The Triune Brain IELTS Reading Answers With Explanation

The Triune Brain Reading Answers Explained: The three portions of the IELTS reading module must be completed in an hour. In order to pass the Academic IELTS reading, students must attempt three lengthy texts and respond to 40 questions. In order to be eligible for a variety of university scholarships, students should aim high and receive at least a band 7 on the IELTS reading. The below, “The Triune Brain”, is an example passage for students to read and understand the way it should be attempted.

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1. IELTS Reading Passage: The Triune Brain
2. Understanding the “The Triune Brain” Passage
3. Overview of the "The Triune Brain" Passage
4. Key Themes and Main Ideas
5. The Triune Brain IELTS Reading Questions
6. The Triune Brain Detailed Explanation of Answers
7. Smart Strategies for Answering IELTS Reading Questions

IELTS Reading Passage: The Triune Brain

1. 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 reptilian 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 our interaction with others, the reptilian brain offers up only the most basic impulses: aggression, mating, and territorial defence. There is no great difference, in this sense, between a crocodile defending its spot 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 separated from its pod or witness the sight of elephants mourning their dead, however, and it is 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. If we spend too long away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship.

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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 learn 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 concern 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 groundbreaking contributions to human knowledge and development. The ability 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.

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 lobotomy2, “one impaired monkey stepped on his outraged peers as if treading on a log or a 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.

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Understanding the “The Triune Brain” Passage

Initially, you should read the questions when studying this passage. Reading with purpose by understanding the question will improve your attention. When you’ve finished reviewing the questions, move on to reading the passage on purpose. The purpose is to find what you need as quickly and directly as possible.

Overview of the "The Triune Brain" Passage

Paraphrasing the passage, point by point, is useful for understanding its main ideas and how it is organized. It makes finding the answers you want during your second or third reading much easier.

Paragraph 1: According to Paul MacLean, the triune brain theory explains that the brain developed in three different stages.

Paragraph 2: This complex is present in all humans and helps us survive, react with aggression and care about our personal territory.

Paragraph 3: The limbic system, which forms after the rest of the brain, handles our emotions, memories and simple social habits.

Paragraph 4: The neocortex belongs to the most developed layer of the brain and supports thinking, making plans and mental reasoning.

Paragraph 5: Every part of the brain evolved on its own, but all parts interact as part of the entire system.

Paragraph 6: Sometimes, competing brain parts can lead to problems which might influence human decisions.

Paragraph 7: The model is known to shed light on brain function, yet it is sometimes accused of overly simple explanations.

Key Themes and Main Ideas

If you know the main points, answering like Matching Headings, True/False/Not Given and Sentence Completion becomes simpler.

1. Evolutionary structure of the brain

There are three distinct sections in the human brain: the reptilian complex, the limbic system and the neocortex.

2. Functions of brain regions

A brain area is involved in key functions: instincts (reptilian), emotions (limbic), and rational thinking (neocortex).

3. Interaction between brain regions

Most of the time, these systems interact or clash, which has a great impact on what people do and how they make decisions.

4. Criticism of the model

Although it helps explain things, certain scientists think that the triune brain theory oversimplifies neurological complexity.

5. Cognitive and emotional integration

The way we act is affected by the combined activities of the emotional and rational parts of the brain.

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The Triune Brain IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1- 4: Complete the blanks below.

For each answer, write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.

Write your answers on your answer sheet in boxes 1– 4.

1. Humans are able to wait for benefits that will come later rather than immediately because of the _____________.
   
   

2. After performing a limbic lobotomy on monkeys, it was discovered that they _____________.
   
   

3. The difference seen in Phineas Gage after his accident was a _____________.
   
   

4. As per the passage, the function of the neocortex is _____________.
   
   

Questions 5 - 9 Mark True/False/Not Given

This is unlike normal true and false, with another type of answer that is not given. In this, the statement will be closely related to the paragraph.

5. The reptilian cortex controls the heartbeat and respiration without conscious thought.

6. Territorial aggression in humans is fundamentally different from that in reptiles.

7. The limbic cortex is found in all species of animals.

8. Mammals tend to form emotional bonds with others of their kind.

9. The neocortex is responsible for emotional reactions to music.

Questions 10 - 13: Match the following headings (10 - 13) with the correct paragraphs (1–7).

In these types of questions, you will be required to match a heading with the paragraph or identify the paragraph from the heading.

10. The part of the brain that deals with reason and long-term planning.

11. How the neocortex allows sacrifice for future gains.

12. The impact of the limbic brain on empathy and social conduct.

13. How brain damage reveals the roles of different brain parts.

The Triune Brain Detailed Explanation of Answers

The detailed information about the answers will help you analyse mistakes you have made:

1. Humans are able to wait for benefits that will come later rather than immediately because of the _____________.
   Answer: Neocortex
   Explanation: The text explains that the neocortex makes it possible to resist acting on instant pleasure successfully and instead choose behaviours that help you in the future (such as studying rather than socialising).

2. After performing a limbic lobotomy on monkeys, it was discovered that they _____________.
   Answer: Ignored their companions
   Explanation: The article describes that after limbic damage, monkeys acted as if they didn’t care about their community, "stepped on their peers as if treading on a log or rock," showing indifference — an indication of ignoring social presence.

3. The difference seen in Phineas Gage after his accident was a _____________.
   Answer: Personality shift and behavioural change
   Explanation: We learn in the passage that following neocortex damage, Phineas acted with little self-control and had trouble socially, yet he could still handle basic life responsibilities on the job.
   Also, no mention of improved intelligence, memory loss, or impaired instincts.

4. As per the passage, the function of the neocortex is _____________.
   Answer: Creating logical frameworks and theories
   Explanation: The neocortex allows humans to build on simple ideas to form complex theories and logical models — the core of abstract thinking.

5. The answer is true because the passage states that the reptilian cortex "sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration, adequate rest and a beating heart," along with this, "we are not required to consciously 'think' about these activities."

6. The author points out that a crocodile defending its territory is like “a turf war between two urban gangs," which means there is "no great difference." This implies that the territorial aggression is similar, not fundamentally different, making this statement false.

7. The answer is false because in the passage, it is stated that the limbic cortex is unique to mammals, which means it is not found in all species.

8. The answer is true because the limbic cortex is said to "cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks" and to experience "positive sensations of togetherness."

9. The answer is not given because although the neocortex is cited for dealing with logical, planned and abstract thinking, it does not appear to be mentioned in its involvement in emotional reactions to music in the passage.

10. Paragraph 3 → 10 (The part of the brain that deals with reason and long-term planning)
    The section covers the neocortex, which handles complex reasoning, abstract thought and learning about concepts such as morality, all connected to planning for the future.

11. Paragraph 4 → 11 (How the neocortex allows sacrifice for future gains)
    This section explains how the neocortex lets people think beyond socialising for the sake of their long-term achievements. This is a clear indication of giving up today for something better tomorrow.

12. Paragraph 6 → 12 (The impact of the limbic brain on empathy and social conduct)
    This section describes an example of human brains balancing immediate needs (wanting to socialise) with the desire to improve in school or work. This is what people do when they give up something today to gain more in the future.

13. Paragraph 5 → 13 (How brain damage reveals the roles of different brain parts)
    Here, the author explains how damage to various brain regions helps determine what those regions do. It describes brain death and what occurs when some brain areas no longer work.

Smart Strategies for Answering IELTS Reading Questions

Let's look at how you can make answering questions simpler now that you understand how to read and what to do after reading:

1. Use Paragraph Functions to Predict Content:

Every portion of an IELTS reading text serves to introduce, explain, compare or give an example. In the passage:

• Each cortex is explained in one of the paragraphs.

• Another one explores actual cases such as those of Phineas Gage.

• Certain authors also do research on the effects of drugs on the brain or on a person’s behaviour in groups.

Strategy: Stick to skimming the text to recognise what every paragraph is meant for. As a result, you can answer questions more quickly and follow the order in which topics are explained.

2. Track Proper Nouns and Scientific Terms:

A lot of terms, such as “reptilian cortex,” and names like “Phineas Gage” appear in this passage.

Strategy:

• Underline the names of people, places, diseases or special terms as you skim for the first time.

• Most of these are the main points referenced in detail-based questions or MCQs.

3. Spot Cause-and-Effect Relationships:

Many questions on IELTS require you to understand how experiences and events are related.

There is an illustration in this passage:

"The limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth."

Strategy:

Watch for often-used connectors like:

• “Because”

• “Which leads to”

• “As a result”

• “Due to”

These phrases provide solutions to heading questions, summary tasks or MCQs that start with “Why.”

4. Understand Contrast to Spot True/False Traps:

In the passage, human and animal behaviours are compared (e.g., crocodile vs. urban gang), or how different cortexes affect behaviour.

Strategy: When you are comparing ideas, look for words such as:

• “Although”

• “However”

• “Whereas”

• “Unlike”

These are the things to watch out for when True/False/Not Given questions appear.

5. Always Read Before and After the Line:

You might find the answer to your question in a nearby line besides your keyword-matching sentence.

Strategy:

• If you see someone who seems like a fit, check out the words immediately before and after the entry.

• An IELTS exam usually changes the way a question is asked—don’t expect to find the specific words from the sample.

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