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The Power Of Nothing Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 15, 2024, 10:37

In the IELTS Reading section, you will engage with texts sourced from a variety of publications such as books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. This section evaluates your ability to comprehend the main ideas, detailed information, and logical arguments within these texts, as well as your capacity to discern the writer's viewpoints, attitudes, and intentions.

 

 

To better prepare for the IELTS Reading section, you can take an IELTS practice test, which provides a realistic experience of the types of texts and questions you will face in the actual exam.

 

 

The passage titled "The Power Of Nothing" explores the concept of mindfulness and the impact of embracing moments of stillness in our busy lives. It discusses how these moments can enhance mental clarity and overall well-being, drawing upon recent studies and personal anecdotes to illustrate its benefits.

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1. The Power Of Nothing 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. The Power Of Nothing Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Power Of Nothing Reading Question & Answers

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1.

The Power Of Nothing 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.

 

 

 

 

The Power Of Nothing Reading Passage

 

 

 

Geoff Watts, New Scientist (May 26th, 2001)

 

 

 

Paragraph A

 

Want to devise a new form of alternative medicine? No problem. Here is the recipe. Be warm, sympathetic, reassuring and enthusiastic. Your treatment should involve physical contact, and each session with your patients should last at least half an hour. Encourage your patients to take an active part in their treatment and understand how their disorders relate to the rest of their lives. Tell them that their own bodies possess the true power to heal. Make them pay you out of their own pockets. Describe your treatment in familiar words but embroidered with a hint of mysticism: energy fields, energy flows, energy blocks, meridians, forces, auras, rhythms and the like. Refer to the knowledge of an earlier age: wisdom carelessly swept aside by the rise and rise of blind, mechanistic science. Oh, come off it, you are saying. Something invented off the top of your head could not possibly work, could it?

 

 

Paragraph B

 

Well, yes, it could - and often well enough to teach you a living. A good living if you are sufficiently convincing, or better still, really believe in your therapy. Many illnesses get better on their own, so if you are lucky and administer your treatment at just the right time, you will get the credit. But that’s only part of it. Some of the improvement really would be down to you. Your healing power would be the outcome of a paradoxical force that conventional medicine recognises but remains oddly ambivalent about the placebo effect.

 

 

Paragraph C

 

Placebos are treatments that have no direct effect on the body yet still work because the patient has faith in their power to heal. Most often, the term refers to a dummy pill, but it applies just as much to any device or procedure, from a sticking plaster to a crystal to an operation. The existence of the placebo effect implies that even quackery may confer real benefits, which is why any mention of placebo is a touchy subject for many practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine, who are likely to regard it as tantamount to a charge of charlatanism. In fact, the placebo effect is a powerful part of all medical care, orthodox or otherwise, though its role is often neglected or misunderstood.

 

 

 

Paragraph D

 

One of the great strengths of CAM may be its practitioners’ skill in deploying the placebo effect to accomplish real healing. “Complementary practitioners are miles better at producing non-specific effects and good therapeutic relationships,” says Edzard Ernst, professor of CAM at Exeter University. The question is whether CAM could be integrated into conventional medicines, as some would like, without losing much of this power.

 

 

Paragraph E

 

At one level, it should come as no surprise that our state of mind can influence our physiology: anger opens the superficial blood vessels of the face; sadness pumps the tear glands. However, exactly how placebos work their medical magic is still largely unknown. Most of the scant research done so far has focused on the control of pain because it’s one of the most common complaints and lends itself to experimental study. Here, attention has turned to the endorphins, morphine-like neurochemicals known to help control pain.

 

 

Paragraph F

 

However, exactly how placebos work their medical magic is still largely unknown. Most of the scant research to date has focused on the control of pain because it’s one of the most common complaints and lends itself to experimental study. Here, attention has turned to the endorphins, natural counterparts of morphine that are known to help control pain. “Any of the neurochemicals involved in transmitting pain impulses or modulating them might also be involved in generating the placebo response,” says Don Price, an oral surgeon at the University of Florida who studies the placebo effect in dental pain.

 

 

Paragraph G

 

“But endorphins are still out front.” That case has been strengthened by the recent work of Fabrizio Benedetti of the University of Turin, who showed that the placebo effect can be abolished by a drug, naloxone, which blocks the effects of endorphins.  Benedetti induced pain in human volunteers by inflating a blood-pressure cuff on the forearm. He did this several times a day for several days, using morphine each time to control the pain. On the final day, without saying anything, he replaced the morphine with a saline solution. This still relieved the subjects’ pain: a placebo effect. But when he added naloxone to the saline, the pain relief disappeared. Here was direct proof that placebo analgesia is mediated, at least in part, by these natural opiates. 

 

 

 Paragraph H

 

Still, no one knows how belief triggers endorphin release or why most people can’t achieve placebo pain relief simply by willing it. Though scientists don’t know exactly how placebos work, they have accumulated a fair bit of knowledge about how to trigger the effect. A London rheumatologist found, for example, that red dummy capsules made more effective painkillers than blue, green or yellow ones. Research on American students revealed that blue pills make better sedatives than pink, a colour more suitable for stimulants. Even branding can make a difference: if Aspirin or Tylenol is what you like to take for a headache, their chemically identical generic equivalents may be less effective.

 

 

Paragraph I

 

It matters, too, how the treatment is delivered. Decades ago, when the major tranquilliser chlorpromazine was being introduced, a doctor in Kansas categorised his colleagues according to whether they were keen on it, openly sceptical of its benefits, or took a “let’s try and see” attitude. His conclusion: the more enthusiastic the doctor, the better the drug performed. This year, Ernst surveyed published studies that compared doctors’ bedside manners. The studies turned up one consistent finding: “Physicians who adopt a warm, friendly and reassuring manner,” he reported, “are more effective than those whose consultations are formal and do not offer reassurance.”

 

 

Paragraph J
 

Warm, friendly and reassuring are precisely CAM’s strong suits, of course. Many of the ingredients of that opening recipe – the physical contact, the generous swathes of time, the strong hints of supernormal healing power – are just the kind of thing likely to impress patients. It’s hardly surprising, then, that complementary practitioners are generally best at mobilising the placebo effect, says Arthur Kleinman, professor of social anthropology at Harvard University.

 

 

To improve your vocabulary for the IELTS Reading section, read here.

2.

The Power Of Nothing Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Power Of Nothing

Questions and Answers 1-6

  • Use the information in the passage to match the deed (listed A-H) with the people below
  • Write the appropriate letters A-H in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
  • You may use any letter more than once

 

 

A. Should easily be understood

B. Should improve by itself

C. Should not involve any mysticism

D. Ought to last a minimum length of time.

E. Needs to be treated at the right time.

F. Should give more recognition.

G. Can earn valuable money.

H. Do not rely on any specific treatment.

 

 

 

  1. Appointments with an alternative practitioner
  2. An alternative practitioner’s description of the treatment
  3. An alternative practitioner who has faith in what he does
  4. the illness of patients convinced of alternative practice
  5. Improvements in patients receiving alternative practice
  6. Conventional medical doctors (who are aware of placebo)

 



 

The Power Of Nothing Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)

 

 

 

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. D


 

Reference

 

From paragraph A: “Your treatment should involve physical contact, and each session with your patients should last at least half an hour.”


 

Explanation

 

This implies that appointments with an alternative practitioner should be scheduled for a minimum length of time to ensure that the treatment is adequately provided. Physical contact and sufficient time are emphasised as crucial components of effective therapy, ensuring that patients receive thorough attention and care during each session.


 

2. A


 

Reference

 

From paragraph A:   "Describe your treatment in familiar words, but embroidered with a hint of mysticism: energy fields, energy flows, energy blocks, meridians, forces, auras, rhythms and the like."


 

Explanation

 

The passage suggests that alternative practitioners use a description of their treatments that combines familiar language with mystical terms to make it easily understandable to the patients. This approach helps in communicating the treatment's essence while engaging patients' imagination and belief in its efficacy, thus enhancing the overall therapeutic experience.


 

3. G


 

Reference

 

From paragraph B: "Well yes, it could - and often well enough to teach you a living. A good living if you are sufficiently convincing, or better still, really believe in your therapy."


 

 

Explanation

 

These lines suggest that alternative practitioners who are convincing or genuinely believe in their therapy can earn a good living by attracting patients and receiving payment for their services. Belief and conviction in the treatment's effectiveness are crucial in fostering patient trust and ensuring steady income through successful practice.


 

4. B


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: "Placebos are treatments that have no direct effect on the body, yet still work because the patient has faith in their power to heal."

 


 

Explanation

 

This information suggests that when patients have faith in the power of the treatment, it can lead to the improvement or resolution of their illnesses. The placebo effect relies on patients' belief and trust in the treatment, which can trigger psychological and physiological responses that contribute to healing, even in the absence of active medical ingredients.


 

5. H


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C, D: Paragraph C, "The existence of the placebo effect implies that even quackery may confer real benefits," and Paragraph D ", One of the great strengths of CAM may be its practitioners’ skill in deploying the placebo effect to accomplish real healing."


 

 

Explanation

 

This suggests that the improvements experienced by patients receiving alternative practice may not be solely dependent on any specific treatment but rather on factors such as the placebo effect and the therapeutic relationship. CAM practitioners excel in harnessing these non-specific effects to facilitate genuine healing, highlighting the importance of the patient's mindset and the practitioner-patient relationship.



 

6. F


 

Reference

 

From paragraph C: “In fact, the placebo effect is a powerful part of all medical care, orthodox or otherwise, though its role is often neglected or misunderstood.”


 

 

Explanation

 

This suggests that there should be greater recognition and understanding of the placebo effect among conventional medical doctors. Acknowledging the placebo effect's significance can enhance the effectiveness of medical care by incorporating strategies that leverage patient belief and trust, thereby improving overall treatment outcomes.



 

 

Refer to tips and tricks for the IELTS Reading section to achieve a high band score.

Questions and Answers 7-9

  • Choose the correct letter: A, B, C or D.
  • Write your answers in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

 

 

7. In the fifth paragraph, the writer uses the example of anger and sadness to illustrate that:

 

A. People’s feeling could affect their physical behaviour

B. Scientists don’t understand how the mind influences the body.

C. Research on the placebo effect is very limited

D. How a placebo achieves its effect is yet to be understood.

 


8. Research on pain control attracts most of the attention because

 

A. Scientists have discovered that endorphins can help to reduce pain.

B. Only a limited number of researchers gain relevant experience

C. Pain-reducing agents might also be involved in the placebo effect.

D. Patients often experience pain and like to complain about it.

 

 

9. Fabrizio Benedetti’s research on endorphins indicates that

 

A. They are widely used to regulate pain.

B. They can be produced by willful thoughts

C. They can be neutralised by introducing naloxone.

D. Their pain-relieving effects do not last long enough.

 

 

The Power Of Nothing Reading Answers with Explanations (7-9)

 

 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

 

How to best answer: 


 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.



 

7. A


 

Reference

 

From paragraph E: “At one level, it should come as no surprise that our state of mind can influence our physiology: anger opens the superficial blood vessels of the face; sadness pumps the tear glands.”


 

Explanation

 

This paragraph explains that emotions such as anger and sadness can cause physical changes in the body, such as dilating blood vessels and activating tear glands. This demonstrates that people's feelings can indeed affect their physical behaviour, aligning with the statement that our state of mind influences our physiology. The examples of anger and sadness are used to illustrate the broader concept of mind-body interaction.



 

8. D


 

Reference

 

From paragraph F: ‘Here, attention has turned to the endorphins, natural counterparts of morphine that are known to help control pain. “Any of the neurochemicals involved in transmitting pain impulses or modulating them might also be involved in generating the placebo response,” says Don Price, an oral surgeon at the University of Florida who studies the placebo effect in dental pain.’


 

 

Explanation

 

This paragraph explains that researchers are interested in pain control because endorphins, natural painkillers, are involved in the placebo response. The focus on pain control is due to its prevalence and the ease of studying pain experimentally. This indicates that pain-reducing agents might also play a role in generating the placebo effect, making it a significant area of research.



 

9. C


 

Reference

 

From paragraph G: “But when he added naloxone to the saline, the pain relief disappeared. Here was direct proof that placebo analgesia is mediated, at least in part, by these natural opiates.”


 

Explanation

 

Fabrizio Benedetti's research involved using naloxone, a drug that blocks the effects of endorphins, to demonstrate that pain relief from a placebo could be nullified. This provided direct evidence that endorphins are involved in placebo-induced pain relief. The research showed that placebo analgesia is partially mediated by these natural opiates, highlighting the role of endorphins in the placebo effect.



 

Read more about 350+ Vocabulary words for IELTS: Difficult & New English Words List For 2024

Questions and Answers 10-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 10-14 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. There is enough information for scientists to fully understand the placebo effect.
11. A London-based researcher discovered that red pills should be taken off the market.
12. People’s preference for brands would also have an effect on their healing.
13. Medical doctors have a range of views on the newly introduced drug of chlorpromazine.
14. Alternative practitioners are seldom known for applying the placebo effect.

 


 

The Power Of Nothing Reading Answers with Explanations (10-14)

 

 

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.




 

10. False


 

Reference

 

From paragraph E: “Most of the scant research done so far has focused on the control of pain because it’s one of the commonest complaints and lends itself to experimental study.”


 


 

Explanation

 

This implies that research on the placebo effect is still limited and primarily focused on pain control. Thus, scientists do not have a comprehensive understanding of the placebo effect, indicating that there is still much to learn in this area.


 

11. Not Given


 

Reference

 

From paragraph: N/A


 

Explanation

 

There is no information in the passage about a London-based researcher discovering that red pills should be taken off the market. The passage discusses the effects of pill colour on placebo effectiveness, but it does not mention any recommendations for removing specific coloured pills from the market.


 

12. True


 

Reference

 

From paragraph H: “Even branding can make a difference: if Aspirin or Tylenol is what you like to take for a headache, their chemically identical generic equivalents may be less effective.”


 

 

Explanation

 

 This shows that people's preference for specific brands affects the effectiveness of their healing. If patients believe in a particular brand, it can enhance the placebo effect and make the branded medication more effective than a generic equivalent, even if the chemical composition is the same.


 

13. True


 

Reference

 

From paragraph I: “Decades ago, when the major tranquilliser chlorpromazine was being introduced, a doctor in Kansas categorised his colleagues according to whether they were keen on it, openly sceptical of its benefits, or took a “let’s try and see” attitude.”


 

 

Explanation

 

This indicates that medical doctors had different views or opinions about the newly introduced drug, suggesting a range of perspectives. The varied attitudes among the doctors highlight the differences in their acceptance and scepticism towards the drug's efficacy.


 

14. False


 

Reference

 

From paragraphs C and D: Paragraph C "The existence of the placebo effect implies that even quackery may confer real benefits, which is why any mention of placebo is a touchy subject for many practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine, who are likely to regard it as tantamount to a charge of charlatanism." and Paragraph D "One of the great strengths of CAM may be its practitioners’ skill in deploying the placebo effect to accomplish real healing."


 

Explanation

 

This suggests that CAM practitioners are known for effectively using the placebo effect in their treatments. They often achieve real healing through their skill in creating therapeutic relationships and leveraging non-specific effects, contrary to the statement that they seldom apply the placebo effect.



 

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FAQs

Q. Are the passages in the IELTS Reading test related to specific topics?

Ans. Yes, the passages in the IELTS Reading test are related to specific topics such as science, history, arts, social issues, and more. They are chosen to be of general interest and suitable for a non-specialist audience.

Q. How are the questions structured in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The questions in the IELTS Reading test vary in type and complexity. They can include multiple-choice, True/False/Not Given, matching headings, completing sentences, and more. Each question type assesses different reading skills and requires specific strategies for effective answering.

Q. Is there a negative marking for incorrect answers in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. No, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in the IELTS Reading test. You are encouraged to attempt all questions, as you will not lose points for wrong answers. This approach allows you to maximise your chances of scoring well by answering as many questions as possible.