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How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 15, 2024, 10:42

In the IELTS Reading section, three passages centred on how to spot a liar test your ability to comprehend complex topics. Each passage is accompanied by questions in formats such as multiple choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given. Lasting 60 minutes, this segment challenges you to grasp critical information, discern main ideas, and infer implications effectively.

 

 

To excel in the IELTS Reading section, employ effective strategies such as skimming to identify key themes like common signs of deception and psychological insights into lying, and scanning for specific details such as non-verbal cues or research findings on lie detection. Regular practice with sample questions and exposure to diverse question types will refine your skills for test day.

 

 

Prepare for an insightful exploration of "How to Spot a Liar: Reading Answers," which delves into the intriguing realm of deception detection. Explore how body language, speech patterns, and micro-expressions can indicate dishonesty. Understand the psychological theories behind why people lie and the scientific evidence supporting various lie detection techniques, from behavioural analysis to advanced technologies like polygraphs and fMRI scans.

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1. How to Spot a Liar Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 


 


 

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2. How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about How to Spot a Liar Reading Question & Answers

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1.

How to Spot a Liar Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 

 

How to Spot a Liar Reading Passage 

 

 

Paragraph A 


However much we may abhor it, deception comes naturally to all living things. Birds do it by feigning injury to lead hungry predators away from nesting young. Spider crabs do it by disguise: adorning themselves with strips of kelp and other debris, they pretend to be something they are not – and so escape their enemies. Nature amply rewards successful deceivers by allowing them to survive long enough to mate and reproduce. So it may come as no surprise to learn that human beings- who, according to psychologist Gerald Johnson of the University of South California, or lied to about 200 times a day, roughly one untruth every 5 minutes- often deceive for exactly the same reasons: to save their own skins or to get something they can’t get by other means.

 



 

Paragraph B

 

But knowing how to catch deceit can be just as important a survival skill as knowing how to tell a lie and get away with it. A person able to spot falsehood quickly is unlikely to be swindled by an unscrupulous business associate or hoodwinked by a devious spouse. Luckily, nature provides more than enough clues to trap dissemblers in their own tangled webs- if you know where to look. By closely observing facial expressions, body language and tone of voice, practically anyone can recognise the tell-tale signs of lying. Researchers are even programming computers – like those used on Lie Detector -to get at the truth by analysing the same physical cues available to the naked eye and ear. “With the proper training, many people can learn to reliably detect lies,” says Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, who has spent the past 15 years studying the secret art of deception.

 

 

 

Paragraph C

 

In order to know what kind of Lies work best, successful liars need to accurately assess other people’s emotional states. Ackman’s research shows that this same emotional intelligence is essential for good lie detectors, too. The emotional state to watch out for is stress, the conflict most liars feel between the truth and what they actually say and do.

 

 

 

Paragraph D

 

Even high-tech lie detectors don’t detect lies as such; they merely detect the physical cues of emotions, which may or may not correspond to what the person being tested is saying. Polygraphs, for instance, measure respiration, heart rate and skin conductivity, which tend to increase when people are nervous – as they usually are when lying. Nervous people typically perspire, and the salts contained in perspiration conducts electricity. That’s why a sudden  leap in skin conductivity indicates nervousness -about getting caught, perhaps -which makes, in turn, suggest that someone is being economical with the truth. On the other hand, it might also mean that the lights in the television. Studios are too hot- which is one reason polygraph tests are inadmissible in court. “Good lie detectors don’t rely on a single thing,”  says Ekma ,but interpret clusters of verbal and non-verbal clues that suggest someone might be lying.”

 

 

 

Paragraph E


The clues are written all over the face. Because the musculature of the face is directly connected to the areas of the brain that process emotion, the countenance can be a window to the soul. Neurological studies even suggest that genuine emotions travel different pathways through the brain than insincere ones. If a patient paralysed by a stroke on one side of the face, for example, is asked to smile deliberately, only the mobile side of the mouth is raised. But tell that same person a funny joke, and the patient breaks into a full and spontaneous smile. Very few people -most notably, actors and politicians- are able to consciously control all of their facial expressions. Lies can often be caught when the liar's true feelings briefly leak through the mask of deception. We don’t think before we feel, Ekman says. “Expressions tend to show up on the face before we’re even conscious of experiencing an emotion.”

 

 

Paragraph F

 

One of the most difficult facial expressions to fake- or conceal, if it’s genuinely felt - is sadness. When someone is truly sad, the forehead wrinkles with grief and theinner corners of the eyebrows are pulled up. Fewer than 15% of the people Ekman tested were able to produce this eyebrow movement voluntarily. By contrast,the lowering of the eyebrows associated with an angry scowl can be replicated at will by almost everybody. “ If someone claims they are sad and the inner corners of their eyebrows don’t go up, Ekmam says, the sadness is probably false.”

 

 

Paragraph G

 

The smile, on the other hand, is one of the easiest facial expressions to counterfeit. It takes just two muscles -the zygomaticus major muscles that extend from the cheekbones to the corners of the lips- to produce a grin. But there’s a catch. A genuine smile affects not only the corners of the lips but also the orbicularis oculi, the muscle around the eye that produces the distinctive “crow’s feet” associated with people who laugh a lot. A counterfeit grin can be unmasked if the corners of the lips go up, the eyes crinkle,  but the inner corners of the eyebrows are not lowered, a movement controlled by the orbicularis oculi that is difficult to fake. The absence of lowered eyebrows is one reason why the smile looks so strained and stiff.

2.

How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about How to Spot a Liar

Questions and Answers 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write

  • YES if the statement agrees with the information given
  • NO if the statement contradicts the information given
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this

 

 

1. All living animals can lie.  

2.  Some people tell lies for self-preservation.
3. Scientists have used computers to analyse which part of the brain is responsible for telling lies.

4. Lying as a survival skill is more important than detecting a lie.

5. To be a good liar, one has to understand other people's emotions. 

 

 

How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

 

Question Type:  Yes/No/Not Given

 

In this task, you are presented with a statement, and your task is to determine if it agrees with the information in the passage (Yes), contradicts the information in the passage (No), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).


 

How to best answer the question:

 

  1. Read the statement carefully to ensure you understand exactly what it is saying. 
  2. Pay attention to details such as dates, numbers, and specific information.
  3. Scan the passage to find the section where the relevant information is likely to be located. 
  4. Focus on finding evidence that either supports or contradicts the statement.
  5. Yes: If the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
  6. No: If the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  7. Not Given: If there is no information in the passage that confirms or contradicts the statement.


 

1. Yes


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A 

deception comes naturally to all living things.


 

Explanation

 

The passage mentions that deception is a natural behaviour among all living creatures. This directly supports the statement that all living animals can lie because the term "deception" implies lying or misleading.


 

2. Yes


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A

human beings... often deceive for exactly the same reasons: to save their own skins or to get something they can’t get by other means.


 

Explanation

 

This line explicitly states that humans lie for self-preservation or to gain something unattainable through honest means. This directly answers the statement that some people tell lies for self-preservation.


 

3. Not Given


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph 

NA


 

Explanation

 

The passage does not provide any information about scientists using computers to analyse which part of the brain is responsible for telling lies. Although it mentions the use of computers for detecting lies, it does not go into detail about brain analysis.


 

4. No


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph  B 

knowing how to catch deceit can be just as important a survival skill as knowing how to tell a lie and get away with it.


 

Explanation

 

The passage states that detecting lies is just as important as telling lies for survival. This directly contradicts the statement that lying as a survival skill is more important than detecting a lie, as the passage suggests both skills are equally important.


 

5. Yes


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C 

successful liars need to accurately assess other people’s emotional states.


 

Explanation

 

The passage indicates that a key element for successful lying is understanding the emotions of others. This means that to be an effective liar, one must be adept at reading and interpreting other people's emotional states, directly supporting the statement.


 

Read more about Dictation Words for IELTS: Practice and Preparation!

Questions and Answers 6-9

  • Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
  • Write your solutions for the questions (6-9) on your answer sheet

 

 

6. How does the lie detector work?

 

A.  It detects whether one's emotional state is stable.
B.  It detects one’s brain activity level.
C.  It detects body behavior during one's verbal response.
D.  It analyses one's verbal response word by word.

 

7. Lie detectors can't be used as evidence in a court of law because

 

A.  Lights often cause lie detectors to malfunction.
B.  They are based on too many verbal and non-verbal clues.
C.  Polygraph tests are often inaccurate.
D.  There may be many causes of certain body behaviour.


 
8. Why does the author mention the paralysed patients?

 

A.  To demonstrate how a paralysed patient smiles
B.  To show the relation between true emotions and body behaviour
C.  To examine how they were paralysed
D.  To show the importance of happiness from recovery 

 

 

9. The author uses politicians to exemplify that they can

 

A.  Have emotions.
B.  Imitate actors.
C.  Detect other people's lives.
D.  Mask their true feelings.

 

 

How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers with Explanations (6-9)

 

 

Question Type: Multiple Choice 

 

Multiple Choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer.


 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • You must comprehend the passage to select the most accurate option.
  • Efficient skimming and scanning help locate relevant information quickly.
  • Some options may be designed to mislead you, so it's crucial to base your choice on evidence from the passage.
  • Multiple-choice questions can be time-consuming if you dwell on each option too long. Manage your time wisely to ensure you can attempt all questions.


 

6. C


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

Even high-tech lie detectors don’t detect lies as such; they merely detect the physical cues of emotions, which may or may not correspond to what the person being tested is saying.


 

Explanation

 

Lie detectors measure physical responses such as respiration, heart rate, and skin conductivity, which are body behaviours during one's verbal response. This directly supports the answer that lie detectors work by detecting body behaviour during one's verbal response.


 

7. D


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

On the other hand, it might also mean that the lights in the television studios are too hot- which is one reason polygraph tests are inadmissible in court.

 

 

Explanation

 

The passage mentions that various factors, such as hot studio lights, can cause physical responses measured by a polygraph, making the results unreliable as they may be caused by factors other than lying. This supports the answer that there may be many causes of certain body behaviour, rendering polygraph tests inadmissible in court.


 

8. B


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E 

If a patient paralysed by a stroke on one side of the face, for example, is asked to smile deliberately, only the mobile side of the mouth is raised. But tell that same person a funny joke, and the patient breaks into a full and spontaneous smile.


 

 

Explanation

 

The author uses the example of paralysed patients to show that genuine emotions result in spontaneous and involuntary facial expressions, while insincere emotions do not. This demonstrates the relationship between true emotions and body behaviour.


 

9. D


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E 

Very few people - most notably, actors and politicians - are able to consciously control all of their facial expressions.

 


 

Explanation

 

The author mentions politicians as examples of individuals who can mask their true feelings by controlling their facial expressions. This supports the answer that politicians can mask their true feelings.


 

Read more about A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life!

Questions and Answers 10-13

  • Classify the following facial traits as referring to
  • Match the following emotions to the perfect ones and write your solutions on your answer sheet

 

 

A sadness
B anger
C happiness


 
Write the correct letter A, B or C for the questions (10-13).

 

 

10. Inner corners of eyebrows raised
 
11. The whole eyebrows lowered
 
12. Lines formed around
 
13. Lines form above eyebrows

 

 

How to Spot a Liar Reading Answers with Explanations (10-13)

 

 

Type of question: Matching

 

The given question type is a "matching" question. In this type of question, you are provided with a list of items or descriptions and a set of options. Your task is to match each item with the correct option.

 

 

How to best answer the question

 

  • Carefully read the incomplete sentence and try to understand what information is missing.
  • Pay attention to the context and any clues provided in the sentence or the surrounding text.
  • Choose the option that best completes the sentence based on the information from the reading passage.


 

10. A. Sadness


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph  

NA


 

Explanation

 

There is no information provided in the passage about the effectiveness of environmentalists in persuading people to be kind to the environment.


 

11. Yes


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D

So should we pay any attention to those stories that scream out at us from billboards and television news headlines, claiming that man, with his inexhaustible dependence on oil-based machinery and ever more sophisticated forms of transport is creating a nightmare level of greenhouse gas emissions, poisoning his environment and ripping open 


 

Explanation


The passage mentions sceptics, including many big businesses, who question the causes of How to Spot a Liar, indicating that some big businesses are on the side of sceptics.


 

12. In recycled paper


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

to buy reusable products packaged in recycled paper


 

Explanation

 

The line specifies that environmentalists advocate for buying products packaged in recycled paper as part of eco-friendly practices.


 

13. Most to lose


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

including, of course, a lot of big businesses who have most to lose


 

Explanation

 

The line explains that big businesses downplay How to Spot a Liar because they have the most to lose from changes that might affect their operations.

 

Questions and Answers 14

  • Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write it in Box 14 on your answer sheet:

 

 

14) Which of these is the best title for this text?

 

A. How to Spot a Liar is for real
B. How to Spot a Liar – media hype or a genuine threat?
C. Weather changes over the last 100 years
D. How to Spot a Liar – the greatest threat to mankind

 

 

How to Spot a Liar Reading Answer with Explanation (14)

 

 

Question Type: Multiple Choice 

 

Multiple Choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer.


 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • You must comprehend the passage to select the most accurate option.
  • Efficient skimming and scanning help locate relevant information quickly.
  • Some options may be designed to mislead you, so it's crucial to base your choice on evidence from the passage.
  • Multiple-choice questions can be time-consuming if you dwell on each option too long. Manage your time wisely to ensure you can attempt all questions.

 

14. B


 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D 

the jury’s still out, as far as I am concerned!


 

Explanation

 

This line indicates that the author is undecided about the causes of How to Spot a Liar, aligning with the idea of the text exploring whether How to Spot a Liar is media hype or a genuine threat.



 

Read More:

 

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FAQs

Q. What types of questions can I expect in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The test includes a variety of question types such as multiple choice, matching headings, True/False/Not Given, matching information, sentence completion, summary completion, and short answer questions.


 

Q. How should I manage my time during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. It's crucial to allocate your time wisely. Skim through the passage quickly to understand its structure and main ideas. Spend more time on questions that require detailed reading and comprehension.

Q. Should I read the entire passage thoroughly?

Ans. Not necessarily. Skimming the passage to get an overview of the main ideas and then scanning for specific details related to questions can save time. Focus on understanding the question requirements clearly.