Polluting Sounds: In Search of Silence Reading Answers

Dec 5, 2022

Polluting Sounds: In Search of Silence Reading Answers 13 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. Polluting Sounds: In Search of Silence Reading Answers comprises three types of questions, namely- True/False/Not Given, Choose two letters and write the correct letter. For True/False/Not Given, candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and understand the statement provided and answer whether the statement is true, false, or not given. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question to choose two letters from the given list A - G. Lastly, candidates are required to write the correct letter from options A, B, and C for the required questions. To practise on more varied topics, check IELTS Reading practice papers.

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

Reading Passage Question

In self-imposed solitary confinement, 22-year old Tom Wonnacott, a Princeton graduate student, spent four days lying in a lightless, sound-proofed isolation chamber. Unable to see or hear, he also wore thick gloves to restrict his sense of touch. Wonnacott volunteered to undergo this experience to help US-based psychologists find out what happens to people isolated from the outside world and deprived of the normal use of their senses. While over a longer period of time such extremes of silence in conjunction with sensory deprivation are harmful, there are many today who are in search of quieter areas.
An over-abundance of noise has always been a significant environmental issue for a man. In ancient Rome, rules existed to ensure that the noise emitted from the large iron wheels of wagons rolled over the stones on the pavements and caused disruption of sleep and annoyance was minimized by allowing people to travel only during certain times. The same rules existed in Medieval Europe. To ensure inhabitants were given the best chance at a peaceful night’s sleep, in some cities, horse-drawn carriages and horseback riding were not allowed at night time. However when today’s noise problems arc compared with the noise pollution problems of the past they are almost incomparable.
An immense number of vehicles of various shapes and sizes are regularly driven around and through most of the world’s cities and countrysides. Loud, large diesel engines power the enormous trucks that roll around highways day and night. Aircraft and trains add to the environmental noise scenario. In industry, machinery emits high noise levels and amusement parks and pleasure vehicles distract leisure time and relaxation. One hundred years ago, environmental experts predicted that in the 21st century there would be a shortage of water and silence. They were correct. Silence is scarce. More and more silence is drowned out by the sound.
A lack of knowledge about the effects of noise pollution on humans in comparison to other pollutants has been lacking as an area of research. Although it has been generally regarded that noise pollution is primarily a ‘luxury’ problem – for those developed countries able to afford the purchase price of large quantities of loud, noisy machinery – it is actually a fact that due to bad planning and poor construction of buildings, noise exposure is often higher in developing countries. This means that regardless of the economic status of a particular country, the effects of noise are just as widespread and the long-term consequences for health the same. Therefore, practical action plans based upon the proper scientific evaluation of available data on the effects of noise exposure, with the express purpose of limiting and controlling the exposure of people to environmental noise is a most worthwhile undertaking.
It has been well established that exposure to loud noises for extended periods of time causes trauma to the inner ear and often results in irreversible hearing loss. When it initially receives sound, the human ear actually amplifies it by a factor of 20. In 1965, in a remote part of Ghana, scientists went about studying the impact of ‘insignificant’ exposure to industrial noise and transportation. In tandem, the Ghanese group was compared with a control group in the industrial USA. A number of startling conclusions were drawn from the experiments. For example, both locations revealed that ageing is an almost insignificant cause of hearing loss. Instead, it was shown that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise led to hearing loss. Cardiovascular complaints also emerged from among those with prolonged exposure to industrial noise above 70 dBA. In fact, over a single eight-hour period, it was shown that participants experienced a rise in blood pressure thus indicating noise pollution contributes to human stress levels. If this was not alarming enough, also noted was an increase in the incidence of heart disease.
The findings from various noise studies had the effect of changing the perspectives of many of the world’s governments. Whereas noise had been considered a ‘nuisance’ rather than an environmental problem, laws were made to protect citizens against it. In the United States and Ghana, federal standards for highway and aircraft noise were introduced. State governments created noise regulations pertaining to building codes, urban planning, and road construction. In Canada and the EU, noise laws are the domain of local governments. Activities in those countries deemed mandatory such as the collection of rubbish or some medical services are the only allowed exceptions to what otherwise are quiet local neighbourhood zones.
Typically, quiet times in neighbourhoods are between 6 am and 10 pm with restricted higher decibel levels after these hours. What happens if these quite times are violated? Unfortunately, the enforcement of noise laws has proven problematic for many local governments with enforcement agencies often not following up on noise complaints. For persistent nuisances, individuals may seek compensation through the local courts and in some cities, police are authorized to impound such things as stereos and cars. These are extreme cases; most issues are handled by negotiation between the emitter and the receiver.

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-7:

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1) Noise pollution is relatively new pollution.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: An overabundance of noise has always been a significant environmental issue for a man. In ancient Rome, rules existed to ensure that the noise emitted from the large iron wheels of wagons rolled over the stones on the pavements and caused disruption of sleep, and annoyance was minimized by allowing people to travel only during certain times.
Keyword: New pollution, Noise Pollution
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section B
Explanation: The rationale for the answer can be found in the fact that excessive noise has long been recognised as a major environmental threat for men. The noise of the enormous iron wheels of the waggons rolling over the stones on the sidewalks, which disturbed sleep. Further, causing annoyance was limited in ancient Rome by allowing people to move only during particular hours.

2) Experts forecasted that water and noise pollution would be major future problems.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: One hundred years ago, environmental experts predicted that in the 21st century there would be a shortage of water and silence. They were correct. Silence is scarce. More and more silence is drowned out by the sound.
Keywords: Future, Water Pollution, Noise Pollution
Keyword Location: Last line, Section C
Explanation: As is well known, environmental experts projected that the twenty-first century would see a lack of water and quietness. They were accurate. There isn't a lot of quiet. More and more silence is being drowned out by the clamour.

3) Noise pollution seems to be a bigger problem in richer, developed countries.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: This means that regardless of the economic status of a particular country, the effects of noise are just as widespread and the long-term consequences for health are the same.
Keyword: Noise Pollution, Problem, Developed, countries
Keyword Location: 3rd Line, Section C
Explanation: The provided assertion is false because noise's impacts are widespread and its effects on long-term health are unaffected by a nation's economic standing.

4) Noises that enter the human ear are heard louder than they are.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: When it initially receives sound, the human ear amplifies it by a factor of 20.
Keyword: Noises, Human ear, Louder
Keyword Location: 2nd Line, Section E
Explanation: The above statement is accurate since the human ear amplifies sounds by a factor of 20 when they are first heard.

5) There is a strong relationship between hearing loss and age.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: For example, both locations revealed that aging is an almost insignificant cause of hearing loss. Instead, it was shown that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise led to hearing loss.
Keyword: Relationship, Hearing Loss, Age
Keyword Location: 5th Line, Section E
Explanation: The above assertion is false for instance, because both locations showed that ageing is just a modest contributor to hearing loss. Instead, it has been shown that hearing loss is brought on by prolonged exposure to relatively loud environmental noise.

6) Loud noise exposure studies have caused government changes.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: The findings from various noise studies had the effect of changing the perspectives of many of the world’s governments. Whereas noise had been considered a ‘nuisance’ rather than an environmental problem, laws were made to protect citizens against it.
Keyword: Loud noise, Government Changes
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section F
Explanation: The above assertion is true because the findings of numerous noise studies changed the perspectives of numerous governments all over the world. Laws were passed to protect citizens from it, which was previously seen as a "nuisance" rather than an environmental issue.

7) In Canada, police monitor the level of noise in local neighborhoods.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The reading passage did not contain any important information related to the question.

Questions 8 – 9:

Choose TWO letters, A-G.
The list of problems below can be caused by exposure to high noise levels.
Which TWO are mentioned by the writer of the text?

increased ear sensitivity
reduced reaction time
increased aging of the body
heart disease
stomach cancer
sleep apnea
increased blood pressure

Question 8:

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: eight hours, over a single eight-hour period, it was shown that participants experienced a rise in blood pressure thus indicating noise pollution contributes to human stress levels. If this was not alarming enough, also noted was an increase in the incidence of heart disease.
Keyword: High noise level
Keyword Location: Last Line, Section F
Explanation: According to the last sentence of section F, participants' blood pressure did rise over the course of eight hours. It proved that noise pollution raises people's stress levels. In addition, there has been a rise in the prevalence of heart disease, as if that weren't cause for concern already.

Question 9:

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: In fact, over a single eight-hour period, it was shown that participants experienced a rise in blood pressure thus indicating noise pollution contributes to human stress levels.
Keyword: High noise level
Keyword Location: 2nd Last Line, Section E
Explanation: It is stated in the second-to-last line of section E that subjects experienced an increase in blood pressure throughout the course of a single. It was during the entire eight-hour period, proving that noise pollution raises people's stress levels.

Questions 10 – 13:

Classify the following features as applying to

people from the USA
people from Ghana
both people from the USA and Ghana

Write the correct letter A, B or C, in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

10) individuals participated in a noise study

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: In tandem, the Ghanese group was compared with a control group in the industrial USA. Several startling conclusions were drawn from the experiments.
Keyword: individual, noise study
Keyword Location: 4th Line, Section E
Explanation: The fourth line of section E states that the Ghanaian group was compared with a control group in the industrial United States. The experiments led to a number of unexpected outcomes. Hence, the answer is C.

11) conducted a silent study

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: In self-imposed solitary confinement, 22-year old Tom Wonnacott, a Princeton graduate student, spent four days lying in a lightless, sound-proofed isolation chamber. Unable to see or hear, he also wore thick gloves to restrict his sense of touch.
Keyword: conducted, silent study
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section A
Explanation: The first line of section A states that Princeton graduate student Tom Wonnacott, 22, spent four days in self-imposed protective custody. It was while sleeping in a dark, quiet isolation chamber. He also wore wool mittens to limit his sensation of touch since he was blind and deaf. So, the answer is A.

12) introduced air traffic regulations

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: In the United States and Ghana, federal standards for highway and aircraft noise were introduced.
Keywords: air traffic, regulations
Keyword Location: 3rd Line, Section F
Explanation: Federal regulations for roadway and aeroplane noise were introduced in the United States and Ghana, it is stated in the third line of section F. So, the answer is C.

13) the relationship between industrial noise and blood pressure

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: For example, both locations revealed that aging is an almost insignificant cause of hearing loss. Instead, it was shown that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise led to hearing loss. Cardiovascular complaints also emerged among those with prolonged exposure to industrial noise above 70 dBA.
Keywords: noise pressure, blood pressure
Keyword Location: 5th Line, Section E
Explanation: For instance, both locations demonstrated that ageing is an almost negligible source of hearing loss, as stated in the fifth line of section E. It was instead discovered that persistent exposure to fairly high levels of background noise caused hearing loss. People who have been exposed to industrial noise over 70 dBA for a long time also reported experiencing cardiovascular issues.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples