# Alternative Medicine in Australia: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 4, Test 2, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 4, Test 2, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | C | Australia has been unusual in the Western world in having a very conservative attitude to natural or alternative therapies |
| 15 | B | Americans made more visits to alternative therapists than to orthodox doctors in 1990 |
| 16 | YES | Disenchantment with orthodox medicine has seen the popularity of alternative therapies in Australia climb steadily during the past 20 years. |
| 17 | NO | By 1990, this figure had risen to 2.6% of the population. |
| 18 | YES | The 550,000 consultations with alternative therapists reported in the 1990 survey |
| 19 | YES | The high standing of professionals, including doctors, has been eroded as a consequence. |
| 20 | YES | or taking courses themselves, particularly in acupuncture and herbalism. |
| 21 | NOT GIVEN | Part of the incentive was financial, Dr Laver said. |
| 22 | NO | These practices offered a wide range of alternative therapies from 25 therapists. |
| 23 | YES | Those surveyed had experienced chronic illnesses, for which orthodox medicine had been able to provide little relief. |
| 24 | emotional | 12% suffer from digestive problems, which is only 1% more than those suffering from emotional problems. |
| 25 | headache | Headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% |
| 26 | general ill health | those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively |

## Why these answers are right

**14. C.** The question asks how Australian doctors have traditionally been different. Paragraph A says Australia has had "a very conservative attitude to natural or alternative therapies," with powerful doctors loath to let in pretenders. Being loath to admit rivals means being reluctant to accept alternative therapists, so C is right.

**15. B.** You need what Americans did in 1990. Paragraph A states that "Americans made more visits to alternative therapists than to orthodox doctors in 1990." Making more visits is consulting more often, so B matches the sentence directly, comparing the two kinds of practitioner.

**16. YES.** The statement says more and more Australians have used alternative therapies over the last 20 years. Paragraph B says their popularity has climbed "steadily during the past 20 years," backed by survey figures that rise. Growing popularity agrees with increasing numbers, so the answer is YES.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/alternative-medicine-in-australia/answers).

[Practice Alternative Medicine in Australia](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/alternative-medicine-in-australia)