Below, there is an article from BBC News regarding a ...



OET READING LESSON: REVIEWDURING THIS LESSONUnderstood the OET exam structure and the difference between the three sections: Part A, Part B and Part C.Studied skimming, scanning and close reading techniques.Practised sentence completion tasks for Part A.Practiced ‘reading for purpose’ in Part B.Defined and understood complex OET vocabulary.Began an OET reading Part C practice exam.Prepared for future lessons with homework assignments.0381000REVIEWThis lesson taught you how to improve your understanding of the OET reading test and helpful techniques such as skimming and scanning which can quickly improve your comprehension and reading speed.We also considered ways in which you can improve your ability to read for detail and context, which is absolutely crucial for sections B and C of the exam.This workbook will further test the skills and techniques we have practised during the lesson. The best way to pass the OET reading exam is practice.Please note that the answers for each activity can be found at the end of the workbook. ACTIVITY 1The types of question in Part A of the Reading allow students such as yourself to demonstrate that they can skim and scan across short texts of a variety of types. To pass this section of the test, you will need to be able to:locate specific information in a range of short texts. understand the conventions of different text types. synthesise information from different sources. summarise information for a non-medical audience. recognise paraphrasing. use appropriate spelling.Now answer the following questions about this part of the test.1. You should read the passages for Part A of the test very carefully before you start the questions.A. TrueB. False2. Scanning means to quickly look through the passage to try to find useful keywords from the question/answers.A. TrueB. False3. If a question read ‘What is the current incidence rate of diabetes?’ … What might be the key words that you would skim the passage for be?A. A percentage B. A proportion C. Both of the above4. Which technique will require for you read every word of the passage?A. SkimmingB. ScanningC. Close reading5. You should spend a few minutes at the end of Part A checking your work.A. TrueB. FalseACTIVITY 2Skimming TextsSkimming is a reading technique that can help you:read more quickly decide if the text is interesting and whether you should read it in more detail You can use the skimming technique when you want to identify the main ideas in the text.How is skimming different to scanning? The term skimming is often confused with scanning.You skim a text to obtain the gist - the overall sense - of a piece of writing. This can help you decide whether to read it more slowly and in more detail.You scan a text to obtain specific information. For example, to find a particular number in a telephone directory.Sometimes you can use both reading methods. After you’ve skimmed a piece of text to decide whether it’s of interest, you might then use scanning techniques to find specific information. How do you skim read? When you use the skimming technique you don’t read the whole text word for word. You should use as many clues as possible to give you some background information. There might be pictures or images related to the topic, or an eye-catching title. Let your eyes skim over the surface of the text and look out for key words while thinking about any clues you’ve found about the subject.Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to find out what the text is about.Look at the illustrations to give you more information about the topic.Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. Don’t read every word or every sentence. Let your eyes skim over the text and look out for key words.Continue to think about the meaning of the text.Scanning TextsYou can use the scanning technique to look up a phone number, read through the small ads in a newspaper, or for browsing television schedules, timetables, lists, catalogues or webpages for information. For these tasks you don’t need to read or understand every word. Scanning is also useful when you don’t have time to read every word. This could be when you’re studying or looking for specific information from a book or article and need to find it quickly. Tips: better scanningDon’t try to read every word. Instead let your eyes move quickly across the page until you find what you’re looking for.Use clues on the page, such as headings and titles, to help you.In a dictionary or phone book, use the header words to help you scan. You can find these in bold type at the top of each page.If you’re reading for study, start by thinking up or writing down some questions that you want to answer. Doing this can focus your mind and help you find the facts or information that you need more easily.Many texts list things in alphabetical order from A to Z. These include everyday materials, such as the phone book or indexes to books and catalogues.There are many ways to practise scanning skills. Try looking up a favourite recipe in the index of a cookbook, search for a plumber in your local telephone book or scan webpages on the internet to find specific information.We now have an activity to complete based on these skimming and scanning techniques. Take a look at the text below. A local retirement home is looking for extra staff before Christmas. Remember, you don’t need to read every word. Start by skimming the passage and then immediately move on to the questions just as you would during the OET exam.Try to answer the questions as best as you can from memory.Then use scanning techniques to find the correct answers.NOTE: You do not need to read and understand the entire passage.HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT VACANCYCHRISTMAS JOB OPPORTUNITIESAre you aged between 18 and 50 years? Need extra cash for Christmas?Are you available to work at short notice?Can you work early, late, or night shifts?We are looking for enthusiastic reliable people to work on an occasional basis, helping to care for elderly residents in the Norwich area from late November until the end of December.Pay rates for weeks, including Saturdays will be: -Ages 18-25 - ?6.10 per hourAges 26-50 - ?7.25 per hourSo if you have good communication skills and are able to work as part of a team, we would love to hear from you.To obtain an application form, please write to:Elaine Grey, Personnel OfficerReading Retirement HomeMaple RoadReading,RG5 4BRTel 0118 932 814 (24 hr. answer phone)Closing Date: 15 NovemberNow complete the questions below:QUESTIONS1. When do these jobs start? 2. The work will last for about a month. True or false? 3. What type of work is on offer? 4. What kind of people is the retirement home looking for? 5. What shift patterns are available? 6. Where is the job based? 7. The work involves travel around the UK. True or false? 8. How much will you earn per hour if you are aged 18? 9. True or false? You will be paid extra for working on Saturday. 10. Whom should you contact to get an application form?11. You can leave a message on an answering machine. True or false? 12. You need to be able to work at short notice. True or false? 13. It is 1 November. Is there still time to apply for a job? 14. The minimum age for this job is 18. True or false? 15. Do you need a driving licence to apply for this job? ACTIVITY 3Now read through the reading tips for Part A below and fill in the missing information using the words offered in the box. Some words have been added that are not required. grammatically abbreviations words examiner less time column guide copy gaps conditions language punctuations Don’tWrite more than 3 ______ for each answer OR no words at all! You will not be penalised for leaving a space but you might be rewarded for a correct guess!Don’t leave any _______ answers at the end of the test. Go back and make a guess (or an educated guess). Waste valuable time using an eraser to correct a mistake if you make one. You may, for example, accidentally include an extra word that goes over the allowable three words or write the wrong word for the wrong question. Simply cross out any words you don’t want the person marking your paper to accept; this takes a lot ________ and you will not be penalised. Begin Part A by simply reading all texts from beginning to end as this will waste valuable time. Use the questions to _______ you to which text to read first.Use _________. Use the correctly spelt full form of the words you select; copy it directly from the passage. ACTIVITY 4Below, there is an article from BBC News regarding a research study into risk factors relating to heart attacks. Set yourself a timer to try and skim through the article in 90 seconds. Once you have skimmed the article, answer the questions below. If you are unsure of an answer, go back to the text and use scanning techniques to identify the correct information for the question.Waist size bigger heart attack risk in women, report saysWomen with bigger waists relative to their hips are at more risk of heart attacks than men of a similar "apple shape", research from the George Institute for Global Health says.The study showed waist-to-hip ratio to be a better heart attack predictor than general obesity - 18% stronger than body mass index in women and 6% in men.The report found a high BMI was linked to heart disease risk in both sexes.The researchers interviewed nearly 500,000 UK adults aged 40 to 69. The research?has been published in the Journal of the American Heart Association?and used the UK Biobank resource.Dr Sanne Peters, the report's lead author, from the institute, which is at the University of Oxford, said: "Our findings support the notion that having proportionally more fat around the abdomen (a characteristic of the apple shape) appears to be more hazardous than more visceral fat, which is generally stored around the hips (the pear shape)."She said that "looking at how fat tissue is distributed in the body - especially in women - can give us more insight into the risk of heart attack than measures of general obesity".Dr Peters added: "Understanding the role sex differences in body fat distribution play in future health problems could lead to sex-specific public health interventions that could address the global obesity epidemic more effectively."The report said that body composition and fat distribution differed markedly between the sexes, with women having a predominance of fat mass and subcutaneous fat and men having lean mass and visceral fat.It added: "Our study has several strengths, including the prospective design, large sample size, and direct measurement of general and central adiposity on all participants."However, the UK Biobank is a largely white population, and further analyses are needed to determine the generalisability to other populations."Heart attack symptomschest pain - a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing in the centre of your chestpain in other parts of the body - it can feel as if the pain is travelling from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm is affected, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and abdomenfeeling lightheaded or dizzysweatingshortness of breathfeeling or being sickoverwhelming sense of anxiety (similar to having a panic attack)coughing or wheezingAlthough the chest pain is often severe, some people may feel only minor pain, similar to indigestion. In some cases, there may not be any chest pain at all, especially in women, the elderly and people with diabetes.Source: NHS ChoicesAshleigh Doggett, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Considering the large amount of UK participants, this is a very interesting study which highlights that obesity remains a risk factor for heart attacks in both men and women."Interestingly, it suggests that those of us who are 'apple' as opposed to 'pear' shape, especially women, may be at higher risk of a heart attack."We know from previous BHF research that women are often misdiagnosed initially when having a heart attack so how we store fat and our body shape may be an important factor for medical staff to consider when making a diagnosis."The study highlights the need for similar research amongst more diverse populations, and for further research into sex differences which could lead the way in treating patients on an individualised basis."QuestionsSummarise the 3 main points of the article.Who is the article targeted towards? How do you know this?How was the study conducted?Are there any limitations of the study?Are there any words you did not know the definition of? Look up their definition on and give a definition below.ACTIVITY 5As you discussed with your teacher in the lesson, you have 45 minutes to complete Parts B and C of the Reading exam. This is brilliant as it means that you will not have to rush through the texts, but rather have a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the ideas discussed. Attention to detail in your reading is crucial for these parts of the exam, as the questions are often worded in such a way to challenge you and encourage you to go back to the texts to double check. Read this information about reading for specific information below, and answer the questions to check your understanding.What is reading for specific information?Reading for specific information involves understanding what information, or what kind of information, you’re looking for, locating it and then reading the relevant part carefully to get a full and detailed understanding. What conclusions can be drawn from the final sentence of the paragraph?You might need to determine that the text is factually incorrect.You might have to determine that the text lacks certain information.You might not be able to determine whether the information is there.Why is reading for specific information important?In real life, we often only read parts of texts (the parts that provide the information we’re interested in). For example, if you want to know what’s on TV tonight, you won’t look at the programmes listed in the TV listing for earlier in the day. In reading tasks in English exams, time pressure forces candidates to find information quickly so doing this helps in both real life and exam situations.What is suggested about reading tasks in exams?The exam rules determine which skills you need to use.They require skills not used in normal everyday life.They usually give you plenty of time to achieve the task.How do you read for specific information?After identifying the information you need, it’s helpful to determine which part of the text it is in. Heading can help with this, as can reading for gist. The main reading skill employed is scanning. This involves moving very quickly over the text, ignoring unknown vocabulary and focusing solely on key words, phrases and ideas. Scanning should enable you to find the specific information. Then read that part more carefully to get a full understanding. Reading for gist can be helpful inlocating a specific word or phrase.working out unknown vocabulary.finding the general location of an idea. ACTIVITY 6This activity will test your abilities to read for specific information. You need to remember to watch out for synonyms, word choice and pay attention to small details to succeed here. You are going to read four texts about food additives. For questions 1–10 below the passages, choose from the articles (A–D). The articles may be chosen more than once.A Koki Nakamura: nutritionist Diet is very important to every individual’s health and well-being. I’ve got clients from all walks of life who have different needs and requirements when it comes to the food they eat. Many people believe that if a food label says ‘no fat’ or ‘low in fat’, then it must be healthy. I cannot stress enough how untrue this is. You would think, with the bad reputation fats have got, that a ‘non-fat’ fat would be ideal. Fake fats contain no fat, no calories and no cholesterol, but they come at another price. These food additives prevent vitamins A, E and D from being absorbed into the body. Such substances are thought to keep the immune system healthy and prevent some cancers. Fake fats are also responsible for digestive problems if people consume too many of them.B Lynne Davis: food scientist Food additives are not manufactured solely by the chemical industry, since a number of common additives are extracted from naturally-occurring substances. The best known additives are preservatives, colours and flavours, but many others are commonly used, such as antioxidants, thickeners and sweeteners. Some of these additives are essential in our modern world. Without preservatives, food would go off quickly and that would result in a lot of waste. Scientists don’t just add chemicals to food without researching the substances first. Every constituent of processed food is tested before it is used. There are also tight food regulations all over the world which control the use of additives. There are a few bad apples out there who add dangerous toxins to their foods without testing them thoroughly, but I know that the world’s ever-increasing population dictates that we have to find ways to make our food resources go further and last longer.C Ivan Mendes: food historian People have been enhancing their food with naturally available flavourings, preservatives and colours for centuries, but there has been an increasing use of food additives since the 19th century. Since the 1980s, additives are required to be identified on food labels. The use of these labels and nutrition facts on food products has opened the food industry to more public scrutiny. As a result, the production of processed foods in particular has become a matter of controversy. Many people have become so sceptical of additives that they do not recognise the potential health benefits. In the 1940s, for example, calcium was added to flour to prevent rickets, a disease that causes the softening of bones in children. Other examples include antioxidants being used to prevent the fat in meats going rancid and the use of fluoride in public water supplies to reduce tooth decay.D Jyoti Sharma: food safety officer There has been significant controversy associated with the risks and benefits of food additives. Some artificial food additives have been linked to cancer, digestive problems, neurological conditions, heart disease, obesity and even hyperactivity in children. People are less inclined to question natural additives which have been found to be similarly harmful. They can also be the cause of allergic reactions in certain individuals. However, what food additives do to the food itself is what many people fail to consider. Many of the constituents that you read about on the food and nutrition labels are absolutely essential to commercial food preparation and storage. The job of a food safety officer would be much harder if food went off quickly. Food-borne illnesses and epidemics would not only become more widespread, they would become almost impossible to pinpoint and eliminate. There’s no doubt in my mind that additives are more beneficial than they are harmful.Questions Which person says…that manmade additives could cause behavioural problems? ……………describes an additive that can stop important substances being digested? ……………mentions an additive that influences dental hygiene? ……………admits that foods can contain under-researched and poisonous additives? ……………recognises that additives can prevent large-scale outbreaks of disease? ……………states that we have to use additives as a result of overpopulation? ……………mentions that different types of people need to eat different foods? ……………states that food additives were used in the pre-modern era? ……………says that manufacturers are more closely observed as a result of information on food packaging? ……………states that all ingredients are examined before they are sold? ……………ACTIVITY 7In Part C of the Reading exam, you will need to be able to follow a longer passage of text, recognising how ideas link together and how the discussion builds from an introduction to the conclusion. You will come across lots of different pieces of information within a single passage, and recognising how topics connect together is a very important skill. In this activity, you will need to read this article from the NHS regarding coronary angioplasty and stent insertion. At the end of the article, there are a number of statements regarding information from the text. You will need to study the text closely to work out the order in which this information appears. Coronary angioplasty and stent insertion OverviewA coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries (the main blood vessels supplying the heart).The term "angioplasty" means using a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. However, most modern angioplasty procedures also involve inserting a short wire-mesh tube, called a stent, into the artery during the procedure. The stent is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.Coronary angioplasty is sometimes known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The combination of coronary angioplasty with stenting is usually referred to as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).When a coronary angioplasty is usedLike all organs in the body, the heart needs a constant supply of blood. This is supplied by the coronary arteries.In older people, these arteries can become narrowed and hardened (known as?atherosclerosis), which can cause?coronary heart disease.If the?flow of blood to the heart becomes restricted, it can lead to chest pain known as?angina,?which is usually triggered by physical activity or stress.While angina can often be treated with medication, a coronary angioplasty may be required?to restore the blood supply to the heart in severe cases where medication is ineffective.Coronary angioplasties are also often used as an emergency treatment after a?heart attack.What are the benefits of a coronary angioplasty?In most cases, the blood flow through the coronary?arteries improves after an angioplasty. Many people find?their?symptoms?get significantly better and they’re able to do more than they could before the procedure.If you've had a heart attack, an angioplasty can increase your chances of surviving more than clot-busting medication (thrombolysis). The procedure?can also reduce your chances of having another heart attack in the future.How a coronary angioplasty is performedA coronary angioplasty is performed using?local anaesthetic, which means you'll be awake while the procedure is carried out.A?thin flexible tube called a catheter?will be inserted into one of your arteries through an incision in your groin, wrist or arm. This?is guided to the affected coronary artery using an?X-ray?video.When the catheter is in place, a thin wire is guided down the length of the affected coronary artery, delivering a small balloon to the affected section of artery. This is then inflated to widen the artery, squashing fatty deposits against the artery wall so blood can flow through it more freely when the deflated balloon is removed.If a stent is being used, this will be around the balloon before it's inserted. The stent will expand when the balloon is inflated and remains in place when the balloon is deflated and removed.A coronary angioplasty usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours. If you're being treated for angina, you'll normally be able to go home later the same day or the day after you have the procedure. You'll need to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities and driving for at least a week.If you've been admitted to hospital following a heart attack, you may need to stay in hospital for several days after the angioplasty procedure before going home.How safe is a coronary angioplasty?A coronary angioplasty?is one of the most common types of treatment for the heart. Around 75,000 procedures are performed in England each year.Coronary angioplasties are most commonly performed in people aged 65 or older, as they're more likely to have heart disease.As the procedure doesn't involve making major incisions in the body, it's usually carried out safely in most people. Doctors refer to this as a minimally invasive form of treatment.The risk of serious complications from a coronary angioplasty is generally small, but this depends on factors such as:your ageyour general healthwhether you've?had a heart attackSerious problems that can occur as a result of the procedure include excessive bleeding, a heart attack and a?stroke.Are there any alternatives?If?many coronary arteries have become blocked and narrowed, or the structure of your arteries?is?abnormal, a?coronary artery bypass graft may be considered.This is a type of invasive surgery where sections of healthy blood vessel are taken from other parts of the body and attached to the coronary arteries.?Blood is diverted through these vessels,?so it bypasses the narrowed or clogged parts of the arteries.Questions The sentences A – J describe information that can be found in the passage above. Using the numbers 1 – 10, identify the order in which the information appears in the text:angioplasty can lead to excessive bleeding, heart attack and stroke ……………angina is usually triggered by physical activity of stress ……………the angioplasty will take between 30 minutes and two hours ……………stents will be left in permanently to enable freer blood flow ……………around 75,000 coronary angioplasty operations occur each year ……………the procedure can increase the chances of surviving a heart attack ……………an alternative to angioplasty is a coronary artery bypass graft ……………a person with poorer general health is more at risk of complications ……………the catheter will be inserted through a cut in the groin, wrist or arm ……………following angioplasty, patients should avoid heavy lifting for a week ……………ACTIVITY 8Developing your vocabulary so that you are able to use a wide range of words accurately and effectively is central to your success in OET Reading. It is particularly important that you develop your knowledge of healthcare-related terminology, as not recognising basic terms could impact on both your grade in the exam and your practice when you register as a nurse or doctor. Have a go at this crossword to test your medical vocabulary and identify where you might need to undertake some further learning:Medical Vocabulary184785825500Acrossreviving a person and returning them to consciousnessoccurring or existing before birthkeep an eye on; keep under surveillancea person who requires medical carea drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensationsbeyond normal limitsof or relating to or characterized by feverDowna bit of tissue or fluid taken for diagnostic purposesidentifying the nature or cause of some phenomenonstopping something from happening in the futurethe region of the body between the thorax and the pelvissomething that projects from its surroundingsobserve, check out, and look over carefully or inspecta disturbance of normal functioningnot dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressiveinflammation of a joint or jointshypersensitive immunological reaction to some substancea deficiency of red blood cellsrespiratory disorder characterized by wheezingACTIVITY 9Facts and opinions are often uttered in the same breath; the terms have a huge difference in their meanings. Whether a statement is a fact or an opinion depends on the validity of the statement. While a fact refers to the something true or real, which is backed by evidence, documentation, etc. On the other hand, opinion is what a person believes or thinks about something. In the OET Reading Exam for Parts B and C, you will need to be able to distinguish between opinion and fact in order to ensure that you are answering multiple choice questions correctly. We will talk a little bit about the differences between opinion and fact before completing an activity which tests this knowledge. The difference between fact and opinion can be summarised as follows:The fact is described as the statement that can be verified or proved to be true. Opinion is an expression of judgment or belief about something.Fact relies on observation or research while opinion is based on assumption.The fact is an objective reality whereas opinion is a subjective statement.Facts can be verified with the help of evidence or statistics. On the contrary, opinion is not supported by any evidence.Facts explain what actually happened. Unlike an opinion, that represents a perception about something.One important feature of the fact is that it is universal and does not differ from person to person. As against this, every human being has a different opinion on a particular subject and so, it varies from one person to another.Facts are shown with unbiased words, however, opinion is expressed with biased words.Facts can change anybody’s opinion, but vice versa is not possible.Facts are real information and so it cannot be challenged or debated, but if we talk about opinions, they can be debated.Now, try the following activity. Read the article below. At the end of the passage are excerpts from the article; you will need to decide whether they are examples of fact or opinion…What does the NHS need to survive for another 70 years?As the health service marks its 70th anniversary, experts offer their prescriptions for keeping it goingRichard Horton: Ever greater injections of cash aren’t the answerIt’s not (only) about the money. The idea that the NHS can be fixed by ever greater injections of cash is a fantasy advanced by those with their own interests to protect. The?UK is 23rd in the latest league table?of countries ranked according to access and quality of healthcare. That fact alone should persuade politicians to demand serious reforms of the NHS in exchange for investments, not merely prop up a struggling and outdated health system.What should be done? First, end the hierarchical?referral model of primary to secondary care, which is increasingly inefficient and ineffective. GPs and specialists should be working side by side in the community. Second,?target disparities. The broader social determinants of health – poverty, poor housing, eroded education, degraded environments, lack of attention to early child development – have long been ignored by all governments. They must be prioritised. Third, upgrade the quality of the health workforce. Learning must be lifelong, focused on skills not credentials, and adapted to local needs.Finally, stop thinking of the NHS as a cost. The NHS is an engine of growth, protecting our economy in hard times and strengthening wealth creation always, through improved labour supplies, social cohesion and health security. The?NHS?may be a national religion. But it is a religion in need of a reformation.??Richard Horton is editor of The LancetClare Gerada: Rebuild the GP workforceThe Chinese government is planning to train?500,000 GPs over the next 12 years. It realises, as many other countries do, that the only way to create a sustainable, affordable, accessible and high-quality health system is to invest in general practice. Regardless of whether your system is publicly or privately funded, the health needs of increasingly ageing populations can be met only by putting skilled GPs at its front door.GPs work at the interface between illness and disease. They manage risk and uncertainty; they help coordinate care for the growing number of patients with complex health needs. Despite the proven worth of general practice, in our own NHS it is under threat. Primarily, this is due to?decades of underfunding?coupled with more and more care being moved out of the hospital without simultaneous shift of investment. The challenge for the survival of the NHS is to refocus our resources to where they are needed most – that is general practice and community care. We have to rebuild our GP workforce, and in so doing ensure that GPs are able to do what they do best: provide continuity of care to patients in the context of their families and communities. If we do this, everything else we want to do in the health service will be achievable. Without it, all else will fail.??Clare Gerada is former chair of the Royal College of General PractitionersRachel Clarke: Community services are keyAs mortifying moments in medicine go, the way one elderly man crumpled into tears of relief and gratitude would have shamed the most hardened of doctors. A former army officer, now pared to the bone by cancer, he visibly hated exhibiting weakness. But for months, with his pain becoming unbearable, the lack of district nurses,?GPs?and carers locally had reduced a proud, upright man to abject misery.As I admitted him into my NHS hospice, I was struck yet again by the poignancy of the fact that only one in five of us will die at home, despite?two-thirds of us wishing?to do so. This cannot, surely, be right. If ever a measure of decency counts, it is how a society treats its terminally ill members.The NHS is in desperate need of properly beefed-up community services. Not the rhetorical kind beloved of government press releases, but real – and massive – expansion of community staffing to keep patients at home for as long as they desire. Since 2010, underfunding has culled half?our district nurses, for example – a terrible false economy. We need to reverse that, urgently, to prevent patients being driven unnecessarily into hospital by appallingly threadbare community services.??Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctorBob Kerslake: Lansley’s reforms were a disaster. Scrap themThe greatest strength of the NHS is that the public believe in it. It follows that its greatest risk is that, through inadequate finance and political ineptitude, the public lose confidence in its founding principles – care that is free at the point of delivery, based on need, and funded by central taxation.We now, at last, seem to be moving away from the period of denial on funding, but its future is still not secure. For that we need a dedicated funding stream (a repurposed national insurance), and an independent body to assess current and future needs, and resolution of the social care funding crisis.Beyond this, we need to recognise the?changes brought in?by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act as the disaster that they were and have the courage to change them. This should include drastically simplifying the national bodies, removing the “any willing provider” provision, devolving decision-making, giving greater voice to those who work in the NHS, and establishing a credible long-term investment strategy. We need a decisive move away from the top-down command and control culture that the financial crisis has reinforced.Technological changes will transform the way we deliver healthcare. We can all live healthier lives. There are grounds for real optimism. But first we need to put the NHS on a sound financial and management footing.??Bob Kerslake is a former head of the civil service and chair of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation TrustQuestions‘Regardless of whether your system is publicly or privately funded, the health needs of increasingly ageing populations can be met only by putting skilled GPs at its front door.’Fact/Opinion ‘Lansley’s reforms were a disaster. Scrap them.’Fact/Opinion ‘Richard Horton is editor of The Lancet.’Fact/Opinion‘Learning must be lifelong, focused on skills not credentials, and adapted to local needs.’Fact/Opinion‘We need a decisive move away from the top-down command and control culture that the financial crisis has reinforced.’Fact/Opinion‘The NHS is in desperate need of properly beefed-up community services.’Fact/Opinion ‘… only one in five of us will die at home, despite?two-thirds of us wishing?to do so.’Fact/Opinion‘The Chinese government is planning to train?500,000 GPs over the next 12 years.’Fact/Opinion‘If we do this, everything else we want to do in the health service will be achievable.’Fact/Opinion‘The greatest strength of the NHS is that the public believe in it.’Fact/Opinion‘The?UK is 23rd in the latest league table?of countries ranked according to access and quality of healthcare.’Fact/Opinion‘Bob Kerslake is a former head of the civil service and chair of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.’Fact/OpinionAnswersACTIVITY 1False. You do NOT have to read every word of the Part A passage. You should quickly skim the passage to get the general meaning and then move straight on to the questions.True. Scanning involves looking for a specific piece of information in the text. What you are looking for will often be determined by key words that you pick out from the questions. For example, if the question said, ‘Side effects of this procedure include…’, you would scan the various passages for a mention of ‘side effects’ or ‘complications.’Both of the above. In this example, an incidence rate can be determined in a couple of different ways, e.g. as a percentage – 8% - or a proportion – 2/20. It is important that you are aware of a couple of different ways that an answer can be expressed based on your key words so that you can scan the passages as effectively as possible.Close reading. Remember, skimming is quickly looking through the passage to find the general meaning, scanning is looking for specific words and close reading is a detailed read and analysis of the text.True. While you won’t have a lot of time to do this in Part A of the text, you should do your best to read through your answers to spot any simple mistakes. It is useful to make a note next to any questions that you do not know the answer to and come back to them at the end. You should not leave any answers blank; if you do not know the answer then you should guess as you may just gain an extra mark. ACTIVITY 21. Late November.2. True.3. Healthcare Assistant.4. Enthusiastic and reliable. 5. Early, late and night shifts. 6. Norwich.7. False.8. ?6.10.9. False.10. Elaine Grey, Personnel Officer.11. True.12. True.13. Yes.14. True. 15. Not stated/No.ACTIVITY 31. words2. gaps3. less time4. guide5. abbreviationsACTIVITY 4 (Indicative answers) 1. Women with bigger waists relative to their hips are at more risk of heart attacks than men.The way that fat tissue is distributed in the body is a better indicator of the risk of heart attack than general obesity.There are a number of different symptoms of a heart attack which people should be aware of. 2. General-interest readers/normal population. We know this because the language is quite simple; no complex medical terminology is used. It is of interest to the general population because they could be at risk of a heart attack based on the study. 3. Researchers interviewed 500,000 UK adults aged 40 to 69 based on resources from the UK Biobank.4. Yes. The participants in the research came from a largely white population. Further analysis is needed to look at other population groups.ACTIVITY 5BACACTIVITY 61. D2. A3. C4. B5. D6. B7. A 8. C9. C10. BACTIVITY 7A. 9 B. 2C. 6D. 1 E. 7F. 3G. 10H. 8I. 4J. 5ACTIVITY 8AcrossresuscitationprenatalsupervisepatientanaestheticexcessivefebrileDownspecimendiagnosispreventionabdomenprominenceexaminedisorderbenignarthritisallergyanemiaasthmaACTIVITY 91. Opinion2. Opinion3. Fact4. Opinion5. Opinion6. Opinion7. Fact8. Fact9. Opinion10. Opinion11. Fact12. Fact ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download