The Cult of Perfect Reading Answers

Feb 26, 2025

The Cult of Perfect Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Cult of Perfect Reading Answers has a total of 14 IELTS questions in total. In the question set from (1-6) you have to choose the correct heading for the paragraph. In the next set (7-13) you have to fill the blank with the correct answer only with one word.

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 recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing 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 THE CULT of PERFECT

A. Perfectionism has increased significantly over the past three decades, a recent analysis shows. Young people in particular place higher demands on themselves and on others. Often, having high standards can drive success, but for some people, diligence and motivation can shift into perfectionism, a sorely misunderstood personality trait that can have dangerous consequences. Our dog-eat-dog world, full of impeccable images of what our bodies, careers and aspirations should look like, is creating a rising tide of millennials who may be putting themselves at risk of mental and physical illness in their search for the perfect life.

B. "Perfection is hard to define," says Thomas Curran at the University of Bath, UK, who has been studying its rise. There is no fixed way of diagnosing it. However, many studies measure it using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), which was developed three decades ago. It consists of 45 statements — such as "l strive to be the best at everything I do", "If I ask someone to do something, I expect it to be done flawlessly" and "People expect nothing less than perfection from me" - and people rate how much they agree with each of these on a scale of 1 to 7. If you very much identify with these kinds of statements, it is likely that you have perfectionist tendencies.

C. The scale also distinguishes between three different kinds of perfectionism. "Self-oriented" perfectionists set themselves high goals in their work and relationships. They can often experience anxiety from losing to a competitor, failing at a test or not getting a bonus at work. "Other-oriented ' perfectionists hold those around them to exceptionally high standards. They are very critical and judgemental of Others and risk social rejection and relationship problems. Finally, there are -socially prescribed" perfectionists, who feel immense pressure from others to be perfect, while also seeking their approval. "The Impossibly high standards they set for themselves mean they often feel rejected or harshly scrutinised,' says Curran. "As a consequence, their self-esteem takes a hit on a daily basis. It's a real battle involving lots of negative emotions, guilt and shame.”

D. Part of the difficulty in pinpointing perfectionism is that the line between having high standards and being a perfectionist is very blurred. "The difference between someone who sets high goals and a perfectionist comes at the time of success or failure,' says Andrew Hill at York St John University, UK. For instance, someone who is hard-working and diligent will appreciate any success, and will adapt their goals when they fail. They will be able to put in just enough effort for a strategic benefit. A perfectionist will take much less pleasure from success. Even a perfect score will be met with a sense of pressure that they need to keep up this level of success or that the goalposts need to be placed further away.

E. Perfectionism has strong links with health conditions. When Karina Limburg at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, and her colleagues analysed 284 studies. which included more than 57,000 participants, they found that people with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression had higher levels of perfectionism compared with people who didn't have any of the conditions, Those with perfectionist tendencies were more likely to experience more than one condition at a time. Perfectionism has also been linked with suicide. Physical health may also be affected as a result of the stress that perfectionists subject themselves to, leading to an increased risk of things like

cardiovascular disease. Additionally, they cope less well when they are ill because they experience higher levels of anger, depression and anxiety.

F. Fortunately, there are ways we can combat perfectionism. But first we need to recognise it, which can be difficult. By the very nature of this condition, it is extremely hard for a perfectionist to admit that there might be something wrong, says Simon Sherry at Dalhousie University in Canada, who specialises in treating perfectionism. Acknowledging the problem is an excellent first step. "We usually see people at the end of the road, when they are in a bad way," he says. Depending on the extent of the problem, some people find that self-help books are enough. Others need professional help. This normally comes in the form of talking therapies or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Which gives people tools to analyse Why they are acting In certain ways and enable them to break out of negative patterns.

G. With perfectionism rising rapidly among young people, many parents will share Marshall-Maun's desire to protect their children. "We've been working on the role parents play and it's complex," says Smith. "In terms of preventing it in your children, we know that parental practices have an important influence." Extremely critical or demanding parents risk triggering perfectionism in their kids. "To avoid creating perfectionist tendencies, parents need to focus on loving their children in a more unconditional way, rather than focusing their love on specific successes," says Sherry. They can also help young people cope with the pressures of modern life. "It's incumbent on parents to coach their children on the potential hazards of Teach them that it doesn't offer realistic images of lives, that they are often lofty and fake," he says.

Questions 1-6

Reading Passage 1 has 7 paragraphs A-C.

Choose the correct heading for Paragraphs

A-G from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number (i-ix)

LIST of HEADINGS

i. The thin line between perfectionism and having high standards

ii. The role of parenting.

iii. Using therapies to combat perfectionism

iv. Pros and cons of perfectionism.

v. How to distinguish perfectionism and other kinds of mental problems.

vi. Different measures to cope with perfectionism

vii. A method to detect a perfectionist

viii. Health issues from being a perfectionist

ix. Perfectionism may vary.

1. Paragraph B

Answer: VII

Supporting statement: However, many studies measure it using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS)

Keywords: studies, MPS

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Perfection is hard to define as there is no fixed way of diagnosing it according to Thomas Curran who has been studying it at the University of Bath, UK. However it can be measured by using Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS).

2. Paragraph C

Answer: IX

Supporting statement:The scale also distinguishes between three different kinds of perfectionism.

Keywords: distinguishes, perfectionism

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: According to the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) perfectionism is divided between three different kind which are as follow first being Self-oriented perfectionists second one being Other-oriented perfectionists and the last one being socially prescribed perfectionists

3. Paragraph D

Answer: I

Supporting statement:Part of the difficulty in pinpointing perfectionism is that the line between having high standards and being a perfectionist is very blurred.

Keywords: difficulty, blurred

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The difficulty in pointing out perfection occurs due to the fine line almost blurring to differentiate between having high standards and being a perfectionist.

4. Paragraph E

Answer: VIII

Supporting statement: Perfectionism has strong links with health conditions.

Keywords: strong, health

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 1

Explanation: According to the passage Perfectionism was more prevalent in those with eating disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression than in those without any of these diseases. Suicide and perfectionism have also been connected. The stress that perfectionists put themselves through can also have an impact on physical health, increasing the risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease.

5. Paragraph F

Answer: VI

Supporting statement: Fortunately, there are ways we can combat perfectionism.

Keywords: way, combat

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 1

Explanation: Perfectionism can be treated to some extinct Self-help books are sufficient for some people. Others require professional guidance. This typically takes the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or talking treatments, which provide individuals with the means to analyze the reasons behind their actions and help them break bad habits.

6. Paragraph G

Answer: II

Supporting statement:"We've been working on the role parents play and it's complex," says Smith.

Keywords: role, parents

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 2

Explanation: The role of a parent in a child's development is important as Parents who are overly demanding or judgmental might face the risk of making their children perfectionists. Parents should love their children more unconditionally rather than focusing on particular accomplishments in order to prevent the development of perfectionist tendencies.

Questions 7-13

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Perfectionism can drive people to success but at the same time can put them under the risk of 7……… There are a lot of methods to diagnose perfectionism, however8………is frequently used. The scale also 9………between three different kinds of perfectionism "Self-oriented',

"Other-oriented" and "Socially prescribed". Also, it is really hard to differentiate perfectionism

and having high standards as their border is 10…………According to an expert, a person with

high standards will experience more 11…………from success than a perfectionist. Perfectionism

has a close relationship with health issues. An analysis from 284 researches shows that perfectionists are more likely to suffer from different types of disorders and12………..as well as think about suicide. Regarding physical health, due to13……………, perfectionists are more prone to cardiovascular disease and less resilient when they are sick.

7……….

Answer: ILLNESS

Supporting statement: themselves at risk of mental and physical illness in their search for the perfect life

Keywords: mental, illness

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 7

Explanation: According to the text people who are perfectionists can put themself under the risk of getting an illness by trying to achieve everything perfectly and timely.

8……….

Answer: MPS

Supporting statement: However, many studies measure it using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS),

Keywords: studies, Multidimensional

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The text states that perfectionism can be measured using the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) which was developed three decades ago. The scale measures it through the help of 45 statements it contains.

9……….

Answer: DISTINGUISH

Supporting statement:The scale also distinguishes between three different kinds of perfectionism.

Keywords: scale, distinguishes

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: The text differentiates three types of perfectionism: self-oriented perfectionists, other-oriented perfectionists, and socially prescribed perfectionists.

10………

Answer: BLURRED

Supporting statement:the line between having high standards and being a perfectionist is very blurred.

Keywords: line, standards

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 2

Explanation: According to the text, The delicate line between having high standards and being a perfectionist is nearly indistinguishable making it difficult to identify perfection.

11………

Answer: PLEASURE

Supporting statement: A perfectionist will take much less pleasure from success.

Keywords: pleasure, success

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 6

Explanation: According to the text, A person who is dedicated and hardworking will value any accomplishment and will modify their objectives in the event of failure. They will have the capacity to exert just enough effort to gain a strategic advantage. Whereas in comparison a perfectionist is not going to enjoy achieving the same success as much and they will be pressured to maintain this level of accomplishment or to move the goalposts farther away, even if they receive a perfect score.

12………

Answer: DEPRESSION

Supporting statement: depression had higher levels of perfectionism compared with people who didn't have any of the conditions

Keywords: depression, compared

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 4-5

Explanation: According to the text people who have depression have higher levels of perfectionism in comparison to people who have no similar condition.

13………

Answer: STRESS

Supporting statement:Physical health may also be affected as a result of the stress that perfectionists subject themselves to,

Keywords: Physical health, stress

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 7-8

Explanation: According to the text physical health might also get affected due to the stress that perfectionists suffer from trying to do everything perfectly.

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