IELTS Academic Reading: Cambridge 7, Test 1: Reading Passage 3; EDUCATING PSYCHE; with top solutions and step-by step detailed explanations

October 6, 2019May 13, 2023

This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 1 Reading Passage 3, which is entitled ‘EDUCATING PSYCHE’. This is a post primarily for IELTS candidates who have great problems in finding answers for the Academic Reading module. This post can guide you the best to comprehend each Reading answer without facing much difficulty. Tracing IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I sincerely hope this post can help you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: EDUCATING PSYCHE

Questions 27-30: 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. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question 27: The book Educating Psyche is mainly concerned with –

Keywords for this question: book, Educating Psyche, mainly, concerned with,

The first line of paragraph no. 1 gives us the answer to this question, “Educating Psyche by Bernie Neville is a book which looks at radical new approaches to learning, describing the effects of emotion, imagination and the unconscious on learning.”

The answer can also be traced from paragraph no. 3 line no. 4-5, where the writer says, “. . .. . In suggestopedia, as he called his method, consciousness is shifted away from the curriculum. . .. . .”

Here, radical new approaches to learning = ways of learning which are not traditional, shifted away from the curriculum = out of traditional ways,

So, the answer is: D (ways of learning which are not traditional)

Question 28: Lozanov’s theory claims that then we try to remember things, –

Keywords for this question: Lozanov’s theory, claims, we try to remember things,

Take a look at paragraph no. 2 where the writer states, “Lozanov’s instructional technique is based on the evidence that the connections made in the brain through unconscious processing are more durable than those made through conscious processing.”

Then he maintains to elucidate more about the theory “ …we know from our experience that we often remember what we have perceived peripherally, long after we have forgotten what we set out to learn.”

Here, what we have perceived peripherally = unimportant details,

So, the answer is: A (unimportant details are the easiest to recall.)

Question 29: In this passage, the author uses the examples of a book and a lecture to illustrate that –

Keywords for this question: examples of a book and a lecture,

Again, take a look at paragraph no. 2, line no. 6-11 where the writer states, “.. . .. . If we think of a book we studied months or years ago, we find it easier to recall peripheral details… . .. than the content on which we were concentrating. If we think of a lecture we listened to with great concentration, we will recall the lecturer’s appearance and mannerism.. .. . .much more easily than the ideas we went to learn.”

These examples provided by the writer indicate that we remember insignificant things more easily than we remember things we aim to learn. This supports Lozanov’s theory. Therefore, these examples agree with the idea that his theory is valid.

So, the answer is: B (his theory about methods of learning is valid.)

Question 30: Lozanov claims that teachers should train students to –

Keywords for this question: Lozanov claims, teachers should, train students,

In lines 3-6 of paragraph no. 3, the writer maintains, “Lozanov, therefore, made indirect instruction (suggestion) central to his teaching system. In suggestopedia, as he called his method, consciousness is shifted away from the curriculum to focus on something peripheral. The curriculum then become peripheral and is dealt with by the reserve capacity of the brain.”

These lines indicate that he suggests making the curriculum unimportant by focusing on something else, in order to bear in mind the curriculum better.

So, the answer is: C (think about something other than the curriculum content.)

Questions 31-36: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

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

Question 31: In the example of suggestopedic teaching in the fourth paragraph, the only variable that changes is the music.

Keywords for this question: suggestopedic teaching, fourth paragraph, only variable, changes, music,

In paragraph no. 4, the writer states, “… In the first part, the music is classical and the teacher reads the text slowly and solemnly, with attention to the dynamic of the music.”

“In the second part, they listen to baroque music while the teacher reads the text in a normal speaking voice.”

Moreover, the paragraph also informs us that in the initial part, students “follow the text in their books…. .” but in the second part “… they have their books closed.”

So, music is not the only variable that changes, their reading styles also change.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 32: Prior to the suggestopedia class, students are made aware that the language experience will be demanding.

Keywords for this question: prior to, suggestopedia class, students, made aware, language experience, will be demanding,

In paragraph no. 5, the author states, “ . . . Beforehand, the students have been carefully prepared for the language learning experience. Through meeting with the staff and satisfied students they develop the expectation that learning will be easy and pleasant…”

Here, Beforehand = Prior to, learning will be easy and pleasant = learning will not be demanding,

The lines indicate that the students believe that the language experience will not require much effort or will not be so demanding.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 33: In the follow-up class, the teaching activities are similar to those used in conventional classes.

Keywords for this question: follow-up class, teaching activities, similar to, conventional classes,

In paragraph no. 6, the writer states, “. . . .There is a follow-up class at which the students are stimulated to recall the material presented. The students… . . .. focus on using the language to communicate (e.g. through games or improvised dramatisations). Such methods are not unusual in language teaching.”

Here, teaching activities = methods, not unusual = similar to,

Therefore, the statement is a clear match to the question.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 34: As an indirect benefit, students notice improvements in their memory.

Keywords for this question: indirect benefit, students notice, improvements, memory,

Information speaking about the ‘benefit’ of the method for students only originates in paragraph no. 6.

However, the writer only states in the last lines of paragraph no. 6 that the students can learn more words: “ .. …students can regularly learn 1000 new words of a foreign language during a suggestopedic session.”

Nothing is cited about any benefit to the memory of students.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 35: Teachers say they prefer suggestopedia to traditional approaches to language teaching.

Keywords for this question: teachers say, prefer, suggestopedia, to traditional approaches, language teaching,

Only paragraph no. 6 and the last paragraph inform us about suggestopedia and traditional approaches. However, in paragraph no. 6 we find out only the job of the teacher in the suggestopedia approach. In the final paragraph, we learn that “…few teachers are able to emulate the spectacular results of Lozanov..”

There is no clear reference to the exact approach or method of the teacher.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 36: Students in a suggestopedia class retain more new vocabulary than those in ordinary classes.

Keywords for this question: students, suggestopedia class, retain, more, new vocabulary, than, ordinary class,

The last sentence of paragraph no. 6 says: “Another difference from conventional teaching is the evidence that students can regularly learn 1000 new words of a foreign language during a suggestopedic session, as well as grammar and idiom.” Therefore, the writer implies that this total of 1000 words is more than they would learn in an ordinary class.

Therefore, the statement is a clear match to the question.

So, the answer is: TRUE

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.]

Questions 37 and 38: Suggestopedia uses a less direct method of suggestion than other techniques such as hypnosis. However, Lozanov admits that a certain amount of 37. ___________ is necessary in order to convince students, even if this is just a 38. ___________.

Keywords for this question: suggestopedia, less direct method, than other techniques, hypnosis, Lozanov, admits, certain amount, necessary, to convince students, even, just,

The answers are found in paragraph no. 7, lines 5-8, “Lozanov acknowledges that the ritual surrounding suggestion in his own system is also a placebo, but maintains that without such a placebo people are unable or afraid to tap the reserve capacity of their brain. Like any placebo, it must be dispensed with authority to be effective.”

Here, acknowledges = admits,

So, the answers are:

F (rituals)
H (placebo)

Questions 39 and 40: Furthermore, if the method is to succeed, teachers must follow a set procedure. Although Lozanov’s method has become quite 39. ____________ , the result of most other teachers using this method have been 40. _____________.

Keywords for this question: furthermore, if, the method, to succeed, teachers must follow, set procedure, Lozanov’s methods, become, result, most other teachers, using this method,

The answers are found in Paragraph 8. This last paragraph starts with the writer saying, “While suggestopedia has gained some notoriety through success in the teaching of modern languages, few teachers are able to emulate the spectacular results of Lozanov and his associates.”

Here, notoriety = well-known (in a bad way),

So, the author explains to us that even though Lozanov’s method is successful/well known, the results obtain by most of the teachers using his system have not been very good/spectacular. Here we need 2 adjectives, one to describe Lozanov’s ‘method’, and the other for ‘the results.’

So, the answers are: