Unit Review & Progress Test

Unit review — Healthcare Systems & Access Inequality

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de discutir temas complejos relacionados con la gestión de la salud pública, la ética médica y las disparidades socioeconómicas en el acceso a tratamientos. Habrás desarrollado la capacidad de expresar deseos sobre situaciones presentes o pasadas, así como de criticar comportamientos o proponer cambios necesarios utilizando estructuras hipotéticas avanzadas.

Asimismo, habrás perfeccionado tu léxico especializado para debatir sobre políticas sanitarias, la carga sobre los sistemas de salud y la desigualdad estructural. Este bloque te ha preparado para manejar registros formales y académicos, esenciales para alcanzar el nivel C1 en contextos profesionales o de examen.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.

1. I regret not studying medicine when I had the chance. WISH I ________ medicine when I had the chance.

2. It is high time the government invested more in rural clinics. TIME It ________ more in rural clinics.

3. I would prefer it if you didn't smoke in the house. RATHER I ________ smoke in the house.

4. It's annoying that the hospital keeps delaying the surgery. WISH I ________ the surgery be delayed so often.

5. If only the healthcare system were more efficient. (Rewrite using 'it's high time') It ________ more efficient.

6. I'd prefer to go to a private clinic instead of a public one. RATHER I ________ to a private clinic than a public one.

7. It's a shame that we don't have universal coverage. ONLY If ________ universal coverage.

8. The doctor should have explained the side effects more clearly. TIME It ________ the side effects more clearly.

9. I'm annoyed that my insurance provider hasn't responded yet. WISH I ________ my insurance provider responded by now.

10. It's better if you don't use your phone during the consultation. RATHER I ________ your phone during the consultation.

Vocabulary activation

A. Word Formation: Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in capitals.

1. The _____ of medical technology has bridged many gaps in patient care. (EVOLVE)
2. There is a growing _____ between urban and rural healthcare quality. (DISPARITY)
3. The government must address the _____ of medical professionals in remote areas. (SCARCITY)
4. Ethical _____ often arise when deciding who receives life-saving treatment. (DILEMMA)

B. Collocations: Match the verbs with the appropriate nouns to form C1-level collocations.

5. A) To alleviate / B) To exacerbate / C) To bridge / D) To impose ___ the gap between rich and poor. ___ the symptoms of a chronic disease. ___ a heavy tax on private healthcare. ___ the suffering of underprivileged patients.

C. Register Choice: Choose the most appropriate formal term for a C1 academic context.

6. The patient's condition was (stable / not moving) for three days.
7. The new policy aims to (cut / curtail) unnecessary expenditure on elective surgeries.
8. There is a (big / profound) difference in life expectancy between these two regions.
9. The hospital is (short of / facing a deficit of) essential supplies.
10. We must (look at / scrutinise) the data to ensure equitable distribution.
11. The (spread / dissemination) of medical misinformation is a global crisis.
12. The policy was (made / implemented) to ensure universal access.

Integrated skills task

Reading Text

The widening gap in healthcare access is one of the most pressing ethical challenges of the 21st century. While medical advancements have reached unprecedented heights, the distribution of these innovations remains profoundly unequal. In many developed nations, a two-tier system has emerged: one for those who can afford premium private care, and another for those reliant on overstretched public services. This disparity is not merely a matter of convenience but a fundamental issue of human rights.

Socioeconomic status often dictates the quality of care an individual receives, creating a cycle where poor health leads to poverty, and poverty further exacerbates health issues. Furthermore, the digital divide—the gap between those with access to telemedicine and those without—threatens to leave the elderly and rural populations even further behind. Addressing these systemic inequalities requires more than just increased funding; it demands a radical restructuring of how we prioritise human life over economic efficiency.

Writing Task

Instrucciones: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe un ensayo de respuesta (180-220 palabras). Debes argumentar si estás de acuerdo con la idea de que la salud debe ser tratada como un derecho humano fundamental en lugar de un servicio basado en la capacidad económica, o si la privatización es necesaria para mantener la innovación. Utiliza el vocabulario y las estructuras gramaticales aprendidas en esta unidad.

Speaking checkpoint

1. Compare: Compare the advantages and disadvantages of a purely public healthcare system versus a private one.
2. Speculate: How might the integration of AI in healthcare affect the equality of access in the next twenty years?
3. Evaluate: To what extent should the government be responsible for the health of its citizens?
4. Justify: Why might some people argue that private healthcare is necessary to drive medical innovation?
5. Speculate: If medical treatments become increasingly expensive, how will this affect social cohesion?
6. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of the "digital divide" on elderly patients in modern healthcare systems.

Self-assessment rubric

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. wish I had studied 2. is high time the government invested 3. would rather you didn't 4. wish the surgery would 5. is high time the government were (or: is high time the government invested in) 6. would rather go 7. only we had 8. is high time the doctor explained 9. wish my insurance provider would 10. would rather you didn't use

Vocabulary activation 1. evolution 2. disparity 3. scarcity 4. dilemmas 5. C (bridge) 6. B (exacerbate) 7. D (impose) 8. A (alleviate) 9. stable 10. curtail 11. profound 12. facing a deficit of 13. scrutinise 14. dissemination 15. implemented