填空题
Most people would be impressed by the high quality of medicine available to most Americans. There is{{U}} (1) {{/U}}, a great deal of attention to the individual, a vast amount of{{U}} (2) {{/U}}, and intense effort not to make mistakes because of the{{U}} (3) {{/U}}which doctors and hospitals must face in the courts if they{{U}} (4) {{/U}}.
But the Americans are in a mess. The problem is the way in which health care is{{U}} (5) {{/U}}. Contrary to public belief, it is not just a free competition system. The private system has been joined{{U}} (6) {{/U}}, because private care was simply not looking after{{U}} (7) {{/U}}.
But even with this huge public part of the system, which this year will eat up{{U}} (8) {{/U}}—more than 10 per cent of the U. S. Budget—{{U}} (9) {{/U}}are left out. These include about half the{{U}} (10) {{/U}}unemployed and those who fail to meet{{U}} (11) {{/U}}on income fixed by a government trying to{{U}} (12) {{/U}}where it can.
The basic problem, however, is that there is no{{U}} (13) {{/U}}over the health system. There is no confinement to what doctors and hospitals{{U}} (14) {{/U}}, other than what the public is able to pay. {{U}}(15) {{/U}}has shot up and prices have climbed. When faced with toothache, a sick child, or a{{U}} (16) {{/U}}, all the unfortunate person concerned can do is pay up.
Two-thirds of the population are{{U}} (17) {{/U}}. Doctors charge as much as they want, knowing that the insurance company will pay the bill. {{U}}(18) {{/U}}in the U. S. A. is among the most worrying problems. In 2004{{U}} (19) {{/U}}climbed 15.9 per cent—about twice{{U}} (20) {{/U}}.