Unmasking Skin - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Oxford IELTS Practice Tests Academic Reading Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on Reading Passage 1.
Unmasking skin
A If you took off your skin and laid it flat, it would cover an area of about twenty-one square feet, making it by far the body's largest organ. Draped in place over our bodies, skin forms the barrier between what's inside us and what's outside. It protects us from a multitude of external forces. It serves as an avenue to our most intimate physical and psychological selves.
B This impervious yet permeable barrier, less than a millimetre thick in places, is composed of three layers. The outermost layer is the bloodless epidermis. The dermis includes collagen, elastin, and nerve endings. The innermost layer, subcutaneous fat, contains tissue that acts as an energy source, cushion and insulator for the body.
C From these familiar characteristics of skin emerge the profound mysteries of touch, arguably our most essential source of sensory stimulation. We can live without seeing or hearing – in fact, without any of our other senses. But babies born without effective nerve connections between skin and brain can fail to thrive and may even die.
D Laboratory experiments decades ago, now considered unethical and inhumane, kept baby monkeys from being touched by their mothers. It made no difference that the babies could see, hear and smell their mothers; without touching, the babies became apathetic, and failed to progress.
E For humans, insufficient touching in early years can have lifelong results. 'In touching cultures, adult aggression is low, whereas in cultures where touch is limited, adult aggression is high,' writes Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Studies of a variety of cultures show a correspondence between high rates of physical affection in childhood and low rates of adult physical violence.
F While the effects of touching are easy to understand, the mechanics of it are less so. 'Your skin has millions of nerve cells of various shapes at different depths,' explains Stanley Bolanowski, a neuroscientist and associate director of the Institute for Sensory Research at Syracuse University. 'When the nerve cells are stimulated, physical energy is transformed into energy used by the nervous system and passed from the skin to the spinal cord and brain. It's called transduction, and no one knows exactly how it takes place.' Suffice it to say that the process involves the intricate, split-second operation of a complex system of signals between neurons in the skin and brain.
G This is starting to sound very confusing until Bolanowski says: 'In simple terms people perceive three basic things via skin: pressure, temperature, and pain.' And then I'm sure he's wrong. 'When I get wet, my skin feels wet,' I protest. 'Close your eyes and lean back,' says Bolanowski.
H Something cold and wet is on my forehead – so wet, in fact, that I wait for water to start dripping down my cheeks. 'Open your eyes.' Bolanowski says, showing me that the sensation comes from a chilled, but dry, metal cylinder. The combination of pressure and cold, he explains, is what makes my skin perceive wetness. He gives me a surgical glove to put on and has me put a finger in a glass of cold water. My finger feels wet, even though I have visual proof that it's not touching water. My skin, which seemed so reliable, has been deceiving me my entire life. When I shower or wash my hands, I now realize, my skin feels pressure and temperature. It's my brain that says I feel wet.
I Perceptions of pressure, temperature and pain manifest themselves in many different ways. Gentle stimulation of pressure receptors can result in ticklishness; gentle stimulation of pain receptors, in itching. Both sensations arise from a neurological transmission, not from something that physically exists. Skin, I'm realizing, is under constant assault, both from within the body and from forces outside. Repairs occur with varying success.
J Take the spot where I nicked myself with a knife while slicing fruit. I have a crusty scab surrounded by pink tissue about a quarter inch long on my right palm. Under the scab, epidermal cells are migrating into the wound to close it up. When the process is complete, the scab will fall off to reveal new epidermis. It's only been a few days, but my little self-repair is almost complete. Likewise, we recover quickly from slight burns. If you ever happen to touch a hot burner, just put your finger in cold water. The chances are you will have no blister, little pain and no scar. Severe burns, though, are a different matter.
Questions
Questions 1–4 Matching Information
The passage has 10 paragraphs A–J.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A–J
Questions 5–6 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Questions 7–11 Matching Sentence Endings
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A–I from the box below.
Write the correct letter A–I
A. because it is both cold and painful.
B. because the outer layer of the skin can mend itself.
C. because it can be extremely thin.
D. because there is light pressure on the skin.
E. because we do not need the others to survive.
F. because there is a good blood supply to the skin.
G. because of a small amount of pain.
H. because there is a low temperature and pressure.
I. because it is hurting a lot.
J. because all humans are capable of experiencing it.
Questions 12–14 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | This impervious yet permeable barrier, less than a millimetre thick in places, is composed of three layers. The outermost layer is the bloodless epidermis. The dermis includes collagen, elastin, and nerve endings. The innermost layer, subcutaneous fat, contains tissue that acts as an energy source, cushion and insulator for the body | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains the three layers of the skin from the outside to the inside, showing what is on the surface and what lies deep below it. Answer Explanation: The answer is paragraph B, which describes what human skin is made of, including its outside layer and the layers underneath it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because this paragraph details the structural features of the skin across its three different layers. It mentions the "outermost layer" (on the surface) as the "bloodless epidermis", and describes the layers below the surface, including the "dermis" (with collagen, elastin, and nerve endings) and the "innermost layer" (subcutaneous fat). |
| Q2 | H | He gives me a surgical glove to put on and has me put a finger in a glass of cold water. My finger feels wet, even though I have visual proof that it's not touching water | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows a small experiment where the writer puts on a glove and places a finger in cold water, seeing with their own eyes that the finger is not directly touching the water. Answer Explanation: The answer "H" means Paragraph H is the section of the text that describes a test where the author watches what is happening with their own eyes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because Paragraph H details a short test or demonstration carried out on the author. In this test, the researcher tells the author to open their eyes and gives them a glove to put their finger in cold water. The author notes having "visual proof" (seeing what is actually taking place) that their finger is dry, even though it feels wet. |
| Q3 | J | If you ever happen to touch a hot burner, just put your finger in cold water. The chances are you will have no blister, little pain and no scar | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells the reader that if they touch a hot stove or burner, placing the finger in cold water immediately will protect the skin and stop blisters or scars from forming. Answer Explanation: The answer "J" means that Paragraph J is the section of the text that gives helpful tips or instructions on preventing skin injury. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is J because the author gives practical advice on what to do if you touch something very hot. The text recommends putting your finger directly into cold water so that you can prevent skin damage such as blisters and scars. Key phrases include "advice" (represented in the text as the instruction "just put your finger in cold water") and "avoid damage to the skin" (matched by "you will have no blister, little pain and no scar"). |
| Q4 | D | Laboratory experiments decades ago, now considered unethical and inhumane, kept baby monkeys from being touched by their mothers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that tests done in labs long ago are today viewed as unkind and morally wrong because they stopped baby monkeys from being touched by their mothers. Answer Explanation: The answer "D" means that paragraph D mentions research that was unkind or mean to animals and was done many years ago. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because paragraph D directly describes science tests from the past that were unkind. The text refers to "Laboratory experiments" (research methods) that took place "decades ago" (in the past), which are "now considered unethical and inhumane" (cruel) because baby monkeys were kept away from their mothers' touch. |
| Q5 | B | 'In touching cultures, adult aggression is low, whereas in cultures where touch is limited, adult aggression is high,' writes Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Studies of a variety of cultures show a correspondence between high rates of physical affection in childhood and low rates of adult physical violence | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when children do not experience enough affectionate touch growing up, they tend to show higher levels of physical violence and aggression as adults. Answer Explanation: The answer means that children who do not receive enough loving or caring touch are more prone to growing up into aggressive and violent adults. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Paragraph E explains the long-term impact of touch on humans. It notes that in cultures where touch is limited, adult aggression is high, and that more physical affection during childhood leads to less violence in adulthood. Therefore, a lack of affection makes them more likely to become violent adults. Important keywords to look for are "physical affection in childhood" and "adult physical violence". |
| Q6 | C | The combination of pressure and cold, he explains, is what makes my skin perceive wetness | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that feeling cold and feeling pressure together makes a person feel like something is wet, even if it is not actually wet. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the writer finally understood the reason why his skin felt wet even though the object touching it was completely dry. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because during the test, Bolanowski placed a cold, dry metal cylinder on the writer's forehead, which made the writer feel wetness. Bolanowski explained that feeling wet is actually caused by the combination of two things: "pressure" and "cold" (temperature). After the experiment, the writer realizes ("I now realize") that his skin only senses pressure and temperature, and his brain turns those sensations into the feeling of wetness. Therefore, the writer now understands why something dry can feel wet. |
| Q7 | E | We can live without seeing or hearing – in fact, without any of our other senses. But babies born without effective nerve connections between skin and brain can fail to thrive and may even die | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that humans can survive without senses like vision and hearing, but without the sense of touch, newborn babies can fail to develop properly and might even die. Answer Explanation: The answer means that touch is different and special compared to the other senses because humans can stay alive without senses like sight or hearing, but touch is necessary for life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because paragraph C explains why touch is our most vital sense. The text mentions that people can survive without sight, hearing, or any other senses ("We can live without seeing or hearing – in fact, without any of our other senses"), but babies who lack the ability to feel touch through nerve connections can fail to grow and may die. Therefore, touch is unique because we do not need our other senses to stay alive. |
| Q8 | H | The combination of pressure and cold, he explains, is what makes my skin perceive wetness | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that feeling wetness is not a separate sense; instead, it is what happens when the skin feels cold and pressure together. Answer Explanation: The answer "H" means that something feels wet because our skin senses both physical pressure and a cold (low) temperature at the same time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because Paragraph H explains an experiment showing that the feeling of wetness is actually created by cold temperature combined with pressure. The scientist demonstrates this by placing a cold, dry metal object on the author's forehead, which feels completely wet. In the text, keywords like "cold" correspond to "low temperature" and "pressure" matches "pressure". |
| Q9 | D | Gentle stimulation of pressure receptors can result in ticklishness; gentle stimulation of pain receptors, in itching | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that lightly activating the parts of the skin that sense pressure causes the feeling of being tickled. Answer Explanation: The answer means that a person feels ticklish when there is a soft or gentle touch on their skin. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Paragraph I explicitly states that ticklishness is caused by the gentle activation of pressure receptors in the skin. Here, the phrase "Gentle stimulation of pressure receptors" corresponds directly to "there is light pressure on the skin." |
| Q10 | G | Gentle stimulation of pressure receptors can result in ticklishness; gentle stimulation of pain receptors, in itching | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that lightly touching or activating the parts of the skin that sense pain makes us feel an itch. Answer Explanation: The answer "G" means that our skin can feel itchy when there is a very light or small feeling of pain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the text in Paragraph I explains how the body experiences different feelings. It specifically notes that "gentle stimulation of pain receptors" results "in itching." In this context, "gentle stimulation of pain" means experiencing "a small amount of pain," which directly causes the skin to itch. |
| Q11 | B | Under the scab, epidermal cells are migrating into the wound to close it up. When the process is complete, the scab will fall off to reveal new epidermis. It's only been a few days, but my little self-repair is almost complete | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that cells from the outer layer of skin move into a cut to close the injury and make new skin, finishing this self-healing process in just a few days. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that a small cut recovers fast because the skin's surface layer is able to repair itself. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Paragraph J describes what happens after a small cut ("nicked myself with a knife"). Underneath the scab, cells from the outer layer of skin ("epidermal cells") move into the wound to heal it, leading to a new "epidermis" (the outer layer). The author calls this process "self-repair" and notes that it only takes "a few days" (heals up quickly). Therefore, "the outer layer of the skin can mend itself" directly matches the text. |
| Q12 | TRUE | It's called transduction, and no one knows exactly how it takes place | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows that scientists have a name for the process (transduction), but nobody understands precisely how this process happens. Answer Explanation: The answer "TRUE" means that it is true that even experts and scientists do not completely understand how touch works. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that while the effects of touch are clear, how it actually works is not fully understood. In Paragraph F, a neuroscientist points out that during touch, nerve signals travel from the skin to the brain through a process called transduction, but "no one knows exactly how it takes place." This confirms that scientists still have difficulty fully understanding the mechanism. |
| Q13 | NOT GIVEN | 'In simple terms people perceive three basic things via skin: pressure, temperature, and pain.' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that our skin can feel three main things: pressure, temperature, and pain. However, it does not state that the skin feels pressure more strongly or easily than it feels temperature or pain. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not compare how sensitive the skin is to pressure versus temperature or pain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions that skin senses "pressure, temperature, and pain," but it never compares them to say which one the skin is more sensitive to. Keywords in the question like "more sensitive to pressure than to temperature or pain" cannot be verified anywhere in the text. |
| Q14 | FALSE | Repairs occur with varying success | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when the skin gets hurt, the healing process works well sometimes and not so well at other times. Answer Explanation: The answer FALSE means the statement does not match what the reading text says. The human skin does not always heal or fix itself well every time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage clearly states that the skin's self-healing happens with "varying success." This means the skin heals well in some cases (like small cuts or minor burns), but not in all situations (such as severe burns). Therefore, saying that the skin is "always good" at fixing itself contradicts the text. |