Hate To Be Hugged - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 2 Academic Reading Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–12
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-12, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
READING PASSAGE 1
A A condition that causes children to dislike being hugged and sometimes reject all physical affection is closer to being understood following research into the part of the brain responsible for our senses. Scientists at Northwestern University, Illinois, and the University of Edinburgh explored fragile X syndrome, a condition associated with hypersensitivity to sounds, touch, smells and visual stimuli that can result in social withdrawal or anxiety. Hypersensitivity is a condition in which the person affected responds in an excessive way to contact with the world around them. Some sufferers are even hypersensitive to material on their skin.
B The scientists found that critical phases in the brain's development may be wrongly timed in people with the condition. This may result in delayed communication between certain neurons in the brain. By recording electrical signals in the brains of mice, bred to exactly copy the effects of the condition, the researchers found that connections in the brain's sensory cortex were late to develop fully. The study, published in the journal Neuron, found that normal neural connections in the sensory cortex occur much earlier than previously thought: in the first week of pregnancy in mice, which is equivalent to the middle of the second trimester (or fifth month) of pregnancy in humans. In fragile X syndrome, the mistiming also has a domino effect, causing further problems with the correct wiring of the brain. The hope is that by understanding how and when the functions of the brain are affected in fragile X syndrome, a therapy may become possible.
C 'There is a "critical period" during development, when the brain is very plastic and is changing rapidly,' said Anis Contractor, from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. 'All the elements of this rapid development have to be coordinated so that the brain becomes wired correctly and therefore functions properly.' People with the syndrome have cognitive problems as well as sensory problems that make them physically weaker. 'They have tactile defensiveness,' Dr Contractor said. 'They don't look in people's eyes, they won't hug their parents, and they are hypersensitive to touch and sound. All of this causes anxiety for family and friends as well as for the fragile X patients themselves.' Peter Kind, who led the study at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'We know there are key windows during which the brain develops, both in the womb and afterwards. The general principle is that if these time windows have shifted, then that could explain the cognitive problems.'
D Professor Kind said that this could be demonstrated by the fact that a child with a cataract (a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes less and less transparent) that was not corrected would become permanently blind in the affected eye, whereas an adult would be able to regain their sight after an operation. 'We've learnt that these changes happen much earlier than previously thought, which gives valuable insight into when we should begin therapeutic intervention for people with these conditions,' he said. 'It also has implications for the treatment of autism since the changes in the brains of people with fragile X syndrome and autistic people are thought to significantly overlap.' Autism, as many people know, is a disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they make sense of the world.
E Fragile X syndrome is as common as cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that commonly affects the lungs and causes breathing difficulties, and that affects about 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 8,000 females worldwide. The Fragile X Society believes that there are many people who have the fragile X syndrome but have never been diagnosed. It shows up in early infancy and progressively worsens throughout childhood, causing intellectual disability as well as social, language and behavioural problems.
F Fragile X syndrome is caused by a gene mutation on the X chromosome - one of the two chromosomes that determine the gender or sex of a person. The mutation interferes in the production of a protein called fragile X mental retardation protein. Fragile X is so-named because the X chromosome appears broken or kinked. Tim Potter, of the Fragile X Society, said: 'We welcome any research that helps us understand fragile X and which may open the way to reversing the effects or preventing them ever happening.'
Questions
Questions 1–5 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A, B, C, D and F from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-ix, next to Questions 1-5.
i. How fragile X syndrome was discovered
ii. The genetic basis of fragile X syndrome
iii. Fragile X syndrome and developmental delays in the brain
iv. New treatments for fragile X syndrome
v. The comparative frequency of fragile X syndrome
vi. Research into understanding fragile X syndrome
vii. Reasons for the increase of fragile X syndrome
viii. Other conditions related to cognitive development
ix. Examples of the symptoms of Fragile X syndrome
Questions 6–11 Summary Completion
Complete the summary of paragraphs A and B below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
People with fragile X syndrome are extremely sensitive to sensory 6 . Some sufferers are even 7 to clothing. The condition is the result of connections within the 8 of the brain not being made at the right time. Instead, the 9 of people with the condition establish connections later than should happen, which is normally in the second 10 of pregnancy in humans. By understanding how the brain's 11 are affected, scientists hope to develop a treatment.
Questions 12–12 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Complete the title of Reading Passage 3.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | vi | A condition that causes children to dislike being hugged and sometimes reject all physical affection is closer to being understood following research into the part of the brain responsible for our senses | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that scientists are doing studies to learn more about why some children do not like to be touched and how their brains work differently. Answer Explanation: The answer 'vi' refers to the heading 'Research into understanding fragile X syndrome'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'vi' because the paragraph starts by mentioning that a condition (fragile X syndrome) is now 'closer to being understood' because of new scientific study. It identifies specific 'research' conducted by 'scientists' at two universities who 'explored' the condition to learn more about how it affects a person's senses and behavior. |
| Q2 | iii | The scientists found that critical phases in the brain's development may be wrongly timed in people with the condition. This may result in delayed communication between certain neurons in the brain. By recording electrical signals in the brains of mice, bred to exactly copy the effects of the condition, the researchers found that connections in the brain's sensory cortex were late to develop fully | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in people with this condition, important steps in brain growth happen at the wrong time. This causes the brain's messages to be slow (delayed) and the connections in the brain to finish growing later than they should. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Paragraph B is best described by the heading 'Fragile X syndrome and developmental delays in the brain'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph B focus on how the brain's growth happens at the wrong time for people with Fragile X syndrome. It uses keywords like 'wrongly timed', 'delayed communication', and 'late to develop' to describe these developmental delays in the brain's sensory cortex. |
| Q3 | ix | 'They have tactile defensiveness,' Dr Contractor said. 'They don't look in people's eyes, they won't hug their parents, and they are hypersensitive to touch and sound.' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists several specific actions and feelings that people with this condition have, which are examples of their symptoms. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Paragraph C provides specific examples of the behaviors and physical signs shown by people with fragile X syndrome. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph C lists several clear signs, or 'symptoms', of the condition. It mentions that people with the syndrome have 'tactile defensiveness' (avoiding touch), that they avoid eye contact ('don't look in people's eyes'), and that they avoid physical affection ('won't hug their parents'). These are specific real-world examples of how the condition affects a person's behavior. |
| Q4 | viii | Professor Kind said that this could be demonstrated by the fact that a child with a cataract (a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes less and less transparent) that was not corrected would become permanently blind in the affected eye, whereas an adult would be able to regain their sight after an operation It also has implications for the treatment of autism since the changes in the brains of people with fragile X syndrome and autistic people are thought to significantly overlap |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage uses a medical problem called a cataract to show that healing depends on the age of the person. It also says that autism and fragile X syndrome are very similar in how they affect the brain. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Paragraph D discusses other health conditions, such as blindness from cataracts and autism, to help explain how fragile X syndrome works. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'viii' because this paragraph introduces two 'other conditions' to provide context for the research. First, it uses cataracts (an eye problem) to show how timing is important for brain health. Second, it mentions autism (a communication disability) because it is very similar to fragile X syndrome. These are examples of conditions related to how the brain grows, which is what 'cognitive development' means. |
| Q5 | ii | Fragile X syndrome is caused by a gene mutation on the X chromosome - one of the two chromosomes that determine the gender or sex of a person | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the health problem starts because there is a change or a mistake in a specific part of the body called a gene, which is found on the X chromosome. Answer Explanation: The answer means that this part of the text explains the biological reasons and the specific genes that cause the condition. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Paragraph F explains what happens in a person's DNA to cause the syndrome. It uses words like 'gene mutation' and 'chromosome,' which are the basic building blocks of genetics. These details explain the 'genetic basis' or the internal biological cause of the illness. |
| Q6 | stimuli | Scientists at Northwestern University, Illinois, and the University of Edinburgh explored fragile X syndrome, a condition associated with hypersensitivity to sounds, touch, smells and visual stimuli that can result in social withdrawal or anxiety | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this medical condition makes people react very strongly to things they see, hear, or feel, which it calls "stimuli." Answer Explanation: The answer "stimuli" refers to things that our eyes, ears, nose, or skin feel and react to. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "stimuli" because the passage describes fragile X syndrome as a condition where people have "hypersensitivity" (which means they are extremely sensitive) to things like sounds, smells, and touch. It specifically uses the term "visual stimuli" to describe these sensory inputs. |
| Q7 | hypersensitive | Some sufferers are even hypersensitive to material on their skin | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that some people with this condition have an unusually strong reaction to the feel of fabrics or clothes against their bodies. Answer Explanation: The answer is a word that describes people who have a very strong or extreme reaction to things they feel, hear, or smell. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'hypersensitive' because Paragraph A explains that people with this condition often have extreme reactions to their surroundings. The passage specifically notes that some individuals are 'hypersensitive to material on their skin,' which directly relates to the summary's mention of being sensitive to 'clothing.' |
| Q8 | sensory cortex | the researchers found that connections in the brain's sensory cortex were late to develop fully | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that during a study on mouse brains, scientists noticed that the links in the part of the brain responsible for feelings (senses) did not form as early as they should have. Answer Explanation: The answer "sensory cortex" refers to the specific part of the brain that processes information from our senses, such as touch, sound, and sight. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "sensory cortex" because Paragraph B explains that researchers discovered the connections in this specific brain area grow too slowly in people with fragile X syndrome. The passage states that these connections were "late to develop fully," which corresponds to the summary's idea of connections "not being made at the right time." |
| Q9 | neurons | This may result in delayed communication between certain neurons in the brain | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in people with this condition, the messages sent between certain brain cells (neurons) are late or slow. Answer Explanation: The answer 'neurons' refers to the tiny cells in the brain that send and receive signals to help the body work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'neurons' because Paragraph B describes how fragile X syndrome affects brain development. It explains that the timing of brain development is wrong, which leads to 'delayed communication' between these specific cells. In other words, because the 'neurons' don't talk to each other as early as they should, the connections in the brain are not made at the right time. |
| Q10 | trimester | The study, published in the journal Neuron, found that normal neural connections in the sensory cortex occur much earlier than previously thought: in the first week of pregnancy in mice, which is equivalent to the middle of the second trimester (or fifth month) of pregnancy in humans | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in humans, the important brain connections usually form during the middle of the second three-month period of pregnancy. Answer Explanation: The answer is a word for a three-month period during a human pregnancy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'trimester' because the summary describes the normal timing for brain connections in humans. Paragraph B of the passage specifically mentions that these normal connections happen during the 'second trimester' of pregnancy. This time period is also defined in the text as the fifth month. |
| Q11 | functions | The hope is that by understanding how and when the functions of the brain are affected in fragile X syndrome, a therapy may become possible | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that scientists hope to find a medical treatment by learning about the ways the brain's work is changed in people with this condition. Answer Explanation: The answer 'functions' refers to the different jobs or special activities the brain does, such as processing what we see, hear, or feel. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'functions' because paragraph B explains that if scientists can learn how the brain's activities are changed, they might be able to find a 'therapy.' In the passage, 'therapy' means the same thing as the word 'treatment' used in the summary sentence. |
| Q12 | B | A condition that causes children to dislike being hugged and sometimes reject all physical affection is closer to being understood following research into the part of the brain responsible for our senses | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that scientists are studying why certain children do not want to be hugged and why they avoid being touched by others. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies a group of children who do not like to be touched or hugged by other people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the very first sentence of the passage introduces research about a condition that makes children 'dislike being hugged'. The entire text focused on fragile X syndrome, which causes 'hypersensitivity' to touch, meaning that these children find physical contact uncomfortable or even painful. Later in the passage, Dr. Contractor confirms this by saying children with this syndrome 'won't hug their parents'. |