What is the single largest cause of sick leave in the UK The answer is not the common cold or flu, but back pain. Back pain affects one in three British s, costs the country over ￡ 5billion every year and is difficult to treat.
But now Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) will be offering a new (47) : acupuncture. The ancient Chinese needle therapy(疗法)has been around in the UK for many years, but this is the first time it has been (48) endorsed(批准) by the NHS’s advisory body, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Traditionally, doctors in the UK have advised back pain sufferers to stay (49) , do stretching exercises and take painkillers when necessary. In more serious cases some people are given X-ray (50) or injections. NICE, however, say there is evidence that acupuncture may be more (51) than expensive X-rays or injections, so patients who have been suffering for over six weeks should be given a choice.
As an (52) to acupuncture, patients will be able to opt for either a course of spinal manipulation (脊椎推拿), or a (53) of special exercise sessions. In the UK, acupuncture is classed as a complementary therapy, which is the term given to a medical procedure which hasn’t been (54) to the strict trials by which scientists prove some treatments work.
While many experts have (55) the move to make acupuncture available on the NHS, some are still skeptical about its effectiveness. So while some are yet to be (56) , back pain sufferers will be hoping that acupuncture helps get them feeling healthy and mobile again. Employers, on the other hand, will be hoping it gets them back to work.

• A) activeF) traditionally K) convinced
• B) subjectedG) officially L) treatment
• C) methodH) creative M) welcomed
• D) solutionI) series N) cure
• E) effectiveJ) confirmed O) alternative