Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

 
34. Answer: C
Key words: second study, similar results
Paragraph 8 describes the second study, in which participants had to “complete long multiplication 
questions by hand”, and the result was quite similar to that of the previous one, in which those who 
watched the humorous video persisted longer and tried harder. Of the words that we were given, the 
task that the participants were given is best described as being “boring”. Therefore, C is the answer. 
35. Answer: D
Key words: David Cheng, Lu Wang, reduces, body and mind
In the last paragraph, Cheng and Wang conclude that humour helps “relieve stress” and that it is 
“energising”. 

reduce = relieve 

stimulating = energising 
As a result, D and E are to be filled in gap 35 and 36 respectively 
→ Answers: D – E 
36. Answer: E
Key words: David Cheng, Lu Wang, reduces, body and mind
In the last paragraph, Cheng and Wang conclude that humour helps “relieve stress” and that it is 
“energising”. 

reduce = relieve 

stimulating = energising 
As a result, D and E are to be filled in gap 35 and 36 respectively 
→ Answers: D – E 
 

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500 
QUESTIONS 37 – 40: DO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AGREE 
WITH THE CLAIMS OF THE WRITER IN READING PASSAGE 3? 
37. Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: Santa Cruz, more accurate, friends, strangers
The study at the University of California at Santa Cruz is found in paragraph 3. The result was that 
participants were accurate for about 60% of the time at guessing whether the people laughing were 
friends or strangers, but it is not stated what percentage were correct at guessing laughs of friends and 
how many of guessing laughs of strangers. Therefore, the validity of the statement cannot be 
identified, so NOT GIVEN is the answer.