The good news about Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is that it gives free medical help to everyone who needs it. Sick people don’t have to pay to see the doctor, or to stay in hospital, and they only pay part of the cost of their medicines. The bad news is that the NHS is always running out of money. The British government spends even less on health than the American government. And in the USA sick people also have to pay every time they see a doctor. The NHS has been admired and enjoyed by British people since 1946 when it started. The idea then was to look after people “from the cradle to the grave”. Free medicine was part of the “welfare state”, which gave free education to the young, money to the unemployed, and pensions to the old.

Slowly, as the years pass, problems have grown up. Governments are finding that the bills are getting bigger and bigger. In 1982, £14,000 million was spent on health. One reason for this is that there are many more old people now than there were in 1946. Forty percent of NHS money goes to looking after the old. Some people say that the NHS is a luxury Britain can not afford. They want to bring back more private medicine, for which people would pay. Free medicine, they say, should be given only to the poor. Other people, including many doctors, disagree. Everyone, they say, has the right to the same medical help. In a two-part system, the rich would always get the best. This would not be fair. People also disagree about how NHS money should be spent. Should £15,000 be spent on each heart transplant operation, when there are not enough beds for thousands of old people in pain? Should abortions be paid for by the NHS? Should more money be spent on the mentally ill? Shouldn’t doctors and nurses be better paid?

The questions go on and on—but so does the NHS. And millions of British people are thankful that it’s there.

In Britain sick people have to pay some money to__________.

A.see a doctor

B.stay in a hospital

C.get some medicine

D.have an operation

In Britain more money is spent on health than before because__________.

A.more people get ill

B.there are more old people

C.medicines become more expensive

D.doctors and nurses are better paid

Some people want to have more private medicine in Britain because they__________.

A.don’t trust the NHS

B.want better medical treatment

C.don’t think Britain can afford free medicine for all

D.believe that everyone has the right to medical help

What is the biggest problem the NHS is facing?

A.Shortage of money

B.Criticisms from the people

C.Arguments about its function

D.Pressure from the government

Which of the following is a controversial issue concerning the NHS?

A.Whether it’s necessary or not to provide beds for old people in pain

B.Whether there should be free medical care for the mentally ill

C.Whether people should ever be cared for from birth to death

D.Whether money should be spent on more critical cases

Philanthropy is a way that people and organizations show concern for others or work to improve the world. Approximately 72 percent of Americans donate to charity (慈善机构), and 51 percent do volunteer work. About 2 millions not-for-profit organizations and charities in the United States today receive this help.

There are three types of philanthropists: individuals, foundations, and private corporations. Individuals give money or volunteer their time to support causes that are important to them. Foundations are organizations started by very wealthy individuals.

Their “business” is not to make a profit but to give money away to not-for-profits.

Private corporations may also use a portion of their business profits to make donations,

or they may give away their products or services free of charge. However, foundations and corporations are responsible for only 20 percent of charitable donations; 80 percent comes from individuals.

What makes people and institutions give away their time and money? One reason is altruism, the unselfish desire to help other people and make the world a better place.

Other reasons involve personal interest. Under US tax law, an individual or business does not have to pay income tax on money that is donated to charity. For extremely wealthy individuals and corporations, this can mean millions of dollars they do not have to pay in taxes to the government. In addition to tax benefits, donors often receive favorable publicity for making donations, and they have an opportunity to influence the world around them.

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A.Philanthropy has become an accepted American custom

B.Philanthropy has made the US a great influence in the world

C.More and more organizations rely on philanthropy nowadays

D.Religion plays an important role in the philanthropy in the US

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of philanthropists?

A.To donate money

B.To do volunteer work

C.To pay income tax

D.To provide free services

What is the main source of donations in the United States?

A.Foundations

B.Individuals

C.The government

D.Private corporations

How are foundations different from private corporations in the aspect of philanthropy?

A.They don’t make a profit

B.They receive more publicity

C.They are set up by very rich individuals

D.They don’t donate money to individuals

What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A.Individuals tend to donate money to become famous

B.Foundations gain more power because of philanthropy

C.Some people donate money for practical purposes

D.The US tax law discourages people from donating money

（   ）1.Rewarding    （   ）2.Widen         

（   ）3.President      （   ）4.Final           

（   ）5.Respect        （   ）6.Tough

（   ）7.Customer     （   ）8.Maintain

（   ）9.Anxiety         （   ）10.Pattern

 A.忧虑   B.变宽    C.粗鲁   D.保持    E.总统  

 F.式样   G.最终    H.尊敬   I.顾客    J. 值得

A.many friends

B.no friends

C.some friend

D.much friend