Changing Our Understanding Of Health - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 02 Academic Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 14–27
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14 - 27 which are based on Reading Passage 2 on the following pages.
Changing our Understanding of Health
A
The concept of health holds different meanings for different people and groups. These meanings of health have also changed over time. This change is no more evident than in Western society today, when notions of health and health promotion are being challenged and expanded in new ways.
B
For much of recent Western history, health has been viewed in the physical sense only. That is, good health has been connected to the smooth mechanical operation of the body, while ill health has been attributed to a breakdown in this machine. Health in this sense has been defined as the absence of disease or illness and is seen in medical terms. According to this view, creating health for people means providing medical care to treat or prevent disease and illness. During this period, there was an emphasis on providing clean water, improved sanitation and housing.
C
In the late 1940s the World Health Organistation challenged this physically and medically oriented view of health. They stated that 'health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease' (WHO, 1946). Health and the person were seen more holistically (mind/body/spirit) and not just in physical terms.
D
The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasising the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual. Specific behaviours which were seen to increase risk of disease, such as smoking, lack of fitness and unhealthy eating habits, were targeted. Creating health meant providing not only medical health care, but health promotion programs and policies which would help people maintain healthy behaviours and lifestyles. While this individualistic healthy lifestyles approach to health worked for some (the wealthy members of society), people experiencing poverty, unemployment, underemployment or little control over the conditions of their daily lives benefited little from this approach. This was largely because both the healthy lifestyles approach and the medical approach to health largely ignored the social and environmental conditions affecting the health of people.
E
During the 1980s and 1990s there has been a growing swing away from seeing lifestyle risks as the root cause of poor health. While lifestyle factors still remain important, health is being viewed also in terms of the social, economic and environmental contexts in which people live. This broad approach to health is called the socio-ecological view of health. The broad socio-ecological view of health was endorsed at the first International Conference of Health Promotion held in 1986, Ottawa, Canada, where people from 38 countries agreed and declared that:
The fundamental conditions and resources for health are peace, shelter, education, food, a viable income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. Improvement in health requires a secure foundation in these basic requirements. (WHO, 1986)
It is clear from this statement that the creation of health is about much more than encouraging healthy individual behaviours and lifestyles and providing appropriate medical care. Therefore, the creation of health must include addressing issues such as poverty, pollution, urbanisation, natural resource depletion, social alienation and poor working conditions. The social, economic and environmental contexts which contribute to the creation of health do not operate separately or independently of each other. Rather, they are interacting and interdependent, and it is the complex interrelationships between them which determine the conditions that promote health. A broad socio-ecological view of health suggests that the promotion of health must include a strong social, economic and environmental focus.
F
At the Ottawa Conference in 1986, a charter was developed which outlined new directions for health promotion based on the socio-ecological view of health. This charter, known as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, remains as the backbone of health action today. In exploring the scope of health promotion it states that:
Good health is a major resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological factors can all favour health or be harmful to it. (WHO, 1986)
The Ottawa Charter brings practical meaning and action to this broad notion of health promotion. It presents fundamental strategies and approaches in achieving health for all. The overall philosophy of health promotion which guides these fundamental strategies and approaches is one of 'enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health' (WHO, 1986).
Questions
Questions 14–18 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs A - F.
Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs B - F from the list of headings below.
Write the appropriate numbers (i - ix) in boxes 14 - 18 on your answer sheet.
i. Ottawa International Conference on Health Promotion
ii. Holistic approach to health
iii. The primary importance of environmental factors
iv. Healthy lifestyles approach to health
v. Changes in concepts of health in Western society
vi. Prevention of diseases and illness
vii. Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
viii. Definition of health in medical terms
ix. Socio-ecological view of health
Questions 19–22 Short Answers
Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage, answer the following questions.
Write your answers in boxes 19 - 22 on your answer sheet.
Questions 23–27 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 23 - 27 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | viii | Health in this sense has been defined as the absence of disease or illness and is seen in medical terms | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that health was described as not having a sickness and was understood using medical ideas. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Paragraph B explains the old way of defining health using medical and physical ideas. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because the paragraph explains that in the past, health was mostly understood as a physical thing. Words like 'medical terms' and 'absence of disease' are used to show that health was defined simply as not being sick or having a body that works like a well-running machine. |
| Q15 | ii | Health and the person were seen more holistically (mind/body/spirit) and not just in physical terms | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that health began to be seen as a combination of the mind, body, and spirit, rather than just looking at the body alone. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ii' refers to the 'holistic approach to health,' which is an idea that health involves the whole person, including their body, mind, and social life, rather than just treating sickness. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is ii because Paragraph C explains how the definition of health changed after the 1940s. It moved away from only focusing on the physical body to a broader view called 'holistic.' This new view, introduced by the World Health Organisation, emphasizes that health is a complete state of well-being that includes physical, mental, and social parts, and not just the 'absence of disease.' |
| Q16 | iv | While this individualistic healthy lifestyles approach to health worked for some (the wealthy members of society), people experiencing poverty, unemployment, underemployment or little control over the conditions of their daily lives benefited little from this approach | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage uses the specific term 'healthy lifestyles approach' to describe a way of thinking where health depends on a person's own habits and choices, rather than just medical care. Answer Explanation: The answer iv means that 'Healthy lifestyles approach to health' is the most suitable heading for Paragraph D. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Paragraph D discusses a specific historical period (the 1970s) when health was viewed as a result of an individual's personal choices. The paragraph repeatedly uses keywords like 'lifestyle' and 'behaviour' to explain that staying healthy meant avoiding habits like smoking and poor eating. The text explicitly names this perspective the 'healthy lifestyles approach' and explains how it focused on individual actions rather than external environment. |
| Q17 | ix | This broad approach to health is called the socio-ecological view of health | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage clearly gives a name to this specific way of understanding health, which looks at many different parts of life together. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ix' refers to the 'Socio-ecological view of health.' This means the paragraph is about a way of looking at health that considers how our surroundings, our money, and our society all affect our well-being. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ix' because Paragraph E explains a shift in how we understand health. Instead of just focusing on personal habits (like exercise), this section says health is shaped by many external factors including social, economic, and environmental contexts. It uses the specific name 'socio-ecological view of health' to label this broad way of thinking and lists conditions like peace, food, and shelter as necessary foundation for health. |
| Q18 | vii | At the Ottawa Conference in 1986, a charter was developed which outlined new directions for health promotion based on the socio-ecological view of health. This charter, known as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, remains as the backbone of health action today | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in 1986, a special document or plan called a 'charter' was created. This document is called the 'Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion' and it is still the most important guide for health work today. Answer Explanation: The answer is the heading 'Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion', which represents the main topic of Paragraph F. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph F focuses entirely on a specific document created at a 1986 conference. This document is explicitly named as the 'Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion'. The paragraph describes it as the 'backbone' of health actions and explains its philosophy and strategies for helping people improve their health. The key term 'Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion' is the central subject of this section. |
| Q19 | 1946 | In the late 1940s the World Health Organistation challenged this physically and medically oriented view of health. They stated that 'health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease' (WHO, 1946) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the World Health Organization thought health was about more than just the body and medicine. They wrote a new rule in 1946 saying health is about being completely happy and well in your body, your mind, and with other people. Answer Explanation: The answer is the year 1946. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1946 because the passage explains that the World Health Organization (WHO) gave a new meaning to health in the late 1940s. This new meaning said that health is being well in your body, your mind, and your social life, rather than just not having a sickness. The year for this statement is written in the text as 1946. |
| Q20 | the wealthy members / wealthy members / the wealthy / wealthy | While this individualistic healthy lifestyles approach to health worked for some (the wealthy members of society), people experiencing poverty, unemployment, underemployment or little control over the conditions of their daily lives benefited little from this approach | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that changing personal habits helped rich people stay healthy, but it did not help people who were poor or did not have jobs. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people with a lot of money were the ones who gained the most from the focus on changing personal habits to stay healthy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in paragraph D, which explains that the lifestyle approach to health only worked well for certain groups. The passage specifically identifies these people as 'the wealthy members of society.' It contrasts them with people suffering from poverty or unemployment, who did not get much help from this approach. Therefore, rich people were the ones who saw the most success or benefits. |
| Q21 | social / economic / environmental | While lifestyle factors still remain important, health is being viewed also in terms of the social, economic and environmental contexts in which people live | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that even though things like food and exercise (lifestyle) still matter, health is also seen as part of the social, money (economic), and physical world (environmental) where people spend their time. Answer Explanation: The answer names the three main parts of life—social (people and community), economic (money), and environmental (nature and surroundings)—that the socio-ecological view says are linked to health. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is right because paragraph E defines the 'socio-ecological view of health' as a way of looking at health through 'social, economic and environmental' settings. The passage notes that health is decided by the 'interrelationships' or connections between these three specific areas rather than just individual actions. |
| Q22 | the 1970s / 1970s | The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasising the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that in the 1970s, the main goal was to stop people from getting sick by looking at how they lived and how they acted. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the ten-year period starting in 1970 and ending in 1979. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is the 1970s because the passage explains that during this time, people many believed that for a person to be healthy, they had to change their individual behaviour and lifestyle. The text says that during this decade, doctors and programs focused on the risks caused by habits like smoking or poor eating to prevent sickness. |
| Q23 | NOT GIVEN | During this period, there was an emphasis on providing clean water, improved sanitation and housing | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that during a certain time, people focused on giving everyone clean water and better places to live. However, it does not say that doctors were the ones who did this or made it happen. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say if doctors were the ones who helped improve people's living conditions. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because although the passage mentions that things like clean water and better housing (living standards) were important for health in the past, it does not mention doctors at all in this context. It says that medical care was provided to treat disease, but it never claims that doctors were the ones responsible for the improvements in living standards. Since the information is missing, the answer must be NOT GIVEN. |
| Q24 | YES | The 1970s was a time of focusing on the prevention of disease and illness by emphasising the importance of the lifestyle and behaviour of the individual. Specific behaviours which were seen to increase risk of disease, such as smoking, lack of fitness and unhealthy eating habits, were targeted. Creating health meant providing not only medical health care, but health promotion programs and policies which would help people maintain healthy behaviours and lifestyles | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in the 1970s, the focus was on stopping people from getting sick by changing how they live. This included making health promotion programs to help people eat better and exercise more. Answer Explanation: The answer YES means that the passage agrees with the statement that health programs were started in the 1970s. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because Paragraph D explains that in the 1970s, creating health involved providing health promotion programs. These programs aimed to help people keep healthy behaviors and lifestyles. The phrase health promotion programs in the text refers to the same idea as health awareness programs mentioned in the question. |
| Q25 | NO | It is clear from this statement that the creation of health is about much more than encouraging healthy individual behaviours and lifestyles and providing appropriate medical care | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that making people healthy involves a lot more than just individual habits or the medical support they receive from doctors. Answer Explanation: The answer NO means the statement is false because it identifies the wrong factors as being the most important ones for health according to the socio-ecological view. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the socio-ecological view of health does not see lifestyle habits and medical care as the main things that control health. While the passage mentions that lifestyle is still important, it emphasizes that this new view focus on the 'big picture.' It argues that social, economic, and environmental factors (like having a job, a safe home, and a clean environment) are what actually decide or 'determine' how healthy people are. Therefore, saying that lifestyle and medical care are the 'critical factors governing health' contradicts the idea that health is 'much more' than those two things. |
| Q26 | NO | This charter, known as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, remains as the backbone of health action today | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this specific set of rules (the charter) from 1986 is still the most important part or the 'backbone' of how we handle health even now. Answer Explanation: The answer is NO because the statement says the charter was old or no longer useful in the 1990s, but the text says it is actually the main foundation for health work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the passage explains that the Ottawa Charter, which was created in 1986, 'remains as the backbone of health action today.' This indicates that the principles were not 'out of date' in the 1990s; instead, they were the central support system for health initiatives during that time and beyond. Furthermore, the text notes that during the 1980s and 1990s, society was moving towards the 'socio-ecological view' which the charter endorsed. |
| Q27 | NOT GIVEN | The broad socio-ecological view of health was endorsed at the first International Conference of Health Promotion held in 1986, Ottawa, Canada, where people from 38 countries agreed and declared that | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that 38 countries agreed to these ideas at a conference in 1986. It does not say if the number of countries grew or stayed the same after that year. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not provide any information about more countries joining or signing the Ottawa Charter after the initial meeting. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions that people from 38 countries agreed to the declaration in 1986, it never mentions whether more countries joined in the following years. To answer 'YES' or 'NO', we would need specific information about changes in the number of participating countries over time, but the text is silent on this topic. Instead, it focuses on the ideas and strategies of the charter itself. |