hce_isu
111年
英文
第 34 題
📖 題組：
Parkinson’s disease, first described in the early 1800s by British physician James Parkinson as “shaking palsy,” is among the most prevalent neurological disorders. According to the United Nations, at least four million people worldwide have it; in North America, estimates run from 500,000 to one million, with about 50,000 diagnosed every year. These figures are expected to double by 2040 as the world’s elderly population grows; indeed, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative illnesses common in the elderly (such as Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are on their way to overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death. But the disease is not entirely one of the aged: 50 percent of patients acquire it after age 60; the other half are affected before then. Furthermore, better diagnosis has made experts increasingly aware that the disorder can attack those younger than 40. So far researchers and clinicians have found no way to slow, stop or prevent Parkinson’s. Although treatments do exist, including drugs and deep-brain stimulation, these therapies alleviate symptoms, not causes. In recent years, however, several promising developments have occurred. In particular, investigators who study the role proteins play have linked miscreant proteins to genetic underpinnings of the disease. Such findings are feeding optimism that fresh angles of attack can be identified. As its $19^{th}$-century name suggests and as many people know from the educational efforts of prominent Parkinson’s sufferers such as Janet Reno, Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox—the disease is characterized by movement disorders. Tremor in the hands, arms and elsewhere, limb rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination are among the disease’s hallmarks. In addition, some patients have trouble walking, talking, sleeping, urinating and performing sexually. These impairments result from neurons dying. Although the victim cells are found throughout the brain, those producing the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region called the substantia nigra are particularly hard-hit. These dopaminergic nerve cells are key components of the basal ganglia, a complex circuit deep within the brain that fine-tunes and coordinates movement. Initially the brain can function normally as it loses dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, even though it cannot replace the dead cells. But when half or more of these specialized cells disappear, the brain can no longer cover for them. The deficit then produces the same effect that losing air traffic control does at a major airport. Delay, false starts, cancellations and, ultimately, chaos pervade as parts of the brain involved in motor control—the thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex—no longer function as an integrated and orchestrated unit.
Parkinson’s disease, first described in the early 1800s by British physician James Parkinson as “shaking palsy,” is among the most prevalent neurological disorders. According to the United Nations, at least four million people worldwide have it; in North America, estimates run from 500,000 to one million, with about 50,000 diagnosed every year. These figures are expected to double by 2040 as the world’s elderly population grows; indeed, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative illnesses common in the elderly (such as Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) are on their way to overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death. But the disease is not entirely one of the aged: 50 percent of patients acquire it after age 60; the other half are affected before then. Furthermore, better diagnosis has made experts increasingly aware that the disorder can attack those younger than 40. So far researchers and clinicians have found no way to slow, stop or prevent Parkinson’s. Although treatments do exist, including drugs and deep-brain stimulation, these therapies alleviate symptoms, not causes. In recent years, however, several promising developments have occurred. In particular, investigators who study the role proteins play have linked miscreant proteins to genetic underpinnings of the disease. Such findings are feeding optimism that fresh angles of attack can be identified. As its $19^{th}$-century name suggests and as many people know from the educational efforts of prominent Parkinson’s sufferers such as Janet Reno, Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox—the disease is characterized by movement disorders. Tremor in the hands, arms and elsewhere, limb rigidity, slowness of movement, and impaired balance and coordination are among the disease’s hallmarks. In addition, some patients have trouble walking, talking, sleeping, urinating and performing sexually. These impairments result from neurons dying. Although the victim cells are found throughout the brain, those producing the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region called the substantia nigra are particularly hard-hit. These dopaminergic nerve cells are key components of the basal ganglia, a complex circuit deep within the brain that fine-tunes and coordinates movement. Initially the brain can function normally as it loses dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, even though it cannot replace the dead cells. But when half or more of these specialized cells disappear, the brain can no longer cover for them. The deficit then produces the same effect that losing air traffic control does at a major airport. Delay, false starts, cancellations and, ultimately, chaos pervade as parts of the brain involved in motor control—the thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebral cortex—no longer function as an integrated and orchestrated unit.
Janet Reno and Michael J. Fox are mentioned in the passage because ______.
- A they were experts on Parkinson’s disease
- B they made great efforts to reconcile with Parkinson’s disease
- C they succeeded in fighting Parkinson’s disease
- D they were well-known sufferers of Parkinson’s disease
思路引導 VIP
當你在閱讀科普或醫學類文章時，如果作者在解釋疾病症狀的段落中，突然列舉出幾位家喻戶曉的公眾人物姓名，請試著思考：作者引用這些名人的姓名，通常是希望讀者將這些「人物」與文章討論的「主題」建立起什麼樣的直接聯結？你可以從文中描述這些人物的特定名詞（如形容身分的字眼）中找到答案嗎？
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AI 詳解
AI 專屬家教
恭喜你！準確地捕捉到了文章中舉例的核心意圖。在第三段中，作者提到 Janet Reno、Muhammad Ali 和 Michael J. Fox，是為了說明帕金森氏症（Parkinson’s disease）的臨床特徵，並透過這些知名人物的生命經驗，強化大眾對該疾病症狀的具體印象。
文本細節的精準定位
這道題目的正確答案為 (D)，關鍵在於文中明確使用了 "prominent Parkinson’s sufferers"（著名的帕金森氏症患者）這一詞組，這與選項中的 "well-known sufferers" 完美契合。雖然這些名人確實投入了衛教與宣導工作，但作者列舉他們的最直接身分是作為「患者」的代表，藉此引出該病常見的運動障礙（movement disorders）等特徵。
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