New US Plan for Disease Prevention
Urging Americans to take responsibility for their health1 , Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday launched a$15 million program to try to encourage communities to do more to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease，cancer and diabetes.
The initiative highlights the cost of chronic diseases2 - the leading causes of death in the United States——and outlines ways that people Can prevent them，including better diet and increased exercise.
“In the United States today, 7 of 10 deaths and the vast majority of serious illness，disability and health care costs are caused by chronic diseases, "the Health and Human Services Department said in a statement.
The causes are often behavioral——smoking，poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.
“I am convinced that preventing disease by promoting better health is a smart policy choice for our future，”Thompson told a conference held to launch the initiative.
“Our current health care system is not structured to deal with the escalating costs of treating diseases that are largely preventable through changes in our lifestyle choices."
Thompson said heart disease and strokes will cost the country more than $351 billion in 2003.
“These leading causes of death for men and women are largely preventable，yet we as a nation are not taking the steps necessary for US to lead healthier, longer lives，”he said.
The $15 million is slated to go to communities to promote prevention，pushing for changes as simple as building sidewalks to encourage people to walk more.
Daily exercise such as walking can prevent and even reverse heart disease and diabetes，and prevent cancer and strokes.
The money will also go to community organizations，clinics and nutritionists who are being encouraged to work together to educate people at risk of diabetes about what they can do to prevent it and encourage more cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society estimates that half of all cancers can be caught by screening，including Pap tests3 for cervical cancer, mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies, and prostate checks.
If such cancers were all caught by early screening.the group estimates that the survival rate for cancer would rise to 95 percent.
练习：
1. Which of the following is NOT true of chronic diseases in the US?
A)They account for 70% of all deaths.
B)They are responsible for most of the health care costs.
C)They often result in unhealthy lifestyles.
D)They are largely preventable.
2.The author mentions all the following as ways of disease prevention EXCEPT
A)better diet.
B)increased exercise.
C)reduction on smoking.
D)higher survival rate for cancer.
3.The article indicates that more money spent on disease prevention will mean
A)greater responsibility of the government.
B)much less money needed for disease treatment.
C)higher costs of health care.
D)more 1ifestyle choices for people.
4.The $15 million program is aimed at
A)promoting disease prevention.
B)building more sidewalks.
C)helping needy communities.
D)wiping out chronic diseases.
1. Early cancer screening can help reduce significantly
A)the death rates for all chronic diseases.
B)the kinds of cancer attacking people.
C)the cancer incidence rate.
D)cancer death rate.
答案与题解：
1. C 从文章的第三、六段分别可以看出，在美国，70%的死亡时由慢性病造成的，绝大多数医疗费用也花在慢性病的治疗上，而不健康的生活方式会引发慢性病，而不是慢性病引发不健康的生活方式。慢性病很大程度上是可以预防的。
2. D 从文章的第二、四段可以排除A、B和C三个选项。
3. B 从文章的第三、六、七段可以看出，慢性病的治疗花费极高。适当投资于疾病的预防可以大大减少这种花费。
4. A 从文章第一段可以看出，该项目的主要目的是促进疾病的预防。
5. D 从文章的最后一段可以看出，早期癌症检查有助于大大提高癌症存活率，即大大降低癌症死亡率。
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