Passage Reference: In the 18th century, George Cheyne, a Scottish physician, described hypochondria as 'the English malady', noting that it occurred mainly in people of high intelligence and members of the upper class, and was caused by moist air, variable weather, heavy food and sedentary living.

Common Mistake: Students often choose in the 19th century because society is mentioned there too, but that section focuses on treatment, not social class. This is a Context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'occurred mainly in people of high intelligence and members of the upper class' = Statement: 'affect a certain section of society'

Tips: When you see 'section of society', scan for words about class, intelligence, or social groups.

Key Vocabulary:

• upper class = rich people
• occurred = happened

Question Focus: Doctors holding different views about causes

Passage Reference: In the 20th century, Freud recognised that hypochondria had both psychological and physical properties. Some doctors tried hypnosis and later psychoanalysis to help patients uncover the psychological roots of their problem. But other doctors held that the suffering of hypochondriacs must be 'all in their heads'.

Why this is correct: The answer is in the 20th century. The passage clearly shows disagreement because Freud saw both psychological and physical causes, while other doctors believed it was only in the mind.

Common Mistake: Students often choose in the 17th century because causes are discussed there too, but doctors are not shown disagreeing with each other. This is a Partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'other doctors held that the suffering... must be all in their heads' = Statement: 'disagreement among doctors'

Tips: For 'disagreement', always look for contrasting views like 'some doctors' versus 'other doctors'.

Key Vocabulary:

• properties = qualities
• held = believed

Question Focus: Linking emotions to causes

Passage Reference: This view prevailed for 2,000 years, until the 17th century when symptoms of hypochondria - digestive trouble, pain, convulsions, shortness of breath and heart palpitations - were seen as arising from the brain, set off by fear, grief and other feelings.

Why this is correct: The answer is in the 17th century. The passage says symptoms were caused by the brain and set off by fear, grief and other feelings, which are emotions.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose before the 17th century because causes are mentioned there, but emotions are not. This is a Wrong section trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'fear, grief and other feelings' = Statement: 'certain emotions'

Tips: Emotion words like fear, grief, anxiety usually point to psychological explanations.

Key Vocabulary:

• set off = caused
• grief = deep sadness

Question Focus: Different labels for the same condition

Passage Reference: the ancient Greeks recognised hypochondria 24 centuries ago. Cognitive therapy, researchers report, helps hypochondriacal patients evaluate and change their distorted thoughts about illness. After six 90-minute therapy sessions, one study found, 55 per cent of the 102 participants were better able to do errands, drive and engage in social activities. In the study, the patients, whose fixation on illness had greatly interfered with their lives, did not see their symptoms disappear, but they did team to pay less attention to them. 'The hope is that with effective treatment, a diagnosis of hypochondria will become a more acceptable diagnosis and less a laughing matter or a cause for embarrassment,' said Dr Arthur J Barsky, director of psychiatric research at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He is the lead author of the study on cognitive therapy, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. An official diagnosis of hypochondria, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is reserved for patients whose fears that they have a serious disease persist for at least six months and continue even after doctors have reassured them that they are healthy. Researchers have found that hypochondria, which affects men and women equally, seems more likely to develop in people who have certain personality traits. The neurotic, the self-critical, the introverted and the narcissistic appear particularly prone to hypochondriacal fears, said Dr Michael Hollifield, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. Sometimes patients become so fearful about their imagined illness that they exacerbate the symptoms, 'A headache that you believe is due to a brain tumour is a lot worse than a headache you believe is due to eyestrain,' Dr Barsky said. In the most extreme cases, patients can worry to the point where they develop delusions or become almost entirely disabled by fear. The ancient Greeks used the word 'hypochondria' to describe symptoms of digestive discomfort, combined with melancholy that they thought originated in the organs of the hypochondrium, the region under the rib cage. The term applied only to men. In women, unexplained symptoms were attributed to hysteria, resulting from a misalignment of the uterus.

Why this is correct: The answer is before the 17th century. The passage explains that hypochondria applied only to men, while women were diagnosed with hysteria.

Common Mistake: Some students choose in the 17th century because ideas changed then, but the unequal use of the word happened earlier. This is a Time/tense trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'applied only to men' = Statement: 'not used for everyone'

Tips: Watch for gender or group limits. Words like 'only' are important clues.

Key Vocabulary:

• applied = used
• condition = illness

Question Focus: Old and new treatments together

Passage Reference: In the 19th century, hypochondria was viewed as melancholia, a term that covered everything from slight hypersensitivity to physical symptoms, delusions and suicidal tendencies. Treatment became more humane: spa visits for exercise, fresh air, nutritious food and relaxation. But some physicians still relied on old methods, including potions and elixirs.

Why this is correct: The answer is in the 19th century. The passage says treatments became more humane, but some physicians still relied on old methods, so both were used.

Common Mistake: Students may choose in the 20th century because treatments are discussed there, but traditional methods are not mentioned together. This is a Context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'more humane' and 'old methods' = Statement: 'both new and traditional treatments'

Tips: When you see 'both', scan for contrast words like 'but' or 'still'.

Key Vocabulary:

• humane = kind
• relied on = used

Question Focus: Lifestyle causes

Passage Reference: In the 18th century, George Cheyne, a Scottish physician, described hypochondria as 'the English malady', noting that it occurred mainly in people of high intelligence and members of the upper class, and was caused by moist air, variable weather, heavy food and sedentary living.

Why this is correct: The answer is in the 18th century. George Cheyne listed sedentary living, which means lack of exercise, as a cause.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes choose in the 19th century because exercise is mentioned in treatment, not as a cause. This is a Causation trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'sedentary living' = Statement: 'lack of exercise'

Tips: Cause and treatment are different. Check carefully which one the sentence describes.

Key Vocabulary:

• sedentary = not active
• contributory factor = cause

General Tips:

• Matching Features questions can jump around the passage. Do not assume answers follow order.
• Scan for time phrases like centuries or dates to locate the right section quickly.
• Options can be used more than once. Do not cross them off.
• Focus on exact meaning, not just topic words.