BEST IELTS General Reading Test 524

BEST IELTS General Reading Test 524

IELTS General Reading Test

Australia Struggling with Skin Cancers

Skin cancer, malignancy in the skin, is the most common of all cancers. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma, the most common type, along with melanoma, develops in the basal, or bottom layer of the epidermis, the top layer of skin. Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type, develops in the upper layers of the epidermis.

The American Cancer Society estimates that basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers account for more than 1.3 million new cases each year, but for only 1,900 deaths in the United States. The third type of skin cancer is melanoma. It develops in the melanocytes, or pigment cells, which are found throughout the basal layer. Melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer and is responsible for about three-quarters of all skin cancer deaths.

IELTS General Reading Test

Two out of three Australians will develop skin cancer, and an estimated 1,000 die from it each year. The main risk factors for skin cancer are ultraviolet radiation exposure and skin type. People who burn or freckle rather than tanning and have blond or red hair have higher risk. However, exposure also can cause skin cancers among people with darker skin. The southern United States has very high rates for the same reason.

Israel also has a skin cancer problem among immigrants of European background. The rates aren’t as high as in Australia because there are fewer Israelis with very light complexions. Rates in Scandinavia and Israel are similar because most Scandinavians have a more susceptible skin type, even though they are exposed to less UV radiation at home.

IELTS General Reading Test

Because of Australia’s high rate of skin cancer, the Anti-Cancer Council (ACC) of Victoria, Australia has started perhaps the most comprehensive public skin cancer education program in the world. The campaign’s messages include a television ad called “Timebomb,” in which a doctor removes a skin cancer nodule that has spread to the lymph node in a patient’s underarm. The aim of the ad is to show that sunburn can cause far greater damage below the skin’s surface than above it and may plant a skin cancer “Timebomb” that will explode some later time.

In addition to the media campaign, a program called “SunSmart” works with schools to teach children about the dangers of the sun. It’s known that 80% of lifetime sun exposure is acquired before age 18. This makes taking sensible precautions in childhood and adolescence the prime preventive measure. Eighty percent of all primary schools in the state of Victoria have a “no hat, play in the shade” policy which means the kids cannot go outdoors unless they’re wearing a hat.

IELTS General Reading Test

The ACC has adapted another public education campaign originally developed in Australia and the United States. The “Slip! Slop! Slap” program offers this message to put on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat to protect your skin. Other recommendations included in this campaign are: skin exposure should be minimized between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun is at its strongest; eye protection is necessary; and sunscreen should be applied at least 15 minutes before starting any outdoor work and should then be re-applied every 2 hours.

Research is another key function of the Victoria Anti-Cancer Council. There are a number of Australian agencies and experts working in education and research domestically and worldwide. Earlier this year, for example, the Australian Cancer Society released findings from a study that many Australians still mistakenly assume sunscreen will completely protect them from sunburn and skin cancer. This misconception means they use sunscreen to prolong their time in the sun, increasing their risk of developing melanoma. Later, a leading Australian cancer specialist suggested replacing sun protection factor numbers on sunscreen products with descriptions of the level of protection, such as “low” or “ultra-high.” This could reduce confusion and encourage people to use sunscreens more appropriately.

IELTS General Reading Test

Although the Australian population is very well-informed in relation to the link between sun exposure and skin cancer, people get bored with hearing the same message again and again, so experts have to try and re-invent and recreate the prevention message on an ongoing basis. They are now attempting to influence policies in society in general to help to reduce sun exposure.

For example, employers can help prevent skin cancer by rotating workers’ tasks so their time in the sun is minimized; elected safety and health representatives should be consulted in formulating a policy; and new buildings need to have a certain number of car parking spaces for their own. Along those same lines, new buildings also need to have an appropriate amount of shade provided so that the avoidance of exposure to the sun is easier.

IELTS General Reading Test

Which statement applies to each of the types of skin cancers that are mentioned in the passage?

Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter A–E beside questions 28–31.

A. is found in the bottom layer of the epidermis.

B. happens most frequently.

C. has about 2,000 deaths annually in the United States.

D. accounts for about 75% of skin cancer deaths.

E. is not found in the basal layer of the epidermis.

28. Basal cell carcinoma

29. Squamous cell carcinoma

30. Melanoma

31. Basal cell carcinoma along with melanoma

IELTS General Reading Test

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

32. Exposure also can cause skin cancers among people with ……………. .

33. Australia has higher skin cancer incidence rates than Israel because Israelis with light skin are ………………… than in Australia.

34. The rate of skin cancer incidence in Scandinavia is not as high as in Australia due to …………………

IELTS General Reading Test

Choose THREE letters from A–E.

According to the text, the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia

A. has started a TV ad campaign to show that Australia has enough doctors to treat skin cancer patients.

B. has started public programs for skin cancer prevention.

C. has worked with schools to warn children of the danger of exposure to the sun.

D. has adopted a TV ad to teach the danger of the sun in the United States as well as Australia.

E. has a research team working to prevent skin cancers in many countries including Australia.

IELTS General Reading Test

Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

Proposals for Skin Cancer Prevention

A. Employers should help to prevent skin cancers by 38……………… workers’ tasks in order to minimize their time in the sun.

B. Safety and health representatives should be consulted in formulating a policy.

C. New buildings need to have a certain number of 39……………… spaces allotted to them.

D. New buildings also need to have an appropriate amount of shade.

IELTS General Reading Test

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

The main topic discussed in the passage is

A. the rate of skin cancer incidence in Australia.

B. the damage caused to Australia by skin cancers.

C. the effort of Australia to reduce skin cancers.

D. a few types of skin cancers which occur in Australia.

IELTS General Reading Test

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IELTS General Reading Test

28. B

29. E

30. D

31. A

32. DARKER SKIN

33. FEWER

34. LESS UV RADIATION

35. B/C/E

36. B/C/E

37. B/C/E

38. ROTATING

39. CAR PARKING

40. C

IELTS General Reading Test

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