Australia's Airborne Dentists
Read Australia's Airborne Dentists and check the IELTS Reading answers. Australians living or travelling in rural and remote areas can face particular difficulties when they need medical care. Hundreds of kilometres from major cities and many hours by road from the closest hospital or clinic, some…
Passage preview
Australians living or travelling in rural and remote areas can face particular difficulties when they need medical care. Hundreds of kilometres from major cities and many hours by road from the closest hospital or clinic, some rural Australians do not have easy access to doctors, nurses and dentists.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- chronic illness noun
A long-lasting health condition that typically can be managed but not completely cured by medicine
The hospital specializes in providing long-term care for patients suffering from various forms of chronic illness.
- counterpart noun
A person or thing that holds the same position or function as another in different circumstances
The prime minister met with his foreign counterpart to discuss new international trade agreements.
- deterioration noun
The process of becoming progressively worse in quality, value, or physical condition over time
The rapid deterioration of the ancient monument was caused by exposure to acidic rain.
- disparate adjective
Essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison; containing entirely distinct and often incompatible elements
The project team struggled to reconcile the disparate views of the various stakeholders involved.
- fluoridate verb
To add fluoride to a substance, typically a public water supply, to prevent dental decay
Many local governments choose to fluoridate drinking water to improve the dental health of residents.
- incidence noun
The frequency or rate of a particular unwanted event or disease occurring within a population
Researchers noted a higher incidence of respiratory issues in urban areas with high pollution.
- oral hygiene noun
The practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems and infections
Educational programs in schools aim to promote better oral hygiene habits among young children.
- preventative adjective
Designed or intended to stop something from happening or a disease from developing initially
Regular exercise and a balanced diet are effective preventative measures against many chronic diseases.
- resistance noun
The ability of an organism to remain unaffected by something, such as a disease or infection
Malnutrition can lead to a lowered resistance to common viral and bacterial infections in children.
Answers with explanations
- 1. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims that many of the RFDS doctors work as **volunteers**. While the passage confirms that the RFDS sends **doctors and nurses** and is a **non-profit organisation** offering **free medical care**, it never explicitly states whether the staff are unpaid volunteers or paid employees. Because this specific information cannot be found, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 2. FALSE
The statement claims dentists make trips **each month**. The passage explicitly contradicts this, stating that dentists might visit **only once every few months** or even just **once per year**. Because the passage explicitly provides a different frequency than the statement, the correct answer is FALSE.
- 2-3: brains
2: The statement claims dentists make trips **each month**. The passage explicitly contradicts this, stating that dentists might visit **only once every few months** or even just **once per year**. Because the passage explicitly provides a different frequency than the statement, the correct answer is FALSE.
3: The statement suggests that RFDS dentists are accompanied by a **dental nurse**. The text mentions that the RFDS sends **doctors and nurses** generally and that they now fly **dentists** to regional Australia, but it completely omits any mention of whether dentists are accompanied by dental nurses on these specific trips. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 3. NOT GIVEN
The statement suggests that RFDS dentists are accompanied by a **dental nurse**. The text mentions that the RFDS sends **doctors and nurses** generally and that they now fly **dentists** to regional Australia, but it completely omits any mention of whether dentists are accompanied by dental nurses on these specific trips. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 3-4: mental walk
3: The statement suggests that RFDS dentists are accompanied by a **dental nurse**. The text mentions that the RFDS sends **doctors and nurses** generally and that they now fly **dentists** to regional Australia, but it completely omits any mention of whether dentists are accompanied by dental nurses on these specific trips. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
4: The statement asserts that RFDS dentists must provide a **wide range** of services. The text directly confirms this by describing the dentists as **'all-rounders'** who must be able to perform **all kinds of dental procedures** since they cannot refer patients to specialists. This perfectly matches the statement. Answer: TRUE.
- 4. TRUE
The statement asserts that RFDS dentists must provide a **wide range** of services. The text directly confirms this by describing the dentists as **'all-rounders'** who must be able to perform **all kinds of dental procedures** since they cannot refer patients to specialists. This perfectly matches the statement. Answer: TRUE.
- 5. FALSE
The statement claims that **rural** dental patients are **more informed** about oral hygiene. The passage states the exact opposite: people in remote areas receive **less education** about dental hygiene than their **city counterparts**. This is a direct contradiction. Answer: FALSE.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims dentists educate patients about **good eating habits**. The passage specifies that the education focuses on **good oral hygiene**, specifically giving examples like **tooth brushing and flossing**. Because the text specifies the scope of education (oral hygiene, not diet/eating), it makes the claim about eating habits inaccurate in the context of the provided text. Answer: FALSE.
- 7. TRUE
The statement says **urban Australians** have better teeth because their water is **treated**. The text validates this, stating that **city dwellers** use water that has been **fluoridated** (treated with fluoride) and explicitly links this treatment to **lower rates of tooth decay**. Answer: TRUE.
- 8. computers
The blank requires a plural noun for an item used for keeping records. The text lists equipment dentists must bring, noting that **computers** are used for **keeping track of patients' treatments**, which perfectly paraphrases 'records'. Grammatically and contextually, 'computers' is the correct one-word answer.
- 9. space
The summary mentions aircraft have 'restricted' something. The passage explains that the small planes transporting dentists have **limited space**. 'Restricted' is a direct synonym for **limited**, making 'space' the noun needed to complete the note.
- 10. dentures
The notes look for an example of a service that is problematic to offer. The passage states that **dentures** (artificial teeth) can be **very difficult to provide** because they require many visits for correct sizing. Thus, 'dentures' is the correct one-word answer.
- 11. toothpaste
The notes list products supplied by the RFDS. The text says that basic items like **toothpaste** and toothbrushes can be too expensive for low-income rural people, and 'the RFDS supplies these'. The answers for 11 and 12 are interchangeable, but 'toothpaste' fits perfectly here.
- 12. toothbrushes
Similar to question 11, the notes ask for products supplied by the RFDS for regular use. The passage explicitly pairs **toothpaste** with **toothbrushes** as the basic dental hygiene items provided by the organization when patients cannot afford them.
- 13. mouthguards
The blank needs a plural noun for an item that limits dental accidents in sports. The text directly states the RFDS provides **mouthguards** to protect young people's teeth from damage during contact sports. 'Mouthguards' perfectly fits the requirement.