What makes a musical expert?
Read What makes a musical expert? and check the IELTS Reading answers. Does that class of people acknowledged to be musical experts just have more of the same basic skills we are all endowed with, or do they have a set of abilities or neural structures that are totally different from those of the r…
Passage preview
Does that class of people acknowledged to be musical experts just have more of the same basic skills we are all endowed with, or do they have a set of abilities or neural structures that are totally different from those of the rest of us? Are high levels of musical achievement simply the result of training and practice, or are they based on innate brain structure - what we refer to as talent? Talent can be defined as something that originates in genetic structures and that is identifiable by trained people who can recognize its existence before a person has achieved exceptional levels of performance. The emphasis on early identification means that to investigate it, we study the development of skills in children.
Vocabulary from this passage
12 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- absolute pitch noun
The rare ability to identify or produce a musical note without hearing any reference note for comparison
Few musicians possess absolute pitch, and its origins remain hotly debated.
- acclaim noun
Enthusiastic public praise or approval, especially for an artistic or intellectual achievement
The novel won international acclaim and was translated into thirty languages.
- assimilate verb
To absorb and fully understand information or ideas so that they become part of one's knowledge
It takes time to assimilate such a large amount of new vocabulary.
- consolidate verb
To make something such as memory or knowledge stronger and more stable by repeated reinforcement
Sleep helps the brain consolidate what students have studied during the day.
- endow verb
To provide someone with a natural quality, ability or characteristic, often used passively of gifts people are born with
Nature has endowed some athletes with exceptional lung capacity.
- innate adjective
Present from birth as a natural part of a person's character or ability, rather than learned through experience
Some linguists argue that humans possess an innate capacity for grammar.
- irrespective adjective
Without taking something into account or being influenced by it; used with 'of' to mean regardless
Places are awarded on merit, irrespective of an applicant's background or nationality.
- neural adjective
Relating to nerves or to the nervous system, particularly the network of cells that make up the brain
Neural pathways strengthen each time a skill is rehearsed.
- neural trace noun
The physical change in brain tissue left by an experience, which strengthens each time the experience is repeated
Each repetition deepens the neural trace that supports a newly learned melody.
- propensity noun
A natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way, here to improve more with practice
Teenagers show a greater propensity for risk-taking when peers are present.
- rebuttal noun
An argument or piece of evidence offered to disprove or answer a claim made by someone else
The author's rebuttal addressed each criticism raised in the review.
- renowned adjective
Famous and widely respected for a particular skill or achievement, as Mozart's father was for his teaching
The renowned surgeon was invited to lecture at universities around the world.
Answers with explanations
- 27. B
The question asks what the writer suggests about a talented musician in the opening paragraph. The writer associates talent with an **innate brain structure** or neural frameworks that are 'totally different from those of the rest of us.' This directly aligns with the idea that a talented musician's **brain structure is unlike that of other people**.
- 28. C
The author mentions that it remains **not clear if it starts out larger** (the cause) or if the **acquisition of AP makes the planum increase in size** (the effect). This direct ambiguity corresponds to whether a biological brain feature is a **cause or an effect** of a musical skill, supporting the choice of that idea.
- 29. A
The passage explicitly details that a certain region of a violinist's brain **increases in size as a result of practice**. This conclusively demonstrates that physical **changes may occur in the brain following violin practice**. Distractors claiming fixed birth structures or hand sizes are unsupported or refuted by this text.
- 30. A
The text emphasizes that high-performing students succeeded purely because they practiced the most, **irrespective of which talent group** they were assigned to by teachers. By stating that practice 'causes' achievement regardless of perceived talent, the writer suggests that **talent may have little to do with expertise**.
- 31. NOT GIVEN
The statement notes that Ericsson's work has influenced other researchers. While the text introduces **Anders Ericsson** and describes his general approach to expertise within **cognitive psychology**, it does not provide any commentary or details on whether his work has influenced other scientists. Therefore, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 32. YES
The statement says different areas of expertise share a specific element. The text confirms that across multiple domains (chess, sports, music), there is an emerging picture that **ten thousand hours of practice is required** to achieve mastery **in anything**. Since they all share this exact requirement, the writer's view matches the statement, so the answer is **YES**.
- 33. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims practice must be done regularly every day to be useful. The text merely gives an illustrative breakdown of **roughly 20 hours a week for ten years** to accumulate the total hours. It never claims or implies that daily regularity is mandatory for practice to be effective. Thus, the answer is **NOT GIVEN**.
- 34. NO
The statement suggests anyone can become a world-class expert if they practice long enough. However, the writer notes that **some people do not seem to get anywhere when they practise**, indicating that practice alone does not guarantee world-class status for everyone. Because this contradicts the statement, the answer is **NO**.
- 35. NO
The statement claims that someone can occasionally reach global expertise with fewer than 10,000 hours of practice. The text explicitly contradicts this by stating **no-one has yet found a case** where expertise was achieved in **less time**. Because the text directly denies the possibility of exceptions, the author's view is **NO**.
- 36. YES
The statement asserts that existing knowledge of learning supports the importance of practice. The text states that the practice theory **is consistent with what we know about how the brain learns**, explaining that increased practice strengthens neural traces. Since it is fully supported by established neurological facts, the answer is **YES**.
- 37. E
This summary completion requires a noun that reflects what Mozart received from his father. The text mentions that Mozart's father was an **expert teacher** and a 'stern task-master.' Out of the options, **tuition** (Option E) perfectly represents the formal musical instruction and teaching he received, matching both the sentence's grammar and meaning.
- 38. D
The gap requires a specific age or number. The passage corrects a common misconception about Mozart's first symphony, stating clearly that he did not write it until he was **eight** years old. Selecting option D (**eight**) satisfies the precise biographical detail provided in the text.
- 39. A
The gap requires an adjective describing the status of Mozart's early symphony. The text states that this piece **received little acclaim and was not performed very often**, which means it was not **popular** (Option A). This adjective fits the passive structure 'was not popular' and mirrors the text's description.
- 40. G
The text summarizes that expertise is not solely a product of 'inborn traits.' The corresponding option that matches this concept is **inherited** (Option G). The phrase 'inherited characteristics' fits perfectly as the object of the preposition, reinforcing the argument that expertise relies heavily on practice rather than just genetics.