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 passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What is the main idea of the article?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. MS is always diagnosed through brain scans alone.
   2. Applegate has permanently stopped discussing her health.
   3. Diagnosing MS can be complex because it requires multiple kinds of evidence.
   4. Neurologists no longer use patient histories when diagnosing illness.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Diagnosing MS can be complex because it requires multiple kinds of evidence.

   The article explains why MS diagnosis can be difficult and how reassessment may change conclusions.

   Applegate’s statement highlights the uncertainty that can arise when a serious neurological disorder is diagnosed through a combination of symptoms and medical findings rather than a single definitive test.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “This process” refer to in the third paragraph?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Retiring from acting
   2. Combining several medical findings to diagnose MS
   3. Conducting an NPR interview
   4. Treating symptoms with medication
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Combining several medical findings to diagnose MS

   The phrase refers to combining symptoms, MRI findings, and sometimes spinal-fluid results.

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

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention strep throat and flu?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To show that MS spreads like infections
   2. To compare simple testing with MS diagnosis
   3. To identify Applegate’s original symptoms
   4. To explain why flu causes neurological problems
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To compare simple testing with MS diagnosis

   These examples contrast illnesses that can often be confirmed by a simple positive-or-negative result.

   Unlike tests for illnesses such as strep throat or flu, there is no single result that is simply positive or negative.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can be inferred about symptoms such as fatigue and vision difficulties?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They prove that a patient has MS.
   2. They are unrelated to neurological disorders.
   3. They may require further investigation before diagnosis.
   4. They disappear after a specialist evaluation.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They may require further investigation before diagnosis.

   Their different possible causes mean doctors must interpret them carefully.

   Because these symptoms can have different causes, doctors may need to review a patient’s history, conduct a specialist evaluation and examine how the illness develops over time.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How is the article mainly organized?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. By presenting a case and then explaining its broader medical significance
   2. By comparing two actors’ careers chronologically
   3. By describing treatments before introducing the illness
   4. By listing medical discoveries from oldest to newest
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   By presenting a case and then explaining its broader medical significance

   It introduces the case, explains diagnostic difficulty, lists evidence, and describes reassessment.

   Kornberg said a misdiagnosis may become clear after a new assessment by a specialist.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What caused Applegate to retire from acting, according to the article?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A brain MRI abnormality
   2. The diagnosis she received
   3. A specialist’s recommendation
   4. Her interview with NPR
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The diagnosis she received

   The article directly connects her retirement with the diagnosis made five years earlier.

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

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does the article suggest about a misdiagnosis?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It can never be corrected.
   2. It is usually caused by one missing symptom.
   3. It may be recognized through later review and new evidence.
   4. It only occurs when doctors avoid using MRI scans.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It may be recognized through later review and new evidence.

   A later assessment can reveal that earlier evidence was interpreted incorrectly.

   A misdiagnosis may become clear after a new assessment by a specialist.

What to review next

Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.

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

Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.

The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?

The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.

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.