Giving the Brain a Workout Reading Answers

Mar 4, 2023

Giving the Brain a Workout Reading Answers is a general reading topic discussing in detail the human brain. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “E-ENG-school IELTS Reading Test With Answers Key (New Edition)”. The topic named Giving the Brain a Workout Reading Answers has a total of 13 questions. The topic consists of three types of questions, which are, choosing the correct letter, no more than three words, and choosing the correct paragraph. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage to recognize the synonyms, identify the keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to score a good score in the reading section in which similar topics like Giving the Brain a Workout Reading Answers have been included.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

Giving the Brain a Workout Reading Answers

Mental agility does not have to decline with age, as long as you keep exercising your mind, says Anna van Praagh.

Use your brain and it will grow – it really will. This is the message from neuropsychologist Ian Robertson, professor of psychology at Trinity College, Dublin and founding director of the university’s Institute of Neuroscience. His book, Puzzler Brain Trainer 90-Day Workout, contains puzzles which he devised to stretch, sharpen and stimulate the brain. The puzzles, from 'memory jogs' to Sudoku to crosswords to number games are all-encompassing, and have been specially formulated to improve each and every part of the brain, from visual-spatial ability to perception, attention, memory, numerical ability, problem-solving and language.
Professor Robertson has been studying the brain for 57 years, in a career dedicated to changing and improving the way it works. During this time there has been a remarkable paradigm shift in the way scientists view the brain, he says. 'When I first started teaching and researching, a very pessimistic view prevailed that, from the age of three or four, we were continually losing brain cells and that the stocks couldn't be replenished. That has turned out to be factually wrong. Now that we know that the brain is "plastic" – it changes, adapts and is physically sharpened according to the experiences it has.'
Robertson likens our minds to trees in a park with branches spreading out, connecting and intertwining, with connections increasing in direct correlation to usage. He says that the “eureka” moment in his career – and the reason he devised his ‘brain trainer’ puzzles – was the realisation that the connections multiply with use and so it is possible to boost and improve our mental functions at any age. 'Now we know that it’s not just children whose brains are "plastic",' he says. 'No matter how old we are, our brains are physically changed by what we do and what we think.'
Robertson illustrates his point by referring to Dr Eleanor McGuire’s seminal 2000 study of the brains of London taxi drivers. That showed that their grey matter enlarges and adapts to help them build up a detailed mental map of the city. Brain scans revealed that the drivers had a much larger hippocampus (the part of the brain associated with navigation in birds and animals) compared with other people. Crucially, it grew larger the longer they spent doing their job. Similarly, there is strong statistical evidence that, by stretching the mind with games and puzzles, brainpower is increased. Conversely, if we do not stimulate our minds and keep the connections robust and intact, these connections will weaken and physically diminish. A more recent survey suggested that a 20-minute problem-solving session on the Nintendo DS game called 'Dr Kawashima's Brain Training' at the beginning of each day dramatically improved pupils’ test results, class attendance and behaviour. Astonishingly, pupils who used the Nintendo trainer saw their test scores rise by 50 per cent more than those who did not.
Robertson's puzzles have been designed to have the same effect on the brain, the only difference being that, for his, you need only a pencil to get started. The idea is to shake the brain out of lazy habits and train it to start functioning at its optimum level. It is Robertson’s belief that people who tackle the puzzles will see a dramatic improvement in their daily lives as the brain increases its ability across a broad spectrum. They should see an improvement in everything, from remembering people’s names at parties to increased attention span, mental agility, creativity and energy.
'Many of us are terrified of numbers,' he says, 'or under-confident with words. With practice, and by gently increasing the difficulty of the exercises, these puzzles will help people improve capacity across a whole range of mental domains.' The wonderful thing is that the puzzles take just five minutes, but are the mental equivalent of doing a jog or going to the gym. 'In the same way that physical exercise is good for you, so is keeping your brain stimulated,' Robertson says. 'Quite simply, those who keep themselves mentally challenged function significantly better mentally than those who do not.'
The puzzles are aimed at all ages. Robertson says that some old people are so stimulated that they hardly need to exercise their brains further, while some young people hardly use theirs at all and are therefore in dire need of a workout. He does concede, however, that whereas most young people are constantly forced to learn, there is a tendency in later life to retreat into a comfort zone where it is easier to avoid doing things that are mentally challenging. He compares this with becoming physically inactive, and warns of comparable repercussions. ‘As the population ages, people are going to have to stay mentally active longer,’ he counsels. ‘We must learn to exercise our brains just as much as our bodies. People need to be aware that they have the most complex entity known to man between their ears,’ he continues, ‘and the key to allow it to grow and be healthy is simply to keep it stimulated.’

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-2

Choose Two letters, A-E. Write the correct letters in the boxes below. Which two of the following are claims that Robertson makes about the puzzles in his book?

They will improve every mental skill.
They are better than other kinds of mental exercise.
They will have a major effect on people's mental abilities.
They are more useful than physical exercise.
They are certain to be more useful for older people than for the young.

Question 1:

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: His book, Puzzler Brain Trainer 90-Day Workout, contains puzzles which he devised to stretch, sharpen and stimulate the brain
Keyword : book, Puzzler Brain Trainer, stimulate, brain
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 3-4
Explanation: Lines 3-4 of paragraph A implies to utilize the brain, and it will truly grow. This is the statement provided by neuropsychologist Ian Robertson, a professor of psychology at Trinity College, Dublin, and the institute's founding director. He created puzzles to extend, hone, and excite the brain, which is included in his book Puzzler Brain Trainer 90-Day Workout. Thus, option A is one of the correct answers to the above question.

Question 2:

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: have been specially formulated to improve each and every part of the brain, from visual-spatial ability
Keyword : formulated, improve, brain, visual-spatial ability
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 5-6
Explanation: Lines 5-6 of paragraph A explains that the puzzles, which range from "memory jogs" to Sudoku to crosswords to number games, are comprehensive. They have been designed specifically to enhance every aspect of the brain. They enhance the quality like the visual-spatial ability to perceive, attention, memory, arithmetic ability, problem-solving, and language. So. option C is another correct answer in this regard.

Questions 3-8

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 3-8 below.

Evidence supporting Robertson’s theory

Research was carried out using (3)__________ in London as subjects. It showed that their brains change, enabling them to create a (4) __________ of London. Tests showed that their (5) __________ increased in size as they continued in their job. There is also evidence of a (6) __________ kind. People playing a certain game involving (7)__________ for a period of time every day achieved significantly better (8)__________.

Question 3:

Answer: Taxi drivers
Supporting sentence: Robertson illustrates his point by referring to Dr. Eleanor McGuire’s seminal 2000 study of the brains of London taxi drivers.
Keyword : Robertson, illustrates, brains, London taxi drivers
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph D states that Robertson uses Dr. Eleanor McGuire's groundbreaking 2000 research. The research is on the brains of London taxi drivers to support his claim. That demonstrated how their grey matter expands and changes to assist them in creating a thorough mental picture of the city.

Question 4:

Answer: detailed mental map
Supporting sentence: That showed that their grey matter enlarges and adapts to help them build up a detailed mental map of the city.
Keyword : showed, grey matter, adapts, detailed mental map
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 2-3
Explanation: Lines 2-3 of paragraph D states about Dr. Eleanor McGuire's important 2000 research of the brains of London taxi drivers. Those are used by Robertson to support his claim. That demonstrated how their grey matter expands and changes to assist them in creating a thorough mental picture of the city.

Question 5:

Answer: hippocampus
Supporting sentence: Brain scans revealed that the drivers had a much larger hippocampus
Keyword : Brain, scans, drivers, hippocampus
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 3-4
Explanation: The third to fourth lines of paragraph D explains that according to brain scans, the drivers' hippocampus were significantly bigger than those of other persons. It is the area of the brain that is responsible for navigation in birds and other animals. Importantly, it got bigger the longer they worked at it. In a similar vein, there is compelling statistical support for the idea that playing games and solving puzzles increase brainpower.

Question 6:

Answer: statistical
Supporting sentence: Similarly, there is strong statistical evidence that, by stretching the mind with games and puzzles, brainpower is increased.
Keyword : statistical, stretching, brainpower, increased
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 6-7
Explanation: Lines 6-7 of paragraph D suggest that brain scans revealed that the drivers had a substantially larger hippocampus. It is the area of the brain linked with navigation in birds and animals than other people. Importantly, it got bigger the longer they worked at it. In a similar vein, there is compelling statistical support for the idea that playing games and solving puzzles increase brainpower.

Question 7:

Answer: problem solving
Supporting sentence: A more recent survey suggested that a 20-minute problem-solving session on the Nintendo DS game
Keyword : recent survey, suggested, problem-solving, Nintendo DS game
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 8-9
Explanation: Lines 8-9 of paragraph D explains that on the other hand, if we don't challenge our thoughts, the connections will deteriorate. It will also physically shrink if we don't keep them strong and intact. A more recent study found that student's test scores, class attendance, and behavior significantly improved after a 20-minute problem-solving session on the Nintendo DS game.

Question 8:

Answer: test results
Supporting sentence: at the beginning of each day dramatically improved pupils’ test results, class attendance and behaviour.
Keyword : beginning, dramatically, test results, attendance
Keyword location: paragraph D, lines 8-11
Explanation: Lines 8-11 of paragraph D explain that if we do not challenge our thoughts and maintain strong, undamaged connections, these connections will deteriorate. It will also physically shrink. A more recent study found that student's test scores, class attendance, and behavior significantly improved after a 20-minute problem-solving session. It was held on the Nintendo DS game.

Questions 9-13

Reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-G in boxes 9-13 below.

Question 9. An example of a situation in which people will benefit from doing the puzzles in the book

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: His book, Puzzler Brain Trainer 90-Day Workout, contains puzzles which he devised to stretch, sharpen and stimulate the brain.
Keyword : book, Puzzler Brain Trainer, sharpen, the brain
Keyword location: paragraph A, lines 3-4
Explanation: Lines 3-4 of paragraph A imply that the puzzles in the book of Robertson, Puzzler Brain Trainer 90 day workout, were created by him. He did it to expand, and excite the mind. All of the puzzles, including "memory jogs," Sudoku, crosswords, and number games, are comprehensive. They are carefully designed to strengthen every aspect of the brain.

Question 10. A reason why some people don’t exercise their minds

Answer: G
Supporting sentence: Robertson says that some old people are so stimulated that they hardly need to exercise their brains further
Keyword : Robertson, old people, exercise, brains
Keyword location: paragraph G, lines 1-2
Explanation: Lines 1-2 of paragraph G suggests that all ages are intended for the puzzles. Some young people barely use their brains at all. So, in need of a workout, some older people are so stimulated that they rarely need to exercise further. Yet, he acknowledges that while most young people are continually required to learn, there is a tendency in later life to withdraw into a comfort zone.

Question 11. A discovery that had an enormous effect on Robertson

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: He says that the “eureka” moment in his career – and the reason he devised his ‘brain trainer’ puzzles
Keyword : eureka, moment, devised, ‘brain trainer’ puzzles
Keyword location: paragraph C, lines 2-4
Explanation: Lines 2-4 of paragraph C explains about the realization of connections grows with usage. It states that it is possible to strengthen and improve our mental functions at any age. According to Robertson, it was the eureka moment in his career and the inspiration behind the creation of his brain trainer puzzles.

Question 12. Examples of things that people commonly feel they are not very good at

Answer: F
Supporting sentence: Quite simply, those who keep themselves mentally challenged function significantly better mentally than those who do not.
Keyword : simply, mentally challenged, function, better
Keyword location: paragraph F, lines 6-7
Explanation: Lines 6-7 of paragraph F say that according to Robertson, maintaining mental stimulation is beneficial in the same way that physical exercise is. Simply put, those who often challenge themselves mentally perform substantially better cognitively than people who do not.

Question 13. A reference to a change in beliefs about what happens to the brain over time

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: it changes, adapts and is physically sharpened according to the experiences it has
Keyword : changes, adapts, physically sharpened, experiences
Keyword location: paragraph B, lines 6-7
Explanation: Lines 6-7 of paragraph B suggest that since the brain is "plastic," it can now be understood that experiences cause it to adapt and change. The experience as well as becomes physically sharper.