leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

Second Nature Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Jun 11, 2024, 05:14

The IELTS Reading section is a pivotal component of the IELTS exam and is designed to assess your ability to comprehend written English in an academic context. In this section, you'll encounter a variety of texts ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical, reflecting the types of materials you might encounter in a university setting or professional environment.

 

The passage about “Second Nature” delves into the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. It explores how our perception of nature has evolved over time and considers the implications of our increasingly artificial surroundings.

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. Second Nature 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. 

Slider image

2. Second Nature Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Second Nature

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

Second Nature 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.

 

 

 

 

Second Nature Reading Passage


 

 

Paragraph 1

Psychologists have long held that a person's character cannot undergo a transformation in any meaningful way and that the key traits of personality are determined at a very young age. However, researchers have begun looking more closely at ways we can change. Positive psychologists have identified 24 qualities we admire, such as loyalty and kindness, and are studying them to find out why they come so naturally to some people. What they're discovering is that many of these qualities amount to habitual behaviour that determines the way we respond to the world. The good news is that all this can be learned.

 

Paragraph 2

Some qualities are less challenging to develop than others, optimism being one of them. However, developing qualities requires mastering a range of skills which are diverse and sometimes surprising. For example, to bring more joy and passion into your life, you must be open to experiencing negative emotions. Cultivating such qualities will help you realise your full potential.

 

Paragraph 3

'The evidence is good that most personality traits can be altered,' says Christopher Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, who cites himself as an example. Inherently introverted, he realised early on that as an academic, his reticence would prove disastrous in the lecture hall. So, he learned to be more outgoing and to entertain his classes. 'Now my extroverted behaviour is spontaneous,' he says.

 

Paragraph 4

David Fajgenbaum had to make a similar transition. He was preparing for university when he had an accident that put an end to his sports career. On campus, he quickly found that beyond ordinary counselling, the university had no services for students who were undergoing physical rehabilitation and suffering from depression like him. He, therefore, launched a support group to help others in similar situations. He took action despite his own pain - a typical response of an optimist.

 

Paragraph 5

Suzanne Segerstrom, professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, believes that the key to increasing optimism is through cultivating optimistic behavior, rather than positive thinking. She recommends you train yourself to pay attention to good fortune by writing down three positive things that come about each day. This will help you convince yourself that favourable outcomes actually happen all the time, making it easier to begin taking action.

 

Paragraph 6

You can recognise a person who is passionate about a pursuit by the way they are so strongly involved in it. Tanya Streeter's passion is freediving - the sport of plunging deep into the water without tanks or other breathing equipment. Beginning in 1998, she set nine world records and can hold her breath for six minutes. The physical stamina required for this sport is intense, but the psychological demands are even more overwhelming. Streeter learned to untangle her fears from her judgment of what her body and mind could do. 'In my career as a competitive freediver, there was a limit to what I could do - but it wasn't anywhere near what I thought it was/ she says.

 

Paragraph 7

Finding a pursuit that excites you can improve anyone's life. The secret about consuming passions, though, according to psychologist Paul Silvia of the University of North Carolina, is that 'they require discipline, hard work and ability, which is why they are so rewarding.' Psychologist Todd Kashdan has this advice for those people taking up a new passion: 'As a newcomer, you also have to tolerate and laugh at your own ignorance. You must be willing to accept the negative feelings that come your way,' he says.

 

Paragraph 8

In 2004, physician-scientist Mauro Zappaterra began his PhD research at Harvard Medical School. Unfortunately, he was miserable as his research wasn't compatible with his curiosity about healing. He finally took a break, and during eight months in Santa Fe, Zappaterra learned about alternative healing techniques not taught at Harvard. When he got back, he switched labs to study how cerebrospinal fluid nourishes the developing nervous system. He also vowed to look for the joy in everything, including failure, as this could help him learn about his research and himself.

 

Paragraph 9

One thing that can hold joy back is a person's concentration on avoiding failure rather than looking forward to doing something well. 'Focusing on being safe might get in the way of your reaching your goals,' explains Kashdan. For example, are you hoping to get through a business lunch without embarrassing yourself, or are you thinking about how fascinating the conversation might be?

 

Paragraph 10

Usually, we think of courage in physical terms, but ordinary life demands something else. For marketing executive Kenneth Pedeleose, it meant speaking out against something he thought was ethically wrong. The new manager was intimidating staff, so Pedeleose carefully recorded each instance of bullying and eventually took the evidence to a senior director, knowing his own job security would be threatened. Eventually, the manager was the one to go. According to Cynthia Pury, a psychologist at Clemson University, Pedeleose's story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness but by moral obligation. Pury also believes that people can acquire courage. Many of her students said that when faced with a risky situation, they first tried to calm themselves down and then looked for a way to mitigate the danger, just as Pedeleose did by documenting his allegations.

 

Paragraph 11

Over the long term, picking up a new character trait may help you move toward being the person you want to be. And in the short term, the effort itself could be surprisingly rewarding, a kind of internal adventure.

2.

Second Nature Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Second Nature

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Look at the following Questions 1-5 and the list of the statements below.
  • Match each statement with the correct one.
  • Write the correct letter A-E on your answer sheet.
Note: You may use any letter more than once.

 

 

1. The evidence says that most personality traits can be changed

2. He had an accident while preparing for university, which ended his sports career. 

3. Rather than positive thinking the key to increasing optimism is through developing optimistic behaviour.

4. Passionate about freediving 

5. Passion requires discipline, hard work and ability, which is why they are so rewarding. 


 

A. Mauro Zappaterra

B. Christopher Peterson

C. Tanya Streeter

D. David Fajgenbaum

E. Paul Silvia

F. Suzanne Segerstrom


 

Second Nature Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of question: Matching information

 

In this question type, you will be asked to match specific pieces of information, often dates, names, or events, from the reading passage with corresponding options provided in the question.

 

How to best answer: 


 

  • Read each statement carefully to understand the specific information being asked for.
  • Scan the passage for relevant dates or events in the reading passage that corresponds to each statement.
  • Eliminate incorrect options that do not match the information found in the passage.
  • Match the remaining options based on the information provided in the passage.
  • Verify your answers to ensure they match the information in the passage before finalising them.

 

 

1. B. Christopher Peterson

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 3: "'The evidence is good that most personality traits can be altered,' says Christopher Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, who cites himself as an example."

 

Explanation

The line mentions explicitly that Christopher Peterson's assertion directly supports the idea that personality traits can be changed, aligning with the concept discussed in the question.


 

2. D. David Fajgenbaum

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 4:  "David Fajgenbaum had to make a similar transition. He was preparing for university when he had an accident that put an end to his sports career."

 

Explanation

This line mentions the David Fajgenbaum's experience illustrates a life event that led to personal transformation, highlighting the potential for change in individuals.


 

3. F. Suzanne Segerstrom

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5:  "Suzanne Segerstrom, professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, believes that the key to increasing optimism is through cultivating optimistic behaviour, rather than positive thinking."

 

Explanation

The line mentions Suzanne Segerstrom's perspective, which emphasises the importance of behavioural habits in fostering optimism, offering an alternative to traditional positive thinking approaches.

 

 

4. C. Tanya Streeter

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 6: "Tanya Streeter's passion is freediving - the sport of plunging deep into the water without tanks or other breathing equipment. Beginning in 1998, she set nine world records and can hold her breath for six minutes."

 

Explanation

The line mentions that Tanya Streeter's passion for freediving exemplifies an individual deeply engaged in their pursuit, demonstrating the concept mentioned in the question.


 

5. E. Paul Silvia

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 7: "The secret about consuming passions, though, according to psychologist Paul Silvia of the University of North Carolina, is that 'they require discipline, hard work and ability, which is why they are so rewarding."
 

Explanation

The line mentions Paul Silvia's insight, which underscores the demanding nature of passionate endeavours, providing context for the statement in the question about the requirements for passion.

Questions and Answers 6-10
  • Complete the sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

 

 

6. Physician and scientist Mauro Zappaterra in 2004 began his PhD research at ________ School. 

7. Focusing on being ________ always might not help you reach your goals.

8. ________ demands something else even though we think of courage in physical terms.

9. Picking up a new ________ over the long term may help you move toward being the person you want to be.

10. Pury also believes that people can develop ______.

 

 

Second Nature Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10)

 

Type of question: Sentence Completion

 

In this question type, you are required to fill in the blanks in a given sentence with words or phrases taken directly from the passage. These questions test your ability to understand specific details and information presented in the text.

 

How to answer: 

 

  • Read the sentence carefully to understand the context.
  • Identify keywords or clues that can help you find the answer in the passage.
  • Scan the passage for relevant information, focusing on the area around the blank.
  • Choose the answer that fits grammatically and contextually.
  • Verify your answers and finalise them.


 

6. Harvard Medical

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 8: "In 2004, physician-scientist Mauro Zappaterra began his PhD research at Harvard Medical School. Unfortunately, he was miserable as his research wasn't compatible with his curiosity about healing."

 

Explanation

The line indicates that Mauro Zappaterra began his PhD research at Harvard Medical School in 2004, aligning with the information provided in the paragraph.


 

7. safe

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 9: "'Focusing on being safe might get in the way of your reaching your goals,' explains Kashdan."
 

Explanation

The phrase provided in the paragraph suggests that solely focusing on safety might impede progress towards achieving one's goals, which is in line with the message conveyed in the passage.


 

8. Ordinary life

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 10: "Usually, we think of courage in physical terms, but ordinary life demands something else."

 

Explanation

This line points out that courage is required in ordinary life, contradicting the common perception that courage is primarily associated with physical acts.


 

9. character trait

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 11: "Over the long term, picking up a new character trait may help you move toward being the person you want to be."

 

Explanation

The phrase from the paragraph supports the idea that acquiring new character traits can contribute to personal growth and becoming the desired version of oneself, reflecting the passage's message.


 

10. Courage

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 10: "Pury also believes that people can acquire courage."

 

Explanation

This answer reflects the belief mentioned in the paragraph that individuals have the capacity to develop courage, emphasising a key point conveyed in the passage.

Questions and Answers 11-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Based on your understanding of the passage, mark the statement:

  • YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
  • NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
  • NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

 

 

11. A person cannot undergo transformation in their character in any meaningful way and that the key traits of personality are determined at a very young age.

 

12. Some qualities, like optimism, are more challenging to develop than others. 
 

13. Training yourself to write down 3 positive things that come about each day is good to pay attention to good fortune. 
 

14. Meditation can help you change your character.


 

Second Nature Reading Answers with Explanations (11-14)

 

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

 

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
  • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
  • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
  • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
  • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

 

 

11. Yes

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 1: "Psychologists have long held that a person's character cannot undergo a transformation in any meaningful way and that the key traits of personality are determined at a very young age."
 

Explanation

The answer is YES because it aligns with the assertion made by psychologists, as stated in the passage, affirming their belief about character transformation and personality traits.


 

12. No

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 2: "Some qualities are less challenging to develop than others, optimism being one of them."

 

Explanation

The answer is NO because it contradicts the passage, which mentions that some qualities, like optimism, are actually less challenging to develop than others, not more challenging.


 

13. Yes

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph 5: "She recommends you train yourself to pay attention to good fortune by writing down three positive things that come about each day."

 

Explanation

The answer is YES because it reflects Suzanne Segerstrom's recommendation mentioned in the passage, indicating that training oneself to write down positive things each day is indeed beneficial for paying attention to good fortune.


 

14. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

From paragraph: Not applicable
 

Explanation

The answer is NOT GIVEN, as the passage does not provide information about the role of meditation in changing character, making it impossible to determine the writer's stance on this statement.

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Important Information

IELTS Accepting Countries

IELTS Accepting Universities

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

FAQs

Q. How can I improve my vocabulary for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Incorporate daily reading habits with diverse materials like newspapers, magazines, and books to encounter a wide range of vocabulary in context. Use tools like flashcards, word lists, and online exercises to learn new words and their meanings. Practice using new vocabulary in writing and speaking tasks to reinforce retention and application.

Q. What are some useful tips for tackling the IELTS Reading test's True/False/Not Given questions?

Ans. For True/False/Not Given questions, thoroughly understand the text. Focus on specific keywords and phrases to determine if a statement is true, false, or not given based on the provided information. Practice extensively with sample questions to improve your ability to identify correct responses.

Q. How can I improve my comprehension skills for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Improve comprehension skills by practising with sample reading passages and questions to get familiar with the format. Use effective reading strategies such as skimming for main ideas, scanning for details, and summarising key points to enhance your ability to extract information efficiently.