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　　E-mail can be a powerful new tool in improving communication between patients and doctors, according to one expert.

　　“Using the Internet, doctors can answer more questions from more patients in a shorter time,” writes dr. Dada Pal, a famous doctor in Manchester, UK.

　　According to Pal, nearly forty percent of American patients say they have used e-mail to communicate with a doctor.

　　He notes, however, that although patients have such interest, only up to two percent of doctors in the United States offer e-mail service.

　　Using e-mail, doctors can make sure of their advice and point, patient to patient information materials and other resources on the Internet. It's said that more than ten thousand health-oriented websites already exist now.

　　However, some people worry that widespread use of medical e-mail might set up two kinds of care－one for Internet “haves” and another for the “have-nots”.

　　But Pal points out that “by the year 2000 nearly every library will offer (Internet and e-mail) services in the United States, allowing even low-income patients to use such means.” Pal also talks about other possible barriers to the acceptance of medical e-mail.

　　“Doctors may be unwilling to offer e-mail services for fear of increasing workload and uncertainty about payment for the time they spent,” he explains, and patients may worry that their medical information might be read by others. “But these problems can all be solved,” he adds.

　　E-mail may well help us a lot in health care, Pal concludes. “Patients can get in normal clinics,” he points out, “and they might find communication on the information superhighway less fearful, than face-to-face dialogues with their doctors.”

1．The article introduces a new way of patient-doctor communication ________.

[　　]

A．by e-mail

B．by visiting

C．by searching the Internet

D．by using the computer

2．According to the passage, some people worry that ________.

[　　]

A．it might have to serve both who have access to the Internet and those who don't

B．it might meet double doubts from those who have access to the Internet and those who don't

C．it might make trouble between those who can use the Internet and those who can't

D．it might make trouble between those who have Internet experiences and those who haven't

3．All the following points are advantages of using medical e-mail except ________.

[　　]

A．it is more reliable

B．it is less frightening

C．it troubles patients and doctors to understand each other better

D．it provides patients more choices of treatment

4．What does the word “barrier” mean?

[　　]

5．Which of the following is true about e-mail in the United States?

[　　]

A．Every patient cannot use it.

B．Only doctors can use it.

C．Patients needn't pay for their treatment by using e-mail.

D．No others can read the information sent by e-mail.

The word “day” has two meanings. When we talk about the number of days in a year, we are using “day” to mean 24 hours. But when we talk about day and night, we are using “day” to mean the time between sunrise and sunset. Since the earth looks like a ball, the sun can shine on only half of it at a time. Always one half of the earth is having day and the other half night. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by the spinning（旋转）of the earth. At the equator（赤道）day and night are sometimes the same length（长度）. They are each twelve hours long. The sun rises at 6 o’clock in the morning and sets at 6 o’clock in the evening. For six months the North Pole is tilted（倾斜）toward the sun. In those months the Northern Hemisphere（半球）gets more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Days are longer than nights. South of the equator nights are longer than days. For the other six months the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Then the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. Days are longer than nights. North of the equator nights are longer than days. Winter is the season of long nights. Summer is the season of long days.

（   ）6.When the Western Hemisphere is having day, the Eastern Hemisphere is having ________.

　　     A. both day and night              B. day

　　     C. neither day nor night            D. night

（   ）7. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by ________ of the earth.

　　     A. the pushing                    B. the pulling

C. the spinning                    D. the passing

（   ）8. At the equator day is as long as night ________.

　　        A. sometimes     B. never       C. usually        D. always

（   ）9. When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere gets ________ sunlight.

　　    A. less           B. more       C. all            D. no

（   ）10. When it is winter in China,  ________.

　　    A. the USA is tilted toward the sun

　　    B. the South Pole is tilted away from the sun

　　    C. the North Pole is tilted toward the sun

　　    D. the North Pole is tilted away from the sun