# What's the purpose of gaining knowledge?: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 12, Test 1, Reading Passage 3

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 12, Test 1, Reading Passage 3. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 27 | vi | But what would the founders of these two institutions have thought of a course called "Arson for Profit"? I kid you not: we have it on the books. |
| 28 | viii | But wouldn't this also be the perfect course for prospective arsonists to sign up for? |
| 29 | ii | a subject matter can have principles in the sense of being codified, having rules, as with football or chess, without being principled in the sense of being ethical. |
| 30 | iv | My inspiration for this judgement is the philosopher Immanuel Kant, who argued that any body of knowledge consists of an end (or purpose) and a means. |
| 31 | iii | A field of knowledge or a professional endeavor is defined by both the means "and" the end; hence "both" deserve scrutiny. |
| 32 | vii | But "we would not call that firefighting". We have a separate word for it: "arson". |
| 33 | fire science | Any undergraduates who have met the academic requirements can sign up for the course in our program in "fire science". |
| 34 | investigators | the course is intended for prospective arson investigators |
| 35 | evidence | establishing a chain of evidence |
| 36 | prosecution | for effective prosecution in a court of law. |
| 37 | NOT GIVEN | A student can prepare for a career in resort management, engineering, interior design, accounting, music, law enforcement, you name it. |
| 38 | YES | But wouldn't this also be the perfect course for prospective arsonists to sign up for? ... it's not unknown for a firefighter to torch a building. |
| 39 | NO | they are highly welcome as part of the increasing professionalization of this and many other occupations. |
| 40 | NO | they eventually generalize to something like, "The safety and welfare of society," |

## Why these answers are right

**27. vi.** Section A lists ordinary career courses and then introduces one called "Arson for Profit", adding "I kid you not" to stress how unexpected it is. A course name that shocks the reader is a surprising course title, so heading vi fits.

**28. viii.** Section B explains that the course is for future arson investigators, then asks whether it would also be perfect for prospective arsonists. Students who might misuse the knowledge are the wrong kind of student, so heading viii summarizes the section.

**29. ii.** Section C centers on the course called "Principles of Marketing". The writer explains that principles can mean codified rules, as in chess, or being ethical, and asks whether marketing is principled, so the title has two meanings: heading ii.

The why and the trap for questions 30 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/whats-the-purpose-of-gaining-knowledge/answers).

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