Scratching The Surface - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Oxford IELTS Practice Tests Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on Reading Passage 1.
Scratching the surface
They are insidious skin parasites, infesting the occupants of factories and offices. They cause itching, prickling and crawling sensations in the skin that are almost untreatable. These creatures may only exist in the mind, but their effects are real and infectious.
The classic case occurred in a US laboratory in 1966. After new equipment was installed, workers started to suffer from itching and sensations of insects crawling over them. Complaints multiplied and the problem, attributed to 'cable mites', started to spread to relatives of the victims. A concerted effort was made to exterminate the mites using everything from DDT and mothballs to insecticide and rat poison.
Nothing worked. Thorough examination by scientific investigators could not locate any pests, or even signs of actual parasite attacks. However, they did find small particles of rockwool insulation in the air, which could cause skin irritation. A cleaning programme was introduced and staff were assured the problem had been solved. The cable mite infestation disappeared.
Another 1960s case occurred in a textile factory, where workers complained of being bitten by insects brought into the factory in imported cloth. Dermatitis swept through the workforce, but it followed a curious pattern. Instead of affecting people in one particular part of the factory, the bugs seemed to be transmitted through employees' social groups. No parasites could be found.
A third infestation spread through office staff going through dusty records that had lain untouched for decades. They attributed their skin problems to 'paper mites', but the cause was traced to irritation from paper splinters.
These are all cases of illusions of parasitosis, where something in the environment is misinterpreted as an insect or other pest. Everyone has heard of delirium tremens, when alcoholics or amphetamine users experience the feeling of insects crawling over their skin, but other factors can cause the same illusion. Static electricity, dust, fibres, and chemical solvents can all give rise to imaginary insects. The interesting thing is that they spread. The infectious nature of this illusion seems to be a type of reflex contagion. Yawn, and others start yawning. If everyone around you laughs, you laugh. Start scratching, and colleagues will scratch, too.
* Dr Paul Marsden is managing editor of the Journal of Memetics, the study of infectious ideas. He suggests that this type of group behaviour may have had a role to play in human evolution. In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present. This would prime them to scratch itches of their own. Anyone who has been bitten several times by mosquitoes before they realized it will recognize the evolutionary value of this kind of advance warning. The outbreak of mass scratching may also promote mutual grooming, which is important in the necessary bonding of primate groups.
The problem comes when the reflex contagion is not related to a real threat. Normally, everyone would soon stop scratching, but people may unconsciously exaggerate symptoms to gain attention, or because it gets them a break from unappealing work. The lab workers were scanners, who spent the day laboriously examining the results of bubble-chamber tests; textile workers and clerical staff poring over records would also have found what they had to do quite tedious. Add the factor that skin conditions are notoriously susceptible to psychological influence, and it is easy to see how a group dynamic can keep the illusory parasites going.
Treatment of the condition is difficult, since few will accept that their misreading of the symptoms is the result of what psychologists call a hysterical condition. In the past, the combination of removal of irritants and expert reassurance was enough. However, these days, there is a mistrust of conventional medicine and easier access to support groups.
Sufferers can reinforce each other's illusions over the Internet, swapping tales of elusive mites that baffle science. This could give rise to an epidemic of mystery parasites, spreading from mind to mind like a kind of super virus. Only an awareness of the power of the illusion can stop it.
You can stop scratching now ...
Questions
Questions 1–5 Matching Features
Classify statements 1–5 according to whether they apply to
A the laboratory
B the factory
C the office
A. the laboratory
B. the factory
C. the office
Questions 6–8 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the notes below with words taken from Reading Passage 1.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Evolutionary purpose theory
parasite / insect bite
↓
6 → benefit to group: 7 to presence of pests
↓
group scratching
↓
group grooming → benefit to group: 8
Questions 9–13 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN if the statement is not given in the passage
Questions 14–14 One Choice
Write the appropriate letter A–E in box 14 on your answer sheet.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | Another 1960s case occurred in a textile factory, where workers complained of being bitten by insects brought into the factory in imported cloth. Dermatitis swept through the workforce, but it followed a curious pattern. Instead of affecting people in one particular part of the factory, the bugs seemed to be transmitted through employees' social groups | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in a textile factory, the skin problem spread among workers through their social groups of friends rather than staying in one specific section of the factory. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that this situation happened in the factory. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage explains that in the textile factory, the skin condition (dermatitis) spread through the workers' "social groups" rather than affecting people in just one physical area. This matches the idea of workers who met each other socially catching the condition. |
| Q2 | C | A third infestation spread through office staff going through dusty records that had lain untouched for decades | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that employees working in an office experienced skin problems while handling dusty paper records that had not been touched for many years. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means that the incident involving workers handling old documents took place in an office. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because paragraph 5 mentions that the problem affected "office staff" who were handling "dusty records that had lain untouched for decades." In this context, "records that had lain untouched for decades" directly refers to "old documents," and "office staff" refers to the workers in "the office." |
| Q3 | A | The classic case occurred in a US laboratory in 1966. After new equipment was installed, workers started to suffer from itching and sensations of insects crawling over them. Complaints multiplied and the problem, attributed to 'cable mites', started to spread to relatives of the victims. A concerted effort was made to exterminate the mites using everything from DDT and mothballs to insecticide and rat poison | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in a laboratory setting, people believed tiny bugs called 'cable mites' were causing their itching, so they tried to kill those bugs using different types of poisons and chemicals. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that people working or dealing with the incident in the laboratory attempted to kill the imaginary bugs that they believed caused their itching. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because paragraph 2 describes an incident in a "US laboratory" where people blamed their skin issues on "cable mites" and tried very hard to kill them ("A concerted effort was made to exterminate the mites") using various poisons like "DDT", "mothballs", "insecticide", and "rat poison". The word "exterminate" means to destroy or kill completely. |
| Q4 | B | Another 1960s case occurred in a textile factory, where workers complained of being bitten by insects brought into the factory in imported cloth | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that inside a textile factory, the workers believed that bugs came into their workplace inside cloth brought in from other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that the statement describes what happened at the textile factory. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the text mentions that workers at the textile factory complained about insects that arrived in "imported cloth." Here, "imported cloth" matches "material from abroad," and "insects" matches "creatures." |
| Q5 | A | The classic case occurred in a US laboratory in 1966. After new equipment was installed, workers started to suffer from itching and sensations of insects crawling over them. Complaints multiplied and the problem, attributed to 'cable mites', started to spread to relatives of the victims | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in a laboratory in 1966, workers started feeling itchy, and soon their family members (relatives) began to suffer from the same problem. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that the event where family members of workers also experienced the skin issue happened in the laboratory. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the text talks about an incident in a US laboratory. In that case, the itching issue spread beyond the workers to their "relatives", which means their family members. Notice how the passage connects "US laboratory" with the problem spreading to "relatives of the victims". |
| Q6 | individual scratching | In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that long ago, when a single person started scratching, it served as a signal to warn other people that bugs were around. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a single person rubbing or scraping their itchy skin with their fingernails. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "individual scratching" because the flow chart outlines how insect bites led to an action that warned the rest of the group. The passage explains that in early human history, when one person scratched their skin ("individual scratching"), it warned or "alerted" other group members about the presence of biting insects or parasites. |
| Q7 | alerted others | In our distant past, one individual scratching would have alerted others that there were biting insects or parasites present | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that long ago, if one person started scratching, it warned other people that biting pests or parasites were around. Answer Explanation: The answer "alerted others" means warned or let other members of the group know. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by paragraph 7, which explains Dr Paul Marsden's theory on human evolution. According to the text, when an insect or parasite bite caused one person to scratch in the distant past, this action "alerted others" to the presence of pests and warned them to protect themselves. |
| Q8 | necessary bonding / bonding | The outbreak of mass scratching may also promote mutual grooming, which is important in the necessary bonding of primate groups | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when animals or early humans groom each other, it helps create important social connections and bonds within their group. Answer Explanation: The answer "bonding" means creating close relationships, connection, and unity among members of a group. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by paragraph 7, which explains how mass scratching and mutual grooming helped early humans and primates. The text states that mutual grooming (group grooming) plays an important role in the "necessary bonding of primate groups." Therefore, the benefit of group grooming to the group is "bonding". |
| Q9 | FALSE | Normally, everyone would soon stop scratching, but people may unconsciously exaggerate symptoms to gain attention, or because it gets them a break from unappealing work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people might make their itching symptoms worse without realizing it (unconsciously) to get attention or take a rest from work they do not enjoy. Answer Explanation: The answer FALSE means that the statement contradicts what is written in the passage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that people make their symptoms seem worse "unconsciously" (without being aware of it or without deliberately thinking about it) to get a break from boring work. In contrast, the statement claims that they do it because they "know" (are consciously aware) that it will let them stop work. Because doing something unconsciously contradicts doing it knowingly, the statement is false. |
| Q10 | TRUE | The lab workers were scanners, who spent the day laboriously examining the results of bubble-chamber tests; textile workers and clerical staff poring over records would also have found what they had to do quite tedious | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the lab workers spent all day doing tiring, repetitive work, and that the factory workers and office staff also had jobs that were very boring and tedious. Answer Explanation: The answer "TRUE" means it is correct that the workers in the lab, factory, and office all did uninteresting and dull (boring) work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text clearly describes the jobs of all three groups of workers as very dull. It explains that the lab workers spent their days doing difficult, repetitive scanning, while the factory (textile) workers and office (clerical) staff also had jobs that were "quite tedious" (a synonym for boring). Therefore, the statement matches the passage. |
| Q11 | NOT GIVEN | However, they did find small particles of rockwool insulation in the air, which could cause skin irritation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that small pieces of rockwool in the air could irritate the skin, but it does not say that human skin is extremely sensitive to irritants. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means that the text does not say whether human skin is very sensitive to things that irritate it or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions that things like rockwool or paper splinters can cause "skin irritation," but it never states whether human skin is "extremely sensitive" to irritants in general. Since this specific information is missing, the statement cannot be confirmed as TRUE or FALSE. |
| Q12 | TRUE | However, these days, there is a mistrust of conventional medicine and easier access to support groups | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that nowadays, people do not fully trust normal medical treatments or the doctors providing them, turning instead to support groups. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the statement correctly matches the information in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions that today people have a "mistrust of conventional medicine." In the past, words from experts ("expert reassurance") were enough to help patients, but now people often do not trust standard doctors and medical practices ("conventional medicine"). This directly matches the statement that people no longer believe medical professionals. |
| Q13 | FALSE | Only an awareness of the power of the illusion can stop it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that understanding and knowing about this mental illusion is the one way that can successfully stop it from spreading. Answer Explanation: The answer "FALSE" means that the statement contradicts the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the statement claims that stopping the spread on the Internet is "impossible," but the text clearly states that it can be stopped if people become aware of how powerful the illusion is. Keywords like "impossible to prevent" directly contradict the passage's statement that "awareness... can stop it." |
| Q14 | D | These are all cases of illusions of parasitosis, where something in the environment is misinterpreted as an insect or other pest | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that all the examples described are situations where people mistakenly think a non-living thing around them is a bug or parasite. Answer Explanation: The answer means bites and tiny bugs that are not real, but only exist in a person's imagination or mind. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the entire passage is about situations where people mistakenly believe that real bugs or insects are biting and crawling on them. The text explains that these creatures "exist in the mind" and are "illusions of parasitosis" or "imaginary insects" caused by physical irritants like dust or rockwool, combined with psychological suggestion. |