The Nuisance of Noise | Real exam ielts Reading Passage |

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 17–32, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

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The Nuisance of Noise

A
As long as people have lived in close vicinity, they have been complaining about the noises other people make and yearning for quiet and relief from these disturbances.

To be sure, exposure to very loud noise, measured in high decibels, can impact more than a person’s mental state. About 2500 years ago, the Greek physician Hippocrates identified the condition ‘tinnitus’, ringing in the ears often caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise. In modern times, people are often subjected to noise above 85 decibels. That’s indisputably a serious threat to one’s health, enough to cause significant hearing loss over time. Yet for some people, it’s not just loud noise that’s a problem; moderate, everyday noise at low decibels is also a constant nuisance.

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B
It has often been asserted that a kind of absolute quietness is needed to achieve truly enlightened thinking. Famous philosophers dating back to Plato of ancient Greece have pointed to the need for quiet in order to really perceive things clearly. Only when the outside world is tuned out, it is said, can the thinker understand the true nature of the world. The French writer Blaise Pascal complained in 1660 that “the sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room”. Two centuries later, the German philosopher Schopenhauer wrote that “noise is a torture to intellectual people”.

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C
Yet research reveals something of a paradox: the more time and effort people spend trying to keep sound out, the more sensitive they become. The case of Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle, in 1831, he moved to London and soon complained in a letter to the authorities about the noise outside his window. He spent a fortune soundproofing the study in his house, but he couldn’t be satisfied. His unusually perceptive ears exaggerated the slightest sound, and was forced to retreat to the country.

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D
In 1907 an American, Julia Barnett Rice, founded a citizens’ group – the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise of New York – to combat the noise of her city. It attracted over 200 members from all walks of life. At a time before automobiles crowded the streets of New York, Rice and her group set out to restrict sea captains from blaring their horns as they navigated boats along the city waterways. The society next convinced the local government to establish quiet zones around hospitals and schools, so that patients could recover and children could study in peace. It even proposed regulations on the sidewalk vendors who shouted about their products to the heads of pedestrians passing by. However, in the end, by focusing on noise Mrs Rice only became more sensitive to it. She finally turned to architects to help build a quiet place deep under her house.

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E
In modern cities, governments around the world have stepped up to treat noise as a kind of environmental pollution, to be regulated the same way that smog and other chemical byproducts are regulated in factories. In New York, for instance, airline pilots are required to fly higher and more slowly around populated areas. City laws also specify the time of day that landscapers, construction crews and repairmen can use power tools and other noisy machines in residential neighborhoods. In recent years, New York City has sent out police with sound-measuring devices to go after noise-makers and installed hypersensitive listening devices to monitor the soundscape. Citizens are also encouraged to call a special telephone hotline to report noise violations.

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F
Yet laws against noisemakers have not satisfied our desire for silence. Many consumer products have emerged to meet the demand of increasingly noise-conscious consumers. One early and impractical attempt was called ‘The Isolator’, invented in 1925 by Hugo Gernsback. This was a large heavy helmet made of lead, with nine slits for viewing. It had a tube that could be connected to an oxygen tank, allowing the user to breathe without letting in noise. Around the same time, materials were designed to prevent noise outside from coming in. These include sound-muffling curtains, non-hardwood floors with synthetic lining, and better insulation of walls. No matter how thoughtful the design, however, unwanted sound continues to be a part of everyday life.

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G
Unable to suppress noise, consumers started trying to mask it with more pleasant audio, buying gadgets like white-noise machines or playing recorded sounds of what they would hear in nature, from breaking waves to rustling forests, on their stereos. Today, there are hundreds of digital apps and technologies, including noise cancellation products that detect outside noise and render it inaudible. In a Sony print commercial for their noise-cancelling headphones, the company depicts a world where the consumer exists in a sonic bubble as he walks along a strangely empty city street.

However, there is a risk to becoming accustomed to life without unwanted sounds from others. Psychologists warn that we may grow hyper-sensitized and isolated, and the outside world may seem increasingly noisy and hostile. The best strategy, they say, is to learn to live with, and to ignore, the nuisances of everyday sounds.

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Questions 17–21

Reading Passage 2 has seven sections, A–G.
Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–G, in boxes 17–21 on your answer sheet.

17. examples of using relaxing sounds to cover up noise
18. a reference to an organisation with a goal to prohibit certain noises
19. a mention of the physical effect of noise on the ears
20. historical views on how noise affects our state of ability to reason
21. examples of technology used in law enforcement

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Questions 22 and 23

Choose TWO letters, A–E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 22 and 23 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about Thomas Carlyle?

A. He invented a device to block out noise.
B. He left the city because of the noise.
C. Loud music made it impossible for him to work as a writer.
D. His hearing was particularly sensitive.
E. The loud noise damaged his sense of hearing.

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Questions 24 and 25

Choose TWO letters, A–E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 24 and 25 on your answer sheet.

According to the writer, which TWO sources of noise did Julia Barnett Rice work to limit?

A. pedestrians
B. boats
C. vendors
D. school children
E. automobiles

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Questions 26 and 27

Choose TWO letters, A–E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 26 and 27 on your answer sheet.

The list below gives some of the noise sources that modern cities regulate.

Which TWO of these noise sources are mentioned by the writer of the text?

A. factories
B. telephones
C. work equipment
D. neighbours
E. planes

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Questions 28–32

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 28–32 on your answer sheet.

28. Users of ‘The Isolator’ wore a heavy helmet and breathed through a ________.
29. Insulated walls, lined floors and ________ that reduce noise were some of the 20th century designs to keep places quiet.
30. To mask noise, consumers use audio devices that produce white noise or sounds from ________ (e.g. moving water or trees).
31. An advert for headphones shows a person surrounded by a ________.
32. Learning to tolerate noise is an approach recommended by ________.

 Answers

17–21

17. G

18. D

19. A

20. B

21. E

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22–23

22. B

23. D

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24–25

24. B

25. C

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26–27

26. C

27. E

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28–32

28. tube

29. curtains

30. nature

31. bubble

32. psychologists

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PASSWORD: REALEXAM2026

Biophilic Design | Real Exam Ielts Reading Passage asked in Actual Exam 2026 |

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You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 on pages 5 and 6.

Biophilic Design

A
Biophilic design, a movement related to green architecture, has gained much momentum within the building community in recent years. The premise of biophilic design seeks both to avoid or minimize harmful impacts on the natural environment, and equally importantly, to provide and restore beneficial contacts between people and nature in the built environment.

B
People have a psychologically developed need to commune with nature but this has frequently been neglected. All too often, architects have put creative originality before the needs of the people who have to live and work in their futuristic constructions, with scant regard for emotional, as well as practical, considerations. Biophilic design does not advocate tree houses or cave-dwelling, but it does provide the nature-based features that maximize human functioning and health. Though not technically a biophilic design, Fallingwater – the stunning house in rural Pennsylvania designed in the 1930s by Frank Lloyd Wright – arguably speaks to the human soul much more than the boxlike blocks of flats designed by his contemporary Le Corbusier.

C
In the modern world, much of our built environment is obstructing the age-old connection between humans and nature. The rates of technological progress are far exceeding rates of psychological evolution, leaving us ill-equipped to cope with our lifestyle, which in turn leads to increased stress. Because biophilia attempts to integrate basic and current needs, it can alleviate the difficulties caused by the brain's constant attempts to function in a modern environment it has not yet evolved to handle. For example, one crucial element of the natural landscape to human health is sunlight. We are evolutionarily programmed to respond positively to sunny areas over dark or overcast ones, and sense that they will foster restoration, improve emotional well-being and promote health.

D
Because of its tremendous impact on human psychology, biophilic design plays a vital role in healthcare and healthcare delivery. The current healthcare system contains many flaws, especially in its physical spaces. Hospitals, clinics, and offices are high-stress environments for patients, visitors and healthcare professionals alike. One well-known study looked at the impact of nature on patients after surgery. One group had a view of a tree; the others had a window looking onto a brick wall. The first group had shorter hospital stays, received fewer negative comments from the nurses, required fewer analgesics, and had slightly fewer post-operative complications.

E
As a consequence of this and other studies, nature and nature-based design have been integrated into the physical design of many hospitals. For example, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in New Hampshire boasts an atrium design, illuminating the entire facility. Natural elements also permeate the building, including wood, stone, and numerous live plants. While DHMC was built to incorporate these qualities, other hospitals have had biophilic features added to existing structures. The application of biophilia's concepts to interior design in hospitals has increased substantially as administrators have witnessed patients' positive responses to nature.

F
Many existing buildings contain biophilic elements, but only a few have been built with the specific idea of biophilic design in mind. One such building is the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College, in Ohio. The director of Oberlin's Environmental Studies Program, David Orr, explained the building's goals were 'to create not just a place for classes but rather a building that would help to redefine the relationship between humankind and the environment – one that would expand our sense of ecological possibilities'. The Lewis Center is sustainable in a broader sense than in the typical application of the word. It harnesses solar power, utilizes both active and passive air systems, and monitors the weather to adapt to conditions. The Center's 'Living Machine' treats wastewater by combining traditional wastewater technology with wetland ecosystems' purification processes, producing water that can be used in the toilets and for irrigation. In their design, Orr and his team of architects engineered a healthy and comfortable space for students, while ensuring the surrounding environment was undamaged.

G
Another example is the University of Guelph-Humber building in Ontario, Canada. It contains a centrally located bio-wall, vertically spanning the building. The wall is covered in dense foliage which not only connects people to nature on the inside of the building, but also functions as a new filtration system prototype. The wall purifies the air and has the potential to fulfil the building's fresh air intake requirements. This is another example of how biophilic design principles can be applied in a variety of contexts. These examples prove that the built environment need not interfere with biological human needs to commune with nature, nor with existing ecological systems

H
Ancient architects built for their cultures, which were almost always more in touch with the earth than Western society of the present. They mimicked nature's forms, producing magnificent structures with which we are still awed – though biophilic design is a novel concept, they certainly employed some of its recommendations. Today, we can add another layer to this tradition and ensure maximal benefit for our planet and ourselves.

Questions 14–19
Reading Passage 2 has eight paragraphs, A–H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–H, in boxes 14–19 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

14 a description of how rapid change has a negative effect on people
15 a reference to an architect whose designs were uncharacteristic of biophilia
16 a definition of the two main aims of biophilia
17 a positive claim about early forms of architecture
18 a reference to the fact that many architects are too focused on innovation
19 a description of features which conserve energy in a biophilic design

Questions 20–24
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 20–24 on your answer sheet.

20 In the modern world... ...advancements are happening so quickly that
21 humans are unable to adjust to them. Biophilia can help us deal with the ............... current lifestyles.
22 ...caused by the difficulties of our
23 People instinctively feel more comfortable in places which have plenty of ..............., something which is necessary for health and well-being.
24 An experiment designed to test the effect of nature on patient recovery times found that those who could see a ............... made a faster recovery.
There is a biophilic design feature in the University of Guelph-Humber building which improves the quality of the ................

Questions 25 and 26
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements does the writer make about the Adam Joseph Lewis Center at Oberlin College?

A It was the first educational establishment designed with biophilic principles.
B It is beneficial for both students and the environment.
C It has established new concepts for classroom design.
D It aims to inspire new ways of thinking about the environment.
E It provides solar power to other buildings in the surrounding area.

 14–19

14. C
15. B
16. A
17. H
18. B
19. F

20–24
20. stress
21. brain’s
22. sunlight
23. tree
24. air

25–26
25. B
26. D PASSWORD: REALEXAM2026

Boring buildings real exam reading with answer | Boring buildings | Ielts reading for 2026 |

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Boring buildings

There could be more than an economic or nostalgic price to impersonal retail and high-rise construction; boring architecture may take an emotional toll on the people forced to live with it.

A

A growing body of research in cognitive science illuminates the physical and mental toll bland cityscapes take on residents. Generally, these researchers argue that humans are healthier when they live surrounded by variety or work in well-designed, unique spaces, rather than unattractive generic ones. Urban policy professor Justin Hollander and architect Ann Sussman review scientific data to help architects and urban planners understand how, exactly, people respond to their built surroundings, particularly at work. People, they argue, function best in intricate settings, not big, blank, boxy offices

B

Indeed, that's what Colin Ellard, a neuroscientist at the University of Waterloo in Canada, has found in his work. Five years ago, Ellard became interested in a certain building—the gigantic Whole Foods Market ‘plopped into’ a notoriously textured part of lower Manhattan in New York. Ellard partnered with the Guggenheim Museum to analyze what happens when someone walks out of a tiny neighborhood restaurant and encounters a full city block with nothing but the long, blank façade of the Whole Foods Market building.

In 2011, Ellard led small groups on Lower East Side walks to measure the effect of the urban environment on them. Participants recorded their response to questions at each stopping point and wore sensors that measured skin conductance, a response to emotional excitement. Passing the monolithic Whole Foods Market, people's state of arousal plummeted. Physiologically, Ellard explained, they were bored. To describe this place, they used words like 'bland' and 'passionless.' In contrast, one block east at the other test site—a lively sea of restaurants with lots of open doors and windows—people measured high levels of excitement, and they listed words like 'lively' and 'socializing.' Ellard explains that the main objective of urban design should be to produce some kind of novelty or change every few seconds; otherwise, we become cognitively disengaged.

C

The trick, it seems, is to design a world that excites but doesn't overload our senses with a constant barrage of information. “We are, as animals, programmed to respond to thrill,” said professor Brendan Walker. In Walker's ‘Thrill Laboratory’ at the University of Nottingham in the UK, devices measure heart rate and skin conductance to see how people respond to adrenaline-producing experiences such as a roller-coaster ride. A thrilling encounter moves us quickly from a state of equilibrium to a desirable ‘disorientation.’ “Humans want a certain element of turmoil or confusion,” he said. “Complexity is thrilling whether in an amusement park or architecture.”

D

Psychologists have found that awe-inspiring moments can potentially improve our well-being. One study conducted by Melanie Rudd, Kathleen Vohs, and Jennifer Aaker of Stanford University in the US showed that the feeling of 'awe' can make people more patient and less materialistic. In an experiment, the researchers showed students 60-second clips of waterfalls, whales, or astronauts in space. After only a minute of virtual images, those who said they were awed also felt less pressed for time. And in another variation, people made hypothetical choices between physical and experiential goods of equal monetary value. Those who had just felt awe were more likely to choose an experience over a possession, a choice that is linked with greater satisfaction in the long run. In other words, awe might have the ability to change our frame of mind, making modern life more satisfying and interactive.

E

It’s important to note, however, that architectural boredom isn’t about how pristine a street is. People often confuse successful architecture with whether an area looks pleasant. On the contrary, when it comes to city buildings, people often focus too narrowly on aesthetics, said Charles Montgomery, author of Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design. Some of the happiest blocks in New York City, he argues, are kind of ugly and messy.

In 2014, Montgomery's Happy City lab conducted an experiment in which he found a strong correlation between messier blocks and pro-social behavior. Montgomery sent researchers, posing as lost tourists, to places he coded as either 'active' or 'inactive' facades. He concluded that the former had a high level of interest, that is, they were messy, while the latter had no special features such as long warehouse blocks. Pedestrians at active sites were nearly five times more likely to offer assistance than at inactive ones. Of those who assisted, seven times as many at the active site offered the use of their phone.

F. 

Fortunately, it’s not necessarily a dichotomy—new architecture can achieve the optimal level of cacophony and beauty. Take the 2006 Hearst Tower in midtown Manhattan. Designed by architect Norman Foster, Hearst Tower is a glass-and-steel skyscraper, 40 stories of which are designed in a triangular pattern, differing in style from the 1920s Art Deco base. From the outside, the façade jolts city dwellers from their daily commutes while energizing employees who enter each morning. For many who walk by, Hearst Tower’s design may not be the easiest to understand: it’s both sleek and old. The top looks like it traveled from the future. Inside, workers travel upon diagonal escalators, up a three-story water sculpture, through the tower’s historic atrium, flooded with light. Few New Yorkers who pass by would find this building boring. And they’re likely to be happier—maybe even nicer to each other—because of it.

Questions 14-18

Reading Passage 2 has six sections, A-F.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

14. A description of a building that has a positive effect

15. A reference to architecture affecting people's performance in their jobs

16. Examples of the intensity of people's reactions in two urban settings

17. Details of a study where seeing certain pictures reduced people's stress

18. A claim about feelings experienced in response to both architecture and leisure settings

Questions 19–23

Look at the following statements (Questions 19–23) and the list of researchers below. Match each statement with the correct researcher, A, B, C, or D.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C, or D in boxes 19–23 on your answer sheet.

(NB You may use any letter more than once.)

1. The aim of good city planning is to provide variety in architecture.

2. People enjoy areas where messier architecture leads to more helpfulness.

3. People who had just felt awe placed less importance on material goods.

4. Interactive spaces are not necessarily the most enjoyable places to be.

5. One particular building failed to provide visual stimulation.

List of Researchers:

A. Colin Ellard

B. Brendan Walker

C. Melanie Rudd and Jennifer Aaker

D. Charles Montgomery

Questions 24–26

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower was built in 2006. The 40-storey modern triangular-patterned building is made of glass and steel, contrasting with the base which is in the style of the 1920s. The sight of the building’s 24 ________ has a striking impact on commuters and employees. Some passers-by may find the building’s design confusing, as it mixes old and new elements. Inside the tower 25 ________ carry employees up past a large water sculpture in the light-filled 26 ________.

• 14. B

• 15. A

• 16. B

• 17. D

• 18. C

• 19. A

• 20. D

• 21. C

• 22. D

• 23. A

• 24. façade

• 25. escalators

• 26. atrium

Password: REALEXAMPDF

Question: You are working in a shop that sells sports equipment, and recently the shop has been facing financial losses. Write a letter to the manager of the shop. In your letter: Describe the current situation and the losses the shop is facing Explain possible reasons for these losses Suggest some plans or ideas to improve the situation and increase sales |

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 IELTS General Writing Task 1

Question:
You are working in a shop that sells sports equipment, and recently the shop has been facing financial losses.
Write a letter to the manager of the shop. In your letter:

• Describe the current situation and the losses the shop is facing

• Explain possible reasons for these losses

• Suggest some plans or ideas to improve the situation and increase sales

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Sample Answer

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to bring to your attention the recent financial difficulties our sports equipment shop has been experiencing. Over the past few months, the store has witnessed a noticeable decline in sales, which has resulted in significant financial losses. Compared to previous quarters, customer footfall has decreased considerably, and several products remain unsold for extended periods.

One possible reason for this situation could be the growing competition from online retailers, where customers can easily find sports equipment at discounted prices. In addition, our current product display and promotional strategies may not be attractive enough to capture customers’ attention. Another factor could be the limited variety of newly launched sports gear, which might discourage customers who are looking for the latest products.

In order to improve the situation, I would like to suggest a few potential strategies. Firstly, the shop could introduce seasonal discounts or special promotional offers to attract more customers. Secondly, improving the store layout and product presentation may enhance the overall shopping experience. Finally, promoting our products through social media platforms or local advertising could significantly increase visibility and boost sales.

I hope these suggestions will help improve the shop’s financial performance and attract more customers in the future.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

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High-Level Vocabulary & Collocations

Advanced Vocabulary

• Financial difficulties

• Noticeable decline

• Customer footfall

• Discounted prices

• Promotional strategies

• Product visibility

• Financial performance

High-Level Collocations

• Experience financial losses

• Decline in sales

• Attract potential customers

• Boost sales performance

• Introduce promotional offers

• Improve product presentation

• Increase market visibility

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The fluoridation controversy reading passage with answers | Real exam ielts reading 2026 |

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Reading Practice

 

The fluoridation controversy

The long-standing debate about whether to fluoridate our drinking water continues

Fluoridation is the addition of fluorine to public water supplies with the aim of reducing tooth

decay. The fluorine, when mixed with water, becomes fluoride and the desired

concentration of fluoride in public water is approximately one part per million, depending on the regional temperature and hence the amount of water people are likely to drink. Many studies, such as those by McClure in 1970 through to Burt in 1983, have shown that when children drink fluoridated water, their average rate of tooth decay seems greatly reduced. A typical figure claimed is 50 percent reduction. This apparently enormous benefit for children's teeth is the major argument in favor of fluoridation.

Three main grounds for opposition to fluoridation have been expressed. First, opponents claim the benefits are exaggerated or not established. Second, there are claims of health risks to pans of the population, for example, allergic reactions. It is also accepted that high levels of fluoride can cause discoloration of otherwise healthy teeth. Proponents do not consider this to be a problem in such small concentrations, whereas opponents disagree especially because some people drink more water and obtain much more than the standard 1 milligram of fluoride per day. Third, fluoridation is thought to be an infringement on individual rights because it is compulsory medication of all members of a community.

An understanding of the fluoridation issue has important implications. If, according to the experts, fluoridation is unquestionably a beneficial and non-hazardous measure, then the wisdom of allowing the public to vote on, and reject it must be questioned.

Almost all studies that have been done have assumed that the scientific aspects of the controversy are unproblematic, and they have excluded science from sociological examination. The traditional view is that science is a special kind of knowledge, which is established through scientific methods and objectively applied by members of a scientific community. However, in recent years there has been a major challenge to this picture by a sociology of science that shows how scientific knowledge is socially negotiated, and inevitably linked to the values of the relevant parties, both scientists and nonscientists. These challengers do not see scientific knowledge as exempt from social inquiry.

Kuhn (1970) argued that scientific knowledge does not always develop as an orderly process, but is characterized by periodic revolutions. in which the methods of study and the assessment criteria change in a fragmented way. According to Kuhn, the shift from one scientific way of thinking to another is not made solely on the basis of clear rules of formal scientific practice, but can include social factors, though Kuhn has never developed a full analysis of what these might be. Collins (1975) took this concept further when he asserted that the outcome of experiments was not something whose meaning could be immediately comprehended, but rather something for interpretation, discussion between scientists, and reinterpretation in the light of other experiments.

One interpretation of this analysis of science is that traditional distinctions between facts and theories, and between scientific knowledge and values, can no longer be justified. Because social processes are involved at all stages of the creation, evaluation, and establishing of scientific knowledge, social values may also be involved.

In the same way as many scientists who study fluoridation have overlooked social values, sociologists have also downplayed an important part of the debate by ignoring the number of eminent scientists who have questioned aspects of fluoridation. An example is the study by Sutton in 1960, which analyzed the classic North American studies of the effect of fluoridation on tooth decay, and found that each showed significant methodological shortcomings. Sutton's detailed study throws doubt as to the extent of reductions in tooth decay from fluoridation. Yet Sutton's book is not cited in a single analysis of the fluoridation issue by any sociologist. In a situation of some scientific uncertainty, differences in values are highlighted. A supporter of fluoridation might argue. The evidence for the benefits of fluoridation is quite substantial, while the evidence for harm is limited and dubious. I think the likely benefits outweigh the possible dangers; hence I support fluoridation because it is the cheapest and easiest way to make sure every child reaps the benefits. An opponent might argue, 'Though the evidence for the benefits of fluoridation is substantial, there is some doubt about it. Since fluoridation is not necessary for good teeth, we should forego the benefits if there is some slight chance of harm. Some scientists claim that a small percentage of the population could be harmed by fluoride. Therefore I oppose fluoridation of water supplies and favor the voluntary use of fluoride tablets by those who want to take them.'

Both arguments consider the scientific evidence concerning fluoridation, but differ in their assessments of the social benefits and costs. This difference is not between rationality and irrationality but is a legitimate difference in values, for example, the positive value placed on good teeth, the negative value placed on possible health risks, and the social benefits or costs of compulsory or voluntary intake of fluorides.

From the sociological point of view, opposition to fluoridation is not necessarily irrational. Rather, claims to rationality and to scientific authority are better seen as part of a strategy to promote fluoridation than as incontrovertible statements of fact. Second, social values are likely to be bound up in any decision about fluoridation, so this is not an issue on which declarations by scientific experts ought to be considered the final word.

Questions 1-5

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D

Write the correct letter in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet

1. The optimum amount of fluorine in fluoridated water is calculated partly according to

A  how hot the area is.

B  how warm the water is.

C  how many dental problems there are in the community.

D  how much fluorine the community chooses to have in its water.

2. One reason given by the writer for opposing fluoridation is that

A  it may contribute to tooth decay

B  it will be unacceptably expensive for the public.

C  obligatory fluoridation takes away personal freedom.

D  excessive fluoride could be added to the water by mistake.

3. The writer mentions Kuhn in order to A provide a contrast with the view of Collins.

B  support the rational nature of scientific inquiry.

C  demonstrate that Kuhn did not argue his case adequately.

D  show that science can be influenced by non-scientific considerations4. What did Sutton's research discover about earlier studies in North America?

A  There were failings in the way they were carried out.

B  The scientists involved had achieved unique results.

C  Proponents of fluoridation had not understood its long-term effects.

D  Fluoridation had a greater effect on tooth decay than previously believed.

5. In the last paragraph, what does the writer say about scientists?

A   They should reveal their true motivations.

B   They should not decide the fluoridation policy.

C   They are solely concerned with scientific truths.

D   They cannot reach agreement on the fluoridation issue.

Questions 6-9

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage?

In boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet, write

YES                if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO                 if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

6..................... Scientific knowledge should be kept separate from social values.

7..................... Many sociologists have disregarded the doubts that some scientists have concerning fluoridation.

8.....................  Sutton's findings have been given insufficient attention by scientists outside of North America.

9..................... There are valid arguments on both sides of the fluoridation debate.

Questions 10-14

Complete each sentence with the correct ending. A-G. below. Write the correct letter. A-G, in boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet.

10.  The traditional view of science is that 10.....................

11.  A sociological view of science argues that 11.....................

12.  Collins is of the opinion that 12.....................

13.  The writer suggests that a supporter of fluoridation may conclude that 13.....................

14.  The writer suggests that an opponent of fluoridation may conclude that 14.....................

A  the results of scientific research are not always understood at first

B  if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

C  people should be able to choose whether they want fluoride.

D  there is insufficient proof to support a cautious approach.

E  the serious damage fluoride causes far outweighs any positive effects.

F   children are not the only ones who benefit from fluoridation.

G  scientific knowledge is affected by the beliefs of everyone concerned.

 

Solution:

1. A	8. NOT GIVEN
2. C	9. YES
3. C	10. B
4. A	11. G
5. B	12. A
6. NO	13. D
7. YES	14. E

 PASSWORD: REALEXAMREADING2026