Colour Blindness- IELTS Reading Answers

The Reading Module of the IELTS can be the top-scoring category with diligent practice. To achieve the best results in this section, you must understand how to approach and answer the different Question types in the Reading Module. By solving and reviewing Reading Answers of Colour Blindness, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark.

The Academic passage, Colour Blindness, is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Try to find the answers to get an idea of the difficulty level of the passages in the actual reading test. If you want more passages to solve, try taking one of our IELTS reading practice tests.

The question types found in this passage are:

• Multiple Choice Questions (Q. 1-3)
• Matching sentence endings (Q. 4-10)
• Diagram completion (Q. 11-13)

Reading Passage

Colour Blindness

A The absence or malfunction of colour-sensitive cells in the retina causes colour blindness. Behind the lens, the retina is a neuro-membrane lining the inner back of the eye. The retina contains both rod cells (active in low light or night vision but incapable of colour discrimination) and cone cells (active in colour vision but inactive in low light or night vision) (active in average daylight, sensitive to colour). Cone cells, also known as photoreceptors, are primarily located in the macula, a central region of the retina. Cone cells allow for sharp, clear colour vision. The cones contain pigments that are sensitive to the spectrum of wavelengths and are light-sensitive. One type of cone is sensitive to short wavelengths, or the colour blue, while another type is sensitive to medium wavelengths, or the colour green, and the third type is sensitive to longer wavelengths, or the colour red. All of these cells transmit colour information to the brain via the optic nerve, which connects to the retina near the macula. Normal individuals, known as trichromats, are able to match all colours of the spectrum by combining these three fundamental colour sensitivity characteristics. Consequently, the vast spectrum of colours we perceive results from the response of cone cells to different wavelengths of light.

B There are numerous types of colour blindness. When there are deficiencies in the cones, either at birth or through other means, the cones are unable to distinguish between wavelengths, resulting in an altered perception of the colour spectrum. Those with impaired colour vision are deficient or lacking in one or more pigments. Anomalous trichromats are people with a deficiency in one of the pigments, the most common type of colour vision disorder. Dichromacy occurs when one of the cone pigments is absent and the colour is reduced to two dimensions. Typically, these individuals are aware of their colour vision impairment, which can have a significant impact on their daily lives. They cannot distinguish between red, orange, yellow, and green. All of these colours, which appear so dissimilar to the average observer, appear identical to them. The absence of the cones responsible for green and red hues can also impair the ability to perceive brightness.

C Out of the vast majority of cases of colourblindness, approximately 99 per cent, are inherited, resulting from partial or total loss of function in one or more of the different cone systems, and affecting both eyes without worsening over time. Red-green inherited (genetic) photoreceptor disorders are the most prevalent and are collectively referred to as “red-green colour blindness.” It affects 8% of European males and 0.4% of European females. The X chromosome carries the gene for this. Due to the fact that males have an X-Y pairing and females have an X-X pairing, colour blindness is much more prevalent in males and is typically transmitted by their mothers. In other words, females may be carriers of colourblindness, but males are significantly more frequently affected. People with this disorder are unable to recognise red or green on their own but can do so when surrounded by other colours. Other forms of colour blindness are extremely uncommon. They include difficulties distinguishing blue from yellow. Both hues are regarded as white for conditions such as liver disease and diabetes.

D Monochromacy is the rarest form of colorblindness, in which a person can only see shades of black, grey, and white, as in a black-and-white film or photograph. Monochromacy occurs when two or all three cone pigments are absent, reducing colour and brightness perception to a single dimension. Achromatopsia is another term for total colour blindness, which is the inability to perceive colour.

E Problems with inherited colour vision cannot be treated or corrected. Depending on the cause, some acquired colour vision problems can be treated with surgery, such as the removal of a cataract. Certain tinted filters and contact lenses may also improve a person’s ability to differentiate between colours. In addition, computer software has been created to aid those with visual colour difficulties and those with mild colour deficiencies in learning to associate colours with particular objects, so that they can identify colour in the same manner as everyone else. A common issue is with traffic lights, and worst of all, warning lights: colour-blind individuals are always aware of the position of the colours on the traffic light; red on the top, yellow in middle, and green at bottom. However, warning lights pose an entirely different issue. In this situation, there is only one light; there is no top, no bottom, and no right or left, just a single red or yellow light.

F Problems with colour vision can significantly affect a person’s life, learning abilities, and career options. On a daily basis, there are certain annoyances and frustrations, such as not being able to tell the difference between green and ripe tomatoes when preparing food, or purchasing matching clothes that appear positively garish to the ‘normal’ eye. However, individuals with colour vision deficiencies typically learn to compensate for their inability to perceive colours. Although there is little or no treatment for colour blindness, the majority of colour-blind individuals compensate well for their condition and may even discover instances in which they are able to perceive details and images that normal-sighted individuals would miss. The U.S. Army once discovered that colour-blind individuals can detect camouflage colours in situations where those with normal colour vision are typically fooled.

Questions 1-3 

1 Which group of people are least common?

A Anomalous trichromats

B People with dichromacy

C People with achromatopsia

D People who cannot detest blues from yellows

2 What would colour-blind people consider an everyday nuisance?

A Not being able to tell an apple from a tomato

B Not being able to identify the colour of warning lights

C Not being able to buy matching clothes

D Not being able to cook

3 What causes colour blindness?

A The malfunction of rod cells

B The absence of rod cells

C The malfunction of cone cells

D The retina’s inability to detect light

Questions 4-10

4 Surprisingly, some people who are colour-blind ________

5 People with hereditary colour blindness _______

6 Because of our genetic make-up, colour blindness ________

7 Red-Green genetic photoreceptor disorders mean that people ________

8 People with monochromacy _______

9 The inability to see certain lights _______

10 Colour blindness can be caused by a birth defect, or ________

A cannot be treated by surgery.

B can have very dangerous consequences for colour-blind people.

C can be acquired or inherited.

D can affect men much more easily than women.

E can see better at night than during the day.

F can see no colour at all, other than shades of black, grey and white

G can affect their sensitivity to bright lights.

H can see things that people with normal vision cannot.

I cannot distinguish certain colours if they stand alone

J can mean having to wear contact lenses.

K can match all colours of the spectrum.

Questions 11-13

11 ________

12 ________

13 ________

Answers of Colour Blindness – Reading Answers with Location and Explanation

Check out the Colour Blindness -IELTS Reading Answers.

1 Answer: C
Question Type: Multiple-Choice Question
Answer Location: Paragraph 1
Answer Explanation: As stated in paragraph 1, both rod cells, which are active in low light or night vision but are unable to perceive colour, and cone cells are found in the retina (active in normal daylight, sensitive to colour).

2 Answer: D
Answer Type : Multiple-Choice Question
Answer Location: Paragraph 5
Answer Explanation: The rarest type of colour blindness, or monochromacy, when a person can only perceive shades of black, grey, and white, like in a black-and-white movie or image, is mentioned in paragraph 5.

3 Answer: D
Answer Type : Multiple-Choice Question
Answer Location: Paragraph 7
Answer Explanation: On a daily basis, there are certain annoyances and disappointments, such as not being able to tell if tomatoes are green or ripe while making meals or purchasing clothing that, to the ‘normal’ sight, appears positively gaudy.

4 Answer: F
Answer Type : Matching Sentence Ending
Answer Location: last paragraph
Answer Explanation: In the last paragraph, it mentions that the majority of color-blind people adjust effectively for their deficiency. It may even find situations where they can make out details and visuals that would escape normal-sighted others, despite the fact that there is little to no therapy available. The US Army once discovered that color-blind people may recognise camouflage colours when individuals with normal colour vision are often misled.

5 Answer: B
Answer Type : Matching Sentence Ending
Answer Location: Paragraph 3
Answer Explanation: The most prevalent are red-green inherited (genetic) photoreceptor abnormalities, sometimes known as “red-green colour blindness,” according to paragraph 3.

6 Answer: C
Answer Type : Matching Sentence Ending
Answer Location: Paragraph 4
Answer Explanation: According to paragraph 4, boys are more likely than females to have colour blindness, which is normally passed on to them by their mothers. In other words, while women may have the gene for colour blindness, men are more likely to be afflicted.

7 Answer: J
Answer Type : Matching Sentence Ending
Answer Location: Paragraph 4
Answer Explanation: According to paragraph 4, individuals with this disease may recognise red or green when they are amid other colours but not on their own.

8 Answer: E
Answer Type : Matching Sentence Ending
Answer Location:Paragraph 5
Answer Explanation: The rarest type of colour blindness, or monochromacy, when a person can only perceive shades of black, grey, and white, like in a black-and-white movie or image, is mentioned in paragraph 5.

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Tips to Solve the Question Types in Colour Blindness Reading Answers

Since now you have the Colour Blindness Reading Answers Key with explanation, let us check out some quick tips to answer the three types of questions in the Reading Answers of Colour Blindness.

Multiple-Choice Question:

You will be given a reading passage followed by several questions based on the information in the paragraph in multiple-choice questions. Your task is to understand the question and compare it to the paragraph in order to select the best solution from the available possibilities.

• Before reading the passage, read the question and select the keywords. Check the keyword possibilities if the question statement is short on information.
• Then, using the keywords, read the passage to find the relevant information.
• To select the correct option, carefully read the relevant words and match them with each option.
• You will find several options with keywords that do not correspond to the information.
• Try opting for the elimination method mostly.
• Find the best option by matching the meaning rather than just the keywords.

Matching Sentence Endings IELTS Question

Some tips for answering the questions and obtain a high band in the IELTS examination are given below:

• The answers will be in the same order as the list of incomplete sentences.
• Use the elimination process to get the correct answer.
• Don’t read the complete text until you have studied the incomplete sentences and the endings.
• Only read the relevant sentences.
• You will have to match meanings and not the exact words. Thus, look for paraphrasing and words.
• You must ensure that the grammatical structure of two halves of the sentence is matching correctly

Diagram Completion Question

Some tips to answer the questions and obtain a high band in the IELTS examination are given below:

• Examine the existing labels, as they can guide you in locating the solution.
• Refer to the diagram’s description for the answers.
• Before responding to a question, identify and emphasize a relevant keyword.
• Start with the simpler questions first to allow more time for tackling the challenging ones.
• The answers may not follow a sequential order.
• Analyze the sections to be labeled and determine the type of information needed to complete the blanks.
• Comprehend the connection between the diagram and the label to accurately fill in the blanks.

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