The Spread and Psychology of Rumours Reading Answers

The Spread and Psychology of Rumours Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. The Spread and Psychology of Rumours Reading Answers must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, question types include: Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? And write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage. The Spread and Psychology of Rumours Reading Answers offers a comprehensive overview of the rumours that thrive during uncertainty due to psychological, emotional, and social factors, and while some offer comfort, many spread misinformation—making media literacy and proactive debunking essential tools for prevention. To practice similar reading tests, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

A.Rumours have existed for as long as human societies. Whether whispered between individuals or broadcast across social media, rumours often emerge during times of uncertainty and can have far-reaching consequences. Despite being frequently dismissed as mere gossip or hearsay, rumours can influence public opinion, drive panic, and even alter the course of historical events.

B.Psychologists have long studied why people believe and spread rumours. One explanation lies in the human need for certainty. When people are faced with ambiguous or threatening situations, they often turn to unofficial sources of information to make sense of events. Rumours, regardless of their accuracy, offer seemingly coherent narratives that satisfy this psychological need. According to Professor Nicholas DiFonzo, a leading researcher on the topic, people use rumours to reduce anxiety and feel more in control.

C.Another important factor is emotional arousal. Research shows that emotionally charged content—whether it evokes fear, anger, or excitement—is more likely to be shared than neutral information. This is especially evident in digital environments where social media platforms reward content that generates reactions. Algorithms prioritize engagement, so once a rumour begins to spread, it can gain momentum rapidly, regardless of its truthfulness.

D.Social identity also plays a significant role in the acceptance and transmission of rumours. People are more likely to believe rumours that align with their existing beliefs or group identities. This phenomenon, known as confirmation bias, reinforces group cohesion and can polarize communities. For instance, political rumours are often shared within echo chambers where opposing viewpoints are rarely encountered, deepening divisions rather than encouraging dialogue.

E.Not all rumours are harmful. Some may provide comfort or create a sense of solidarity in times of crisis. For example, after natural disasters, positive stories—such as tales of miraculous rescues—can help people cope emotionally. However, damaging rumours can also spread fear or misinformation, leading to real-world consequences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false rumours about cures and government conspiracies led to vaccine hesitancy, panic buying, and in some cases, violence.

F.Efforts to control the spread of rumours must take into account human psychology. Simply debunking a rumour may not be effective if the correction threatens a person’s worldview. Some experts recommend “prebunking,” or proactively exposing people to weakened versions of false claims along with factual rebuttals, which can build resistance to misinformation. Educational campaigns that promote critical thinking and media literacy are also crucial in reducing the spread and influence of rumours.

Questions 14-20

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

14. Rumours tend to appear more frequently during periods of …………………

Answer: times of uncertainty

Supporting statement: “Rumours often emerge during times of uncertainty…”

Keywords: rumours, appear, periods

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 2

Explanation: The paragraph indicates that rumours commonly arise when situations are unclear or unstable.

15. People use rumours to feel less anxious and more …………………

Answer: in control

Supporting statement: “…people use rumours to reduce anxiety and feel more in control.”

Keywords: feel less anxious, feel more

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 4

Explanation: The passage discusses how rumours help individuals psychologically manage uncertainty and feel more in charge.

16. Social media platforms tend to boost content that generates more ………………….

Answer: emotional reactions

Supporting statement: “Social media platforms reward content that generates reactions.”

Keywords: boost, content, generate

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 3

Explanation: The paragraph explains that social media algorithms prioritize content that provokes emotional responses, helping it spread quickly.

17. Individuals tend to accept rumours that align with their …………………..

Answer: existing beliefs

Supporting statement: “People are more likely to believe rumours that align with their existing beliefs or group identities.”

Keywords: accept rumours, align with

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 2

Explanation: The answer highlights confirmation bias, where people tend to agree with ideas consistent with their views.

18. In some situations, rumours may offer ………………….. in emotionally difficult times.

Answer: emotional comfort

Supporting statement: “Some may provide comfort or create a sense of solidarity…”

Keywords: offer, emotionally difficult

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 1

Explanation: The text explains that not all rumours are harmful; some can help individuals cope during crises.

19. Rumours about health during the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased …………………

Answer: vaccine hesitancy

Supporting statement: “False rumours about cures and government conspiracies led to vaccine hesitancy…”

Keywords: COVID-19, health, rumours

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 4

Explanation: The paragraph links misinformation during the pandemic directly to people delaying or refusing vaccinations.

20. The method of "prebunking" aims to expose people to ……………….. of false claims.

Answer: weakened versions

Supporting statement: “…proactively exposing people to weakened versions of false claims…”

Keywords: prebunking, aims, expose

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 3

Explanation: This describes the technique of “prebunking,” which prepares people to resist misinformation by confronting it in a less threatening form.

Questions 21-26

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write:

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information

21. Rumours always arise from intentional lies.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Despite being frequently dismissed as mere gossip or hearsay…”

Keywords: rumours, intentional lies

Keyword Location: Paragraph A

Explanation: There’s no indication that rumours are always lies; many arise from uncertainty or need for explanation, not intention.

22. Emotionally neutral content spreads faster than emotionally charged content.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Emotionally charged content… is more likely to be shared than neutral information.”

Keywords: neutral, spreads faster

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 2

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that emotional content is shared more widely than neutral content.

23. Political rumours can reinforce group divisions.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Political rumours are often shared within echo chambers… deepening divisions…”

Keywords: political, group divisions

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 3

Explanation: Political rumours contribute to social polarization by reinforcing existing group beliefs.

24. All rumours during crises are harmful and dangerous.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Not all rumours are harmful. Some may provide comfort…”

Keywords: all rumours, harmful

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, line 1

Explanation: The passage clearly distinguishes between harmful and comforting rumours.

25. Debunking rumours is more effective than prebunking.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Simply debunking a rumour may not be effective…”

Keywords: debunking, effective

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 2

Explanation: The text favors prebunking as a more effective long-term solution.

26. Teaching people to analyse information critically can reduce the influence of rumours.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Educational campaigns that promote critical thinking and media literacy are also crucial…”

Keywords: critical thinking, reduce rumours

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, last line

Explanation: The author supports critical thinking as a key method to combat the spread and belief in rumours.

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