Mapping the Mind
Read Mapping the Mind and check the IELTS Reading answers. The often used phrase 'I'll believe it when I see it' betrays a very intimate fact of human nature. We are visual creatures and we rely on sight to serve as a judge of what is real and what is not. When discussing the intricacies of the hum…
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The often used phrase 'I'll believe it when I see it' betrays a very intimate fact of human nature. We are visual creatures and we rely on sight to serve as a judge of what is real and what is not. When discussing the intricacies of the human mind, for most of society's existence things have not been visible; we have for the most part relied on intangible concepts, metaphors, and words to explore our inner psyche. I have no idea what my ego looks like. I must have one because it can be hurt or appeased by how others treat me. But how do I know it really exists? Recent progress in brain research and neuroimaging is changing all of this. With our modern technology of functional imaging, we can now look at the brain as it is working, and attribute activation in certain areas of the brain to behaviours, thoughts, and feelings. In essence, our new tools are prompting new thoughts on who we are and how we are organized. Rita Carter's book, Mapping the Mind, explores these issues and exploits science's ability to look into our heads as a tool to examine who we are.
Vocabulary from this passage
30 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- aesthetic adjective
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty, art, and good taste.
Modern architecture often balances functional structural requirements with clean, minimalist aesthetic principles.
- base of operations noun
A main center of command or business activities from which tasks are coordinated.
The multinational corporation established its primary base of operations in Singapore to access Asian markets.
- byproduct noun
An incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture or synthesis of something else.
The warming of global temperatures is a dangerous byproduct of industrialization and fossil fuel reliance.
- circumvent verb
To find a clever or deceptive way around an obstacle, rule, or restriction.
Experienced hackers often find sophisticated methods to circumvent corporate firewall security systems.
- cohesion noun
The action or fact of forming a united whole or sticking together tightly.
Clear topic sentences improve the paragraph cohesion and logical flow of an academic essay.
- conceive verb
To form or devise a plan, idea, or concept in the mind.
Architects conceive innovative designs that balance aesthetic appeal with structural integrity.
- craftsmanship noun
Skill in a particular craft; the quality of design and work shown in something made by hand.
The antique museum exhibits outstanding craftsmanship from artisans of the Renaissance period.
- credibility noun
The quality of being trusted, believable, or accepted as authoritative by others.
Publishing flawed data in a predatory journal can permanently damage an academic researcher's professional credibility.
- demonstrably adverb
In a way that is clearly apparent or capable of being logically proven with evidence.
The new educational policy was demonstrably superior to previous methods, improving student test scores significantly.
- empirical evidence noun
Information acquired by objective observation or experimentation rather than pure theory or logic.
The scientific community requires empirical evidence before accepting a radical new hypothesis.
- enigma noun
A person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand completely.
Dark matter remains a profound cosmic enigma that physicists are still struggling to decipher.
- evolutionary adaptation noun
A gradual biological adjustment in structure or behavior that enhances an organism's survival prospects.
Camouflage is a classic evolutionary adaptation that protects vulnerable species from apex predators.
- fusion noun
The process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity.
Her culinary style presents a flawless fusion of traditional French and modern Asian cuisines.
- historical high point noun
The peak period of achievement, production, or success in the history of something.
Renaissance art reached a historical high point during the early sixteenth century in Italy.
- incongruity noun
The state of being out of keeping, inconsistent, or inappropriate with its surroundings or expectations.
The sharp incongruity between his lavish lifestyle and reported low income sparked a tax investigation.
- inhibition noun
A nervous feeling or psychological restraint that prevents a person from behaving naturally or impulsively.
Alcohol consumption often reduces social inhibition, causing individuals to act more recklessly than normal.
- intangible adjective
Unable to be touched or physically grasped; lacking a physical form or material substance.
Intellectual property and brand reputation are highly valuable intangible assets for modern digital corporations.
- intricacy noun
The complicated details, sophisticated components, or complex internal mechanisms of something.
Mastering the intricacies of international trade law requires years of dedicated postgraduate study.
- inventiveness noun
The quality of being inventive; creativity and ability to design or think of new ideas.
The engineer's inventiveness led to multiple patents for renewable energy devices.
- neuroanatomy noun
The scientific study of the structural organization and physical layout of the nervous system.
Medical students must master neuroanatomy to diagnose spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders accurately.
- neuroimaging noun
Advanced medical techniques used to visually map the structure or functional activity of the brain.
Cognitive psychologists utilize neuroimaging to observe which cerebral regions activate during complex memory retrieval tasks.
- non-utilitarian adjective
Not created or done for practical or purely functional utility; focusing on aesthetic or spiritual value.
Abstract art is inherently non-utilitarian, prioritizing emotional expression over functional daily use.
- perceptual incongruity noun
A striking mismatch or contradiction between physical reality and how it is interpreted by the senses.
Optical illusions create a fascinating perceptual incongruity that tricks the human brain into seeing motion.
- prenatal adjective
Relating to the medical care, development, or environment of an unborn fetus before birth.
Regular prenatal exposure to classical music is hypothesized to stimulate early childhood cognitive development.
- primal bond noun
An instinctive, fundamental, and deeply rooted emotional connection between living beings.
The primal bond between a mother bear and her cubs ensures intense maternal protection against threats.
- reiterate verb
To say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.
The professor used the final lecture to reiterate the core arguments of her research.
- replication noun
The action of copying or reproducing something, or a copy of something.
Genetic replication must occur with absolute precision to ensure the survival of the organism.
- social cohesion noun
The strength of relationships and the sense of solidarity among members of a community.
Shared cultural rituals promote social cohesion and reduce conflict within diverse urban populations.
- speculation noun
The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm empirical evidence.
Academic speculation about the lost city's location ended when archaeologists discovered physical ruins.
- unprecedented adjective
Never done or known before; unparalleled in history or previous experience.
The company experienced unprecedented growth after implementing the new digital strategy.
Answers with explanations
- 27. NO
The statement asserts that our sense of reality is independent of sight. However, the writer claims the exact opposite by stating that we are **visual creatures** and we **rly on sight to serve as a judge of what is real**. Because the text emphasizes that reality is highly dependent on what we can see, the statement directly contradicts the writer's view, making the answer **NO**.
- 28. YES
The statement says the ego must exist because its reaction can be felt. The writer explicitly notes: 'I **must have one because it can be hurt or appeased** by how others treat me.' The terms 'hurt or appeased' refer directly to emotional reactions that are felt, confirming that the writer believes the ego exists due to these impacts. Thus, the statement matches the claim, so the answer is **YES**.
- 29. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims that the illustrations in the book are in **vibrant colours**. While the passage explicitly praises the book's **beautifully rendered three-dimensional computer images** and its artwork of 'pure esthetic and illustrative value,' it never mentions the specific color palette or whether the colors are vibrant. Because the text is completely silent on this detail, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 30. YES
The statement claims people prefer visual presentation of facts. The text directly supports this by stating that the book's presentation style 'acknowledges our **natural bias towards perceiving and learning information visually**.' A 'natural bias towards learning visually' is a direct parallel to preferring visual presentation. Therefore, the statement accurately reflects the writer's explicit claim, making the answer **YES**.
- 31. NO
The statement claims that the book is primarily decorative. The text contradicts this by describing it as a 'very **accessible introduction to the subject of Neuroanatomy**' that walks a pleasing line between a **college textbook** and a coffee table art book. Because it has clear educational and scientific purposes alongside its visual appeal, it is not *primarily* decorative. Thus, the answer is **NO**.
- 32. YES
The statement says the book leaves readers to interpret facts. The text directly supports this, stating that Carter presents science in a factual manner, **allowing people to draw their own conclusions** and connect the dots. The phrase 'allowing people to draw their own conclusions' is a direct synonym for leaving readers to interpret the facts. Thus, the statement agrees with the writer's claim, yielding **YES**.
- 33. C
The question asks what Carter's background in journalism enables her to do. The text states that Carter uses her **background as a journalist** to **keep the reader engaged in the science**. This means her writing style is effective at maintaining reader interest. This matches the option stating her writing style maintains the reader's interest, while options suggesting newspaper layouts or inability to explain science are unsupported distractors.
- 34. A
The question focuses on how Carter discusses anger control. The text explains that she employs factual support and documented cases to show abstract concepts in **recognizable behaviors and consequences we can all relate to**, using **familiar situations** like suppressing anger. This directly supports the option stating she uses examples readers can relate to. Other options about criticizing children or praising adults distort the text's meaning.
- 35. D
The question asks about the writer's view on how neuroscience is presented. The text notes that the book successfully aims itself at an audience that is often forgotten: the **general reader** who wants to know more. This indicates the book is designed to appeal to readers with no prior specialized knowledge of the topic. This supports the option regarding appealing to readers with no knowledge.
- 36. A
The question asks why the writer likes the optical illusions. The text explicitly states that as a teacher, the writer is always looking for ways to **make information relevant to the reader**, and that the book does this by peppering chapters with **optical illusions**. Making information relevant means helping people relate to the topic, making that option the correct choice. Distractors regarding eye anatomy are unsupported.
- 37. A
The question asks why the book operates as a 'kiosk map'. The text states that the book serves as a sort of **kiosk map saying 'you are here'** because it **shows us where we are by giving us a snapshot of how we work**. This matches the option stating it reveals our current position regarding our knowledge of the brain. Other options focusing on getting lost or specific brain regions fail to explain the metaphor.
- 38. D
The sentence completion requires matching a book using complex terms like 'anterior cingulate cortex'. The text notes that calling an area by this technical name would **probably put most readers to sleep** while their brains **struggled to use that area to focus on what the name meant**. 'Put to sleep' means boring them, and 'struggled to focus' means confusing them, making the option 'bores and confuses people' the perfect fit.
- 39. F
The sentence completion focuses on the function of three-dimensional illustrations. The passage states that **showing the reader a three-dimensionally-oriented area** successfully **grounds the anatomical vocabulary** in something we can all understand. By grounding complex medical terms in an understandable visual format, it resolves the negative reactions readers have to dry technical language. This aligns exactly with the option about solving difficulties with technical language.
- 40. B
The sentence completion addresses the inclusion of essays by research scientists. The text explains that writing for a general audience risks sacrificing **scientific credibility**, but Carter circumvents this by including **short directed essays written by specialists**. Credibility equates to academic integrity, and writing for the general reader is a popular approach. Therefore, this inclusion adds academic integrity to a popular approach, matching that option perfectly.