Reading Passage 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading
Passage 1 below.
Questions 1-7
The following reading passage has seven sections, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each
section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-x, on lines 1-7 on your
answer sheet. There are more headings than sections, so you will not use them all.
I Section A
2 Section B
3 Section C
4 Section D
5 Section E
6 Section F
7 Section G
LIST OF HEADINGS
Scanning the Brain and Chest
ii The Role of Computers
iii The CT Scan Is Invented
iv The High Cost of CT Scans
v Risks Associated with CT Scans
vi Emergency Room Care
vii Faster and More Comfortable
viii How Doctors Use CT Scans
ix The Patient Is Photographed
x Enhancing Scan Images with Dyes
106 IELTS PRACTICE EXAMS
The CT Scanner
A
The computed tomography scanner, better known as the CT scanner, was origi
nally designed to provide cross-sectional images of the brain. The word tomogra
phy comes from the Greek word tomos, meaning "section," and graphia, meaning
"picture." Godfrey Hounsfield developed the technique in 1972 and was later
knighted and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the medi
cal field. Within four years of this development, CT scans, also called CAT scans
(computed axial tomography). were restructured, allowing technicians to scan
the entire body for evidence of tumors, injuries, and other abnormalities. Rather
than taking a single picture as in anX ray, a CT scanner sends several beams into
an area and takes photographs from many different angles.
B
While the original CT scans took Hounsfield several hours to reconstruct into a
useful image, today's machines can produce an in-depth image in a fraction of a
second. Creating a scanner that could produce images at a faster rate was crucial in
the development of tomography, as it reduced the degree of distortion in an image
caused when patients breathed and moved. As well as providing images with better
resolution, today's scanners also provide more comfort for the patient.
c
During a CT scan, a patient must lie still on a special table while the radiology
technician locates the specific area that needs to be photographed. The table
slides into a round tunnel (gantry), where it can be rotated or moved forward
and backward in order to obtain the necessary view. Inside the donut-shaped 1
machine, a number ofX rays are taken, each producing a small slice of the image
that doctors require. When passing through dense tissue such as a bone, the
X-ray beams are weak and appear white in the CT images. Tissues such as those
found in the brain are less dense and appear gray. Images that appear black
denote organs such as lungs or others that can fill with air.
D
The CT scanner is made up of several computer systems, including the host com
puter, which organizes2 the entire process. One of the computers converts the raw
data into an image, while another allows the technician to control the rotation
of the gantry. After the information is processed, it is displayed on a monitor for
radiologists and physicians to analyze.3 The information is also saved and printed
to keep in a doctor's records and to share and discuss with patients and their fam
ily members.
1
British: doughnut-shaped
2
British: organises
3British: analyse
ACADEMIC MODULE-PRACTICE TEST 3 107
E
Physicians order CT scans for a number of different reasons, including searching
for and assessing tumors, cysts, kidney stones, and bone injuries. Without this
technology, surgeons would have to perform many needless and costly opera
tions. Brain, chest, and abdominal CT scans are the most common, though physi
cians also rely on the CT scanner to guide their needles while draining an abscess
or performing a biopsy. Most emergency or shock-treatment centers contain a CT
scanner in order to assess trauma victims. CT scans can pinpoint internal bleed
ing both in the brain and throughout the body.
F
In many cases, a patient must be given a contrast material before undergoing a CT
scan. During "dynamic CT scanning," iodine dye is either injected into the blood
or added to a drink that the patient must ingest approximately forty-five minutes
before entering the scanner. The liquid X-ray dye makes it easier to see the organs
and blood vessels when the pictures are developed. The intravenous contrast
material is typically used for chest or pelvic scans, while oral-contrast material is
used for abdominal scans. In some cases, physicians request that pictures be taken
both before and after the contrast material enters the patient's body. Patients who
receive contrast material in the arm often report feeling a warm sensation, and in
rare cases an allergic reaction occurs. Contrast material causes water loss and is
avoided when scanning patients who suffer from kidney failure.
G
The danger of radiation exposure caused by X-ray beams is generally considered
minimal compared to the benefits that a CT scan can provide. In many cases,
especially in the detection of tumors and internal bleeding, CT scans provide
information that can save a person's life. Full-body scanning, which is saved for
serious conditions such as coronary artery disease, remains a controversial pro
cedure as prolonged exposure to radiation is linked to cancer. Pregnant women
are excluded from receiving CT scans, as the X rays can be harmful to the fetus.
When pregnant woman require an evaluation, most physicians favor using other
procedures such as an ultrasound or an MRI.
108 IELTS PRACTICE EXAMS
Questions 8-10
Which of the following are facts about the original CT scanner mentioned in the passage?
Choose THREE answers from the list below and write the correct letters, A-F, on lines 8-10 on
your answer sheet.
A It made it difficult for patients to breathe.
B It was created to take pictures of the brain.
C It was much bigger than current CT scanners.
D It was developed in 1972.
E It took several hours to produce a completed image.
F It produced images in color.
Questions 11-13
Which of the following are facts about contrast materials used for CT scans mentioned in the
passage? Choose THREE answers from the list below and write the correct letters, A-F, on lines
11-13 on your answer sheet.
A They are bright in color.
B They can be given by injection.
C They have a bitter taste.
D They might cause a feeling of warmth in the arm.
E They are administered only by a specially trained technician.
F They may cause allergies in a few patients.
ACADEMIC MODULE-PRACTICE TEST 3 109
