Reading Part B

Part B : Multiple Choice Questions Time Limit: 20~25 Minutes

 
Alzheimer  Disease  
Author:  Margaret  Gatz  
Source:  Public  Library  of  Open  Science  
 
Paragraph  1  
Physicians  now  commonly  advise  older  adults  to  engage  in  mentally  stimulating  
activity  as  a  way  of  reducing  their  risk  of  dementia.  Indeed,  the  recommendation  
is  often  followed  by  the  acknowledgment  that  evidence  of  benefit  is  still  lacking,  
but  “it  can’t  hurt.”  What  could  possibly  be  the  problem  with  older  adults  
spending  their  time  doing  crossword  puzzles  and  anagrams,  completing  puzzles,  
or  testing  their  reaction  time  on  a  computer?  In  certain  respects,  there  is  no  
problem.  Patients  will  probably  improve  at  the  targeted  skills,  and  may  feel  
good—particularly  if  the  activity  is  both  challenging  and  successfully  completed.  
 
Paragraph  2  
But  can  it  hurt?  Possibly.  There  are  two  ways  that  encouraging  mental  activity  
programs  might  do  more  harm  than  good.  First,  they  can  falsely  raise  
expectations.  Second,  individuals  who  do  develop  dementia  might  be  blamed  for  
their  condition.  When  heavy  smokers  get  lung  cancer,  they  are  sometimes  seen  
as  having  contributed  to  their  own  fates.  People  with  Alzheimer  disease  might  
similarly  be  viewed  as  having  brought  it  on  themselves  through  failure  to  
exercise  their  brains.  
 
Paragraph  3  
There  is  some  evidence  to  support  the  idea  that  mental  exercise  can  improve  
one’s  chances  of  escaping  Alzheimer  disease.  Having  more  years  of  education  has  
been  shown  to  be  related  to  a  lower  prevalence  of  Alzheimer  disease.  Typically,  
the  risk  of  Alzheimer  disease  is  two  to  four  times  higher  in  those  who  have  fewer  
years  of  education,  as  compared  to  those  who  have  more  years  of  education.  
Other  epidemiological  studies,  although  with  less  consistency,  have  suggested  
that  those  who  engage  in  more  leisure  activities  have  a  lower  prevalence  and  
incidence  of  Alzheimer  disease.  Additionally,  longitudinal  studies  have  found  
that  older  adults  without  dementia  who  participate  in  more  intellectually  
challenging  daily  activities  show  less  decline  over  time  on  various  tests  of  
cognitive  performance.  
 
Paragraph  4  
However,  both  education  and  leisure  activities  are  imperfect  measures  of  mental  
exercise.  For  instance,  leisure  activities  represent  a  combination  of  influences.  
Not  only  is  there  mental  activation,  but  there  may  also  be  broader  health  effects,  
including  stress  reduction  and  improved  vascular  health—  both  of  which  may  
contribute  to  reducing  dementia  risk.  It  could  also  be  that  a  third  factor,  such  as  
intelligence,  leads  to  greater  levels  of  education  and  more  engagement  in  
cognitively  stimulating  activities,  and  independently,  to  lower  risk  of  dementia.  
Research  in  Scotland,  for  example,  showed  that  IQ  test  scores  at  age  11  were  
predictive  of  future  dementia  risk  .  
 

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

Paragraph  5  
The  concept  of  cognitive  reserve  is  often  used  to  explain  why  education  and  
mental  stimulation  are  beneficial.  The  term  cognitive  reserve  is  sometimes  taken  
to  refer  directly  to  brain  size  or  to  synaptic  density  in  the  cortex.  At  other  times,  
cognitive  reserve  is  defined  as  the  ability  to  compensate  for  acquired  brain  
pathology.  Taken  together,  the  evidence  is  very  suggestive  that  having  greater  
cognitive  reserve  is  related  to  a  reduced  risk  of  Alzheimer  disease.  But  the  
evidence  that  mental  exercise  can  increase  cognitive  reserve  and  keep  dementia  
at  bay  is  weaker.  In  addition,  people  with  greater  cognitive  reserve  may  choose  
mentally  stimulating  leisure  activities  and  jobs,  which  makes  is  difficult  to  
precisely  determine  whether  mentally  stimulating  activities  alone  can  reduce  
dementia  risk.    
 
Paragraph  6  
Cognitive  training  has  demonstrable  effects  on  performance,  on  views  of  self,  and  
on  brain  function—but  the  results  are  very  specific  to  the  skills  that  are  trained,  
and  it  is  as  yet  entirely  unknown  whether  there  is  any  effect  on  when  
or  whether  an  individual  develops  Alzheimer  disease.  Further,  the  types  of  skills  
taught  by  practicing  mental  puzzles  may  be  less  helpful  in  everyday  life  than  
more  straightforward  techniques,  such  as  concentrating,  or  taking  notes,  or  
putting  objects  in  the  same  place  each  time  so  that  they  won’t  be  lost.  
 
Paragraph  7  
So  far,  there  is  little  evidence  that  mental  practice  will  help  prevent  the  
development  of  dementia.  There  is  better  evidence  that  good  brain  health  is  
determined  by  multiple  factors,  that  brain  development  early  in  life  matters,  
and  that  genetic  influences  are  of  great  importance  in  accounting  for  individual  
differences  in  cognitive  reserve  and  in  explaining  who  develops  Alzheimer  
disease  and  who  does  not.  At  least  half  of  the  explanation  for  individual  
differences  in  susceptibility  to  Alzheimer  disease  is  genetic,  although  the  genes  
involved  have  not  yet  been  completely  discovered.  The  balance  of  the  
explanation  lies  in  environmental  influences  and  behavioral  health  practices,  
alone  or  in  interaction  with  genetic  factors.  However,  at  this  stage,  there  is  no  
convincing  evidence  that  memory  practice  and  other  cognitively  stimulating  
activities  are  sufficient  to  prevent  Alzheimer  disease;  it  is  not  just  a  case  of  “use  it  
or  lose  it.”  
 

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

Part B : Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following statements matches the

opinion of most doctors?
a. Mentally stimulating activities are of little use
b. The risk of dementia can be reduced by doing mentally stimulating
activities
c. The benefits of mentally stimulating activities are not yet proven
d. Mentally stimulating activities do more harm than good

2. In paragraph 2, the author expresses the opinion that …….

a. Mentally stimulating activities may offer false hope
b. Dementia sufferers often blame themselves for their condition
c. Alzheimer’s disease may be caused lack of mental exercise
d. Mentally stimulating activities do more harm than good

3. In paragraph 3, which of the following does not match the information on

research into Alzheimer disease?
a. People with less education have a higher risk of Alzheimer disease
b. Cognitive performance can be enhanced by regularly doing activities
which are mentally challenging
c. Having more education reduces the risk of Alzheimer disease
d. Regular involvement in leisure activities may reduce the risk of
Alzheimer disease

4. According to paragraph 4, which of the following statements is false?

a. The impact of education and leisure is difficult to measure
b. Better vascular health and reduced stress can decrease the risk of
dementia
c. People with higher IQ scores may be less likely to suffer from
dementia
d. Cognitively stimulating activities reduce dementia risk

5. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the expression: keep

dementia at bay?
a. delay the onset of dementia
b. cure dementia
c. reduce the severity of dementia
d. treat dementia

6. Which of the following phrases best summarises the main idea presented
in paragraph 6?
a. The effect cognitive training has on Alzheimer disease is limited
b. Doing mental puzzles may not be as beneficial as concentrating in
everyday life
c. Cognitive training improves brain performance
d. The effect cognitive training has on Alzheimer disease is indefinite

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

7. According to paragraph 7, which of the following is correct regarding the

development of dementia?
a. Genetic factors are the most significant
b. Environmental factors interact with behavioural factors in determining
susceptibility to Alzheimer disease
c. Good brain health can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer disease
d. None of the above

8. Which of the following would be the best alternative title for the essay?
a. New developments in Alzheimer research
b. Benefits of education in fighting Alzheimer disease
c. Doubts regarding mental exercise as a preventive measure for
Alzheimer disease
d. The importance of cognitive training in preventing early onset of
Alzheimer disease

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

Answer  Key    
1.  c  2.  a  3.  b  4.  d  5.  a  6.  d  7.a  8.  c  
Question  1  
a) Incorrect:  No,  they  believe  it  may  help  
b) Incorrect:    This  is  their  advice,  but  they  acknowledge  there  is  no  evidence    
c) Correct:  See  highlight  
d) Incorrect:  No,  (this  is  the  author’s  opinion  in  paragraph  2)  
Question  2  
a) Correct:  synonym:  (may  offer  false  hope=  can  falsely  raise  expectations)  
b) Incorrect:  Not  mentioned  
c) Incorrect:  No,  some  people  may  believe  this,  but  not  the  author  
d) Incorrect:  No,  they  might  i.e  it  is  possible  
Question  3  
a) Incorrect:  Matches  
b) Correct:  Does  not  match:  will  not  enhance,  just  stop  the  decline  
c) Incorrect:  Matches  
d) Correct:  Matches  
Question  4  
a) Incorrect:  True  
b) Incorrect:  True  
c) Incorrect  :  True  
d) Correct:  False:  could  reduce,  not  reduce…(degrees  of  certainty)  
Question  5  
a) Correct  
b) Incorrect  
c) Incorrect  
d) Incorrect    
Question  6  
a) Incorrect:  Not  mentioned  
b) Incorrect:  True:  but  a  detail  
c) Incorrect:  True,  but  not  the  main  idea  
d) Correct:  synonym:  unclear=unknown  
Question  7  
a) Correct:  see  highlight    
b) incorrect:    
c) Incorrect:  could  be  true  but  not  mentioned  
d) Incorrect:    
Question  8  
a) Incorrect:  no  new  developments  mentioned  
b) Incorrect:  not  the  main  focus  
c) Correct:  Best  summary  
d) Incorrect:  opposite  is  true  

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

Alzheimer  Disease  
 
Author:  Margaret  Gatz  
Source:  Public  Library  of  Open  Science  
 
Paragraph  1  
Physicians  now  commonly  advise  older  adults  to  engage  in  mentally  stimulating  
activity  as  a  way  of  reducing  their  risk  of  dementia.  Indeed,  (1)the  
recommendation  is  often  followed  by  the  acknowledgment  that  evidence  of  
benefit  is  still  lacking,  but  “it  can’t  hurt.”  What  could  possibly  be  the  problem  
with  older  adults  spending  their  time  doing  crossword  puzzles  and  anagrams,  
completing  puzzles,  or  testing  their  reaction  time  on  a  computer?  In  certain  
respects,  there  is  no  problem.  Patients  will  probably  improve  at  the  targeted  
skills,  and  may  feel  good—particularly  if  the  activity  is  both  challenging  and  
successfully  completed.  
 
Paragraph  2  
But  can  it  hurt?  Possibly.  There  are  two  ways  that  encouraging  mental  activity  
programs  might  do  more  harm  than  good.  First,  (2)  they  can  falsely  raise  
expectations.  Second,  individuals  who  do  develop  dementia  might  be  blamed  for  
their  condition.  When  heavy  smokers  get  lung  cancer,  they  are  sometimes  seen  
as  having  contributed  to  their  own  fates.  People  with  Alzheimer  disease  might  
similarly  be  viewed  as  having  brought  it  on  themselves  through  failure  to  
exercise  their  brains.  
 
Paragraph  3  
There  is  some  evidence  to  support  the  idea  that  mental  exercise  can  improve  
one’s  chances  of  escaping  Alzheimer  disease.  Having  more  years  of  education  has  
been  shown  to  be  related  to  a  lower  prevalence  of  Alzheimer  disease.  Typically,  
the  risk  of  Alzheimer  disease  is  two  to  four  times  higher  in  those  who  have  fewer  
years  of  education,  as  compared  to  those  who  have  more  years  of  education.  
Other  epidemiological  studies,  although  with  less  consistency,  have  suggested  
that  those  who  engage  in  more  leisure  activities  have  a  lower  prevalence  and  
incidence  of  Alzheimer  disease.  Additionally,  (3)longitudinal  studies  have  found  
that  older  adults  without  dementia  who  participate  in  more  intellectually  
challenging  daily  activities  show  less  decline  over  time  on  various  tests  of  
cognitive  performance.  
 
Paragraph  4  
However,  both  education  and  leisure  activities  are  imperfect  measures  of  mental  
exercise.  For  instance,  leisure  activities  represent  a  combination  of  influences.  
Not  only  is  there  mental  activation,  but  there  may  also  be  broader  health  effects,  
including  stress  reduction  and  improved  vascular  health—  both  of  which  may  
contribute  to  reducing  dementia  risk.  (4)It  could  also  be  that  a  third  factor,  such  
as  intelligence,  leads  to  greater  levels  of  education  and  more  engagement  in  
cognitively  stimulating  activities,  and  independently,  to  lower  risk  of  dementia.  
Research  in  Scotland,  for  example,  showed  that  IQ  test  scores  at  age  11  were  
predictive  of  future  dementia  risk  .  
 

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 Reading Part B

Paragraph  5  
The  concept  of  cognitive  reserve  is  often  used  to  explain  why  education  and  
mental  stimulation  are  beneficial.  The  term  cognitive  reserve  is  sometimes  taken  
to  refer  directly  to  brain  size  or  to  synaptic  density  in  the  cortex.  At  other  times,  
cognitive  reserve  is  defined  as  the  ability  to  compensate  for  acquired  brain  
pathology.  Taken  together,  the  evidence  is  very  suggestive  that  having  greater  
cognitive  reserve  is  related  to  a  reduced  risk  of  Alzheimer  disease.  But  the  
evidence  that  mental  exercise  can  increase  cognitive  reserve  and  (5)keep  
dementia  at  bay  is  weaker.  In  addition,  people  with  greater  cognitive  reserve  
may  choose  mentally  stimulating  leisure  activities  and  jobs,  which  makes  is  
difficult  to  precisely  determine  whether  mentally  stimulating  activities  alone  can  
reduce  dementia  risk.    
 
Paragraph  6  
Cognitive  training  has  demonstrable  effects  on  performance,  on  views  of  self,  and  
on  brain  function—but  the  results  are  very  specific  to  the  skills  that  are  trained,  
and  (6)  it  is  as  yet  entirely  unknown  whether  there  is  any  effect  on  when  
or  whether  an  individual  develops  Alzheimer  disease.  Further,  the  types  of  skills  
taught  by  practicing  mental  puzzles  may  be  less  helpful  in  everyday  life  than  
more  straightforward  techniques,  such  as  concentrating,  or  taking  notes,  or  
putting  objects  in  the  same  place  each  time  so  that  they  won’t  be  lost.  
 
Paragraph  7  
So  far,  there  is  little  evidence  that  mental  practice  will  help  prevent  the  
development  of  dementia.  There  is  better  evidence  that  good  brain  health  is  
determined  by  multiple  factors,  that  brain  development  early  in  life  matters,  
and  that  genetic  influences  are  of  great  importance  in  accounting  for  individual  
differences  in  cognitive  reserve  and  in  explaining  who  develops  Alzheimer  
disease  and  who  does  not.  (7)At  least  half  of  the  explanation  for  individual  
differences  in  susceptibility  to  Alzheimer  disease  is  genetic,  although  the  genes  
involved  have  not  yet  been  completely  discovered.  The  balance  of  the  
explanation  lies  in  environmental  influences  and  behavioral  health  practices,  
alone  or  in  interaction  with  genetic  factors.  However,  at  this  stage,  there  is  no  
convincing  evidence  that  memory  practice  and  other  cognitively  stimulating  
activities  are  sufficient  to  prevent  Alzheimer  disease;  it  is  not  just  a  case  of  “use  it  
or  lose  it.”  
 

This resource was developed by OET Online and is subject to copyright ©

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au