Tag: First Certificate FCE

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Messy handwriting by doctors has caused worry and public discussion recently. When prescriptions or medical notes are hard to read, it can lead to serious problems like giving the wrong medicine, making mistakes in diagnosis, or slowing down treatment.

Let’s read the article to understand how Punjab and Haryana High Court responded to this issue.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0r88nrx70o

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “scrawl” mean? “The BBC has seen a copy of the judgement which includes the report and a two-page prescription which shows the doctor’s unreadable scrawl.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
2. What is the meaning of the phrase “roll out“? “Health authorities in the UK have admitted that “drug errors caused appalling levels of harm and deaths and added that roll out of electronic prescribing systems across more hospitals could reduce errors by 50%.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
3. What does “to bear fruit” mean in this context, “His campaign, seeking a complete ban on handwritten prescriptions, bore fruit when in 2016, the Medical Council of India ordered that “every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters”.? Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your insights of the court’s decision telling doctors to write legibly? Do you think the same should be done in your country?
2. Share your thoughts on this: “Legible medical prescription is a fundamental right as it can make a difference between life and death.“
3. How important is clarity in medical prescriptions?
4. What do you think about including handwriting lessons in the medical school curriculum and set a two-year timeline for rolling out digitised prescriptions?
5. Are the doctors in your country also notorious for bad handwriting? Talk about it.
6. Have you ever had any issues because of the doctor’s illegible handwriting on any of your prescriptions? Share about this instance.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As of September 30, 2025, Medicare’s expanded telehealth coverage, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to make care more accessible, is set to expire unless Congress steps in.
This change could particularly impact older adults who depend on virtual visits due to mobility issues or chronic illnesses. Some telehealth services, like mental health, will continue under separate rules, but many others may not.

Read the article to know more about why smaller clinics may not be able to keep offering virtual visits without reimbursement, which could widen gaps in access to care, especially in rural or underserved communities.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hospitals-health-systems-stop-medicare-telehealth-appointments-amid/story?id=126300439

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “retroactive reimbursement“ in Medicare mean? “Most providers and hospital systems are taking calculated risks to continue care during this time, but long-term continuity depends on action by our telehealth champions in Washington to restore these flexibilities and ensure retroactive reimbursement.“ Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “woefully” mean? “Our health care services are regressing, falling woefully short for millions of patients in need.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “advocacy arm” mean? “In a statement, ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, urged Congress to reinstate Medicare telehealth flexibilities.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think telehealth should stay permanently covered by Medicare? Share your thoughts.
2. Have you or someone you know tried a telehealth appointment before? How was the experience?
3. What health concerns do you think are best handled online versus in person?
4. How do you think rural communities will be affected if telehealth coverage ends?
5. Would you personally feel comfortable relying on telehealth for most of your care? Why or why not?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new report from WHO and UNICEF finds that although over 100 countries are working to upgrade basic services in health care facilities (like water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management, and reliable electricity), billions of people still receive care in facilities lacking these essentials.

Read the article to know why the authors warn that without adequate infrastructure, health workers struggle to prevent infections and deliver safe care.

https://www.who.int/news/item/24-09-2025-countries-making-unprecedented-efforts-but-billions-still-lack-basic-services-in-health-care-facilities—who-unicef-new-report-warns

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “roadmap” mean here, “While there is progress in establishing standards, conducting baseline assessments, and developing national roadmaps, billions are still served by facilities without the basics.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “baseline assessment” mean? “More than 80% of countries have implemented at least one national action, such as developing standards or conducting baseline assessments.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “scale up” mean? “National action is scaling up.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think some hospitals and clinics still don’t have clean water or electricity?
2. How important is sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities?
3. What could happen to patients if these basic services are missing?
4. Who do you think should be responsible for improving health care facilities, governments, communities, or international groups?
5. If you were a health worker, how would you feel working in a place without proper resources?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The drug, called baxdrostat, was tested in people with treatment-resistant hypertension (high blood pressure that doesn’t respond well to existing medicines). In the trial, those taking baxdrostat plus standard medication had their systolic blood pressure fall about 9-10 mmHg more than people on placebo.

Read the article to know more about baxdrostat.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “resistant hypertension” mean? “The results of a large clinical trial, published August 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that baxdrostat could offer an alternative for people with resistant hypertension.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “hyperfiltration” mean? “Kidney effects were minor and may even be beneficial, he says, because they may reduce harmful hyperfiltration.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “withdrawal phase” mean in a clinical trial? “The trial also included an eight-week withdrawal phase.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the potential benefits of baxdrostat? How about the What are the concerns and side effects?
2. Share your thoughts on this, “Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition where blood pressure is consistently too high, affecting over 1.2 billion adults globally.“
3. Why do you think it is important to keep find new hypertension medicines?
4. What are some ways people can lower their blood pressure without medicine?
5. Do you know anyone who struggles with hypertension? How is it like for them?