Scribd
Upload
138 views2 pages

Reading 02

The document discusses a newly developed magnetic device that may alleviate migraine pain for those who experience early warning signs. It highlights the study's findings, which suggest that participants using the device reported reduced pain, while emphasizing the importance of rigorous testing and the potential influence of researchers' affiliations with the device's manufacturers. The text also notes that further studies are planned to explore the device's effectiveness and interactions.

Uploaded by

gacsi.janos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
138 views2 pages

Reading 02

The document discusses a newly developed magnetic device that may alleviate migraine pain for those who experience early warning signs. It highlights the study's findings, which suggest that participants using the device reported reduced pain, while emphasizing the importance of rigorous testing and the potential influence of researchers' affiliations with the device's manufacturers. The text also notes that further studies are planned to explore the device's effectiveness and interactions.

Uploaded by

gacsi.janos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

LanguageCert C1 Expert Level – Practice Paper 1

Reading Part 2
Read the text. Use the sentences to complete the text. Choose the correct sentence for each
gap. There are two extra sentences you will not need.

Magnetic devices may ease pain caused by migraines

Good news for all those who suffer migraine headaches. A device has been developed that emits
magnetic pulses which may reduce pain for certain migraine sufferers who get an early warning of
their headaches. (1)_________ Other indications of imminent headaches could be a ringing sound
in the ears or numbness in parts of the body.

Doctors now think this type of migraine is caused by a wave of electrical charges sweeping across
your brain cells. The wave excites the cells and activity is followed by a phase which is called
‘cortical spreading depression’. (2)_________ Medical scientists are now testing treatments to
disrupt these electrically-charged waves in the hope of calming or even preventing the pain. One
such treatment is magnetic stimulation, using a device which sends out magnetic pulses.
(3)_________

In the study, people who treated their ‘migraines with aura’ using the device were more likely to
be free from pain after two hours. (4)_________ The latter group fell into a ‘much less likely’
category. All the people in the study were asked not to use painkillers until at least at two hours
after using the device. (5)_________ Further studies, including their interaction with the magnetic
device, are planned.

How reliable are the findings? Well, the researchers took a lot of trouble to ensure that the 200
people in the study did not know if they had a real or fake device. Moreover, they were asked to
decide whether they believed the treatment was real or not. The results showed they could not
tell the difference. (6)_________ The study was carried out by researchers from universities in the
US and funded by the manufacturers of the device. Some of the researchers worked for the
company. This does not make the study unreliable but we should be aware that they have an
interest in a positive outcome for the product they are testing.

4
LanguageCert C1 Expert Level – Practice Paper 1

A Compare that to other sufferers who were given similar-looking devices but which did
not emit magnetic pulses.

B This usually takes the form of something called an ‘aura’, manifesting itself in sight
disturbances like light flashes.

C This is important because results could have been affected if people had guessed they
were using the real device.

D Doctors are still unsure as to whether there is any connection between these differing
types of symptoms.

E It’s thought that this may be what causes the acute pain of migraine headaches.

F New pain relief research is being carried out all the time in the US.

G The idea is to hold it against the head when an aura begins and so activate these
emissions.

H Most migraine sufferers usually take fairly high doses of these but they were asked to
refrain to ensure reliable results.

You might also like