①Death is normal; we are genetically programmed to disintegrate and perish, even under ideal conditions.

　　②We all understand that at some level, yet as medical consumers we treat death as a problem to be solved.

　　③Shielded by third-party payers from the cost of our care, we demand everything that can possibly be done for us, even if it is useless.

　　④The most obvious example is late-stage cancer care. Physicians ——frustrated by their inability to cure the disease and fearing loss of hope in the patient —— too often offer aggressive treatment far beyond what is scientifically justified.

　　参考译文：

　　①(总)死亡是正常的;即使在理想的条件下，我们的基因决定了我们会解体和死亡。

　　②(具体：分1)我们在某种程度上都知道，但是作为医疗消费者，我们却把死亡当作一个需要解决的问题。

　　③(具体：分2)由于有第三方支付者为我们支付医疗费用，我们要求用尽所有医疗手段，即使它们毫无用处。

　　④(具体：例)最明显的例子是晚期癌症的治疗。医生们对自己无法治愈这种疾病感到沮丧，担心病人失去希望，因此常常会提供激进的治疗，但这些远远超出了科学界认同的界限。

　　【翻译小作业】

　　由于家长支付生活费，孩子要求用尽所有手段购买奢侈品，即使它们毫无用处。