Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What happened five years before Applegate’s Tuesday statement?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. She received the original diagnosis.
   2. She began working with Kornberg.
   3. She developed a brain abnormality.
   4. She completed a specialist evaluation.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   She received the original diagnosis.

   The narration places the original diagnosis five years before her later statement.

   The diagnosis was made five years ago and led Applegate to retire from acting.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Who discussed Applegate’s case in the NPR interview?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A television producer
   2. Michael Kornberg
   3. An emergency physician
   4. Applegate’s acting manager
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Michael Kornberg

   The report identifies Michael Kornberg as the neurologist discussing the case.

   The case was discussed in an NPR interview with Michael Kornberg, an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What may doctors study in some cases?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Muscle tissue
   2. Spinal fluid
   3. Lung capacity
   4. Blood pressure only
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Spinal fluid

   The narration specifically mentions spinal fluid as an additional source of information.

   In some cases, they also study spinal fluid.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why might similar symptoms complicate diagnosis?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They make all medical tests unnecessary.
   2. They can resemble signs of MS.
   3. They prevent patients from describing symptoms.
   4. They always indicate an infection.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They can resemble signs of MS.

   Different conditions can produce similar neurological symptoms and scan abnormalities.

   This process can be difficult because other conditions may cause similar neurological symptoms and produce abnormalities on brain scans.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which problem is included among possible MS symptoms?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Hearing loss only
   2. Trouble with mobility
   3. Broken bones
   4. Skin irritation
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Trouble with mobility

   The narration lists trouble with mobility among several possible problems.

   Multiple sclerosis can cause a range of problems, including headaches, fatigue, vision difficulties, slurred speech and trouble with mobility.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can lead doctors toward another condition?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. New symptoms
   2. A patient’s retirement
   3. An NPR broadcast
   4. A positive flu test
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   New symptoms

   New symptoms may provide evidence pointing away from the original diagnosis.

   Doctors may reach a different conclusion when they review earlier MRI results, reconsider the person’s medical history or observe new symptoms that point toward another condition.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What central limitation of MS testing does Kornberg emphasize?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. MRI machines cannot show the brain.
   2. There is no single simple test for diagnosis.
   3. Symptoms never change over time.
   4. Specialists cannot review earlier results.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   There is no single simple test for diagnosis.

   The report emphasizes that no single test definitively confirms MS.

   Kornberg explained that multiple sclerosis is not diagnosed through one simple test.

What to review next

Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.

Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?

The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.