单选题 The more medical science discovers about the complex interplay between nature and nurture, genetics and environment, the larger the role family history appears to play in disease. Last month's announcement that most of the 30, 000-plus genes in the human genome had been identified is likely to prompt a better understanding of family-related illness and new gene-based treatments. But until such treatments are available, people with a family history of certain diseases need to be watchful. They also need to remember that for most diseases, family history is not destiny. If you have what's known as a first-degree relative — a parent or sibling — who has been diagnosed with an illness, say, cancer, then your risk of developing the same illness rises. Having two affected first-degree relatives, or family members across generations — your mother and your grandmother — increases your risk further. "If the illness is occurring in multiple, close relatives, at younger ages than is typical for that disease, and over more than one generation, you have a truly problematic family history, says Robin Bennett of the Medical Genetics Clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center. In families afflicted with certain inherited disorders such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, genes alone seem to determine who gets sick. But for most people, family history, lifestyle, and environment all influence which illnesses they develop, and at what age. Even if you have strong family history of, say, breast cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, taking advantage of the proven screening tests and treatments and changing your lifestyle may tip the odds back in your favor. Nearly everyone faces some kind of genetic risk. By comparing the health histories of twins with same genetic makeup, scientists have estimated the contribution genes make to trait like weight, cholesterol level, and blood pressure. Kenneth Kendler, a professor of psychiatry and genetics at the medical College of Virginia, has found that genes contribute heavily to some mental disorders, too. "We're pretty sure that with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, 70 or 80 percent is inherited. Alcohol and drug dependence, 50 to 60 percent. Depression, 35 to 40 percent, . " Even so, he adds, "The strongest predictor of major depression is still your life experience. There aren't genes that make you depressed; there are genes that make you vulnerable to depression. "
单选题 Which of the following family histories is most indicative of your chance of developing the same disease?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:判断题。本题问的是“下面哪种家庭病史最有可能表示你会患同样的疾病?”文章第二段指出:如果你的父母或者兄弟姐妹患有癌症,那么你有患癌症的风险:如果你的两个亲属或跨代的家庭成员患病,比如你的母亲和祖母,那么你患病的风险就更大;如果患这种疾病的近亲多,患病的年龄小,并且至少跨一代,那么这一家庭病史可能给你带来真正的麻烦。这说明你最可能患病的标志是患这种疾病的近亲多,患病的年龄小,并且至少跨一代。B选项(你的几个姑姑和侄女在20几岁时有高血压)与文意符合。
单选题 By saying "family history is not destiny" (Para. 1), the author means that______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:词义题。文章第一段指出,医学发现的有关本性、营养、遗传学和环境之间的复杂关系越多,家庭病史在疾病方面起的作用似乎就越大;但是,只有在可以实施基于基因的治疗方法时,有某种疾病的家庭病史的人们才需要警惕;他们也应该记住,对于大多数疾病来说,家庭病史并不会造成影响。第三段指出,对于大多数人来说,家庭病史、生活方式以及环境都对他们可能患病产生影响;即使你有严重的家庭病史,通过利用得到证实的治疗方法以及改变生活方式等,你可以减少患病的可能性。C选项与作者观点一致。
单选题 According to the text, which of the following conditions has more to do with genes?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:细节题。文章第三段指出,在患有某种遗传病的家庭,比如镰状细胞血症和囊肿型纤维化症,基因本身就似乎可以决定谁会患病。D是正确答案。
单选题 Which of the following is true?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:判断题。文章最后一段指出:精神病学和遗传学教授说,患抑郁症的最重要因素仍然是你的生活经历,不存在使你抑郁的基因,只有使你可能患抑郁症的基因。
单选题 What is the probable best title for the passage?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:主旨题。本文讨论的主要话题是基因(nature)和后天养育(nurture)之间复杂的关系,但作者研讨的核心是证明家族病史对个体致病的能力并非是百分百的,比如可能性很大的致病家族病史需要依情况而定,再比如患抑郁症的最重要因素是生活经历。因此本文最好的题目是“基因没有最终决定权”是最合适的,A和B与原文含义不一致,D则太笼统。