A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently – IELTS Reading Answers

A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently- IELTS Reading Answers is from an academic reading passage that consists of 14 questions which have to be answered in 20 minutes. The Reading section of the IELTS exam can be your highest-scoring section, but only if you practise diligently. To get the best results, you need to understand how to approach and answer the different types of questions.

To prepare for the IELTS reading test, it is helpful to solve and review sample reading questions from past IELTS papers. This will help you become familiar with the different question formats and test your reading skills.

Let’s try to see how easy you find the academic passage “A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently” and if you can complete it in 20 minutes. If not, you can try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

The question types found in A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently- IELTS reading answers passage are as follows:

• Multiple Choice Question(Q1 – 5)
• Yes/No/Not Given (Q6 – 11)
• Matching Sentence Endings (Q12 – 14)

Reading Passage

A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently

1. In the last decade a revolution has occurred in the way that scientists think about the brain. We now know that the decisions humans make can be traced to the firing patterns of neurons in specific parts of the brain. 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. A brain that can do this is an iconoclastic one. Briefly, an iconoclast is a person who does something that others say can’t be done.
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. Each of these three functions utilizes a different circuit in the brain. Naysayers might suggest that the brain is irrelevant, that thinking in an original, even revolutionary, way is more a matter of personality than brain function. But the field of neuroeconomics was born out of the realization that the physical workings of the brain place limitations on the way we make decisions. By understanding these constraints, we begin to understand why some people march to a different drumbeat.
3. The first thing to realize is that the brain suffers from limited resources. It has a fixed energy budget, about the same as a 40 watt light bulb, so it has evolved to work as efficiently as possible. This is where most people are impeded from being an iconoclast. 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, such as what other people say, to make sense of what it is seeing. This happens all the time. The brain takes shortcuts that work so well we are hardly ever aware of them. We think our perceptions of the world are real, but they are only biological and electrical rumblings. Perception is not simply a product of what your eyes or ears transmit to your brain. More than the physical reality of photons or sound waves, perception is a product of the brain.
4. Perception is central to iconoclasm. Iconoclasts see things differently to other people. Their brains do not fall into efficiency pitfalls as much as the average person’s brain. Iconoclasts, either because they were born that way or through learning, have found ways to work around the perceptual shortcuts that plague most people. Perception is not something that is hardwired into the brain. It is a learned process, which is both a curse and an opportunity for change. The brain faces the fundamental problem of interpreting physical stimuli from the senses. Everything the brain sees, hears, or touches has multiple interpretations. The one that is ultimately chosen is simply the brain’s best theory. In technical terms, these conjectures have their basis in the statistical likelihood of one interpretation over another and are heavily influenced by past experience and, importantly for potential iconoclasts, what other people say.
5. 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. Successful iconoclasts have an extraordinary willingness to be exposed to what is fresh and different. Observation of iconoclasts shows that they embrace novelty while most people avoid things that are different.
6. The problem with novelty, however, is that it tends to trigger the brain’s fear system. Fear is a major impediment to thinking like an iconoclast and stops the average person in his tracks. There are many types of fear, but the two that inhibit iconoclastic thinking and people generally find difficult to deal with are fear of uncertainty and fear of public ridicule. These may seem like trivial phobias. 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.
7. Finally, to be successful iconoclasts, individuals must sell their ideas to other people. This is where social intelligence comes in. Social intelligence is the ability to understand and manage people in a business setting. 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. Perception is important in social cognition too. The perception of someone’s enthusiasm, or reputation, can make or break a deal. Understanding how perception becomes intertwined with social decision making shows why successful iconoclasts are so rare.
8. Iconoclasts create new opportunities in every area from artistic expression to technology to business. They supply creativity and innovation not easily accomplished by committees. Rules aren’t important to them. Iconoclasts face alienation and failure, but can also be a major asset to any organization. It is crucial for success in any field to understand how the iconoclastic mind works.

Questions 1-5

1. Neuroeconomics is a field of study which seeks to

1. cause a change in how scientists understand brain chemistry.
2. understand how good decisions are made in the brain.
3. understand how the brain is linked to achievement in competitive fields.
4. trace the specific firing patterns of neurons in different areas of the brain.

2. According to the writer, iconoclasts are distinctive because

1. they create unusual brain circuits.
2. their brains function differently.
3. their personalities are distinctive.
4. they make decisions easily.

3. According to the writer, the brain works efficiently because

1. it uses the eyes quickly.
2. it interprets data logically.
3. it generates its own energy.
4. it relies on previous events.

4. The writer says that perception is

1. a combination of photons and sound waves.
2. a reliable product of what your senses transmit.
3. a result of brain processes.
4. a process we are usually conscious of.

5. According to the writer, an iconoclastic thinker

1. centralises perceptual thinking in one part of the brain.
2. avoids cognitive traps.
3. has a brain that is hardwired for learning.
4. has more opportunities than the average person.

Questions 6 – 11

6. Exposure to different events forces the brain to think differently.

7. Iconoclasts are unusually receptive to new experiences.

8. Most people are too shy to try different things.

9. If you think in an iconoclastic way, you can easily overcome fear.

10. When concern about embarrassment matters less, other fears become irrelevant.

11. Fear of public speaking is a psychological illness.

Question 12 – 14

A. requires both perceptual and social intelligence skills.
B. focuses on how groups decide on an action.
C. works in many fields, both artistic and scientific.
D. leaves one open to criticism and rejection.
E. involves understanding how organisations manage people.

12. Thinking like a successful iconoclast is demanding because of it ___________
13. The concept of the social brain is useful to iconoclasts because of it ___________
14. Iconoclasts are generally an asset because of their way of thinking ___________

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A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently- IELTS Reading Answers with Location and Explanations 

1. Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer Explanation: Paragraph A mentions that the discovery of the firing patterns of neurons in specific parts of the brain 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.” This refers to the fact that neuroeconomics studies how the brain becomes creative and achieves success in competitive fields. Hence, the answer is C (understand how the brain is linked to achievement in competitive fields).

2. Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: In paragraph B, the author says, “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.” So, we can conclude that it is the manner in which the brain works differently that differentiates the iconoclasts from other people. Hence the answer is B (the brain functions differently.)

3. Answer: D

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: In paragraph C, the writer states that when confronted with information streaming from the eyes, the brain will interpret this information in the quickest way possible (very quickly and efficiently). Thus, it will draw on both past experience (previous events or experiences) and any other source of information, such as what other people say, to make sense of what it is seeing. Hence the answer is D (it relies on previous events.)

4. Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph D

Answer explanation: Paragraph D points out that more than the physical reality of photons or sound waves, perception is a product (outcome) of the brain. Hence the answer is C (a result of brain processes)

5. Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph D

Answer explanation: Paragraph D mentions that iconoclasts see things differently to other people and their brains do not fall into efficiency pitfalls as much as the average person’s brain. It is because either because they were born that way or through learning or have found ways to work around the perceptual shortcuts, that is, they can avoid cognitive traps. Hence the answer is B (avoids cognitive traps).

Tips for Answering the Question Types in the A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently- IELTS Reading Answers 

Now that you know the ‘A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently- IELTS Reading Answers’ with its explanation, let us check out some quick tips to answer the 3 question types in the  A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently– IELTS Reading Answers.

Multiple Choice Question

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are a common type of question in the IELTS Reading test. They assess your ability to understand the meaning of a text and identify the correct answer from a list of options. Here are some tips for answering MCQs in IELTS Reading:

• Before you start answering the questions, read the first question carefully and identify the key words or phrases.
• Scan the passage from the beginning, paying attention to sections that contain information related to the key words you identified.
• Once you locate information that matches the key words, focus on that area of the text to find the answer. The answer should be in close proximity to the key words.
• After you’ve identified a potential answer, read a few more lines of the text to confirm its accuracy. Additionally, reread the question to ensure the answer aligns with what is being asked.
• Repeat this strategy for the remaining questions, but instead of starting from the beginning of the passage, pick up where you left off in the previous question.
• If you find an alternative strategy that suits you better, feel free to use it. Remember, there is no single “correct” approach to answering IELTS Reading questions.

Yes/ No/ Not Given

Yes/No/Not Given is a type of question in the IELTS Reading test that assesses your ability to identify whether the writer’s opinion or claim agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the given statement. Here are some tips to ace this type of question:

• Before you start answering the questions, read the whole passage to get a general idea of what it’s about.
• Pay attention to important words and phrases that will help you find the answers to the questions.
• Use the keywords you identified to find the part of the passage that answers the question.
• Pay attention to the author’s opinion on the topic. The author’s opinion may not be stated directly, so you may have to infer it from what they say.
• The answers to the questions will be in the same order as the questions. So, the answer to the second question will be after the answer to the first question, and so on.
• Don’t guess! Only answer the questions based on the information in the passage.
• Try to understand the author’s point of view. This will help you find the answers to the questions more quickly.

Matching Sentence Endings

Matching sentence endings in IELTS reading is a type of question that assesses your ability to understand the meaning of a text and match it to corresponding sentences. It involves identifying the correct ending for each incomplete sentence from a list of options. To effectively tackle this question type, follow these strategies:

• The order of the complete sentences in the text corresponds to the order of the incomplete sentences.
• Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect to narrow down your choices.
• Before diving into the text, familiarise yourself with the incomplete sentences and their potential endings.
• Focus on the relevant portions of the text rather than reading the entire passage meticulously.
• While all the sentence endings are present in the text, some may not correspond to the incomplete sentences.
• Pay attention to the meaning conveyed rather than seeking exact word matches.
• The grammatical structure of the complete sentence should match the incomplete sentence.

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