Answer: F. Musical pleasure is derived from the unexpected. The final paragraph concludes: "it turns out that the most important part of every song or symphony is when the patterns break down, when the sound becomes unpredictable" (line 44).
Look for proper nouns, numbers, or scientific terms in the questions. In this passage, names like Dr. Valorie Salimpoor , McGill University , or specific brain regions like the nucleus accumbens serve as perfect anchors. They are easy to spot because they start with capital letters or look distinct from regular text. Step 2: Track the Psychological Timeline
The IELTS exam relies heavily on authentic academic texts. Across different test versions, "The Power of Music" passages generally focus on two primary academic domains: 1. The Cognitive Neuroscience of Music and Emotions
| | Meaning | Example from Passage | |----------|-------------|-------------------------| | sophisticated | advanced, complex | "using increasingly sophisticated ways" | | trawling | searching through thoroughly | "trawling our existing files" | | thrill | to excite | "music that thrills us" | | dramatic | striking, impactful | "such a dramatic effect" | | archaeologists | scientists who study ancient human history | "archaeologists have found musical instruments" | | principle | fundamental rule or belief | "long-standing principle among psychologists" | | mournful | sad, expressing grief | "minor chords sound mournful" | | inflection | change in pitch of voice | "rising inflection" | | dominance | power or control | "signals social dominance" | | stimulate | trigger or arouse | "stimulated by the effect of sound" | | collaboration | working together | "collaboration between researchers" |
IELTS reading tests heavily rely on paraphrasing. Understanding the vocabulary used in "The Power of Music" will drastically reduce your search time. Word in Question / Statement Synonymous Phrase in the Passage the power of music ielts reading answers
This passage relies heavily on causal relationships (e.g., Sound pattern changes →right arrow Brain predicts →right arrow
You will be given a list of statements or findings and must identify which paragraph (A, B, C, etc.) contains that specific information.
The Power of Music IELTS Reading Answers: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering the Passage
Before looking at the answers, attempt the passage under real exam conditions: Answer: F
Understanding these key terms will help you comprehend the passage more quickly:
Then scan for keywords from the questions. For example, if a question mentions "major chords," you know to look in Paragraph D or E where major and minor chords are discussed.
Answer: B. Activity in the caudate peaks before a pleasant musical experience. The passage states that "the dopamine neurons in the caudate... were at their most active around 15 seconds before the participants' favourite moments in the music" (line 33). This highlights the anticipatory nature of pleasure, not just the reaction to it.
The text typically delves into the scientific and psychological dimensions of how music affects humans. While exact variations of the text exist across different IELTS resources, the core themes generally include: Look for proper nouns, numbers, or scientific terms
In IELTS reading, the power of music is a common theme that appears in various texts. Test-takers may encounter questions related to the benefits of music, the impact of music on society, or the role of music in different cultures. To answer these questions correctly, test-takers need to have a good understanding of the topic and be able to identify the main ideas and supporting details in the text.
Another common variation focuses on how corporations leverage melody to influence consumer behavior.
Words like caudate , putamen , or nucleus accumbens are just landmarks. If a question asks about them, use them as scanning keywords. You do not need to know what they do; you only need to find what the text says about them.