\\x0d\\x0d\\x0d\\x0d\\x0d\\x0d\\x0d\\x0dTheBritishNationalHealthService(NHS)\\x0dwassetupin1948andwasdesignedtoprovideequalbasichealthcarefreeof\\x0dchargeforeverybodyinthecountry.Beforethistimehealthcarehadtobe\\x

Question

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The British National Health Service (NHS)\\x0dwas set up in 1948 and was designed to provide equal basic health care free of\\x0dcharge for everybody in the country. Before this time health care had to be\\x0dpaid for by individuals.

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Nowadays central government is directly\\x0dresponsible for the NHS although it is administered by local health\\x0dauthorities. About 83 percent of the cost of the health service is paid for by\\x0dgeneral taxation and the rest is met from the National Insurance contributions\\x0dpaid by those in work. There are charges for prescription and dental care but\\x0dmany people such as children pregnant women pensioners and those on Income\\x0dSupport are exempt from payment.

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Most people are registered with a local\\x0ddoctor (a GP or General Practitioner) who is increasingly likely to be part of\\x0da health centre which serves the community.

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As the population of Britain gets older the hospital service now treats more patients than before although patients\\x0dspend less time in hospital. NHS hospitals — many of which were built in the\\x0dnineteenth century — provide nearly half a million beds and have over 480 000\\x0dmedical staff. The NHS is the biggest employer in Europe although Britain actually spends less per person on health care than most of her European\\x0dneighbours.

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During the 1980s there was considerable\\x0drestructuring of the Health Service with an increased emphasis on managerial\\x0defficiency and the privatization of some services (for example cleaning). At\\x0dthe end of the 1980s the government introduced proposals for further reform of\\x0dthe NHS including allowing some hospitals to be self-governing and\\x0dencouraging GPs to compete for patients. Patients would be able to choose and\\x0dchange their family doctor more easily and GPs would have more financial\\x0dresponsibility. The political questions continue of how much money should be\\x0dprovided to support the NHS and where it should come from.

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1.We can know from the first paragraph that\\x0d______________.

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A. the original aim of the NHS was to\\x0dprovide equal basic health care for everybody

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B. people didn’t have to pay for health\\x0dcare since the NHS was set up

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C. patients were charged for receiving\\x0dhealth care before 1948

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D. the NHS was an organization which gave\\x0dfree advice to villagers

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2.What do we know about the NHS?

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A. It’s managed by the central government.

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B. Its cost is mainly paid for by the\\x0dNational Insurance contributions.

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C. It hires more people than any other unit\\x0din Europe.

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D. Fewer patients go to its hospitals than\\x0dbefore because they spend less on health care.

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3.All the following statements about GPs are true except\\x0dthat they ____________.

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A. take care of the local people’s health

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B. often take part in competitions to see\\x0dwho is the best

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C. work under high pressure nowadays              D.\\x0dhave more responsibilities than before

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4.What does the underlined word “exempt” probably mean?

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A. suffering                  B.\\x0ddifferent                  C.\\x0dprevented                        D.\\x0dfree

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5.The biggest problem for the NHS is ______________.

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A. many hospitals are too old to be used     

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B. some services are in the charge of\\x0dindividuals

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C. more and more patients go to GPs for\\x0dtreatment

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D. there is not enough money for further\\x0dreform

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Answer 1