Read the passage, then complete the activities. This adapted story is for language practice; the fish anecdote is not evidence of a treatment’s effectiveness. Designed for intermediate language practice; teachers can adjust the difficulty for their class.
Mr. Cho was worried. Something was wrong with his goldfish. They had red patches on their skin, they weren’t eating, and they didn’t have much energy. Mr. Cho thought the fish probably had an infection. Hoping to treat the suspected infection, he put needles into the backs of the fish. That may seem unusual to some people, but it didn’t seem unusual to Mr. Cho. Mr. Cho is an acupuncturist—a person who uses needles to treat illness and pain.
Mr. Cho left the needles in the fish for several minutes and then took them out. During the next few days, he repeated the treatments. Soon the fish began to feel better. They swam with more energy and started to eat again, and the red patches on their skin disappeared. Did the fish get better because of the acupuncture treatments? Mr. Cho thinks so, but the story does not establish what caused their recovery.
Acupuncture originated in traditional Chinese medicine in Asia and is now used in many countries. Research suggests it may help with some kinds of pain, including back and neck pain. This does not mean that it treats every illness.
To see what happens during an acupuncture treatment, let’s imagine that Ming, a man who often has headaches, decides to go to Dr. Han, an acupuncturist. This is what might happen at Dr. Han’s office.
First, Dr. Han examines Ming and asks him about his headaches. There are many kinds of headaches, and Dr. Han needs to know what kind of headaches Ming has.
Then Dr. Han decides where to insert the needles. Ming is surprised when Dr. Han tells him that she will insert needles in his neck and foot, but none in his head. That is not unusual. Often acupuncture needles are not inserted in the place where the patient feels pain.
Next, Dr. Han chooses the needles, for the treatment and begins to insert them. This imagined visit describes one experience, not a guide to giving treatment. Ming feels a little pinch when each needle goes in. That is not unusual either. Some patients say it hurts a little when the needles go in; other patients say it doesn’t hurt at all. The needles stay in place for fifteen minutes. Then Dr. Han removes them. Before he goes home, Ming makes an appointment to see Dr. Han in a week. Dr. Han says that Ming will know in a few weeks if the treatments are working.
How does acupuncture work? An ancient explanation from China says that energy flows through the body. Too much—or too little—energy in one part causes pain or sickness. Several hundred places on the body, called acupuncture points, can change the flow. A needle in a point on the leg, for example, could change the flow of energy to the stomach.
Modern research suggests that acupuncture may affect the nervous system and tissues near the needles. Nerves carry messages, including pain signals. Scientists do not fully understand how acupuncture works. Expectations and the interaction with the practitioner may also play a part. A body part with no feeling is described as numb.
People who have been helped by acupuncture probably don’t care which explanation is correct. They may be happy to feel better. However, feeling better does not by itself explain why a treatment seemed to help.
Health background: NCCIH: Acupuncture—Effectiveness and Safety. Health wording reviewed September 2026. Answer the questions using this passage.