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Read the following story by Arusa Pisuthipan from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Every month, up to 30,000 people flock to Mor Saeng’s house in Prachin Buri, waiting to receive free medicines which are believed to cure cancer.
DESPERATE MEASURES
Saengchai Haelerttrakul first experimented with his herbal medicines on stray dogs before testing them on critically-ill homeless people. His hope was to find a cure for his daughter who had brain cancer.
“Hundreds died and hundreds survived,” said Saengchai (Mor Saeng), recalling his first batches of the herbal cancer remedy that he made based on a formula he got from a Cambodian folk doctor.
“My daughter had brain cancer. Her doctor said the final treatment was an operation that meant she had a 50/50 chance of waking up. We had nothing to lose so I decided to give her my medicines.”
Three months later, there was no trace of cancer left. In 2006, Saengchai started giving out free medicines to help cancer sufferers across the country. Over the years, the number of hopeful visitors grew from a few hundred patients to thousands.
CONTROVERSIAL DRUG
After more than a decade of free drug distribution, Mor Saeng was issued a certificate from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines (DTAM) in February, officially making him a folk healer. This has enabled him to continue in the face of opposition.
Saengchai’s medicine has been met with a significant amount of scepticism, especially from authorities, conventional doctors and others in the medical profession, who view alternative health approaches with suspicion. They consider him to be an illegitimate doctor prescribing a cure that has never been properly studied and tested.
Surgeon Dr Adune Ratanawichitrasin, who runs the Facebook page Bantuek Ruang Naroo by Dr Adune (Medical Titbits by Dr Adune), recently commented on Saengchai’s medicines.
“The success of a treatment must be proven through thorough studies and examinations, not just by word of mouth,” he said. Adune encourages those whose condition doesn’t improve while using Saengchai’s herbs to come out and speak the truth.
COOKING UP THE MEDICINE
Saengchai’s career as a drug maker is a side gig. His main job is a manager at Prachin Buri’s Provincial Electricity Authority.
In order to prepare 350,000 capsules to be given away at the beginning of each month, he starts mixing his herbal concoction two weeks before. Some 70 percent of his formula consists of rice bran. The rest includes the Chinese herb chong cao (caterpillar fungus), bird’s nest and the Thai herbs khao yen nua and khao yen tai. Each herb is cured for six months before being mixed.
In order to preserve the purity of the recipe, Saengchai is the only mixer. Capsuling and packaging is done with the help of more than 10 people. He claims his medicines are chemical free.
Saengchai’s herbal capsules are not a guaranteed cure. But for many, they offer hope. One 63-year-old woman claimed her cancer disappeared after a month. She took Saengchai’s herbal medicine while also receiving 25 sessions of radiation therapy. Hers is one of a long list of testimonials shared by those who claim to have been cured by Saengchai’s magic medicine, mostly on social media.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. Alternative medicine
b. A breakthrough in medical research.
c. A proven cure for cancer.
2. Where does Mor Saeng live?
a. In Prachin Buri.
b. In Petchaburi.
c. In Petchabun.
3. When did he start giving away medicines?
a. In 2016.
b. In 2010.
c. In 2006.
4. Which of the following is not mentioned in the article?
a. Mor Saeng’s medical history.
b. Mor Saeng’s occupation.
c. Mor Saeng’s medicinal recipe.
5. What is chong cao?
a. Chinese medicine.
b. A type of plant.
c. A bird’s nest.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Mor Saeng first tried his herbal drugs on homeless people.
b. Mor Saeng works for the Provincial Waterworks Authority.
c. Mor Saeng became a certified folk healer this year.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. Mor Saeng claims that his medicine doesn’t contain any chemicals.
b. Dr Adune Ratanawichitrasin is not convinced that Mor Saeng’s medicine works.
c. Mor Saeng’s daughter currently has a 50/50 chance of survival.
Section 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. critically | a. a very small amount of something |
| 9. batch | b. an amount of something produced at one time |
| 10. trace | c. in a way that is serious, uncertain and possibly dangerous |
| 11. titbit | d. a particular method of doing or achieving something |
| 12. formula |
e. a small but interesting piece of news |
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Saengchai does not diagnose. Those who…..13….. his herbs must come with a medical certificate from elsewhere, …..14….. they have cancer. Such a medical certificate must be …..15….. to police officers …..16….. Mueang Prachin Buri Police Station who will issue a notification paper that …..17….. later handled at Saengchai’s house together …..18….. the patient’s identification card to receive 10 capsules per month, or fewer depending …..19….. the demand at the time of distribution.
13.
a. receiver
b. receive
c. receives
14.
a. state
b. stated
c. stating
15.
a. presented
b. present
c. presentation
16.
a. on
b. at
c. upon
17.
a. is
b. are
c. have
18.
a. with
b. without
c. within
19.
a. from
b. in
c. on
Section 4
Write down the simple past tense forms of the following verbs used in the story.
20. includes
……………………
21. runs
……………………
22. making
……………………
23. lose
……………………
24. proven
……………………
Answers
Section 1
1. a.
2. a.
3. c.
4. a.
5. b.
6. c.
7. c.
Section 2
8. c
9. b
10. a
11. e
12. d
Section 3
13. b.
14. c.
15. a.
16. b.
17. a.
18. a.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Included.
21. Ran.
22. Made.
23. Lost.
24. Proved.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
