Mapping the Mind Reading Answers

Jul 7, 2025

Mapping the Mind Reading Answers is an academic reading answer topic. Mapping the Mind Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. It includes questions such as state whether the statement is yes, no or not given according to the passage. Choose the correct letter. Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G.

The candidate's understanding and assessment of academic and general texts are examined in the IELTS Reading Section. Practice enhances vocabulary and improves analytical reading skills, both of which are necessary for success. Using IELTS Reading Practice Questions, you can increase your vocabulary, sharpen your critical reading skills, and become more familiar with the various question types in reading tasks. It's critical to comprehend the guidelines for every question type and create effective ways to manage time to receive excellent band scores.

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Topic:

MAPPING THE MIND

Dr. Simon Hanson reviews Rita Carter's book Mapping the Mind.

The often-used phrase "I believe it when I see it" betrays a very intimate fact of human nature. We are visual creatures and rely on sight to serve as a judge of what is real and what is not. When discussing the intricacies of the human mind, for most of society's existence, things have not been visible; we have, for the most part, relied on intangible concepts, metaphors, and words to explore our inner psyche. I have no idea what my ego looks like. I must have one because it can be hurt or appeased by how others treat me. But how do I know it really exists?

Recent progress in brain research and neuroimaging is changing all of this. With our modern technology of functional imaging, we can now look at the brain as it is working and attribute activation in certain areas of the brain to behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. In essence,

our new tools are prompting new thoughts on who we are and how we are organized. Rita Carter's book, Mapping the Mind, explores these issues and exploits science's ability to look into our heads as a tool to examine who we are.

In its most basic form, Carter's book serves as a very accessible introduction to the subject of neuroanatomy, a subject most of us would not appreciate fully without investing in a semester of medical school. Mapping the Mind uses beautifully rendered three-dimensional computer images of the brain to explain anatomical structures and pathways. The presentation style acknowledges our natural bias towards perceiving and learning information visually. Presenting the concept of a brain area devoted to maintaining attention by calling it the "anterior cingulate cortex" would probably put most readers to sleep while their brains struggled to use that area to focus on what the name meant. Showing the reader a three-dimensionally-oriented area that easily translates to a place we can point to on our skulls grounds the anatomical vocabulary in something we can all understand—our own heads.

In spite of the title, however, the book is not an exact map or a reference guide. Its chapters cover concepts such as perception, emotions, memory, and higher consciousness, and are best read rather than referenced. The book, beautifully accented with brain-oriented artwork

of both pure aesthetic and illustrative value, walks a pleasing line between college textbook and coffee table art book, describing the subtle nuances of vision, language, thought, and feeling with science and art.

While the art requires no explanations, Carter uses her background as a journalist to keep the reader engaged in the science. Factual support in the form of documented cases is liberally employed to show the abstract concepts in recognizable behaviors and consequences

we can all relate to. For example, in describing brain circuitry involved in controlling anger, Carter uses familiar situations, like suppressing anger when we feel we have been insulted, to illustrate the neuroscience involved. She follows with a discussion of children's emotional

maturity, pointing out that in children, the areas involved in inhibition of anger are not as well developed as in adults, providing an explanation for the tantrums of a six-year-old. Carter presents the science in an engaging yet factual manner, allowing people to draw their own conclusions and connect the dots between scientific discovery and what it means in our daily lives.

By presenting neuroscience in this manner, Mapping the Mind seems to aim itself at an audience that is often forgotten: the general reader who wants to know more about a specific area of scientific study. From a scientific perspective, danger often lurks when writing

for a general audience as scientific credibility can be sacrificed in order to keep readers engaged. Carter circumvents this problem by including the participation of research scientists in the writing. The book is littered with short directed essays written by specialists in specific areas of brain research.

One of my favorite features of the book is the optical illusions. As a teacher, I am always searching for ways to make information relevant to the reader. Mapping the Mind does this by peppering appropriate chapters with optical illusions that illustrate how the brain processes

information. These delicious enigmas do not stand alone as supplementary information or unrelated facts but are accompanied by textual explanations and insights into what causes the perceptual incongruities. I found many of these explanations so good at conveying basic brain principles that I borrowed some of them for use in lectures.

From our unique place in history, we can, at present, use our overly developed neo-cortex in combination with the tools of science to examine our own minds at work. Our journey is to try and figure out who we are. Rather than providing us with an academic textbook, Mapping the Mind serves as a sort of kiosk map saying "you are here" with a big red dot. Mapping the Mind shows us where we are by giving us a snapshot of how we work. There are many books out there that explain the mind. The unique perspective of this book is that it uses the brain itself to guide the Journey.

Questions 27-32

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3? Write:

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks

27. Our sense of what is real is independent of what we can see.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: We are visual creatures and rely on sight to serve as a judge of what is real and what is not.

Keywords: creatures, sight

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 2

Explanation: The text states that we humans are visual creatures, and judgment of what is real or not relies on our sight and is not independent.

28. The ego must exist because its reaction can be felt.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: I have no idea what my ego looks like. I must have one because it can be hurt or appeased by how others treat me.

Keywords: ego, appeased

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The text mentions that ego must be real, as it can be felt by the reactions of others.

29. The illustrations in Mapping the Mind are in vibrant colours.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: No information regarding the illustrations in Mapping the Mind being in vibrant colours is given in the passage.

30. People prefer to learn facts that are presented visually.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: The presentation style acknowledges our natural bias towards perceiving and learning information visually.

Keywords: natural bias, visually

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 5

Explanation: According to the text, people usually perceive and acquire knowledge more easily if it is presented visually.

31. Mapping the Mind is primarily a decorative book.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: The book, beautifully accented with brain-oriented artwork of both pure aesthetic and illustrative value, walks a pleasing line between college textbook and coffee table art book

Keywords: brain-oriented, illustrative

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The text clearly states that the Mapping the Mind book is not decorative but rather knowledge-providing.

32. Mapping the Mind leaves the readers to interpret the facts.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: Our journey is to try and figure out who we are. Rather than providing us with an academic textbook, Mapping the Mind serves as a sort of kiosk map saying "you are here" with a big red dot.

Keywords: academic, serves

Keyword Location: Para 8, Lines 3-4

Explanation: According to the passage, the Mapping the Mind book serves as a sort of kiosk map urging the readers to interpret the facts.

Questions 33-37

Choose the correct letter.

33. According to the writer, Carter's background in journalism means that:

A. she has easy access to relevant sources.

B. she cannot explain complex medical ideas.

C. her writing style maintains the reader's interest.

D. her presentation of information is more suited to newspapers.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Carter uses her background as a journalist to keep the reader engaged in the science.

Keywords: Carter, journalist

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 1

Explanation: The author claims that because of Carter's experience in journalism, the reader will remain interested in the science.

34. When discussing how the brain works in controlling anger, Carter:

A. gives guidance to parents of young children.

B. uses examples readers can relate to.

C. admires the control shown by adults.

D. criticizes the behaviour of children.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Carter uses familiar situations, like suppressing anger when we feel we have been insulted, to illustrate the neuroscience involved.

Keywords: anger, illustrate

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 5-6

Explanation: To talk about the topic of anger and how our brain controls anger, Carter uses examples which the readers can relate easily to.

35. The writer feels that the way neuroscience is presented in Mapping the Mind:

A. will not give readers any new information.

B. could make readers doubt scientific claims.

C. will encourage more people to study neuroscience.

D. will appeal to readers with no knowledge of the topic.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: By presenting neuroscience in this manner, Mapping the Mind seems to aim itself at an audience that is often forgotten: the general reader who wants to know more about a specific area of scientific study.

Keywords: neuroscience, general reader

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The author believes that Mapping the Mind's presentation of neuroscience appears to target a frequently ignored audience, usually the typical reader who is interested in learning more about a particular field of science.

36.The writer especially likes the optical illusions in Mapping the Mind because they:

A. help people relate to the topic.

B. are a long-standing scientific mystery.

C. can teach us about the function of the eye.

D. show something people have never seen before.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: One of my favorite features of the book is the optical illusions. As a teacher, I am always searching for ways to make information relevant to the reader.

Keywords: optical illusions, information

Keyword Location: Para 7, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text, the writer especially likes the optical illusions in Mapping the Mind because they make information relevant to the reader.

37. The writer says that Mapping the Mind operates as a "kiosk map" because:

A. it reveals our current position in terms of our knowledge of the brain.

B. the reader can become lost in other textbooks about the brain.

C. it describes specific areas of the brain such as the neo-cortex.

D. its illustrations are particularly clear and accurate.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Mapping the Mind serves as a sort of kiosk map saying "you are here" with a big red dot. Mapping the Mind shows us where we are by giving us a snapshot of how we work.

Keywords: kiosk map, red dot

Keyword Location: Para 8, Line 4

Explanation: The writer says that Mapping the Mind operates as a "kiosk map" because it is easy to understand compared to the other books related to the brain; people usually get lost due to the complex terminology.

Questions 38–40

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G.

A. makes a background in science essential for comprehension.

B. adds academic integrity to a popular approach.

C. is not helpful for checking particular data about the brain.

D. bores and confuses people.

E. generates more interest in the field of study and promotes research.

F. solves the difficulty of people's negative reactions to technical language.

G. has no clear purpose.

38. A book that uses terms such as "anterior cingulate cortex"........

Answer: D

Supporting statement: calling it the "anterior cingulate cortex" would probably put most readers to sleep while their brains struggled to use that area to focus on what the name meant.

Keywords: cortex, sleep

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 7

Explanation: The term anterior cingulate cortex used in books makes it boring for the readers as they have no idea what the term means.

39. The use of three-dimensional illustrations in the book……..

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Showing the reader a three-dimensionally-oriented area that easily translates to a place we can point to on our skulls grounds the anatomical vocabulary in something we can all understand—our own heads.

Keywords: three-dimensionally, anatomical

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 8-9

Explanation: The use of three-dimensional illustrations in the book allows readers to understand the book more easily and removes the negative reactions people tend to have to its technical language.

40. The inclusion of essays by research scientists in Mapping the Mind………

Answer: B

Supporting statement: The book is littered with short directed essays written by specialists in specific areas of brain research.

Keywords: essays, specialists

Keyword Location: Para 6, Line 6

Explanation: The text states that the book Mapping the Mind includes short essays by specialists in specific areas of brain research, which adds academic integrity to the content.

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