IELTS Mentor "IELTS Preparation & Sample Answer"

Question 20: Which members of society benefited most from the healthy lifestyles approach to health?
Answer: wealthy / the wealthy / the wealthy members / (the) wealthy (members) (of) (society)

Keywords: members of society; benefited most; healthy lifestyles approach.

This is the correct answer because a clear and concise reference to this can be found in the 4th sentence of paragraph “D” where it reads:

"While this individualistic healthy lifestyle approach to health worked for some (the wealthy members of society), people experiencing poverty, unemployment, underemployment or little control over the conditions of their daily lives benefited little from this approach."

[Tips: The answer should not exceed the three-word limits as the question suggests "NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS".]

Question 21: Name the three broad areas which relate to people's health, according to the socio-ecological view of health.
Answer: social, economic, environmental

Keywords: three broad areas; people’s health; socioecological view of health.

The reference to the answer to this question can be found in the 2nd and 3rd sentences in paragraph “E” where it says:

“While lifestyle factors still remain important, health is being viewed also in terms of the social, economic and environmental contexts in which people live. This broad approach to health is called the socio-ecological view of health.”

Question 22: During which decade were lifestyle risks seen as the major contributors to poor health?
Answer: 1970s / the 1970s

Keywords: which decade; lifestyle risks; contributor to poor health.

The answer to this question can be found in the 1st sentence of paragraph “D” where it says:

“The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasising the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual.”

[Please note that "1970" is a wrong answer. The question is not asking about the year, but about the decade.]

Question 23: Doctors have been instrumental in improving living standards in Western society.
Answer: NOT GIVEN

Keywords: doctors; instrumental; improving living standard; Western Society.

In the entire passage, there are no references to the words “doctors” and “living standards” whatsoever to even remotely suggest that doctors have actually played an instrumental role in improving living standards in Western society. Of course, the passage mentions the word “western” a couple of times in paragraphs 1 and 2, but that too only to describe how Western society has viewed the concept of health, and how it - the concept of health that is – has changed in the course of time. So, the answer is “Not Given”. 

Question 24: The approach to health during the 1970s included the introduction of health awareness programs.
Answer: YES

Keywords: approach to health; 1970s; health awareness programs.

Start reading from the very beginning of paragraph D which says:

“The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasising the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual. Specific behaviours which were seen to increase the risk of diseases, such as smoking, lack of fitness and unhealthy eating habits, were targeted. Creating health meant providing not only medical health care, but health promotion programs and policies which would help people maintain healthy behaviours and lifestyles.”. 

In the sentences above, it is shown that from the year 1970, unhealthy lifestyles and behaviours, like smoking and unhealthy eating habits (all of them can be duly dubbed as parts of a health awareness programme), were targeted in order to prevent diseases and illnesses. It also mentions about health promotion programs and policies that are useful to create health. So, the answer to the question is “Yes”. 

Question 25: The socio-ecological view of health recognises that lifestyle habits and the provision of adequate health care are critical factors governing health.
Answer: NO

Keywords: socio-ecological view; lifestyle habits; adequate health care; critical factors.

In the reading passage, paragraph 'E' talks about the socio-ecological view of health. So, we will read through this paragraph to find what it says about the socio-ecological view of health and whether it agrees with the statement that has been given (i.e. The socio-ecological view of health recognises that lifestyle habits and the provision of adequate health care are critical factors governing health.)

Now, look at the sentences in the third part of the paragraph, where the writer mentions - “It is clear from this statement that the creation of health is about much more than encouraging healthy individual behaviours and lifestyles and providing appropriate medical care...”

Here, 'healthy individual behaviours and lifestyles' means 'lifestyle habits'. And 'appropriate medical care' is equivalent to 'adequate health care'.

Here, the phrase ‘much more than’ indicates a negative view of what has been stated in the question. So, the answer choice for this question is 'NO'.

Question 26: The principles of the Ottawa Charter are considered to be out of date in the 1990s.
Answer: NO

Keywords: Ottawa charter; out of date.

Please read the first two sentences of paragraph 'F' that says:

“At the Ottawa Conference in 1986, a charter was developed which outlined new directions for health promotion based on the socio-ecological view of health. This charter, known as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, remains as the backbone of health action today.”

According to the information in those sentences above in bold, the Ottawa charter is actually not considered to be out of date, rather, it is still the backbone of health action. So, the answer to the question is “No”.