单选题 The biggest thing in operating rooms these days is a million-dollar, multi-armed robot named da Vinci, used in nearly 400, 000 surgeries nationwide last year—triple the number just four years earlier. But now the high-tech helper is under scrutiny over reports of problems, including several deaths that may be linked with it and the high cost of using the robotic system. There also have been a few disturbing, freak incidents: a robotic hand that wouldn't let go of tissue grasped during surgery and a robotic arm hitting a patient in the face as she lay on the operating table. Is it time to curb the robot enthusiasm? Some doctors say yes, concerned that the "wow" factor and heavy marketing have boosted use. They argue that there is not enough robust research showing that robotic surgery is at least as good or better than conventional surgeries. Many U. S. hospitals promote robotic surgery in patient brochures, online and even on highway billboards. Their aim is partly to attract business that helps pay for the costly robot. The da Vinci is used for operations that include removing prostates, gallbladders and wombs, repairing heart valves, shrinking stomachs and transplanting organs. Its use has increased worldwide, but the system is most popular in the United States. For surgeons, who control the robot while sitting at a computer screen rather than standing over the patient, these operations can be less tiring. Plus robot hands don't shake. Advocates say patients sometimes have less bleeding and often are sent home sooner than with conventional laparoscopic surgeries and operations involving large incisions. But the Food and Drug Administration is looking into a spike in reported problems during robotic surgeries. Earlier this year, the FDA began a survey of surgeons using the robotic system. The agency conducts such surveys of devices routinely, but FDA spokeswoman Synim Rivers said the reason for it now "is the increase in number of reports received" about da Vinci. Reports filed since early last year include at least five deaths. Whether there truly are more problems recently is uncertain. Rivers said she couldn't quantify the increase and that it may simply reflect more awareness among doctors and hospitals about the need to report problems. Doctors aren't required to report such things; device makers and hospitals are. Company spokesman Geoff Curtis said Intuitive Surgical has physician-educators and other trainers who teach surgeons how to use the robot. But they don't train them how to do specific procedures robotically, he said, and that it's up to hospitals and surgeons to decide "if and when a surgeon is ready to perform robotic cases. " A 2010 New England Journal of Medicine essay by a doctor and a health policy analyst said surgeons must do at least 150 procedures to become adept at using the robotic system. But there is no expert consensus on how much training is needed. New Jersey banker Alexis Grattan did a lot of online research before her gallbladder was removed last month at Hackensack University Medical Center. She said the surgeon's many years of experience with robotic operations was an important factor. She also had heard that the surgeon was among the first to do the robotic operation with just one small incision in the belly button, instead of four cuts in conventional keyhole surgery.
单选题 Why did FDA begin to scrutinize da Vinci?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:细节题。文章第一段说到手术机器话题的热度,第二段开始谈到在使用过程中出现的事故和怪异事件,这些问题以及最近报告的五起死亡案例,使得FDA开始调查这些问题,因此本题最佳答案为D。
单选题 According to some doctors, which of the following is NOT the reason to curb the enthusiasm for da Vinci?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:排除题。通过文中第二段末尾的问题“Is it time to curb the robot enmusiasm?”可知,答案在第三段开始的内容里。第三段提到有些医生认为昙花一现的效果促使很多医院大力营销,以便支付机器人手术系统的巨大成本,但没有更多的研究来证明机器人手术就一定比传统手术好。从这里可以推断,坚持需要遏制机器人手术热情的医生认为需要更多的研究来证明其意义和价值,B选项武断认为“不如传统手术好”是不对的。D选项的内容在后文FDA调查的部分可以找到相关内容。因此本题正确答案为B。
单选题 What does FDA spokeswoman Synim Rivers mean?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:细节题。通过人名不难定位。通过排除可知,Rivers并不确定案例增加的数量(uncertain),她认为这些增加只是反映了医生对这些问题更敏感了(awareness)。同时,FDA先前的调查是否结束,文中并没有提及,由此可知本题正确答案为B。
单选题 What is correct about training according to the Geoff Curtis?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:细节题。根据人名可定位到文章后半部分。机器人制造商Geoff Curtis认为,有关于如何操作机器人的培训,但至于何时使用机器人来手术,取决于外科大夫。因此关于培训,Curtis的观点与C选项是一致的。
单选题 What is the best title for this passage?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:主旨题。本文并未完全肯定或是完全否定手术机器人,而是站在中立的角度评论有关手术机器人的利弊。因此A选项(四只手比两只手好吗?)能最好地概括文章主旨。B选项(太好而有失真实)则是本身带有对机器人的否定态度倾向。D选项中killer则偏离文章主旨,无论是机器人还是传统人工手术,目的都是为病人带来福祉而非杀戮。