This IELTS Reading post deals with Cambridge 11 Reading Test 2 Passage 3 which is entitled ‘Neuroaesthetics’. This post discusses all the answers and solutions for this Reading Passage 3. This is another intended post for candidates who have the most difficulties in finding and understanding IELTS Reading Answers. This post can simply guide you the best to figure out every Reading answer without trouble. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual custom and I hope this post can aid you in this topic.

Cambridge 11 Test 2 Reading passage 3

The headline of the passage: Neuroaesthetics

Questions 27-30:  (Multiple Choice Questions)

[Multiple choice questions are a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. It is also found in the Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming technique might come handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.]

[TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 27: In the second paragraph, the writer refers to a shape-matching test in order to illustrate

Keywords for this question: shape-matching test, illustrate  

In paragraph 2, the writer mentions in lines 4-6, “We certainly do have an inclination to follow the crowd. When asked to make … . . .. .  people often choose a definitively wrong answer if they see others doing the same.”

This clearly means that the writer gives reference to a shape-matching test with the aim of illustrating human tendency that is influenced by the opinions of others.

So, the answer is: C

Question 28: Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings indicate that people

Keywords for this question: Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings

In paragraph 3, in the last few lines, the writer mentions what Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s experiment shows. “… . .. . volunteers generally preferred the work of renowned artists, even when they believed it was by an animal or a child. It seems that the viewers can sense the artist’s vision in paintings, even if they can’t explain why.”  Therefore, Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings point out that people have the capacity to recognize the intention behind artwork.

So, the answer is: D

Question 29: Results of studies involving Robert Pepperell’s pieces suggest that people

Keywords for this question: results of studies, Pepperell’s pieces, suggest

At the end of paragraph 4, in lines 6-7, the author argues that “It would seem that the brain sees these images as puzzles, and the  harder  it  is  to  decipher  the  meaning,  the  more  rewarding  is  the  moment  of  recognition.”  This indicates that the results of studies involving Robert Pepperell’s pieces give hint that people find it satisfying to work out what a painting signifies.

Here, satisfying means rewarding, work out means decipher, what a painting means = the meaning

So, the answer is: B

Question 30: What do the experiments described in the fifth paragraph suggest about the paintings of Mondrian?

Keywords for this question: experiments, suggest, paintings of Mondrian

In the fifth paragraph, in lines 3-5, the writer points to the fact that “.. .. .. eye-tracking studies confirm that they (Mondrian’s) works are meticulously composed, and that simply rotating a piece radically changes the way we view it.” This implies that the paintings of Mondrian are more carefully designed than they seem to be.

Here, experiments means studies

So, the answer is: A

Questions 31-33: (Summary completion with the given list of words)

[In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. As these are fill in the blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing the answers from given list of words for each answer and candidates must maintain this condition. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps. The letters for the words are the answers, so candidates must not put down the words.]

Title of the summary: Art and the Brain

Question 31: The discipline of neuroaesthetics aims to bring scientific objectivity to the study of art. Neurological studies of the brain, for example, demonstrate the impact which Impressionist paintings have on our ___________.

Keywords for this question: the impact, Impressionist paintings have on our

As the question starts with the aim of neuroaesthetics, we have to look for the answer in the first paragraph.  In the first paragraph, the writer says in lines 3-5, “The blurred imagery of Impressionist paintings seems to stimulate the brain’s amygdala, for instance. Since the amygdala plays a crucial role in our feelings, that finding might explain why many people find these pieces so moving.” This indicates that Impressionist paintings greatly impact our feelings.

Here, emotions = feelings

So, the answer is: C

Question 32: Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool believes many artists give their works the precise degree of _______ which most appeals to the viewer’s brain.

Keywords for this question:  Alex Forsythe, precise degree, most appeals to the viewer’s brain

For this question, we have to jump to paragraph no. 7 where the writer mentions of Alex Forsythe. In paragraph 7, in lines 1-3, the writer says, “In another experiment, Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool analysed the visual intricacy of different pieces of art, and her results suggest that many artists use a key level of detail to please the brain.” Here, the writer means that Alex Forsythe believes many artists furnish their works with the exact scale of visual intricacy or complexity which most appeals to the viewer’s brain.

So, the answer is: B

Question 33: She also observes that pleasing works of art often contain certain repeated ________ which occur frequently in the natural world.

Keywords for this question: pleasing works of art, repeated

In paragraph 7, the writer argues in lines 4-8, “What’s more, appealing pieces both abstract and representational, show signs of ‘fractals’ -repeated motifs recurring in different scales. Fractals are common throughout nature, for example, in the shapes of mountain peaks of branches of trees. It is possible that our visual system, which evolved in the great outdoors, finds it easier to process such patterns.”

So, pleasing or appealing works of art or pieces frequently contain certain repeated motifs/ patterns/ images which commonly appear in the natural world.

So, the answer is: H

Questions 34-39: (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN)

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

TIPS: For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question 34: Forsythe’s findings contradicted previous beliefs on the function of ‘fractals’ in art.

Keywords for this question: contradicted, previous beliefs

We find about Alex Forsythe in paragraph 7. But we find no information regarding any comparison between Forsythe’s findings and any previous beliefs in this paragraph and the following paragraph.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 35: Certain ideas regarding the link between ‘mirror neurons’ and art appreciation require further verification.

Keywords for this question: link, mirror neurons, art appreciation, further verification

In paragraph 8, the writer says in lines 1-5 “It is also intriguing that the brain appears to process movement when we see a handwritten letter, as if we are replaying the writer’s moment of creation.  This has led some to wonder whether Pollock’s works feel so dynamic because the brain reconstructs the energetic actions the artist used as he painted.  This may be down to our brain’s ‘mirror neurons’, which are known to mimic others’ actions.  The hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested…”

Here, require further verification = the hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested

So, the answer is: YES

Question 36: People’s taste in paintings depends entirely on the current artistic trends of the period.

Keywords for this question: taste, current artistic trends

At the end of paragraph 8, in lines 7-9, the writer mentions, “While the fashion of the time might shape what is currently popular, works that are best adapted to our visual system may be the most likely to linger once the trends of previous generations have been forgotten.” Therefore, we can safely say it is incorrect that people’s taste in paintings depends entirely on the current artistic trends of the period. It may stay as long as people remember the previous trends.

Here, trend of the period = fashion of the time

So, the answer is: NO

Question 37: Scientists should seek to define the precise rules which govern people’s reactions to works of art.

Keywords for this question: define precise rules, govern, reactions

The last paragraph has the answer to this question. The writer says in lines 2-3, “It would, however, be foolish to reduce art appreciation to set a set of scientific laws.”  Therefore, it can be gathered from the lines, it is not correct that scientists should seek to define the precise rules which govern people’s reactions to works of art.

• Here, rules = laws, people’s reactions to works of art = art appreciation

So, the answer is: NO

Question 38: Art appreciation should always involve taking into consideration the cultural context in which an artist worked.

Keywords for this question: always, cultural context

In  the  last  paragraph,  the  writer  says in lines 3-4,  “We  shouldn’t  underestimate  the  importance  of  the  style  of  a particular artist, their place in history and the artistic environment of their time.” This means that we should consider the cultural context in which an artist worked.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 39: It is easier to find meaning in the field of science than in that of art.

Keywords for this question: easier, meaning in science, art

In the final paragraph, we find a comparison between art and science, but they are only compared in terms of “looking for systems and decoding meaning so that we can view and appreciate the world in a new way”. There is no comparison in terms of which one’s meaning is easy or difficult.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 40: (Most appropriate subtitle)

[In this kind of question (choosing title or subtitle), most of the students may face big difficulty. The good point about the question is that by the time you face a question, you have already answered all the other questions. Try to locate the main idea of the passage for this question. In most cases, the introduction, the second paragraph, and the conclusion may help you to trace this question.]

Question 40: What would be the most appropriate subtitle for the article?

In this passage about Neuroaesthectics, the writer gives reference to some scientific experiments or studies, theories and knowledge of the methods the brain shows reaction to abstract artworks. The main topic is mentioned in Paragraph no. 1 in the study of past masterpieces (“……has already given us a better understanding of many masterpieces). Interestingly, the writer asks in lines 1-2 of the second paragraph:  “Could the same approach also shed light on abstract twentieth-century pieces .. ..  . . …?”

Then, our previous reading of the whole article shows that the writer tries to answer this question with some scientific experiments and theories of scientists and artists on artwork (Angelina Hawley-Dolan, Robert Pepperell, Mondrian, Oshin vartanian, Alex Forsythe, etc.) as a follow-through. For this reason, the most suitable subtitle for this article is some scientific insights into how the brain responds to abstract art.

So, the answer is: A

Please make comments and throw your queries below. 

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 Test 2 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 Test 2 Reading Passage 2