読み---４（早稲田大学人間科学部---1）

ちょっと読んで内容を考える、という練習になると思います。設問が設定されていますが、まずticsについてまとめてみましょう。その上で、
「次の文を読んで設問1～3の解答として最も適当なものを，（A）～（D）の中から一つ選びなさい。」
という出題されてた設問もやってみましょう。医療系学部、医学部受験の人の基礎知識としても有益とも言える文章です。

   How common are tics --- an involuntary movement such as a shoulder shrug or nose twitch-during childhood?
   Tics are so widespread that some experts say they are a normal part of growing up. About 20 percent of children will develop a tic. The most familiar tics are repeated eye-blinking or sniffing.
"It's not uncommon for a child to start with a cold, and when the cold fades, sniffing persists and becomes a tic," says Jonathon Mink, head of child neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.
   Tics may emerge as early as age 5, but onset peaks between the ages of 10 and 12. In most cases, a tic appears, lasts for a few months, and then goes away on its own. A tic that persists for a year or more may be indicative of Tourette's syndrome (TS), a genetic disorder marked by repetitive body movements and vocal sounds. Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with TS.
   So when should a parent worry? Although tics
can be annoying and embarrassing, they are generally harmless, says Mink. Medication can help, as can "habit reversal therapy," in which a child learns to replace a tic with a less intrusive response. He might learn to take a deep breath, for example, whenever he feels the urge to cough.
   Parents should seek treatment only when a tic is a real hindrance, Mink says. "I often tell parents: If your child's tic is bothering you, then go take a walk."
  1. How common are tics in children?
  (A) About one in five kids will get one.
  (B) Most children will develop one.
  (C) They are considered abnormal.
  (D) Twitches are the most common.

  2. What can cause some tics?
  (A) Persistent sniffing
  (B) Repetitive movements
  (C) Taking a walk
  (D) Tourette's syndrome

  3. What is the best title for this passage?
  (A) Childhood Illnesses Explained
  (B) Experts Disagree on TS Diagnosis
  (C) Involuntary Movements Normal for Children
  (D) The Risks of Tourette's Syndrome

[2006年度早稲田大学（人間科学部）より]