Tips: For a main idea, think about which topic comes back again and again, not one point that is said once.

Why the other options are wrong:

• How a mother's diet and daily habits can relieve nausea and tiredness in pregnancy.: Relieving nausea is one small point about food choices. It is not the main topic. The food cravings and nausea that some women experience while pregnant can often be relieved by eating small amounts of low-fat and low-sugar foods often.
• How a mother's diet and daily habits can help her keep calcium in her own bones.: The body drawing calcium from bones is one detail. Most of the talk is about teeth and gums. If dietary calcium is insufficient, the body can draw calcium from its bones.
• How a mother's diet and daily habits can make dental visits unneeded in pregnancy.: The speaker tells pregnant women to visit the dentist, not to skip it. Visit the dentist either before or soon after you become pregnant so any problems can be treated immediately.

Correct Answer: The parent's decay-causing bacteria can be passed to the child.

Why this is correct: Poor oral health in a parent can raise a child's risk of tooth decay. The reason is that decay-causing bacteria can be passed to the child.

Tips: When a speaker gives a warning, listen for the word that introduces the reason.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The parent's low calcium can weaken the child's developing teeth.: Calcium helps build the child's teeth, but it is not the reason given for the oral health link. It helps to build the teeth and bones of the developing child.
• The parent's sugary snacks can harm the child's teeth before birth.: Sugary snacks cause tooth decay in the person who eats them. The speaker does not say they harm the baby before birth. Sugary snacks eaten often can cause tooth decay.
• The parent's gum disease can grow worse during the pregnancy.: Gum disease may get worse in pregnancy, but this is about the mother, not the reason the child is at risk. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.

Correct Answer: One who feels very tired, because she may brush her teeth less.

Why this is correct: Nausea and fatigue can make women neglect brushing. Then plaque can build up, and gum disease can develop. So a very tired woman is at more risk.

Tips: Some answers need two facts joined together. Listen for how one problem can lead to the next.

Why the other options are wrong:

• One with strong food cravings, because her body draws calcium from her bones.: The body draws calcium from bones when diet calcium is low, not because of cravings. Neither is linked to gum disease. If dietary calcium is insufficient, the body can draw calcium from its bones.
• One who drinks a lot of coffee, because caffeine reduces calcium absorption.: Caffeine reduces calcium absorption only slightly. The speaker does not link it to gum disease. Caffeine and phosphorus can reduce calcium absorption slightly.
• One who flosses every day, because flossing can irritate the gums.: The speaker says daily flossing removes plaque and makes the gums healthier. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.

Correct Answer: A mother who is well and eats healthily in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Why this is correct: The speaker opens by saying the best insurance is a mother who is well and eats a healthy diet. This covers before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Tips: Several pieces of advice are given. Listen for the one the speaker calls the most important for the baby.

Why the other options are wrong:

• A mother who sees a dentist before or soon after she becomes pregnant.: Seeing the dentist is good advice from the end of the talk. But the speaker does not call it the best insurance. Visit the dentist either before or soon after you become pregnant so any problems can be treated immediately.
• A mother who gets enough calcium for her baby's teeth and bones.: Calcium is important for the baby's teeth and bones. But it is one part of a healthy diet, not the speaker's main point. Remember calcium is essential during pregnancy for the proper development of baby's teeth and bones.
• A mother who brushes and flosses her teeth every day while pregnant.: Brushing and flossing help the mother's gums. The speaker does not call this the best insurance for the baby. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.

Correct Answer: Sugary snacks eaten often can cause tooth decay.

Why this is correct: Small, frequent low-sugar foods can ease cravings and nausea. The next sentence warns that sugary snacks eaten often can cause tooth decay.

Tips: When advice is given, listen to the sentence after it. It often explains why.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Sugar can reduce how much calcium the body absorbs.: Caffeine and phosphorus reduce calcium absorption. The speaker does not say this about sugar. Caffeine and phosphorus can reduce calcium absorption slightly.
• Sugar can make cravings and nausea come back more often.: Small low-fat and low-sugar foods can relieve cravings and nausea. The speaker does not say sugar brings them back. The food cravings and nausea that some women experience while pregnant can often be relieved by eating small amounts of low-fat and low-sugar foods often.
• Sugar can help bacteria pass from a parent to a child.: Bacteria can pass from parent to child, but the speaker does not link this to sugar. Poor oral health in a parent can increase a child's risk of tooth decay because decay-causing bacteria can be passed to the child.

Correct Answer: Reassuring: gum disease may get worse, and daily brushing and flossing will help.

Why this is correct: The speaker says gum disease may become worse, but daily brushing and flossing will remove plaque. The tone is reassuring and practical.

Tips: Listen to how sure the speaker sounds. Words like may and will tell you a lot about attitude.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Alarmed: gum disease will get worse, whatever a woman does.: The speaker says gum disease 'may' get worse and gives steps that help. It is not hopeless. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.
• Calm: gum disease is rare in pregnancy, so no extra care is needed.: The speaker never says gum disease is rare. The speaker gives clear daily care steps. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.
• Worried: gum disease may get worse, and brushing alone will not remove plaque.: The speaker says brushing and flossing 'will remove plaque'. So the speaker is not worried about this. Gum disease may become worse during pregnancy but daily toothbrushing with a soft toothbrush and flossing will remove plaque and make the gums healthier.