Scratching the Surface Reading Answers

Jan 5, 2023

Scratching the Surface Reading Answers contains 14 questions. The IELTS reading section needs to be attempted within a timeline of 20 minutes. Scratching the Surface Reading Answers consists of three types of questions including- matching heading, no more than 2 words and yes/no/not given. Scratching the Surface Reading Answers has been referenced from the book The Official Cambridge Guide To IELTS Student's Book With Answers. To solve the IELTS Reading section, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords, understand the concept, and answer based on the given instructions. Candidates should use no more than three words for their answers. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question. Candidates can solve more such IELTS reading samples like- Scratching the Surface Reading Answers from IELTS reading practice tests.

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

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Scratching the Surface Reading Answers

They are insidious skin parasites, infesting the occupants of factories and offices. They cause itching, prickling and crawling sensations in the skin that are almost untreatable. These creatures may only exist in the mind, but their effects are real and infectious.

The classic case occurred in a US laboratory in I966. After the new equipment was installed, workers started to suffer from itching and sensations of insects crawling over them. Complaints multiplied and the problem, attributed to ‘cable mites’, started to spread to relatives of the victims. A concerted effort was made to exterminate the mites using everything from DDT and mothballs to insecticide and rat poison.

Nothing worked. The thorough examination by scientific investigators could not locate any pests or even signs of actual parasite attacks. However, they did find small particles of Rockwool insulation in the air, which could cause skin irritation. A cleaning program was introduced and the staff was assured the problem had been solved. The cable mite infestation disappeared.

Another l960s case occurred in a textile factory, where workers complained of being bitten by insects brought into the factory in imported cloth. Dermatitis swept through the workforce, but it followed a curious pattern. Instead of affecting people in one particular part of the factory, the bugs seemed to be transmitted through employees’ social groups. No parasites could be found. A third infestation spread through office staff going through dusty records that had lain untouched for decades. They attributed their skin problems to ‘paper mites’, but the cause was traced to irritation from paper splinters.

These are all cases of illusions of parasitosis, where something in the environment is misinterpreted as an insect or another pest. Everyone has heard of delirium tremens when alcoholics or amphetamine users experience the feeling of insects crawling over their skin, but other factors can cause the same illusion. Static electricity, dust, fibers, and chemical solvents can all give rise to imaginary insects. The interesting thing is that they spread. The infectious nature of this illusion seems to be a type of reflex contagion. Yawn and others start yawning. If everyone around you laughs, you laugh. Start scratching, and colleagues will scratch, too.

* Dr. Paul Marsden is managing editor of the Journal of Memetics, the study of infectious ideas. He suggests that this type of group behavior may have had a role to play in human evolution. In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present. This would prime them to scratch itches of their own. Anyone who has been bitten several times by mosquitoes before they realized it will recognize the evolutionary value of this kind of advance warning. The outbreak of mass scratching may also promote mutual grooming, which is important in the necessary bonding of primate groups.

The problem comes when the reflex contagion is not related to a real threat. Normally, everyone would soon stop scratching, but people may unconsciously exaggerate symptoms to gain attention, or because it gets them a break from unappealing work. The lab workers were scanners, who spent the day laboriously examining the results of bubble-chamber tests; textile workers and clerical staff poring over records would also have found what they had to do quite tedious. Add the factor that skin conditions are notoriously susceptible to psychological influence, and it is easy to see how a group dynamic can keep the illusory parasites going.

Treatment of the condition is difficult since few will accept that their misreading of the symptoms is the result of what psychologists call a hysterical condition. In the past, the combination of the removal of irritants and expert reassurance was enough. However, these days, there is a mistrust of conventional medicine and easier access to support groups. Sufferers can reinforce each other’s illusions over the Internet, swapping tales of elusive mites that baffle science. This could give rise to an epidemic of mystery parasites, spreading from mind to mind like a kind of super virus. Only an awareness of the power of the illusion can stop it. You can stop scratching now.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-5:
Classify statements 1-5 according to whether they apply to

the laboratory
the factory
the office

Workers who met each other socially suffered from the condition.

Answer: B. the factory
Supporting Sentence: They cause itching, prickling and crawling sensations in the skin that are almost untreatable.
Keywords: itching, prickling and crawling sensations
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1
Explanation: They are sneaky skin parasites that infest the occupants of industries and offices, according to paragraph 1. They induce untreatable itching, prickling, even crawling sensations in the skin. These lines demonstrate that untreatable skin parasites infest all occupants of factories and offices. These are creating itching, prickling, and crawling sensations in their skins. As a result, workers who meet socially suffer from the illness. Workers socializing with one another in this context refers to workers and inhabitants gathering in a plant. As a result, the correct answer is B.

The victims were all working with old documents.

Answer: C the office
Supporting Sentence: A third infestation spread through office staff going through dusty records that had lain untouched for decades
Keywords: third infestation, dusty records, lain untouched
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: According to paragraph 4, a third infection developed through office personnel searching through ancient records that had been ignored for decades. They blamed their skin issues on 'paper mites'. These phrases imply that people working in the workplace searching through dusty documents were infested. As a result, victims working with outdated papers are referred to as office workers. So the solution is C.

They tried to kill the insects they thought were responsible.

Answer: A. the laboratory
Supporting Sentence: The lab workers were scanners, who spent the day laboriously examining the results of bubble-chamber tests
Keywords: lab workers were scanners, laboriously examining, bubble-chamber
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: The lab personnel were scanners, who spent the day laboriously analyzing the findings of bubble-chamber tests, according to paragraph 7. These lines show that laboratory staff were scanners who spent the day analyzing bubble-chamber test results. As a result, the phrase "they sought to exterminate the insects they felt were responsible" refers to the lab employees. As a result, the answer is A.

They said the creatures had come in material from abroad.

Answer: B. the factory
Supporting Sentence: Another l960s case occurred in a textile factory, where workers complained of being bitten by insects brought into the factory in imported cloth.
Keywords: textile factory, bitten by insects brought, imported cloth.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: In the first few paragraphs of paragraph 4, where it is reported that a similar example happened in a textile plant in the l960s. Workers reported being bitten by insects carried into the factory in imported material. These lines show that workers in a textile plant complained about being bitten by insects from imported fabric transported into the factory. As a result, the statement: Stated the monsters had brought in material from overseas applied to manufacturing workers. As a result, the correct answer is B.

Employees’ families were affected by the condition.

Answer: C. the office
Supporting Sentence: Instead of affecting people in one particular part of the factory, the bugs seemed to be transmitted through employees’ social groups.
Keywords: particular part of the factory, bugs
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 2
Explanation: The second sentence of paragraph 4 shows that, rather than harming people in a specific area of the workplace. The bugs appeared to be spread via employees' social groupings. According to these lines, the bugs did not impact the industrial workers; rather, they appeared to be transferred through the employees' social groupings. As a result, the statement: Employee families were affected by the disease applies to office workers. As a result, the correct answer is C.

Questions 6-8:
Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer

Evolutionary purpose theory
Parasite/Insect bite

…………………………..

Answer: Individual scratching
Supporting Sentence: In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present.
Keywords: individual scratching, biting insects, parasites present.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: According to paragraph 6, in the distant past, one person scratching would have notified others that there were biting insects or parasites present. These lines imply that one person scratching would have alerted others to the presence of biting insects or parasites. Individual scratching is thus the solution.

Benefit to group

…………………………

Answer: Alerted others
Supporting Sentence: In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present.
Keywords: individual scratching, biting insects, parasites present.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: According to paragraph 6, in the distant past, one person scratching would have notified others that there were stinging insects or parasites present. We may deduce from these lines that if one person scratched in the past, others would have been informed, i.e. if there were biting bugs or parasites present. As a result, the solution is to notify others.

In the presence of pets
Group scratching
Group grooming
Benefit to group

………………………………

Answer: Bonding
Supporting Sentence: outbreak of mass scratching may also promote mutual grooming, which is important in the necessary bonding of primate groups.
Keywords: promote mutual grooming
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: The final sentence of paragraph 6 demonstrates that an outbreak of mass scratching also may encourage mutual grooming, which is vital in monkey group bonding. These lines imply that the burst of scratching may stimulate mutual brushing, which is important in bonding in primate communities. As a result, bonding is the answer.

Questions 9-13:
Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage 1? Write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN if the statement is not given in the passage

Some keep scratching because they know it will enable them to stop work.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: stop scratching, but people may unconsciously exaggerate symptoms to gain attention, or because it gets them a break from unappealing work.
Keywords: unconsciously exaggerate, unappealing work
Keyword Location: paragraph 7
Explanation: In paragraph 7, it is demonstrated that, in most cases, everyone would soon cease scratching. People may subconsciously exaggerate symptoms in order to get attention or to take a break from a disagreeable job. From these lines, we may assume that individuals would quit scratching. They would unconsciously exaggerate about it to get attention or to take a break from work. As a result of the assertion contradicting the information, the answer is False.

The laboratory, factory and office employees all had boring jobs.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: In paragraph 1, we discover a reference to factories and offices, which indicates that they are sneaky skin parasites that infest factory and office inhabitants. Similarly, in paragraph 7, we see a reference to lab personnel, who are described as scanners who spent the day laboriously analyzing the findings of bubble-chamber experiments. However, nowhere in the paragraph is it specified that the laboratory, factory, and office staff all had monotonous employment. As a result, the solution is Not Given.

The human skin is extremely sensitive to irritants.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: skin conditions are notoriously susceptible to psychological influence.
Keywords: skin conditions, notoriously susceptible, psychological influence.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: According to the last line of the seventh paragraph, skin disorders are notably receptive to psychological impact. These lines demonstrate how sensitive human skin is to allergens . As a result of the assertion agreeing with the information, the answer is True.

In many cases, people no longer believe what medical professionals say.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: there is a mistrust of conventional medicine and easier access to support groups.
Keywords: conventional medicine and easier
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8
Explanation: According to paragraph 8, there is a growing distrust of mainstream treatment and increased access to support groups. These lines reflect a suspicion of contemporary medicine, implying that individuals do not completely accept what traditional medicine says. As a result of the assertion agreeing with the information, the answer is True.

It is impossible to prevent the condition becoming an Internet epidemic.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: sufferers can reinforce each other’s illusions over the Internet, swapping tales of elusive mites that baffle science.
Keywords: reinforce each other’s illusions, swapping tales, baffle science.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, line 4
Explanation: The fourth sentence of paragraph 8 shows how patients might promote other delusions. All over the Internet by exchanging stories of elusive mites that puzzle science. This might spark an outbreak of unknown parasites that travel from thought to thought like a super virus. These sentences imply that victims reinforce their delusions on the internet by posting their bite stories. So, perhaps resulting in an epidemic of mysterious parasites that travel from mind to mind like a virus. As a result of the assertion contradicting the information, the answer is False.

Question 14:
From the list below choose the most suitable alternative title for Reading Passage.

The benefits of itching and scratching
Increasing complaints about insects
Scratching, yawning and laughing
Imaginary bites and parasites
Computer bites and Internet itches

Answer: D. Imaginary bites and parasites
Supporting Sentence: occupants in factories, office employees, and lab workers who examine these viruses.
Keywords: occupants in factories, office employees
Keyword Location: Paragraphs 1–8
Explanation: It may be deduced from the reading passage (paragraphs 1–8) that the writer has described the bites experienced. The factory workers, office workers, and lab workers who study these viruses. In the paragraph, the author also mentions imagined bites and parasites. As a result, the reading passage's alternate title is D.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples