问答题 The term "alternative medicine" describes healing practices that are used in place of conventional "Western" medicine. Alternative medicine often rejects science-based medicine and includes therapies that developed out of religious and cultural traditions. Examples are naturopathy, herbalism, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, homeopathy, and nutritional-based therapies. Advocates of alternative medicine believe that the various alternative methods are more effective than conventional medicine in treating a wide range of medical conditions.
Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine leads many people to seek alternative therapies. Some people choose alternative medicine because they do not trust traditional authority figures, such as the physician, or they dislike the current delivery methods of scientific medicine, particularly the over-reliance on synthetic drugs. Some patients prefer alternative therapies because they are averse to the painful or dangerous side effects of biomedical treatments. The majority of alternative medicine users find health-care alternatives to be more in agreement with their own values, beliefs, and philosophy about health. Many have a holistic orientation to health, a belief that the body, mind, and spirit are connected.
To meet the growing demand for alternative treatments, a variety of schools and colleges offer courses in alternative medicine. Even conventional medical colleges have started offering courses. Most alternative medicine programs take a holistic approach to health that explores the interconnection between the mind and body. Mind-body medicine works under the premise that the mind can affect bodily functions and symptoms. Other alternative medicine programs emphasize the study of substances found in nature such as herbs, foods, vitamins, and minerals.
Now listen to the recording. When you hear the question, begin your response. You may look at the reading passage during the writing time.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge specific points made in the reading passage.

【正确答案】Key points: The lecture states that health-care practices should be based solely on scientific evidence. This challenges the point in the reading that alternative medicine often rejects science-based medicine. The lecture states that people turn to alternative therapies because they are misinformed or misled. This challenges the point in the reading that people seek alternative therapies because they are dissatisfied with conventional medicine. The lecture states that alternative medicine does not require practitioners to have any formal training or professional credentials. This challenges the point in the reading that a variety of schools and colleges offer courses in alternative medicine.

【答案解析】[解析] Now I'd like to offer a different view of alternative medicine. First, health-care practices should be based solely on scientific evidence. Conventional medicine is based on science. It applies health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is not based on science. This means that alternative practices can not be tested, refuse to be tested, or consistently fail tests. Because alternative therapies are not based on scientific evidence, they can not be proven effective. Second, people turn to alternative therapies because they are misinformed or misled. There are 40 million websites advertising alternative therapies, and most of them are unproven. Many people believe in these treatments because they want something to believe in. There's also been an increase in conspiracy theories towards conventional medicine, such as the belief that medicine makes patients dependent on drugs. These beliefs reflect the low level of scientific literacy among the public and an increase in anti-scientific attitudes. Most importantly, with alternative medicine, there's no guarantee that a practitioner has any formal training or professional credentials. Conventional medicine, on the ether hand, requires a degree from a university medical school. followed by a period of supervised practice or internship. residency, postgraduate training, and in most countries, a legal requirement for doctors to be licensed or registered by a national medical organization. With alternative medicine. anyone can set up a practice as a "healer," with no oversight, no peer review, and no scientific evidence that the treatments are safe or effective. Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge specific points made in the reading passage.