Communication in Science Reading Answers

Dec 21, 2022

Communication in Science Reading Answers checks whether a student can understand, learn and then answer test questions with great efficiency. The IELTS Reading test helps students in improving their skills which includes reading, understanding, accessing and analyzing. This topic: Communication in Science Reading Answers is a part of the IELTS Reading Section. In Communication in Science Reading Answers, there are a few questions divided into sets, each demanding the performance of a different type of task. The questions are: Use No More than TWO Words, Select True, False, Not Given, and Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D. This topic is available in the book E-ENG-school IELTS Reading Test With Answers Key. Candidates can practice more similar topics like Communication in Science Reading Answers on IELTS Reading Practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Communication in Science Reading Answers

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

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.

Why is faithful science communication important?

Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives.
Science is fraught with challenges the public are interested in.
The nature of complexity in science communication leads to confusion.
Scientific inventions are more important than ever before.

Answer: A. Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives.
Supporting Sentence: Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives, making the faithful communication of scientific developments more important than ever.
Keyword: Faithful, communication
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, first line
Explanation: As per the passage, we see that faithful communication of scientific development plays a significant role in people’s life. It is important because the more it is communicated to people, the easier their life becomes. Hence, “Science plays an increasingly significant role in people’s lives” is the correct answer.

what is the reason that the author believes for the biggest challenges for science reporting

phenomenon such as global warming, cancer research, diet studies is too complex.
Scientists themselves often only partly understand the Theory of Evolution
Scientists do not totally comprehend the meaning of certain scientific evolution
Scientists themselves often partly understand the esoteric communication nature

Answer: C. Scientists do not totally comprehend the meaning of certain scientific evolution
Supporting Sentence: 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.
Keyword: reporting
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, 4th line
Explanation: The author states that in some areas, scientist themselves do not fully understand the implications of the development. If the scientists do not understand the implications, they will not be able to do the reporting correctly. Hence, “Scientists do not totally comprehend the meaning of certain scientific evolution” is the correct answer.

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

theory of relativity is about an invariant physical phenomenon
common people may be misled by the inaccurate choice of scientific phrase
the term “relativity,” is designed to be misleading public
everything is relative and there is no absolute existence

Answer: B. common people may be misled by the inaccurate choice of scientific phrase
Supporting Sentence: The term “relativity,” for example, is intrinsically misleading. Many interpret the theory to mean that everything is relative and there are no absolutes.
Keyword: Relativity
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 3-4
Explanation: The meaning of Relativity is that there are no absolutes. Relativity is when something is compared to other things. Hence, there is no possibilty to get any accuracy. There are no absolutes or definite results. This can be misleading for the common people as there are no absolutes. Hence, common people may be misled by the inaccurate choice of scientific phrase is the correct answer.

Which one is a good example of appropriate word choice:

Scientific theory for the uncertainty principle
phenomenon of Global warming
the importance of ozone layer
Freon’s destructive process on environmental

Answer: D. Freon’s destructive process on environmental
Supporting Sentence: 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.
Keyword: destruction, Freon
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, last line
Explanation: As per the author chlorofluorocarbon gases like Freon were destroying the ozone layer which is destructive on the environment. Option D. Freon’s destructive process on the environment is the correct answer.

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

There are equal intrinsic scientific abilities of men and women.
The proof applied by both sides seemed to be of no big difference.
The scientific data usually shows no substantial figures to support a debated idea.
Social factors might have a clear connection to scientific ability.

Answer: B. The proof applied by both sides seemed to be of no big difference.
Supporting Sentence: 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.
Keyword: Harvard, difference
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, line 3-4
Explanation: As per the author, one of the most surprising facts is that the data which should show the difference between 2 sides was not substantial. It also did not had substantial effects. Hence, it did not made any difference.

Questions 32-35
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

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

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Climatologists predict more drastic fluctuations in temperature and rainfall – not necessarily that every place will be warmer.
Keyword: Global warming, temperature, rainfall
Keyword Location: Paragraph , line 1-2
Explanation: The author says that “Global warming” is another example of problematic terminology. This was stated just before the supporting sentence. The supporting sentence states that climatologists predict more drastic changes in temperature and rainfall is caused due to global warming rather than a temperature rise. Hence, global warming affects temperature and rainfall but not global rise in temperature. This makes the statement True.

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

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: There is no suitable information in the passage which proves the statement to be True or False.

Harvard debates should focus more on female scientist and male scientists

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: There is no suitable information in the passage which proves the statement to be True or False.

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

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: The first would be to inculcate greater understanding and acceptance of indirect scientific evidence.
Keyword: evidence
Keyword Location: Paragraph H, 2nd last line
Explanation: The passage mentions that the first step would be to inculcate or install the idea of accepting indirect science evidence in the minds of the people. The given statement talks about just the opposite. This makes the answer False.

Questions 36-40
Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage
Using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.

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 are 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.

Question 36:

Answer: 36. Word choices
Supporting Sentence: Ambiguous word choices are the source of some misunderstandings.
Keyword: Ambiguous
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, 1st line
Explanation: The first line of paragraph C directly states that Ambiguous word choices are the sources of misunderstanding. The question also says about something that is Ambiguous.The answer hence is word choices.

Question 37:

Answer: 37. colloquial terminology
Supporting Sentence: Scientists often employ colloquial terminology, which they then assign a specific meaning that is impossible to fathom without proper training.
Keyword: colloquial
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, 2nd line
Explanation: The author states that scientist apply colloquial terms. The common people do not have training on colloquial terms. When such terms are used by scientists, they cannot understand. Hence, this is appropriate for the sentence. This makes colloquial terminology the correct answer.

Question 38:

Answer: 38. observer
Supporting Sentence: 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.
Keyword: measurement
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, 3rd line
Explanation: As per the passgae, measurements any observer makes depend on his coordinates and reference frame. Only the measurements can be considered. Except the measurements any observer makes can not be determined or cannot be used to describe a constant phenomenon. hence, observer is the correct answer.

Question 39:

Answer: 39. invariant description
Supporting Sentence: 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.
Keyword: observer
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, 3rd line
Explanation: The author states that the physical phenomena that the observer measures have an invariant description that transcends that observer’s particular coordinates.The observer measures a phenomenon which has a never changing or invariant description. Hence, invariant description is the correct answer.

Question 40:

Answer: 40. (theory of) general relativity
Supporting Sentence: Even Einstein took the better part of a decade to develop the correct version of his theory of general relativity.
Keyword: theory
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, last 2 lines
Explanation: As per the passage, we see that one good example of a theory is the theory of general relativity. This theory also was abandoned as scientists evolved with time. Hence, the example of general relativity is appropriate for this sentence.

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