Glaucoma(青光眼)is a major cause of blindness around the world, especially in developing countries. The World Health Organization says glaucoma is a greater public health challenge than cataracts(白内障), because the blindness caused by the latter can be cured after operations.
Glaucoma is a disease that makes people around the world lose their sight, and they usually don’t even know they have the disease until it has permanently destroyed at least 40 percent of their sight. The process is usually so painless and subtle(不明显的), so people don't notice it. Actually, the simplest medical test can discover it.
“It is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. In Hispanics and in African-Americans, it’s the second leading cause of blindness and so is the case in the Chinese and Indians.” said Dr. Alan Robin, a specialist in treating glaucoma. “The glaucoma we see in sub-Saharan Africa is a much more aggressive blinding disease than the glaucoma we see in Americans or even African- Americans in-the United States.” he said. .
Dr. Eric Fleischer also sees these differences at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. “Pretty much anybody who has ancestors in Africa has an increased chance of developing glaucoma.” Age is another thing that may lead to glaucoma, although people of all ages can get it.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that commonly produce pressure in the eye. An eye is sort of like a watch. And behind the face of the watch, liquid is made. It goes through your pupil(瞳孔)and into the front of the watch between the face and the crystal.There's an area around the edge of the watch that drains(使排出)the liquid. When that drain is blocked, the liquid can't leave the eye as fast as it is produced. The rising pressure within the eye damages and eventually kills the optic(视觉的) nerve. The result is blindness.
Fortunately, if caught early, glaucoma can be controlled. Glaucoma is not curable. But as researchers worldwide lean more about it, they grow more hopeful that glaucoma can one day be cured or even prevented.In which country is glaucoma the biggest danger to people’s sight?
A.In China | B.In India | C.In the USA | D.In Japan |
What do the underlined words “these differences”(in Para 4 )refer to?
A.The differences in regions(地区) | B.The cultural differences |
C.The differences in age | D.The physical differences |
From the passage, we can learn that, .
A.It is hard for medical tests to discover glaucoma |
B.People in developed countries hardly develop glaucoma |
C.Glaucoma only causes blindness among old people |
D.The research on glaucoma is still going on worldwide |
Benin is one of the smallest African states. It lies in West Africa on the Gulf (海湾) of Guinea, to the south of Burkina Faso and Niger, between Togo on the west and Nigeria on the east.
Benin used to be called Dahomey and was controlled and ruled by France from 1893 to 1960, when it became independent. In 1963 the army general Soglo overthrew (推翻) the first president Maga. Soglo set up an army government and called himself head of state in 1965, but was overthrown and replaced by a civilian (非军人) government in 1967. In December 1969 Benin had another change of power with the army again taking over. In May 1970, Maga and two other men set up a new government, with each of them acting as president in turn for two years. However, half a year after Maga turned over power to the second man Ahomadegbe, the three-man government was overthrown by the army once more and General Kerekou became president. In November 1975 Kerekou changed the name of the nation from Dahomey to Benin, Benin being the name of a 17th century kingdom covering the same place. Kerekou also announced that Benin would be a People’s Republic based on Marxism-Leninism.Which of the following maps shows rightly the positions of Benin and its neighbouring countries?
Bn="Benin;"
Tg="Togo;"
Nr="Niger;"
BF="Burkina" Faso;
Na="Nigeria;"
GG="Gulf" of GuineaFor how long was Benin an independent state before it became a People’s Republic?
A.30 years. | B.25 years. |
C.20 years. | D.15 years. |
Choose the right order in which the following people ruled in Benin. (Ah="Ahomadegbe;" Ke="Kerekou;" Ma="Maga;" So=Soglo)
A.Ma, So, Ma, Ke, Ah | B.So, Ma, Ah, Ma, Ke |
C.Ma, So, Ma, Ah, Ke | D.So, Ma, Ke, Ma, Ah |
When and how did Benin get its two names — Benin and Dahomey?
A.Benin was its oldest name. The name Dahomey was used later, but has been replaced by Benin again. |
B.Dahomey was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Benin. |
C.Dahomey was its oldest name. The name Benin was used later, but has been replaced by Dahomey again. |
D.Benin was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Dahomey. |
On April 1st, Mike decided to fool(愚弄) his friends.
At lunch time he said to Tom, “I think we’re going to have a test this afternoon.” “Test?” said Tom, “Really?”
“Yes, it’s quite true,” said Mike. “When I was passing by Mr. Green’s room, he was talking with another teacher about the test. Tell John, Rose and Joan about it.”
Later Tom told them about the test. Soon almost all the students knew about it. “How foolish they are!” he thought.
When class began, Mr. Green said, “Class, we’re going to have a test today.” Mike was surprised. The test was too hard for him. After class, all his classmates thanked him very much. But he could only smile. “How foolish I was !”he thought.
It really was April Fools’ Day for Mike.Mike decided to fool his friends because ________ .
A.they were talking about the test |
B.they began to prepare (准备) their lessons |
C.it was April Fools’ Day |
D.they were foolish |
________ his classmates believe (相信) him before class.
A.Almost all | B.None of |
C.Only a few | D.Some of |
Mike didn’t prepare his lessons because _______
A.he didn’t like to |
B.it was his holiday |
C.he thought the test was easy for him |
D.he believed there wasn’t going to be a test |
Mike was surprised to see ________ .
A.the test was too hard for him |
B.the teacher really gave them a test |
C.Tom didn’t believe him |
D.his classmates were so foolish |
Which of the following is wrong?
A.Mike thought he himself was foolish. |
B.All his classmates thanked him. |
C.Mr. Green was talking with another teacher about the test. |
D.Nearly everyone knew the test before long(不久). |
Tom was going home at five yesterday. He got on a bus. A mother with her little boy was sitting nearby. Suddenly the boy cried. His mother tried her best to make the boy stop crying. But the boy would not do so. At last Tom said angrily, “Oh, how that boy cried! Why don’t you give him what he wanted?” “I would if I could." answered the mother quietly,“But he wanted your cap.”What time was Tom going home yesterday?
A.At four | B.At five | C.At six | D.At seven |
Who was sitting near Tom on the bus?
A.An old man with his little girl | B.A young woman |
C.A woman with her little boy | D.A young man |
The mother tried her best to make the boy ______.
A.wake up | B.go to sleep | C.not talk much | D.stop crying |
When the boy cried, Tom ______
A.was very angry | B.was very hungry |
C.was very happy | D.did not hear this |
Why was the boy crying?
A.Because he wanted something to eat |
B.Because he wanted to get off the bus. |
C.Because he wanted to go home |
D.Because he wanted Tom's cap |
On New Year’s Eve, people in Italy throw out all the old things. So there are chairs, beds, clothes and plates in the trees. In Spain, the New Year comes in more quietly. In the evening people come together to the streets. Each holds a bag of grapes. When twelve o’clock comes, people start eating the grapes. In Japan, people eat noodles on New Year’s Eve. This food is said to bring long life. Early the next morning, some families climb Mount Fuji(富士山). There they watch the first sunrise(日出) of the New Year.This story is about New Year’s Eve in_______
A.Italy | B.Spain |
C.Japan | D.All of the above |
People in Spain welcome New Year by _______after twelve.
A.eating grapes | B.eating noodles |
C.throwing the old things | D.watching the sunrise |
People in both Spain and Japan _______ to bring in the New Year.
A.throw things away | B.get together |
C.eat some food | D.climb a mountain |
Japanese climb Mount Fuji to _______
A.look at the stars | B.look for New Year’s wishes |
C.see the sun coming up | D.have a rest |
The people in _______ hope to get long life from their New Year’s food
A.Japan | B.China | C.Spain | D.Italy |
The Homeless World Cup is an international football event, where teams made up entirely of people who are homeless compete. The event has been held annually since 2003.
It was at the end of 2001 that Mel Young, a famous expert in the media industry, came up with the idea of the Homeless World Cup. 18 months later the first event took place in Austria. It was such a success that people decided to do more.
There are some interesting and special rules of the event. For example, players (male or female at least 16 years old) must have been homeless at some time after the previous year’s World Cup or make their main living income by selling newspapers in the street or be asylum (政治避难) seekers . Anyone can take part, regardless of his or her abilities.
There are at most 4 players per team to compete in the field. Games are 14 minutes long.
In 2007, 48 nations, 500 players took a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent their countries for true spirit and glory in Copenhagen, Denmark. The winner in 2007 was Scotland. The 2008 Homeless World Cup took place in Melbourne, Australia. And in 2009 it was held in Milan. The latest Homeless World Cup was held in Rio deJaneiro, Brazil in September 2010. Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup takes place August followed by the México City 2012 Homeless World Cup.
The success of the competition has been in two aspects — to attract the world’s attention to the problems of homelessness and also to help participants live a better life.
According to a survey by the Homeless World Cup Organization after 2006 Homeless World Cup, 92% of the players had a new motivation for life, 93 players successfully got rid of their dependency on drugs and alcohol, 44% improved their housing situation and 72% continued to play football. The aim of the Homeless World Cup is to __________.
A.promote the cause of football |
B.help the homeless live a better life |
C.draw attention to those living in poverty |
D.call on homeless people to unite and compete for honor |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Most players moved out of poverty. |
B.Homeless players became professional footballers. |
C.93% of the players were independent of drugs and alcohol. |
D.The Homeless World Cup helped homeless people change their lives. |
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.To End Homelessness. |
B.Football For Everyone. |
C.Hope For The Homeless. |
D.Beating Homelessness Through Football. |