Question

【题目】 Alzheimer's disease（老年痴呆症）affects millions of people around the world. American researchers say the disease will affect more than one hundred million people worldwide by the year twenty fifty. That would be four times the current number. Researchers and doctors have been studying Alzheimer's patients for a century. Yet the cause and the cure for the mental sickness are still unknown. However, some researchers have made important steps towards understanding it.

Several early signs of the disease involve memory and thought processes. At first, patients have trouble remembering little things. Later, they have trouble remembering more important things, such as the names of their children.

There are also some physical tests that might show who is at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The tests look for proteins in brain and spinal cord(脊髓) fluid. The proteins appear to be found only in people with the disease. The protein tests correctly identify the presence of the disease in about ninety percent of patients.

Now, a much simpler physical test to predict Alzheimer's risk has been developed. Researchers found that trouble with the sense of smell can be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's. Using this information, they developed a test in which people were asked to identify twelve familiar smells. These smells included cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, paint thinner, and smoke.

The study continued for five years. During this period, the same people were asked to take several tests measuring their memory and thought abilities. Fifty percent of those who could not identify at least four of the smells in the first test had trouble with their memory and thinking in the next five years.

Another study has shown a possible way to reduce a person's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease in old age. Researchers in Chicago found that people who use their brains more often are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Those who read a newspaper, or play chess or word games are about three times less likely to develop the condition.

Researchers say they still do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease. But they say these findings might help prevent the disease in the future.

【1】 Whats the main idea of the passage?

A. Some early signs of the Alzheimer's disease.

B. Some physical tests about Alzheimer's disease.

C. The research about Alzheimer's disease.

D. The patients of Alzheimer's disease.

【2】Whats the current number of Alzheimers patients?

A. 100 million B. 25 million

C. 400 million D. 2050 million

【3】What is not the early signs of the Alzheimer's disease according to the passage?

A. Poor memory

B. Proteins exist in the brain.

C. Trouble with the sense of smell.

D. Less use of the brain.

【4】What does the underlined word it in paragraph 1 refer to?

A. Alzheimer's disease. B. Alzheimer's patients.

C. The cause and the cure. D. The research.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析:本文主要讲述的是关于老年痴呆的调查。

【1】C主旨要义题。根据短文第一段However, some researchers have made important steps towards understanding it. 可知本文主要讨论的是关于老年痴呆的调查，故选C。

【2】B细节理解题。由第一段American researchers say the disease will affect more than one hundred million people worldwide by the year twenty fifty. 到2050年老人痴呆症病人的人数会达到100 million, 也就是现在的4倍,现在的人数就是25 million，故选B。

【3】D细节理解题。根据短文Researchers in Chicago found that people who use their brains more often are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.可知少用脑只会更容易得老人痴呆症, 而不是它的早期特征，故选D。

【4】A词义猜测题。根据短文Researchers and doctors have been studying Alzheimer's patients for a century. Yet the cause and the cure for the mental sickness are still unknown. However, some researchers have made important steps towards understanding it . 可知it指代上文的老年痴呆症，故选A。