Back Pain - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 4 · Questions 32–41
Audio
Questions
Questions 32–37 One Choice
Choose the correct letters A-C.
Questions 38–41 Matching
Choose the correct letters A—C.
A. Strongly recommended
B. Recommended in certain circumstances
C. Not recommended
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q32 | A | over the last ten years the average weight of men has risen by 11 lbs and of women by 9 lbs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that in the past ten years, the typical weight of a man has increased by 11 pounds, and the typical weight of a woman has increased by 9 pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is column A, which shows the specific numbers mentioned regarding the weight gain of men and women. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions two specific numbers (figures) related to weight gain: 11 pounds for men and 9 pounds for women. In a chart, this column would be the one that correctly matches these two numbers. The speaker states that over the last ten years, 'men has risen by 11 lbs and of women by 9 lbs.' This data is used to explain why back pain is becoming a bigger problem. |
| Q33 | B | They are especially vulnerable because of pregnancy but also because of osteoporosis, which I personally believe to be the major cause of problems for women | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that women can get back pain from pregnancy, but the speaker believes that osteoporosis is the most important or main reason for their back problems. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that a bone-thinning condition called osteoporosis is the primary reason for back issues in women. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explicitly identifies this condition as the most important factor for women's back problems. She uses the words major cause, which is a synonym for main cause used in the question. While she mentions pregnancy as another reason women are at risk, she highlights osteoporosis as her personal belief for the primary source of the trouble. |
| Q34 | B | Bed rest, giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but, although there are many excellent drugs on the market, at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of relaxation therapy | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the clinic has found special advantages in using relaxation therapy, even though other treatments like medicine and resting in bed are common. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the clinic suggests using relaxation to help stop back pain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker specifically mentions that her clinic prefers relaxation therapy over other methods. While she acknowledges that medicine (pain killers) exists, she marks relaxation therapy as having special or "unique" benefits. She also warns that exercise, which other experts recommend, might be used wrongly and cause more problems, making relaxation therapy the clinic's preferred recommendation. |
| Q35 | C | But the body’s response to back injury can be very counterproductive. When pain strikes, we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible, which makes the muscles tense up. Research shows that they often go into spasm, which causes further twisting of the spine. A vicious circle is underway | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the body's reaction to a back injury is not helpful. Because people try not to move when they feel pain, their muscles become very tight. This tightness can cause the spine to twist, creating a bad cycle of more pain and damage. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when you hurt your back, the way your body reacts often makes the injury worse rather than helping it heal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker explains that the body is usually good at fixing itself (self-repair), but for the back, the reaction is 'counterproductive,' which means it does the opposite of helping. She describes a 'vicious circle' where the body's attempt to protect the back by tensing up muscles actually leads to more problems, like 'twisting of the spine.' This shows that the body's response leads to further damage. |
| Q36 | A | Although at the clinic we recognise that a short rest in bed can be helpful up to two days . . . any longer makes our back muscles become weaker and unable to hold up our spine |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that resting in bed is helpful only for a very short period, specifically suggesting a limit of two days. Any amount of time beyond that causes the muscles to lose strength and fail to support the spine. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if you have back pain, you should stay in bed for no more than two days. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker explains that while resting in bed for a short time is okay, staying there for more than two days is bad for the body. The text uses the phrase "up to two days," which means two days is the maximum or longest time allowed. If a person stays in bed longer, their muscles become too weak to support the back properly, leading to more pain. |
| Q37 | B | Anyone a stone or more overweight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and make things worse | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that being heavy is not the first reason or cause of the pain. However, for a person who is already in pain, the extra weight adds stress to the back and makes the health problem bad instead of helping it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if a person weighs too much, their back pain will get worse if they already have it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains that having too much weight does not cause the back pain to start, but it adds more pressure to the body. This extra pressure makes the pain 'worse' for some people who already have problems. In English, to 'worsen' means to make a bad situation even worse, and to 'increase the strain' means to put more physical stress or weight on the back. |
| Q38 | B | It can be useful to get special orthopaedic chairs, but remember the most important improvement should be in OUR posture | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that getting a special chair can be helpful, but the biggest change you should make is to improve how you sit. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that buying these chairs is helpful, but there are other more important things you must do as well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker says these chairs can be 'useful' (helpful). However, she explains that the 'major cause' of back pain is how we sit, not the chairs themselves. Therefore, a chair is only a secondary help compared to fixing your posture (the way you sit). It is recommended as a helpful tool, but it is not the main solution. |
| Q39 | A | A real find for our patients has been the shock-absorbing shoe insert. A cheap but very effective solution | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the clinic discovered these inserts are very helpful and they work well to fix the problem of shock waves when walking. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people should definitely buy and use shock-absorbing shoe inserts to help with back pain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker describes the shock-absorbing shoe inserts as a 'real find' for patients and a 'very effective solution.' These phrases show that she thinks they are very helpful. She recommends them to stop 'shock waves' from traveling up the spine when a person walks. |
| Q40 | B | Though absolutely flat shoes can be a solution for some, others find their posture suffers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that while very flat shoes can be a good answer for some patients, they can also cause the posture of other patients to get worse. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that flat shoes are suggested as a good choice for some people or in some situations, but they are not always the best choice for everyone. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains that flat shoes can be a good help (solution) for some individuals. However, she also notes that other people might have problems with their posture (how they stand or hold their body) if they wear them. Because they are good for some but bad for others, they are only recommended in specific situations or for certain people. |
| Q41 | C | Finally a word about the state-of-the-art relief - the TENS machine - a small battery-powered gadget which delivers subliminal electrical pulses to the skin. Our experience indicates that your money is better spent on the more old-fashioned remedies | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that older methods of treatment are a better choice for someone's money than buying the new TENS machine gadget. Answer Explanation: The answer 'C' means the expert does not think you should buy the TENS machine. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Paula Clayburg, the expert, suggests that people's money is 'better spent' on older, more traditional ways of fixing back pain. By saying this, she is advising against buying the TENS machine because she thinks it is not the best way to use your money for relief. In this context, saying money is better spent elsewhere is a way to say a product is not recommended. |
Transcript
ANNOUNCER: Today’s Health Counsel is presented by Paula Clayburg, who is the chief Counsellor at Liverpool’s famous pain clinic: The Wilton Clinic. Paula ...
PAULA CLAYBURG: Do you know what Prince Charles, Seve Ballesteros and Elizabeth Taylor have in common? They all suffer from chronic back pain. In fact, bad backs are one of the most common health problems today, affecting people in all walks of life. The most recent available figures show that about a quarter of a million people are incapacitated with back pain every day.
And many sufferers don’t know the cause or the solution to their problem.
The majority of our patients at the clinic tend to be women. They are especially vulnerable because of pregnancy but also because of osteoporosis, which I personally believe to be the major cause of problems for women. I have many women patients who say they have completely given up exercise because the pain makes them so miserable. But of course that starts up a vicious circle. Bed rest, giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but, although there are many excellent drugs on the market, at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of relaxation therapy. Other specialists in the field make a strong case for certain types of exercise, but in our experience they are easily mishandled and can lead to more harm than good.
Now, let’s look at some of the reasons why back pain is developing into such a unique menace. In general, the body is pretty good at self-repair. A strain or a blow to a limb, though painful at the time, generally resolves itself. But the body’s response to back injury can be very counterproductive. When pain strikes, we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible, which makes the muscles tense up. Research shows that they often go into spasm, which causes further twisting of the spine. A vicious circle is underway.
The second mistake we often make when stricken with extreme back pain is to go to bed and stay there. Although at the clinic we recognise that a short rest in bed can be helpful ... up to two days . . . any longer makes our back muscles become weaker and unable to hold up our spine. The pain therefore becomes worse.
Another problem is being overweight. Anyone a stone or more overweight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and make things worse. The British diet could be partially to blame for the increase in back pain: over the last ten years the average weight of men has risen by 11 lbs and of women by 9 lbs. So much for the causes and aggravations of pain. But what can WE do to help?
There are many ways in which simple day-to-day care can make all the difference. The first point to watch of course is weight. If you are overweight, a diet will make all the difference.
Also, studies have shown that just one hour sitting in a slouched position can strain ligaments in the back which can take months to heal. At the clinic we have come to the conclusion that the major cause of the problem is not with the design of chairs, as some have suggested, but in the way WE sit in them. It can be useful to get special orthopaedic chairs, but remember the most important improvement should be in OUR posture.
Another enemy of your back is, of course, your beds. If your bed doesn’t give enough support, back muscles and ligaments work all night trying to correct spinal alignment, so you wake up with a tired aching back. Try out an orthopaedic mattress or a spring slatted bed. Research shows that both can be beneficial for certain types of back pain.
Another hazard for your back are the shock waves which travel up your spine when you walk, known as heel strike. A real find for our patients has been the shock-absorbing shoe insert. A cheap but very effective solution. And you might be better off avoiding shoes with heels higher than 1.5 inches. Though absolutely flat shoes can be a solution for some, others find their posture suffers.
Finally a word about the state-of-the-art relief - the TENS machine - a small battery-powered gadget which delivers subliminal electrical pulses to the skin. Our experience indicates that your money is better spent on the more old-fashioned remedies.