A complex operation called spinal fusion has emerged as the treatment of choice for many kinds of back pain. But a number of researchers say there is little scientific evidence to show that for most patients, spinal fusion works any better than a simpler operation, the laminectomy（椎板切除术）. Some people would be better off with no surgery at all. Even doctors who favor fusions say that more research is needed on their benefits.
In the absence of better data, critics point to a different reason for the fusion operation’s fast rises: money. Medicare can pay a surgeon as much as four times more for a spinal fusion as for a laminectomy. Hospitals also collect two to four times as much. “We all cave in to market and economic forces,” said Dr. Edward C. Benzel. Though doctors, as a rule, should favor the least complicated treatment — with surgery being the last resort — Dr. Benzel estimated that fewer than half of the spinal fusions done today were probably appropriate.
Doctors and hospitals are not the only players with a financial stake in fusion operations. Critics blame the companies that make the hardware for promoting more complex fusions without evidence that they are significantly more effective. Some sort of hardware is used in almost 90 percent of lower-back fusions and the national bill for the hardware alone has soared to $2.5 billion a year.
The hardware makers in general acknowledge giving surgeons millions of dollars for consulting and researches, but say the money promotes technical advances that improve back care. But a lawsuit brought by Scott A. Wiese, a former sales representative of Medtronic ― the biggest maker of spinal hardware, accused the company of trying to persuade surgeons to use its products with offers of first-class plane tickets to Hawaii and nights at the finest hotels. Medtronic said it did nothing wrong, and it denied the accusations in the lawsuit. But the company disclosed earlier this year that the federal government was investigating charges that it paid illegal kickbacks to surgeons. Federal officials declined to comment on the investigation, and Medtronic said it would vigorously defend itself.
Still, between the allure of money and the quest for breakthroughs in treatment, some prominent spinal surgeons say that back care has gone astray.
1. Which of the following statements on the treatment of back pain is true?
2. It is implied that doctors （ ）.
3. The hardware makers （ ）.
4. The company Medtronic （ ）.
5. What does the author mean by “back care has gone astray” in the last paragraph?
问题1选项
A.Spinal fusion provides a better cure than other treatments.
B.Spinal fusion is no good to patients suffering from back pains.
C.There is limited evidence as to which treatment is better.
D.Doctors have great confidence in the benefits of spinal fusion.
问题2选项
A.tend to choose the treatment that is considered the best for patients
B.have put financial interests ahead of patients in considerable cases
C.are likely to favor more complicated treatment to improve skills
D.wish to change the current system under which they get paid for their work
问题3选项
A.have obtained enormous profits from the operation
B.have invested heavily in the research of new products
C.have helped doctors and hospitals gain more experience
D.have successfully proved the effectiveness of their products
问题4选项
A.has admitted paying kickbacks to surgeons
B.has denied any financial deals with surgeons
C.has been sued for buying its business competitor
D.has been investigated by the government
问题5选项
A.It has been on the right track.
B.It has been away from the right track.
C.It has offered a new treatment.
D.It has moved back to tradition.
第1题:C
第2题:B
第3题:A
第4题:D
第5题:B
第1题:
细节事实题。由题干定位到文章第一段中“But a number of researchers say there is little scientific evidence to show that for most patients, spinal fusion works any better than a simpler operation, the laminectomy. 但一些研究人员表示，几乎没有科学证据表明，对大多数患者来说脊柱融合术比更简单的椎板切除术更好。”可知C项与原文相符。A项“脊柱融合术比其他治疗方法有更好的治疗效果。”，与原文不符；B项“脊柱融合术对背痛患者没有好处。”，与原文不符；C项“只有有限的证据表明哪种治疗方法更好。”；D项“医生对脊柱融合术的好处很有信心。”，与原文不符，因此C选项正确。
第2题:
推理判断题。由题干定位到文章第二段中“Medicare can pay a surgeon as much as four times more for a spinal fusion as for a laminectomy. 医疗保险可以为外科医生支付比椎板切除术多四倍的脊柱融合术费用。”以及“...fewer than half of the spinal fusions done today were probably appropriate. 今天所做的脊柱融合术中可能只有不到一半是合适的。”，可知B项与原文相符。A项“倾向于选择被认为对病人最好的治疗方法”，与原文不符；B项“在相当多的案例中，他们把经济利益置于病人利益之上”；C项“可能会赞成更复杂的治疗来提高技能”，与原文不符；D项“希望改变他们目前的工作报酬制度”，与原文不符，因此B选项正确。
第3题:
细节事实题。由题干定位到文章第三段中“...the national bill for the hardware alone has soared to $2.5 billion a year. ……仅在硬件方面，全国每年的支出就飙升至25亿美元。”可知A项与原文相符。A项“已从这个手术中获取了巨大的利润”；B项“已在新产品研究上投入巨资”，与原文不符；C项“已帮助医生和医院获得了更多经验”，与原文不符；D项“已成功地证明了他们产品的有效性”，与原文不符，因此A选项正确。
第4题:
细节事实题。由题干定位到文章第四段中“But the company disclosed earlier this year that the federal government was investigating charges that it paid illegal kickbacks to surgeons. 但该公司今年早些时候披露，联邦政府正在调查其向外科医生支付非法回扣的指控。”可知D项与原文相符。A项“已承认给外科医生回扣”，与原文不符；B项“已否认与外科医生有任何金钱交易”，与原文不符；C项“已因收购其商业竞争对手而被起诉”，与原文不符；D项“已经被政府调查过”，因此D选项正确。
第5题:
推理判断题。由题干定位到文章第二段中“...fewer than half of the spinal fusions done today were probably appropriate. ……今天所做的脊柱融合术中可能只有不到一半是合适的。”以及astray有“误入歧途的，离开正道的”意思，可知B项与原文相符。A项“它已在正轨上”；B项“它偏离了正轨”；C项“它已提供一个新的治疗方式”；D项“它已回到传统”，因此B选项正确。
