Since earliest days, humans have used some kinds of medicines. We know this because humans have survived. Ancient treatments for injury and disease were successful enough to keep humans from dying out completely.
They were successful long before the time of modem medicine. Before the time of doctors with white coats and shiny (发亮的) instruments. Before the time of big hospitals with strange and wonderful equipment.
Many parts of the world still do not have university-educated doctors. Nor do they have expensive hospitals. Yet injuries are treated. And diseases are often cured, how? By ancient methods. By medicines that might seem mysterious, even magical (有魔力的). Traditional medicines are neither mysterious nor magical, however.
Through the centuries, tribal (部落的) medicine men experimented with plants. They found many useful chemicals in the plants. And scientists believe many of these traditional medicines may provide the cure for some of today"s most serious diseases.
Experts say almost 80% of the people in the world use plants for health care. These natural medicines are used not just because people have no other form of treatment. They are used because people trust them. In developed areas, few people think about the source of the medicines they buy in a store. Yet many widely-used medicines are from ancient sources, especially plants. Some experts say more than 25 % of modern medicines come, in one way or another, from nature.
Scientists have long known that nature is really a chemical factory. All living things contain chemicals that help them survive. So scientists" interest in traditional medicine is not new. But it has become an urgent concern. This is because the earth"s supply of natural medicines may be dropping rapidly.
单选题
The passage indicates that ancient treatments for injury and disease were ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 由第一段最后一句“Ancient treatments for injury and disease were successful enough to keep humans from dying out completely. ”可知，古代治疗伤病的方法足够使人类免于灭绝，可以存活至今，故选C。
单选题
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
单选题
It is believed by scientists that traditional medicine ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 由第四段最后一句“...these traditional medicines may provide the cure for some of today"s most serious diseases. ”可知，科学家相信许多传统的药品能为当今一些很严重的病提供治疗，故选C。
单选题
What do the majority of the people in the world use for health care?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 由第五段第一句“Expels say almost 80% of the people in the world use plants for health care. ”可知，此题应选A。
单选题
It can be seen from the passage that the earth"s supply of natural medicines ______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 由最后一句“This is because the earth"s supply of natural medicines may be dropping rapidly. ”可知，地球上天然药物的供应量可能会快速下降，故选C。