IELTS® Academic Reading Practice

The answer is E. Paragraph E offers a theory as to why learning a third language is easier for bilingual adults than it is for monolingual adults to master a second language. The text states: "Such improvements in cognitive and sensory processing may help a bilingual person to process information in the environment, and help explain why bilingual adults acquire a third language better than monolingual adults master a second language." This shows the author's theoretical explanation that cognitive and sensory processing advantages help bilinguals learn additional languages more easily.

Associated Text:
Such improvements in cognitive and sensory processing may help a bilingual person to process information in the environment, and help explain why bilingual adults acquire a third language better than monolingual adults master a second language.

The answer is F. Paragraph F provides a summary of research into how bilingualism positively affects the aging brain. This paragraph discusses studies on Alzheimer's patients and the delayed appearance of symptoms in bilinguals compared to monolinguals. It states, "Research also indicates that bilingual experience may help to keep the cognitive mechanisms sharp by recruiting alternate brain networks to compensate for those that become damaged during aging." The paragraph goes on to detail specific studies, thus summarizing research findings on the impact of bilingualism for older adults.

Associated Text:
Research also indicates that bilingual experience may help to keep the cognitive mechanisms sharp by recruiting alternate brain networks to compensate for those that become damaged during aging. Older bilinguals enjoy improved memory relative to monolingual people, which can lead to real-world health benefits. In a study of over 200 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disease, bilingual patients reported showing initial symptoms of the disease an average of five years later than monolingual patients.

The answer is G. Paragraph G details a study involving babies, showing that the cognitive advantages of bilingual environments can be seen even before children are able to speak. The passage says: "In one study, researchers taught seven-month-old babies growing up in monolingual or bilingual homes that when they heard a tinkling sound, a puppet appeared on one side of a screen... only the bilingual babies were able to successfully learn the new rule." This demonstration provides clear evidence that benefits start before verbal communication begins.

Associated Text:
In one study, researchers taught seven-month-old babies growing up in monolingual or bilingual homes that when they heard a tinkling sound, a puppet appeared on one side of a screen. Halfway through the study, the puppet began appearing on the opposite side of the screen. In order to get a reward, the babies had to adjust the rule they’d learned; only the bilingual babies were able to successfully learn the new rule.

The answer is D. Paragraph D describes research comparing the brain responses of bilingual and monolingual adolescents to simple speech sounds in different environments. The key difference emerges "in the presence of background noise," where "the bilingual listeners’ neural response is considerably larger," showing different brain reactions to non-verbal auditory input in the two groups.

Associated Text:
When monolingual and bilingual adolescents listen to simple speech sounds without any intervening background noise, they show highly similar brain stem responses. When researchers play the same sound to both groups in the presence of background noise, however, the bilingual listeners’ neural response is considerably larger, reflecting better encoding of the sound’s fundamental frequency, a feature of sound closely related to pitch perception.

The answer is C. Paragraph C refers to negative outcomes of bilingualism such as slower picture naming and more frequent 'tip-of-the-tongue states.' The passage states: "Having to deal with this persistent linguistic competition can result in difficulties, however. For instance, knowing more than one language can cause speakers to name pictures more slowly, and can increase ‘tip-of-the-tongue states’, when you can almost, but not quite, bring a word to mind." These are the negative consequences referenced in the question.

Associated Text:
Having to deal with this persistent linguistic competition can result in difficulties, however. For instance, knowing more than one language can cause speakers to name pictures more slowly, and can increase ‘tip-of-the-tongue states’, when you can almost, but not quite, bring a word to mind.

The answer is B. Paragraph B explains the process by which people recognize spoken words. The mechanisms of word recognition are described: "When we hear a word, we don’t hear the entire word all at once: the sounds arrive in sequential order. Long before the word is finished, the brain’s language system begins to guess what that word might be." This describes how our brains anticipate and recognize words as they are heard.

Associated Text:
When we hear a word, we don’t hear the entire word all at once: the sounds arrive in sequential order. Long before the word is finished, the brain’s language system begins to guess what that word might be. If you hear ‘can’, you will likely activate words like ‘candy’ and ‘candle’ as well, at least during the earlier stages of word recognition.