Doctors recognize obesity as a health problem. So why is it so hard for them to talk to their patients about it?
The results of two surveys, one of primary care physicians and the other of patients, found that while most doctors want to help patients lose weight and think it is their responsibility to do so, they often don’t know what to say.
So while doctors may tell patients they are overweight, the conversation often ends there, said Christine C. Ferguson, director of the Stop Obesity Alliance. Without being told about options for diabetes, she said. “Doctors don’t feel they have good information to give. They felt they didn’t have adequate tools to address this problem.”
The lack of dialogue hurts patients, too. The patient survey, of over 1,000 adults, found that most overweight patients don’t even know at they’re too heavy. Only 39 percent of overweight people surveyed had ever been told by a health care provider that they were overweight.
Of those who were told they were obese, 90 percent were also told by their doctors to lose weight, the survey found. In fact most have tried to lose weight and may have been successful in the past — and many are still trying, the survey found. And many understand that losing even a small amount of weight can have a positive impact on their health and reduce their risk of obesity-related diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Dr. William Bestermann Jr., medical director of Holston Medical Group, in Kingsport, Tenn., which ranks 10th in obesity among metropolitan areas in the United States, said the dialogue had to be an ongoing one and could not be dropped after just one mention of the problem. “If you’re going to be successful with helping your patients lose weight, you’re going to have to talk to them at virtually every visit about their progress, and find something to encourage them about, find progress in some aspect of their care and coach them,” he said.
He acknowledged that many doctors tend to be optimistic.
“Part of this is that there’s this common belief, and doctors are burdened by it, too, that heavy people are weak-willed and just don’t have any willpower and are self-indulgent and all that business,” he said. “If you think that way, you’re not going to spend time having a productive conversation.”
61．What is most probably the Stop Obesity Alliance, as in Paragraph 3?
A．An organization of doctors specializing in obesity.
B．An organization of patients suffering from obesity.
C．A research group that conducts special surveys about overweight people.
D．A research group dealing with doctor – patient relationship.
62．How many of the patients surveyed have been advised by their doctors to lose weight?
A．About 350. B．About 390. C．About 900. D．1,000.
63．What can be inferred about obesity patients in Paragraph 5?
A．They are not as hopeless as doctors think they are.
B．Most of them have tried hard to lose weight, but in vain.
C．Without their doctors’ constant coaching, there is little chance of their succeeding in losing weight.
D．Most of them have just given up their hope of becoming less heavy.
64．According to the passage, which factor contributes to the lack of dialogue between doctors and patients?
A．Most doctors just never think of warning their patients about their weight problem.
B．Many doctors find it difficult to persuade overweight people to lose weight.
C．Most patients are too weak – willed to do anything about their weight.
D．Many patients tend not to trust their doctors about their weight problem.
65．Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A．Obesity in the U.S.
B．Trouble of overweight Americans
C．Talk more, help better
D．Doctors or patients – who to bear more blame?
Until the 1980s, the American homeless population was made up of mainly older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient(变化无常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems, both legal and educational, for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers.
Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis, But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.
One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.
Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions(规定) of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.
64. What can be implied from the first paragraph?
A. Before the 1980s, the homeless population mainly consists of children.
B. Urban schools are seriously short of academic facilities.
C. Many homeless children gather in inner cities.
D. Homeless children are deprived of the opportunity to receive free education
65. The National Coalition for the Homeless believes that the number of homeless children is ___
A. 350,000 B. 440,000 C. 3,000,000 D. 220,000
66. The reason why one part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate might be that ___
A. the homeless children are usually making a living by themselves
B. the homeless population is growing very fast.
C. some homeless children are abandoned by their families
D. the homeless children usually don’t attend school regularly
67. The McKinney Act is mentioned in this passage in order to show that ____________.
A. all homeless people are allowed to receive a good education
B. there is an increasing number of homeless children in America
C. it is necessary for homeless children to be counted as children
D. the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to be point out my shortcomings(缺点). Sometimes she said I was thin. Sometimes she said I was lazy. Sometimes she said I wasn’t a good student. Sometimes she said I talked too much, and so on. I tried to put up with(忍受) her as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, and then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Mary, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me and to my surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true.
I brought the list back to my dad. He refused to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be helpful to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you think is right.”
Many years have passed. The situation often appears in my mind. In our life we often meet with some trouble and we often go to someone and ask for advice. For some advice you will treasure all your life!
60. What did the writer’s father do after he heard her complaints(抱怨)?
A. He agreed with her “enemy”.
B. he let her continue to put up with her “enemy”.
C. He told her to write down all her “enemy” had said about her.
D. He told her not to pay attention to what her “enemy” had said.
61. The writer felt________ when she did the things as her father had told her.
A. surprised B. angry C. disappointed D. sad
62. Which of the following can we know from the passage?
A. The “enemy” thought the writer was pretty.
B. The “enemy” thought the writer studied hard.
C. The writer and her “enemy” became best friends at last.
D. The writer is grateful to her father.
63. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A. My Parents
B. A Serious Criticism(批评)
C. What People Say About You Is Always Right
D. The Best Advice I Ever Had
第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
Gloria is a famous hostess of a TV station. When she was 15, she happened to walk into a bookstore in her hometown and began looking at the books on the shelves. The man behind the counter, John Smith, asked if she'd like a job. She needed to start saving for college, so she said yes.
Gloria worked after school and during summer vacations, and the job helped pay for her first year of college. During college she would do many other jobs: she served coffee in the student union, was a hotel cleaner and even made maps for the Forest Service. But selling books was one of the most satisfying jobs.
One day a woman came into the bookstore and asked Gloria for books on cancer. The woman seemed anxious. Gloria showed her practically everything they had and found other books they could order. The woman left the store less worried, and Gloria has always remembered the pride she felt in having helped her customer.
Years later, as a television hostess, Gloria heard about a child who was born with problems with his fingers and hand. His family could not afford an operation, and the boy lived in shame, hiding his hand in his pocket all the time.
Gloria persuaded her boss to agree to let her do the story. After the story was broadcast, some doctors called, offering to perform the operation for free.
Gloria visited the boy in the hospital after the operation. The first thing he did was to hold up his repaired hand and say, "Thank you. " What a sweet sense of satisfaction Gloria felt!
At Smith's bookstore, Gloria always realized she was working for the customers, not the store. Today it's the same. The TV station pays her, but she feels that she should work for the people who watch the programmes, helping them understand the world better.
56. When did Gloria get her first job?
A. A few years before college. B. Several years after college.
C When she was studying at college. D. When she was working in the TV station.
57. In which part-time job did Gloria feel the happiest?
A. Cleaning in the hotel. B. Selling books in the bookstore.
C. Serving coffee in the student union. D. Making maps for the Forest Service.
58. How did Gloria help the child get the operation he needed?
A. Her boss agreed to raise money. B. She paid for the operation herself.
C She allowed the boy to show on TV. D. Her news report affected some doctors.
59. What particularly gives her the feeling of pride?
A. Helping people through her work. B. Reporting interesting stories.
C Being able to do different jobs well. D. Paying for her college education herself.
Dear Carol,
I wear braces （牙箍） and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off?
Connie N.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Connie,
Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits:
Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will be flattering to your face and also good for your type of hair （fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.） Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose.
Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup（化妆品）, it should look natural. Blusher（腮红） and lip gloss（润唇膏） in light tones of peach or pink are best.
Be well-groomed（打扮）. Neatness really counts. People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones!
68. Why did Connie write to Carol?
A. Because she really cared about her clothes.
B. Because she cared much about her appearance.
C. Because her teeth were not good.
D. Because she didn’t know how to make up.
69. Carol’s idea about one’s appearance is that ___________.
A. change your hairstyle and you will look beautiful
B. wear your make-up and you will look good
C. neatness is not important
D. if you yourself don’t think you look smart, neither will people
70. Carol tries to let Connie know that ___________.
A. the deepest impressions one leaves on others is the first ones
B. spirits are important when we talk about one’s appearance
C. there are some practical ways to draw people’s attention away from where you don’t feel good
D. all of the above
71. The underlined word “count” means “___________” in the last paragraph.
A. say numbers in order B. be of importance C. not include D. be accepted
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got good friends your parents don’t like?
64. Many teenagers think their ___________know them better than their parents do.
A. friends B. teachers C. brothers and sisters D. classmates
65. When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to ___________.
A. go to their friends B. talk with their parents
C. have a discussion with their family D. talk with their friends on the phone
66. Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A. Parents should like everything their children enjoy.
B. In all families, children can choose everything they like.
C. Parents should try their best to understand their children better.
D. Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.
67. The main idea of this passage is that ___________.
A. Teenagers need friends
B. Friends can give good advice
C. Parents often choose their children’s friends for them
D. Good friends can communicate with each other