This IELTS Academic Reading post focuses on the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 10 Test 4 Reading Passage 2 which is entitled ‘Second Nature’. This is a solution post for candidates who have big difficulties in finding Reading Answers. This post can direct you the best to comprehend every Reading answer easily. Finding IELTS Reading answers easily is a gradual process which needs attention and a good habit of reading and I hope this post can help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 10 Test 4: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2:

The headline of the passage: Second Nature

Questions 14-18 (Summary completion with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

(In this kind of questions candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. 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 for fill in the gaps.

TIP: First skim to go to the paragraph(s) from where the questions have been set. Then scan for keywords to find the answer. Remember, the answers will follow a sequence. )

Question 14 and 15: Psychologists have traditionally believed that a personality 14 ___________ was impossible and that by a 15 _____________, a person’s character tends to be fixed.

Keywords for this question: traditionally believed, personality, impossible, character, fixed

In section A, paragraph no. 1, we find the view of psychologists at the very beginning. “Psychologists have long held that a person’s character cannot  undergo  a  transformation  in  any meaningful  way  and  that  the  key  traits  of  personality  are determined at a very young age.”

Here, cannot undergo = was impossible, are determined = tends to be fixed,

So, the answers are:

14. transformation
15. young age

Question 16: One of the easiest qualities to acquire is ____________.

Keywords for this question: easiest qualities, acquire,

In section A paragraph no. 2, the writer starts by saying, “Some qualities are less challenging to develop than others, optimism being one of them.”

Here, less challenging = easiest quality to acquire,

So, the answer is: optimism  

Question 17 and 18: However, regardless of the quality, it is necessary to learn a wide variety of different 17 ___________ in order for a new quality to develop; for example, a person must understand and feel some 18 __________ in order to increase their happiness.

Keywords for this question: learn, different, new quality to develop, understand and feel, increase, happiness,

In section A paragraph no. 2, the writer says at the end, “However, developing qualities requires mastering a range of skills which are diverse and sometimes surprising. For example, to bring more joy and passion into your life, you must be open to experiencing negative emotions.”

Here, developing qualities = a new quality to develop, a wide variety of = a range of,

Increase their happiness = bring more joy and passion, must understand and feel = must be open to experience,

So, the answers are:

17. skills
18. negative emotions

Questions 19-22 (Matching statements with the correct persons)

(In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements which are given by or links to some persons in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person and read around it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.)

Question 19: People must accept that they do not know much when first trying something new.

Keywords for this question: must accept, not know much, new

Take a look the end of paragraph F where you can find a statement made by Todd Kashdan, “As a newcomer, you also have to tolerate and laugh at your own ignorance. You must be willing to accept the negative feelings that come your way.”

Here, as a newcomer means when first trying something new, tolerate means accept, ignorance means do not know much

So, the answer is: E

Question 20: It is important for people to actively notice when good things happen.

Keywords for this question: important, actively notice, good things, happen

The answer is found in paragraph D, in the recommendations made by Suzanne Segerstrom in lines 3-4, “She recommends you train yourself to pay attention to good fortune by writing down three positive things that come about each day.”

Here, pay attention = actively notice, positive things = good things, come about = happen.

So, the answer is: C

Question 21: Courage can be learned once its origins in a sense of responsibility are understood.

Keywords for this question: courage, be learned, origins, understood

Take a look at lines 6-9 of paragraph H, the writer mentions here, “According to Cynthia Pury, a psychologist at Clemson University, Pedeleose’s story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness, but by moral obligation. Pury also believes that people can acquire courage.”

Here, moral obligation = sense of responsibility

So, the answer is: G

Question 22: It is possible to overcome shyness when faced with the need to speak in public.

Keywords for this question: overcome shyness, the need to speak in public,

In paragraph B Christopher Peterson gives account of his own life experience, “Inherently introverted, he (Christopher  Peterson) realised early on that as an academic, his reticence would prove disastrous in the lecture hall. So he learned to be more outgoing and entertain his classes. “Now my extroverted behaviour is spontaneous,”  he says. …”

Here, reticence = shyness, to be more outgoing and entertain his classes = speak in public, overcome shyness = learned to be more outgoing,

So, the answer is: A

Question 23-26: (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. For this passage, first answer question 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to question 1-3. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 23: a mention of how rational thinking enabled someone to achieve physical goals.

Keywords for this answer: rational thinking, achieve goals

In paragraph E the writer mentions in lines 5-9, “The physical stamina required for this sport is intense but the psychological demands are even more overwhelming. Streeter learned to untangle her fears from her judgment of what her body and mind could do.”

Here, judgment means rational thinking.

So the last lines mean that Streeter had learned to untangle (recover from) her fears by rationally thinking or judging.

So, the answer is: E

Question 24: an account of how someone overcame a sad experience

Keywords for this answer: overcame, sad experience

Take a look at paragraph C where the writer says, “He (David Fajgenbaum) was preparing for university, when he had an accident that put an end to his sports career…He launched a support group to help others in similar situations. He took action despite his own pain – a typical response of an optimist.”

Here, accident = sad experience, took action despite his own pain = overcame

So, the answer is: C

Question 25: a description of how someone decided to rethink their academic career path.

Keywords for this answer: rethink, academic career path

We can find the answer in paragraph G, “He (Mauro Zappaterra) was miserable as his research wasn’t compatible with his curiosity about healing. He finally took a break and during eight months in Santa Fe, Zappaterra learned about alternative healing techniques not taught at Harvard. When he got back, he switched labs to study how cerebrospinal fluid nourishes the developing nervous system.”

Here, learned about alternative healing techniques . .. . and he switched labs to study. .. ..  = rethink … academic career path

So, the answer is: G

Question 26: an example of how someone risked his career out of a sense of duty.

Keywords for this answer: risked his career, duty

The answer is found in paragraph H, in lines 3-8, “The new manager was intimidating staff so Pedeleose carefully recorded each instance of bullying and eventually took the evidence to a senior director, knowing his own job security would be threatened…. Pedeleose’s story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness, but by moral obligation.”

Here, his own job security would be threatened = risked his career, a sense of duty=moral obligation

So, the answer is: H

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 10 Test 4 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 10 Test 4 Reading Passage 3