Tiny pieces of gold could be used in the fight against cancer, new research has suggested. Scientists at Edinburgh University have just completed a study which shows the 27 metal increased the effectiveness of drugs used to treat lung cancer cells. Minute fragments, known as gold nanoparticles (纳米粒子), were 28 in a chemical device by the research team.
While this has not yet been tested on humans, it is hoped such a device could one day be used to reduce side effects of current chemotherapy treatments by 29 targeting diseased cells without damaging healthy tissue. Gold is a safe chemical element and has the ability to 30 chemical reactions.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered properties of the metal that allow these catalytic abilities to be accessed in living things without any side effects. The device was shown to be effective after being 31 in the brain of a zebrafish, suggesting it can be used in living animals.
The study was carried out in 32 with researchers at the University of Zaragoza's Institute of Nanoscience of Aragon in Spain, with funding coming from Cancer Research UK (CRUK). Dr. Asier, from the University of Edinburgh's CRUK Edinburgh Centre, said: 'We have discovered new 33 of gold that were previously unknown and our findings suggest that the metal could be used to 34 drugs inside turnouts very safely. There is still work to do before we can use this on 35 , but this study is a step forward. We hope that a similar device in humans could one day be implanted by surgeons to activate chemotherapy directly in tumours and reduce harmful effects to healthy organs.' The next steps will be to see if this method is 36 to use in people, what its long- and short-term side effects are, and if it's a better way to treat some cancers.
A. accelerate
B. cautiously
C. collaboration
D. elaboration
E. encased
F. implanted
G. patients
H. precious
I. precisely
J. previous
K. properties
L. release
M. relieve
N. safe
O. unsafe
H
空格位于the之后，名词metal之前，故应填入形容词作定语。文章第一段首句提到研究发现金有可能被用来治疗癌症，根据常识，金是一种贵重的金属，故此处应填入H. precious“有价值的，珍贵的”。
E
空格所在句主语为fragments，空格位于were之后，句末有动作发出者the research team，故此处应填入动词的过去分词，与were构成被动语态。结合原文，此处指纳米粒子被包裹在化学仪器里，be encased in为固定搭配，意为“包裹于……”，故E为答案。
I
空格前是介词by，空格后是动词现在分词targeting，故此处应填入副词来修饰动词。该句意为“尽管该仪器还未在人体上实验，但大家都期待，该仪器未来能在不损害健康细胞组织的前提下，通过______击中染病细胞，来减少目前化学疗法产生的副作用。”I. precisely“确切地，精确地”符合上下文语义，故为答案。
A
空格前是动词不定式标志词to，故此处应填入动词原形。首段第二句提到金能提高药效，结合上下文语义，此处指金能“加速化学反应”，以促进药品发挥效力，故答案为A. accelerate“加速”。
F
空格位于分词结构中，且空格前是being，故此处应填入动词的过去分词，构成被动语态。此处指把仪器植入斑马鱼的脑中，be implanted in为固定搭配，意为“被植入……中”，故F为答案。
C
空格前为介词in，之后是介词with，由此推出此处应该填入名词，构成介词短语。该处意为“该研究是由研究者们合作实施……”，in collaboration with为固定搭配，意为“与……合作”，故C为答案。
K
空格前是形容词new，之后是介词of，此句谓语为have discovered，故此处应填入名词作宾语，而后面的定语从句的谓语为were，提示此处的名词为复数形式。备选复数名词中只有K. properties符合语义要求，故为答案，properties of gold意为“金的属性”。
L
空格位于宾语从句中，空格前是could be used to，因此需要填入动词原形。该处意为“该金属可以被用来安全地在肿瘤内部释放药物”，故L. release“释放，排放”为答案。备选项中的M. relieve“减轻，缓解(疼痛或不快的感觉)”为干扰项，与上下文语义不符，故排除。
G
空格前面为介词on，根据语法判断，此处应填入名词。根据上下文语义：“把金用于______之前，我们还有许多工作要做，但是这项研究是一个进步。”此处应该是指病人，这也是研究的目的，故答案为G. patients“病人，患者”。
N
空格前为is，之后是介词to，此处可填入形容词作表语或动词过去分词构成被动语态。该处意为“下一步要观察这个方法用于人体是否安全”。上文也提到了这个方法的安全性问题，故N. safe为答案。