Is It True That Human Adults Are Less Able To Learn As They Grow Older? - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 2 Academic Reading Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 27–40
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
READING PASSAGE 3
Is it really true that human adults are less able to learn as they grow older? Traditionally, the brain was thought to be 'completed' at the latest by the start of adulthood. During adulthood the brain was viewed as relatively stable until at last the aging brain started to decline. We have around 86 billion neurons at birth, and that's it. Or is it? Until two decades ago, it was thought that new neurons - the cells that carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body - did not grow in adults. Moreover, it was believed that functions in the brain were fixed or localised in distinct areas, one common assumption being that language functions resided solely in the left hemisphere of the brain. The functions were fixed in childhood and did not change.
But this is not strictly true. Research has shown that adult brains are not fixed, and nor are they degenerating or dying as we grow older. In fact, the opposite seems to be the case: neurons are dying and being regenerated all the time and new experiences create new connections between neurons. Furthermore, when the brain suffers damage, it has the ability to shift brain functions to other parts of the brain.
The first evidence that refuted the idea that the brain was a stable organ was produced over 30 years ago. Fernando Nottebohm's study of male songbirds at The Rockefeller University showed that new neurons would grow when a bird learnt a new song. And more recently, evidence from studies done at Wayne State University has shown that physical exercise or lack of it is a factor in remodelling the brain. Two regions of the brain are capable of producing new neurons: the hippocampus and the olfactory cortex. In particular, the hippocampus is extremely important in turning short-term memories into long-term memories. It appears that new neurons regularly grow and move into the hippocampus. Conversely, the loss of brain tissue, most often associated with brain damage or illness can also have a positive function. We know that most of the neurons that die off in children and adults are the ones that are not effective or are not needed. In short, the brain needs to operate at maximum efficiency and neurons which become unused are discarded. So, far from being a stable organ, the brain is constantly changing, losing what is not needed and developing what is needed.
A landmark study by neuroscientist Dr Eleanor Maguire and her colleagues at University College, London confirmed findings from other studies which reveal that when humans spend time repeating a particular skill, the area of the brain associated with that skill becomes better developed. For four years, Dr Maguire and her team followed a group of 79 London taxi drivers who shared certain characteristics including age, gender and education. They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map changes to their posterior hippocampi. The hippocampus plays a major role in short-term memory and spatial navigation, both of which are very important to the work of taxi drivers, and London taxi drivers in particular. To become a taxi driver in London, you need to learn 'the Knowledge' - a detailed understanding of the streets in central London as well as tourist spots and other places of interest. Gaining 'the Knowledge' takes on average three to four years, at the end of which taxi drivers have to take a test that only fifty per cent of candidates pass.
At the start of the study, the taxi drivers had similar sized hippocampi but after four years of intensive spatial and memory training, Dr Maguire found that the taxi drivers who successfully passed their tests had more developed hippocampi than those who failed. This was confirmed by a series of memory tests and MRI images which showed that certain parts of their brains had developed over time. Furthermore, other experimental studies over the last few decades have shown that the adult brain can change its structure and function massively. In a 1982 study carried out by Jon Kaas at Vanderbilt University, changes in brain patterns were noted in people whose limbs had been amputated or who suffered nerve damage. Since then, it has become clear that the living brain is constantly changing depending on external experiences. As Boston University neurobiologist Howard Eichenbaum (commenting on Dr Maguire's research) stated: '... you can produce profound changes in the brain with training. That's a big deal.'
Questions
Questions 27–32 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS or a NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
- Humans are born with about 27 neurons.
- It used to be believed that neurons 28 in humans after a certain age.
- If the brain is damaged, it can 29 to other areas within the brain.
- The hippocampus, which plays a role in creating 30 from short-term memories, has been identified as being one of the parts of the brain that can grow neurons.
- The hippocampus also plays an important part in 31 - a key skill for taxi drivers in London.
- Taxi drivers who successfully passed 'the Knowledge' had 32 hippocampi than those who did not pass.
Questions 33–36 Matching Features
Look at the people and institutions (Questions 33-36) and the list of findings below.
Match each person or institution with their findings.
Write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions 33-36. Note: There are three more findings than you will need.
A. The hippocampus stores memories.
B. Song birds grew neurons when they learnt a new song.
C. The olfactory cortex is capable of growing new cells.
D. Being active changes the brain.
E. The brain is constantly changing its function and structure.
F. Training for a test enlarged a part of the brain in some people.
G. Brain patterns changed when a person's arms or legs were cut off.
Questions 37–40 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q27 | 86 / eighty-six billion | We have around 86 billion neurons at birth, and that's it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that at the time of birth, a person has about 86 billion brain cells. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number of brain cells, called neurons, that a person has starting from the moment they are born. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 86 billion because the passage clearly states that humans have this specific number of neurons 'at birth'. The phrase 'at birth' is a synonym for being 'born with'. Therefore, the statement in the question matches the information in the first paragraph of the text. |
| Q28 | did not grow | Until two decades ago, it was thought that new neurons - the cells that carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body - did not grow in adults | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that twenty years ago, people believed that brain cells did not increase or develop once someone became an adult. Answer Explanation: The answer means that in the past, scientists believed that the brain stopped producing new nerve cells once a person reached a certain age. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section of the text discussing past scientific beliefs. The passage states that until twenty years ago, it was 'thought' (a synonym for 'believed') that new neurons 'did not grow' in adults. This confirms that scientists used to believe neurons stopped appearing after childhood. |
| Q29 | shift brain functions / shift functions | Furthermore, when the brain suffers damage, it has the ability to shift brain functions to other parts of the brain | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when the brain gets hurt, it has the power to move its work to different areas. Answer Explanation: The answer means the brain can move its jobs or activities to different places. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the part of the text that explains how the brain reacts to injury. It mentions that instead of being fixed, the brain can change. If the brain is hurt or has 'damage', it can 'shift' or move its tasks ('functions') to other parts that are healthy. |
| Q30 | long-term memories / long-term | Two regions of the brain are capable of producing new neurons: the hippocampus and the olfactory cortex. In particular, the hippocampus is extremely important in turning short-term memories into long-term memories | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the hippocampus is a special part of the brain where new cells grow and that its main job is to take things you just learned and make them stay in your memory for a long time. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to information or experiences that are stored in your mind and stay there for a long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the section of the text discussing the function and growth of the hippocampus. The passage states that the hippocampus is one of the two regions in the brain where new neurons (brain cells) can grow. It specifically highlights the role of the hippocampus in transforming 'short-term memories' into 'long-term memories,' which matches the structure of the sentence being completed. |
| Q31 | spatial navigation | The hippocampus plays a major role in short-term memory and spatial navigation, both of which are very important to the work of taxi drivers, and London taxi drivers in particular | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the hippocampus is a part of the brain used for memory and finding your way (spatial navigation), two skills that taxi drivers really need to do their jobs well. Answer Explanation: The answer means the ability to find your way around and know where you are going in a space, like a city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the passage specifically mentions 'spatial navigation' as one of the two main roles of the hippocampus. It also states that this function is very important for 'the work of taxi drivers'. |
| Q32 | more developed / better developed | At the start of the study, the taxi drivers had similar sized hippocampi but after four years of intensive spatial and memory training, Dr Maguire found that the taxi drivers who successfully passed their tests had more developed hippocampi than those who failed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that while the drivers began with brain structures of a similar size, those who succeeded in passing the difficult test had brain parts that had grown or changed more than those who did not succeed. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the parts of the brain used for memory and finding locations grew larger or became more advanced in the taxi drivers who were successful on their test. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the description of Dr. Maguire's study. The text explains that after four years of training, the hippocampi (parts of the brain) of the drivers who passed the test were changed more significantly than those who failed. This is described in the passage as being 'more developed'. Alternatively, the passage also notes that areas associated with skills become 'better developed' through repetition. |
| Q33 | B | Fernando Nottebohm's study of male songbirds at The Rockefeller University showed that new neurons would grow when a bird learnt a new song | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that research on birds at The Rockefeller University proved that their brains grew new cells when they learned how to sing a song. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Fernando Nottebohm discovered that male birds grow new brain cells (neurons) when they learn a new song. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the text mentions Fernando Nottebohm by name and links his research at The Rockefeller University to songbirds. It states that his study showed 'new neurons would grow' in these birds as they 'learnt a new song'. This finding was significant because it was the first proof that the brain is not a static organ and can actually grow new parts through learning. |
| Q34 | G | In a 1982 study carried out by Jon Kaas at Vanderbilt University, changes in brain patterns were noted in people whose limbs had been amputated or who suffered nerve damage | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that in his 1982 study, Jon Kaas found that the brain looks or acts differently (changes in patterns) in people who have had their arms or legs (limbs) cut off (amputated). Answer Explanation: The answer is G, which says that brain patterns changed after someone's arms or legs were removed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the text directly links Jon Kaas from Vanderbilt University to a study about people whose limbs were removed. In medical terms, 'limbs' refers to arms or legs, and 'amputated' means that they have been cut off or removed. The study found that these physical changes caused the brain to show different patterns. |
| Q35 | F | At the start of the study, the taxi drivers had similar sized hippocampi but after four years of intensive spatial and memory training, Dr Maguire found that the taxi drivers who successfully passed their tests had more developed hippocampi than those who failed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that before the training, the taxi drivers had the same brain size in a certain area. After studying very hard and passing a big test, the drivers who were successful ended up with a larger brain area than the ones who failed the test. Answer Explanation: The answer says that practicing specifically for an exam made a specific section of the brain grow larger in some of the study's participants. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Dr. Eleanor Maguire's research focused on London taxi drivers who had to learn a massive amount of information to pass a difficult exam. The study revealed that after years of this hard training, the drivers who were successful and passed their tests actually had a more developed or larger hippocampus (a part of the brain) than the drivers who did not pass. This shows that training for a test can physically change and enlarge brain tissue. |
| Q36 | D | And more recently, evidence from studies done at Wayne State University has shown that physical exercise or lack of it is a factor in remodelling the brain | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that studies from Wayne State University showed that doing physical activity (like exercise) or not doing it is a reason the brain changes its shape. Answer Explanation: The answer "D" means that researchers at Wayne State University discovered that moving your body or being active helps change your brain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the passage mentions research from Wayne State University stating that physical exercise can remodel the brain. In this context, 'physical exercise' is a synonym for 'being active,' and 'remodelling' means the same thing as 'changing' the structure of the brain. |
| Q37 | TRUE | A landmark study by neuroscientist Dr Eleanor Maguire and her colleagues at University College, London confirmed findings from other studies which reveal that when humans spend time repeating a particular skill, the area of the brain associated with that skill becomes better developed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that research shows when people spend a lot of time practicing a certain skill, the part of the brain used for that skill becomes larger and more advanced. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if a person practices a specific activity many times, the area of the brain that manages that activity will grow or improve. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that practicing a skill repeatedly leads to growth in the specific part of the brain linked to that skill. It uses the words 'repeating a particular skill' to describe doing something many times, and 'better developed' to indicate that the brain area grows or improves. |
| Q38 | NOT GIVEN | To become a taxi driver in London, you need to learn 'the Knowledge' - a detailed understanding of the streets in central London as well as tourist spots and other places of interest | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage defines 'the Knowledge' as learning about the streets and interesting locations in the center of London, but it provides no information about driving for the shortest amount of time. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage does not say if 'the Knowledge' is used to help taxi drivers find the fastest way to travel. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because although the text explains what 'the Knowledge' is, it does not mention the 'shortest time' at all. The text says 'the Knowledge' is a detailed understanding of London's streets and tourist spots. While we can guess that knowing streets helps with directions, the author never explicitly states that the purpose of this learning is to save time or find the shortest routes. |
| Q39 | TRUE | For four years, Dr Maguire and her team followed a group of 79 London taxi drivers who shared certain characteristics including age, gender and education | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the group of people studied by Dr. Maguire had many things in common, such as their age and their gender. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE, which means the text says the people in the study were very similar to each other. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explicitly mentions that the 79 London taxi drivers involved in Dr. Maguire's study 'shared certain characteristics'. It lists examples like age, gender, and education levels as the qualities that were consistent among the group. These shared factors mean the participants had similar characteristics. |
| Q40 | FALSE | They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map changes to their posterior hippocampi This was confirmed by a series of memory tests and MRI images which showed that certain parts of their brains had developed over time |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the researchers used two main things: special brain scans called MRI and tests that check how well people remember things. It does not mention using tests that measure general intelligence. Answer Explanation: The answer means the statement provided in the question is wrong because the information in the text says something different. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text describes the specific methods Dr. Maguire used for her study, which do not include intelligence tests. Instead, the passage states that her team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create pictures of the taxi drivers' brains and a series of memory tests to check their progress. Because the research relied on brain scans and memory exercises rather than intelligence tests, the statement contradicts the facts given in the passage. |