Why Do Some Cultures Avoid Eye Contact Reading Answers

Why Do Some Cultures Avoid Eye Contact? Reading Answers contains 13 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. Why Do Some Cultures Avoid Eye Contact? Reading Answers must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, question types include: Write the correct letter and Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Why Do Some Cultures Avoid Eye Contact? Reading Answers offers a comprehensive overview of the different cultures that avoid eye contact due to reasons such as respect for hierarchy, submission, group harmony, conflict avoidance, and historical traditions, while globalization is reshaping these norms, highlighting the need for intercultural sensitivity. To practice similar reading tests, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

A.Eye contact is often regarded as a universal form of communication, conveying interest, attention, and honesty. However, across different cultures, the meaning and social rules surrounding eye contact vary significantly. While in many Western societies, maintaining eye contact is a sign of confidence and respect, in some cultures, avoiding eye contact is considered polite and appropriate. Understanding why some cultures avoid eye contact requires exploring historical, social, and psychological factors.

B.One reason for avoiding eye contact in certain cultures is rooted in social hierarchy and respect. In many East Asian cultures, such as Japan and Korea, direct eye contact with someone of higher status, such as elders or authority figures, can be perceived as disrespectful or confrontational. Avoiding eye contact signals deference and humility. This cultural norm helps maintain social harmony and reinforces established roles within the community.

C.In contrast, many Indigenous cultures around the world also discourage prolonged eye contact, especially between children and adults. For example, in some Native American tribes, children are taught to avoid looking elders directly in the eyes as a sign of respect and to show that they are listening attentively. Here, avoiding eye contact serves as a nonverbal cue indicating submission rather than disinterest.

D.Psychologists suggest that cultural differences in eye contact may also relate to varying concepts of self and individuality. Western cultures tend to emphasize individualism and assertiveness, encouraging direct eye contact to express confidence. Meanwhile, collectivist societies, which prioritize group harmony and interpersonal relationships, may find direct eye contact threatening or aggressive, as it risks challenging group consensus or social balance.

E.Moreover, some anthropologists believe that the avoidance of eye contact in specific cultures serves a protective function. In environments where social conflicts or punishments are harsh, averting the gaze can prevent provocation or escalation. For instance, in certain communities, direct eye contact during disagreements might be interpreted as a challenge or threat, so avoiding it helps maintain peace.

F.Technological advancements and globalization have influenced these traditional norms, especially among younger generations. Exposure to Western media and international business practices often encourage adopting eye contact behaviors aligned with professional standards of confidence. However, many people still balance these new expectations with deeply ingrained cultural practices, sometimes causing misunderstandings in intercultural communication.

G.In conclusion, the reasons why some cultures avoid eye contact are complex and multifaceted. They encompass respect for social hierarchies, cultural values around individuality and group harmony, as well as historical and environmental factors. Recognizing and respecting these differences is essential in our increasingly interconnected world to foster effective and sensitive communication.

Questions 14-20

Match the following statements with the paragraphs A-G. Write the correct letter (A-G)

14. Eye contact rules can reflect a culture's emphasis on maintaining social order.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “Direct eye contact with someone of higher status, such as elders or authority figures, can be perceived as disrespectful… Avoiding eye contact signals deference and humility. This cultural norm helps maintain social harmony and reinforces established roles within the community.”

Keywords: higher status, respect, social harmony, roles

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, lines 2–5

Explanation: Paragraph B links eye contact rules with social hierarchy and order, showing that avoiding eye contact helps maintain respect and community roles.

15. Some cultures discourage eye contact as a sign of respect between generations.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “In some Native American tribes, children are taught to avoid looking elders directly in the eyes as a sign of respect.”

Keywords: children, elders, respect, avoid looking

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 2–3

Explanation: This clearly connects generational respect with avoiding eye contact, especially between children and adults.

16. Cultural norms regarding eye contact can serve as a way to prevent conflict.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: “Direct eye contact during disagreements might be interpreted as a challenge or threat, so avoiding it helps maintain peace.”

Keywords: disagreements, challenge, threat, maintain peace

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, lines 3–4

Explanation: Paragraph E highlights how avoiding eye contact prevents conflict escalation, showing it functions as a protective behavior.

17. Eye contact behaviors are changing due to global influences.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: “Exposure to Western media and international business practices often encourage adopting eye contact behaviors aligned with professional standards.”

Keywords: Western media, business practices, encourage, adopting

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 2

Explanation: This shows how globalization and technology influence cultural practices, making younger generations adapt to new norms of eye contact.

18. The way eye contact is interpreted is linked to individualism versus collectivism.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “Western cultures tend to emphasize individualism and assertiveness… Meanwhile, collectivist societies… may find direct eye contact threatening.”

Keywords: individualism, collectivist, assertiveness, threatening

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, lines 1–3

Explanation: Paragraph D connects eye contact differences to individualism vs collectivism, explaining why interpretations vary across cultures.

19. Avoiding eye contact might indicate attentiveness, not disinterest.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “Children are taught to avoid looking elders directly in the eyes as a sign of respect and to show that they are listening attentively.”

Keywords: avoid, elders, attentively, listening

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, lines 2–4

Explanation: This highlights that avoiding eye contact does not mean disinterest, but rather attentiveness and respect.

20. Understanding cultural differences in eye contact is important for communication.

Answer: G

Supporting statement: “Recognizing and respecting these differences is essential in our increasingly interconnected world to foster effective and sensitive communication.”

Keywords: recognizing, respecting, interconnected, communication

Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 2

Explanation: The conclusion stresses that understanding cultural differences in eye contact is important for effective communication in global contexts.

Questions 21-26

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Eye contact is commonly seen as a sign of (21) …………………

Answer: confidence

Supporting statement: “Eye contact is often regarded as a universal form of communication, conveying interest, attention, and honesty.”

Keywords: eye contact, interest, attention, honesty

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 1

Explanation: The passage explains that in many Western cultures, eye contact reflects positive qualities such as interest and honesty. Among these, confidence is highlighted as the main attribute conveyed through direct eye contact. Hence, the correct word is confidence.

and honesty in many Western cultures. However, in some East Asian and Indigenous cultures, avoiding eye contact is a way to show (22).........................

Answer: respect

Supporting statement: “Avoiding eye contact signals deference and humility.”

Keywords: avoiding, eye contact, deference, humility

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 4

Explanation: In East Asian cultures like Japan and Korea, avoiding eye contact is culturally understood as a way of showing respect toward elders or authority figures, rather than being impolite.

and humility, especially toward people of (23)....................