The Impact of Climate Change on Global Public Health: An IELTS Reading Practice

The IELTS Reading Test is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to assess your reading skills through a variety of texts and question types. One topical theme in recent years has been climate change, reflecting its mounting significance in global discourse. Climate change and its effects on public health have increasingly appeared as subjects of IELTS Reading passages. Understanding this theme can not only help you perform better in the Reading section but also increase your awareness of a critical global issue.

Practice IELTS Reading Passage: What are the Effects of Climate Change on Global Public Health?

In this practice passage, we will delve into how climate change affects global public health, a common topic in IELTS reading exams. This text is structured at a medium difficulty level to challenge your current reading proficiency and push your skills further.

Reading Passage

The Effects of Climate Change on Global Public Health

Climate change stands as a formidable challenge, impacting various facets of life, especially global public health. Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts have direct and indirect ramifications on health outcomes across the globe.

Increasing temperatures contribute to the proliferation of vector-borne diseases. For instance, mosquitos, which thrive in warmer climates, have expanded their habitation zones, leading to increased cases of malaria, dengue, and Zika virus in regions previously considered temperate. Furthermore, heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent and severe, pose a significant threat to human health, particularly among the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Heat stress can exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, leading to higher mortality rates during extreme heat events.

Climate Change Impact on Public Health

Climate change also affects food security and nutrition by altering agricultural productivity. Unpredictable weather conditions can lead to crop failures, decreasing food availability and increasing prices. Malnutrition and foodborne illnesses, due to contaminated water and food sources, are likely to rise, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including children and low-income communities.

Increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods, lead to immediate injuries and fatalities but also create longer-term health issues by disrupting health services and sanitation systems. Natural disasters are often accompanied by outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery, largely due to the contamination of drinking water supplies.

Mental health is another concern exacerbated by climate change. The trauma and stress associated with extreme weather events and the displacement they cause, along with the ongoing anxiety over climate-related threats, contribute to mental health disorders, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Addressing the health impacts of climate change requires a multi-faceted approach, including public health planning, international cooperation, and sustainable practices to mitigate future risks. Efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure, educate communities about vector control, and promote sustainable agriculture are crucial in safeguarding public health in the era of climate change.

Questions

True/False/Not Given

1. Climate change has led to a decrease in the frequency of extreme weather events.
2. Heatwaves primarily affect the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
3. Floods and hurricanes have no long-term health consequences.

Summary Completion

Complete the summary using the list of words below.

Climate change increases the spread of (1) diseases due to the rise in temperature. Another significant impact is on (2), as changing weather patterns can lead to crop failures. Extreme weather events like (3) not only cause immediate health issues but also disrupt sanitation systems, leading to (4) diseases.

• Waterborne
• Vector-borne
• Food security
• Floods
• Mental health

Matching Headings

Match each paragraph from the passage with the correct heading.

i. Impact on Mental Health
ii. Vector-borne Diseases
iii. Effects on Agriculture and Food Security
iv. The Role of Public Health Planning
v. Impact of Extreme Weather Events

1. Paragraph 1:
2. Paragraph 2:
3. Paragraph 3:
4. Paragraph 4:
5. Paragraph 5:

Answer Key

True/False/Not Given

1. False – The passage states that there is an increased frequency of extreme weather events.
2. True – The passage specifically mentions that heatwaves pose significant threats to the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
3. False – The passage outlines that extreme weather events have longer-term health issues such as disruption of health services and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

Summary Completion

1. Vector-borne
2. Food security
3. Floods
4. Waterborne

Matching Headings

1. v. Impact of Extreme Weather Events
2. ii. Vector-borne Diseases
3. iii. Effects on Agriculture and Food Security
4. i. Impact on Mental Health
5. iv. The Role of Public Health Planning

Common Mistakes in Tackling the Reading Passage

Understanding the common pitfalls when answering IELTS Reading questions is essential for improving your score:

1. Misinterpreting keywords: Ensure you understand the context in which keywords are used.
2. Overlooking details: Pay close attention to specific details that may affect the meaning.
3. Rushing through the text: Take your time to thoroughly read and comprehend the passage.

Vocabulary

1. Vector-borne (adj) /ˈvɛktər bɔrn/: spread by organisms, particularly insects.
2. Heatwave (n) /ˈhiːtweɪv/: a prolonged period of excessively hot weather.
3. Malnutrition (n) /ˌmælˌnuːˈtrɪʃən/: lack of proper nutrition.
4. Cholera (n) /ˈkɑːlərə/: an infectious disease causing severe diarrhea, often caused by contaminated water.
5. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) (n) /piː-tiː-ɛs-diː/: a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Grammar Focus

Cause and Effect Structures

When dealing with the topic of climate change, effective use of cause and effect structures enhances clarity. Here are a few examples:

1. Due to: “Vector-borne diseases increase due to rising temperatures.”
2. As a result of: “Food security is compromised as a result of changing weather patterns.”

Advice for High IELTS Reading Scores

1. Familiarize with different passage types: Academic passages vary widely in subject matter. Practice reading scientific articles, historical texts, or analytical essays.
2. Improve skimming and scanning skills: These skills help you locate specific information quickly without reading the entire text in detail.
3. Practice under timed conditions: Simulate real test conditions to improve your time management.

For more practice, consider visiting our articles on Effects of Climate Change on Human Health and The Impact of Environmental Degradation on Health.