Telepathy Reading Answers

Dec 29, 2022

Telepathy Reading Answers contains a write up about the telepathy and parapsychological experiments. Telepathy Reading Answers comprising 14 different types of questions. This passage has been taken from Cambridge 8 IELTS Reading Test 1. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. Telepathy Reading Answers comprises two types of questions: sentence completion, and Choose the correct option. For sentence completion in IELTS Reading passage, Each passage needs to be read carefully by applicants. Candidates for sentence completion must scan the paragraph for essential words and grasp the idea. Candidates must understand the offered statement and the IELTS Reading passage in order to select the appropriate response. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Telepathy Reading Answers

Can human beings communicate by thought alone? For more than a century the issue of telepathy has divided the scientific community, and even today it still sparks bitter controversy among top academics.

Since the 1970s, parapsychologists at leading universities and research institutes around the world have risked the derision of sceptical colleagues by putting the various claims for telepathy to the test in dozens of rigorous scientific studies. The results and their implications are dividing even the researchers who uncovered them.
Some researchers say the results constitute compelling evidence that telepathy is genuine. Other parapsychologists believe the field is on the brink of collapse, having tried to produce definitive scientific proof and failed. Sceptics and advocates alike do concur on one issue, however, that the most impressive evidence so far has come from the so-called ‘ganzfeld’ experiments, a German term that means ‘whole field’. Reports of telepathic experiences had by people during meditation led parapsychologists to suspect that telepathy might involve ‘signals’ passing between people that were so faint that they were usually swamped by normal brain activity. In this case, such signals might be more easily detected by those experiencing meditation-like tranquillity in a relaxing ‘whole field’ of light, sound and warmth.
The ganzfeld experiment tries to recreate these conditions with participants sitting in soft reclining chairs in a sealed room, listening to relaxing sounds while their eyes are covered with special filters letting in only soft pink light. In early ganzfeld experiments, the telepathy test involved identification of a picture chosen from a random selection of four taken from a large image bank. The idea was that a person acting as a ‘sender’ would attempt to beam the image over to the ‘receiver’ relaxing in the sealed room. Once the session was over, this person was asked to identify which of the four images had been used. Random guessing would give a hit-rate of 25 per cent; if telepathy is real, however, the hit-rate would be higher. In 1982, the results from the first ganzfeld studies were analysed by one of its pioneers, the American parapsychologist Charles Honorton. They pointed to typical hit-rates of better than 30 per cent — a small effect, but one which statistical tests suggested could not be put down to chance.
The implication was that the ganzfeld method had revealed real evidence for telepathy. But there was a crucial flaw in this argument — one routinely overlooked in more conventional areas of science. Just because chance had been ruled out as an explanation did not prove telepathy must exist; there were many other ways of getting positive results. These ranged from ‘sensory leakage’ — where clues about the pictures accidentally reach the receiver — to outright fraud. In response, the researchers issued a review of all the ganzfeld studies done up to 1985 to show that 80 per cent had found statistically significant evidence. However, they also agreed that there were still too many problems in the experiments which could lead to positive results, and they drew up a list demanding new standards for future research.
After this, many researchers switched to autoganzfeld tests — an automated variant of the technique which used computers to perform many of the key tasks such as the random selection of images. By minimising human involvement, the idea was to minimise the risk of flawed results. In 1987, results from hundreds of autoganzfeld tests were studied by Honorton in a ‘meta-analysis’, a statistical technique for finding the overall results from a set of studies. Though less compelling than before, the outcome was still impressive.
Yet some parapsychologists remain disturbed by the lack of consistency between individual ganzfeld studies. Defenders of telepathy point out that demanding impressive evidence from every study ignores one basic statistical fact: it takes large samples to detect small effects. If, as current results suggest, telepathy produces hit-rates only marginally above the 25 per cent expected by chance, it’s unlikely to be detected by a typical ganzfeld study involving around 40 people: the group is just not big enough. Only when many studies are combined in a meta-analysis will the faint signal of telepathy really become apparent. And that is what researchers do seem to be finding.
What they are certainly not finding, however, is any change in attitude of mainstream scientists: most still totally reject the very idea of telepathy. The problem stems at least in part from the lack of any plausible mechanism for telepathy.
Various theories have been put forward, many focusing on esoteric ideas from theoretical physics. They include ‘quantum entanglement’, in which events affecting one group of atoms instantly affect another group, no matter how far apart they may be. While physicists have demonstrated entanglement with specially prepared atoms, no-one knows if it also exists between atoms making up human minds. Answering such questions would transform parapsychology. This has prompted some researchers to argue that the future lies not in collecting more evidence for telepathy, but in probing possible mechanisms. Some work has begun already, with researchers trying to identify people who are particularly successful in autoganzfeld trials. Early results show that creative and artistic people do much better than average: in one study at the University of Edinburgh, musicians achieved a hit-rate of 56 per cent. Perhaps more tests like these will eventually give the researchers the evidence they are seeking and strengthen the case for the existence of telepathy.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-4

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

Discovery of a mechanism for telepathy.
the need to create a suitable environment for telepathy.
their claims of a high success rate.
a solution to the problem posed by random guessing.
the significance of the ganzfeld experiments.
a more careful selection of subjects.
a need to keep altering conditions.

Researchers with differing attitudes towards telepathy agree on

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Sceptics and advocates alike do concur on one issue, however: that the most impressive evidence so far has come from the so-called 'ganzfeld' experiments.
Keywords: Evidence, Ganzfeld Experiments
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, 3rd line.
Explanation: Advocates and Skeptics both have opinions on Ganzfeld experiments. The most compelling evidence thus far has, however, come from the so-called 'ganzfeld' experiments, which is a German term that means 'whole field.' This is a point on which both supporters and detractors agree. This clearly has been stated in Paragraph B. So, as per the explanation provided the correct answer is E.

Reports of experiences during meditation indicated

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Such signals might be more easily detected by those experiencing meditation-like tranquillity in a relaxing 'whole field' of light, sound, and warmth.
Keywords: Meditation, Tranquility
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, 5th line.
Explanation: Meditation can be used to pick up telepathic impulses. Parapsychologists began to speculate that telepathy might involve signals' traveling. Between people that were so faint that they were typically drowned out by regular brain activity. After hearing accounts of telepathic experiences people had while meditating. In this situation, folks who are experiencing a calming "whole field" of light, sound, and warmth may be better able to notice such signs. This is clearly mentioned in Paragraph B. So, the answer is B.

Attitudes to parapsychology would alter drastically with

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: The problem stems at least in part from the lack of any plausible mechanism for telepathy.
Keywords: Mechanism, Telepathy
Keyword Location: 9th paragraph, 2nd line.
Explanation: The correct mechanism for telepathy does not exist. What they are not discovering, however, is a shift in the beliefs of conventional scientists. The majority of them continue to categorically deny the concept of telepathy. The issue is caused, at least in part, by the absence of any telepathic mechanisms that make sense. This statement has been mentioned in paragraph G. The correct answer is A.

Recent autoganzfeld trials suggest that success rates will improve with

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: This has prompted some researchers to argue that the future lies not in collecting more evidence for telepathy, but in probing possible mechanisms.
Keywords: Evidence, Telepathy, Mechanisms
Keyword Location: 10th paragraph, 5th line.
Explanation: Trials using the Autoganzfeld method have demonstrated the urgent need for new telepathy mechanisms. Many scientists began using autoganzfeld tests, an automated variation of the method. That relied on computers to carry out many of the essential functions, including the random selection of images. Keeping human engagement to a minimum reduced the possibility of receiving subpar results. This has been mentioned in paragraph E. So, The answer is F.

Questions 5-14

Complete the table below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 5-14 on your answer sheet.

Telepathy Experiments
Name/Date	Description	Result	Flaw
Ganzfeld studies 1982	Involved a person acting as a 5 __________ who picked out one 6 _______ from a random selection of four, and a 7 _______ who then tried to identify it.	Hit-rates were higher than random guessing.	Positive results could be produced by factors such as 8 _________ or 9 _______
Autoganzfeld studies 1987	10 _________ were used for key tasks to limit the amount of 11 _________ in carrying out the tests.	The results were then subjected to a 12 ________	The 13 ___________ between different test results was put down to the fact that sample groups were not 14 _________ (as with most ganzfeld studies).

Question 5:

Answer: Sender
Supporting Sentence: Just because chance had been ruled out as an explanation did not prove telepathy must exist; there were many other ways of getting positive results.
Location: 4th paragraph, 3rd line.
Explanation: There were numerous other methods to achieve success, so just because chance had been ruled out as a possibility did not telepathy necessarily exist. So, The correct answer is Sender as per the explanation.

Question 6:

Answer: Picture/Image
Supporting Sentence: The idea was that a person acting as a 'sender' would attempt to beam the image over to the 'receiver' relaxing in the sealed room.
Keywords: Sender, Image, Receiver
Keyword Location: 4th paragraph, 2nd line.
Explanation: It was once thought that in telepathy, the sender actually sent the image to the recipient. So, the correct answer is picture/ image as per the explanation.

Question 7:

Answer: Receiver
Supporting Sentence: The idea was that a person acting as a 'sender' would attempt to beam the image over to the 'receiver' relaxing in the sealed room.
Keywords: Sender, Image, Receiver
Keyword Location: 4th paragraph, 3rd line.
Explanation: It was once thought that in telepathy, the sender actually sent the image to the recipient. So the correct answer is receiver as per the explanation.

Question 8:

Answer: Sensory Leakage
Supporting Sentence: These ranged from 'sensory leakage' - where clues about the pictures accidentally reach the receiver - to outright fraud.
Keywords: Pictures, Receiver
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, 4th line.
Explanation: There were numerous other methods to achieve success, so just because chance had been ruled out as a possibility did not telepathy necessarily exist. These varied from obvious fraud to "sensory leakage," in which information about the images unintentionally reaches the receiver. So, the correct answer is sensory leakage as per the explanation.

Question 9:

Answer: Outright Fraud
Supporting Sentence: These ranged from 'sensory leakage' - where clues about the pictures accidentally reach the receiver - to outright fraud.
Keywords: : Pictures, Receiver.
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, 4th line.
Explanation: There were numerous other methods to achieve success, so just because chance had been ruled out as a possibility did not telepathy necessarily exist. These varied from obvious fraud to "sensory leakage," in which information about the images unintentionally reaches the receiver. So, The correct answer is outright fraud as per the explanation.

Question 10:

Answer: Computers
Supporting Sentence: After this, many researchers switched to autoganzfeld tests - an automated variant of the technique which used computers to perform many of the key tasks such as the random selection of images.
Keywords: Autoganzfeld Tests, Technique
Keyword Location: 7th paragraph, 1st line.
Explanation: Some important tasks require computers. So, The answer is computers as per the explanation.

Question 11:

Answer: Human Environment
Supporting Sentence: By minimizing human involvement, the idea was to minimize the risk of flawed results.
Keywords: Risk, Results
Location: 7th paragraph, 2nd line.
Explanation: The intended outcomes would be at danger from excessive human participation. So, the correct answer is human environment as per the explanation.

Question 12:

Answer: Meta-analysis
Supporting Sentence: In 1987, results from hundreds of autoganzfeld tests were studied by Honorton in a 'meta-analysis', a statistical technique for finding the overall results from a set of studies.
Keywords: Autoganzfeld, Statistical technique
Keyword Location: 7th paragraph, 3rd line.
Explanation: Meta-analysis is a statistical method for obtaining study results. So, the correct answer is meta analysis as per the explanation.

Question 13:

Answer: Lack of consistency
Supporting Sentence: Yet some parapsychologists remain disturbed by the lack of consistency between individual ganzfeld studies.
Keywords: Parapsychologists, Consistency, Ganzfeld Studies
Keyword Location: 8th paragraph, 1st line.
Explanation: Each ganzfeld study should be consistent with the others. So, the correct answer is lack of consistency as per the explanation.

Question 14:

Answer: Big Enough
Supporting Sentence: If, as current results suggest, telepathy produces hit-rates only marginally above the 25 percent expected by chance, it's unlikely to be detected by a typical ganzfeld study involving around 40 people: the group is just not big enough.
Keywords: Telepathy, Ganzfeld
Keyword Location: 8th paragraph, 3rd line.
Explanation: A ganzfeld research involving a small sample of participants is unable to identify telepathy. So, the correct answer is big enough as per the explanation.

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