This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 17 Reading Test 2 Section 3 which has a passage titled ‘Insight or evolution?’. This is a targeted post for AC IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you to the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: Insight or evolution?   

Questions 27-31: Multiple choice questions 

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. This question type generally follows a sequence. So, scanning skill is effective here.]

Question 27: The purpose of the first paragraph is to — 

Keywords for this question: purpose, first paragraph,  

Paragraph no. 1 says, “Scientific discovery is popularly believed to result from the sheer genius of such intellectual stars as naturalist Charles Darwin and theoretical physicist Albert Einstein. Our view of such unique contributions to science often disregards the person’s prior experience and the efforts of their lesser-known predecessors. Conventional wisdom also places great weight on insight in promoting breakthrough scientific achievements, as if ideas spontaneously pop into someone’s head – fully formed and functional.” 

Here, popularly believed & Conventional wisdom = common assumption, 

So, the answer is: D (outline a common assumption.) 

Question 28: What are the writers doing in the second paragraph? 

Keywords for this question: what, writers doing, second paragraph,

Look at the highlighted lines of the second paragraph, “There may be some limited truth to this view. However, we believe that it largely misrepresents the real nature of scientific discovery, as well as that of creativity and innovation in many other realms of human endeavor.” 

Here, However, we believe that it largely misrepresents = criticising an opinion, 

So, the answer is: A (criticising an opinion)

Question 29: In the third paragraph, what do the writers suggest about Darwin and Einstein? 

Keywords for this question: third paragraph, what, writers, suggest, Darwin and Einstein, 

In the third paragraph the writer says, “Setting aside such greats as Darwin and Einstein – whose monumental contributions are duly celebrated – we suggest that innovation is more a process of trial and error, where two steps forward may sometimes come with one step back, as well as one or more steps to the right or left. This evolutionary view of human innovation undermines the notion of creative genius and recognizes the cumulative nature of scientific progress.” 

Here, Setting aside such greats as Darwin and Einstein = putting the view of Darwin and Einstein,  

This means the writer is discussing a general view (we suggest that) putting the view of greats like Darwin and Einstein. It means Darwin and Einstein represent an exception to a common rule. 

So, the answer is: A (They represent an exception to a general rule.)

Question 30: John Nicholson is an example of a person whose idea — 

Keywords for this question: John Nicholson, example, person, whose idea, 

Take a look at the final lines of paragraph no. 4, “ . .. . . . … . . . Yet, amid his often fanciful theories and wild speculations, Nicholson also proposed a novel theory about the structure of atoms. Niels Bohr, the Nobel prize-winning father of modern atomic theory, jumped off from this interesting idea to conceive his now-famous model of the atom.” 

Here, the highlighted lines depict that Nicholson laid the foundations for Niels Bohr’s breakthrough. 

So, the answer is: C (laid the foundations for someone else’s breakthrough.)

Question 31: What is the key point of interest about the ‘acey-deucy’ stirrup placement? 

Keywords for this question: key point of interest, ‘acey-deucy’ stirrup placement,

Paragraph no. 6 discusses the ‘acey-deucy’ stirrup placement. The writer says here, “ . . .. . . . The so-called ‘acey-deucy’ stirrup placement, in which the rider’s foot in his left stirrup is placed as much as 25 centimeters lower than the right, is believed to confer important speed advantages when turning on oval tracks. It was developed by a relatively unknown jockey named Jackie Westrope. Had Westrope conducted methodical investigations or examined extensive film records in a shrewd plan to outrun his rivals? Had he foreseen the speed advantage that would be conferred by riding acey-deucy? No. He suffered a leg injury, which left him unable to fully bend his left knee. His modification just happened to coincide with enhanced left-hand turning performance. , .. . . .” 

Here, the highlighted lines suggest that the ‘acey-deucy’ stirrup placement was invented for a simple reason which was the injury of a horse jockey. 

So, the answer is: A (the simple reason why it was invented)

Questions 32-36: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with 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 to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence. So, scanning skill is effective here.] 

Question 32: Acknowledging people such as Plato or da Vinci as geniuses will help us understand the process by which great minds create new ideas. 

Keywords for this question: Acknowledging people, Plato or da Vinci, as geniuses, will help us understand, process, great minds, create new ideas, 

The eighth paragraph discusses the issue of appreciating geniuses as the writer says in lines 1-4. “The notions of insight, creativity and genius are often invoked, but they remain vague and of doubtful scientific utility, especially when one considers the diverse and enduring contributions of individuals such as Plato, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare, Beethoven, Galileo, Newton, Kepler, Curie, Pasteur and Edison. . . .. . . .. .” 

Here, the highlighted parts of the sentences explain that even though we can acknowledge creative minds like Plato and Da Vinci, it will NOT help us understand the process of how great minds create new ideas. 

So, the answer is: NO 

Question 33: The Law of Effect was discovered at a time when psychologists were seeking a scientific reason why creativity occurs.

Keywords for this question: The Law of Effect, discovered, at a time, psychologists, were seeking, a scientific reason, why, creativity occurs, 

The first lines of paragraph no. 9 talks about the invention of the Law of Effect. The writer says, “The Law of Effect was advanced by psychologist Edward Thorndike in 1898, some 40 years after Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking work on biological evolution, On the Origin of Species. .. .. … .”

However, it doesn’t say anything on whether it was discovered at a time when psychologists were seeking a scientific reason why creativity occurs.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 34: The Law of Effect states that no planning is involved in the behaviour of organisms. 

Keywords for this question: Law of Effect, no planning, involved, behaviour of organisms,    

Lines 2-5 of paragraph no. 9 say, “ . .. . . . . . .. . This simple law holds that organisms tend to repeat successful behaviours and to refrain from performing unsuccessful ones. Just like Darwin’s Law of Natural Selection, the Law of Effect involves an entirely mechanical process of variation and selection, without any end objective in sight. ”

Here, without any end objective in sight = no planning is involved in the behaviour of organisms, 

So, the answer is: YES

Question 35: The Law of Effect sets out clear explanations about the sources of new ideas and behaviours. 

Keywords for this question: Law of Effect, clear explanations, sources of new ideas and behaviours,      

Take a look at paragraph no. 10. The writer says here, “. … .. In particular, the provenance of the raw material on which the Law of Effect operates is not as clearly known as that of the genetic mutations on which the Law of Natural Selection operates. The generation of novel ideas and behaviours may not be entirely random, but constrained by prior successes and failures of the current individual (such as Bohr) or of predecessors (such as Nicholson).” 

Here, these lines suggest that the Law of Effect DOES NOT clearly explain the sources of new ideas and behaviours. 

So, the answer is: NO 

Question 36: Many scientists are now turning away from the notion of intelligent design and genius. 

Keywords for this question: Many scientists, now, turning away from, notion, intelligent design and genius,     

The answer can be found in the final and a very short paragraph, “. . .. The time seems right for abandoning the naive notions of intelligent design and genius, and for scientifically exploring the true origins of creative behaviour.” 

We find a suggestion here to turn away from the notion of intelligent design and genius. But it doesn’t say whether the scientists should leave them or not. 

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN 

Questions 37 – 40: Completing summary with a list of words: 

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with a list of words taken from the passage. Candidates must write the correct letter (not the words) as the answers. Keywords and synonyms are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the summary: The origins of creative behaviour 

Question 37: The traditional view of scientific discovery is that breakthroughs happen when a single great mind has sudden ___________. 

Keywords for this question: traditional view of scientific discovery, breakthroughs happen, single great mind, sudden,      

The answer is in lines 4-6 of paragraph no. 1, “. . . . Conventional wisdom also places great weight on insight in promoting breakthrough scientific achievements, as if ideas spontaneously pop into someone’s head – fully formed and functional.” 

Here, Conventional wisdom = traditional wisdom,
someone’s head = single great mind,
ideas spontaneously pop into = inspiration, 

Here, the best choice of word from the given word list is ‘inspiration’. 

So, the answer is: F (inspiration) 

Question 38: Although this can occur, it is not often the case. Advances are more likely to be the result of a longer process. In some cases, this process involves __________, such as Nicholson’s theory about proto-elements.   

Keywords for this question: Although, can occur, not often the case, Advances, more likely, result, longer process, some cases, process involves, Nicholson’s theory about proto-elements,     

We find ‘Nicholson’s theory about proto-elements’ in paragraph no. 4. The writer says here, “Consider one unheralded scientist: John Nicholson, a mathematical physicist working in the 1910s who postulated the existence of proto-elements‘ in outer space. By combining different numbers of weights of these proto-elements’ atoms, Nicholson could recover the weights of all the elements in the then-known periodic table. These successes are all the more noteworthy given the fact that Nicholson was wrong about the presence of proto-elements: they do not actually exist. Yet, amid his often fanciful theories and wild speculations, Nicholson also proposed a novel theory about the structure of atoms. Niels Bohr, the Nobel prize-winning father of modern atomic theory, jumped off from this interesting idea to conceive his now-famous model of the atom.”

Here, Nicholson was wrong about the presence of proto-elements = this process involves mistakes, 

Niels Bohr, the Nobel prize-winning father of modern atomic theory, jumped off from this interesting idea to conceive his now-famous model of the atom = Advances are more likely to be the result of a longer process, 

So, the answer is: D (mistakes)  

Question 39: In others, simple necessity may provoke innovation, as with Westrope’s decision to modify the position of his riding stirrups. There is also often an element of __________, for example, the coincidence of ideas that led to the invention of the Post-It note.

Keywords for this question: simple necessity, provoke innovation, Westrope’s decision, modify, position of, riding stirrups, often, element of, for example, coincidence of ideas, led to, invention, Post-It note, 

Westrope’s decision to modify the position of his riding stirrups is found in paragraph no. 6. However, the answer is not here. The answer lies in the following paragraph, paragraph no. 7, where we find about Post-It note. Let’s read there. 

“Plenty of other stories show that fresh advances can arise from error, misadventure, and also pure serendipity – a happy accident. For example, in the early 1970s, two employees of the company 3M each had a problem: Spencer Silver had a product – a glue which was only slightly sticky- and no use for it, while his colleague Art Fry was trying to figure out how to affix temporary bookmarks in his hymn book without damaging its pages. The solution to both these problems was the invention of the brilliantly simple yet phenomenally successful Post-It note.” 

Here, a happy accident = luck,

The solution to both these problems was the invention of the brilliantly simple yet phenomenally successful Post-It note = the coincidence of ideas that led to the invention of the Post-It note, 

So, the answer is: E (luck)

Question 40: With both the Law of Natural Selection and the Law of Effect, there may be no clear __________ involved, but merely a process of variation and selection.  

Keywords for this question: both, Law of Natural Selection, Law of Effect, may be, no clear, merely, process of variation and selection,   

Paragraph no. 9 has the answer. Here, lines 4-6 say, “ .. . … .. . . Just like Darwin’s Law of Natural Selection, the Law of Effect involves an entirely mechanical process of variation and selection, without any end objective in sight.” 

Here, Just like Darwin’s Law of Natural Selection, the Law of Effect involves = both the Law of Natural Selection and the Law of Effect, 

without any end objective in sight = no clear objective (goals),

So, the answer is: B (goals)

Click here for solutions to Passage 1: The Dead Sea Scrolls

Click here for solutions to Passage 2: A second attempt at domesticating the tomato