Optimism and Health
Read Optimism and Health and check the IELTS Reading answers. Medical studies are concluding that optimists really do have something to be cheerful about. If you have a positive outlook, the likelihood is that you will lead a longer life. Coincidental links between Optimism and improved general hea…
Passage preview
Medical studies are concluding that optimists really do have something to be cheerful about. If you have a positive outlook, the likelihood is that you will lead a longer life. Coincidental links between Optimism and improved general health have been found by researchers. Recently, a Yale University psychologists' study of 660 volunteers aged 50 and above was published. It found that thinking positively about ageing adds an average of seven years to a person's life. The team, led by Dr Becca Levy, suggests that having an optimistic attitude can bolster the will to live, though they admit that they cannot explain it fully.
Vocabulary from this passage
5 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- ascertain verb
To find something out for certain; to make sure of
Few studies have attempted to ascertain the exact proportion of optimists in the global population.
- bolster verb
To support or strengthen; to prop up
An optimistic attitude can bolster the will to live in elderly patients.
- frenetically adverb
In a fast and energetic way that is rather wild and uncontrolled
The pressures of a frenetically busy society contribute to rising levels of global disability.
- longevity noun
Long existence or service; the length of a person's life
Medical researchers are investigating the direct link between mental optimism and longevity.
- mortality noun
The state of being subject to death, or the death rate within a population
Positive psychological shifts can significantly improve the mortality risk of heart patients.
Answers with explanations
- 1. ["seven years","7 years"]
The answer is **seven years** (or **7 years**). The Yale study led by Dr Becca Levy explicitly states that a positive attitude toward ageing increases a person's lifespan by an average of **seven years**. The summary requires a specific duration.
- 2. 670
The answer is **670**. The text specifies that the research team at Brigham & Women's Hospital conducted an eight-year study focusing on a group of **670 men**, providing the numerical subject count required by the summary.
- 2-3: eye
2: The answer is **670**. The text specifies that the research team at Brigham & Women's Hospital conducted an eight-year study focusing on a group of **670 men**, providing the numerical subject count required by the summary.
3: The answer is **lung function**. The physical difference noted between the two groups of men was their **lung function**, with positive thinkers showing significantly better performance. This explains the 'physical reason' mentioned in the summary.
- 3. lung function
The answer is **lung function**. The physical difference noted between the two groups of men was their **lung function**, with positive thinkers showing significantly better performance. This explains the 'physical reason' mentioned in the summary.
- 3-4: NOT GIVEN
3: The answer is **lung function**. The physical difference noted between the two groups of men was their **lung function**, with positive thinkers showing significantly better performance. This explains the 'physical reason' mentioned in the summary.
4: The answer is **immune system**. The researchers hypothesize that a positive **attitude** serves to **strengthen** the body's **immune system**, which subsequently helps in slowing or reversing the effects of ageing and physical decline.
- 4. immune system
The answer is **immune system**. The researchers hypothesize that a positive **attitude** serves to **strengthen** the body's **immune system**, which subsequently helps in slowing or reversing the effects of ageing and physical decline.
- 5. heart patients
The answer is **heart patients**. Dr Rosalind Wright mentions early research conducted specifically on **heart patients** to support the theory that changing one's outlook can lead to a reduced risk of death (**mortality risk**).
- 6. D
The answer is **D**. Freud’s view of optimism as 'ignorance' and the vast disparity in research papers (46,000 on depression vs. only 40 on joy) illustrates that **optimism has not been considered a worthy research topic** in the past compared to negative states.
- 7. A
The answer is **A**. Brice Pitt describes optimists as having a **hopelessly rosy outlook** and being **insufferable**. This supports the ending that **optimists have an unrealistic view of life**, as they are seen as too 'jolly' to perceive reality accurately.
- 8. F
The answer is **F**. The Henley Centre found that despite a 65% increase in financial wealth, levels of **contentment** did not rise. This demonstrates that **happiness is not linked to material comfort**, as increased money did not lead to more satisfaction.
- 9. G
The answer is **G**. While the 1995 survey found half the population were optimists, this figure fell to **less than a third** in the 55-64 age group. This confirms that **levels of optimism can decrease with age**.
- 10. C
The answer is **C**. Lynn Myers warns against being a 'cock-eyed optimist', using the example of a smoker who ignores health risks. This serves as a reference to the fact that **excessive optimism may have negative consequences**, such as neglecting personal safety.
- 11. YES
The answer is **YES**. The passage explicitly states that the link between optimism and health has been **long been noted**, which directly corresponds to the statement that it has been **known for some time**.
- 12. NOT GIVEN
The answer is **NOT GIVEN**. While the text mentions that optimists perform better in **work, school, and sports**, it does not provide specific information or a comparison regarding the quality of their **personal relationships** with others.
- 13. NO
The answer is **NO**. The statement claims these people take the **same amount** of exercise, but the text says researchers **fail to find consistencies** in their exercise routines, thereby contradicting the statement.