$8 caine IELTS Reading Skills — Matching Features Worksheet 1. Work with a partner. Match the items with two of their characteristics. The options a-f can only be used once. 1 Liquids a canflow. b cannot flow. 2 Gases c havea surface, d— donothave a surface. 3 Solids 2 havea rigid shape. f — donothave a definite volume. 2 Survey the following reading passage. The Triune’ Brain 41) The first of our three brains to evolve is what scientists call the reptilian cortex. This, brain sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration, adequate rest and a beating heart. We are not required to consciously “think” about these activities. The repilian cortex also houses the “startle centre", a mechanism that facilitates swift reactions to unexpected occurrences in our surroundings. That panicked lurch you experience when a door slams shut somewhere in the house, or the heightened awareness you feel when a twig cracks in a nearby bush while out on an evening stroll are both examples of the reptilian cortex at work. When it comes to Cour interaction with others, the reptilian brain offers up only the most basic impulses: aggression, mating, and ‘There is no great difference, in this sense, between along the river and a turf war between two urban gangs. 2) Although the lizard may stake a claim to its habitat, it exerts total indifference toward the well-being of its young. Listen to the anguished squeal of a dolphin conan rt sone IE , takeielts.org$8 conc IELTS: ‘separated from its pod or witness the sight of elephants mourning their dead, however, and itis clear that a new development is at play. Scientists have identified this as the limbic cortex. Unique to mammals, the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children are nearby. These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks. When we are with others of “our kind” ~ be it at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub — we experience positive sensations of togetherness, solidarity and comfort. f we spend too Iong away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship. 3) Only human capabilities extend far beyond the scope of these two cortexes. Humans eat, sleep and play, but we also speak, plot, rationalise and debate finer points of morality. Our unique abilities are the result of an expansive third brain ~ the neocortex - which engages with logic, reason and ideas. The power of the neocortex ‘comes from its ability to think beyond the present, concrete moment. While other mammals are mainly restricted to impulsive actions (although some, such as apes, can leam and remember simple lessons), humans can think about the “big picture”. We can string together simple lessons (for example, an apple drops downwards from a tree; hurting others causes unhappiness) to develop complex theories of physical or social phenomena (such as the laws of gravity and a concem for human rights). 4) The neocortex Is also responsible for the process by which we decide on and ‘commit to particular courses of action. Strung together over time, these choices can accumulate into feats of progress unknown to other animals. Anticipating a better {grade on the following morning's exam, a student can ignore the limbic urge to socialise and go to sleep early instead. Over three years, this ongoing sacrifice translates into a first-class degree and a scholarship to graduate school; over a lifetime, it can mean ground-breaking contributions to human knowledge and development. The abilty to sacrifice our drive for immediate satisfaction in order to benefit later is a product of the neocortex. '5) Understanding the triune brain can help us appreciate the different natures of brain damage and psychological disorders. The most devastating form of brain damage, for ‘example, is a condition in which someone is understood to be brain dead, In this state ‘a person appears merely unconscious ~ sleeping, perhaps — but this is illusory. Here, the reptilian brain is functioning on autopilot despite the permanent loss of other cortexes. coma nape seme TS . takeielts.org$8 cine IELTS 6) Disturbances to the limbic cortex are registered in a different manner. Pups with limbic damage can move around and feed themselves well enough but do not register the presence of their littermates. Scientists have observed how, after a limbic. lobotomy?, “one impaired monkey stepped on his outraged peers as if treading on a log (ra rock’. In our own species, limbic damage is closely related to sociopathic behaviour. Sociopaths in possession of fully-functioning neocortexes are often shrewd ‘and emotionally intelligent people but lack any ability to relate to, empathise with or express concern for others. 7) One of the neurological wonders of history occurred when a railway worker named Phineas Gage survived an incident during which a metal rod skewered his skull, taking a considerable amount of his neocortex with it. Though Gage continued to live and work as before, his fellow employees observed a shift in the equilibrium of his personality. Gage’s animal propensities were now sharply pronounced while his intellectual abilities suffered; garrulous or obscene jokes replaced his once quick wit. New findings suggest, however, that Gage managed to soften these abrupt changes ‘over time and rediscover an appropriate social manner. This would indicate that, reparative therapy has the potential to help patients with advanced brain trauma to gain an improved quality of life. Glossary " Triune = three-in-one ? Lobotomy = surgical cutting of brain nerves 3 Skim the text. You have 60 seconds. Underline the topic sentences and the final sentences in each paragraph. 4 Work in pairs. Only looking at the topic and final sentences, decide in which paragraph you would look for answers on questions about the following: 2 patticular example of brain damage damage to the brain damage to the limbic brain the limbie brain the neocortex the reptilian brain 5. Put the following into the correct order to give you a strategy for dealing with ‘Matching Features questions. encores soe 8 . takeielts.org$8 ccunei IELTS a) Close read around those words to find the answer. bb) From your skimming, note down which paragraphs/parts of the text are relevant to the items A-C listed. ©) Read the questions and underline/highlight key words. Key words are those words that you will ry and find in the text. d) Scan the relevant parts of the text and undertine key words or synonyms from the questions. ) Think of synonyms of these or other ways they may be expressed. Questions 14-22 Classify the following as typical of ‘A the reptilian cortex Example: paragraph 1 B the limbic cortex © the neocortex White the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 14-22 on your answer sheet. 14 glving up short-term happiness fr future gains 1S. Rantaiog te boa tnedone necoscay for Me 18. experiencing the pl of long another 17 fering conmunifes and sc groups 12 makings decslon and coming tout HMI crocs MIM Cxample of key words Anewer= A 20. developing explanation for hinge 21 looking ater one's young 22. responding icky fo suaden movement and nose 6 Use the strategy to answer questions 14-18 and 20-22. wncanana pono 3 takeielts.org