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Reading answers with explanations

IELTS · Part 3 · Cambridge 20 — Test 2

How stress affects our judgement: Reading answers

Answers to questions 27–40 (14 in all), each with why it is right.

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Read the whole passage and answer in the exam interface, timed as on the day.

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The passage opens

Some of the most important decisions of our lives occur while we're feeling stressed and anxious.From medical decisions to financial and professional ones, we are all sometimes required to weigh up information under stressful conditions.But do we become better or worse at processing and using information under such circumstances? My colleague and I, both neuroscientists, wanted to investigate how the mind operates under stress, so we visited some local fire stations.Firefighters' workdays vary quite a bit.Some are pretty relaxed; they'll spend their time washing the truck, cleaning equipment, cooking meals and reading.Other days can be hectic, with numerous life-threatening incidents to…

Answers 27–40

  1. 27

    In the first paragraph, the writer introduces the topic of the text by

    C: mentioning a challenge faced by everyone. Multiple choice

  2. 28

    What point does the writer make about firefighters in the second paragraph?

    A: The regular changes of stress levels in their working lives make them ideal study subjects. Multiple choice

  3. 29

    What is the writer doing in the fourth paragraph?

    D: describing their methodology Multiple choice

  4. 30

    In the seventh paragraph, the writer describes a mechanism in the brain which

    C: produces heightened sensitivity to indications of external threats. Multiple choice

  5. 31

    At times when they were relaxed, the firefighters usually

    B: took relatively little notice of bad news. Matching sentence endings

  6. 32

    The researchers noted that when the firefighters were stressed, they

    G: thought it more likely that they would experience something bad. Matching sentence endings

  7. 33

    When the firefighters were told good news, they always A

    F: behaved in a similar manner, regardless of the circumstances. Matching sentence endings

  8. 34

    The students' cortisol levels and heart rates were affected when the researchers

    E: put them in a stressful situation. Matching sentence endings

  9. 35

    In both experiments, negative information was processed better when the subjects

    D: were feeling under stress. Matching sentence endings

  10. 36

    The tone of the content we post on social media tends to reflect the nature of the posts in our feeds.

    YES Yes / No / Not Given

  11. 37

    Phones have a greater impact on our stress levels than other electronic media devices.

    NOT GIVEN Yes / No / Not Given

  12. 38

    The more we read about a stressful public event on social media, the less able we are to take the information in.

    NO Yes / No / Not Given

  13. 39

    Stress created by social media posts can lead us to take unnecessary precautions.

    YES Yes / No / Not Given

  14. 40

    Our tendency to be affected by other people's moods can be used in a positive way.

    YES Yes / No / Not Given

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