Alternative Medicine And Modern Healthcare have become increasingly important topics in recent years, especially for candidates preparing for the PTE exam. In the Summarize Written Text section of the Speaking & Writing part of PTE, test takers are required to comprehend and effectively summarize complex topics like alternative medicine and its relationship with modern healthcare. This topic not only allows you to practice summarization skills but also helps you understand how diverse medical practices coexist in today’s healthcare landscape.
In this article, we’ll provide you with practice questions and sample answers for different band scores, helping you get a better grasp of what to expect in the exam and how to tackle questions related to alternative medicine and modern healthcare.
Practice Question on Alternative Medicine and Modern Healthcare
Question: Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence.
Prompt:
Alternative medicine, which includes practices such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and herbal treatments, is often described as a non-conventional approach to healthcare. It has gained popularity due to its perceived benefits in treating conditions like chronic pain, stress, and anxiety. Conversely, modern healthcare focuses heavily on evidence-based practices, clinical trials, and technologically advanced procedures. While some people prefer alternative medicine for its holistic and natural approach, medical professionals argue that modern healthcare provides more scientifically grounded treatments. Despite this, there’s a growing interest in integrative medicine, which seeks to combine the best practices of both systems to promote overall well-being and individualized patient care.
Your Task:
Summarize the text in one sentence (5-75 words).
Sample Answers for Different Band Scores
Band Score 90 (Perfect Score):
Integrative medicine seeks to combine both alternative and modern healthcare approaches to offer comprehensive patient care, focusing on scientifically backed treatment while incorporating holistic, non-conventional methods.
Analysis:
- Content: Fully covers the integration of both alternative and modern healthcare.
- Form: Exactly 31 words, fitting the word limit.
- Grammar: No grammatical errors.
- Vocabulary: Excellent use of diverse, relevant vocabulary (e.g., integrative medicine, holistic).
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 75 (Very Good):
Alternative and modern medicine have different focuses, but integrative medicine merges both to provide a complete healthcare solution.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures the main point but slightly lacks some specific details about patient care and well-being.
- Form: 20 words, within the word count limit.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct.
- Vocabulary: Good use of vocabulary but could be improved with more variety.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 60 (Average):
Modern healthcare and alternative medicine are different, but both have their advantages.
Analysis:
- Content: Too general and lacks specific details about integrative medicine.
- Form: 13 words, under the word requirement, which may lead to a penalty.
- Grammar: Grammatically correct but overly simple.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary, limited in scope.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 50 (Poor):
Modern medicine is scientific, while alternative medicine is natural, but both are used together sometimes.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses key concepts about integrative medicine and patient care.
- Form: Short and falls below the minimum word count.
- Grammar: Some basic errors in parallelism and sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Very simplistic, lacks the appropriate use of complex terms.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Key Vocabulary from the Passage
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Acupuncture /ˈækjʊˌpʌŋktʃər/ (n.): Treatment using needles to stimulate points on the body for pain relief.
- Example: Acupuncture can help reduce chronic back pain in many patients.
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Homeopathy /ˌhoʊmiˈɒpəθi/ (n.): A medical practice that treats diseases with small doses of natural substances.
- Example: Some individuals claim that homeopathy has helped them manage symptoms of their conditions.
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Holistic /həʊˈlɪstɪk/ (adj.): Concerned with complete systems rather than individual parts.
- Example: Holistic treatments aim to heal the whole body rather than just specific symptoms.
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Chronic /ˈkrɒnɪk/ (adj.): Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
- Example: Chronic headaches have made it difficult for her to focus at work.
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Clinical trials /ˈklɪnɪkəl/ (n.): Research studies that evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatments.
- Example: The new drug underwent clinical trials to ensure it is safe and effective.
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Herbal treatments /ˈhɜːrbəl/ (n.): Treatments that use plant-based substances to promote health.
- Example: Herbal treatments are commonly used to support the immune system during cold seasons.
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Evidence-based /ˈɛvɪdənsˌbeɪst/ (adj.): Relying on scientific evidence and research as a foundation for treatment.
- Example: Modern healthcare heavily relies on evidence-based approaches.
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Integrative medicine /ˈɪntɪˌɡreɪtɪv/ (n.): A combination of modern and alternative medical practices to treat patients.
- Example: In recent years, integrative medicine has grown in popularity as it combines the best of both worlds.
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Technologically advanced /ˌtɛknəˈlɒdʒɪkli/ (adj.): Utilizing the latest technology for medical diagnosis and treatment.
- Example: Modern hospitals use technologically advanced equipment for surgeries and diagnosis.
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Individualized care /ɪndɪˌvɪdʒʊəˈlaɪzd/ (adj.): Care tailored to the specific needs of each patient.
- Example: Individualized care allows doctors to better address the unique needs of each patient.
Conclusion
Summarizing complex passages is an essential skill for success in the PTE exam’s Summarize Written Text task, especially when dealing with topics like alternative medicine and modern healthcare. The provided practice question and sample answers offer a model to understand the expectations in this section, along with tips for improving your skills. To gain mastery, practicing with topics related to healthcare such as Telemedicine and healthcare accessibility can further sharpen your abilities. Feel free to leave comments or questions if you’d like more specific feedback on your responses!
