# GREYING POPULATION STAYS IN THE PINK: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 6, 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 | B | are troubling a smaller proportion every year |
| 15 | I | the rate at which these diseases are declining continues to accelerate |
| 16 | F | when they do strike, it is much later in life |
| 17 | M | certain diseases are beating a retreat in the face of medical advances |
| 18 | J | Improvements in childhood nutrition in the first quarter of the twentieth century |
| 19 | N | may reflect changing smoking habits and poorer air quality |
| 20 | K | better-educated people are likely to live longer |
| 21 | G | That represents a significant drop in the number of disabled old people in the population. |
| 22 | A | may prove less of a financial burden than expected |
| 23 | G | The increasing self-reliance of many elderly people is probably linked to a massive increase in the use of simple home medical aids. |
| 24 | E | Maintaining a level of daily physical activity may help mental functioning |
| 25 | H | those who felt in control of their lives pumped out lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol |
| 26 | C | elderly people who felt emotionally isolated maintained higher levels of stress hormones even when asleep |

## Why these answers are right

**14. B.** The summary needs a word for what is happening to the share of older people with common age-related problems. Paragraph B says arthritis, high blood pressure and circulation problems are troubling a smaller proportion every year, so falling, option B, is correct.

**15. I.** This gap describes the speed of the decline. Paragraph B states that the rate at which these diseases are declining continues to accelerate, and a speed that keeps accelerating is increasing, so option I completes the phrase.

**16. F.** The gap compares when diseases now affect people with the past. Paragraph A says that when these diseases do strike, it is much later in life, and Manton adds that problems once normal at 65 now appear at 70 or 75, so later, option F, fits.

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

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