Semantic Habits Reading Answers

Aug 8, 2025

Semantic Habits Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Semantic Habits Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the next question set, choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list below. Write the correct number i-viii.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

SEMANTIC HABITS

A.Language is not just a means of communication but a cognitive framework that subtly shapes the way individuals think. A growing body of research in linguistics and cognitive science suggests that people unconsciously form "semantic habits"—patterns of meaning that influence their perception of the world. These habits emerge from daily language use and cultural context, often becoming so ingrained that speakers remain unaware of their effects. Semantic habits

help structure abstract concepts like time, causality, and emotion, with profound implications for thought processes and decision-making.

B.Consider the way different languages describe time. English speakers tend to conceptualise time linearly, often using horizontal spatial metaphors such as "looking forward to the weekend" or "putting the past behind us." In contrast, speakers of Mandarin Chinese frequently use vertical metaphors—referring to the past as "up" and the future as "down." These linguistic differences are not merely cosmetic. Experiments have shown that Mandarin speakers are

quicker to identify temporal sequences when they are presented vertically, whereas English speakers perform better with horizontal arrangements. This implies that the language one speaks helps establish mental models of time itself.

C.Beyond time, semantic habits extend into the realm of causality. In English, people commonly say, "She broke the vase," even if the action was accidental. In Japanese or Spanish, however, it is more natural to say, "The vase broke, especially when the intent is unclear or unimportant. This subtle difference may influence the way speakers assign blame. A study from Stanford University found that English speakers are more likely to remember the person responsible

for an accidental action than Spanish or Japanese speakers. These habits of causal attribution may even affect legal and moral judgments, highlighting the pervasive impact of language on thought.

D.Emotion is another area where semantic habits diverge. In certain indigenous Australian languages, emotion is not typically described as internal or personal. Instead, it is framed relationally—for instance, someone might say, " I am feeling your sadness," acknowledging emotion as a shared state rather than an individual experience. Western languages, by contrast, tend to treat emotion as an internal, private occurrence. These linguistic tendencies shape how people interpret emotional experiences and respond to others in distress.

E.The development of semantic habits begins early in life. Children acquire these patterns not only through explicit instruction but also through immersion in linguistic and cultural environments. Over time, certain habitual ways of describing the world become second nature. Although individuals can learn new languages and adopt different conceptual structures, the influence of early language exposure often persists into adulthood. Bilingual individuals, for example, may switch perspectives depending on which language they are using at a given moment.

F.Critics of the "language shapes thought" hypothesis caution against overstatement. They argue that while language may influence thought patterns, it does not fully determine them. People are capable of understanding ideas that their language does not explicitly encode. For example, English speakers can grasp the concept of vertical time even if they do not commonly express it that way. Nevertheless, the evidence supporting the role of semantic habits suggests that language does more than simply reflect reality—it participates in constructing it.

Questions 14-20

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information

14. Semantic habits are typically formed through deliberate study.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “These habits emerge from daily language use and cultural context, often becoming so ingrained that speakers remain unaware of their effects." and "Children acquire these patterns not only through explicit instruction but also through immersion in linguistic and cultural environments.”

Keywords: language use, cultural context, unaware, immersion

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 4-5; Paragraph E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that semantic habits emerge from daily language use and cultural context and that children acquire them through immersion, not typically through deliberate study. While explicit instruction is mentioned for children, the overall emphasis is on unconscious acquisition and immersion, contradicting the idea of them being typically formed through deliberate study.

15. Mandarin speakers often associate the past with higher spatial positioning.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “In contrast, speakers of Mandarin Chinese frequently use vertical metaphors—referring to the past as 'up' and the future as 'down.”

Keywords: Mandarin Chinese, vertical metaphors, past as 'up'

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that Mandarin speakers refer to the past as "up," which means they associate it with higher spatial positioning.

16. English speakers are less likely to blame someone for an accidental event.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “A study from Stanford University found that English speakers are more likely to remember the person responsible for an accidental action than Spanish or Japanese speakers.”

Keywords: English speakers, person responsible, Spanish or Japanese

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage states that English speakers are more likely to remember the person responsible for an accidental action, implying a greater tendency to attribute blame, which contradicts the statement.

17. Emotional expression in Western languages tends to emphasise individual feelings.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Western languages, by contrast, tend to treat emotion as an internal, private occurrence.”

Keywords: Western languages, private occurrence

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage states that Western languages "tend to treat emotion as an internal, private occurrence," which aligns with emphasizing individual feelings.

18. Children must be formally taught to develop semantic habits.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Children acquire these patterns not only through explicit instruction but also through immersion in linguistic and cultural environments.”

Keywords: explicit instruction, immersion

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 2

Explanation: The passage states that children acquire these habits "not only through explicit instruction but also through immersion," meaning formal teaching is not the sole requirement.

19. Bilinguals may think differently depending on which language they use.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Bilingual individuals, for example, may switch perspectives depending on which language they are using at a given moment.”

Keywords: Bilingual individuals, switch perspectives

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage states that bilingual individuals may switch perspectives depending on which language they are using, which means they may think differently based on the language.

20. Some researchers believe that language completely controls how people think.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Critics of the "language shapes thought" hypothesis caution against overstatement. They argue that while language may influence thought patterns, it does not fully determine them.”

Keywords: hypothesis, overstatement, patterns

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage mentions critics who argue that language does not fully determine thought, directly contradicting the idea that some researchers believe language completely controls how people think.

Questions 21-26

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list below. Write the correct number i-viii.

LIST OF HEADINGS

i. Language and emotional interpretation

ii. How semantic habits form in early life

iii. Language's role in shaping our legal views

iv. Criticism of the semantic habit theory

v. Personal observations of bilingual speakers

vi. The concept of semantic habits

vii. Cultural differences in describing time

viii. Time as a social construct

21. Paragraph A

Answer: VI

Supporting statement: “A growing body of research in linguistics and cognitive science suggests that people unconsciously form “semantic habits”—patterns of meaning that influence their perception of the world.”

Keywords: linguistics and cognitive, semantic habits, patterns of meaning

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Paragraph A introduces and defines "semantic habits," explaining what they are and how they generally function.

22. Paragraph B

Answer: VII

Supporting statement: “Consider the way different languages describe time. English speakers tend to conceptualise time linearly… In contrast, speakers of Mandarin Chinese frequently use vertical metaphors…”

Keywords: different languages, English, Mandarin Chinese, temporal

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-5

Explanation: Paragraph B uses the concept of time to illustrate how different languages (English and Mandarin Chinese) use different spatial metaphors to describe it.

23. Paragraph C

Answer: III

Supporting statement: “This subtle difference may influence the way speakers assign blame. … These habits of causal attribution may even affect legal and moral judgments…”

Keywords: assign blame, legal and moral judgments

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Paragraph C discusses how linguistic differences in describing causality can influence how blame is assigned and how this might impact "legal and moral judgments."

24. Paragraph D

Answer: I

Supporting statement: “Emotion is another area where semantic habits diverge. In certain indigenous Australian languages, emotion is not typically described as internal or personal. Instead, it is framed relationally… Western languages, by contrast, tend to treat emotion as an internal, private occurrence.”

Keywords: Emotion, Australian languages, Western languages

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-4

Explanation: Paragraph D focuses on how different languages influence the description and interpretation of emotions.

25. Paragraph E

Answer: II

Supporting statement: “The development of semantic habits begins early in life. Children acquire these patterns not only through explicit instruction but also through immersion in linguistic and cultural environments.”

Keywords: begins early in life, Children acquire, immersion

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph E explains the developmental process of semantic habits, particularly in childhood.

26. Paragraph F

Answer: IV

Supporting statement: “Critics of the 'language shapes thought' hypothesis caution against overstatement. They argue that while language may influence thought patterns, it does not fully determine them.”

Keywords: Critics, overstatement

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph F presents the opposing viewpoint, specifically addressing criticisms and limitations of the language shapes thought hypothesis, which underpins the concept of semantic habits.

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