Communication in Science - IELTS Reading Answers

IELTS Reading is more than just understanding words and answering questions. It also evaluates your reading skills and time management in IELTS Reading. Therefore, you must make a habit of identifying key points, understanding implications, and extracting relevant information while practicing reading samples like Communication in Science IELTS Reading Answers.

Here, you will get a chance to practice three different types of IELTS Reading questions, review answers for identifying areas of improvement and go through some essential IELTS Reading tips and techniques needed to excel in the exam.

Reading Passage for Communication in Science IELTS Reading Answers

Go through the Electroreception IELTS Reading Answers passage provided below and use this IELTS Reading practice test to get ready for the reading section of the IELTS exam.

Communication in Science

A Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives, making the faithful communication of scientific developments more important than ever. Yet such communication is fraught with challenges that can easily distort discussions, leading to unnecessary confusion and misunderstandings.

B Some problems stem from the esoteric nature of current research and the associated difficulty of finding sufficiently faithful terminology. Abstraction and complexity are not signs that a given scientific direction is wrong, as some commentators have suggested, but are instead a tribute to the success of human ingenuity in meeting the increasingly complex challenges that nature presents. They can, however, make communication more difficult. But many of the biggest challenges for science reporting arise because in areas of evolving research, scientists themselves often only partly understand the full implications of any particular advance or development. Since that dynamic applies to most of the scientific developments that directly affect people’s lives global warming, cancer research, diet studies – learning how to overcome it is critical to spurring a more informed scientific debate among the broader public.

C Ambiguous word choices are the source of some misunderstandings. Scientists often employ colloquial terminology, which they then assign a specific meaning that is impossible to fathom without proper training. The term “relativity,” for example, is intrinsically misleading. Many interpret the theory to mean that everything is relative and there are no absolutes. Yet although the measurements any observer makes depend on his coordinates and reference frame, the physical phenomena he measures have an invariant description that transcends that observer’s particular coordinates. Einstein’s theory of relativity is really about finding an invariant description of physical phenomena. True, Einstein agreed with the idea that his theory would have been better named “Invarianten theorie.” But the term “relativity” was already entrenched at the time for him to change.

D “The uncertainty principle” is another frequently abused term. It is sometimes interpreted as a limitation on observers and their ability to make measurements.

E But it is not about intrinsic limitations on any one particular measurement; it is about the inability to precisely measure particular pairs of quantities simultaneously? The first interpretation is perhaps more engaging from a philosophical or political perspective. It’s just not what the science is about.

F Even the word “theory” can be a problem. Unlike most people, who use the word to describe a passing conjecture that they often regard as suspect, physicists have very specific ideas in mind when they talk about theories. For physicists, theories entail a definite physical framework embodied in a set of fundamental assumptions about the world that lead to a specific set of equations and predictions – ones that are borne out by successful predictions. Theories aren’t necessarily shown to be correct or complete immediately. Even Einstein took the better part of a decade to develop the correct version of his theory of general relativity. But eventually both the ideas and the measurements settle down and theories are either proven correct, abandoned or absorbed into other, more encompassing theories.

G “Global warming” is another example of problematic terminology. Climatologists predict more drastic fluctuations in temperature and rainfall – not necessarily that every place will be warmer. The name sometimes subverts the debate, since it lets people argue that their winter was worse, so how could there be global warming? Clearly “global climate change” would have been a better name. But not all problems stem solely from poor word choices. Some stem from the intrinsically complex nature of much of modern science. Science sometimes transcends this limitation: remarkably, chemists were able to detail the precise chemical processes involved in the destruction of the ozone layer, making the evidence that chlorofluorocarbon gases (Freon, for example) were destroying the ozone layer indisputable.

H A better understanding of the mathematical significance of results and less insistence on a simple story would help to clarify many scientific discussions. For several months, Harvard was tortured months, Harvard was tortured by empty debates over the relative intrinsic scientific abilities of men and women. One of the more amusing aspects of the discussion was that those who believed in the differences and those who didn’t use the same evidence about gender-specific special ability? How could that be? The answer is that the data shows no substantial effects. Social factors might account for these tiny differences, which in any case have an unclear connection to scientific ability. Not much of a headline when phrased that way, is it? Each type of science has its own source of complexity and potential for miscommunication. Yet there are steps we can take to improve public understanding in all cases. The first would be to inculcate greater understanding and acceptance of indirect scientific evidence. The information from an unmanned space mission is no less legitimate than the information from one in which people are on board.

I This doesn’t mean questioning an interpretation, but it also doesn’t mean equating indirect evidence with blind belief, as people sometimes suggest. Second, we might need different standards for evaluating science with urgent policy implications than research with the purely theoretical value. When scientists say they are not certain about their predictions, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve found nothing substantial. It would be better if scientists were more open about the mathematical significance of their results and if the public didn’t treat math as quite so scary; statistics and errors, which tell us the uncertainty in a measurement, give us the tools to evaluate new developments fairly.J But most important, people have to recognize that science can be complex. If we accept only simple stories, the description will necessarily be distorted. When advances are subtle or complicated, scientists should be willing to go the extra distance to give proper explanations and the public should be more patient about the truth. Even so, some difficulties are unavoidable. Most developments reflect work in progress, so the story is complex because no one yet knows the big picture.

Communication in Science Reading Answers Questions

By taking the Communication in Science IELTS Reading Answer, you can acquaint yourself with the types of questions that you will be asked and the level of difficulty that you can expect.

The question types in this reading passage include:

• IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions (Q. 27-33)
• IELTS Reading Yes/No/Not Given (Q. 32-35)
• IELTS Reading Summary Completion(Q. 36-40)

Now get started with solving the questions given below!

Questions 27-31

27 Why is faithful science communication important?

A Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives.

B cience is fraught with challenges the public is interested in.

C The nature of complexity in science communication leads to confusion.

D Scientific inventions are more important than ever before.

28 What is the reason that the author believes the biggest challenges for science reporting?

A phenomenon such as global warming, cancer research, and diet studies is too complex.

B Scientists themselves often only partly understand the Theory of Evolution

C Scientists do not comprehend the meaning of certain scientific evolution

D Scientists themselves often partly understand the esoteric communication nature

29 According to the 3rd paragraph, the reference to the term and example of “theory of relativity” is to demonstrate

A theory of relativity is about an invariant physical phenomenon

B common people may be misled by the inaccurate choice of scientific phrase

C the term “relativity,” is designed to be misleading public

D everything is relative and there is no absolutes existence

30 Which one is a good example of appropriate word choice:

A Scientific theory for the uncertainty principle

B phenomenon of Global warming

C the importance of the ozone layer

D Freon’s destructive process on environmental

31 What is a surprising finding of the Harvard debates in the passage?

A There are equal intrinsic scientific abilities of men and women.

B The proof applied by both sides seemed to be of no big difference.

C The scientific date usually shows no substantial figures to support a debated idea.

D Social factors might have a clear connection to scientific ability.

Questions 32-35

32 “Global warming” scientifically refers to greater fluctuations in temperature and rainfall rather than a universal temperature rise.

33 More media coverage of “global warming” would help the public to recognize the phenomenon.

34 Harvard debates should focus more on female scientists and male scientists

35 Public understanding and acceptance of indirect scientific evidence in all cases would lead to confusion

Questions 36-40

Science Communication is fraught with challenges that can easily distort discussions, leading to unnecessary confusion and misunderstandings. Firstly, Ambiguous 36…………………… are the source of some misunderstandings. Common people without proper training do not understand clearly or deeply a specific scientific meaning via the 37…………………. scientists often employed. Besides, the measurements any 38…………………… makes can not be confined to describe in a(n) constant 39…………………….. yet the phenomenon can be. What’s more, even the word “theory” can be a problem. Theories aren’t necessarily shown to be correct or complete immediately since scientists often evolved better versions of specific theories, a good example can be the theory of 40……………………. Thus, most importantly people have to recognize that science can be complex.

Communication in Science Reading Answers With Explanations

Don’t miss the answer key for the Communication in Science IELTS Reading passage, complete with detailed explanations, and prepare to score a high IELTS band score in IELTS Reading.

27 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: Paragraph A illustrates that Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives, making the faithful communication of scientific developments more important than ever. These lines indicate that science communication is important because science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives. Therefore, the more it is communicated to people, the easier their life becomes. Hence, the answer is A.

28 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph B states that many of the biggest challenges for science reporting arise because in areas of evolving research, scientists themselves often only partly understand the full implications of any particular advance or development. Thus, the most challenging reason for the author to believe is that scientists sometimes do not fully understand the implications of a particular development. If the scientists do not understand the implications, they’ll not be able to the reporting correctly. Hence, the answer is C.

29 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph C illustrates the term “relativity,” for example, is intrinsically misleading. Many interpret the theory to mean that everything is relative and there are no absolutes. These lines suggest that relativity means that there are no absolutes. It depends when something is compared to other things. Hence, there’s no accuracy, which can be misleading for the common people as there are no absolutes. Thus, the answer is B.

30 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph G, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph G states that Science sometimes transcends this limitation: remarkably, chemists were able to detail the precise chemical processes involved in the destruction of the ozone layer, making the evidence that chlorofluorocarbon gases (Freon, for example) were destroying the ozone layer indisputable. These lines suggest that chlorofluorocarbon gases like Freon were destroying the ozone layer which is destructive to the environment. Freon’s destructive process on the environment, hence, the answer is D.

31 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph H, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph H states that One of the more amusing aspects of the discussion was those who believed in the differences and those who didn’t use the same evidence about gender-specific special abilities? How could that be? The answer is that the data shows no substantial effects. We can understand from these lines that one of the most surprising facts is that the data which should show the difference between 2 sides was not substantial and it didn’t have substantial effects. Hence, the answer is B.

32 Answer: Yes

Question type: Yes/ No/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph G

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of paragraph G states that “Global warming” is another example of problematic terminology. Climatologists predict more drastic fluctuations in temperature and rainfall – not necessarily that every place will be warmer. These lines suggest that the author mentions that climatologists predict more drastic changes in temperature and rainfall are caused due to global warming instead of an increase in the temperature. Hence, global warming affects temperature and rainfall but not the global rise in temperature. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is Yes

33 Answer: Not Given

Question type: Yes/No/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph G

Answer explanation: Paragraph G illustrates, Global warming” is another example of problematic terminology. Climatologists predict more drastic fluctuations in temperature and rainfall – not necessarily that every place will be warmer. The name sometimes subverts the debate, since it lets people argue that their winter was worse, so how could there be global warming? Clearly “global climate change” would have been a better name. But not all problems stem solely from poor word choices. However, there’s no reference to the fact that more media coverage of global warming would help the public to recognize the phenomenon. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

34 Answer: Not Given

Question type: Yes/ No/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph H

Answer explanation: Paragraph H illustrates, that Harvard was tortured by empty debates over the relative intrinsic scientific abilities of men and women. However, we do not find any reference to the fact that Harvard debates should focus more on female scientists and male scientists. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

35 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/ No/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph H, line 7

Answer explanation: The 7th line of paragraph H states that the first would be to inculcate greater understanding and acceptance of indirect scientific evidence. It is clear from these lines that the first step would be to inculcate or install the idea of accepting indirect scientific evidence in people’s minds. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is No.

36 Answer: word choices

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: Paragraph C illustrates that Ambiguous word choices are the source of some misunderstandings. We can understand from these lines that the ambiguous word choices are the sources of some misunderstanding. So, the answer is word choices.

37 Answer: colloquial terminology

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph C states that Scientists often employ colloquial terminology, which they then assign a specific meaning that is impossible to fathom without proper training. It is evident from these lines that the common people do not have training on colloquial terms, when such terms are used by scientists, they cannot understand them. Thus, the answer is colloquial terminology.

38 Answer: observer

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph C illustrates, “Yet although the measurements any observer makes depend on his coordinates and reference frame, the physical phenomena he measures have an invariant description that transcends that observer’s particular coordinates.” We can understand from these lines that only measurements can be considered. Except for the measurements any observer makes can not be determined or cannot be used to describe a constant phenomenon. Hence, the answer is an observer.

39 Answer: invariant description

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph C states, “Yet although the measurements any observer makes depend on his coordinates and reference frame, the physical phenomena he measures have an invariant description that transcends that observer’s particular coordinates.” We can deduce from these lines that the observer measures a phenomenon that has a never-changing or invariant description. Hence, the answer is the invariant description.

40 Answer: (theory of) general relativity

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph F, last 2 line

Answer explanation: The 2nd last line of paragraph F suggests that Even Einstein took the better part of a decade to develop the correct version of his theory of general relativity. But eventually, both the ideas and the measurements settle down and theories are either proven correct, abandoned, or absorbed into other, more encompassing theories. These lines indicate that one good example of the theory is the theory of general relativity, which was abandoned as scientists evolved with time. Thus, the answer is (theory of) general relativity.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in Communication in Science Reading Answers

Let’s have a look at some specific IELTS exam preparation tips to solve each question type given in Communication in Science IELTS Reading Answers.

Tips for Multiple-Choice Questions (27-31)

• Identify the main idea of the paragraph before looking at the options.

Example: Question 27 asks why faithful science communication is important. Scan for sections discussing the role of science in daily life. If the passage states that science affects people more than ever, the answer is A ("Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives").

• Look for words that indicate reasons, such as ‘because’, ‘due to’, or ‘as a result’.

Example: Question 28 asks about the biggest challenge for science reporting. Look for a sentence explaining why science communication is difficult. If the passage mentions scientists only partially understanding complex topics, the answer is D ("Scientists themselves often partly understand the esoteric communication nature").

• For definition-based questions, match the example to the purpose.

Example: Question 29 asks why the passage references the "theory of relativity." If the passage states that scientific terms can mislead the public, the answer is B ("common people may be misled by the inaccurate choice of scientific phrase").

• For word choice questions, find the most precise and specific option.

Example: Question 30 asks for a good example of appropriate word choice. The best scientific phrasing avoids unnecessary complexity. If the passage highlights the importance of clear terminology, the correct answer is C ("the importance of the ozone layer").

• For surprising findings, look for contrast or unexpected results.

Example: Question 31 asks about the Harvard debates’ surprising result. If the passage states that social factors influence scientific ability, the answer is D ("Social factors might have a clear connection to scientific ability").

Tips for True/False/Not Given (32-35)

• Find keywords and check for exact matches in the passage.

Example: Question 32 asks if "global warming" refers to temperature fluctuations rather than a universal temperature rise. If the passage confirms this, the answer is TRUE. If it contradicts it, the answer is FALSE. If it's not mentioned, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

• Watch for extreme words like “always”, “only”, or “must”.

Example: Question 33 asks if more media coverage of global warming helps the public recognize it. If the passage says media plays a role, the answer is TRUE. If it says media coverage does not help, the answer is FALSE. If it is not mentioned, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

• For debate-related questions, check if the passage mentions the specific debate focus.

Example: Question 34 asks if Harvard debates should focus more on female and male scientists. If the passage does not mention whether the debates should focus on gender, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

• For scientific acceptance questions, check if the passage discusses confusion.

Example: Question 35 asks if public understanding of indirect scientific evidence leads to confusion. If the passage says indirect evidence causes misunderstandings, the answer is TRUE. If it says evidence helps people understand science better, the answer is FALSE.

Tips for Summary Completion (36-40)

• Find synonyms of the missing words in the passage.

Example: Question 36 asks about the source of misunderstandings in science. If the passage mentions unclear terminology, the answer is "words" or "terminology".

• Look for scientific explanations in the passage.

Example: Question 37 asks how common people misunderstand science. If the passage states scientists use complex language, the answer is "language" or "jargon".

• For measurement-related answers, look for references to limitations.

Example: Question 38 asks about what makes measurements difficult. If the passage says "scientists" struggle with describing things, the answer is "scientists".

• For consistency-related questions, check for mentions of changing results.

Example: Question 39 asks what cannot be described in constant terms. If the passage states that measurements are not constant, the answer is "units" or "values".

• For theory-related answers, match examples from the passage.

Example: Question 40 asks for an example of a scientific theory that evolved. If the passage states "theory of relativity" as an evolving theory, the answer is "relativity".

To sum up, IELTS Academic Reading passages like Communication in Science IELTS Reading Answers help in multiple ways, from getting acquainted with question types and learning how to handle them to mastering time management and improving your overall reading skills. So, take more reading passages and be prepared to score a band score of 9 in IELTS Reading.

Check More IELTS Reading Answers

• Making Time for Science - IELTS Reading Answers
• Tea and the Industrial Revolution - IELTS Reading Answer
• Bring Back the Big Cats IELTS Reading Answers
• Contaminating the Arctic- IELTS Reading Answers
• Childhood Obesity- IELTS Reading Answers
• The Hollywood Film Industry- IELTS Reading Answers
• Rag-Pickers: The Bottom Rung in the Waste Trade Ladder- IELTS Reading Answers
• Clutter Bugs Beware- IELTS Reading Answers