Part V Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D] on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the center.
Most people would be 67 by the high quality of medicine 68 to most Americans. There is a lot of specialization, a great deal of 69 to the individual, a 70 amount of advanced technical equipment, and 71 effort not to make mistakes because of the financial risk which doctors and hospitals must 72 in the courts if they 73 things badly.
But the Americans are in a mess. The problem is the way in 74 health care is organized and 75 . 76 to public belief it is not just a free competition system. The private system has been joined a large public system, because private care was simply not 77 the less fortunate and the elderly.
But even with this huge public part of the system, 78 this year will eat up 84.5 billion dollars—more than 10 per cent of the U.S. budget—large numbers of Americans are left 79 . These include about half the 11 million unemployed and those who fail to meet the strict limits 80 income fixed by a government trying to make savings where it can.
The basic problem, however, is that there is no central control 81 the health system. There is no 82 to what doctors and hospitals charge for their services, other than what the public is able to pay. The number of doctors has shot up and prices have climbed. When faced with toothache, a sick child, or a heart attack, all the unfortunate person concerned can do is 83 up.
Two-thirds of the population 84 covered by medical insurance. Doctors charge as much as they want 85 that the insurance company will pay the bill.
The rising cost of medicine in the U.S. is among the most worrying problems facing the country. In 1981 the country's health bill climbed 15.9 per cent—about twice as fast as prices 86 general.
67. A compressed B impressed C obsessed D repressed
68. A available B attainable C achievable D amenable
69. A extension B retention C attention D exertion
70. A countless B titanic C broad D vast
71. A intensive B absorbed C intense D concentrated
72. A run into B come into C face D defy
73. A treat B deal C maneuver D handle
74. A which B that C what D when
75. A to finance B financed C the finance D to be financed
76. A Contrary B Opposed C Averse D Objected
77. A looking for B looking into C looking after D looking over
78. A which B what C that D it
79. A over B out C off D away
80. A for B in C with D on
81. A over B on C under D behind
82. A boundary B restriction C confinement D limit
83. A to pay B paying C to be paid D to have paid
84. A is being B are C have been D is
85. A knowing B to know C they know D known
86. A in B with C on D for