A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently Reading Answers

Dec 15, 2022

A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently Reading Answers discusses about the brain and nerves within the human body. This topic is essential for every human being to be known. This IELTS topic comprises a total of 14 questions. A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently Reading Answers comprises of question types; choose the correct answer, Yes/No/Not Given, and Sentence Completion. The time allocated to complete this IELTS Reading answer assessment is 20 minutes. Candidates can solve the question in A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently Reading Answers based on a given cue. Candidates must ensure a word limit while answering the questions. This IELTS reading passage extract has been taken from Cambridge 9 Test 2 IELTS Reading Passage 3. To gain proficiency, candidates can undertake practice from IELTS Reading Practice Papers.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently Reading Answers

In the last decade, a revolution has occurred in the way that scientists think about the brain. We now know that the decisions humans make can be traced to the firing patterns of neurons in specific parts of the brain. These discoveries have led to the field known as neuroeconomics, which studies the brain’s secrets to success in an economic environment that demands innovation and being able to do things differently from competitors. A brain that can do this is an iconoclastic one. Briefly, an iconoclast is a person who does something that others say can’t be done.
This definition implies that iconoclasts are different from other people, but more precisely, it is their brains that are different in three distinct ways: perception, fear response, and social intelligence. Each of these three functions utilizes a different circuit in the brain. Naysayers might suggest that the brain is irrelevant, that thinking in an original, even revolutionary, way is more a matter of personality than brain function. But the field of neuroeconomics was born out of the realization that the physical workings of the brain place limitations on the way we make decisions. By understanding these constraints, we begin to understand why some people march to a different drumbeat.
The first thing to realize is that the brain suffers from limited resources. It has a fixed energy budget, about the same as a 40 watt light bulb, so it has evolved to work as efficiently as possible. This is where most people are impeded from being an iconoclast. For example, when confronted with information streaming from the eyes, the brain will interpret this information in the quickest way possible. Thus it will draw on both past experience and any other source of information, such as what other people say, to make sense of what it is seeing. This happens all the time. The brain takes shortcuts that work so well we are hardly ever aware of them. We think our perceptions of the world are real, but they are only biological and electrical rumblings. Perception is not simply a product of what your eyes or ears transmit to your brain. More than the physical reality of photons or sound waves, perception is a product of the brain.
Perception is central to iconoclasm. Iconoclasts see things differently from other people. Their brains do not fall into efficiency pitfalls as much as the average person’s brain. Iconoclasts, either because they were born that way or through learning, have found ways to work around the perceptual shortcuts that plague most people. Perception is not something that is hardwired into the brain. It is a learned process, which is both a curse and an opportunity for change. The brain faces the fundamental problem of interpreting physical stimuli from the senses. Everything the brain sees hears or touches has multiple interpretations. The one that is ultimately chosen is simply the brain’s best theory. In technical terms, these conjectures have their basis in the statistical likelihood of one interpretation over another and are heavily influenced by past experience and, importantly for potential iconoclasts, what other people say.
The best way to see things differently from other people is to bombard the brain with things it has never encountered before. Novelty releases the perceptual process from the chains of past experience and forces the brain to make new judgments. Successful iconoclasts have an extraordinary willingness to be exposed to what is fresh and different. Observation of iconoclasts shows that they embrace novelty while most people avoid things that are different.
The problem with novelty, however, is that it tends to trigger the brain’s fear system. Fear is a major impediment to thinking like an iconoclast and stops the average person in his tracks. There are many types of fear, but the two that inhibit iconoclastic thinking and people generally find it difficult to deal with are fear of uncertainty and fear of public ridicule. These may seem like trivial phobias. But fear of public speaking, which everyone must do from time to time, afflicts one-third of the population. This makes it too common to be considered a mental disorder. It is simply a common variant of human nature, one which iconoclasts do not let inhibit their reactions.
Finally, to be successful iconoclasts, individuals must sell their ideas to other people. This is where social intelligence comes in. Social intelligence is the ability to understand and manage people in a business setting. In the last decade, there has been an explosion of knowledge about the social brain and how the brain works when groups coordinate decision making. Neuroscience has revealed which brain circuits are responsible for functions like understanding what other people think, empathy, fairness, and social identity. These brain regions play key roles in whether people convince others of their ideas. Perception is important in social cognition too. The perception of someone’s enthusiasm, or reputation, can make or break a deal. Understanding how perception becomes intertwined with social decision making shows why successful iconoclasts are so rare.
Iconoclasts create new opportunities in every area from artistic expression to technology to business. They supply creativity and innovation not easily accomplished by committees. Rules aren’t important to them. Iconoclasts face alienation and failure, but can also be a major asset to any organization. It is crucial for success in any field to understand how the iconoclastic mind works.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-5
Choose the correct option: A, B, C, D:

(Guide: In this question type, candidates are required to study the question and pick the correct answer from the options A to D)

Q.1. Neuroeconomics is a field of study which seeks to

cause a change in how scientists understand brain chemistry.
understand how good decisions are made in the brain.
understand how the brain is linked to achievement in competitive fields.
trace the specific firing patterns of neurons in different areas of the brain.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “These discoveries have led to the field known as neuroeconomics, which studies the brain's secrets to success in an economic environment that demands innovation and being able to do things differently from competitors”
Keywords: Neuroeconomics, brain’s secrets to success, economic environment, innovation
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1; lines 3-5
Explanation: The study of the brain's hidden abilities to succeed in the economy has given rise to the area of neuroeconomics. the need for innovation and the capacity to outperform the competition.

Q.2. According to the writer, iconoclasts are distinctive because

they create unusual brain circuits.
their brains function differently.
their personalities are distinctive.
they make decisions easily.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: “This definition implies that iconoclasts are different from other people, but more precisely, it is their brains that are different in three distinct ways: perception, fear response, and social intelligence.”
Keywords: definition, iconoclasts, different, more precisely, their brains, different, three distinct ways, perception, fear response, social intelligence.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2; lines 1-3
Explanation: Iconoclasts are different from the ordinary population because they can use their brains in unique ways. Three separate processes in their brains are involved in perception, fear reaction, and social intelligence.

Q.3. According to the writer, the brain works efficiently because

it uses the eyes quickly.
it interprets data logically.
it generates its own energy.
it relies on previous events.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Neuroscience has revealed which brain circuits are responsible for functions like understanding what other people think, empathy, fairness, and social identity. These brain regions play key roles in whether people convince others of their ideas. Perception is important in social cognition too.
Keywords: For example, information streaming from the eyes, brain, interpret, quickest way possible, draw on, past experience, any other source of information
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3; lines 3-6
Explanation: The fundamental distinction between iconoclasts and regular individuals is that normal people's minds eventually stop functioning normally. However, the brain can process information quickly. For example, when watching television, the brain will take in the information and connect it to prior knowledge to clarify its meaning.

Q.4. The writer says that perception is

a combination of photons and sound waves.
a reliable product of what your senses transmit.
a result of brain processes.
a process we are usually conscious of.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “Perception is not something that is hardwired into the brain. It is a learned process, which is both a curse and an opportunity for change. The brain faces the fundamental problem of interpreting physical stimuli from the senses”
Keywords: Perception, not, hardwired, brain, learned, both, curse, opportunity, brain, problem, interpreting physical stimuli, everything, brain, sees, hears, touches, multiple interpretations.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4; lines 4-7
Explanation: The process of perception is independent of the brain. When it comes to transformation, perceptions are both a burden and an opportunity, therefore understanding about them is a process. Iconoclasm centres on perception.

Q.5. According to the writer, an iconoclastic thinker

centralises perceptual thinking in one part of the brain.
avoids cognitive traps.
has a brain that is hardwired for learning.
has more opportunities than the average person.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: “Iconoclasts, either because they were born that way or through learning, have found ways to work around the perceptual shortcuts that plague most people.”
Keywords: Iconoclasts, born that way, learning, found ways, work around, perceptual shortcuts, plague most people.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4; lines 2-4
Explanation: Iconoclasts vary from the general population in that they are able to use perceptual shortcuts that are difficult for most people to adopt. Either that, or they have that trait from birth.

Questions 6-11

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 6-11 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the writer’s claims
NO if the statement contradicts the writer’s claims
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

(Guide: In this question type, candidates need to study the statements from 6 - 11 and identify if they are correct or incorrect or not given)

Q.6. Exposure to different events forces the brain to think differently.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: “The best way to see things differently from other people is to bombard the brain with things it has never encountered before. Novelty releases the perceptual process from the chains of past experience and forces the brain to make new judgments.”
Keywords: best way, see things differently, bombard the brain, never encountered before, novelty, perceptual process, chains of past experience, forces the brain, new judgments
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5; lines 1-3
Explanation: Most people only sometimes use their brains. Breaking this cycle requires exposing the brain to novel stimuli on a daily basis, which makes it possible for people to see how their brains respond. They do not become aware of their reactions until they subject their brains to new experiences. The brain creates new judgments as a result of acquiring new experiences.

Q.7. Iconoclasts are unusually receptive to new experiences.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: “Successful iconoclasts have an extraordinary willingness to be exposed to what is fresh and different. Observation of iconoclasts shows that they embrace novelty while most people avoid things that are different.”
Keywords: Successful iconoclasts, extraordinary willingness, exposed, fresh and different
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5; lines 3-4
Explanation: Successful iconoclasts have a strong desire to experience the unfamiliar and novel outside world. While most individuals shy away from novelty, iconoclasts are eager to welcome and observe it.

Q.8. Most people are too shy to try different things.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No relevant information was found in the reading passage.

Q.9. If you think in an iconoclastic way, you can easily overcome fear.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: “The problem with novelty, however, is that it tends to trigger the brain's fear system. Fear is a major impediment to thinking like an iconoclast and stops the average person in his tracks. There are many types of fear, but the two that inhibit iconoclastic thinking and people generally find difficult to deal with are fear of uncertainty and fear of public ridicule”
Keywords: Fear, impediment, thinking, iconoclast, stops the average person, types of fear, two that inhibit iconoclastic thinking, people, difficult to deal, fear of uncertainty, public ridicule
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6; lines 1-4
Explanation: Novelty's biggest drawback is that it makes the brain dread the system. The biggest challenge that people have is that their brains eventually stop thinking like iconoclasts and halt the ongoing process. Fear of uncertainty and dread of being mocked by others are the two main sorts of fear that obstruct the process.

Q.10. When concern about embarrassment matters less, other fears become irrelevant.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No relevant information was found in the reading passage.

Q.11. Fear of public speaking is a psychological illness.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: “But fear of public speaking, which everyone must do from time to time, afflicts one-third of the population. This makes it too common to be considered a mental disorder. It is simply a common variant of human nature, one which iconoclasts do not let inhibit their reactions.”
Keywords: But fear of public speaking, which everyone must do from time to time, afflicts one-third of the population. This makes it too common to be considered a mental disorder.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6; lines 5-6
Explanation: One common phobia that affects a lot of people is the fear of public speaking. One-third of the population is affected by this phobia, which is common. Most people believe it to be a mental condition because it is so prevalent. Iconoclasts

Questions 12-14:

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.

A requires both perceptual and social intelligence skills.
B focuses on how groups decide on an action.
C works in many fields, both artistic and scientific.
D leaves one open to criticism and rejection.
E involves understanding how organizations manage people.

Q.12. Thinking like a successful iconoclast is demanding because of it …..
Q.13. The concept of the social brain is useful to iconoclasts because of it …..
Q.14. Iconoclasts are generally an asset because of their way of thinking …..

(Guide: This question type requires the candidate to complete the sentence with proper endings listed from A to E.)

Question: 12

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: “Finally, to be successful iconoclasts, individuals must sell their ideas to other people. This is where social intelligence comes in. Social intelligence is the ability to understand and manage people in a business setting.”
Keywords: Finally, successful iconoclasts, sell their ideas, people, social intelligence
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7; lines 1-2
Explanation: Iconoclasts can succeed if they can persuade others to agree with their ideals. To flourish in a professional context and aid in managing people, one must excel in social intelligence.

Question: 13

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: “In the last decade there has been an explosion of knowledge about the social brain and how the brain works when groups coordinate decision making. Neuroscience has revealed which brain circuits are responsible for functions like understanding what other people think, empathy, fairness, and social identity. These brain regions play key roles in whether people convince others of their ideas”
Keywords: last decade, explosion of knowledge, social brain, groups, decision making, Neuroscience, brain circuits, functions, other people think, empathy, fairness, social identity, key roles, convince, ideas
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, lines 3 - 7
Explanation: When a decision-making process is underway, the social brain functions differently. The several brain circuits that are in charge of functions like empathy, comprehension, social identity, and more have been identified by the neuroscience department.

Question: 14

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “Iconoclasts create new opportunities in every area from artistic expression to technology to business. They supply creativity and innovation not easily accomplished by committees. Rules aren't important to them. ”
Keywords: Iconoclasts, new opportunities, artistic expression, technology, business, creativity, innovation, not easily, committees
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8; lines 1-2
Explanation: Due to their skill in all areas of thought, iconoclasts are viewed as assets. They are the sources of creativity and innovation that improve the region, whether it is in management, technology, or artistic expression.