Physical Touch Affects Emotional Mood Reading Answers

Dec 27, 2022

Physical Touch Affects Emotional Mood Reading Answers is a topic which discusses how emotional moods can be affected by the physical touch. The given IELTS topic has been originated from the book called “Practice Tests for Ielts 2 Volume 2”. The topic named Physical Touch Affects Emotional Mood Reading Answers comes with 13 sets of questions. The topic has been enclosed with four different segements of questions, such as, complete the table, complete the following sentences, and choose the correct answer. The candidates should read thoroughly the IELTS reading passage in order to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and for answering the questions below. Similar kinds of topics like Physical Touch Affects Emotional Mood Reading Answers are included in the IELTS reading practice papers, which the candidates can take into their consideration for performing a good score in this section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Physical Touch Affects Emotional Mood Reading Answers

Scientists have discovered that the hardness of a chair directly influences the way someone feels about another person. In an astonishing study, volunteers given wooden seats were less flexible while negotiating the price of a new car than people who sat on a padded cushion. The finding is part of an astonishing series of experiments that reveal the links between our attitudes to other people - and the texture of objects all around us. In one experiment, people given a soft blanket to hold were less likely to judge someone as rigid or strict than those handed a hard wooden block to play with. In another experiment, people who were given heavy clipboards to hold rated job applicants as more serious than people given a lightweight board - even though both groups of job applicants were identical.

The findings suggest that the behavior of everyone - from high court judges and teachers to job interviewers and politicians - is influenced by something as mundane as the seat they are using, or the feel of the pen in their hand. Researchers who carried out the experiments believe the link between touch and emotion goes right back to early childhood. Physical concepts such as roughness, hardness and warmth are among the first that infants develop - and the study suggests that these are crucial to how people eventually develop ideas about people and relationships such as understanding the meaning of a warm smile or a hard heart. Christopher Nocera, who led the study at Harvard University said, Touch remains perhaps the most underappreciated sense in behavioral research. People often assume that exploration of new things occurs primarily through the eyes. While the power of vision is irrefutable, this is not the the whole story. Our work suggests that greetings involving touch, such as handshakes and cheek kisses, may in fact have critical influences on our social interactions in an unconscious fashion'.

The researchers carried out a set of experiments on volunteers to test how objects' weight, texture and hardness unconsciously shape judgements about other people. The results, published in the journal Science, make fascinating reading. In one experiment, 86 volunteers were invited to a lab, seated in either wooden chairs or soft seats and asked to imagine shopping for a new car at a dealer's. After being told the sticker price of the car they were invited to write down their first offer price and a second price, assuming the dealer rejected the first offer. Those in hard chairs were less flexible in their haggling skills and were far less willing to drop their prices during the negotiations, the researchers found.

Another study asked 49 volunteers to examine a piece of soft blanket or hard block of wood before looking at a scenario set in a workplace describing a meeting between a boss and employee. The scenario was designed to be ambiguous - and included friendly conversation between the characters as well as an exchange of sharp words. Volunteers who were given the hard block of wood to handle judged the employee to be more rigid and stricter than those who had been given a blanket to hold. In a third experiment, a similar scenario was given to volunteers after they had completed a five piece jigsaw. Half the volunteers were given a smooth puzzle while the others were given one covered with sandpaper. Again, those who were given the rough object rated the relationship between the characters as harsher and more adversarial than those given the smooth jigsaw.

Even the weight of a clipboard can influence someone's attitude, the study found. The researchers asked 54 volunteers to give their impression of a job applicant by reading their CVs. When the CVs were given to the volunteers on heavy clipboards, they were rated as far more serious than when the identical CVs were attached to flimsy, lightweight clipboards. Dr John Bargh of Yale University, who took part in the study said, "It is behavioral priming through the seat of the pants. Our minds are deeply and organically linked to our bodies. Not only is touch an important sense for exploring the world, but it also shapes our understanding of it, reflected in the use of everyday phrases such as take the rough with the smooth', 'have a soft spot for someone' or 'a prickly situation'.

Past studies have shown that people judge strangers to be more generous and caring after they have held a warm cup of coffee, rather than a cold drink., "Physical experiences not only shape the foundations of our thoughts and perceptions, but influence our behavior towards others, sometimes just because we are sitting on a hard instead of a soft chair.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14 – 21
Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 14 – 21 on your answer sheet.

Purpose of Test	Test Procedure	Test Findings
To find out how the weight of an object influences behavior	Volunteers evaluate CV on either heavy or lightweight clipboards	Volunteers with heavy clipboards rated job applicants as (1) _________ about the job position.
To find out how the (2)__________ of an object influences behavior	Volunteers arrange a (3) _________ before reading about a conversation between two people.	Volunteers were less likely to characterize the interaction as difficult if the pieces were (4) __________.
To find out how the hardness of an object influences behavior	Volunteers hold hard or soft objects before watching a scene that takes place in a (5) ___________.	Volunteers were more likely to view the worker as strict if they held a (6) __________.
	Volunteers engage in mock (7) __________ over the price of a car.	Volunteers in (8) _____________ showed more movement between offers.

Q14. Volunteers with heavy clipboards rated job applicants as _________ about the job position.

Answer: More serious
Supporting Sentence: When the CVs were given to the volunteers on heavy clipboards, they were rated as far more serious than when the identical CVs were attached to flimsy, lightweight clipboards.
Keywords: CV, heavy clipboards, volunteers.
Keywords location: Paragraph E, line 3-4
Explanation: The third to fourth lines of paragraph E suggests that the CVs were presented to the volunteers on sturdy clipboards, and they were perceived as being far more serious than when they were linked to flimsy, light-weight clipboards.

Q15. To find out how the __________ of an object influences behavior

Answer: Texture
Supporting Sentence: The researchers carried out a set of experiments on volunteers to test how objects' weight, texture and hardness unconsciously shape judgments about other people.
Keywords: weight, hardness, test, shape, judgements, experiments
Keywords location: Paragraph C, line 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph C explains that the researchers implemented some experiments on volunteers to check how objects’ weight, texture and hardness unconsciously to understand the mind of the other people.

Q16. Volunteers arrange a _________ before reading about a conversation between two people.

Answer: Jigsaw Puzzle
Supporting Sentence: Again, those who were given the rough object rated the relationship between the characters as harsher and more adversarial than those given the smooth jigsaw.
Keywords: volunteers, puzzle, jigsaw, object
Keywords location: Paragraph D, line 6-7
Explanation: Lines 6-7 of paragraph D implies that prior to the conversation in between two people, volunteers organize a jigsaw puzzle.

Q17. Volunteers were less likely to characterize the interaction as difficult if the pieces were __________.

Answer: Smooth
Supporting Sentence: Again, those who were given the rough object rated the relationship between the characters as harsher and more adversarial than those given the smooth jigsaw.
Keywords: object, relationship, characters, adversarial, jigsaw
Keywords location: Paragraph D, line 6-8
Explanation: The sixth to eight lines of paragraph D suggests that in contrast to those who received the smooth jigsaw, those who received the rough object judged the relationships between the characters as being harsher and more antagonistic.

Q18. Volunteers hold hard or soft objects before watching a scene that takes place in a ___________.

Answer: Workplace
Supporting Sentence: Another study asked 49 volunteers to examine a piece of soft blanket or hard block of wood before looking at a scenario set in a workplace describing a meeting between a boss and employee.
Keywords: volunteers, scenario, boss, employee
Keywords location: Paragraph D, line 1-2
Explanation: The first two sentences of paragraph D depicts that prior to watching a scene in a workplace, 49 number of volunteers inspected hard or soft object.

Q19. Volunteers were more likely to view the worker as strict if they held a __________.

Answer: Wood block
Supporting Sentence: Volunteers who were given the hard block of wood to handle judged the employee to be more rigid and stricter than those who had been given a blanket to hold.
Keywords: volunteers, hard block, employee, rigid, stricter
Keywords location: Paragraph D, line 4-5
Explanation: Lines 4-5 of paragraph D implies that in order to judge whether the employee conveys a very serious and strict character they were provided a hard block of wood by the volunteers.

Q20. Volunteers engage in mock __________ over the price of a car.

Answer: Negotiations
Supporting Sentence: Those in hard chairs were less flexible in their haggling skills and were far less willing to drop their prices during the negotiations, the researchers found.
Keywords: flexible, haggling skills, less willing
Keywords location: Paragraph C, line 5-6
Explanation: The fifth to sixth lines of paragraph C states that the cost of an automobile is the subject of negotiations by the volunteers.

Q21. Volunteers in _____________ showed more movement between offers.

Answer: Soft seats
Supporting Sentence: In one experiment, 86 volunteers were invited to a lab, seated in either wooden chairs or soft seats and asked to imagine shopping for a new car at a dealer's.
Keywords: flexible, haggling skills, less willing
Keywords location: Paragraph C, line 1-2
Explanation: The first two lines of paragraph C suggests that in a tested experiment, 86 volunteers who were cordially invited in the lab, seated in soft seats and showed interest in knowing all the negotiable offers.

Questions 22-25:
Complete the sentences using the list of words and phrases A-H
in the box below. Write the correct letter, A-H in boxes 22-25 on your answer sheet.

NB. You may use any letter more than once.

The way people view the outside world is directly affected by the physical touch of their
Soft textures are thought to encourage people to demonstrate a greater degree of
Hard materials may encourage people to display feelings of
The sense of touch is reflected in the use of language, including common ..............

Aggression Experiences Expressions Flexibility Influences Interactions Perceptions H. Surroundings

Q22. The way people view the outside world is directly affected by the physical touch of their

Answer: H- Surroundings
Supporting Sentence: 'Physical experiences not only shape the foundations of our thoughts and perceptions but influence our behavior towards others, sometimes just because we are sitting on a hard instead of a soft chair'.
Keywords: physical experiences, foundations, thoughts, perceptions, influence
Keywords location: Paragraph F, last lines
Explanation: The conclusive part of paragraph F states that the physical touch of others or surroundings affects the perspective of a person of how they view the world.

Q23. Soft textures are thought to encourage people to demonstrate a greater degree of

Answer: D- Flexibility
Supporting Sentence: Volunteers who were given the hard block of wood to handle judged the employee to be more rigid and stricter than those who had been given a blanket to hold.
Keywords: volunteers, hard block, employee, rigid
Keywords location: Paragraph D, lines 5-6
Explanation: The fifth and sixth line of paragraph D suggests that employees are believed to be more flexible when exposed to soft materials.

Q24. Hard materials may encourage people to display feelings of

Answer: A- Aggression
Supporting Sentence: Those in hard chairs were less flexible in their haggling skills and were far less willing to drop their prices during the negotiations, the researchers found.
Keywords: hard chairs, flexible, haggling skills, negotiations
Keywords location: Paragraph C, last 2 line
Explanation: The conlusion part pf paragraph C suggests that the employees in hard chairs were to determine the aggresive nature of the employee. those were not in the mood to less the price during the negotiations.

Q25. The sense of touch is reflected in the use of language, including common

Answer: F- Interactions
Supporting Sentence: Not only is touch an important sense for exploring the world, but it also shapes our understanding of it, reflected in the use of everyday phrases such as 'take the rough with the smooth, 'have a soft spot for someone or 'a prickly situation'.
Keywords: sense, understanding, reflected
Keywords location: Paragraph E, last line
Explanation: The conclusive line of paragraph E states that besides being a vital method for exploring the world, the touching also reflects our use of language as well as common interactions.

Question 26:
Which is the best alternative title for the reading passage?
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct letter in box 26 on your answer sheet.

Use your eyes more than your hands if you want to talk tough
Touch: the most important sense in human communication
Sit on a comfortable chair if you want a good bargain
A hard chair can give you a hard heart

Answer: D- A hard chair can give you a hard heart
Supporting Sentence: 'Physical experiences not only shape the foundations of our thoughts and perceptions but influence our behavior towards others, sometimes just because we are sitting on a hard instead of a soft chair'.
Keywords: Physical experiences, foundations, thoughts, perceptions
Keywords location: Paragraph F, last 2 lines
Explanation: The ending two lines of paragraph F suggests that the phsycial encounters not only influence our behaviour toward people but also our thoughts and perceptions, even if it's just because we're sitting in a hard chair rather than a soft one. Thus, option D will be regarded as a suitabe title for the above reading passage extract.

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