Book Review on Musicophilia Reading Answers

Nov 30, 2022

Book Review on Musicophilia Reading Answers comprises14 questions that have to be answered in 20 minutes. Book Review on Musicophilia Reading Answers comprises question types, namely- choosing the correct letter, true/false/not given and complete the sentence. For true/false/not given, candidates must read the passage and understand the statement provided before answering. In choose the correct letter, candidates are required to answer based on a given cue. They are required to choose from multiple options. In completing the sentence, candidates must choose the correct letter that would end the sentence correctly reading from the passage. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question.

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Reading Passage Questions

Music and the brain are both endlessly fascinating subjects, and as a neuroscientist specialising in auditory learning and memory, I find them especially intriguing. So I had high expectations of Musicophilia, the latest offering from neurologist and prolific author Oliver Sacks. And I confess to feeling a little guilty reporting that my reactions to the book are mixed.
Sacks himself is the best part of Musicophilia. He richly documents his own life in the book and reveals highly personal experiences. The photograph of him on the cover of the book-which shows him wearing headphones, eyes closed, clearly enchanted as he listens to Alfred Brendel perform Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata-makes a positive impression that is borne out by the contents of the book. Sacks’ voice throughout is steady and erudite but never pontifical. He is neither self-conscious nor self-promoting.
The preface gives a good idea of what the book will deliver. In it, Sacks explains that he wants to convey the insights gleaned from the “enormous and rapidly growing body of work on the neural underpinnings of musical perception and imagery, and the complex and often bizarre disorders to which these are prone.” He also stresses the importance of “the simple art of observation” and “the richness of the human context.” He wants to combine “observation and description with the latest in technology,” he says, and to imaginatively enter into the experience of his patients and subjects. The reader can see that Sacks, who has been practising neurology for 40 years, is torn between the “old-fashioned” path of observation and the new-fangled, high-tech approach: He knows that he needs to take heed of the latter, but his heart lies with the former.
The book consists mainly of detailed descriptions of cases, most of them involving patients whom Sacks has seen in his practice. Brief discussions of contemporary neuroscientific reports are sprinkled liberally throughout the text. Part, “Haunted by Music,” begins with the strange case of Tony Cicoria, a nonmusical, middle-aged surgeon who was consumed by a love of music after being hit by lightning. He suddenly began to crave listening to piano music, which he had never cared for in the past. He started to play the piano and then to compose music, which arose spontaneously in his mind in a “torrent” of notes. How could this happen? Was the cause psychological? (He had had a near-death experience when the lightning struck him.) Or was it the direct result of a change in the auditory regions of his cerebral cortex? Electroencephalography (EEG) showed his brain waves to be normal in the mid-1990s, just after his trauma and subsequent “conversion” to music. There are now more sensitive tests, but Cicoria has declined to undergo them; he does not want to delve into the causes of his musicality. What a shame!
Part II, “A Range of Musicality,” covers a wider variety of topics, but unfortunately, some of the chapters offer little or nothing that is new. For example, chapter 13, which is five pages long, merely notes that the blind often has better hearing than the sighted. The most interesting chapters are those that present the strangest cases. Chapter 8 is about “amusia,” an inability to hear sounds like music, and “dysharmonia,” a highly specific impairment of the ability to hear harmony, with the ability to understand melody left intact. Such specific “dissociations” are found throughout the cases Sacks recounts.
To Sacks’s credit, part III, “Memory, Movement and Music,” brings us into the underappreciated realm of music therapy. Chapter 16 explains how “melodic intonation therapy” is being used to help expressive aphasic patients (those unable to express their thoughts verbally following a stroke or other cerebral incident) once again become capable of fluent speech. In chapter 20, Sacks demonstrates the near-miraculous power of music to animate Parkinson’s patients and other people with severe movement disorders, even those who are frozen into odd postures. Scientists cannot yet explain how music achieves this effect
To readers who are unfamiliar with neuroscience and music behaviour, Musicophilia may be something of a revelation. But the book will not satisfy those seeking the causes and implications of the phenomena Sacks describes. For one thing, Sacks appears to be more at ease discussing patients than discussing experiments. And he tends to be rather uncritical in accepting scientific findings and theories.
It’s true that the causes of music-brain oddities remain poorly understood. However, Sacks could have done more to draw out some of the implications of the careful observations that he and other neurologists have made and of the treatments that have been successful. For example, he might have noted that the many specific dissociations among components of music comprehension, such as loss of the ability to perceive harmony but not melody, indicate that there is no music centre in the brain. Because many people who read the book are likely to believe in the brain localisation of all mental functions, this was a missed educational opportunity.
Another conclusion one could draw is that there seem to be no “cures” for neurological problems involving music. A drug can alleviate a symptom in one patient and aggravate it in another or can have both positive and negative effects in the same patient. Treatments mentioned seem to be almost exclusively antiepileptic medications, which “damp down” the excitability of the brain in general; their effectiveness varies widely.
Finally, in many of the cases described here the patient with music-brain symptoms is reported to have “normal” EEG results. Although Sacks recognises the existence of new technologies, among them far more sensitive ways to analyse brain waves than the standard neurological EEG test, he doesn't call for their use. In fact, although he exhibits the greatest compassion for patients, he conveys no sense of urgency about the pursuit of new avenues in the diagnosis and treatment of music-brain disorders. This absence echoes the book’s preface, in which Sacks expresses fear that “the simple art of observation may be lost” if we rely too much on new technologies. He does call for both approaches, though, and we can only hope that the neurological community will respond

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-4:
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

Question 1. Why does the writer have mixed feelings about the book?

The guilty feeling made him so.
The writer expected it to be better than it was.
Sacks failed to include his personal stories in the book.
This is the only book written by Sacks.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: As the author admits, he feels a little bad about reporting that the book's reception has been mixed.
Keywords: book, mixed, admits
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 4
Explanation: It can be concluded from the above reading passage that the author has quoted statements about feeling bad regarding mixed reactions to the book.

Question 2. What is the best part of the book?

the photo of Sacks listening to music
the tone of voice of the book
the autobiographical description in the book
the description of Sacks’ wealth

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The best part of Musicophilia is Sacks himself.
Keywords: Musicophilia, the best part
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 1-4
Explanation: The author quotes that sacks has turned out to be the best part of Musicophilia. It is quoted in paragraph B, from line 1-4 that the author vivdly documents their own life and shares in-depth personal experiences.

Question 3. In the preface, what did Sacks try to achieve?

make a herald introduction of the research work and technique applied
give a detailed description of various musical disorders
explain why he needs to do away with the simple observation
explain why he needs to do away with the simple observation

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Sacks wants to combine observation and description with the most cutting-edge technology available.
Keywords: Sacks, technology, cutting-edge
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 6-7
Explanation: It is conclusive from the above reading passage that Sacks want to indulge both the observational aspects and the description part with latest technology.

Question 4. What is disappointing about Tony Cicoria’s case?

He refuses to have further tests.
He can’t determine the cause of his sudden musicality.
He nearly died because of the lightening.
His brain waves were too normal to show anything.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: More sensitive tests are now available, but Cicoria has declined to take them because he does not want to delve into the causes of his musicality.
Keywords: Tony Cicoria, sensitive tests, musicality
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, lines 11-13
Explanation: According to reading passage, a number of tests have been developed. However, Cicoria denies undergoing any of it. According to the author, he denies indulging with any if the mentioned tests.

Questions 5-10:
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage?
In boxes 5-10 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
FALSE if the statement contradicts with the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Question 5. It is difficult to give a well-reputable writer a less than totally favourable review.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: I confess to feeling a little guilty reporting that my reactions to the book are mixed
Keywords: guilty, reactions, mixed
Keyword Location: Para A, last line.
Explanation: In the reading passage, it has been mentioned that an individual feels guilty to criticise the perspective of the author of the book in relevance to few of the aspects. Moroever, it is challenging for the reader and further might turn out as mixed reactions with respect to the book.

Question 6. Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata is a good treatment for musical disorders.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: “Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata-makes a positive impression that is borne out by the contents of the book” is what is stated in the passage. It means hat the positive impression is created by the content of the book. However, it being a good treatment for musical disorders is not given.

Question 7. Sacks believes technological methods are of little importance compared with traditional observation when studying his patients.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Sacks, a 40-year neurology veteran, is torn between the old-fashioned method of observation and the cutting-edge, high-tech approach.
Keywords: method of observation, high-tech approach
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 7 to 9
Explanation: It is conclusive from the reading passage that a 40-year neurology veteran struggles between the "old-fashioned" method of observation and the cutting-edge, high-tech approach.

Question 8. It is difficult to understand why music therapy is undervalued

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: part III of the book includes the chapter for, “Memory, Movement and Music,” that brings us into the underappreciated realm of music therapy

Question 9. Sacks held little scepticism when borrowing other theories and findings in describing reasons and notions for phenomena he depicts in the book.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: Sacks seems to be more at ease talking about patients than experiments. And he has a habit of accepting scientific findings and theories without question.
Keywords: theories, experiments
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines 5-6
Explanation: According to the reading passage Sacks seems to be more comfortable with discussing experiments with its patients. Moroever, he has acquired a habit of accepting scientific findings and theories without question.

Question 10. Sacks is in a rush to use new testing methods to do treatment for patients.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Sacks seems to be more at ease talking about patients than experiments.
Keywords: methods, experiments
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines 3-4
Explanation: According to the reading passage Sacks seems to be more comfortable with discussing experiments with its patients. Moroever, he has acquired a habit of accepting scientific findings and theories without question.

Questions 11-14:
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.

Question 11. The content covered dissociations in understanding between harmony and melody

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: Many specific dissociations among components of music comprehension, such as the loss of the ability to perceive harmony but not melody, suggest that the brain lacks a music centre, according to Sacks.
Keywords: harmony, melody, dissociations
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, lines 3 to 5
Explanation: According to the passage, Sacks mentioned that numerous numerous specific dissociations among components of music comprehension have been experienced. For example, loosing the ability to perceive harmony but not melody, indicate that the brain lacks a music centre.

Question 12. The study of treating musical disorders

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Sacks says he wants to share what he has learned from an enormous and rapidly growing body of work on the neural underpinnings of musical perception and imagery, as well as the complex and often bizarre disorders to which these are prone.
Keywords: musical perception, imagery
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 1 to 4
Explanation: Sacks says he wants to share what he has learned from an enormous and rapidly growing body of work. He added that on the neural underpinnings of musical perception and imagery, as well as the complex and often bizarre disorders to which these are prone.

Question 13. The EEG scans of Sacks’ patients

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In the mid-1990s, just after his trauma and subsequent conversion to music, electroencephalography (EEG) revealed that his brain waves were normal.
Keywords: electroencephalography (EEG), brain wave
Keyword Location: Paragraph D. last lines
Explanation: In the mid-1990s, just after his trauma and subsequent "conversion" to music, electroencephalography (EEG) revealed that his brain waves were normal.

Question 14. Sacks believes testing based on new technologies

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Sacks expresses concern that if we rely too heavily on new technologies, the simple art of observation may be lost.
Keywords: new technologies, observation
Keyword Location: Paragraph J, lines 6-7
Explanation: In the reading passage, Sacks shows concern upon reliance on too heavily on new technologies, "the simple art of observation may be lost."

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