Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up (蜷伏) next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia (痴呆) unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.
"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought bis streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.
Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.
No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him. Nursing home staff aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying. The staff recently gave Oscar a wall sign publicly praising his "sympathetic care."
【小题1】What makes Oscar the cat so special?

Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up (蜷伏) next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia (痴呆) unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought bis streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.

Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.

No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him. Nursing home staff aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying. The staff recently gave Oscar a wall sign publicly praising his "sympathetic care."

1.What makes Oscar the cat so special?

A. He observes the cases of dying patients.

B. He curls up next to the patients.

C. He calls family members to the hospital.

D. He senses when patients are to die.

2.The passage tells us Oscar_____.

A. would go round and observe patients

B. may sometimes fail to predict death

C. is friendly and liked by every nurse

D. was born and grew up in the hospital

3.The underlined words "his streak was broken" probably mean ____.

A. his bones were severely injured

B. his magic power stopped working

C. his devotion to work got changed

D. his friendship with patients ended

4.From the passage, we learn that_____.

A. Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant

B. Oscar can read something of the nurses' behavior

C. Oscar might like to stay with the dying patients

D. Oscar is sympathetic to the dying patients

5.The best title for this passage is "____".

A. Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients

B. Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat

C. As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat

D. Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of Our Hospital

Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up (蜷伏) next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia (痴呆) unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.
"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought bis streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.
Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.
No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him. Nursing home staff aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying. The staff recently gave Oscar a wall sign publicly praising his "sympathetic care."

1. 1.

   What makes Oscar the cat so special?

   1. A.
      He observes the cases of dying patients.
   2. B.
      He curls up next to the patients.
   3. C.
      He calls family members to the hospital.
   4. D.
      He senses when patients are to die.
2. 2.

   The passage tells us Oscar_____.

   1. A.
      would go round and observe patients
   2. B.
      may sometimes fail to predict death
   3. C.
      is friendly and liked by every nurse
   4. D.
      was born and grew up in the hospital
3. 3.

   The underlined words "his streak was broken" probably mean ____.

   1. A.
      his bones were severely injured
   2. B.
      his magic power stopped working
   3. C.
      his devotion to work got changed
   4. D.
      his friendship with patients ended
4. 4.

   From the passage, we learn that_____.

   1. A.
      Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant
   2. B.
      Oscar can read something of the nurses' behavior
   3. C.
      Oscar might like to stay with the dying patients
   4. D.
      Oscar is sympathetic to the dying patients
5. 5.

   The best title for this passage is "____".

   1. A.
      Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients
   2. B.
      Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat
   3. C.
      As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat
   4. D.
      Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of Our Hospital

Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up (蜷伏) next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia (痴呆) unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.

"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought bis streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.

Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.

No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something into the behavior of the nurses who raised him. Nursing home staff aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying. The staff recently gave Oscar a wall sign publicly praising his "sympathetic care."

56. What makes Oscar the cat so special?

A. He observes the cases of dying patients.      B. He curls up next to the patients.

C. He calls family members to the hospital.      D. He senses when patients are to die.

57. The passage tells us Oscar_____.

A. would go round and observe patients         B. may sometimes fail to predict death

C. is friendly and liked by every nurse          D. was born and grew up in the hospital

58. The underlined words "his streak was broken" probably mean ____.

A. his bones were severely injured             B. his magic power stopped working

C. his devotion to work got changed            D. his friendship with patients ended

59. From the passage, we learn that_____.

A. Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant     

B. Oscar can read something of the nurses' behavior

C. Oscar might like to stay with the dying patients  

D. Oscar is sympathetic to the dying patients

60. The best title for this passage is "____".

A. Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients     

B. Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat

C. As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat   

D. Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of Our Hospital

Poor Oral Health Leads to Social and Emotional Problems

A new report says nearly four-billion people have major tooth decay, or cavities. That number represents more than half of the world's population. Health officials are warning that failure to repair cavities can lead to social and emotional problems.
  Wagner Marcenes is with the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of London. He led a team of researchers as part of the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. About 500 researchers attempt to collect and examine studies about all major diseases. They used the information to estimate rates of the infection.

The report says untreated tooth decay is the most common of all 291 major diseases and injuries. Professor Marcenes says cavities or holes  in permanent teeth are also known as caries.

"Caries is a chronic disease that shares the same risk factors as cancer, cardiovascular disease. What we're having now is an increase in disease from highly developed countries happening in sub-Saharan Africa and probably it will be in other areas of Africa, too."

He says an increase in tooth decay in Africa could be a result of developing countries becoming more like Western nations.

"It is likely to be related to a change in diet. Our industrialized diet leads to chronic disease, which includes caries. And that may be the main explanation."

Western diets are rich in sugar, a leading cause of health problems in the mouth. Wagner Marcenes says oral health problems can have a major effect on a person's quality of life. First, cavities make eating difficult. Second, people may change what they eat. They may eat softer foods that are not hard to chew. However, softer foods are often fattier foods.

But professor Marcenes says the biggest issue in tooth decay is both social and mental. He says the researchers found strong evidence that the mouth has a big influence on socialization. He says many people want to hide bad teeth. They smile less and communicate less.

Wagner Marcenes is calling for an "urgent, organized, social response" to the widespread lack of oral health. He believes in a natural method to fight tooth decay by having a healthier diet. He is also calling for the development of new and less costly dental materials and treatments.
68. From the passage, we know that Wagner Marcenes ______.

 A. works as the leader of the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary, University of London.

 B. and his researchers accumulate some studies to find out some ways to cure all major disease.

   C. is in charge of the activity to estimate the infection rate with the collected and examined studies about all major studies.

   D. thinks that the most serious problem caused by tooth decay is cancer that will last for a long time.

69. Caries is a disease that ______.

   A. is listed in the most common of all 291 major diseases and injuries which will last for a long time..

   B. is closely related to industrialized diet which calls for people to eat slowly.

   C. increases in Africa now because developing countries are becoming developed countries.

   D. will cause phychological disorder which will affect people’s communication.

70. The writer wrote this passage in order to ______.

   A. arouse people’s concern about caries and take measures to deal with it.

   B. tell the result of the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study.

   C. warn people in Africa to adjust their diet to prevent caries.

   D. tell doctors that caries affects a person’s quality of life.

71. What is the writer’s attitude towards tooth decay?

   A. indifferent   B. concerned       C. angry                D. negative