# Why we need silence: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 1, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 21, Test 1, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | C | several cities have been working to turn the volume down ... Other cities have introduced noise-reducing road coatings |
| 15 | B | with at least 1 in 5 people consistently exposed to levels considered harmful to health |
| 16 | A | Our blood pressure goes up, muscles tense and glands release hormones |
| 17 | G | participants reported more relaxation and less boredom when they sat quietly in an outdoor garden compared with a completely silent room |
| 18 | breath | 'But it is the ability to focus on the breath that helps people reach a relaxed or meditative state.' |
| 19 | questionnaire | Feinstein and his colleagues recruited 50 people with a variety of conditions related to stress and had them answer a questionnaire prior to and following a flotation session. |
| 20 | wellbeing | alongside an increase in feelings of relaxation and overall wellbeing. |
| 21 | depression | a collection of brain regions commonly linked with depression. |
| 22 | C | When people do not want silence, it can be very distressing. |
| 23 | A | 'I expect we will see much more of this in the future.' |
| 24 | B | the brain tries to fill the void to make sense of this dark and silent world |
| 25 | D | 'You don't need to spend hours in silence,' |
| 26 | C | This allows us to be more aware of what is happening around us |

## Why these answers are right

**14. C.** Section C lists what cities have done to turn the volume down: quieter buses in London, noise-reducing road coatings, greenery, a leaf-blower ban in Washington and fines in New York. These are strategies to reduce public noise, so the answer is C.

**15. B.** Section B gives figures showing how big the noise problem is: city residents exposed to far more than the recommended 40 decibels at night and at least 1 in 5 Europeans exposed to harmful levels. That is data on the extent of the problem, so B.

**16. A.** Section A explains that loud or unexpected noises change our internal chemistry: blood pressure rises, muscles tense and glands release hormones. Unexpected noises are sudden noises, and these bodily reactions are physiological changes, so the answer is section A.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/why-we-need-silence/answers).

[Practice Why we need silence](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/why-we-need-silence)