During the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, athletes from around the world have been exploring acupuncture (针灸),     1     component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This practice has been an important part of Chinese healthcare system for centuries.

TCM, which includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage, Tai Chi, and Qigong     2     (remain) an essential component of China’s medical system, gaining increasing     3     (recognize) on a global scale. Not only is it popular among the Chinese population, but it is also gaining interest in Western societies,     4     has led to increased investments in professional TCM services.

While China places significant emphasis on the integration of TCM with modern biomedicine, it is also becoming more popular worldwide. Although some medical professionals are     5     (doubt) about the far reaching effects of TCM, the practice     6     (accept) as a fundamental aspect of global healthcare to date.

TCM has been recognized for the potential benefits, particularly when     7     (use) alongside with modern medicine, which has resulted in its increasing integration into modern healthcare systems.     8     its ancient Chinese origins, TCM’s principles and practices have a global influence currently, with experts     9     (offer) their special skills across the world.

As research into TCM continues to advance and more individuals embrace it for     10     their healthcare needs, the field is definite to grow.

7 . In the 12th century, physician Ibn Zuhr conducted some animal research to assess the surgical procedures that could be applied to humans. Since then, animal testing has been considered the most efficient way to develop new drugs. New medical treatments and drugs are tested on animals first to determine their effectiveness or safety levels before they are finally tested on humans. However, it remains controversial whether it is morally right or wrong to use animals for experiments.

The use of animals for medical purposes is seen to be necessary by many scientists. Researchers usually begin their trials using rats. If the tests are successful, further tests are done on monkeys before using human beings. For testing, such tiered(分层的) rounds are important because they reduce the level of error and negative side effects. Some argue that animal testing has contributed to many life-saving cures and treatments and there is no adequate alternative to testing on a living, whole-body system. Moreover, there are regulations for animal testing that limit the misuse of animals during research. They serve as evidence that animals are well taken care of and treated well instead of being intentionally harmed.

However, some other experts and animal welfare groups have opposed such practice, considering it as inhumane(不人道的) and claiming it should be banned. According to Humane Society International, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force-feeding, radiation exposure, operations to deliberately cause damage and frightening situations to create depression and anxiety. They also hold the view that animals are very different from human beings and therefore are poor test subjects. Drugs that pass animal tests are not necessarily safe. Animal tests on the arthritis (关节炎) drug Vioxx showed it would have a protective effect on the hearts of mice, yet the drug went on to cause about 27,000 heart attacks before being pulled back from the market.

It’s safe to say that using animals for tests will continue to be debated in many years to come. Despite the benefits of animal testing, some of the concerns need to be addressed with adequate regulations to ensure that animals are treated humanely.

10 . Some people look forward to getting braces (牙箍) on their teeth, thinking they look cool. Other people avoid visiting the orthodontist (正齿医生). But anyone who benefits from the orthodontist’s trade today should be thankful for the progress this science has made over the centuries.

Remains of crooked (弯曲的) human teeth date back tens of thousands of years. Greek and Roman texts describing the treatment of irregular teeth by the application of pressure date back as far as the fifth century B. C. Archaeological evidence indicates even earlier use of orthodontic appliances, including man-made objects found in considerable burial (埋葬的) sites in ancient Italy. Another early attempt at braces may have been discovered on Egyptian mummies with recognizable metal bands around their teeth. Thus, from at least 1,000 BC, it was known that teeth move in response to pressure.

Techniques for correcting dental (牙齿的) irregularities did not advance much until the eighteenth century. French dentists led the way to building orthodontic practice on scientific foundations. The greatest contribution came from Pierre Fauchard. In 1728, Fauchard published the first general study of dentistry. In it, he described the process of straightening. He made smooth (光滑的) a crooked tooth to create space around it. Then he repositioned the tooth using a tool called a “pelican”. And he bound it to its neighbors and let it set. French and English dentists improved on Fauchard’s work through the eighteenth century. Patients of Fauchard’s treatment may have been grateful when the work was completed. While many of them faced the treatment with fear and cried during the procedures, there were many Frenchmen who flooded to Fauchard to improve their looks with dental work.

Pioneering European orthodontists introduced new techniques and instruments in the nineteenth century. By midcentury, American dentists began to take the lead in research and invention. Electricity changed the operating room completely, and the proper medicine made surgery less painful. John Farrar developed guidelines for using tools to move teeth by applying force on a regular basis.

The twentieth century saw improvement in the materials and methods of orthodontics. But the basic principles of the science were developed during the days of Fauchard.