1

Reading Part A

Reading: Part A - Answer Booklet

Part A Summary Gap Fill Time Limit: 15 minutes
Instructions
• Complete the following summary using the information in the texts
for this task.
• Skim and scan the texts to find the information required.
• Gaps may require 1, 2 or 3 words.
• Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the
right hand side.
• Make sure your spelling is correct.
Summary Answers
1.

Research suggests that there is a ....(1).... that ....(2)....

2.
animals could introduce a human-transmissible
....(3).... leading to a deadly pandemic. 3.

The Australia Government has also ....(4).... that 4.

H1N1 influenza is still a threat to all Australians and

5.
therefore vaccination ....(5).... for community
protection. The vaccine is ....(6).... and is 6.
recommended for pregnant women, people suffering
from ....(7).... , aborigines, young children and people 7.
suffering from ....(8).... Vaccination provides
protection to individuals and also ....(9).... the flu 8.

from spreading. H1N1 has already the cause of

9.
....(10).... and even death in ....(11).... this Autumn.

10.
If a new strain of influenza does indeed break out,
the questions remains as to whether countries are 11.
adequately prepared. A ....(12).... study by Alonso
and Shuck-Paim investigated this issue by ....(13).... 12.

government websites in a study of 10 countries, of

13.
which ....(14)..... % were industrialised nations.

14.

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Reading Part A

Part A Answer Sheet continued

Summary Answers
15.

According to the data, there was inconsistency in

16.
recommendations given. Coughing etiquette and
....(15)..... were the most common recommendations, 17.
followed by isolation of ....(16)..... Citizens were
advised to avoid touching the eyes and mouth in 18.

....(17)..... . Regarding treatment at home, young

19.
people were advised not to ....(18).... aspirin and it
was also recommended to drink water ....(19)..... . 20.
Only....(20)..... advised their citizens to store masks.
21.
Businesses also need to be ....(21).... and guidelines
warn that business owners may be affected 22.

financially. It is also ....(22).....to ensure good hygiene

23.
practice among staff as well as planning for ....(23)....
Decisions on whether to ....(24).... in case of a 24.
pandemic need to be made. Businesses may also be
in a position to offer ....(25).... . 25.

As identified by the research of Alonso & Schuck- 26.

Paim, ....(26).... which concentrates on slowing down

27.
transmission is required. It must also be ....(27)....and
provide ....(28).... with clear and comprehensive 28.
guidelines.
TOTAL SCORE

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 3
Reading Part A

Part A
Time Limit: 15 minutes
Instructions
• Complete the summary on the answer page using the information in
the four texts below.
• Skim and scan the texts to find the information required.
• Write your answers in the appropriate space in the column on the
right hand side.
• Make sure your spelling is correct.

Text 1
Category Specific Recommendation Number of
countries
adopting it
Reducing 1. Isolation at home of infected individuals 1. 8
Transmission to 2. Treatment of patient at home (mild symptoms) 2. 6
others 3. Call before visiting doctor 3. 3
4. Coughing etiquette 4. 10
5. Call before visiting doctor 5. 3

Prevention measures 1. Not to touch eyes and mouth 1. 7

2. Washing hands 2. 10

Treating patients at 1. Antiviral without need to visit doctor 1. 5

home 2. Regular water consumption 2. 4
3. How to treat fever 3. 4
4. Avoid aspirin for young individuals 4. 4
Preparation for 1. Store water 1. 2
home isolation 2. Store food 2. 2
3. Store medicine 3. 2
4. Store masks 4. 1
Table 1: Official preparedness recommendations & guidelines provided by government
sources in 10 countries.

Text 2
Australian Government Announcement

H1N1 Vaccine now available (18 January 2010)

H1N1 influenza remains a threat and all Australians are encouraged to get
vaccinated to protect both themselves and those who are vulnerable in the
community. There is clear evidence of serious or fatal health complications
for some people who catch this flu. As with all flu viruses, H1N1 influenza
spreads easily from person to person. By getting vaccinated you not only
protect yourself but can help stop this flu spreading. In the northern
hemisphere pandemic influenza arrived in autumn, earlier than seasonal
influenza and it has caused thousands of hospitalisations as well as some
deaths. All people can receive the free vaccine but some people are at
higher risk of suffering serious complications from H1N1 Influenza.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for pregnant women, people with
underlying chronic conditions, indigenous Australians, people who are
severely obese and young children.

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

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 4
Reading Part A

Text 3

Title: Public preparedness guidance for a severe influenza pandemic in

different countries: a qualitative assessment and critical overview

Authors: Alonso, W.J & Schuck-Paim, C (2009)

Study
Background
The possibility of a human catastrophe produced by a novel, virulent and
human-transmissible influenza strain introduced from wild and domestic
animals is considered a plausible modern threat by renowned influenza
experts.
Methods
We examined the governmental websites from 10 countries with North
America, South America, Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia being
represented in our sample, with 6 out of the 10 countries representing
industrialized nations, and the sum of these 10 countries’ populations
representing approximately 30% of the world population.
We tabulated the existence of specific recommendations addressing the
following aspects: how to prevent and reduce transmission of a respiratory
disease, how to prepare for treating infected patients at home, how
businesses should prepare, how to help the most vulnerable individuals of
the neighbourhood and how to prepare for home isolation
Results
In the current study, focused on the preparedness guidelines issued to the
population by 10 countries, we found that, while many positive
recommendations were provided, the set of recommendations issued by
most countries was not comprehensive enough for severe influenza
scenarios. Moreover, as we discussed along with the exposition of the
results, some of the recommendations provided have proven to be
inadequate to reduce transmission and enable an efficient allocation of
limited resources to attend the most in need.
Conclusions
A global initiative is required focussing on opportunities for slowing down
transmission in a cost effective way by providing clear, comprehensive and
sound guidelines to the public.

Text 4
Guidelines for Business
• Encourage good personal hygiene practice
• Plan for staff absences based on personal infection and support for
family members who may be infected
• Decide if your business will stay open during the pandemic
• Have contingency plans in place
• Be prepared for financial losses
• Consider ways of offering community support

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 5
Reading Part A

Influenza:  Answer  key  and  explanation  

 
Answer   Details  
1. possibility  
Type  1  
 
2. wild  and  domestic   Type  1  
3. influenza strain  
Type  1  
 
4. announced   Type  2:  change    word  form:  announcement  (noun)    
  announced  (verb)  
5. is  encouraged/is   Type  2:  change    grammar  to  match  subject:  
recommended   Australians  are  encouraged  vaccination  is  
  encouraged  
6. free  
Type  1  
 
7. underlying  chronic  
conditions   Type  1  
 
8. obesity/severe  
Type  2:  change    word  form:obese  (adjective)    
obesity  
obesity  (noun)  
 
9. can  prevent  
Type  1    
 
 
10. thousands  of  
Type  1  
hospitalisations  
 
11. the  northern  
hemisphere   Type  1  
 
12. 2009  
Type  3  
 
13. examining   Type  2  :  change    word  form:  examined  (verb)    
  examining(gerund)  Handy  clue…after  prepositions  such  as  by  
the  ______ing  form  if  often  used.  
14. 60  
Type  3:  6  out  of  10  =60%  
 
15. washing  hands   Type  1  
16. infected  individuals  
Type  1  
 
17. 7  countries  
Type  3:    Need  to  read  the  table  headings  
 
18. take  or  words  of  
similar  meaning   Type  4:  create  word  to  make  meaning  correct  
 
Type  2:  change    word  form:  regular  (adjective)    
19. regularly  
regularly(adverb)  
 
 
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 6
Reading Part A

20. 1  country   Type  3/4:  Need  to  read  the  table  headings  and  use  
  singular  form  of  countries  
21. prepared/ready  or  
words  of  similar   Type  4:  Add  word  based  on  the  subject,  requires  
meaning   overall  comprehension  
 
22. important/necessary  
/advised/recommended  
Type  4:  Add  word  based  on  the  subject,  requires  
or  words  of  similar  
overall  comprehension  
meaning  
 
Type  1  
23. staff  absences  
 
24. stay  open   Type  1  
25. community  support  
Type  1  
 
26. a  global  initiative  
Type  1  
 
27. cost  effective   Type  1  
28. the  public   Type  1  

Influenza:  Answers  highlighted  in  text

Text 1
Category Specific Recommendation Number of
countries
adopting it
Reducing Transmission to 6. Isolation at home of (16)infected individuals 6. 8
others 7. Treatment of patient at home (mild symptoms) 7. 6
8. Call before visiting doctor 8. 3
9. Coughing etiquette 9. 10
10. Call before visiting doctor 10. 3

Prevention measures 3. Not to touch eyes and mouth 3. (17)7

4. (15)Washing hands 4. 10

Treating patients at home 5. Antiviral without need to visit doctor 5. 5

6. (19)Regular water consumption 6. 4
7. How to treat fever 7. 4
8. (18) Avoid aspirin for young individuals 8. 4
Preparation for home 5. Store water 5. 2
isolation 6. Store food 6. 2
7. Store medicine 7. 2
8. Store masks 8. (20)1
Table 1: Official preparedness recommendations & guidelines provided by government sources in 10 countries.

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

Website: http://oetonline.com.au Email: steve@oetonline.com.au
 7
Reading Part A

Text 2
Australian Government (4)Announcement

H1N1 Vaccine now available (18 January 2010)

H1N1 influenza remains a threat and all Australians are (5)encouraged to get vaccinated to protect both themselves and those
who are vulnerable in the community. There is clear evidence of serious or fatal health complications for some people who catch
this flu. As with all flu viruses, H1N1 influenza spreads easily from person to person. By getting vaccinated you not only protect
yourself but (9)can prevent this flu spreading. In (11)the northern hemisphere pandemic influenza arrived in autumn, earlier than
seasonal influenza and it has caused (10)thousands of hospitalisations as well as some deaths. All people can receive the (6)free
vaccine but some people are at higher risk of suffering serious complications from H1N1 Influenza. Vaccination is strongly
recommended for pregnant women, people with (7)underlying chronic conditions, indigenous Australians, people who are
severely (8)obese and young children.

Text 3

Title: Public preparedness guidance for a severe influenza pandemic in different countries: a qualitative
assessment and critical overview

Authors: Alonso, W.J & Schuck-Paim, C (12) (2009)

Study
Background
The (1)possibility of a human catastrophe produced by a novel, virulent and human-transmissible (3)influenza
strain introduced from (2)wild and domestic animals is considered a plausible modern threat by renowned
influenza experts.
Methods
We (13)examined the governmental websites from 10 countries with North America, South America, Europe,
Oceania, Africa and Asia being represented in our sample, with (14)6 out of the 10 countries representing
industrialized nations, and the sum of these 10 countries’ populations representing approximately 30% of the world
population.
We tabulated the existence of specific recommendations addressing the following aspects: how to prevent and
reduce transmission of a respiratory disease, how to prepare for treating infected patients at home, how
businesses should prepare, how to help the most vulnerable individuals of the neighbourhood and how to prepare
for home isolation
Results
In the current study, focused on the preparedness guidelines issued to the population by 10 countries, we found
that, while many positive recommendations were provided, the set of recommendations issued by most countries
was not comprehensive enough for severe influenza scenarios. Moreover, as we discussed along with the exposition
of the results, some of the recommendations provided have proven to be inadequate to reduce transmission and
enable an efficient allocation of limited resources to attend the most in need.
Conclusions
(26)A global initiative is required focussing on opportunities for slowing down transmission in a (27)cost effective
way by providing clear, comprehensive and sound guidelines to (28)the public.

Text 4
Guidelines for Businesses
• Encourage good personal hygiene practice
• Plan for (23)staff absences based on personal infection and support for family members who may be
infected
• Decide if your business will (24)stay open during the pandemic
• Have contingency plans in place
• Be prepared for financial losses
• Consider ways of offering (25)community support

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

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