Cambridge IELTS 4 · Academic · Test 2 · Passage 3
Play Is A Serious Business Does Play Help Develop Bigger, Better Brains? Bryant Furlow Investigates — IELTS Reading Answers
All 12 answers for Play Is A Serious Business Does Play Help Develop Bigger, Better Brains? Bryant Furlow Investigates, Cambridge IELTS 4 Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Play Is A Serious Business Does Play Help Develop Bigger, Better Brains? Bryant Furlow Investigates answer key at a glance
Questions 27–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Matching Information (Q27–32), Three Choices (Q33–35), Matching Features (Q36–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 27–32: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
the way play causes unusual connections in the brain which are beneficial
“By allowing link-ups between brain areas that might not normally communicate with each other, play may enhance creativity”
Paragraph H says play permits 'link-ups between brain areas that might not normally communicate', which 'may enhance creativity'.
insights from recording how much time young animals spend playing
“If you plot the amount of time a juvenile devotes to play each day over the course of its development, you discover a pattern typically associated with a 'sensitive period' - a brief development window during which the brain can actually be modified in ways that are not possible earlier or later in life”
Paragraph F describes plotting 'the amount of time a juvenile devotes to play each day', revealing a sensitive developmental window.
a description of the physical hazards that can accompany play
“Eighty per cent of deaths among juvenile fur seals occur because playing pups fail to spot predators approaching. It is also extremely expensive in terms of energy”
Paragraph A reports that 80% of juvenile fur seal deaths occur because playing pups 'fail to spot predators approaching', a physical hazard.
a description of the mental activities which are exercised and developed during play
“He points out that play often involves complex assessments of playmates, ideas of reciprocity and the use of specialised signals and rules”
Paragraph H notes play involves 'complex assessments of playmates, ideas of reciprocity' and specialised signals — mental activities.
the possible effects that a reduction in play opportunities will have on humans
“With schooling beginning earlier and becoming increasingly exam-orientated, play is likely to get even less of a look-in. Who knows what the result of that will be”
Paragraph I warns that schooling is starting earlier and is more exam-orientated, so play 'is likely to get even less of a look-in'.
the classes of animals for which play is important
“Playfulness, it seems, is common only among mammals, although a few of the larger-brained birds also indulge”
Paragraph B says playfulness is 'common only among mammals, although a few of the larger-brained birds also indulge'.
Questions 33–35: Three Choices
Strategy: More than one option is correct. Check each option independently and select exactly three.
“The latest idea suggests that play has evolved to build big brains. In other words, playing makes you intelligent. Playfulness, it seems, is common only among mammals, although a few of the larger-brained birds also indulge.”
A, C and F fit: play links to a brain chemical, is tied to the evolution of bigger brains, and occurs in some larger-brained birds.
Questions 36–40: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
Options for Questions 36–40
- AThere is a link between a specific substance in the brain and playing.
- BPlay provides input concerning physical surroundings.
- CVarieties of play can be matched to different stages of evolutionary history.
- DThere is a tendency for mammals with smaller brains to play less.
- EPlay is not a form of fitness training for the future.
- FSome species of larger-brained birds engage in play.
- GA wide range of activities are combined during play.
- HPlay is a method of teaching survival techniques.
Robert Barton
“'I concluded it's to do with learning, and with the importance of environmental data to the brain during development,' he says”
Barton concluded play 'is to do with learning, and with the importance of environmental data to the brain during development' — option B.
Marc Bekoff
“Bekoff likens it to a behavioural kaleidoscope, with animals at play jumping rapidly between activities. 'They use behaviour from a lot of different contexts - predation, aggression, reproduction,' he says”
Bekoff likens play to 'a behavioural kaleidoscope', with animals using behaviour 'from a lot of different contexts' — option G.
John Byers
“But Byers points out that the benefits of increased exercise disappear rapidly after training stops, so any improvement in endurance resulting from juvenile play would be lost by adulthood.”
Byers argues the fitness explanation fails because endurance gains 'would be lost by adulthood', so play is not fitness training — option E.
Sergio Pellis
“Comparing measurements for fifteen orders of mammal, he and his team found larger brains (for a given body size) are linked to greater playfulness. The converse was also found to be true”
Pellis found larger brains are 'linked to greater playfulness', and the converse too, so smaller-brained mammals play less — option D.
Stephen Siviy
“Siviy studied how bouts of play affected the brain's levels of a particular chemical associated with the stimulation and growth of nerve cells”
Siviy studied how play affected 'the brain's levels of a particular chemical' linked to nerve-cell growth — option A.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Play Is A Serious Business Does Play Help Develop Bigger, Better Brains? Bryant Furlow Investigates passage come from?
It is Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 4 Academic Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 27–40.
What question types appear in Play Is A Serious Business Does Play Help Develop Bigger, Better Brains? Bryant Furlow Investigates?
The passage is tested with Matching Information, Three Choices, Matching Features. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.