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HomeCourseChronic Illness & Quality of LifeUnit Review & Progress Test
Chronic Illness & Quality of LifeL14
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Unit Review & Progress Test

End-of-unit mixed review with grammar, vocabulary, skills practice and self-assessment.

75 minC1c1unit_reviewchronic-illness-quality-of-lifechronic illnessquality of lifemedical ethicsgradable adjectives

Lesson objectives

  • Consolidate the grammar, vocabulary and skills from chronic illness & quality of life.
  • Complete a mixed C1 progress test with answers and self-assessment.
  • Identify weak points before moving to the next unit.

Unit review — Chronic Illness & Quality of Life

Al finalizar esta unidad, deberías ser capaz de discutir temas complejos relacionados con la salud crónica, el bienestar psicológico y los sistemas de cuidados médicos utilizando un léxico avanzado y preciso. Habrás aprendido a matizar opiniones sobre la calidad de vida y a utilizar adjetivos extremos para expresar grados de intensidad de manera natural, evitando repeticiones básicas.

Asimismo, deberías ser capaz de navegar por debates éticos y sociales sobre la gestión de enfermedades de larga duración. El objetivo es que puedas producir un discurso coherente, con un registro formal adecuado para exámenes de nivel C1, demostion la capacidad de argumentar con sofisticación tanto de forma escrita como oral.

Grammar consolidation

Complete the following tasks using gradable/non-gradable adjectives and extreme modifiers (e.g., absolutely, utterly, slightly, somewhat).

Part 1: Sentence Transformation Rewrite the sentences so they have the same meaning, using the word in bold. Do not change the word given.

  1. The patient's condition was very bad. UTTERLY The patient's condition was ________.

  2. It was a very surprising discovery for the doctors. ASTONISHING The discovery was ________ for the doctors.

  3. The side effects were a little bit annoying. SOMEWHAT The side effects were ________.

Part 2: Error Correction Identify and correct the error in each sentence.

  1. The recovery process was absolutely slow due to the complications.
  2. It is incredibly vital that we monitor the patient's glucose levels daily.
  3. The news about the diagnosis was very devastating to the family.

Part 3: Controlled Rewriting Rewrite the sentence using an extreme adjective and an appropriate intensifier (e.g., 'completely', 'absolutely', 'entirely').

  1. The hospital facilities were very clean. (Use: spotless)
  2. The patient's pain was very great. (Use: excruciating)
  3. The medical team's decision was very wrong. (Use: erroneous)
  4. The results of the biopsy were very clear. (Use: evident)

Vocabulary activation

Task 1: Collocation Match Match the verbs (1-4) with the nouns (A-D) to form common C1 collocations related to health.

  1. To alleviate | A. a prognosis
  2. To manage | B. symptoms
  3. To deliver | C. chronic pain
  4. To combat | D. a disease

Task 2: Word Formation Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in brackets.

  1. The patient's _____ (resilient) to the treatment was unexpected.
  2. There is growing _____ (aware) regarding mental health in chronic care.
  3. The doctor provided a detailed _____ (examine) of the clinical history.
  4. Living with a chronic condition can lead to significant _____ (vulnerable) in some patients.

Task 3: Register Choice Choose the most appropriate formal term for a C1 level to replace the underlined informal phrase.

  1. The doctor gave him a lot of information about the surgery. a) briefed him | b) provided him with comprehensive information | c) told him stuff

  2. The patient's health got worse over the weekend. a) deteriorated | b) went down | c) dropped

  3. We need to look at the new treatment protocols. a) check out | b) examine | c) take a look at

  4. The treatment was very effective in reducing the pain. a) highly efficacious | b) super good | c) worked well

Integrated skills task

Source Text: The Shift in Healthcare Paradigms

In recent years, the medical community has seen a significant shift from purely curative models to those focusing on the management of chronic conditions. While traditional medicine focuses on treating acute illnesses, the rising prevalence of long-term ailments requires a more holistic approach. This shift prioritises the patient's quality of life alongside clinical outcomes.

However, this transition is not without its challenges. Managing chronic illness often requires lifelong medication, lifestyle adjustments, and psychological support, which can place a heavy burden on both the patient and the healthcare infrastructure. Critics argue that the focus on 'quality of life' can sometimes lead to a deprioritisation of aggressive life-extending treatments. Nevertheless, proponents suggest that living longer is meaningless if the quality of those years is profoundly diminished. Finding the equilibrium between longevity and livability remains one of the most pressing dilemmas in modern medicine.

Instrucciones de escritura: Basándote en el texto anterior, escribe una respuesta de entre 180 y 220 palabras. Debes expresar tu opinión sobre si el objetivo principal de la medicina debería ser la extensión de la vida o la mejora de la calidad de vida. Utiliza vocabulario avanzado y estructuras gramaticales de nivel C1 (como adjetivos extremos y conectores de contraste).

Speaking checkpoint

Responde a estas preguntas de forma oral para practicar tu fluidez y capacidad de argumentación.

  1. Compare: Compare the advantages of hospital-based care versus home-based care for patients with chronic illnesses.
  2. Speculate: How might the integration of AI and robotics change the way we manage long-term health conditions in the future?
  3. Evaluate: To what extent do you think socioeconomic status dictates the quality of life for those with chronic diseases?
  4. Justify: Some argue that mental health support is just as important as physical treatment in chronic care. Justify this viewpoint.
  5. Evaluate: Evaluate the impact of modern medical technology on the human lifespan. Has it improved our lives or just prolonged suffering?
  6. Speculate: If medical breakthroughs could eliminate all chronic pain but reduce life expectancy by 20%, would you recommend this to society?

Self-assessment rubric

Criteria Needs work (Necesita mejorar) Solid (Sólido) Exam-ready (Preparado para el examen)
Accuracy Frequent errors in grammar and spelling. Mostly accurate; errors do not impede communication. High level of grammatical precision and control.
Range Limited vocabulary; repetitive structures. Good use of varied vocabulary and complex sentences. Sophisticated use of advanced lexis and structures.
Fluency Frequent hesitations and pauses. Generally smooth with occasional hesitation. Natural flow with minimal hesitation.
Task Achievement Does not fully address the prompt. Addresses all parts of the task clearly. Provides nuanced, well-developed responses.

Answer key

Grammar consolidation 1. The patient's condition was utterly bad / utterly terrible. 2. The discovery was absolutely astonishing / utterly astonishing. 3. The side effects were somewhat annoying. 4. Error: "absolutely slow" -> "extremely slow" (slow is gradable, so it shouldn't take 'absolutely'). 5. Error: "incredibly vital" -> "absolutely vital" (vital is non-gradable/extreme). 6. Error: "very devastating" -> "absolutely devastating" (devastating is non-gradable). 7. The hospital facilities were absolutely spotless. 8. The patient's pain was absolutely excruciating. 9. The medical team's decision was utterly erroneous. 10. The results of the biopsy were absolutely evident.

Vocabulary activation 1. 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D 2. 5. resilience | 6. awareness | 7. examination | 8. vulnerability 3. 9. b | 10. a | 11. b | 12. a