1 . Shenzhen in Guangdong province has become the first city in China to allow specialist nurses to prescribe (开药方) selected drugs and order tests, in a move that is expected to increase efficiencies in the healthcare system and reduce the patient-load burden on physicians.

Under a new rule in October that took effect in January, eligible nurses will be permitted to order examinations, treatments considering their expert skills and knowledge of specialist nursing or community healthcare. Their prescriptions must be based on existing diagnoses (诊断) made by physicians.

To become a nursing specialist, applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, five years of working experience, obtained an advanced nursing qualification and have attended a months-long specialist training program and passed a final test.

“Medical institutions must review inappropriate prescriptions given by nurses,” said the regulation. “Nursing specialists who are found to have given three or more improper prescriptions will have their prescribing power stopped for three to six months and will have to undergo retraining before regaining the authorization,” it added.

“Considering the difference in professional positioning, medical education background and work experience between physicians and nurses, it is necessary to fully analyze the necessity and practicability of the nurses’ prescriptive authority,” the commission said.

Zhou Wensi has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is now a specialist nurse in periodontitis (牙周炎) , or gum disease, at Shenzhen Stomatology Hospital in the city’s Pingshan district.

“Our hospital has not begun allowing us to prescribe. If the rule goes into effect in the future, we’ll likely be able to directly prescribe mouthwash, anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers to patients,” she said.

   However, she also noted that most patients visiting the hospital are in need of treatment delivered by doctors with assistance from nurses like her, so the new regulation is not expected to have a major impact.

1. Why does Shenzhen give permission for specialist nurses’ special rights?

A．To improve the overall ability of the specialist nurses.

B．To speed up the development of the healthcare system.

C．To enhance the work efficiency and lighten doctors’ load.

D．To respond to the demands of doctors, nurses and patients.

2. What does the word “eligible” underlined in the second paragraph refer to?

A．well-recognized

B．Qualified

C．flexible

D．hard-working

3. What do we learn about the new regulation?

A．A specialist nurse should follow the rules strictly.

B．No institutions take charge of the prescriptions .

C．Not all specialist nurses can prescribe drugs freely .

D．A specialist nurse always has the prescribing power.

4. What is Zhou Wensi’s attitude toward the prospect of nurses’ prescribing drugs?

A．Doubtful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Neutral.

D．Hopeful.

2 . Staying in hospital can be difficult for patients, often causing fear and anxiety, especially in younger individuals. These emotions can easily take over, but hospitals in Richmond, Virginia, have programs to relieve some of the stress and create moments of joy.

Due to a program called Dogs On Call provided by the non-profit organization Center for Human-Animal Interaction, at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, the sound of dogs coming down the hallway creates an atmosphere of excitement among child patients. For 21 years, the volunteer-run program has been connecting dogs with those in need of an inspiring moment.

With the necessary registration steps, dogs and handlers can participate in weekly visits to the hospital. Besides the scheduled visits, parents or children can request a specific team to visit their rooms.

“When a patient interacts with a dog, it can decrease blood pressure and reduce pain,” says Nancy R. Gee, executive director of the center. Their faces change just for a moment. They’re not thinking about their health situation or their pain. Just for that moment, they’re just kids with a dog.

Instead of Dogs On Call, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital of Richmond provides Happy Wheels, a program in which a cart full of treats and other items rolling through the halls of the hospital. The volunteer-run program visits four times a week. They go from room to room to hand out toys, coffee, snacks, and other comfort items. All of the items found in the cart are donated to the program and handed out to families in all children’s care units.

“It’s an opportunity for the children to be children and to get excited about a new toy coming in their rooms, ”says Laura Gepford, child life specialist at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Besides the fevers, the medicine and all the difficult things that occur in the hospital, they have the shining of happy moments. That’s what people hold onto. ”

1. What do we know about the program Dogs On Call?

A．Dogs might frighten the child patients.

B．Dog visits must follow a fixed schedule.

C．It gives mental treatment to the child patients.

D．It is financially supported by the government.

2. What does Nancy R Gee mean in paragraph 4?

A．Children care for dogs by nature.

B．Children’s moods are changeable.

C．Children are too young to take their illness seriously.

D．Children’s spirits are lifted by the dogs’ companion.

3. What is Laura Gepford’s attitude to the Happy Wheels program?

A．Concerned.

B．Appreciative.

C．Dissatisfied.

D．Doubtful.

4. How do the two programs in the text help?

A．By bringing patients comfort and cheer.

B．By changing people’s attitude to illness.

C．By telling people the importance of play.

D．By guiding parents to better comfort kids.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman?

A．A doctor.

B．A teacher.

C．A customer.

2. What is probably the cause of the man’s problems?

A．He often overeats.

B．He works too hard.

C．He smokes heavily.

3. What does the woman ask the man to do?

A．Stop working and go on a vacation.

B．Give up smoking as soon as possible.

C．Change his diet and get some exercise.