阅读理解
The World Health Organization is using a new combination of drugs to treat African trypanosomiasis
disease,also known as sleeping sickness. The drugs will be given out in Uganda and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
Officials says the new treatment has fewer side effects. It is also more effective and less costly than
the drugs traditionally used. In addition,the new treatment reduces the number of injections needed. And
it shortens the amount of time patients must spend in hospital.
Sleeping sickness threatens millions of people in 36 countries in Africa. Most live in poor rural areas.
The disease is caused by the trypanosoma parasite(寄生物). It is spread to humans through the bite of
infected tsetse flies. Common signs of sleeping sickness include fever,headaches,extreme tiredness and
pain in the muscles and joints. Early identification of the disease may be difficult because many infected
people do not show any immediate symptoms. Over time,the parasites invade the central nervous system. The disease causes sleep disorders,mental confusion,personality changes and speech problems. If left
untreated,sleeping sickness kills.
It's estimated that about 60,000 people are currently infected with the disease. It develops in two
different forms. Trypanosoma gambiense is responsible for 90% of the reported cases of sleeping
sickness. People infected with this form may develop the disease over many years without any major
symptoms. Until now the drug melarsoprol is used to treat patients in the advanced stage of sleeping
sickness. But the drug requires many painful injections several times a day for several weeks. It also
causes bad side effects,some of which can be deadly.
In Uganda,a new study has confirmed earlier research linking the spread of sleeping sickness to
infected farm animals. The writers of the study have called for stronger rules requiring cattle to be treated
before being sold at market.
1. The following are the advantages of the new treatment EXCEPT ________.
A. having an intended effect
B. low price
C. reducing injections and hospitalization
D. no bad side effects
2. It is hard to identify sleeping sickness in the early stage because ________.
A. it is spread to humans through the bite of infected tsetse flies
B. the infected patients live in poor conditions
C. there are so many infected people in Africa
D. the symptoms of the disease doesn't occur at once
3. Which of the following statements is WRONG?
A. Nine people in ten infected with sleeping sickness in Africa result from trypanosoma gambiense.
B. The invasion of sleeping sickness may lead to death.
C. The drug melarsoprol is used to treat patients in the early stage of sleeping sickness.
D. There are many disadvantages for the drug melarsoprol to control sleeping sickness.
4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.
A. farm animals infected by trypanosoma parasite is a main source of sleeping sickness
B. all the animals must be get rid of by the government
C. there isn't any rules requiring cattle to be treated before being sold at market in Uganda
D. cattle is forbidden to enter the market before being infected by trypanosoma parasite
5. The passage is primarily written to ________.
A. explain the importance of good sleep habits
B. provide the latest medical treatment information
C. prevent African trypanosomiasis disease
D. introduce the common signs of sleeping sickness
