Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading Test 4: answers explained

Explanation for each answer

Passage 1 · Q1–13 Bats to the rescue

1. Question 1

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Many Madagascan forests are being destroyed by attacks from insects.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   And a key reason for this destruction is that insect pests are destroying vast quantities of what is grown by local subsistence farmers, leading them to clear forest to create new paddy fields.

   Explanation

   Insects do not destroy the forests directly. They ruin rice crops, and farmers then cut down forest to make new paddy fields. The cause of forest loss is human clearing, only indirectly linked to insects, so the statement contradicts the passage and is FALSE rather than not given.

2. Question 2

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Loss of habitat has badly affected insectivorous bats in Madagascar.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   In fact, some of the island’s insectivorous bats are currently thriving and this has important implications for farmers and conservationists alike.

   Explanation

   The statement claims that habitat loss has negatively impacted insectivorous bats. However, the final sentence of the first paragraph states: 'In fact, some of the island’s insectivorous bats are currently thriving'. 'Thriving' means doing well and flourishing, which is the opposite of being 'badly affected'. This directly contradicts the statement, making it FALSE.

3. Question 3

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Ricardo Rocha has carried out studies of bats in different parts of the world.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   More specifically, he’s interested in how bats are responding to human activity and deforestation in particular.

   Explanation

   All of Rocha's work that the passage reports took place in Madagascar, near Ranomafana National Park, and his general interest is described as bats' reaction to human activity and deforestation. Studies in the USA and Catalonia are mentioned, but they are credited to other researchers. Nothing says that Rocha himself has investigated bats in several countries, so the statement is NOT GIVEN.

4. Question 4

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Habitat modification has resulted in indigenous bats in Madagascar becoming useful to farmers.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   Co-leading an international team of scientists, Rocha found that several species of indigenous bats are taking advantage of habitat modification to hunt insects swarming above the country’s rice fields.

   Explanation

   The statement claims that changes to the habitat have made indigenous bats useful to farmers. The fourth paragraph states that indigenous bat species 'are taking advantage of habitat modification to hunt insects swarming above the country’s rice fields'. Ricardo Rocha is then quoted in the fifth paragraph saying, 'These winner species are providing a valuable free service to Madagascar as biological pest suppressors' and confirms they are 'preying on rice pests'. Since 'habitat modification' (creating rice fields) is allowing bats to hunt insect pests on rice fields, and these bats are providing a 'valuable free service' as 'biological pest suppressors' by preying on 'rice pests', they are indeed becoming useful to farmers. This confirms the statement, making it TRUE.

5. Question 5

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   The Malagasy mouse-eared bat is more common than other indigenous bat species in Madagascar.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   They include the Malagasy mouse-eared bat, Major’s long-fingered bat, the Malagasy white-bellied free-tailed bat and Peters’ wrinkle-lipped bat.

   Explanation

   The statement claims that the Malagasy mouse-eared bat is more common than other indigenous species. The passage, in the fourth paragraph, lists the Malagasy mouse-eared bat as one of the species taking advantage of modified habitats to hunt insects. However, the passage only lists several specific species by name and does not provide any information or comparison about the relative populations or commonness of these or other indigenous bat species in Madagascar. Therefore, the information needed to confirm or contradict the statement is not present, making it NOT GIVEN.

6. Question 6

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Bats may feed on paddy swarming caterpillars and grass webworms.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We found that six species of bat are preying on rice pests, including the paddy swarming caterpillar and grass webworm.

   Explanation

   The statement suggests that bats might feed on paddy swarming caterpillars and grass webworms. In the fifth paragraph, Ricardo Rocha is quoted as saying, 'We found that six species of bat are preying on rice pests, including the paddy swarming caterpillar and grass webworm.' The phrase 'preying on' means actively hunting and feeding on. The use of 'including' confirms that these specific insects are among the rice pests the bats eat. This directly supports the statement, making it TRUE.

7. Question 7

   Table completion

   Question

   ● ultrasonic recording to identify favourite feeding spots ● DNA analysis of bat ______

   Answer

   droppings

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 7

   Sentence in the passage

   The next used DNA barcoding techniques to analyse droppings collected from bats at the different sites.

   Explanation

   The note describes the 'Method' of the study, mentioning 'DNA analysis'. It asks what was analysed using this method. The second sentence of the seventh paragraph states: 'The next used DNA barcoding techniques to analyse droppings collected from bats at the different sites.' This indicates that 'droppings' were analysed using DNA techniques. The blank requires a noun, and 'droppings' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'droppings' is taken directly from the passage.

8. Question 8

   Table completion

   Question

   ● the bats – were most active in rice fields located on hills – ate pests of rice, ______, sugarcane, nuts and fruit – prevent the spread of disease by eating … and blackflies ● local attitudes to bats are mixed: – they provide food rich in … – the buildings where they roost become … – they play an important role in local …

   Answer

   coffee

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 8

   Sentence in the passage

   While the findings indicated that rice farming benefits most from the bats, the scientists also found indications that the bats were consuming pests of other crops, including the black twig borer (which infests coffee plants), the sugarcane cicada, the macadamia nut-borer, and the sober tabby (a pest of citrus fruits).

   Explanation

   The note lists crops whose pests were eaten by bats: rice, sugarcane, nuts, and fruit, and asks for one more. The final sentence of the eighth paragraph states that scientists found indications that bats were consuming pests of 'other crops, including the black twig borer (which infests coffee plants), the sugarcane cicada, the macadamia nut-borer, and the sober tabby (a pest of citrus fruits)'. This sentence lists pests of coffee, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, and citrus fruits. The list in the question includes sugarcane, nuts (macadamia nut-borer implies nuts), and fruit (citrus fruits imply fruit). The missing crop from the list that is mentioned here is coffee. The blank requires a noun, and 'coffee' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'coffee' is taken directly from the passage.

9. Question 9

   Table completion

   Question

   ● the bats – were most active in rice fields located on hills – ate pests of rice, …, sugarcane, nuts and fruit – prevent the spread of disease by eating ______ and blackflies ● local attitudes to bats are mixed: – they provide food rich in … – the buildings where they roost become … – they play an important role in local …

   Answer

   mosquitoes

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 10

   Sentence in the passage

   While the animal is often associated with spreading disease, Rocha and his team found evidence that Malagasy bats feed not just on crop pests but also on mosquitoes – carriers of malaria, Rift Valley fever virus and elephantiasis – as well as blackflies, which spread river blindness.

   Explanation

   The note states that bats help prevent disease by eating '__________ and blackflies'. The second sentence of the tenth paragraph says that bats 'feed not just on crop pests but also on mosquitoes ... as well as blackflies'. This sentence explicitly lists mosquitoes and blackflies as things bats eat, and the context relates this feeding activity to preventing disease (mosquitoes are 'carriers of malaria, Rift Valley fever virus and elephantiasis' and blackflies 'spread river blindness'). The blank requires a noun, and 'mosquitoes' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'mosquitoes' is taken directly from the passage.

10. Question 10

    Table completion

    Question

    ● the bats – were most active in rice fields located on hills – ate pests of rice, …, sugarcane, nuts and fruit – prevent the spread of disease by eating … and blackflies ● local attitudes to bats are mixed: – they provide food rich in ______ – the buildings where they roost become … – they play an important role in local …

    Answer

    protein

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 11

    Sentence in the passage

    When food is scarce, bats become a crucial source of protein for local people.

    Explanation

    The note is about local attitudes and mentions that bats provide food. The second sentence of the eleventh paragraph states, 'When food is scarce, bats become a crucial source of protein for local people.' This indicates that bats are eaten by local people and are a source of protein, especially when other food is scarce. The blank requires a noun, and 'protein' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'protein' is taken directly from the passage.

11. Question 11

    Table completion

    Question

    ● the bats – were most active in rice fields located on hills – ate pests of rice, …, sugarcane, nuts and fruit – prevent the spread of disease by eating … and blackflies ● local attitudes to bats are mixed: – they provide food rich in … – the buildings where they roost become ______ – they play an important role in local …

    Answer

    unclean

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 11

    Sentence in the passage

    And as well as roosting in trees, the bats sometimes roost in buildings, but are not welcomed there because they make them unclean.

    Explanation

    The note mentions local attitudes and buildings where bats roost. The fourth sentence of the eleventh paragraph says that bats 'sometimes roost in buildings, but are not welcomed there because they make them unclean.' This explains a negative local attitude towards bats roosting in buildings: they make the buildings 'unclean'. The blank requires an adjective or noun describing the state of the buildings, and 'unclean' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'unclean' is taken directly from the passage.

12. Question 12

    Table completion

    Question

    ● the bats – were most active in rice fields located on hills – ate pests of rice, …, sugarcane, nuts and fruit – prevent the spread of disease by eating … and blackflies ● local attitudes to bats are mixed: – they provide food rich in … – the buildings where they roost become … – they play an important role in local ______

    Answer

    culture

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 11

    Sentence in the passage

    At the same time, however, they are associated with sacred caves and the ancestors, so they can be viewed as beings between worlds, which makes them very significant in the culture of the people.

    Explanation

    The note lists local attitudes and mentions bats playing an important role. The fifth sentence of the eleventh paragraph states that bats 'are associated with sacred caves and the ancestors ... which makes them very significant in the culture of the people.' This indicates that bats are important within the local 'culture'. The blank requires a noun, and 'culture' fits the context and word limit. The answer 'culture' is taken directly from the passage.

13. Question 13

    Table completion

    Question

    ● farmers should provide special ______ to support the bat population

    Answer

    houses

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 11

    Sentence in the passage

    Rocha says, ‘With the right help, we hope that farmers can promote this mutually beneficial relationship by installing bat houses.’

    Explanation

    The note provides a recommendation for farmers to support the bat population. The final sentence of the eleventh paragraph quotes Rocha saying, 'With the right help, we hope that farmers can promote this mutually beneficial relationship by installing bat houses.' This is a recommendation for farmers to help the bats. The blank requires a noun describing what farmers should provide, and 'bat houses' fits the context. Since the word limit is ONE WORD ONLY, and 'bat houses' is a compound noun often treated as one concept, the most likely single word intended is 'houses'. The answer 'houses' is part of the phrase 'bat houses' taken from the passage.

Passage 2 · Q14–26 Does education fuel economic growth?

1. Question 14

   Matching information

   Question

   an explanation of the need for research to focus on individuals with a fairly consistent income

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   One way to look at whether education causes economic growth is to ‘hold wealth constant’.

   Explanation

   Why would researchers want to compare people with similar means? Section E explains: to test whether education drives growth, the team plans to 'hold wealth constant', following different people who have the same level of wealth. With wealth steady, any link between education and new crops or machines stands out. Section B talks about education and growth at country level, so it does not deal with individuals' incomes.

2. Question 15

   Matching information

   Question

   examples of the sources the database has been compiled from

   Answer

   A

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   It includes court records, guild ledgers, parish registers, village censuses, tax lists and – the most recent addition – 9,000 handwritten inventories listing over a million personal possessions belonging to ordinary women and men across three centuries.

   Explanation

   The question asks for examples of the sources used to compile the database. The correct answer is Section A. According to the passage's section range ([1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2]), Section A corresponds to the first paragraph (global index 0). The second sentence of this paragraph explicitly lists the sources: 'It includes court records, guild ledgers, parish registers, village censuses, tax lists and – the most recent addition – 9,000 handwritten inventories listing over a million personal possessions...'. These are clear examples of the database sources.

3. Question 16

   Matching information

   Question

   an account of one individual’s refusal to obey an order

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   When Juliana continued taking jobs reserved for male guild members, she was summoned before the guild court and told to pay a fine equivalent to one third of a servant’s annual wage.

   Explanation

   Juliana Schweickherdt, a spinster in Wildberg, was reprimanded for weaving and combing wool, yet carried on and was fined by the guild court. That single woman's defiance is the account of one person disobeying. The other sections deal with groups, data or general findings, not one individual.

4. Question 17

   Matching information

   Question

   a reference to a region being particularly suited to research into the link between education and economic growth

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Paragraph F

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘German-speaking central Europe is an excellent laboratory for testing theories of economic growth,’ she explains.

   Explanation

   Ogilvie calls German-speaking central Europe an excellent laboratory for testing growth theories, which is exactly a region well suited to this research. She backs it with high literacy yet continuing poverty. Section A only describes the German villages' database and does not praise the region itself.

5. Question 18

   Matching information

   Question

   examples of the items included in a list of personal possessions

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   From badger skins to Bibles, sewing machines to scarlet bodices – the villagers’ entire worldly goods are included.

   Explanation

   Section C gives a colourful sample of what the inventories recorded: badger skins, Bibles, sewing machines and scarlet bodices. The question wants concrete items, and these are the only named objects. Section A mentions the inventories and a million possessions, but names no actual item.

6. Question 19

   Summary completion

   Question

   The database that Ogilvie and her team has compiled sheds light on the lives of a range of individuals, as well as those of their ______, over a 300-year period.

   Answer

   descendants

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We can follow the same people – and their descendants – across 300 years of educational and economic change,’ she says.

   Explanation

   The note describes the database and refers to following the lives of individuals over 300 years. The blank needs a word to complete the phrase 'as well as those of their'. The fifth paragraph (global index 4) states, '‘We can follow the same people – and their descendants – across 300 years of educational and economic change,’ she says.' The word 'descendants' fits grammatically and contextually into the blank, referring to the later generations studied by the team. It is a single word, matching the 'ONE WORD' limit.

7. Question 20

   Summary completion

   Question

   For example, Ana Regina and Magdalena Riethmüllerin were reprimanded for reading while they should have been paying attention to a ______

   Answer

   sermon

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   Stories like that of the 24-year-olds Ana Regina and Magdalena Riethmüllerin, who were chastised in 1707 for reading books in church instead of listening to the sermon.

   Explanation

   The note refers to the example of Ana Regina and Magdalena Riethmüllerin and why they were reprimanded. The blank needs a word for something they should have been paying attention to instead of reading. The fifth paragraph (global index 4) describes these two individuals: 'Stories like that of the 24-year-olds Ana Regina and Magdalena Riethmüllerin, who were chastised in 1707 for reading books in church instead of listening to the sermon.' The word 'sermon' fits the context of being in church and what they should have been listening to. It is a single word, fitting the 'ONE WORD' limit.

8. Question 21

   Summary completion

   Question

   As a punishment, she was later given a ______ Cases like this illustrate how the guilds could prevent … and stop skilled people from working

   Answer

   fine

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   When Juliana continued taking jobs reserved for male guild members, she was summoned before the guild court and told to pay a fine equivalent to one third of a servant’s annual wage.

   Explanation

   The note discusses Juliana Schweickherdt and what happened when she broke guild rules. The blank needs a word for the punishment she received. The fifth paragraph (global index 4) continues the story of Juliana Schweickherdt: 'When Juliana continued taking jobs reserved for male guild members, she was summoned before the guild court and told to pay a fine equivalent to one third of a servant’s annual wage.' This shows that the punishment she was given was to 'pay a fine'. The word 'fine' is a single word and fits the context of a punishment imposed by a court. It meets the 'ONE WORD' limit.

9. Question 22

   Summary completion

   Question

   As a punishment, she was later given a … Cases like this illustrate how the guilds could prevent ______ and stop skilled people from working

   Answer

   innovation

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   The dominance of guilds not only prevented people from using their skills, but also held back even the simplest industrial innovation.

   Explanation

   The note summarises the examples, suggesting they show how guilds prevented something and stopped skilled people from working. The blank needs a noun. The end of the fifth paragraph (global index 4), following the example of Juliana, states: 'The dominance of guilds not only prevented people from using their skills, but also held back even the simplest industrial innovation.' This sentence links the guilds' actions to preventing people from using skills and 'held back... innovation'. The word 'innovation' fits the context of something the guilds prevented. It is a single word, meeting the 'ONE WORD' limit.

10. Question 23

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about literacy rates in Section B?

    Answer

    B

    Location

    Paragraph B

    Sentence in the passage

    During this period, Germany and Scandinavia had excellent literacy rates, but their economies grew slowly and they industrialised late.

    Explanation

    The question asks about statements the writer makes regarding literacy rates in Section B. This explanation is for option B: 'Literacy rates in Germany between 1600 and 1900 were very good'. Section B (the second paragraph) discusses historical literacy rates and economic growth. The fourth sentence states, 'During this period, Germany and Scandinavia had excellent literacy rates...'. 'Excellent' is synonymous with 'very good', confirming this statement as made by the writer.

11. Question 24

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about literacy rates in Section B?

    Answer

    E

    Location

    Paragraph B

    Sentence in the passage

    ‘Modern cross-country analyses have also struggled to find evidence that education causes economic growth, even though there is plenty of evidence that growth increases education,’ she adds.

    Explanation

    The question asks about statements the writer makes regarding literacy rates in Section B. This explanation is for option E: 'Economic growth can help to improve literacy rates.' Section B (the second paragraph) discusses the relationship between education/literacy and economic growth. The final sentence of the paragraph states, 'Modern cross-country analyses have also struggled to find evidence that education causes economic growth, even though there is plenty of evidence that growth increases education,' she adds. This sentence directly supports the idea that growth increases education (which includes literacy), meaning economic growth can help improve literacy rates.

12. Question 25

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make in Section F about guilds in German-speaking Central Europe between 1600 and 1900?

    Answer

    B

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    In villages throughout the region, guilds blocked labour migration and resisted changes that might reduce their influence.

    Explanation

    The writer says guilds in the region's villages blocked labour migration, meaning they stopped workers moving in to find jobs. That is option B. Nothing suggests guilds trained young people, and wealth or record-keeping by guilds elsewhere is never discussed, so A, C and E have no support.

13. Question 26

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make in Section F about guilds in German-speaking Central Europe between 1600 and 1900?

    Answer

    D

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    It was also the case that local guilds and merchant associations were extremely powerful and legislated against anything that undermined their monopolies.

    Explanation

    Guilds and merchant associations were powerful and made rules against anything weakening their monopolies, which is the same as resisting practices that threatened their control of a trade. This is option D. Option E is wrong because the passage says associations were powerful, not that members were mainly wealthy merchants.

Passage 3 · Q27–40 Timur Gareyev – blindfold chess champion

1. Question 27

   Matching information

   Question

   a reference to earlier examples of blindfold chess

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   The first recorded game in Europe was played in 13th-century Florence.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a reference to earlier examples of blindfold chess. The correct answer is Section D. According to the passage's structure, Section D corresponds to the fourth paragraph of the passage. The third sentence of this paragraph explicitly mentions 'The first recorded game in Europe was played in 13th-century Florence', which is an earlier example. The fourth sentence provides another example: 'In 1947, the Argentinian grandmaster Miguel Najdorf played 45 simultaneous games in his mind...'. These sentences in paragraph 3 provide historical examples of blindfold chess.

2. Question 28

   Matching information

   Question

   an outline of what blindfold chess involves

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   The nature of the game is to run through possible moves in the mind to see how they play out.

   Explanation

   The question asks for an outline of what blindfold chess involves. The correct answer is Section E. According to the passage's structure, Section E corresponds to the fifth paragraph. The second sentence explains the basic nature: 'The nature of the game is to run through possible moves in the mind...'. The third sentence adds that players 'develop a memory for the patterns...'. The seventh sentence goes into detail about what simultaneous blindfold chess involves: memorising positions, recalling them, updating them with moves, and storing them again. These sentences collectively provide an outline of the mental processes involved in playing blindfold chess, especially multiple games.

3. Question 29

   Matching information

   Question

   a claim that Gareyev’s skill is limited to chess

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Paragraph F

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We didn’t find anything other than playing chess that he seems to be supremely gifted at.’

   Explanation

   The question asks for a claim that Gareyev's skill is limited to chess. The correct answer is Section F. According to the passage's structure, Section F corresponds to the sixth paragraph. In this paragraph, after describing standard memory tests, Rissman is quoted in the sixth sentence as saying: 'We didn’t find anything other than playing chess that he seems to be supremely gifted at.' This statement is a direct claim from the researchers that Gareyev's exceptional ability appears to be limited to chess, as he wasn't exceptional on other memory tests.

4. Question 30

   Matching information

   Question

   why Gareyev’s skill is of interest to scientists

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   In the hope of understanding how he and others like him can perform such mental feats, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) called him in for tests.

   Explanation

   The question asks why Gareyev's skill is of interest to scientists. The correct answer is Section B. According to the passage's structure, Section B corresponds to the second paragraph. The second sentence states the reason for scientific interest: 'In the hope of understanding how he and others like him can perform such mental feats, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) called him in for tests.' This sentence explicitly explains that scientists are interested in understanding the 'mental feats' performed by Gareyev and others like him. The subsequent sentences quote Rissman highlighting the 'remarkable' and 'astonishing' nature of the number of games he can keep track of simultaneously.

5. Question 31

   Matching information

   Question

   an outline of Gareyev’s priorities

   Answer

   H

   Location

   Paragraph H

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘I don’t worry too much about the winning percentage, that’s never been an issue for me,’ he said.

   Explanation

   The question asks for an outline of Gareyev's priorities. The correct answer is Section H. According to the passage's structure, Section H corresponds to the eighth paragraph. In this paragraph, Gareyev is quoted discussing his approach to his record attempt. The fourth and fifth sentences state his main priority: ''The most important part of blindfold chess for me is that I have found the one thing that I can fully dedicate myself to. I miss having an obsession.’' He also mentions he doesn't 'worry too much about the winning percentage'. These statements provide a clear outline of what is most important to him regarding blindfold chess – finding something to dedicate himself to, rather than solely focusing on the winning percentage.

6. Question 32

   Matching information

   Question

   a reason why the last part of a game may be difficult

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   But the ends of games are taxing too, as exhaustion sets in.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a reason why the last part of a game may be difficult. The correct answer is Section E. According to the passage's structure, Section E corresponds to the fifth paragraph. This paragraph discusses the mental challenge of blindfold chess. The ninth sentence specifically addresses the difficulty of the end of games: 'But the ends of games are taxing too, as exhaustion sets in.' It states that 'exhaustion sets in' at the end of games, which makes this part 'taxing' or difficult. This directly provides a reason for the difficulty of the last part of a game.

7. Question 33

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   In the forthcoming games, all the participants will be blindfolded.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   While his challengers will play the games as normal, Gareyev himself will be blindfolded.

   Explanation

   The statement says that all participants will be blindfolded in the forthcoming games. The first paragraph states: 'While his challengers will play the games as normal, Gareyev himself will be blindfolded.' This directly contradicts the statement, as it says only Gareyev will be blindfolded, while his opponents (challengers) will play 'as normal' (implying they are not blindfolded). Therefore, the statement is FALSE.

8. Question 34

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Gareyev has won competitions in BASE jumping.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   He has a fondness for bright clothes and unusual hairstyles, and he gets his kicks from the adventure sport of BASE jumping.

   Explanation

   The statement says Gareyev has won BASE jumping competitions. The first paragraph mentions that Gareyev 'gets his kicks from the adventure sport of BASE jumping'. While this confirms he participates in BASE jumping and enjoys it, the passage does not mention whether he competes in or has won any competitions in this sport. Therefore, the information needed to confirm or deny the statement is not present, and the answer is NOT GIVEN.

9. Question 35

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   UCLA is the first university to carry out research into blindfold chess players.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   In the hope of understanding how he and others like him can perform such mental feats, researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) called him in for tests.

   Explanation

   The statement claims UCLA is the *first* university to research blindfold chess players. The second paragraph states that 'researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) called him in for tests' to understand his mental feats. This confirms UCLA is conducting research. However, the passage does not provide any information about whether other universities have conducted similar research in the past, let alone whether UCLA is the first to do so. Therefore, the information is NOT GIVEN.

10. Question 36

    True / False / Not Given

    Question

    Good chess players are likely to be able to play blindfold chess.

    Answer

    TRUE

    Location

    Paragraph E

    Sentence in the passage

    Accomplished players can develop the skill of playing blind even without realising it.

    Explanation

    The statement says good chess players are likely capable of playing blindfold chess. The fifth paragraph discusses the nature of blindfold chess skill. The first sentence states: 'Accomplished players can develop the skill of playing blind even without realising it.' 'Accomplished players' are good players. The fifth sentence quotes Gareyev saying: '‘A lot of players are capable of doing what I’m doing.’', referring to blindfold chess. These statements together indicate that good/accomplished players can develop this skill and that 'a lot' are capable of it, supporting the idea that they are 'likely' to be able to play blindfold chess. Therefore, the statement is TRUE.

11. Question 37

    Summary completion

    Question

    The researchers started by testing Gareyev’s ______; for example, he was required to recall a string of … in order and also in reverse order.

    Answer

    memory

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    The scientists first had Gareyev perform some standard memory tests.

    Explanation

    The note summarises the research. It states that the researchers started by testing Gareyev's ______. The sixth paragraph begins: 'The scientists first had Gareyev perform some standard memory tests.' This directly tells us what kind of tests they started with. The blank requires a noun, and 'memory' fits the context and the ONE WORD ONLY limit.

12. Question 38

    Summary completion

    Question

    The researchers started by testing Gareyev’s …; for example, he was required to recall a string of ______ in order and also in reverse order.

    Answer

    numbers

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    One classic test measures how many numbers a person can repeat, both forwards and backwards, soon after hearing them.

    Explanation

    The note describes one specific test: recalling a string of ______ in order and also in reverse order. The sixth paragraph, discussing the standard memory tests, describes one classic test in its third sentence: 'One classic test measures how many numbers a person can repeat, both forwards and backwards, soon after hearing them.' This matches the description in the note (recalling a string, in order - forwards, and in reverse order - backwards). The blank requires a noun, and 'numbers' fits the context and the ONE WORD ONLY limit.

13. Question 39

    Summary completion

    Question

    Although his performance was normal, scans showed an unusual amount of ______ within the areas of Gareyev’s brain that are concerned with directing attention.

    Answer

    communication

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    Though the results are tentative and as yet unpublished, the scans found much greater than average communication between parts of Gareyev’s brain that make up what is called the frontoparietal control network.

    Explanation

    The note states that scans showed an unusual amount of ______ within the areas of Gareyev's brain concerned with directing attention. The sixth paragraph, discussing brain scans, mentions finding 'much greater than average communication between parts of Gareyev’s brain that make up what is called the frontoparietal control network' in its ninth sentence. The final sentence states this network 'helps you to allocate attention'. This links the finding of increased 'communication' in this network to the function of directing 'attention', matching the note's description. The blank requires a noun, and 'communication' fits the context and the ONE WORD ONLY limit.

14. Question 40

    Summary completion

    Question

    In addition, the scans raised the possibility of unusual strength in the parts of his brain that deal with ______ input.

    Answer

    visual

    Location

    Paragraph G

    Sentence in the passage

    The scans also suggest that Gareyev’s visual network is more highly connected to other brain parts than usual.

    Explanation

    The note mentions that scans raised the possibility of unusual strength in parts of his brain that deal with ______ input. The seventh paragraph describes another finding from the scans: 'Gareyev’s visual network is more highly connected...' and 'the areas of his brain that process visual images – such as chess boards – may have stronger links...'. The term 'visual input' refers to processing visual information. The passage identifies the 'visual network' and areas that process 'visual images' as potentially having 'unusual strength' (stronger links, more powerful). The blank requires an adjective modifying 'input', and 'visual' fits the context and the ONE WORD ONLY limit.