The Meaning and Power of Smell Reading Answers
TheThe Meaning and Power of Smell Reading Answers test evaluates the reading proficiency of candidates through passages. The Meaning and Power of Smell - IELTS Reading Sample is taken from IELTS Cambridge 8, Test 2: AC Reading Module talks about how the sense of smell is an integral part of our lives and helps us to connect emotionally.
Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now
In The Meaning and Power of Smell Reading Answers there are three types of questions:
- Match the headings
- Multiple-choice questions
- Complete the sentence with one word.
This IELTS reading sample answer has sample answers along with explanations. To have a high IELTS reading score, practising from IELTS reading practice papers will prove helpful.
Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
The Meaning and Power of Smell Reading Answers
The sense of smell, or olfaction, is powerful. Odours affect us on a physical, psychological, and social level. For the most part, however, we breathe in the aromas which surround us without being consciously aware of their importance to us. It is only when the faculty of smell is impaired for some reason that we begin to realize the essential role the sense of smell plays in our sense of well-being
- A survey conducted by Anthony Synott at Montreal’s Concordia University asked participants to comment on how important smell was to them in their lives. It became apparent that smell can evoke strong emotional responses. A scent associated with a good experience can bring a rush of joy, while a foul odour or one associated with a bad memory may make us grimace with disgust. Respondents to the survey noted that many of their olfactory likes and dislikes were based on emotional associations. Such associations can be powerful enough so that odours that we would generally label unpleasant become agreeable, and those that we would generally consider fragrant become disagreeable for particular individuals. The perception of smell, therefore, consists not only of the sensation of the odours themselves but of the experiences and emotions associated with them.
- Odours are also essential cues in social bonding. One respondent to the survey believed that there is no true emotional bonding without touching and smelling a loved one. In fact, infants recognize the odours of their mothers soon after birth and adults can often identify their children or spouses by scent. In one well-known test, women and men were able to distinguish by smell-alone clothing worn by their marriage partners from similar clothing worn by other people. Most of the subjects would probably never have given much thought to odour as a cue for identifying family members before being involved in the test, but as the experiment revealed, even when not consciously considered, smells register.
- In spite of its importance to our emotional and sensory lives, smell is probably the most undervalued sense in many cultures. The reason often given for the low regard in which smell is held is that, in comparison with its importance among animals, the human sense of smell is feeble and undeveloped. While it is true that the olfactory powers of humans are nothing like as fine as those possessed by certain animals, they are still remarkably acute. Our noses are able to recognize thousands of smells and to perceive odours that are present only in extremely small quantities.
- Smell, however, is a highly elusive phenomenon. Odours, unlike colours, for instance, cannot be named in many languages because the specific vocabulary simply doesn’t exist. ‘It smells like . . . ,’ we have to say when describing an odour, struggling to express our olfactory experience. Nor can odours be recorded: there is no effective way to either capture or store them over time. In the realm of olfaction, we must make do with descriptions and recollections. This has implications for olfactory research.
- Most of the research on smell undertaken to date has been of a physical scientific nature. Significant advances have been made in the understanding of the biological and chemical nature of olfaction, but many fundamental questions have yet to be answered. Researchers have still to decide whether the smell is one sense or two - one responding to odours proper and the other registering odourless chemicals in the air. Other unanswered questions are whether the nose is the only part of the body affected by odours, and how smells can be measured objectively given the nonphysical components. Questions like these mean that interest in the psychology of smell is inevitably set to play an increasingly important role for researchers.
- However, the smell is not simply a biological and psychological phenomenon. The smell is cultural, hence it is a social and historical phenomenon. Odours are invested with cultural values: smells that are considered to be offensive in some cultures may be perfectly acceptable in others. Therefore, our sense of smell is a means of, and model for, interacting with the world. Different smells can provide us with intimate and emotionally charged experiences and the value that we attach to these experiences is interiorised by the members of society in a deeply personal way. Importantly, our commonly held feelings about smells can help distinguish us from other cultures. The study of the cultural history of smell is, therefore, in a very real sense, an investigation into the essence of human culture.
Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions:
Questions from 1-6
The above reading passage has six paragraphs (A-F) - Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
List of Headings
(i) The difficulties of talking about smells
(ii) The role of smell in personal relationships
(iii) Future studies into the smell
(iv) The relationship between the brain and the nose
(v) The interpretation of smells as a factor in defining groups
(vi) Why our sense of smell is not appreciated
(vii) Smell is our superior sense
(viii) The relationship between smell and feelings
- Paragraph A
- Paragraph B
- Paragraph C
- Paragraph D
- Paragraph E
- Paragraph F
(Guide: The headings reflect the main ideas of the paragraphs. The headings are usually numbered with Roman numerals and you need to match them with the paragraphs numbered with capital alphabets. There are one or two headings more than required.
Tip: Read fast and try to get the summary of each sentence. Try to understand the main idea of each paragraph and use paraphrasing. )
Answer 1: viii
Keyword location: Para A
Supporting Sentence: the smell was to them in their lives. It became apparent that smell can evoke strong emotional responses.
Explanation: In the 3rd line of this paragraph, it's clearly stated that the 'Smell can evoke strong emotional responses' which means odour can produce some type of feelings.
Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples
Answer 2: ii
Keyword location: Para B
Supporting Sentence: without touching and smelling a loved one. In fact, infants recognize the odours of their mothers soon after birth
Explanation: In the 2nd line of this paragraph, it is stated that 'there is no true emotional bonding without touching and smelling a loved one' which means a smell is required to form a strong connection between two people in any relationship.
Answer 3: vi
Keyword location: Para C
Supporting Sentence: The reason often given for the low regard in which smell is held is that, in comparison with its importance among animals, the human sense of smell is feeble and undeveloped.
Explanation: In the second sentence of this paragraph, it is mentioned that the sense of smell in humans is undeveloped.
Answer 4: i
Keyword location: Para D
Supporting Sentence: Smell, however, is a highly elusive phenomenon. Odours, unlike colours, for instance, cannot be named in many languages because the specific vocabulary simply doesn’t exist.
Explanation: In the 1-2nd line of this paragraph, it's given that the smells cannot be named but expressed by saying "it smells like….". It means a smell doesn't have any words to express its feeling.
Answer 5: iii
Keyword location: Para E
Supporting Sentence: objectively given the nonphysical components. Questions like these mean that interest in the psychology of smell is inevitably set to play an increasingly important role for researchers.
Explanation: From the 3rd line of this paragraph, it's clearly understood that the study on smell is still going on and it's yet to be concluded that whether smell is one sense or two.
Answer 6: v
Keyword location: Para F
Supporting Sentence: Importantly, our commonly held feelings about smells can help distinguish us from other cultures. The study of the cultural history of smell is, therefore, in a very real sense, an investigation into the essence of human culture.
Explanation: In the 1st line of the paragraph, it's given that smell is not only related to emotion or biology but is a social and historical phenomenon. This says that smell is always associated with cultures from ancient history. Our feelings on odour differentiate us from other groups of people.
Questions 7-10 - Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
- According to the introduction, we become aware of the importance of smell when
A.We discover a new smell
B.we experience a powerful smell
C.our ability to smell is damaged
D.we are surrounded by odours.
- The experiment described in paragraph B
A.shows how we make use of smell without realising it.
B.demonstrates that family members have a similar smell.
C.proves that a sense of smell is learnt.
D.compares the sense of smell in males and females.
- What is the writer doing in paragraph C?
A.supporting other research
B.making a proposal
C.rejecting a common belief
D.describing limitations
- What does the writer suggest about the study of smell in the atmosphere in paragraph E?
A.The measurement of smell is becoming more accurate.
B.Researchers believe smell is a purely physical reaction.
C.Most smells are inoffensive.
D.Smell is yet to be defined
(Guide: You will need to choose the correct answer from a number of given options in this type of IELTS Reading question. This type of question usually appears at the end.
Tip: Read the passage carefully and scan for the required information. )
Answer 7: C
Keyword location: Introduction
Supporting Sentence: aware of their importance to us. It is only when the faculty of smell is impaired for some reason that we begin to realise the essential role the sense of smell plays in our sense of well-being.
Explanation: Yes, we will know the importance of smell when our ability to smell is damaged because until then we will not realise that we are able to smell the odour.
Answer 8: A
Keyword location: Para B
Supporting Sentence: adults can often identify their children or spouses by scent. In one well-known test, women and men were able to distinguish by smell alone
Explanation: Odour is an important factor in a relationship. Children recognise the odours of their mother just after birth and adults identify their family members because of smell.
Answer 9: C
Keyword location: Para C
Supporting Sentence: In spite of its importance to our emotional and sensory lives, the smell is probably the most undervalued sense in many cultures.
Explanation: The common belief among the majority of people is that humans’ olfactory powers are low when compared to that of animals. But, the fact is we do have strong olfactory powers which can recognise thousands of smells.
Answer 10 : D
Keyword location: Para E
Supporting Sentence: Researchers have still to decide whether the smell is one sense or two - one responding to odours proper and the other registering odourless chemicals in the air.
Explanation: The smell is yet to be defined because there is no scientific evidence, which says that only the nose in our body is affected by odour. There is still research going on whether the smell is a single or dual sense.
Questions 11-14: Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
- Tests have shown that odours can help people recognise the __11_____ belonging to their husbands and wives.
- Certain linguistic groups may have difficulty describing smell because they lack the appropriate ____12______.
- The sense of smell may involve response to ____13____ which do not smell, in addition to obvious odours.
- Odours regarded as unpleasant in certain ____14____ are not regarded as unpleasant in others.
(Guide: In this type of IELTS Reading question you need to scan the given passage for information and find the important points. Understanding the sentences will help you select the correct words. Answers are usually found in order.
Tip: Choose the words properly to make the sentences grammatically correct. Scan the passage to locate the required information. )
Answer 11: Clothing
Keyword location: Para B
Supporting Sentence: In one well-known test, women and men were able to distinguish by smell alone clothing worn by their marriage partners from similar clothing worn by other people.
Explanation: Tests have shown that odours can help people recognise clothing belonging to their husbands and wives.
Answer 12: Vocabulary
Keyword location: Para D
Supporting Sentence: Smell, however, is a highly elusive phenomenon. Odours, unlike colours, for instance, cannot be named in many languages because the specific vocabulary simply doesn’t exist. ‘It smells like . . . ,’
Explanation: Certain linguistic groups may have difficulty describing smell because they lack the appropriate vocabulary.
Answer 13: Chemicals
Keyword location: Para E
Supporting Sentence: one sense or two - one responding to odours proper and the other registering odourless chemicals in the air.
Explanation: The sense of smell may involve a response to chemicals, which do not smell, in addition to obvious odours.
Answer 14: Culture
Keyword location: Para F
Supporting Sentence: Odours are invested with cultural values: smells that are considered to be offensive in some cultures may be perfectly acceptable in others.
Explanation: Odours regarded as unpleasant in certain cultures are not regarded as unpleasant in others.
Comments