Dyslexia – IELTS Reading Answers

IELTS applicants who practise consistently can earn the highest possible scores on the IELTS Reading module. To do so successfully, you must be able to approach and respond to various question types, such as those found in Dyslexia IELTS Reading Answers.

The IELTS Academic reading passage, Dyslexia Reading Answers, with 14 questions, provides you with that golden opportunity. It will not only help you to master the above steps but also help you to get acquainted with the question types in IELTS Academic Reading.  So, let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

The question types found in the IELTS Reading Answers of Dyslexia IELTS Reading Answers are:

• IELTS True/False/Not Given  (Q. 1-6)
• IELTS Reading Multiple-Choice Questions (Q. 7-11)
• IELTS Reading Sentence Completion (Q. 12-14)

Reading Passage 

Dyslexia

A People who left school unable to read were often dismissed as being lazy. Some probably were, but many were simply unable to learn because they were dyslexic. Four key findings now suggest that dyslexia is an organic problem and not a motivational one. Firstly, the brain anatomy of dyslexics differs slightly from those of non dyslexics. Secondly, their brain functions as measured by electrical activity are dissimilar. Thirdly, they have behavioural differences apart from an inability to read. Finally, there is more and more evidence to suggest that their condition is linked to particular genes.

B The anatomical differences between the brains of dyslexics and non- dyslexics were first noticed in 1979 by Albert Galaburda of Harvard Medical School. He found two sorts of microscopic flaws in the language centres of dyslexic’s brains. These are called ectoplasm and microgyria.

C The language centres form part of the cerebral cortex and are situated on the left side of the brain. The cortex consists of six layers of cells. An ectopia is a collection of nerve cells that push up from the lower layers of the cortex into the outer ones, where they are not normally found. A microgyrus is a small fold in the cortex which results in a reduction in the normal number of layers from six to four.

D The formation of microgyria causes confusion in the neutral connections between the language centers and other parts of the brain. Microgyria have been induced in rat embryos and as adults these rats are found to have a reduced ability in distinguishing between two sounds played in quick succession. This inability to distinguish between two sounds in quick succession is also a symptom of dyslexia in people.

E Dyslexia not only affects language centres but also causes brain abnormalities in visual pathways as well. One such abnormality is the reduction in the cell size in the layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus. This is where the nerve tracts which transmit information from the eyes to the visual cortex at the back of the brain are found. This is significant as dyslexia is essentially an inability to deal with linguistic information in visual form.

F This parallel failure of visual and auditory systems is seen elsewhere in the brain. Guinevere Eden and Thomas Zeffiro, who work at Georgetown University in Washington D. C. have found an example of it using a brain scanning technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging.(MRI)

G A fundamental characteristic of dyslexia is difficulty in processing written phenomes. Phenomes are the units of sound which make up a language. By giving dyslexic people tasks such as removing phenomes from the beginning of words, while at the same time monitoring brain activity with their scanner, Dr Eden and Dr Zeffiro were able to stimulate both the visual and auditory pathways simultaneously. Their findings demonstrated that dyslexics showed low activity in a part of the brain called Brodmann’s area 37, another part of the brain where visual and auditory information are handled in close proximity.

H Dr Eden and Dr Zeffiro have also compared the brain activity of dyslexic and non- dyslexic readers who were given a task not related to reading. Another symptom of dyslexia is difficulty in detecting visual motion. On this basis Dr Eden and Dr Zeffiro devised a task whereby people were asked to look at dots on a screen and identify which of them was moving and in which direction. While monitoring brain activity with the scanner, it was found that dyslexics performing this task showed significantly less brain activity in Brodmann’s area 37 than non-dyslexics. As this task did not require reading skills it could be used to test children for incipient dyslexia before they reach the reading age; then they could be given special tuition.

I To broaden their investigation, Dr Eden and Dr Zeffiro teamed up with Frank Wood and his colleagues at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, an institution specializing in dyslexia. Dr Eden and Dr Zeffiro borrowed some of its patients and monitored them in the MRI machine at Georgetown University. This was done both before and after the individuals had participated in an intensive programme designed to improve their reading. Non- dyslexics were also scanned and used as controls in the investigation.

J The results were significant. After the programme, the participants showed enhanced brain activity while reading. However, this activity was not on the left side of the brain but in areas on the right side, corresponding exactly to language centers in the opposite hemisphere. The reading programme had stimulated the brains of the participants to recruit batches of nerve cells in a place not normally associated with language processing.

K The primary cause for these problems is another of Dr Wood’s interests. The abnormal brain tissue in dyslexia is developed by the fifth month of gestation, which indicates that the cause of the disorder must act before that time. This suggests that it may be genetic. Many people argue about the relative contributions of genes and the environment to human behaviour and human disease. Dyslexia is both behavioural and, to a certain degree, it is a disease. It appears to have a biological origin and genetic roots. Yet looking at it from a different angle its cause is almost purely environmental. People living in illiterate societies are hardly troubled by its other symptoms. It was the invention of writing that brought the difficulty to light, not the mutation of genes. Nature or environment? You will have to decide between the two.

Questions 1-6

1 Dyslexia is probably caused by motivational problems.

2 Dyslexia affects language as well as visual and audio processes.

3 In modern society dyslexia is essentially the inability to distinguish between visual forms.

4 It has been demonstrated that special reading programs can teach dyslexic people to read as well

as non-dyslexic ones.

5 The cause of dyslexia is partly genetic and partly environmental.

6 The writer of the article believes that dyslexia can most effectively be cured in illiterate societies.

Questions 7-11

7 Ectopia

A A reduction in the number of layers in part of the cortex of the brain.

B A collection of nerve cells in a part of the cortex of the brain where they are not normally found.

C A formation of six layers in the cortex of the brain, where normally there are four.

D An inability to deal with linguistic information in visual form.

8 Microgyria

A A symptom of dyslexia.

B Abnormal pathways of visual information in the brain.

C  An abnormal formation of layers in the cortex of the brain.

D Confusion results in an inability to distinguish sounds in quick succession.

9 Phenomes

A sounds made in quick succession.

B part of the language that dyslexics are unable to identify.

C brain activity that can be monitored with special scanning techniques.

D the units of sound which make up a language.

10 MRI

A A scientific equipment for assessing reading skills.

B A technique for scanning activity of the brain.

C A technique for stimulating visual and auditory pathways in the brain.

D A machine to stimulate visual motion.

11 Brodmann’s area 37

A A less active part of the brain.

B An abnormal formation in the brain of dyslexics.

C Where all visual information is handled in the brain.

D Part of the brain where visual and auditory information is handled.

Questions 12-14

12 In the language centers of dyslexics brains, Dr. Albert Galaburda discovered two sorts of ———-

13 One abnormality in the dyslexic’s brains is the reduction in the cell size in the layers of the ——–

14 Dyslexia is a behavioral problem and also a —————–

Answers of Dyslexia IELTS Reading Passage With Location and Explanation

1 Answer: False

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: The introductory line of paragraph A states that people who left school unable to read were often dismissed as being lazy. Some probably were but many were simply unable to learn because they were dyslexic. Four key findings now suggest that dyslexia is an organic problem and not a motivational one. We can deduce from these lines that many students were dyslexic and it is probably caused by an organic problem and not a motivational one. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

2 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5 & 6

Answer explanation: Paragraph 5 states that Dyslexia not only affects language centers but also causes brain abnormalities in visual pathways as well. Similarly, paragraph 6 illustrates that the parallel failure of visual and auditory systems is seen elsewhere in the brain. We can deduce from these highlighted lines that apart from affecting language, dyslexia also causes abnormalities in visual and audio processes. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

3 Answer: False

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5,last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph 5 states that this is significant as dyslexia is essentially an inability to deal with linguistic information in visual form. These lines indicate that dyslexia is an inability to deal with linguistic information in visual forms rather than the inability to distinguish between visual forms. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

4 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 10, last line

Answer explanation: We find a reference for the reading program in the last line of paragraph 10, which states that the reading program had stimulated the brains of the participants to recruit batches of nerve cells in a place not normally associated with language processing. However, it is not mentioned anywhere that the special reading program taught dyslexic people to read well. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

5 Answer: True

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 11,

Answer explanation: In paragraph 11, it is mentioned that Dyslexia is both behavioral and, to a certain degree, it is a disease. It appears to have a biological origin and genetic roots. Yet looking at it from a different angle its cause is almost purely environmental. These lines illustrate that dyslexia is both a behavioral problem and a disease. The causes of dyslexia are partly genetic and environmental. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

6 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/ False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 11, last line

Answer explanation: We find a reference for illiterate societies in the last line of paragraph 11, which states that people living in illiterate societies are hardly troubled by their other symptoms. It was the invention of writing that brought the difficulty to light, not the mutation of genes. These lines reveal that people from illiterate societies are troubled by the symptoms of dyslexia. However, with the help of writing, the difficulty was brought to the light, and not because of the mutation of genes. Thus, there’s no reference to the fact that dyslexia can most effectively be cured in illiterate societies. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

7 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 3

Answer explanation: In paragraph 3, it is stated that Ectopia is a collection of nerve cells that push up from the lower layers of the cortex into the outer ones, where they are not normally found. It is clear from these highlighted lines that Ectopia is a collection of cells in a part of the cortex of the brain, where they’re not usually found. Hence, the answer is B.

8 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 3, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of Paragraph C states that a microgyrus is a small fold in the cortex which results in a reduction in the normal number of layers from six to four. These lines indicate that a microgyria is an abnormal formation of layers in the cortex of the brain. Hence, the answer is C.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in Dyslexia IELTS Reading Answers

Despite knowing the answers to the questions in Dyslexia IELTS Reading Answers, it might not be enough when you want to give your best on the IELTS test. So let’s quickly go over some tips for solving Dyslexia Reading Answers.

True/False/Not Given

The ‘True, False, Not Given’ questions in IELTS Reading are based on facts given in the passage. Just read the text and decide if the facts are right or not.

• Read the question statements carefully. Before analyzing the text, note what the questions are stating. This helps figure out what information you will need.
• Throughout the passage, keep an eye out for the keyword in the statement. Determine which words or phrases have a connection to the question. Don’t read the passage in its entirety; instead, focus on finding the relevant passage.
• Once you’ve identified the main keyword or keywords, pay close attention to the phrases that follow. Make sure you understand the context, as often the most minute details can have a significant impact on the meaning.
• Remember, True means the information in the statement matches the information in the passage. False means the information in the statement contradicts the information in the passage. Not Given means there’s no clear information in the passage to confirm or deny the statement.
• Don’t assume anything if you are unable to find the information to support or reject a statement. Marking it as Not Given is preferable to guessing. 

Multiple-Choice Questions:

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.

Sentence Completion:

In the sentence completion of the IELTS Reading test, you will be asked to fill in the blanks in incomplete phrases with the relevant words or numbers. 

• Read the instructions carefully.  It will help you determine the word limit (no more than two, one word, etc) and important terms like ‘using words from the text’ or ‘from the text’. You have to follow these strictly.
• Read the incomplete sentences first. Also, think about keywords and how they could be represented by synonyms or paraphrasing.
• Locate where the information is by scanning quickly. If you can’t, move on.
• Study the reading text by using the skimming and scanning techniques. It will help to establish the answer quickly. When scanning for your answer, make sure you are thinking about paraphrasing and synonyms.
• The answers appear in the same order as the questions. Also, check your spelling and remember that your answer should be grammatically correct. 

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