The strange world of sight
Read The strange world of sight and check the IELTS Reading answers. Two of the great British men of the 17th century, the philosopher John Locke and the physicist Isaac Newton, were both aware that objects are not coloured, and that against all appearances light is not coloured either. This is sti…
Passage preview
Two of the great British men of the 17th century, the philosopher John Locke and the physicist Isaac Newton, were both aware that objects are not coloured, and that against all appearances light is not coloured either. This is still not generally recognised even now, 400 years later, because it seems so implausible. Yet it tells us something very important - that perceptions are not identical with what we perceive, and may be very different.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- concave adjective
Possessing a surface or boundary that curves inward like the interior face of a circle or sphere.
The satellite dish features a concave shape designed to reflect signals onto a central receiver.
- convex adjective
Possessing a surface or boundary that curves outward like the exterior face of a circle or sphere.
A magnifying glass utilizes a convex lens to bend light rays and enlarge images.
- derision noun
The act of mocking, ridiculing, or treating someone or something with contempt and scornful laughter.
The scientist's revolutionary hypothesis was initially met with widespread derision from conventional academics.
- far-fetched adjective
Highly improbable, far removed from reality, and difficult to accept or believe as true.
The plot of the science fiction novel seemed too far-fetched to be engaging.
- implausible adjective
Failing to convince or provoke belief; highly improbable and unreasonable given the circumstances or evidence.
The witness provided an implausible explanation for his sudden disappearance during the event.
- pre-eminently adverb
Above all others; in a supreme, superlative, or dominant manner that surpasses typical standards.
She is pre-eminently qualified to lead the international research team due to her extensive experience.
- prone to adjective
Having a natural inclination, vulnerability, or tendency to suffer from or experience something undesirable.
Elderly individuals are often more prone to bone fractures due to decreased bone density.
- synaesthesia noun
A neurological phenomenon where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a different sense.
Individuals with synaesthesia may perceive specific musical notes as distinct colors or shapes.
- unconscious inference noun
An involuntary, automatic cognitive mechanism where the brain interprets sensory data based on prior knowledge and experience.
Visual illusions demonstrate how our visual system relies heavily on unconscious inference to interpret shapes.
- visual impairment noun
A significant decrease or limitation in the ability to see that cannot be fully corrected by standard means.
The school introduced specialized digital software to assist students suffering from severe visual impairment.
- vividness noun
The quality of being strikingly bright, clear, and detailed, particularly in mental imagery or sensory recollection.
The author described the historical landscape with exceptional vividness, bringing the setting to life.
Answers with explanations
- 27. D
The author introduces Locke and Newton to illustrate that the disconnect between perception and reality was recognized over 400 years ago. This serves to demonstrate that the author's primary arguments regarding the mind's separation from sensory inputs are **not new**. The text does not focus on physics changes, multiple fields, or establishing authority.
- 28. C
The text clarifies that Freud's theories were ridiculed because they **undermined the notion of humans as pre-eminently rational beings**. This concept corresponds directly to the idea that his contemporary audience felt it **devalued the accepted concept of humanity**. The other options mention social behavior, complexity, or jokes, which are unsupported by the text.
- 29. C
The writer introduces Mr S's unique pathology to highlight the cognitive mechanism that normally prevents human beings from mixing up memories and perceptions. Because normal brains give visual sensory experiences a vividness that prevents confusion, the case shows **how unusual it is to mistake a perception for a memory**. It is an exceptional case rather than a template for general memory clarity or dreaming.
- 30. A
The core thesis across all paragraphs emphasizes that sight is heavily influenced by past knowledge, memories, and unconscious inferences rather than the raw data received by our retinas. This directly maps to the claim that **perception involves much more than the data collected by the eyes**. The other choices reference secondary sub-points like adult vision recovery or brain science negligence, which do not encapsulate the text as a whole.
- 31. NO
The statement claims that Bradford relied on recollections of things he had been *told about*. However, the passage clearly states that his visual interpretation was dependent on things he had **experienced through touch** and that his **touch memories** enabled visual recognition. Because verbal instruction contradicts tactile experience, the statement is **NO**.
- 32. NOT GIVEN
The passage discusses how individuals who gain sight as adults learn to decipher spatial clues like shadows to enhance their vision. However, the author never asserts whether these adults can eventually see exactly **as other people do** or if their development hits a permanent ceiling. Since the text does not express a definitive claim either way, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 33. YES
The statement notes that adults who gain sight find specific activities more difficult than before. This is supported by the text's description of Mike May, a former champion blind skier, who subsequently had to **shut his eyes while skiing** to block out a 'terrifying sight'. Gaining vision made a familiar activity significantly more challenging, so the answer is **YES**.
- 34. NO
The statement asserts that vision involves the eyes and one particular brain region. The text directly refutes this older viewpoint by stating that 'now it seems that **half the brain is occupied with seeing**'. Because the writer's presentation of current knowledge directly contradicts the claim, the answer is **NO**.
- 35. NOT GIVEN
The passage discusses the face-mask experiment to illustrate how expectations govern visual synthesis. However, it never mentions whether this illusion is utilized in **training people who are regaining their sight**. Because the writer expresses no perspective on this application, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 36. YES
The statement suggests that individuals with perfect vision can fail to interpret objects accurately. The author validates this by stating that people with **no visual impairment** see what they expect to see and **often miss things as they really are**, which is demonstrated by their inability to see the hollow side of a mask correctly. Thus, the statement is **YES**.
- 37. G
The summary tracks the hollow mask experiment where observers view the reverse side. The text notes that despite being rotated to the back, the mask is perceived as **convex**, matching option **G**.
- 38. F
The text states that the front of the mask has a **nose sticking out**. Because viewers interpret the reverse side using facial paradigms, they expect the **nose** (option **F**) to protrude in its usual fashion.
- 39. I
The summary focuses on an attempt to reproduce the mask graphically. The text states that it is virtually impossible to **sketch** the hollow mask accurately, which directly corresponds to making a **drawing** (option **I**).
- 40. J
The summary explains the underlying cause of this illusion. The text states that humans see what they **expect to see**, meaning they operate based on a facial **preconception** (option **J**) that features always project outwards.