When Death Comes Reading Answers

Sep 16, 2025

When Death Comes Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. When Death Comes Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set, you have to choose which paragraph contains the given statement. Write the letter A-G. In the question set given, you have to choose the correct answer from the given text in no more than one word to fill the blanks.

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.

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

Section 1

WHEN DEATH COMES

A.Death is one of life's few universal experiences — something every person, regardless of culture, class, or era, must face. Yet, the way societies understand and approach death has varied remarkably throughout history. For some, it is feared; for others, it is embraced as a natural transition. The diversity of views on death reflects not just religious beliefs, but also scientific progress and philosophical curiosity.

B.In many ancient societies, death was not an end, but a journey. Egyptians believed in a complex afterlife where the heart was weighed against a feather to determine worthiness. Similarly, the Greeks described souls crossing the river Styx into the underworld. These mythologies were not merely stories, but frameworks that offered comfort and meaning to the living. Even in modern times, many world religions continue to influence how their followers interpret death and the afterlife.

C.Modern medicine, however, defines death in physical terms — typically as the irreversible cessation of heart and brain activity. This biological approach has removed much of the mystery, turning death into a measurable, observable event. Yet, even in clinical settings, questions remain about the exact moment consciousness ends. This ambiguity has kept the door open for speculation and alternative theories.

D.One such area of ongoing interest is near-death experiences (NDEs). People who have temporarily lost vital signs often describe strange, vivid sensations: tunnels, light, voices, or an overwhelming sense of peace. While skeptics attribute these visions to oxygen loss or neurochemical reactions, others believe they may reveal something deeper about the human mind — or even the possibility of consciousness beyond death.

E.Cryonics is another frontier challenging traditional views. This speculative practice involves freezing the human body at extremely low temperatures after death, in the hope that future science may restore life and health. Although no one has ever been revived from such a state, and critics label it pseudoscience, supporters argue it offers a kind of "death insurance" —a small chance to cheat the finality of biological death.

F.Philosophers have long questioned whether death should be feared at all. The Greek philosopher Epicurus argued that death is simply the absence of sensation and therefore should not concern us. Others, such as the existentialists, believe contemplating death can lead to a more meaningful life. By facing mortality, individuals are forced to confront their values, choices, and the fleeting nature of time.

G.Today, public attitudes toward death remain mixed. Some avoid the subject entirely, while others advocate for "death literacy" — understanding and discussing death openly. Movements such as "death cafés" and end-of-life planning groups aim to reduce stigma and empower people to approach their final years with clarity and dignity. In an age of longevity, artificial intelligence, and medical advances, humanity's relationship with death is evolving — but the final mystery remains.

Questions 1-7

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the letter A-G.

1. A method used to preserve dead bodies in the hope of future revival

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Cryonics is another frontier challenging traditional views. This speculative practice involves freezing the human body at extremely low temperatures after death, in the hope that future science may restore life and health.

Keywords: Cryonics, freezing the human body, restore

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph E explicitly describes cryonics as a practice of freezing bodies with the hope of future revival.

2. A comparison between cultural beliefs and medical definitions of death

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Modern medicine, however, defines death in physical terms — typically as the irreversible cessation of heart and brain activity. This biological approach has removed much of the mystery, turning death into a measurable, observable event. Yet, even in clinical settings, questions remain about the exact moment consciousness ends.

Keywords: Modern medicine, death in physical terms, biological approach

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph C introduces the medical definition of death and contrasts it with the "mystery" that often surrounds it in cultural beliefs, which is a comparison between the two.

3. A viewpoint that death can help people reassess what really matters

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Others, such as the existentialists, believe contemplating death can lead to a more meaningful life. By facing mortality, individuals are forced to confront their values, choices, and the fleeting nature of time.

Keywords: contemplating death, more meaningful life, confront their values

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 3-4

Explanation: Paragraph F discusses how philosophers, particularly existentialists, believe that thinking about death can force individuals to re-evaluate their values and choices, thereby leading to a more meaningful life.

4. The continuing impact of religious beliefs on how people think about death

Answer: B

Supporting statement: In many ancient societies, death was not an end, but a journey... Even in modern times, many world religions continue to influence how their followers interpret death and the afterlife.

Keywords: ancient societies, world religions, influence

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-5

Explanation: Paragraph B discusses ancient beliefs about death and explicitly states that modern religions continue to influence how people view death and the afterlife.

5. A mention of vivid personal reports by people revived after death

Answer: D

Supporting statement: People who have temporarily lost vital signs often describe strange, vivid sensations: tunnels, light, voices, or an overwhelming sense of peace.

Keywords: temporarily lost vital signs, strange, vivid sensations

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 2

Explanation: Paragraph D describes near-death experiences (NDEs) and mentions that people who have temporarily lost vital signs report "strange, vivid sensations," which are personal reports.

6. An explanation of death as a biological process in science

Answer: C

Keywords: Modern medicine, death in physical terms, biological approach

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph C clearly defines death in scientific, biological terms, specifically mentioning the "irreversible cessation of heart and brain activity."

7. People trying to make talking about death more acceptable in society

Answer: G

Supporting statement: Some avoid the subject entirely, while others advocate for "death literacy" — understanding and discussing death openly. Movements such as "death cafés" and end-of-life planning groups aim to reduce stigma and empower people to approach their final years with clarity and dignity.

Keywords: advocate for "death literacy," discussing death openly, death cafés

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Paragraph G discusses modern movements like "death literacy" and "death cafés" which are explicitly aimed at making the topic of death more open and acceptable in society.

Questions 8-13

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.

8. Ancient Egyptians believed the__________ was evaluated after death.

Answer: HEART

Supporting statement: Egyptians believed in a complex afterlife where the heart was weighed against a feather to determine worthiness.

Keywords: Egyptians, heart, weighed

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that the Egyptians believed the "heart" was weighed against a feather to determine worthiness in the afterlife.

9. The Greek underworld could be reached by crossing the river__________

Answer: STYX

Supporting statement: Similarly, the Greeks described souls crossing the river Styx into the underworld.

Keywords: Greeks, river Styx

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 3

Explanation: The passage mentions that the Greeks described souls "crossing the river Styx into the underworld."

10. NDEs often involve the sensation of seeing a___________

Answer: LIGHT

Supporting statement: People who have temporarily lost vital signs often describe strange, vivid sensations: tunnels, light, voices, or an overwhelming sense of peace.

Keywords: NDEs, sensations, light

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 2

Explanation: The passage lists "light" as one of the vivid sensations described by people who have had NDEs.

11. Skeptics claim NDEs are caused by brain___________

Answer: REACTIONS

Supporting statement: While skeptics attribute these visions to oxygen loss or neurochemical reactions, others believe they may reveal something deeper about the human mind.

Keywords: skeptics, neurochemical reactions

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that skeptics attribute these visions to oxygen loss or neurochemical reactions.

12. Cryonics involves extremely low__________ to preserve bodies.

Answer: TEMPERATURES

Supporting statement: This speculative practice involves freezing the human body at extremely low temperatures after death, in the hope that future science may restore life and health.

Keywords: Cryonics, low temperatures

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage explains that cryonics involves freezing the body at an extremely low temperature.

13. Epicurus believed death is the absence of___________

Answer: SENSATION

Supporting statement: The Greek philosopher Epicurus argued that death is simply the absence of sensation and therefore should not concern us.

Keywords: Epicurus, absence of sensation

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 2

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that Epicurus argued that death is simply the absence of sensation.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples