20、
Bringing Nanotechnology to Health Care for the Poor
Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms. Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter, These include things like beauty products1 and dirt-resistant clothing. But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine.
Last week, speakers at a program in Washington discussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries. The program took place at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Peter Singer at the University of Toronto says a nanotechnology called quantum dots2 could be used to confirm cases of malaria. He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.
In poor countries, this process is often not followed. As a result, sick people may get treated for malaria even if they do not have it. Such misuse of medicines can lead to drug resistance. Quantum dots are particles that give off3 light when activated. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule. 4
Experts say nanotechnology shows promise not just for diagnosing diseases, but also for treating them. Piotr Grodzinski of the National Institutes of Health5 talked about how nanotechnology could make drugs more effective. He talked about cancer drugs already developed with nanotechnology. He says if a drug can target a cancer locally in the body, then much less of it might be needed, and that means lower side effects.6
Andrew Maynard is chief scientist for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson Center. He noted that Brazil, India, China and South Africa are currently doing nanotechnology research that could help poor countries. But he also noted that there is some risk in using nano-materials. He says nanometer-sized particles behave differently in the body and the environment compared to larger particles7. Experts say more investment in research is needed to better understand these risks.
詞匯：
nanotechnology/5nAnEutek7nlEdZI/n 納米技術(shù) matter/5mAtE/n.物質(zhì)
molecule/5mClikju:l, 5mEu-/n.分子atom/5AtEm/n.原子
nanometer/5neinE7mi:tE/n.納米，毫微米 (長度單位，=10-9m)one-billionth n.十億分之一dirt-resistant adj，防塵的，防污的promise/5prCmis/n.希望，前途program/5prEu^rAm/(=programme)n.節(jié)目，節(jié)目單vt.為……編制程序scholar/5skClE/n.學者quantum/5kwCntEm/n.量;量子.
dot/dCt/n.(小)點，圓點confirm/kEn5fE:m/vt.確認;證實case/keis/n.病癥;病例; malaria/mE5lZEriE/n.瘧(疾) misuse/5mis5ju:z/n.誤用，濫用 particle/5pB:tikl/n.顆粒.微粒：粒子activate/5Aktiveit/vt.使激活 identify/ai5dentifai/v.辨認diagnose/5daiE^nEuz/vt.診斷(疾病)
Brazil/brE5zil/n.巴西nano-material n.納米材料investment/ in5vestmEnt / n.投資;投資額
練習：
1. Which of the following uses of nanotechnology is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A To make beauty products and dirt-resistant clothing.
B To produce better and lighter building materials.
C To help more accurately diagnose diseases.
D To help more effectively treat diseases.
2. How can quantum dots be used to confirm diseases?
A By traditionally looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.
B By letting a person take some kind of medicine.
C By lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.
D By subjecting a person to an X-ray examination.
3. How can nanotechnology be used to make a drug more effective?
A By making a drug target the focus of a disease.
B By changing the structure of the body cells.
C By lowering the side effects caused by a drug.
D By letting a patient take a dose as large as possible.
4. The following developing countries are doing very well scientific research on nanotechnology EXCEPT______.
A China B Brazil C Iran D India
5. Which of the following is the possible risk in using nano-materials mentioned in the passage?
A They may cause some damage to the body cells.
B They are harmful materials themselves.
C They may store in the body.
D They may behave differently in the body and the environment.
1、 A B C D
2、 A B C D
3、 A B C D
4、 A B C D
5、 A B C D
標準答案： B,C,A,C,D
21、
Multivitamins Urged for All Pregnant Women
A recent study in Tanzania found that when pregnant women took vitamins every day, fewer babies were born too small. Babies that weigh less than two and one-half kilograms at birth have a greater risk of dying. Those that survive are more likely to experience problems with their development. And experts say that as adults they have a higher risk of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organization1 estimates that every year twenty million babies are born with low birth weight. Nine out of ten of them are born in developing countries.
The new study took place in Dares Salaam. 4, 200 pregnant women received multivitamins. The pills contained all of the vitamins in the B group along with2 vitamins C and E. They also contained several times more iron and folate than the levels advised for women in developed nations. Pregnant women especially in poor countries may find it difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods in their diet.
The scientists compared the findings with results from a group of 4,000 women who did not receive the vitamins. A report by the scientists, from the United States and Tanzania, appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. 3 Wafaie Fawzi of the Harvard University School of Public Health4 led the study. None of the women in the study had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists reported earlier that daily multivitamins were a low-cost way to reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with5 HIV. The earlier work in Tanzania also found improvement in the mothers in their number of blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes increase the body’s immunity against infection.
The new study in pregnant women who were not infected with the AIDS virus found that multivitamins reduced the risk of low birth weight. Just under eight percent of the babies born to women who took the multivitamins weighed less than 2,500 grams. The rate was almost nine and one-half percent in the group of women who received a placebo, an inactive pill, instead of the vitamins. But the vitamins did not do much to reduce the rates of babies being born too early or dying while still a fetus. Still, the researchers say multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries.
詞匯：
multivitamin/7mQlti5vaitEmin/adj.多種維生素的 urge/E:dV/v.促進/v.極力主張;強烈要求;敦促 pregnant/5pre^nEnt/adj.懷孕的，妊娠的
Tanzania/7tAnzE5ni:E/n.坦桑尼亞(非洲國家) diabetes/7daiE5bi:ti:z, -ti:s/n.糖尿病，多尿癥 Dar es Salaam/5dB:r es sE5lB:m/n.達累斯薩拉姆(坦桑尼亞首都)folate/5fEuleit/n.葉酸鹽 mineral/5minErEl/n.礦物質(zhì);無機鹽adj.礦物質(zhì)的;無機的 fetal/5fi:tl/adj.胎兒的, 胎的
lymphocyte/5limfEsait/n.淋巴球, 淋巴細胞immunity/i5mju:niti/n..免疫力;免疫性 infection/in5fekFEn/n.傳染，感染;傳染病 placebo/plE5si:bEu/n.安慰劑;安慰劑治療 inactive/in5Aktiv/adj.無作用的 pill/pil/n.藥丸，丸劑fetus/5fi:tEs/n.胎，胎兒
練習:
1. How many babies are born with low birth weight in the developed countries every year according to WHO?
A 20,000,000.
B 18,000,000.
C 2,000,000.
D 38,000,000.
2. A pill of multivitamins may contain all of the following substances EXCEPT
A all vitamins in the B group.
B vitamins C and E.
C much iron and folate.
D antiviral substances.
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of multivitamins mentioned in the passage?
A To reduce the rate of babies born too early.
B To reduce the risk of low birth weight.
C To reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with HIV.
D To increase the number of lymphocytes in mothers’ blood.
4. What a role do lymphocytes play in the human body?
A To reduce the rate of dying while still a fetus.
B To raise the body’s immunity against infection.
C To help prevent the development of heart disease.
D To help prevent the development of diabetes.
5. How many percent of babies were born with low birth weight to women who were not infected with the AIDS virus and took the multivitamins according to a new study?
A Less than8%.
B About 9.5%.
C 1.5%.
D 17.5%.
1、 A B C D
2、 A B C D
3、 A B C D
4、 A B C D
5、 A B C D
標準答案： C,D,A,B,A
Bringing Nanotechnology to Health Care for the Poor
Nanotechnology uses matter at the level of molecules and atoms. Researchers are finding different uses for particles with a length of one nanometer, or one-billionth of a meter, These include things like beauty products1 and dirt-resistant clothing. But one area where many experts believe nanotechnology holds great promise is medicine.
Last week, speakers at a program in Washington discussed using nanotechnology to improve health care in developing countries. The program took place at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Peter Singer at the University of Toronto says a nanotechnology called quantum dots2 could be used to confirm cases of malaria. He says it could offer a better way than the traditional process of looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.
In poor countries, this process is often not followed. As a result, sick people may get treated for malaria even if they do not have it. Such misuse of medicines can lead to drug resistance. Quantum dots are particles that give off3 light when activated. Researchers are studying ways to program them to identify diseases by lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule. 4
Experts say nanotechnology shows promise not just for diagnosing diseases, but also for treating them. Piotr Grodzinski of the National Institutes of Health5 talked about how nanotechnology could make drugs more effective. He talked about cancer drugs already developed with nanotechnology. He says if a drug can target a cancer locally in the body, then much less of it might be needed, and that means lower side effects.6
Andrew Maynard is chief scientist for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson Center. He noted that Brazil, India, China and South Africa are currently doing nanotechnology research that could help poor countries. But he also noted that there is some risk in using nano-materials. He says nanometer-sized particles behave differently in the body and the environment compared to larger particles7. Experts say more investment in research is needed to better understand these risks.
詞匯：
nanotechnology/5nAnEutek7nlEdZI/n 納米技術(shù) matter/5mAtE/n.物質(zhì)
molecule/5mClikju:l, 5mEu-/n.分子atom/5AtEm/n.原子
nanometer/5neinE7mi:tE/n.納米，毫微米 (長度單位，=10-9m)one-billionth n.十億分之一dirt-resistant adj，防塵的，防污的promise/5prCmis/n.希望，前途program/5prEu^rAm/(=programme)n.節(jié)目，節(jié)目單vt.為……編制程序scholar/5skClE/n.學者quantum/5kwCntEm/n.量;量子.
dot/dCt/n.(小)點，圓點confirm/kEn5fE:m/vt.確認;證實case/keis/n.病癥;病例; malaria/mE5lZEriE/n.瘧(疾) misuse/5mis5ju:z/n.誤用，濫用 particle/5pB:tikl/n.顆粒.微粒：粒子activate/5Aktiveit/vt.使激活 identify/ai5dentifai/v.辨認diagnose/5daiE^nEuz/vt.診斷(疾病)
Brazil/brE5zil/n.巴西nano-material n.納米材料investment/ in5vestmEnt / n.投資;投資額
練習：
1. Which of the following uses of nanotechnology is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A To make beauty products and dirt-resistant clothing.
B To produce better and lighter building materials.
C To help more accurately diagnose diseases.
D To help more effectively treat diseases.
2. How can quantum dots be used to confirm diseases?
A By traditionally looking at a person’s blood under a microscope.
B By letting a person take some kind of medicine.
C By lighting up in the presence of a targeted molecule.
D By subjecting a person to an X-ray examination.
3. How can nanotechnology be used to make a drug more effective?
A By making a drug target the focus of a disease.
B By changing the structure of the body cells.
C By lowering the side effects caused by a drug.
D By letting a patient take a dose as large as possible.
4. The following developing countries are doing very well scientific research on nanotechnology EXCEPT______.
A China B Brazil C Iran D India
5. Which of the following is the possible risk in using nano-materials mentioned in the passage?
A They may cause some damage to the body cells.
B They are harmful materials themselves.
C They may store in the body.
D They may behave differently in the body and the environment.
1、 A B C D
2、 A B C D
3、 A B C D
4、 A B C D
5、 A B C D
標準答案： B,C,A,C,D
21、
Multivitamins Urged for All Pregnant Women
A recent study in Tanzania found that when pregnant women took vitamins every day, fewer babies were born too small. Babies that weigh less than two and one-half kilograms at birth have a greater risk of dying. Those that survive are more likely to experience problems with their development. And experts say that as adults they have a higher risk of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organization1 estimates that every year twenty million babies are born with low birth weight. Nine out of ten of them are born in developing countries.
The new study took place in Dares Salaam. 4, 200 pregnant women received multivitamins. The pills contained all of the vitamins in the B group along with2 vitamins C and E. They also contained several times more iron and folate than the levels advised for women in developed nations. Pregnant women especially in poor countries may find it difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods in their diet.
The scientists compared the findings with results from a group of 4,000 women who did not receive the vitamins. A report by the scientists, from the United States and Tanzania, appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. 3 Wafaie Fawzi of the Harvard University School of Public Health4 led the study. None of the women in the study had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists reported earlier that daily multivitamins were a low-cost way to reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with5 HIV. The earlier work in Tanzania also found improvement in the mothers in their number of blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes increase the body’s immunity against infection.
The new study in pregnant women who were not infected with the AIDS virus found that multivitamins reduced the risk of low birth weight. Just under eight percent of the babies born to women who took the multivitamins weighed less than 2,500 grams. The rate was almost nine and one-half percent in the group of women who received a placebo, an inactive pill, instead of the vitamins. But the vitamins did not do much to reduce the rates of babies being born too early or dying while still a fetus. Still, the researchers say multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries.
詞匯：
multivitamin/7mQlti5vaitEmin/adj.多種維生素的 urge/E:dV/v.促進/v.極力主張;強烈要求;敦促 pregnant/5pre^nEnt/adj.懷孕的，妊娠的
Tanzania/7tAnzE5ni:E/n.坦桑尼亞(非洲國家) diabetes/7daiE5bi:ti:z, -ti:s/n.糖尿病，多尿癥 Dar es Salaam/5dB:r es sE5lB:m/n.達累斯薩拉姆(坦桑尼亞首都)folate/5fEuleit/n.葉酸鹽 mineral/5minErEl/n.礦物質(zhì);無機鹽adj.礦物質(zhì)的;無機的 fetal/5fi:tl/adj.胎兒的, 胎的
lymphocyte/5limfEsait/n.淋巴球, 淋巴細胞immunity/i5mju:niti/n..免疫力;免疫性 infection/in5fekFEn/n.傳染，感染;傳染病 placebo/plE5si:bEu/n.安慰劑;安慰劑治療 inactive/in5Aktiv/adj.無作用的 pill/pil/n.藥丸，丸劑fetus/5fi:tEs/n.胎，胎兒
練習:
1. How many babies are born with low birth weight in the developed countries every year according to WHO?
A 20,000,000.
B 18,000,000.
C 2,000,000.
D 38,000,000.
2. A pill of multivitamins may contain all of the following substances EXCEPT
A all vitamins in the B group.
B vitamins C and E.
C much iron and folate.
D antiviral substances.
3. Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of multivitamins mentioned in the passage?
A To reduce the rate of babies born too early.
B To reduce the risk of low birth weight.
C To reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with HIV.
D To increase the number of lymphocytes in mothers’ blood.
4. What a role do lymphocytes play in the human body?
A To reduce the rate of dying while still a fetus.
B To raise the body’s immunity against infection.
C To help prevent the development of heart disease.
D To help prevent the development of diabetes.
5. How many percent of babies were born with low birth weight to women who were not infected with the AIDS virus and took the multivitamins according to a new study?
A Less than8%.
B About 9.5%.
C 1.5%.
D 17.5%.
1、 A B C D
2、 A B C D
3、 A B C D
4、 A B C D
5、 A B C D
標準答案： C,D,A,B,A