Running on Empty IELTS Reading Answers
Candidates' reading aptitude is assessed in the IELTS Academic Reading section, which includes a passage and questions. Candidates are required to react to a variety of questions, each of which is unique. In the IELTS reading section, students' comprehension skills are examined using a range of issue kinds. In this area of the IELTS Reading Answers, there are three sorts of questions for the text Running on Empty.
- Matching headings
- Choose the Correct letter
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Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Running on Empty IELTS Reading Answers
- For almost a century, scientists have presumed, not unreasonably, that fatigue - or exhaustion in athletes originates in the muscles. Precise explanations have varied but all have been based on the ‘limitations theory’. In other words, muscles tire because they hit a physical limit: they either run out of fuel or oxygen or they drown in toxic by-products.
- In the past few years, however, Timothy Noakes and Alan St Clair Gibson from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, have examined this standard theory. The deeper they dig, the more convinced they have become that physical fatigue simply isn't the same as a car running out of petrol. Fatigue, they argue, is caused not by distress signals springing from overtaxed muscles, but is an emotional response which begins in the brain. The essence of their new theory is that the brain, using a mix of physiological, subconscious and conscious cues, paces the muscles to keep them well back from the brink of exhaustion. When the brain decides it's time to quit, it creates the distressing sensations we interpret as unbearable muscle fatigue. This ‘central governor* theory remains controversial, but it does explain many puzzling aspects of athletic performance.
- A recent discovery that Noakes calls the ‘lactic acid paradox' made him start researching this area seriously. Lactic acid is a by-product of exercise, and its accumulation is often cited as a cause of fatigue. But when research subjects exercise in conditions simulating high altitude, they become fatigued even though lactic acid levels remain low. Nor has the oxygen content of their blood fallen too low for them to keep going. Obviously, Noakes deduced, something else was making them tire before they hit either of these physiological limits.
- Probing further, Noakes conducted an experiment with seven cyclists who had sensors taped to their legs to measure the nerve impulses traveling through their muscles. It has long been known that during exercise, the body never uses 100% of the available muscle fibers in a single contraction. The amount used varies, but in endurance tasks such as this cycling test the body calls on about 30%.
- Noakes reasoned that if the limitations theory was correct and fatigue was due to muscle fibers hitting some limit, the number of fibers used for each pedal stroke should increase as the fibers tired and the cyclist’s body attempted to compensate by recruiting an ever-larger proportion of the total. But his team found exactly the opposite. As fatigue set in, the electrical activity in the cyclists' legs declined - even during sprinting, when they were striving to cycle as fast as they could.
- To Noakes, this was strong evidence that the old theory was wrong. ‘The cyclists may have felt completely exhausted,’ he says, ‘but their bodies actually had considerable reserves that they could theoretically tap by using a greater proportion of the resting fibers.’ This, he believes, is proof that the brain is regulating the pace of the workout to hold the cyclists well back from the point of catastrophic exhaustion.
- More evidence comes from the fact that fatigued muscles don’t actually run out of anything critical. Levels of glycogen, which is the muscles’ primary fuel, and ATP. the chemical they use for temporary energy storage, decline with exercise but never bottom out. Even at the end of a marathon, ATP levels are 80-90% of the resting norm, and glycogen levels never get to zero.
- Further support for the central regulator comes from the fact that top athletes usually manage to go their fastest at the end of a race, even though, theoretically, that's when their muscles should be closest to exhaustion. But Noakes believes the end spurt makes no sense if fatigue is caused by muscles poisoning themselves with lactic acid as this would cause racers to slow down rather than enable them to sprint for the finish line. In the new theory, the explanation is obvious. Knowing the end is near, the brain slightly relaxes its vigil, allowing the athlete to tap some of the body’s carefully hoarded reserves.
- But the central governor theory does not mean that what's happening in the muscles is irrelevant. The governor constantly monitors physiological signals from the muscles, along with other information, to set the level of fatigue. A large number of signals are probably involved but, unlike the limitations theory, the central governor theory suggests that these physiological factors are not the direct determinants of fatigue, but simply information to take into account.
- Conscious factors can also intervene. Noakes believes that the central regulator evaluates the planned workout, and sets a pacing strategy accordingly. Experienced runners know that if they set out on a 10-kilometer run. The first kilometer feels easier than the first kilometer of a 5-kilometer run, even though there should be no difference. That, Noakes says, is because the central governor knows you have farther to go in the longer run and has programmed itself to dole out fatigue symptoms accordingly.
- St Clair Gibson believes there is a good reason why our bodies are designed to keep something back. That way, there's always something left in the tank for an emergency. In ancient times, and still today, life would be too dangerous if our bodies allowed us to become so tired that we couldn't move quickly when faced with an unexpected need.
Section 2
Solution with Explanation
Questions 1-6:
Reading Passage has eleven paragraphs A-K.
Choose the correct heading for Paragraphs A-F from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number (i-viii) in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings:
- Avoiding tiredness in athletes
- Puzzling evidence raises a question
- Traditional explanations
- Interpreting the findings
- Developing muscle fibers
- A new hypothesis
- Description of a new test
- Surprising results in the endurance test
Question 1: Paragraph A
Answer: iii-Traditional explanations
Supporting sentence: For almost a century, scientists have presumed, not unreasonably, that fatigue - or exhaustion in athletes originates in the muscles.
Keyword: century, fatigue, exhaustion, muscles
Keyword location: Paragraph A, line 1.
Explanation: The solution is in paragraph A, line 1, where it is stated that scientists have assumed that fatigue and exhaustion in athletes begin in the muscles for over a century. The limitation theory is discussed in this paragraph which is based on the traditional notions. So, the right answer is (iii) traditional explanations.
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Question 2: Paragraph B
Answer: vi- a new hypothesis
Supporting sentence: The essence of their new theory is that the brain, using a mix of physiological, subconscious and conscious cues, paces the muscles to keep them well back from the brink of exhaustion.
Keyword: new theory, physiological, muscles, subconscious
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 4.
Explanation: The solution can be found in paragraph B, which details Timothy Noakes and Alan St. Clair Gibson's investigation of the central governor theory, a new theory. The basis of their new idea is that the brain, utilizing a mix of physiological, subconscious, and cognitive stimuli, paces the muscles to hold them well back from exhaustion, as stated in line 4 of paragraph B. Hence, the right answer is (vi) a new hypothesis.
Question 3: Paragraph C
Answer: ii-puzzling evidence raises a question
Supporting sentence: Obviously, Noakes deduced, something else was making them tire before they hit either of these physiological limits.
Keyword: tire, physiological limit, something else.
Keyword location: Paragraph C, last line
Explanation: The explanation is clear in paragraph C, which outlines a recent discovery that motivated Noakes to initiate considerable research in this field, which he refers to as the "lactic acid conundrum." Lactic acid is a consequence of exercise, and its accumulation is often blamed for fatigue. It is also indicated in the final line that Noakes deduced that something else was causing them to weary before they reached either of these physiological limits. So, we can say that the right answer is (ii) puzzling evidence raises a question.
Question 4: Paragraph D
Answer: vii- a description of a new test
Supporting sentence: Probing further, Noakes conducted an experiment with seven cyclists who had sensors taped to their legs to measure the nerve impulses traveling through their muscles.
Keyword: experiment, measure, impulses, probing further
Keyword location: Paragraph D, line 1.
Explanation: In paragraph D, we learn that Noakes conducted an experiment with seven motorcyclists who had sensors placed to their legs to capture nerve impulses traveling through their muscles as part of his research. Noakes conducted an experiment with seven bikers who had sensors placed to their legs to monitor nerve impulses traveling through their muscles, as stated in line 1. So, the right answer is (vii) a description of a new test.
Question 5: Paragraph E
Answer: viii-surprising results in the endurance test
Supporting sentence: As fatigue set in, the electrical activity in the cyclists' legs declined - even during sprinting, when they were striving to cycle as fast as they could.
Keyword: fatigue, electrical activity, sprinting, striving
Keyword location: Paragraph E, last line
Explanation: In paragraph E, Noakes' team describes how they uncovered the exact opposite of the usual idea. The electrical activity in the bikers' thighs dropped when fatigue set in, even when they were sprinting and trying to pedal as fast as they could. The last line of the text also notes that as weariness set in, the electrical activity in the cyclists' legs decreased - even when sprinting, when they were attempting to bike as quickly as possible. Thus, the right answer is (viii) surprising results in the endurance test.
Question 6: Paragraph F
Answer: iv-interpreting the findings.
Supporting sentence: This, he believes, is proof that the brain is regulating the pace of the workout to hold the cyclists well back from the point of catastrophic exhaustion.
Keyword: proof, regulating, workout, catastrophic exhaustion
Keyword location: Paragraph F, last line.
Explanation: According to paragraph F, the previous evidence was sufficient for Noakes to conclude that the previous viewpoint was wrong. 'The riders may have felt completely drained, but their bodies had enormous reserves that they could theoretically draw from by utilizing a higher fraction of resting fibers,' he says. We can also see in the last line that he believes this is proof that the brain is managing the pace of the workout to keep the riders well away from reaching catastrophic exhaustion.' So, we can say that the right answer is (iv) interpreting the findings.
Question 7 – 13:
Classify the following ideas as relating to
A: the limitation theory
B: the central governor theory
C: both the limitation theory and central governor theory
Question 7: Lactic acid is produced in muscles during exercise.
Answer: c-both the limitation theory and central governor theory
Supporting sentence: Lactic acid is a by-product of exercise, and its accumulation is often cited as a cause of fatigue.
Keyword: lactic acid, fatigue, accumulation
Keyword location: Paragraph c, line 3.
Explanation: In paragraph C, it is stated that a recent discovery, which Noakes refers to as the "lactic acid dilemma," prompted him to initiate significant research in this sector. Lactic acid is a consequence of exercise, and its accumulation is often blamed for fatigue. Even though lactic acid levels are low, research participants feel weary when they exercise in settings that are similar to those found at high altitudes. They can keep running since their blood oxygen levels haven't dipped too low. As Noakes deduced, something else was causing them to tire before they reached any of these physiological limits. So, we can say that this paragraph discusses an aspect of both limitation theory and central governor theory, so the answer is C.
Question 8: Athletes can keep going until they use up all their available resources.
Answer: A-the limitation theory
Supporting sentence: In other words, muscles tire because they hit a physical limit: they either run out of fuel or oxygen or they drown in toxic by-products.
Keyword: muscles, tire, physical limit, run out, drown
Keyword location: Paragraph A, last line
Explanation: As we saw previously, paragraph A outlines how experts have concluded for nearly a century that muscle tiredness causes weariness or exhaustion in sports. Although the precise explanations differed, they all depended on the 'limitations theory.' As a result, we can deduce that the solution is A, limitation theory.
Question 9: Mental processes control the symptoms of tiredness.
Answer: B-the central governor theory
Supporting sentence: But the central governor theory does not mean that what's happening in the muscles is irrelevant. The governor constantly monitors physiological signals from the muscles, along with other information, to set the level of fatigue.
Keyword: physiological signals
Keyword location: Paragraph I, line 2.
Explanation: This paragraph tells us that however, the central governor idea does not rule out the possibility of muscular activity. To set the level of exhaustion, the governor constantly examines physiological signals from the muscles, as well as other data. A significant variety of signals are likely involved, but unlike the limitations hypothesis, the central governor theory implies that these physiological aspects are simply information to consider, rather than direct drivers of exhaustion.
Question 10: The physiological signals from an athlete's muscles are linked to fatigue
Answer: c-both the limitation theory and central governor theory
Supporting sentence: A large number of signals are probably involved but, unlike the limitations theory, the central governor theory suggests that these physiological factors are not the direct determinants of fatigue, but simply information to take into account.
Keyword: physiological factors, determinants, fatigue
Keyword location: Paragraph I, last line.
Explanation: The central governor concept does not rule out the potential of muscle activation, according to paragraph I. The governor constantly examines physiological signals from the muscles, as well as other data, to determine the amount of tiredness. Although a wide range of signals is likely to be involved, unlike the constraints hypothesis, the central governor theory suggests that these physiological features are only data to examine rather than direct causes of weariness. As a result, the answer is C, which includes both the central governor and the limitation theory.
Question 11: The brain plans and regulates muscle performance in advance of a run.
Answer: B-the central governor theory
Supporting sentence: That, Noakes says, is because the central governor knows you have farther to go in the long run and has programmed itself to dole out fatigue symptoms accordingly.
Keyword: central governor, longer run, programmed, fatigue symptom
Keyword location: Paragraph J, last line
Explanation: As we can see, according to Noakes, the central regulator evaluates the desired workout and modifies the pacing approach accordingly, as he describes in paragraph J. According to Noakes, this is because the central governor recognises you have a long way to go in the long run and is programmed to give you weariness symptoms in response. so we can claim that the answer is B, central governor theory.
Question 12: Athletes' performance during a race may be affected by lactic acid build-up.
Answer: A-the limitation theory
Supporting sentence: Lactic acid is a by-product of exercise, and its accumulation is often cited as a cause of fatigue.
Keyword: lactic acid, accumulation, fatigue, cause
Keyword location: Paragraph C, line 2.
Explanation: A recent discovery, which Noakes refers to as the "lactic acid conundrum," motivated him to initiate considerable research in this field, as described in paragraph C. Lactic acid is a byproduct of exercise, and its accumulation is commonly blamed for weariness; we know that this idea is linked to restriction theory, hence the answer is A, limitation theory.
Question 13: Humans are genetically programmed to keep some energy reserves.
Answer: B-the central governor theory
Supporting sentence: St Clair Gibson believes there is a good reason why our bodies are designed to keep something back. That way, there's always something left in the tank for an emergency.
Keyword: something back, bodies, emergency
Keyword location: Paragraph K, line 1.
Explanation: St Clair Gibson believes that our bodies are designed to hold things back for a reason, as stated in paragraph K. In the event of an emergency, there will always be enough gas in the tank. Life would have been terribly dangerous in ancient times, as it is today if our bodies allowed us to get so fatigued that we couldn't respond swiftly when faced with an unexpected need. We know that this idea is not related with limitation theory, hence the solution is B, central governor theory.
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