Health care is regarded as an important way to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. In many countries of the world, free health care is provided by the government.【小题1】

Clearly, we all have to pay for this service through our taxes.

【小题2】They say that people who lake unnecessary risks should not receive this free health care. For example, people who join in risky activities such as skiing are more likely to have an accident. It has been suggested that these people should pay for any medical treatment they require.

【小题3】Firmly, it’s difficult to say exactly what is risky and what is not. For example, not doing enough exercise is probably more risky than skiing in the long run. As a result, it isn’t fair to give free health care to an inactive person and make the skier pay.【小题4】Clearly, these people should receive free medical treatment if they are hurt on the job.

Finally, I would like to say that I think free health care is a good thing. I understand that the system is not perfectly fair because some people use it more than others. Besides, not all the medical treatment is really necessary for the health of the patient. The taxpayer should not have to pay the costs of such treatment.【小题5】

Some people look forward to getting braces (牙箍) on their teeth, thinking they look cool. Other people avoid visiting the orthodontist (正齿医生). But anyone who benefits from the orthodontist’s trade today should be thankful for the progress this science has made over the centuries.

Remains of crooked (弯曲的) human teeth date back tens of thousands of years. Greek and Roman texts describing the treatment of irregular teeth by the application of pressure date back as far as the fifth century B. C. Archaeological evidence indicates even earlier use of orthodontic appliances, including man-made objects found in considerable burial (埋葬的) sites in ancient Italy. Another early attempt at braces may have been discovered on Egyptian mummies with recognizable metal bands around their teeth. Thus, from at least 1,000 BC, it was known that teeth move in response to pressure.

Techniques for correcting dental (牙齿的) irregularities did not advance much until the eighteenth century. French dentists led the way to building orthodontic practice on scientific foundations. The greatest contribution came from Pierre Fauchard. In 1728, Fauchard published the first general study of dentistry. In it, he described the process of straightening. He made smooth (光滑的) a crooked tooth to create space around it. Then he repositioned the tooth using a tool called a “pelican”. And he bound it to its neighbors and let it set. French and English dentists improved on Fauchard’s work through the eighteenth century. Patients of Fauchard’s treatment may have been grateful when the work was completed. While many of them faced the treatment with fear and cried during the procedures, there were many Frenchmen who flooded to Fauchard to improve their looks with dental work.

Pioneering European orthodontists introduced new techniques and instruments in the nineteenth century. By midcentury, American dentists began to take the lead in research and invention. Electricity changed the operating room completely, and the proper medicine made surgery less painful. John Farrar developed guidelines for using tools to move teeth by applying force on a regular basis.

The twentieth century saw improvement in the materials and methods of orthodontics. But the basic principles of the science were developed during the days of Fauchard.

Things you shouldn’t do before your next doctor’s appointment

Whether you’re going in for checkups or common tests, here’s how to get the most out of your next visit.

Your blood pressure will probably be taken at a checkup, so avoid coffee right before your appointment, which could affect the result. Using coffee or other caffeine such as energy drinks or colas within an hour of having your blood pressure measured can make the number artificially high. 【小题1】

【小题2】 If you wouldn’t normally have a high-fat meal, then don’t do it. So your physician can get an accurate picture of your health. Unusually large meals could influence test results. In fact, you may need to avoid eating in general.

If you need to go for urine（尿）test, don’t get dehydrated（脱水）before your appointment. If you exercise, that means you need to drink plenty of water afterward, which will affect the result of your medical test. Avoid exercise that’s not in your normal daily routine. 【小题4】 If you are not used to it, you’re more likely to get dehydrated.

When you’re sick, your doctor may evaluate your symptoms without the effects of any over-the-counter drug.