Why are we Ticklish? Reading Answers

Oct 14, 2025

Why are we Ticklish? Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. Why are we Ticklish? The reading section must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading passage, you'll encounter question types like Write one word only and Choose the correct letter or number.

Why are we Ticklish? Reading Answers contains detailed information about two types, social and psychological roles, evolutionary theories, and why it may be both pleasurable and distressing. To practice reading comprehension passages like this one, candidates are encouraged to explore the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

Being ticklish is something most people take for granted, but why it happens is actually a scientific mystery.

A.Being ticklish is a basic human attribute, shared by almost everybody to varying degrees, but it is also a biological and psychological mystery that has intrigued scientists and philosophers for centuries. From Aristotle to Francis Bacon, a range of thinkers have considered the question of why we are ticklish, particularly as it appears to be an entirely useless trait.

One persistent mystery that has baffled many is why we cannot tickle ourselves: if being tickled is a biological phenomenon, then why does it only work when someone else does it? The evolutionary basis for being ticklish has also been the subject of study for many scientists, from Darwin onwards, who have been confused by the strange fact that a sensitivity to touch should prompt laughter. As many have pointed out, this reaction appears to be completely counter-intuitive. The element of laughter may therefore be evidence that being ticklish is more of a psychological or social phenomenon than a biological one, and that there are complex social forces behind this unique trait.

B.Laughter is not the only reaction that tickling prompts; other common responses include involuntary twitching, goosebumps, and a rapid withdrawal from the tickler. These are all evident to varying degrees in the two categories of tickling: knismesis and gargalesis. The first category, knismesis, refers to a mild but irritating sensation and is more like a 'moving itch'. This can be prompted by very light pressure on the skin, rather like when someone very gently strokes a feather across your arm, and it generally only sets off a bout of scratching. On the other hand, gargalesis is tickling action that induces laughter. This Involves pressure from another individual on certain parts of the body, particularty the feet, armpits, underarm area and ribs. and causes a wriggling laughter which is a mixture of pleasure and pain. Surprisingly, these areas that are the most vulnerable to tickling are not the parts of the human body with the most nerves - the hand has many more nerves relating to touch than the foot for example - which suggests that tickling is not simply a side effect of human beings' sensitivity to touch.

C.Tickling can also depend on the relationship between the tickler and the person being tickled, since a tickle from a stranger could very easily peompt anger rather than laughter and can be a form of harassment. This supports a social view of tickling as a ritual which strengthens interpersonal relationships. Many child psychologists have thus characterised tickling as an Integral bonding activity between peers and family members. When it happens among parents and their children it is considered an essential trust-building exercise which teaches children about touch and sensation. Psychologists have thus categorised tickling within the highest grade of social intimacy which can exist between individuals, whether they are family members or friends. Many theorists have also speculated that, in the case of close family interactions, the reaction to being tickled actually depends on anticipation of the tickle as much as actual contact.

D.It is important to note, however, that tickling can be unpleasant for many people, and that even though they are laughing. this may be masking a feeling of anxiety. In fact, a survey conducted among American college students found that only 32 percent of them enjoyed being tickled, whereas 36 percent said that they do not enjoy the experience. This lack of consensus about the pleasure of tickling suggests that, as a bonding experience, it may be more ambiguous. it also explains the use of tickling as a torture mechanism; a practice that was common in both Europe and Japan in medieval times. In Europe, a victim's feet were covered in salty water and a goat was encouraged to continually lick them, while in Japan a form of fickle punishment called kusuguri-zeme, or 'merciless tickling.' was inflicted on reluctant victims.

E.Some researchers have cited the unpleasantness of being tickled as evidence that tickling could be part of our natural defence mechanisms, and that the response to tickling is a protective reflex. Scientists have even suggested that the laughter prompted by tickling could be defensive, since it could act as a warning to kin. Another theory is that laughter is a sign of surrender, and that it signals a person's submission to the tickler. Whatever the answer, it seems that tickling will continue to be a subject of research by psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers for the foreseeable future.

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 1 has five paragraphs, A-E.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, I-vil.

LIST OF HEADINGS

I. Ticklishness as a defence method

Ii. Two types of tickling

IlI. Bonding through tickling

iv. People who are not ticklish

v. The centuries-old mystery of why we are ticklish

vi. When infants begin to feel ticklish vil. Not everyone enjoys being tickled

1. Paragraph A

Answer: v

Supporting statement: “Being ticklish… is also a biological and psychological mystery that has intrigued scientists and philosophers for centuries.”

Keywords: ticklish, mystery, centuries

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, lines 1–2

Explanation: This paragraph introduces the long-standing curiosity around ticklishness and discusses various thinkers and scientists, like Aristotle and Darwin, who have questioned its origin and purpose. The central theme here is the mysterious nature of ticklishness.

2. Paragraph B

Answer: ii

Supporting statement: “These are all evident to varying degrees in the two categories of tickling: knismesis and gargalesis.”

Keywords: two categories, knismesis, gargalesis

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 3

Explanation: The paragraph details the two types of tickling, knismesis (light, itchy sensation) and gargalesis (laughter-inducing tickling), outlining the differences in stimulus and response for each, and supporting the heading about the two types.

3. Paragraph C

Answer: iii

Supporting statement: “Many child psychologists have thus characterised tickling as an integral bonding activity…”

Keywords: bonding, interpersonal relationships

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 5–6

Explanation: This paragraph explains how tickling can enhance social intimacy, particularly between parents and children, showing that tickling helps build trust and familiarity, thus emphasizing the bonding role.

4. Paragraph D

Answer: vii

Supporting statement: “...only 32 percent of them enjoyed being tickled, whereas 36 percent said that they do not enjoy the experience.”

Keywords: unpleasant, not enjoy

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 2

Explanation: The paragraph discusses survey results and historical examples of tickling as torture, emphasizing the fact that tickling is not universally pleasant, which directly matches the heading.

5. Paragraph E

Answer: i

Supporting statement: “...tickling could be part of our natural defence mechanisms, and that the response… is a protective reflex.”

Keywords: defence, protective reflex

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, lines 1–2

Explanation: This paragraph explores theories that link ticklishness to evolutionary survival, such as warning kin or surrendering, suggesting it may serve a defensive purpose, aligning with the heading.

Questions 6-7

Choose the correct letter.

6. Tickling has Interested many scientists and philosophers because

A. it is a trait we do not share with animals.

B. it varies from person to person.

C. it is something that we cannot control.

D. it does not seem to have a practical use.

Answer: D. it does not seem to have a practical use.

Supporting statement: “...why we are ticklish, particularly as it appears to be an entirely useless trait.”

Keywords: useless trait

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 3

Explanation: The puzzling aspect of tickling is that it has no clear biological advantage, yet it prompts strong reactions. This contradiction is what makes it intriguing to scientists and philosophers historically.

7. The fact that tickling causes laughter implies that

A. it may be a social explanation rather than a biological one.

B. it is a purely physical reaction.

C. it developed as a defence against predators.

D. it is an enjoyable experience.

Answer: A. it may be a social explanation rather than a biological one.

Supporting statement: “...evidence that being ticklish is more of a psychological or social phenomenon than a biological one…”

Keywords: psychological, social, laughter

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 7

Explanation: The unusual link between touch and laughter is not easily explained by biology alone. Since laughter is a social cue, this implies social and psychological explanations may better account for ticklishness.

Questions 8-9

Choose the correct letter.

8. What defines the type of tickling known as knismesis?

A. It is done using an object.

B. It is gentle and similar to feeling itchy.

C. It compels people to move away.

D. It can be so light the person can't detect it.

Answer: B. It is gentle and similar to feeling itchy.

Supporting statement: “...knismesis, refers to a mild but irritating sensation and is more like a ‘moving itch’.”

Keywords: mild, irritating, itch

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 4–5

Explanation: Knismesis is characterized by light stimulation that causes irritation rather than laughter, similar to a feather brushing the skin. It's different from more intense tickling like gargalesis.

9. The areas of the body that are usually the most ticklish

A. can change depending on how ticklish the person is.

B. are the parts of the body which are vulnerable.

C. are not the parts with the most nerves.

D. are the ones with the most nerves related to pain.

Answer: C. are not the parts with the most nerves.

Supporting statement: “...the hand has many more nerves relating to touch than the foot for example…”

Keywords: not most nerves

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 10

Explanation: Although some areas like the feet or ribs are more ticklish, they don’t necessarily have the highest nerve density. This suggests ticklishness is not only about nerve quantity but may involve other factors.

Questions 10-13

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

10. Scientists have questioned why the sensitivity to touch encourages ………….

Answer: laughter

Supporting statement: “...the strange fact that a sensitivity to touch should prompt laughter.”

Keywords: sensitivity to touch, laughter

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 5

Explanation: Researchers are puzzled by the idea that being touched gently in certain ways causes laughter—a response not typically linked with physical defense or utility. It challenges traditional biological understanding.

11. Tickling can provoke someone to back away, or it can cause …………….. Twitching.

Answer: twitching

Supporting statement: “...other common responses include involuntary twitching, goosebumps, and a rapid withdrawal...”

Keywords: twitching, withdrawal

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 1

Explanation: Besides laughter, people may involuntarily twitch or pull away when tickled, showing that the response is physical and somewhat reflexive, even though it varies among individuals.

12. Tickling between a parent and child is thought to be an important way of creating ………

Answer: trust

Supporting statement: “...essential trust-building exercise which teaches children about touch and sensation.”

Keywords: trust-building

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 6

Explanation: Tickling is used in early childhood as a bonding tool. It helps children learn about safe touch and promotes emotional closeness between parent and child, reinforcing social bonds through physical contact.

13. Tickling was used as a form of torture in the ………… period.

Answer: medieval

Supporting statement: “...a practice that was common in both Europe and Japan in medieval times.”

Keywords: torture, medieval

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, line 5

Explanation: Historically, tickling wasn’t just playful. In the medieval period, it was used cruelly in various cultures as a method of torture, exploiting its overwhelming and uncontrollable nature.

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