《考研英语阅读理解100篇 高分版》 Unit 3 - TEXT ONE

H.R. 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act, also known as “expanded and improved Medicare for all,” has moved through Congress, and is expected to be signed into law shortly. The legislation provides publicly funded health insurance, with a free choice of health care providers, for every United States citizen and permanent resident.
After the bill passed, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi declared, “We can now proudly say that the United States has caught up with the rest of the developed world in granting all our citizens access to high-quality, comprehensive medical care.” Prior to the bill's passage, the U.S. health care system was widely regarded to be in a state of severe crisis. Over 46 million Americans have been without health insurance and another 50 million have been under-insured.
Despite spending more money per capita on health care than any other nation, the U.S. has lagged behind many countries in such key health-related categories as life preventable deaths. The Institute of Medicine estimates that in recent years approximately 22,000 people have died annually in the U.S. due to a lack of health insurance. Furthermore, nearly one million Americans, many who have private health insurance plans, have filed for bankruptcy each year because they have been unable to pay medical bills. In recent polls, a clear majority of Americans have said they believe government should guarantee health care for all U.S. residents.
Despite growing popular support for a single-payer system, Pelosi acknowledged that Congress would not have voted for this bill without the dedicated grassroots organizing of national groups like Healthcare-NOW and Physicians for National Health Program, regional groups like the California Nurses Association and the New York-based Private Health Insurance Must Go Coalition, and over 450 union organizations across the country that had endorsed H.R. 676. Pelosi said that many formerly undecided congressional representatives were also swayed by seeing Michael Moore's film, “Sicko,” and by the cogent arguments presented in a 2008 pocket-sized books, “10 Excellent Reasons for National Health Care,” edited by Mary E. O'Brien and Martha Livingston, which was given to every member of Congress.
Under the private insurance system that has been in place until now, 30 percent of health insurance premiums have gone toward administrative costs, including advertising, profits, and executive salaries. This compares with a 3 percent cost for administering Medicare. Moving from the private health insurance system to single-payer is expected to save $350 billion dollars each year, enough to fund health care for those who are currently uninsured or under insured.
Under the H.R. 676, the expanded Medicare for All system will be paid for through a 3.3 percent payroll tax on employers and employees, a stock transfer tax, an income tax surcharge on the top 5 percent of taxpayers, and by reversing the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans. According to the Congressional Budget Office, most U.S. residents—including those who previously received employer-based coverage—will pay less for this new public health insurance than they did for their private insurance, since there will no longer be any premium, copy, or deductible charges. Eliminating private insurance companies, including HMOs, and moving to a publicly administered system will be no simple ask. The private health-care industry is enormous, employing over 14 million people and costing 2.3 trillion dollars in 2007.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the H.R. 676?
[A] It is expected to take effect soon.
[B] People enjoy freedom in choosing health care providers.
[C] The U.S. health care system once collapsed.
[D] The medical care is characterized by high quality and comprehensiveness.
2. The word “lagged” (Line 1, Paragraph 3) most probably means _____.
[A] delayed
[B] not caught up with
[C] tracked
[D] left
3. According to Pelosi, the followings are the reasons that Congress voted for this bill except that _____.
[A] special grassroots organizations are formed
[B] the film “Sicko” has swayed Congress members' attitude
[C] 30% of the premiums were paid for the administrative expense
[D] persuasive theory in the pocket-sized book affects people's thought
4. The single-payer system is more beneficial than private insurance mainly because _____.
[A] the former provides high-quality, comprehensive medical care
[B] private insurance is more expensive
[C] it allows people to choose health care providers with freedom
[D] premiums in private insurance can't be distributed reasonably
5. Towards the legislation, the author's attitude can be said to be _____.
[A] affirmative
[B] negative
[C] biased
[D] neutral