IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 76

The answer is iii. Section A introduces the idea that Thomas Young contributed to a wide variety of scientific and academic fields and questions whether he is truly a polymath, genius, or a dilettante. The heading 'Was Thomas Young the most scholarly man ever?' fits best because the section centers around Young's breadth of knowledge and positions him as possibly "the last man who knew everything". This interpretation is confirmed by the statements: "Was someone who could write authoritatively about so many subjects a polymath, a genius or a dilettante?" and "Andrew Robinson argues that Young is a good contender for the epitaph 'the last man who knew everything.'" This is all found in Section A.

Associated Text:
Was someone who could write authoritatively about so many subjects a polymath, a genius or a dilettante? In an ambitious new biography, Andrew Robinson argues that Young is a good contender for the epitaph "the last man who knew everything."

The answer is viii. Section B focuses on a theory presented by Young concerning the human eye and its ability to focus on objects at different distances, thus directly relating to the heading 'Young presents a new theory on how we see.' The passage states: 'He presented his first paper to the Royal Society of London at the age of 20 and was elected a Fellow a week after his 21st birthday. In the paper, Young explained the process of accommodation in the human eye, meaning, how the eye focuses properly on objects at varying distances.' This explanation fits the heading and is located in Section B.

Associated Text:
In the paper, Young explained the process of accommodation in the human eye, meaning, how the eye focuses properly on objects at varying distances.

The answer is i. Section C describes Young's significant achievements in the fields of languages and translation, specifically mentioning his work on the Rosetta Stone and the coining of the term Indo-European. The heading 'Groundbreaking work in the fields of translation and linguistics' matches this content, as the section discusses, 'Young was instrumental in cracking the code that unlocked the unknown script on the Rosetta Stone,' and 'he coined the term Indo-European to describe the family of languages spoken throughout most of Europe and northern India.' All of this information is found in Section C.

Associated Text:
Later in his life, when he was in his forties, Young was instrumental in cracking the code that unlocked the unknown script on the Rosetta Stone, a tablet that was "found" in Egypt by the Napoleonic army in 1799. ... In another entry, he coined the term Indo-European to describe the family of languages spoken throughout most of Europe and northern India.

The answer is v. Section D recounts Thomas Young’s formative years, discussing his education, early interests, and the path that led him to a medical career. This aligns with 'Thomas Young’s education and training' because the section includes, 'He had devoured books from the age of two... excelled at Latin, Greek, mathematics and natural philosophy,' and then details his journey to become a physician. This is all described in Section D.

Associated Text:
Born in 1773 in Somerset in England, Young lived from an early age with his maternal grandfather, eventually leaving to attend boarding school. He had devoured books from the age of two, and through his own initiative he excelled at Latin, Greek, mathematics and natural philosophy. ... He studied in London, following the medical circuit, and then moved on to more formal education in Edinburgh, Gottingen and Cambridge.

The answer is xi. Section E emphasizes that although Young had an impressive academic and scholarly record, his skills as a physician were not as remarkable. The heading 'Despite a brilliant mind Young is not a great physician' fits because the section starts by stating, 'Young’s skill as a physician, however, did not equal his skill as a scholar of natural philosophy or linguistics.' The rest of the section also details his scholarly achievements. This information is found in Section E.

Associated Text:
Young's skill as a physician, however, did not equal his skill as a scholar of natural philosophy or linguistics.

The answer is vii. Section F discusses how Young has been viewed by others: as a perfect biography subject, as an accomplished individual, yet also as a potential dilettante as described by some historians. The heading 'Young’s contemporaries assess his strengths and weaknesses' fits, as it mentions both admiration and critiques of Young's breadth and depth. This summary of opinions on Young is found in Section F.

Associated Text:
Some readers of this book will, like Robinson, find Young's accomplishments impressive; others will see him as some historians have —as a dilettante.

The answer is ii. Section G discusses Thomas Young’s personal life, including his marriage, relationships, and social activities. The heading 'Young’s life outside academia' fits best, as this part highlights his marriage, mentions support from his wife, and refers to a lack of detailed personal information. All this is described in Section G.

Associated Text:
Young married Eliza Maxwell in 1804, and according to Robinson, "their marriage was a happy one and she appreciated his work.” Almost all we know about her is that she sustained her husband through some rancorous disputes about optics and that she worried about money when his medical career was slow to take off.