letter day in the history of medicine-“Target Zero Day”, May 8th, 1980, marking the complete removal of smallpox, a terrifying disease. It was untreatable but, luckily, it turned out that vaccination (接种疫苗) provided good protection- -and that mass immunization (免疫) could wipe out the small- pox virus by blocking its spread.

According to legend, vaccination was invented by Dr Edward Jenner. Jenner showed that healthy children vaccinated with cowpox, a mild infection of cattle, could not catch smallpox. He was supposedly inspired by a comment from a local milkmaid, but there is evidence that the idea came from a medical friend, John Fester, who had experimented with cowpox. Nevertheless, Jenner deserves credit for introducing vaccination into the medical mainstream with his paper published in 1798.

In 1966, 160 years after the prediction that vaccination would clean off the disease, the World Health Organization launched its Smallpox Eradication Programme. This heroic 1-year drive was directed by two American public health doctors, DA Henderson and Bill Forge. Their hardships were enormous: One WHO official even promised to eat a tyre if smallpox was removed; Henderson promised to send him the tyre and wished him good appetite. But Henderson and Foege's hard work paid off--three years after the last smallpox case was informed (to make sure no outbreaks had been missed) Target Zero Day was declared.

40 years on, should we remember Target Zero Day? First, to celebrate victory of preventative medicine and freedom from a cruel disease. Then, we must remember the victims of smallpox. It had previously killed 1 in 12 worldwide. In 1914, a Canadian professor warned against forgetting smallpox, which was fast disappearing from North America. It went on to kill at least another 250 million people -- three times more than both world wars combined. Target Zero Day also reminds us of undefeated infections, including polio, measles, malaria, and of course the coronavirus Covid-19. Let's recognize Target Zero Day for what it is: a milestone in world history and a monument to the art of the possible.

1.What inspired Jenner to invent the vaccination?

A.A medical friend. B.A local milkmaid.

C.Cattle. D.Children.

2.What is the writer's purpose of mentioning the WHO official's promise?

A.To introduce the support from the WHO.

B.To stress the importance of good appetite.

C.To suggest the difficulty in removing smallpox.

D.To show his determination to carry on the drive.

3.Where can you find the figures that best support “smallpox is a terrifying disease?

A.In paragraph 1. B.In paragraph 2.

C.In paragraph 3. D.In paragraph 4.

4.What message does the text convey?

A.A promise made is a debt unpaid. B.A trouble shared is a trouble halved.

C.Something is better than nothing. D.Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。1980年5月8日的“零目标日”是医学史上一个值得纪念的日子，标志着天花这一可怕疾病被彻底根除。文章介绍了天花疫苗的发明，在1966年世界卫生组织启动的根除天花计划，在两位美国公共卫生医生的努力下实现“零目标日”，这是展现可能性的艺术的一座纪念碑。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中He was supposedly inspired by a comment from a local milkmaid, but there is evidence that the idea came from a medical friend, John Fester, who had experimented with cowpox.可知据推测，他的灵感来自当地一个挤奶女工的评论，但有证据表明，这个想法来自他的一个医学朋友John Fester，他曾试验过牛痘。由此可知，一个医生朋友激发了Jenner发明疫苗。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Their hardships were enormous: One WHO official even promised to eat a tyre if smallpox was removed…可知他们的困难是巨大的：一位官员甚至承诺，如果天花被清除，他将吃掉一个轮胎……由此可推知，作者提及世界卫生组织官员的承诺的目的是暗示根除天花的困难。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中It had previously killed 1 in 12 worldwide. In 1914, a Canadian professor warned against forgetting smallpox, which was fast disappearing from North America. It went on to kill at least another 250 million people - three times more than both world wars combined.可知在此之前，全世界有1 / 12的人死于该病。1914年，一位加拿大教授警告人们不要忘记天花，天花在北美正迅速消失。它还造成了至少2.5亿人死亡，是两次世界大战死亡人数总和的三倍。由此可推知，第4段能找到支持“天花是一种可怕疾病”的数据。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Let's recognize Target Zero Day for what it is: a milestone in world history and a monument to the art of the possible.可知让我们认识到“零目标日”的意义：它是世界历史上的一个里程碑，是展现可能性的艺术的一座纪念碑。结合文章介绍了1980年5月8日的“零目标日”是医学史上一个值得纪念的日子，标志着天花这一可怕疾病被彻底根除。文章介绍了天花疫苗的发明，在1966年世界卫生组织启动的根除天花计划，在两位美国公共卫生医生的努力下实现“零目标日”，这是展现可能性的艺术的一座纪念碑。由此可推知，这篇文章传达了“心之所愿，无事不成”的观点。故选D。