Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers

Feb 7, 2023

Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers has 15 questions that are to be answered in 40 minutes. IELTS topic- Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers deals with certain medical drugs. Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers IELTS reading question type has three kinds of questions. That is choosing the correct answer, identifying whether a statement can correspond to the passage, and writing the correct answer. Candidates need to skim through the passage for the best answer. Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers help students to prepare for IELTS exams.They can also refer to IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality? Reading Answers

Cure-all Pills: Myths or Reality?

Browse the shelves of any health food shop or pharmacy and you’ll find dozens of dietary supplements—vitamins, antioxidants, minerals— along with a seemingly endless range of homeopathic remedies. There is always something new, some ‘miracle ingredient’ offering the promise of a longer, healthier, happier life. There are extracts of every kind of fruit and vegetable you can imagine—tomato, celery, carrot, papaya and cranberry—along with green tea potion, red wine extract and vitamins A-K in every colour and form. And all of these supplements claim to assist us in the constant battle against ageing, cancer, cardio-vascular disease, and a cornucopia of other afflictions. However, recent research may show it is all too good to be true.

So how real are these claims? Vitamin tablets have been around forever, but antioxidants are the latest miracle cure; the question is, do they work? If the hype is true, then what antioxidants do is work to neutralise the free radicals in our bodies and later excrete them. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that have at least one unpaired electron and are therefore unstable and highly reactive. In animal tissue they are believed to accelerate the progression of cardio-vascular and age-related diseases, such as dementia and cancer. Antioxidants in fresh fruit and vegetables have been shown to combine with free radicals and neutralise them, preventing the oxidation which may lead to disease

An apple a day keeps the doctor away’—if eaten alongside four other portions of fresh fruit and vegetables! It is clear that those who eat more fruit and vegetables—and the recommended daily intake is at least five portions—are less prone to disease and live longer, healthier lives. Over the last 20-30 years, scientists have worked to isolate the active ingredients in fruit and vegetables— believed to be the antioxidants—and have conducted controlled tests of antioxidants, which revealed that they do indeed appear to have the ability to halt some of the chemical processes that cause disease. Thus the multimillion dollar industry of bottled antioxidants to supplement the diets of the busy and the stressed was born.

Antioxidants were first cast into doubt during a major clinical trial in the US, in which a very common antioxidant, beta-carotene, also known as pro-vitamin A (found in yellow and green vegetables, milk and fish), was being tested for its efficacy against lung cancer in high-risk subjects. To the surprise and concern of the scientists conducting the experiment, those individuals taking the supplement—intended to reduce the risk of cancer—were at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. This startling discovery led to the abandonment of the trials mid-way through the experimental process.

Since this experiment in the mid-90s, other studies have similarly indicated that antioxidants and vitamin supplements are of dubious health value at best, and may possibly be harmful. It seems that even common vitamin supplements such as vitamin C may, in large doses, actually exacerbate the risk of cardio-vascular disease or cancer.

As a result of these recent alarming studies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its European equivalent, the European Medicine Agency (EMEA), have taken the decision to prohibit the production and sale of a number of the higher-dose supplements currently on the market.

Another aspect of the increasingly complex picture to take into account is that recent research findings have also called into question some previously held beliefs concerning free radicals. It is possible, some scientists believe, that free radicals actually play a role in preventing disease. Professor Jennifer Horton at the University of West Wyoming is one of a number of scientists who has found that in small amounts, the free radicals may help stimulate the antioxidant systems in our bodies. It is also becoming apparent that free radicals may play a fundamental role in the fight against disease; recent research in the UIC suggests that they kill off harmful bacteria and even cancerous cells.

Clearly, then, the use of bottled supplements with your diet is a practice to approach warily; and it is essential to keep abreast of new developments in research. Ironically, those health-conscious individuals who already eat large quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables, whose diet does not include junk food and who get plenty of regular exercise and have less need for dietary supplements tend to be the ones who are most likely to use them.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 15-18

Choose the correct letter A, B or C.

When introducing his discussion on antioxidant diet supplements, the writer notes that

most supplements sold in pharmacies or health food shops have at least some proven health benefits.
very few diet supplements are regulated by government health agencies.
there is evidence that some dietary supplements can be bad for your health.
only a few products offer real protection against ageing, heart disease and cancer. c

Answer: C there is evidence that some dietary supplements can be bad for your health.
Supporting Sentence: were at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Keywords: significantly, higher risk, developing lung cancer
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 6
Explanation: In the passage there are few evidences that prove some dietary supplements are injurious for the health. Therefore option-C is the right answer.

In the fourth paragraph, the writer’s main point is that

very high doses of antioxidant supplements can harm the liver.
US doctors prescribe pro-vitamin A to patients.
the clinical trials did not produce any conclusive results.
antioxidant supplements can increase the risk of some cancers.

Answer: D antioxidant supplements can increase the risk of some cancers.
Supporting Sentence: were at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Keywords: significantly, higher risk, developing lung cancer
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 6
Explanation: The writer's main argument in the fourth paragraph is that taking antioxidant supplements can raise your risk of developing certain cancers instead of reducing them. Therefore option-D is the right answer.

According to the writer,

recent studies have confirmed the benefits of antioxidants.
vitamin C supplements help to decrease the risk of heart disease.
the European Union endorses some higher-dose vitamin supplements.
some governments have banned a number of higher-dose vitamin supplements.

Answer: D some governments have banned a number of higher-dose vitamin supplements.
Supporting Sentence: have taken the decision to prohibit the production and sale of a number of the higher-dose supplements currently on the market.
Keywords: decision to prohibit, production, higher-dose supplements
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, last two lines
Explanation: According to paragraph 6, some governments have banned a variety of higher-dose vitamin supplements. Therefore option-D is the answer.

The writer suggests that

it is better to take vitamin supplements than not to take them.
it is important to be well-informed about vitamin supplements before taking them.
people who exercise regularly should supplement their diets with vitamins.
vitamins and antioxidants are less effective when consumed as food.

Answer: B it is important to be well-informed about vitamin supplements before taking them.
Supporting Sentence: Clearly, then, the use of bottled supplements with your diet is a practice to approach warily
Keywords: use of bottled supplements, practice to approach warily
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, first line
Explanation: It is obvious that the author believes that before using vitamin supplements, one should be knowledgeable about them. Therefore option-B is the answer.

Questions 19-24

Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 2? Next to Questions 19-24, write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

Vitamin supplements bought from health food shops can differ from those available at pharmacies.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The given statement cannot be inferred with the passage.

Antioxidants eliminate free radicals from the body.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: then what antioxidants do is work to neutralise the free radicals in our bodies and later excrete them
Keywords: antioxidants, neutralise the free radicals
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 3
Explanation: Second paragraph does state that antioxidants neutralize the free radicals in the body. Therefore the given statement is true.

After the release of Professor Horton’s study the number of people taking vitamin supplements declined.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The given statement cannot be inferred with the passage.

The findings of studies into the effect of pro-vitamin A resulted in some US drug companies going on trial.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The given statement cannot be inferred with the passage.

The FDA and the EMEA have jointly funded research into the safety of certain higher-dose vitamin supplements.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The given statement cannot be inferred with the passage.

Recent research suggests that small amounts of free radicals can help prevent disease.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: that free radicals actually play a role in preventing disease.
Keywords: free radicals, play a role, preventing disease
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, lines 2-3
Explanation: The seventh paragraph does state that scientists believed that free radicals help in disease prevention. Therefore the given statement is true.

Questions 25-29

Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 2. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Professor Jennifer Horton says that small amounts of...........................may be beneficial for our bodies.

Answer: free radicals
Supporting Sentence: Professor Jennifer Horton at the University of West Wyoming is one of a number of scientists who has found that in small amounts, the free radicals may help stimulate the antioxidant systems in our bodies.
Keywords: Professor Jennifer Horton, found that, free radicals, help stimulate, the antioxidant systems in our bodies.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, lines 3-5
Explanation: It is clear from the supporting sentence that Professor Jennifer Horton explains that our bodies may benefit from small amounts of free radicals. Therefore free radicals is the answer.

Some studies have indicated that vitamin supplements can be......................

Answer: harmful
Supporting Sentence: were at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Keywords: significantly, higher risk, developing lung cancer
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 6
Explanation: In the passage there are few evidences that prove some supplements are injurious for the health. Therefore harmful is the right answer.

Free radicals may have an important function in...........................

Answer: fighting disease
Supporting Sentence: that free radicals actually play a role in preventing disease.
Keywords: free radicals, play a role, preventing disease
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, lines 2-3
Explanation: The seventh paragraph does state that scientists believed that free radicals help in disease prevention. Therefore fighting disease is the answer.

...................................people tend to be the ones who use bottled supplements.

Answer: health conscious
Supporting Sentence: have less need for dietary supplements tend to be the ones who are most likely to use them.
Keywords: tend to be the ones, most likely to use them
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, last line
Explanation: The last paragraph states that health conscious people are actually the ones who tend to use bottled supplements even when they try not to. Therefore health conscious is the answer.

You should............................the use of bottled vitamin supplements with caution.

Answer: approach
Supporting Sentence: Clearly, then, the use of bottled supplements with your diet is a practice to approach warily
Keywords: use of bottled supplements, practice to approach warily
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, first line
Explanation: It is obvious that the author believes that before using vitamin supplements, one should be cautious about them. Therefore, approach is the answer.

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