The Triune Brain – IELTS Reading Answers
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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 Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark.
The Academic passage ‘The Triune Brain‘ is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. 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 this passage are:
Matching Information
The matching information questions in the IELTS reading test are very common which requires the test-taker to match the information that is contained in different paragraphs according to the question statements. The test-taker must possess strong paraphrasing skills to attempt this type of question. The type of information asked in the statements usually varies such as definitions, facts, opinions, descriptions, reasons, explanations, etc.
Sentence Completion
The sentence completion questions are one of the most common types of questions in the IELTS reading test where the test-taker is required to fill the blank spaces with appropriate words. The test-taker must be aware of the paraphrasing and synonyms to tackle this question type. The test-taker must note that they should not use more than the number of words mentioned in the instruction to fill the blank spaces.
You should spend 20 minutes on questions 14-26 based on the given passage.
The Triune Brain
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The answers to questions 14-26 are given below along with their explanations.
14 Answer: C
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 4, Line 3
Answer explanation: We find reference for the given statement in the third line of paragraph 4, which illustrates an example, that anticipating a better grade on the following morning’s exam, a student can ignore the limbic urge to socialise and go to sleep early instead, and this sacrifice continues for three years to get into a first-class degree and a scholarship to graduate school; over a lifetime. This sacrifice can mean groundbreaking contributions to human knowledge and development. As a result, the ability to sacrifice our drive for immediate satisfaction in order to benefit later is a product of the neocortex. We understand from the last line that the neocortex is in charge of the mechanism that allows us to give up short-term happiness such as social interaction for long-term gains. Thus, the answer is C.
15 Answer: A
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 1, First 2 lines
Answer explanation: We understand from the introductory line in the first paragraph that the first of our three brains to evolve is what scientists call the reptilian cortex, which sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration, adequate rest, and a beating heart. These lines indicate that the reptilian cortex maintains the bodily functions necessary for our survival. Hence, the answer is A.
16 Answer: B
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 10
Answer explanation: The second line of paragraph 5, illustrates that listening to the anguished squeal of a dolphin separated from its pod or witnessing the sight of elephants mourning their dead, and this sense has been by Scientists called as the “limbic cortex, “ which is unique to mammals. The limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children are nearby. These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks. Further, when we are with others of “our kind”, for example, at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub – we experience positive sensations of togetherness, solidarity and comfort. However, if we spend too long away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship. The author has given the example of anguished squeal of dolphins and elephants, describing that network loneliness is the pain of losing one another is caused by the limbic cortex. Hence, the answer is B.
17 Answer: B
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 6 – 7
Answer explanation: We find reference in the 6th line of the 2nd paragraph, which illustrates that the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by warmth and tender. These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks. When we are with others of “our kind” – be it at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub – we experience positive sensations of togetherness, solidarity and comfort. If we spend too long away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship. These lines indicate that the limbic cortex enables the mammals and animals to seek companionship and form communities and social groups. So, the answer is B.
18 Answer: C
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 4, first 2 lines
Answer explanation: We understand from the introductory line of 4th paragraph that the neocortex is responsible for the process by which humans decide on and commit to particular courses of action. These lines illustrate that it’s because of neocortex we make decisions and carry out our actions. So, the answer is C.
19 Answer: A
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 1, line 11
Answer explanation: We comprehend from the eleventh line of the first paragraph that the reptilian brain offers up the most primary impulses such as aggression, mating, and territorial defence, when it comes to interaction with others. For instance, there is no great difference, in this sense, between a crocodile defending its spot along the river and a turf war between two urban gangs. It is evident that the reptilian brain offers the impulse of aggression, mating, and territorial defence. Here, Territorial defence refers to guarding land areas. Hence, the answer is A.
20 Answer: C
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 9 – 10
Answer explanation: The paragraph 3 defines the power of neocortex which comes from its ability to think beyond the present, concrete moment. In the same paragraph, it is mentioned that humans can string together simple lessons (for example, an apple drops downwards from a tree; hurting others causes unhappiness) to develop complex theories of physical or social phenomena (such as the laws of gravity and a concern for human rights). These lines indicate that neocortex allows humans to develop explanations for things in the form of lessons, theories, and laws. So, the answer is C.
21 Answer: B
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 5 – 6
Answer explanation: We understand from the fifth line of 2nd paragraph that unique to mammals, the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children are nearby. It is clear that the limbic cortex allows the mammals to nurture and look after their young ones. So, the answer is B.
22 Answer: A
Question type: Matching Information
Answer location: Paragraph 1, line 5
Answer explanation: We find references in the fifth line of the first paragraph, which states that the reptilian cortex houses “startle centre”, a mechanism that facilitates swift reactions to unexpected occurrences in surroundings. That panicked lurch someone experiences when a door slams shut somewhere in the house, or the heightened awareness one feels when a twig cracks in a nearby bush while out on an evening stroll are both examples of the reptilian cortex at work. This line clearly illustrates that the reptilian cortex consists of a startle centre which allows humans to respond quickly to sudden movements and noise. So, the answer is A.
23 Answer: brain dead
Question type: Sentence Completion
Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 3
Answer explanation:We understand from the third line of paragraph 5, that the most devastating form of brain damage, for example, is a condition in which someone is understood to be brain dead, where a person appears merely unconscious and sleeping, without actually performing any other activities. Here, the reptilian brain is functioning on autopilot despite the permanent loss of other cortexes. Thus, a person with only a functioning reptilian cortex (life survival mechanisms like sleeping, respiration) is known as brain dead. So, the answer is brain dead.
24 Answer: sociopathic behaviour
Question type: Sentence completion
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 5
Answer explanation: We find reference in 5th line of 6th paragraph, where it is mentioned that limbic damage is closely related to sociopathic behaviour in human species. We understand from these lines that sociopathic behaviour in humans is associated with limbic disruption. Thus, the answer is sociopathic behaviour.
25 Answer: neocortex
Question type: Sentence completion
Answer location: Paragraph 7, first 3 lines
Answer explanation: The introductory line of paragraph 7 illustrates an example of neurological wonders, when a railway worker named Phineas Gage survived an incident during which a metal rod skewered his skull, which resulted in removing a considerable amount of neocortex with metal. Thus, the answer is neocortex.
26 Answer: Animal propensities
Question type: Sentence completion
Answer location: Paragraph 7, lines 4 – 5
Answer explanation: We understand from the fourth line of 7th paragraph that after his accident, Gage continued to live and work as before, but his fellow employees observed a shift in the equilibrium of his personality. Gage’s animal propensities were now sharply pronounced while his intellectual abilities suffered; garrulous or obscene jokes replaced his once quick wit. These lines illustrate that there was an imbalance between animal propensities and intellectual abilities. So, the answer is animal propensities.
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