Caffeine Reading Answers

The ‘Caffeine’ is an IELTS Academic Reading passage is a good resource for anyone who is preparing for the IELTS Reading test. This passage will help you understand what kind of reading passages you will encounter and the questions that you will be asked to solve.

The question types in this IELTS Reading Passage include:

• True/False/Not Given (Q. 1-9)
• Multiple-Choice Questions (Q. 10-13)

Reading Passage 1

Caffeine 

Almost 200 years ago, a young German chemist named Friedrich Ferdinand Runge isolated a molecule from coffee beans; he named the substance kaffein. Today, scientists are still studying the properties of this bitter, white powder. More than sixty plants are known to produce caffeine, whose pungent taste helps protect them from insect predators.

Caffeine is probably the most widely used drug in the world. Humans have been consuming caffeine for hundreds of years, primarily In the form of coffee, tea, and cocoa. Today, it is also added to soft drinks and energy drinks and is a component of some over-the-counter medications. Many of the world’s people, including children, ingest it in some form daily.

The body absorbs caffeine in less than an hour, and it remains in the system for only a few hours, passing from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream within about ten minutes and circulating to other organs, including the brain. Caffeine molecules are small and soluble in fat, properties that allow them to pass through a protective shield known as the blood-brain barrier and directly target the central nervous system.

Caffeine acts on the body in many ways, some of them probably still unknown. However, caffeine accomplishes its principal action as a stimulant by inhibiting adenosine, a chemical that binds to receptors on nerve cells and slows down their activity. Caffeine binds to the same receptors, robbing adenosine of the ability to do its job and leaving caffeine free to stimulate nerve cells, which in turn release epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), a hormone that increases heart rate and blood pressure, supplies an energy boost and in general makes people feel good.

For all its popularity, caffeine retains a somewhat negative image. It is, after all, a mildly habit forming stimulant that has been linked to nervousness and anxiety and that causes insomnia. It affects most of the body’s major organs. Recent research casts doubt on the magnitude of many of these seemingly undesirable effects and even suggests that a daily dose of caffeine may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, while providing short-term benefits as well.

Daily caffeine consumption has been associated with lowered incidence of type I diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. How caffeine works to thwart diabetes, a condition characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood, remains unknown, but glucose tolerance or more efficient glucose metabolism may be involved. Parkinson’s disease, a central nervous system disorder that causes tremor and joint stiffness, is linked to insufficient amounts of a substance called dopamine in the brain. Caffeine may interact with brain cells that produce dopamine and help maintain a steady supply. The role of caffeine in Alzheimer’s disease, which damages the brain and causes memory loss and confusion, may be related to a problem In the blood—brain barrier, possibly a contributor in Alzheimer’s, if not the major cause. Caffeine has been found to protect the barrier against disruption, resulting from high levels of cholesterol.

Habitual coffee and tea drinkers had long been observed to have a lower incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers, although no one knew why. A recent study found that caffeine affects skin cells damaged by ultraviolet radiation, a main cause of skin cancer. Caffeine interferes with protein that cancerous cells need to survive, leaving the damaged cells to die before they become cancerous. Drinking caffeinated coffee has also been associated with a decreased incidence of endometrial cancer—that is, cancer of the cells lining the uterus. The strongest effect appears to be in overweight women, who are at greatest risk for the disease. Researchers believe blood sugar, fat cells and estrogen may play a role. Although the mechanism remains unknown, people who drink more than two cups of coffee or tea a day reportedly have about half the risk of developing chronic liver disease as those who drink less than one cup of coffee daily; caffeinated coffee has also been associated with lowered risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

While many of caffeine’s undesirable effects, such as elevated heart rate and blood pressure, are brief, some short-term benefits, including pain relief, increased alertness, and increased physical endurance, have also been attributed to caffeine. As a component of numerous over-the-counter diet pills and pain relievers, caffeine increases their effectiveness and helps the body absorb them more quickly. By constricting blood vessels in the brain, it can alleviate headaches —even migraines—and can help counter the drowsiness caused by antihistamines.

Caffeine does not alter the need for sleep, but does offer a temporary solution to fatigue for people who need to stay alert. Research has shown that sleep-deprived individuals who consumed caffeine had improved memory and reasoning abilities, at least in the short term. Studies of runners and cyclists have shown that caffeine can improve their stamina—hence its addition to energy boosting sports drinks.

People who consume a lot of caffeine regularly may develop temporary withdrawal symptoms, headache being the most common, if they quit or cut back on it abruptly. Fortunately, these symptoms last only a day or two in most cases. Individuals who are more sensitive to the stimulatory side effects of caffeine may want to avoid it, but most doctors agree that the equivalent of three cups of coffee a day does not harm healthy people. There is no medical basis to give up daily caffeine and many reasons to include a moderate amount in one’s diet.

Questions 1- 9

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

1 Before 200 years ago, people did not drink coffee regularly.

2 Children generally do not consume caffeine.

3 The nervous system is affected by caffeine.

4 Caffeine causes the heart to beat faster.

5 Caffeine can be addictive.

6 Alzheimer’s disease may be caused in part by caffeine consumption.

7 Drinking coffee can help protect against some skin cancers.

8 Caffeine may increase the incidence of endometrial cancer.

9 Caffeine can help some medications work faster.

10 Caffeine is used to treat ………….

11 headaches.

12 Iiver cancer.

13 high blood pressure.

11 Some athletes use caffeine to ………

1 maintain their alertness.

2 improve their speed.

3 increase their endurance.

12 Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal ………

13 are usually short-lived.

14 may last as long as a week.

15 can become an ongoing problem.

13 Drinking three cups of coffee a day………….

14 will probably not cause problems.

15 is harmful to the health.

16 may be recommended by a doctor.

Caffeine IELTS Reading Answers With Explanation

Check out the detailed answers for the questions given above and get an idea of how to improve your reading skills for a top IELTS Reading band score.

1 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: N.A

Answer explanation: Since there is no information on whether 200 years ago, people did not drink coffee regularly or not, the answer is Not Given.

2 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: In the quoted lines of Paragraph B, it is said that “Many of the world’s people, including children, ingest it in some form daily.” This points to the fact that most people, including children, generally consume caffeine on a daily basis. Hence, the answer is False.

3 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: In the highlighted line of Paragraph C, it is said that “Caffeine molecules are small and soluble in fat, properties that allow them to pass through a protective shield known as the blood-brain barrier and directly target the central nervous system.” This proves the fact that caffeine molecules target or affect the nervous system. Hence, the answer is True.

4 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 3

Answer explanation: In the mentioned line, it is stated “Caffeine binds to the same receptors, robbing adenosine of the ability to do its job and leaving caffeine free to stimulate nerve cells, which in turn release epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), a hormone that increases heart rate and blood pressure…”. It can be concluded that caffeine causes the heart to beat faster, and so, the answer is True.

5 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 1-line 2

Answer explanation: In Paragraph E, it is said that “ …caffeine retains a somewhat negative image. It is, after all, a mildly habit forming stimulant…”. The phrase ‘habit forming stimulant’ refers to the fact that caffeine is addictive, even though it is mild. Hence, the answer is True.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in Caffeine Reading Answers

Now let’s get started with the tips for each question type. It’ll help you understand how to approach the problem of each question type.

IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given

In True/False/Not Given questions, you must determine whether statements are true, false, or not given based on the passage.

Tips for True/False/Not Given Questions:

• Understand the Statements: Carefully read and understand each statement to know exactly what you are looking for.
• Look for Keywords: Identify keywords in the statements and search for them or their synonyms in the passage.
• Match Meaning, Not Just Words: Ensure the information in the statement matches the meaning of the passage, not just specific words.
• True vs. False vs. Not Given:
  • True: The statement matches the information in the passage.
  • False: The statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  • Not Given: The passage does not provide enough information to determine if the statement is true or false.
• Avoid Assumptions: Base your answers solely on the information given in the passage, without making assumptions.

IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

In the IELTS Reading section, multiple-choice questions require you to select the correct answer from a list of options. These questions assess your understanding of specific details and overall comprehension of the passage.

Tips for Multiple Choice Questions

• Read the Questions First: Before diving into the passage, read the questions to understand what information to look for.
• Identify Keywords: Highlight or underline keywords in the questions and answer options to help you locate relevant information in the passage.
• Skim and Scan: Quickly skim the passage to get a general sense of its content, then scan for the keywords or phrases related to the questions.
• Eliminate Incorrect Options: Narrow down your choices by eliminating clearly incorrect answers to improve your chances of selecting the correct one.
• Refer Back to the Passage: After making a selection, always double-check the passage to confirm that your answer aligns with the information provided.