Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age.So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors—or doesn’t it?

While such vigilant(警觉的)tracking of cancer is a good thing in general,researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly.With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050,it’s important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing.

In many cases,screening can lead to additional biopsies and surgeries to remove cancer,which can cause side effects,while the cancers themselves may be slow-growing and may not pose serious health problems in patients’remaining years.But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so ingrained that when health care experts recommended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer,it caused a riotous reaction among doctors,patients and advocacy groups.

It’s hard to uproot deeply held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data.Certainly,there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine screening,and gained several extra years of life because of treatment.And clearly,people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer,such as a family history or prior personal experience with the disease,should continue to get screened regularly.But for the remainder,the risk of cancer,while increased at the end of life,must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy(预期寿命).

A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening-especially considering the explosion of the elderly that will soon swell our population.

It’s not an easy calculation to make,but one that make sense for the whole patient.Dr.Otis Brawley said,“Many doctors are ordering these tests purely to cover themselves.We need to think about the rational use of health care and stop talking about the rationing of health care.”

That means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients,and going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care,more is always better.

小题1:Why do doctors recommend routine cancer screening for elderly people?

A．It is believed to contribute to long life.

B．It is part of their health care package.

C．The elderly are more sensitive about their health.

D．The elderly are in greater danger of tumor growth.

小题2:How do some researchers now look at routine cancer screening for the elderly?

A．It adds too much to their medical bills.

B．It helps increase their life expectancy.

C．They are doubtful about necessity.

D．They think it does more than good.

小题3:What is the conventional view about women screening for breast cancer?

A．It applies to women over 50.

B．It is a must for adult women.

C．It is optional for young women.

D．It doesn’t apply to women over 74.

小题4:Why do many doctors prescribe routine screening for cancer?

A．They want to protect themselves against medical disputes.

B．They want to take advantage of the medical care system.

C．They want data for medical research.

D．They want their patients to suffer less.

小题5:What does the author say is the general view about health care?

A．The more,the better.

B．Prevention is better than cure.

C．Better early than late.

D．Better care,longer life.

答案

小题1:D

小题2:C

小题3:B

小题4:A

小题5:A

解析

文章大意：文章围绕年龄大的人应该进行常规检查防癌的这中传统做法的利弊以及最近研究人员的观点及原因解释。

小题1:D 细节理解题：Our risk of cancer rises dramatically as we age.So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors—or doesn’t it?随着年龄增长，我们患癌的风险急剧增加。因此老年人应该进行常规检查以防肿瘤是有道理的。

小题2:C 细节理解题：While such vigilant(警觉的)tracking of cancer is a good thing in general,researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly.尽管总的来说对癌症这样警觉是好事，但研究者们越来越质疑对老年人来说，所有这些测试是否必要。

小题3:B 推理判断题：But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so ingrained，但是每个人必须检查防癌的这个想法是如此根深蒂固。

小题4:A 推理判断题：Many doctors are ordering these tests purely to cover themselves.许多医生让进行这么多测试，纯粹是为了保护自己。cover,对应选项中的protect,是遮掩；掩护；保护的意思。

小题5:A 细节理解题：going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care,more is always better.违背这个被舞蹈的理念：当谈到卫生保健的时候，越多越好。