To figure out whether cupping therapy has any physical effects，last year researchers from Germany carried out a test in which a sham(假装的) treatment was provided.

　　In the study，the same type of cups were used in the real treatment and the sham treatment. But in the sham treatment，the cups had a hole at the top so that they couldn't create the proper suction.

　　The tested patients，who suffered from a disorder(疾病) that causes a lot of pain，were told that they would receive either a traditional cupping or"soft cupping"．But they were not informed that the so­called"soft cupping"was a sham treatment.

　　It turned out that most patients correctly guessed which kind of cupping they had received. In both groups，patients also experienced about the same reductions in pain. The results suggest the effects of cupping therapy might come from factors that are not necessarily part of the treatment itself，the researchers told the Live Science website.

　　The question of whether cupping therapy works still needs to be answered. But because the treatment is relatively safe，it could be helpful for some people."The therapy can be used as a part of a comprehensive treatment programme involving other exercises，nutritional choices and lifestyle interventions(干预)，"Dr Brent Bauer，director of the US' Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Programme，told Live Science.

语篇解读　本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了中国传统治疗方式--拔罐，并介绍了针对拔罐是否真的有生理疗效的测试及结果，并指出拔罐可以和其他的治疗方式一起使用。

3．The purpose of the test was to_________.

A．prove the health effects of cupping therapy

B．see whether cupping therapy has a physical effect

C．compare traditional cupping with soft cupping

D．compare cupping therapy's effects on different groups of people

答案　B

解析　细节理解题。根据第五段"To figure out whether cupping therapy has any physical effects，last year researchers from Germany carried out a test in which a sham(假装的) treatment was provided."可知，这次测试的目的在于测试拔罐是否有生理疗效。

4．What can be concluded about the test?

A．Different types of cups were used for different cupping therapies.

B．Patients knew which kind of cupping they would receive before the treatment.

C．The real treatment and the sham treatment were almost equally effective for patients.