Inside the Mind of a Fan: How Watching Sport Affects the Brain
Read Inside the Mind of a Fan: How Watching Sport Affects the Brain and check the IELTS Reading answers. At about the same time that the poet Homer invented the epic hero, the ancient Greeks started a festival in which men competed in a single race, about 200 metres long. The winner received a bran…
Passage preview
At about the same time that the poet Homer invented the epic hero, the ancient Greeks started a festival in which men competed in a single race, about 200 metres long. The winner received a branch of wild olives. The Greeks called this celebration the Olympics. Though the ancient spirit remains, today the Olympics are far more than that. Indeed, the Games seem to celebrate the dream of progress as embodied in the human form. That the Games are intoxicating to watch is beyond question. During the Athens Olympics in 2004, 3.4 billion people, half the world, watched them on television. Certainly, being a spectator is a thrilling experience: but why?
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- acquisition of language noun
The natural process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive, produce, and use words
Mimesis is an essential part of consciousness, starting from the early acquisition of language in infants.
- elaborate adjective
Involving many carefully arranged parts or details; complicated and design-intensive in nature or structure
Humans possess a much more elaborate mirror neuron system compared to other primate species.
- embody verb
To be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to an idea, quality, or feeling
The Olympic Games celebrate the dream of human progress as embodied in the physical form.
- internalize verb
To make an attitude or belief part of one's basic thinking through learning or unconscious assimilation
Mirror neurons are peculiar cells that enable humans to internalize the actions of other people.
- intoxicating adjective
Having the power to produce a state of great excitement, elation, or mental stimulation in an individual
The experience of watching the Olympic Games is intoxicating for billions of spectators worldwide.
- mimesis noun
The representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature; the biological act of mimicking
The ability to learn through mimesis is a crucial skill for both athletes and developing children.
- novice noun
A person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation; a beginner in a particular skill
While a golf swing looks easy on television, it is virtually impossible for a novice to master.
- resonance noun
The quality in a sound or system of being deep and full; a state of sympathetic vibration
Watching an elite athlete causes the motor system of the observer to achieve a state of resonance.
- second nature noun
A characteristic or habit in a person that has become instinctive through frequent repetition or experience
For a professional athlete, a perfectly balanced stroke has become second nature through years of practice.
- tranquility noun
The quality or state of being calm; a peaceful condition free from disturbance or emotional agitation
The expert golfer hits the ball with the tranquility of a perfectly programmed autopilot.
Answers with explanations
- 27. F
Paragraph F answers **why watching sport** is **emotionally satisfying**. It explains that mirror neurons connect to the **amygdala**, allowing fans to **share in the feelings** of the athletes. This biological connection provides the 'answer' for the emotional thrill experienced by spectators. Answer: F.
- 28. B
Paragraph B provides an **answer** as to why **beginners** (novices) find sports **difficult**. It explains that they use their **consciousness** rather than the premotor cortex where motor actions are memorized. This lack of automated movement makes the task nearly impossible for them. Answer: B.
- 29. E
Paragraph E mentions a **factor**—**physical properties**—that must **combine** with the mental 'mirroring' or 'imagining' of movements to achieve **sporting excellence**. Mirror neurons alone are not enough; the athlete needs the physical body to execute the imagined victory. Answer: E.
- 30. C
Paragraph C contains a **comparison** between the mirror neurons found in **monkeys** (animals) and those in **humans**. It notes that the human system is **more elaborate**, highlighting the evolutionary difference between the two species' neural capabilities. Answer: C.
- 31. D
Paragraph D identifies the **first discovery** of **brain activity** related to this phenomenon. It cites the work of **Gastaut and Berf** in **1954**, who found specific wavelengths (alpha and mu) in the human brain that correspond to mirroring. Answer: D.
- 32. E
Paragraph E makes a specific **claim** that **observation** (watching) leads directly to an **improvement in performance**. It states that by mapping a star's movements onto our own motor system, we actually become better at the sport. Answer: E.
- 33. C
The author uses 'grammar of movement' to describe the **networks of cells** in the premotor cortex. The text compares these neural networks to **sentences**, implying they are a **pattern of connected cells** that store motor vocabularies. The option about a system of words is a distractor based on literal grammar, and level of skill is a result, not the definition of the term. Answer: C.
- 34. A
The writer states that for **experts**, movement is 'second nature' and done on **autopilot**. This implies they perform **without conscious thought**. The text explicitly contrasts this with novices who 'swing with their consciousness'. Options suggesting planning or thinking about others are distractors as the expert's brain is 'tranquil' and automated. Answer: A.
- 35. C
The text asks how many watch to improve, then answers that 'rather' we watch for **the feeling**. This indicates the **motive** is to **experience strong emotions**. While mirror neurons allow us to feel what athletes feel, the primary reason provided is the 'human drama' and emotional connection. Options regarding personal improvement or identifying skill are mentioned as secondary or different functions. Answer: C.
- 36. YES
The statement claims **inexpert players** (novices) are **too aware** (swing with their consciousness) of their actions. The text confirms this by stating they use their 'consciousness' rather than the automated systems used by experts. This matches the claim that they are overly focused on the process. Answer: YES.
- 37. NO
The statement claims **monkeys** have a **more complex** system. The text explicitly states that **humans** have an 'even more elaborate' system. This is a direct contradiction of the claim made in the question. Answer: NO.
- 38. NO
The statement suggests **photographs** can **activate** mirror neurons. However, the text clearly states that when looking at a 'fixed image' (photograph), the neurons are 'totally silent' and only fire during active movement. This is a direct contradiction. Answer: NO.
- 39. NOT GIVEN
While the text identifies Gastaut and Berf as **physiologists**, it provides **no information** regarding whether they were also **sports players**. Because this specific detail is missing from the passage, the statement cannot be confirmed or denied. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 40. YES
The statement says the **mu system** is 'at rest' (inactive/quiet) when we are **active**. The text confirms that the mu signal 'disappears' (becomes quiet) whenever we 'do something active'. These two descriptions are synonymous in this context. Answer: YES.