阅读理解 Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu (流感) may make a difference in how long the misery lasts. The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu, and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That''s because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come. The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses -- flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness, but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine (疫苗) , which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities, there are some obvious signs to look for. Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms. The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms. Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome (综合症), a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system. There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.

单选题 According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help________.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】文章第一句说，“being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts能够区别这种症状究竟起源于伤风还是流感，可以影响到这种痛苦的症状会持续多久”，也就是说可以A项“shorten the duration of the illness”。本题为细节题，找准题眼，可以很容易排除其余选项。

单选题 We learn from the passage that________.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】倒数第2段首句说，“用柜台药品也可以减轻伤风和流感的症状”，所以排除A项，选D项。接下来的内容说，不可随意让少年儿童服用阿司匹林，B项则完全排除该药；其实，成年人服用阿司匹林并无不妥，所以B项错误。C项谈到对肝脏及中枢神经系统的损害是Reye综合症的情形，并非延迟治疗伤风、流感的后果，也可排除。

单选题 According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively,________.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】题目问，为了有效地对付流感(to combat the flu effectively)，人们应当________。找回第2段，有“guidelines on combating colds and the flu”，这里提到了流感和普通感冒的治疗办法。文章说，关键是迅速区分这两种疾病，因为对流感来说，一旦得了这种病(soon after the illness sets in)，病人就应该尽快服用专门治疗流感的处方药。这正是C项的含义。注意选项C项的用词“upon catching the disease”，定冠词表明患者已确诊得了流感而非感冒。(此题争议颇多；另一种说法是，因为病人不能区别流感和感冒，而且要服用的是处方药，所以，病人应该首先去看医生，从而选B项。)

单选题 Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?

单选题 If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents________.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】根据倒数第2段的第2句转折词However之后的信息“但是小孩子和青少年患者应避免服用阿司匹林止痛，因为那样有可能引发Reye综合症，这种肝部和中枢神经系统的并发症虽罕见但却非常危险”，可见A项正确而B项错误；C项是预防flu的措施；文章最后说预防伤风的措施之一是远离患者，而不是有流感症状时避免孩子与发烧人群接触，故D项错。