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About the Effects of Noise Reading Passage
This passage looks at how prolonged exposure to noise damages human health and performance. It covers research on physiological stress responses, hearing loss in industrial settings, cardiovascular effects, and the impact of airport noise on children's reading ability and motivation in school. The source is Cambridge IELTS 9, Academic Test 4, Passage 1.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on the passage below.
The passage contains two question types. True/False/Not Given covers Questions 1–7, and Sentence Completion covers Questions 8–13.
The Effects of Noise — Full Reading Passage
Paragraph A
It has been estimated that more than 20 million Americans are exposed to potentially damaging noise levels in their workplace. They face a risk of hearing loss from noise at work that could be largely prevented if proper precautions were taken. The loss of hearing through noise is painless and gradual and its effects may not be noticed for many years. That is why many people underestimate the damage done by noise.
Paragraph B
Noise is measured in decibels (dB). A sound level of 85 dB is generally considered the threshold of safe noise exposure for an eight-hour working day. Above this level, the risk of hearing damage increases significantly. Sounds above 140 dB, such as a jet engine at close range, can cause immediate and permanent damage to hearing.
Paragraph C
Hearing loss from noise is entirely preventable. The most effective means of preventing noise-induced hearing loss is to reduce noise levels at their source. If that is not possible, workers should be moved away from the noise source, or working hours in the high-noise environment should be reduced. When none of these options is feasible, the use of hearing protectors such as earplugs or earmuffs is recommended.
Paragraph D
Noise affects performance in a variety of ways. Some studies suggest that noise has little effect on the performance of mental tasks. However, other studies show that noise can increase errors and impair performance. The negative effects of noise on performance are more likely to occur when the task is complex or requires sustained attention.
Paragraph E
Research has shown that long-term exposure to high levels of noise can cause stress. Stress, in turn, leads to the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenalin. These hormones prepare the body to deal with the source of stress. However, if stress becomes chronic, the continued presence of these hormones can cause damage to the body. Chronic noise-induced stress has been linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and a weakened immune system.
Paragraph F
Studies on the physiological effects of noise exposure have revealed links to serious long-term health problems. Elevated levels of stress hormones have been recorded in people who live or work near sources of constant noise. These elevated hormone levels are linked to cardiovascular disease and can persist even during sleep. The body does not fully adapt to noise exposure over time; instead, health risks accumulate.
Paragraph G
The effects of noise are not limited to hearing loss and physical health. Noise also affects workers' productivity. Studies of industrial workers show that productivity falls and the number of errors rises when workers are exposed to high noise levels. Workers in noisy environments also report higher levels of fatigue and job dissatisfaction.
Paragraph H
Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of noise. Research carried out near airports found that children attending schools under flight paths had significantly lower reading ability and motivation than those in quieter schools. The research suggested that background noise in classrooms interfered with the children's ability to concentrate and learn effectively. Crucially, when the schools were fitted with noise insulation, children's reading scores improved, suggesting that the damage to learning was caused by noise rather than by other factors.
The Effects of Noise Reading Questions & Answers
True/False/Not Given (Questions 1–7)
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
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
1. Over 20 million Americans risk damage to their hearing at work.
2. Exposure to noise levels above 85 dB always results in hearing damage.
3. Workers generally prefer earplugs to earmuffs as hearing protectors.
4. The negative effects of noise on performance are more pronounced in complex tasks.
5. Noise has no effect on the performance of mental tasks.
6. People who work in noisy environments are more likely to take sick days.
7. Children near airports had lower reading ability than children in quieter schools.
Sentence Completion (Questions 8–13)
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
8. Long-term exposure to high noise levels causes ________, which triggers the release of hormones.
9. Chronic noise-induced stress has been linked to high blood pressure and ________.
10. Studies show that the productivity of ________ falls when they are exposed to high noise levels.
11. Children near airports scored lower in ________ than children in quieter schools.
12. Children in noisy schools showed lower levels of ________ as well as lower reading ability.
13. When schools were fitted with insulation, improvements in scores showed the damage was caused by ________.
