Alternative Medicine In Australia IELTS Reading Answers
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The Academic passage “Alternative Medicine in Australia” is an authentic IELTS Reading test passage designed to assess your ability to locate information, understand arguments, and interpret factual details efficiently.
Since you should ideally complete each passage within 20 minutes, use this exercise to check your speed and accuracy. If you find it challenging or need more practice with similar passages, explore additional IELTS Reading practice tests on IELTSMaterial.com to strengthen your overall performance.
Alternative Medicine in Australia IELTS Reading Passage
The first students to study alternative medicine at the university level in Australia started a four-year full-time course in early 1994 at the University of Technology in Sydney. Their course is acupuncture, among other therapies. The theory they learned was based on the standard Chinese interpretation of this ancient healing art, which regulates the flow of 'Qi' or energy through the paths in the body. This course reflects how far some alternative therapies have come in their struggle for approval by the medical institution.
According to Dr. Paul Laver, a public health lecturer at the University of Sydney, Australia has the most conservative approach to natural or alternative therapies in the Western world. 'We have a tradition that doctors are very strong, and I think they are very reluctant to allow any impersonator in their work to come into it.' In multiple industrialized countries, traditional and alternative medicine have been working 'hand in glove’ for many years. In Europe, only traditional healers can prescribe herbal medicines. In Germany, herbal remedies make up 10% of the national income from medicines. Americans visited alternative therapists more than Orthodox physicians in the 1990s, and spend about $ 12 billion every year on unscientific treatments.
Dissatisfaction with traditional medicine. Meantime, the popularity of alternative medicine in Australia has been steadily rising over the past 20 years. In the 1983 National Health Survey, 1.9% of people told they had consulted a chiropractor, naturopath, osteopath, acupuncturist, or herbalist two weeks before the poll. By 1990, this number had increased to 2.6% of the population. The 550,000 consultations with alternative therapists registered in the 1990 survey represent one-eighth of the total number of consultations conducted with clinically qualified individuals under the survey, according to Dr. Laver and colleagues who wrote in the 1993 Australian Journal of Public Health. ‘A better educated and less accepted public is generally frustrated with professionals and increasingly skeptical of science and experience-based knowledge,’ they expressed. ‘The high level of experts, including doctors, has been distorted as a result.
Instead of opposing or criticizing this trend, increasingly many Australian physicians, especially younger ones, form group practices with practitioners or practice themselves, especially in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Part of the incentive is funding, Dr. Laver stated. ‘The main feature of this is that most general practitioners are businessmen. If they find potential customers going elsewhere, they may like to offer a similar service.
In 1993, Dr. Laver and his colleagues published a survey of 289 Sydney people who attended the practices of eight alternative therapists in Sydney. These procedures provided a wide range of alternative treatments from 25 therapists. The subjects were suffering from chronic diseases, for which Orthodox medication was able to provide some relief. They commented that they would like the holistic attitude of their alternative therapists and the friendly, caring, and comprehensive attention they received. The cool, impersonal pattern of orthodox physicians was featured in the survey. Outflows from their clinics are on the rise, with numerous related studies conducted in Australia, all pointing out the shortcomings of traditional healers and leading physicians beginning to acknowledge that they can learn from the personal style of alternative therapists. Dr., President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Patrick Store acknowledges that orthodox doctors can learn a lot from alternative therapists about bed rest habits and advising patients on preventive health.
According to the Australian Journal of Public Health, 18% of patients who visit alternative therapists suffer from musculoskeletal problems, and 12% suffer from digestive issues, which is 1% more than those with emotional troubles. Respiratory disorders account for 7% of patients, and Candida sufferers represent an equal percentage. Headache sufferers and those who complain of general malaise represent 6% and 5% of patients, respectively, and 4% see therapists for general health care.
The survey recommended that complementary medicine is a better term than alternative medicine. Alternative medicine seems to be an adjunct, strived after in times of frustration when orthodox medicine appears to be unresponsive.
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Alternative Medicine in Australia IELTS Reading Questions
Question (1-5)
Choose the correct letter, A - D
1. Ancient healing art regulates the flow of 'Qi' or energy through the paths in the
A. blood
B. body
C. nerves
D. skin
2. Australia has the most conservative approach to natural or alternative therapies in the
A. Western world
B. Sydney
C. Medical institution
D. Eastern world
3. Only traditional healers can prescribe herbal medicines.
A. in Australia
B. in America
C. in Germany
D. in Europe
4. Americans visited alternative therapists more than Orthodox physicians in the
A. 1990s
B. 1994s
C. 1993s
D. 1983s
5. The popularity of alternative medicine in Australia has been steadily rising over the past
A. 10 years
B. 20 years
C. 25 years
D. 15 years
Question (6 - 9)
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO, if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
6. In the 1993 National Health Survey, 1.9% of people told they had consulted a chiropractor.
7. By 1994, this number had increased to 2.6% of the population.
8. Alternative therapists are paid more than physicians.
9. The main feature of this is that most general practitioners are businessmen.
Question (10 - 13)
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- In 1993, Dr. Laver and his colleagues published a survey of 10 ________ Sydney people.
- The impersonal pattern of 11 _________ physicians was featured in the survey.
- Respiratory disorders account for 12 ___________ of patients, and Candida sufferers represent an equal percentage.
- The survey recommended that complementary medicine is a better term than 13 ____________ medicine.
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Alternative Medicine in Australia IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation
Let’s now review the answers to the questions from the passage in the reading section, Alternative Medicine In Australia IELTS Reading Answers, and assess your improvement for a high IELTS Reading band score.
| Question number | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | In Paragraph A, there’s a line that states that ‘Australia has been unusual in the western world in having a very conservative attitude to natural or alternative therapies, according to Dr. Paul Laver, a lecturer in Public Health at University of Sydney.‘ From this information, we can infer that Australian doctors have a conservative attitude to natural or alternative therapies. Since they have a conservative attitude, they have been averse to change and reluctant to accept alternative therapists. Hence, the correct answer is “C.” |
| 2 | B | Paragraph B provides the information that “the 550,000 consultations with alternative therapists reported in the 1990 survey represented about an eighth of the total number of consultations with medically qualified personnel covered by the survey, according to Dr. Laver and colleagues writing in the Australian Journal of Public Health in 1993.” So it is clear that in 1990, Australians mostly preferred to consult alternative therapists than medically qualified doctors. Hence, the correct answer is “B.” |
| 3 | YES | The initial line of paragraph B mentions that “disenchantment with orthodox medicine has seen the popularity of alternative therapies in Australia climb steadily during the past 20 years.” Since popularity among alternative therapists has surged in Australia in the past 20 years, it signifies that Australians have been turning to alternative therapists in increasing numbers over the past 20 years. As the statement agrees with the information, the correct answer is “YES.” |
| 4 | NO | Paragraph B mentions that “by 1990, this figure had risen to 2.6% of the population.” Thus, we can deduce that patients visiting alternative therapists rose to only 2.6%, not 8% from the earlier line. As the statement contradicts the information, the correct answer is “NO.” |
| 5 | YES | The fourth line of paragraph B mentions “the 550,000 consultations with alternative therapists reported in the 1990 survey.” The above line from the paragraph confirms the survey report, which mentions 550,000 people consulted alternative therapists in 1990. As the statement agrees with the statement, the correct answer is “YES.” |
| 6 | YES | The last line of paragraph B states that “the high standing of professionals, including doctors, has been eroded as a consequence.” This line confirms that Australians had high opinions or standing for professionals such as doctors, initially. As the statement agrees with the statement, the correct answer is “YES.” |
| 7 | YES | The first line of paragraph C conveys that “rather than resisting or criticizing this trend, increasing numbers of Australian doctors, particularly younger ones, are forming group practices with alternative therapists or taking courses themselves, particularly in acupuncture and herbalism.” The above line denotes young doctors, instead of criticizing, are forming groups to retrain themselves in alternative therapies. As the statement agrees with the statement, the correct answer is “YES.” |
| 8 | NOT GIVEN | In none of the paragraphs the author claims or denies that alternative therapists earn higher salaries than doctors. Hence, the correct answer is “NOT GIVEN.” |
| 9 | NO | In paragraph D, the first line suggests that “in 1993, Dr. Laver and his colleagues published a survey of 289 Sydney people who attended eight alternative therapists’ practices in Sydney.” The above line confirms the claim that 289 patients visited alternative therapists. However, it’s not mentioned that they visited, especially for acupuncture treatment. As the statement contradicts the information, the correct answer is “NO.” |
| 10 | YES | The 3rd line of paragraph D puts forward the idea that “those surveyed had experienced chronic illnesses, for which orthodox medicine has been able to provide little relief.” Chronic illnesses are broadly known as illnesses that have lasted for a year and more. Since it lasted for more than a year, it confirms that all patients in 1993 surveys had long-term medical complaints. As the statement agrees with the statement, the correct answer is “YES.” |
| 11 | emotional/ emotional problems | Paragraph E states that “12% suffer from digestive problems, which is only 1% more than those suffering from emotional problems.” Moreover, the graph also depicts that the bar candle below the digestive is only 1% less, which implies its emotional problem. Hence, the correct answer is “emotional/emotional problem.” |
| 12 | headache/headaches | The last line of paragraph E explains that “headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively.” Additionally, the candle of 12 in the graph is slightly more than 5%, which means it is 6%. Hence, the correct answer is “headache/headaches.” |
| 12 | general ill health | The last line of paragraph E also states that “headache sufferers and those complaining of general ill health represent 6% and 5% of patients respectively.” In the graph, 13 bar candles are at 5%. Hence the correct answer is “general ill health.” |
Tips to Ace Alternative Medicine in Australia IELTS Reading Answers
Notes Completion
- Skim the text first to understand the general idea before filling in blanks.
- Look for keywords and synonyms in both the notes and the passage.
- Check grammar and word limits; usually 1–3 words only.
- Pay attention to headings and subheadings; they often guide you to the right section.
- Cross-check answers in context to ensure they make sense in the sentence.
Yes/No/Not Given
- Read the question carefully to know exactly what is being asked.
- Identify keywords in the statement and look for them or synonyms in the passage.
- Do not assume information; only mark YES/TRUE if explicitly stated.
- Watch for qualifying words like “some,” “always,” or “often.”
- Eliminate options systematically if the statement contradicts the passage or is not mentioned.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Read all options carefully before scanning the passage for answers.
- Look for keywords and synonyms rather than exact words.
- Focus on the relevant paragraph; most answers are near the keyword in the text.
- Eliminate clearly wrong options to improve your chances of selecting the right one.
- Pay attention to qualifiers like “only,” “mostly,” or “never” in both the question and the passage.
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