The art of deception
Read The art of deception and check the IELTS Reading answers. Forty years ago, the research psychologist Dr Paul Ekman was addressing a group of young psychiatrists in training when he was asked a question, the answer to which has kept him busy ever since. Suppose the group wanted to know, a parti…
Passage preview
Forty years ago, the research psychologist Dr Paul Ekman was addressing a group of young psychiatrists in training when he was asked a question, the answer to which has kept him busy ever since. Suppose the group wanted to know, a particular patient swears they are telling the truth. They look and sound sincere. So here is the question: is there any way you can be sure they are telling the truth? Ekman did not know the answer then, but wanted to find out.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- aggrieved adjective
Feeling legitimate resentment at having been unfairly treated, unlawfully wronged, or subjected to a systemic injustice
The financially aggrieved stakeholders eventually filed a massive class-action lawsuit against the corporation for intentionally misleading financial disclosures.
- anguish noun
Severe, agonizing mental or physical pain, profound suffering, or a state of extreme emotional distress
The slowed footage revealed a brief but unmistakable moment of intense anguish that the suspect desperately attempted to conceal.
- candid adjective
Thoroughly truthful and straightforward; remarkably frank in expressing one's authentic thoughts or feelings without deception
The unedited documentary provided a rare, candid look into the intense psychological pressures faced by elite professional athletes.
- deliberate intent noun
A consciously formed psychological purpose or premeditated goal to perform a specific action, often deceptive or highly malicious
The independent forensic audit revealed a deliberate intent by the executive board to artificially manipulate the quarterly earnings reports.
- fleeting adjective
Lasting for a very brief, almost imperceptible duration of time; passing swiftly or vanishing quickly from sight
The hidden camera captured a fleeting glimpse of deep frustration before her face seamlessly returned to a neutral expression.
- involuntary adjective
Executed without conscious cognitive control or deliberate will; occurring spontaneously as a natural reflex or biological response
Micro-expressions are entirely involuntary physiological reactions that effectively bypass a person's conscious attempts at deliberate deception.
- manifestly adverb
In a manner that is completely clear, blatantly obvious, or easily perceptible to the unaided eye or rational mind
The hastily revised corporate policy was manifestly unfair to the lower-level employees who were actively seeking career advancement.
- polygraph noun
A sensitive technical instrument designed to detect and record minute changes in physiological characteristics to determine subjective truthfulness
The prosecution team relied heavily on the controversial polygraph results to build their otherwise weak circumstantial case.
- skeptical adjective
Not easily convinced or persuaded; maintaining deep doubts or serious scientific reservations regarding a particular claim or theory
The broader scientific community remains highly skeptical of extraordinary claims regarding commercially viable cold fusion technology.
- suppress verb
To consciously or subconsciously restrain an intense emotion, action, or physical reaction from being visibly expressed
The defendant struggled to suppress a triumphant smile when the presiding judge unexpectedly dismissed the crucial piece of evidence.
Answers with explanations
- 27. C
Ekman was asked a question by "young psychiatrists in training." The phrase "in training" indicates they were being taught by him, making them his **students**.
- 28. B
The 12-minute interviews are introduced to explain how Ekman made his initial "discovery" of micro-expressions when he slowed down the film. This context serves to **describe the origins of Ekman's theories**.
- 29. A
The third paragraph highlights that the facial expressions of basic emotions are "universal" and "standard, regardless of language and culture." This demonstrates that micro-expressions are **common to all people**.
- 30. B
Ekman's tests revealed that out of 15,000 people, only 50 could naturally spot micro-expressions. This finding confirms that very **few untrained people** possess the natural ability to detect lying.
- 31. B
The paragraph outlines how Ekman has been heavily relied upon by the FBI, CIA, lawyers, and various professionals to teach his techniques, proving that his methods have been **in great demand**.
- 32. C
Ekman feared the TV show would create a "quite inaccurate impression" among viewers regarding the effectiveness of lie detection. The phrase "inaccurate impression" closely aligns with **false beliefs** (Option C).
- 33. E
Ekman worried about the possibility of a jury "wrongly" finding someone guilty based on TV show logic. "Unfair convictions" represent a failure of the legal system, meaning **justice** (Option E) would not be carried out.
- 34. H
Ekman approved of the show because it's unique in being based on the "work of just one scientist." In an academic or scientific context, a scientist's "work" is synonymous with their **research** (Option H).
- 35. D
Ekman was pleasantly surprised by the producer's "serious and well-intentioned reasons" for creating the show. A person's "reasons" or underlying intentions for an action are their **motives** (Option D).
- 36. F
Ekman considers the show "good enough" because 80-90 percent of it is "based on fact." This high percentage of factual foundation reflects his satisfaction with the show's overall **accuracy** (Option F).
- 37. NOT GIVEN
The text mentions that Ekman has been a "terrible liar" since he was a boy, but it does not provide any information about whether he feels **regret** over those lies. Thus, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 38. NO
The statement suggests a connection between being good at lying and detecting lies. However, the text explicitly states the two abilities are "completely unrelated." Therefore, the statement is **NO** (False).
- 39. NOT GIVEN
The passage notes Ekman has "always refused" to teach people running for high office how to become more credible on **ethical grounds**, and explicitly states he doesn't consider poker players to be "true" liars. However, there is no information in the text to either confirm or contradict the specific claim regarding whether he was successfully convinced by them later or if poker players asked for his help directly. Thus, the information is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 40. YES
The text states Ekman "prefers to focus on" lies where the liar would face "grave trouble" and the target would be deeply "aggrieved." These scenarios represent lies with **serious consequences**, making the statement **YES** (True).