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Nature or Nurture Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

In the IELTS Reading section, your ability to comprehend complex topics like "Nature versus Nurture" is rigorously evaluated. Lasting for 60 minutes, this segment features passages exploring the interplay between genetics and environment in shaping human behaviour and traits. Accompanying questions may include multiple choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given formats, demanding a keen understanding of key concepts.
 

To excel in this section, employ effective reading strategies like skimming for overarching themes and scanning for specific details related to the debate on nature versus nurture. Regular practice with sample questions and exposure to various question types will enhance your proficiency for the test.

 

Prepare for an insightful journey into the "Nature or Nurture" debate, exploring how genetic predispositions and environmental influences interact to shape human development and behaviour. Engage with thought-provoking passages and accompanying questions, deepening your understanding of this fundamental aspect of psychology.

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1. Nature or Nurture 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. Nature or Nurture Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Nature or Nurture

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1.

Nature or Nurture 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.

 

 

 

 

 Nature or Nurture Reading Passage


 

 

Paragraph A 

A few years ago, in one of the most fascinating and confusing experiments in behavioural psychology, Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life for the desire to follow the instructions given by a 'leader'. They may feel a personal aversion to the actions they are called to do. In particular, Milgram said the test was aimed at the classic purpose of education for each volunteer 'teacher-subject' and was created to test whether punishing students for their errors would have a positive impact on students' learning ability.

 

Paragraph B

Milgram's test system involves putting the teacher's lesson in front of a group of thirty switches with labels ranging from '15 volts 'to '450 volts to 15 volts each'. The teacher's lesson was described to provide a shock whenever a student gives an incorrect answer to a question, starting at a low level and raising the intensity of each incorrect answer. The so-called 'student' was actually an actor hired by Milgram, who simulated getting shocked and emitting various statements and explosives denouncing both the shouts, the screams, and the twists and turns of the test and the experimenter. Milgram told the teacher to ignore the students' reactions to the lesson and to manage any level of trauma called on the rule governing the test situation of the moment.

 

Paragraph C

When the test comes out, the student will intentionally give incorrect answers to the questions asked by the teacher, thereby bringing various electrical penalties up to the danger level of 300 volts and beyond. Many teacher subjects prevent the imposition of excessive penalties, and the question of continuing the trial returns to Milgram with locks and/or complaints. Under these circumstances, Milgram casually explained that the teacher's lesson was to ignore the students' cries for mercy and continue the experiment. Milgram said it was important to follow the procedure until the end because of the experiment if he was reluctant to continue the lesson. His conclusive argument was, ‘You have no choice. You must proceed. ‘Milgram sought to find the number of teacher-subjects who were willing to manage the highest level of trauma, despite strong personal and moral resentment against the terms and conditions of the experiment.

 

Paragraph D

Before carrying out the experiment, Milgram described his opinion to a team of 39 psychiatrists and asked them to estimate the average percentage of people who would be willing to give a 450-volt vibration level in a normal population. The majority consensus is that almost all teacher-subjects refuse to follow the experimenter. Psychiatrists considered that 'most subjects do not go above 150 volts', and they expected only four percent to go up to 300 volts. Also, they believed that only a crazy margin of 1.000 would give 450 volts more shock.

 

Paragraph E

What are the real results? Well, more than 60 percent of teacher subjects consistently obey Milgram up to the 450 volt limit ! In repeated experiments in other countries, the percentage of appreciative teacher-subjects was even higher, reaching 85 percent in one country, and how do we calculate this broad discrepancy that peaceful, rational, intelligent people predict for the convenience of their study? Stress, and palpitations in a real-life lab, but what do co-editors do?

 

Paragraph F

One’s first inclination might be to argue that there must be some kind of inbuilt animal attack intuition that was started by the experiment and that Milgram’s teacher- subjects were just obeying a genetic need to release this pent-up first urge onto the student by providing the electrical shock. A current hard sociologist can say that this aggressive instinct evolved into a positive trait that our ancestors valued in the struggle against the hardships of life on the plains and in caves, finally discovering its way into our genetic make-up as a remnant of our old animal ways.

 

Paragraph G

As an alternative to this idea of genetic programming, the teacher should glance at the actions of the subjects as an outcome of the social context in which the experiment was performed. Milgram, he himself pointed out. Most of the subjects in the experiment look at their behaviour in a larger context that is beneficial and useful to the community in pursuing scientific truth. The Psychology Lab has a powerful claim to legitimacy and inspires confidence and trust in those who operate there. The act of shocking the victim, while seemingly evil in solitude, takes on a totally distinct meaning when placed in this setting.

 

Paragraph H

Thus, in this interpretation, the subject combines his individual personality and private and moral ethics with the larger organizational structures, handing over personal characteristics such as loyalty, self-sacrifice, and discipline to the service of evil power structures.

 

Paragraph I

Here are two completely distinct reasons why so many teacher-subjects were willing to relinquish their personal responsibility for the sake of an institutional authority figure. The issue for biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists is to sort out which of these two polar interpretations is most reliable. This is, in essence, the issue of modern social biology, which dictates the extent to which hard-wired genetic programming dictates how animals and humans interact with the environment, i.e., their behaviour. Social biology is concerned with clarifying the biological basis of all behaviour.

2.

Nature or Nurture Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Nature or Nurture

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • This reading passage has nine paragraphs, A-I.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter, A-I, as your answer to each question.
Note: You may use any letter more than once.

 

 

1. Milgram told the teacher to ignore the students' reactions to the lesson.

2. Milgram sought to find the number of teacher-subjects who were willing to manage the highest level of trauma.

3. Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life.

4. The teacher's lesson was described to provide a shock whenever a student gives an incorrect answer to a question

5. Many teacher subjects prevent the imposition of excessive penalties.

 

 

Nature or Nurture Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Question Type:  Matching Information

 

Matching Information questions in the IELTS Reading test require you to find specific details within a passage and match them to the appropriate paragraph. These questions test your ability to locate and understand specific information quickly. You will be given a list of statements and asked to identify the paragraph (labeled A, B, C, etc.) in which each piece of information is found.
 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Quickly skim through the passage to get a general idea of the content and structure. 
  • Read the statements carefully. Underline or highlight key terms or phrases that will help you identify the relevant information in the passage.
  • Go through each paragraph systematically and match it with the statement that best fits the content. 

 

 

1. Paragraph B

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B

Milgram told the teacher to ignore the students' reactions to the lesson
 

Explanation

This information is found in Paragraph B, where it describes Milgram instructing the teacher to disregard the students' responses and to continue administering shocks despite any reactions.


 

2. Paragraph C

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C

Milgram sought to find the number of teacher-subjects who were willing to manage the highest level of trauma
 

Explanation

Paragraph C discusses Milgram's objective of determining the number of teacher-subjects willing to administer the highest level of trauma, despite personal reservations.


 

3. Paragraph A

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A

Stanley Milgram of Yale University tested 40 subjects from all walks of life
 

Explanation

The testing conducted by Stanley Milgram at Yale University involving 40 subjects from various backgrounds is detailed in Paragraph A.


 

4. Paragraph B

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E
Innovation is a contact game, in which you can’t brief people only by saying, “We’re going in this direction and I’m going to take you with me”.
 

Explanation

Paragraph B outlines the description of the teacher's lesson, which involves administering shocks for incorrect answers given by the student.


 

5. Paragraph C

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C

Many teacher subjects prevent the imposition of excessive penalties

 

Explanation

This information is presented in Paragraph C, which discusses how many teacher subjects resisted imposing excessive penalties during the experiment.

Questions and Answers 6-9
  • Choose the correct letter, A - D.

 

 

6. Before carrying out the experiment, Milgram described his opinion to a team of 

 

A. 40 experimenters
B. 39 psychiatrists
C. 39 experimenters
D. 29 psychiatrists

 

7. Majority consensus is that almost all teacher-subjects refuse to follow the

 

A. psychiatrists
B. Milgram
C. pupils
D. experimenter

 

8.  more than 60 percent of teacher subjects consistently obey Milgram up to the

 

A. 450 volt limit
B. 400 volt limit
C. 300 volt limit
D. 500 volt limit

 

9. The percentage of appreciative teacher-subjects was even higher, in repeated experiments in

 

A. all countries
B. other countries
C. many countries
D. some countries


 

Nature or Nurture 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. B. 39 psychiatrists

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D

Before carrying out the experiment, Milgram described his opinion to a team of 39 psychiatrists and asked them to estimate the average percentage of people who would be willing to give a 450-volt vibration level in a normal population.  
 

Explanation

Paragraph D explicitly states this information: Milgram consulted a team of 39 psychiatrists before conducting the experiment to estimate the average percentage of people willing to administer a 450-volt shock.


 

7. D. experimenter

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D

The majority consensus is that almost all teacher-subjects refuse to follow the experimenter.
 

Explanation

The correct answer is found in Paragraph D, which indicates that almost all teacher-subjects refused to follow the instructions of the experimenter, as stated in the passage.


 

8. A. 450 volt limit

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E

Well, more than 60 percent of teacher subjects consistently obey Milgram up to the 450 volt limit ! 
 

Explanation 

 In Paragraph E, it is stated that more than 60 per cent of teacher subjects consistently obeyed Milgram up to the 450-volt limit, making this the correct choice.


 

9. B. other countries

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E
In repeated experiments in other countries, the percentage of appreciative teacher-subjects was even higher, reaching 85 percent in one country,... 

 

Explanation
The passage in Paragraph E explicitly mentions that in repeated experiments conducted in other countries, the percentage of compliant teacher subjects was even higher, supporting the choice of "other countries" as the correct answer.

Questions and Answers 10-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet, write

  • TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
  • FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage

 

 

10. The current difficult sociologist can say that this aggressive instinct developed into a negative trait.

11. Most of the pupils are psychology students at Yale University.

12. Psychology Lab has a powerful claim to legitimacy and inspires confidence and trust.

13.  The issue for biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists is to sort out which of these two polar interpretations is less reliable. 

 

 

Nature or Nurture Reading Answers with Explanations (10-13)

 

Question Type:  True/False/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 (True), contradicts the information in the passage (False), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).
 

How to best answer the question:

 

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


 

10. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph F

A current hard sociologist can say that this aggressive instinct evolved into a positive trait that our ancestors valued in the struggle against the hardships of life on the plains and in caves...
 

Explanation

The statement contradicts the passage because the current hard sociologist suggests that the aggressive instinct evolved into a positive trait, not a negative one, as stated in Paragraph F.


 

11. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph 

NA
 

Explanation
The passage does not provide information about the occupation or background of the subjects, so it is not possible to determine if most of the pupils are psychology students at Yale University.


 

12. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph  G

The Psychology Lab has a powerful claim to legitimacy and inspires confidence and trust in those who operate there.
 

Explanation

The passage explicitly states in Paragraph G that the Psychology Lab has a powerful claim to legitimacy and inspires confidence and trust in those who operate there, supporting the statement as true.


 

13. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph I

The issue for biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists is to sort out which of these two polar interpretations is most reliable.

 

Explanation

Paragraph I states that the issue for biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists is to sort out which of the two polar interpretations is most reliable, not less reliable, as stated in the question.

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FAQs

Q. What types of questions are there in the IELTS Reading section?

Ans. The IELTS Reading section includes various question types such as multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, matching headings, matching information, sentence completion, summary completion, and note completion. Familiarising yourself with these formats can enhance your test-taking strategies.

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

Ans. To manage time effectively, allocate approximately 20 minutes per passage. Skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific information when answering questions are recommended strategies. Using timed reading tests can also improve your ability to complete the section within the 60-minute limit.

Q. What are some common misconceptions about the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Common misconceptions include the belief that one needs to understand every word in the passage, read the entire passage thoroughly, or assume that questions are always straightforward. In reality, utilising skimming and scanning strategies is beneficial, and questions often require critical thinking and inference.