This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading Passage 3 which is entitled ‘A neuroscientist reveals how to think differently‘ . This is a post for candidates who have major problems in finding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to comprehend each Reading answer without facing much difficulty. Tracing IELTS Reading answers is a slow process and I sincerely hope this post can assist you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 9 Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: A neuroscientist reveals how to think differently

Questions 27-31   (Multiple choice questions)

[‘Multiple choice questions’ is a common type of question set in IELTS Reading test. It is also found in 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 questions 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: Neuroeconomics is a field of study which seeks to –

Keywords for this question: Neuroeconomics, seeks to,

In the first paragraph, the writer says in lines 3-5, “These discoveries have led to the field known as neuroeconomics which studies the brain’s secrets to success in an economic environment that demands innovation and being able to do things differently from competitors.”

The lines suggest that neuroeconomics is the field of study that looks for understanding the link between brain and creativity that leads to achievement in different competitions.

Here, success = achievements

So, the answer is: C (understand how brain is linked to achievement in competitive fields)

Question 28: According to the writer, iconoclasts are distinctive because –

Keywords for this question: iconoclasts, distinctive, because,

Take a look at lines 1-3 of paragraph no. 2, “This definition implies that iconoclasts are different from other people, but more precisely, it is their brains that are different in three distinct ways: perception, fear response, and social intelligence.”

The lines indicate that iconoclasts are different from other people (distinctive) because their brains works differently.

So, the answer is: B (their brains function differently)

Question 29: According to the writer, the brain works efficiently because –

Keywords for this question: brain, works efficiently, because,

In paragraph 3, the author states in lines 3-6, “For example, when confronted with information streaming from the eyes, the brain will interpret this information in the quickest way possible. Thus it will draw on both past experience and any other source of information… . ”

So, according to the passage, the brain functions quickly because it depends on events of the past.

Here, quickly = in the quickest way, depends on = draw on, events of the past = past experience,

So, the answer is: D (it relies on previous events)

Question 30: The writer says that perception is –

Keywords for this question: perception,   

Take a close look at the end of paragraph no. 3, the author states in the last lines, “More than the physical reality of photons and sound waves, perception is a product of the brain.”

The lines indicate that perception is the outcome/product of the brain.

So, the answer is: C (a result of brain processes)

Question 31: According to the writer, an iconoclastic thinker –

Keywords for this question: iconoclastic thinker,   

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, the writer says in lines, “Iconoclasts, either because they were born that way or through learning, have found ways to work around the perceptual shortcuts that plague most people.”

Here, work around = avoid, perpetual shortcuts that plague = cognitive traps,

So, the answer is: B (avoids cognitive traps)

Questions 32-37: (YES, NO, NOT GIVEN)

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

The statement in the question agrees with the claims of the writer – YES
The statement in the question contradicts the claims of the writer – NO
If it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about 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 32: Exposure to different events forces the brain to think differently.

Keywords for this question: exposure, different events, forces, think differently,   

The answer for this question is in paragraph no. 5. In the beginning of the paragraph the writer says, “The best way to see things differently to other people is to bombard the brain with things it has never encountered before. Novelty releases the perceptual process from the chains of past experience and forces the brain to make new judgments.”

Here, think differently = make new judgments, exposure to different event = to bombard the brain with things it has never encountered before.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 33: Iconoclasts are unusually receptive to new experiences.

Keywords for this question: iconoclasts, usually, receptive, new experiences,   

In paragraph no. 5, take a look at lines 3-4, where the author says, “Successful iconoclasts have an extraordinary willingness to be exposed to what is fresh and different.”

Here, have an extraordinary willingness to be exposed = unusually receptive, fresh and different = new experiences,

So, the answer is: YES

Question 34: Most people are too shy to try different things.

Keywords for this question: most people, too shy, try, different things,

From this passage, we just learn that people avoid such things or activities which they try to avoid. However, the writer does not mention whether most people are shy too try different things or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN   

Question 35: If you think in an iconoclastic way, you can easily overcome fear.

Keywords for this question: exposure, different events, forces, think differently,  

In paragraph no. 6, in lines 2-3, the writer states, “Fear is a major impediment to thinking like an iconoclast and stops the average person in his tracks.”

This means fear works as a blockade against thinking like an iconoclast. So, if someone thinks like an iconoclast, he/she cannot overcome fear.

So, the statement is contradictory.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 36: When concern about embarrassment matters less, other fears become irrelevant.

Keywords for this question: iconoclasts, usually, receptive, new experiences,  

There is no information in relation to embarrassment being more or less.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 37: Fear of public speaking is a psychological illness.

Keywords for this question: most people, too shy, try, different things,

We find the mention of public speaking in paragraph no. 6. Here, in lines 5-7, “But fear of public speaking, which everyone must do from time to time, afflicts one-third of the population. This makes it too common to be considered a mental disorder. It is simply a common variant of human nature, one which iconoclasts do not let inhibit their reactions.”

Here, too common to be considered a mental disorder = so common that it cannot be considered a psychological illness,

So, the statement in the passage contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: NO 

Questions 38-40: (Completing sentences with correct ending)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and ending of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 38: Thinking like a successful iconoclast is demanding because it –

Keywords for this question: thinking like, successful iconoclast, demanding, because,    

In lines 1-2 of paragraph no. 7, the author says, “. .. . to be successful iconoclasts, individuals must sell their ideas to other people. This is where social intelligence comes in.” Here, we can understand that successful iconoclasts need social intelligence. Then, in lines 7-8, we find the reference to perceptual skills, “Perception is important in social cognition too…”. Finally, in the last lines, the writer talks about the demand of thinking like a successful iconoclast, “Understanding how perception becomes intertwined with social decision making shows why successful iconoclasts are so rare.”

Here, rare = demanding

So, the answer is: A (requires both perceptual and social intelligence skills)

Question 39: The concept of the social brain is useful to iconoclasts because it –

Keywords for this question: concept, social brain, useful, iconoclasts, because,     

In paragraph no. 7, take a look at lines 3-7, “In the last decade there has been an explosion of knowledge about the social brain and how the brain works when groups coordinate decision making. Neuroscience has revealed which brain circuits are responsible for functions like understanding what other people think, empathy, fairness, and social identity. These brain regions play key roles in whether people convince others of their ideas.”

So, the lines suggest that the concept of ‘social brain’ plays key roles (is useful) to iconoclasts as these brain regions focuses on group-decision making.

Here, groups decide on an action = groups coordinate decision making

So, the answer is: B (focuses on how groups decide on an action)

Question 40: Iconoclasts are generally an asset because their way of thinking –

Keywords for this question: iconoclasts, generally, asset, because, way of thinking,

The last paragraph gives us the answer. In lines 1-4, the author says, “Iconoclasts create new opportunities in every area from artistic expression to technology to business. They supply creativity and innovation not easily accomplished by committees. Iconoclasts face alienation and failure, but can also be an asset to any organisation.”

The lines indicate that iconoclasts are an asset because their process of thinking works in artistic and scientific fields.

So, the answer is: C (works in many fields, both artistic and scientific)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading passage 2