The Power of Smell
Read The Power of Smell and check the IELTS Reading answers. Dog noses are renowned for sensitivity to smells, while human noses are thought to be poor by comparison, yet that might be a misconception. According to recent studies, our noses are in fact acutely sensitive instruments that guide our e…
Passage preview
Dog noses are renowned for sensitivity to smells, while human noses are thought to be poor by comparison, yet that might be a misconception. According to recent studies, our noses are in fact acutely sensitive instruments that guide our everyday life to a surprising extent. Subtle smells can change your mood, behaviour and the choices you make, often without you realising it. Our own odours meanwhile, indicate emotional states such as fear or sadness to those around us. The big mystery is why we aren't more aware of our nasal activity. Noses have certainly never been at the forefront of sensory research, and were pushed aside until recently in favour of the seemingly more vital senses of vision and hearing. 'There has been a lot of prejudice that people are not that influenced by olfactory stimuli, especially compared to other mammals,' says Lilianne Mulica-parodi, who studies the neurobiology of human stress at Stony Brook University in New York, in the United States.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- acutely adverb
To a severe or intense degree; having a highly perceptive understanding or insight into subtle environmental changes
The study revealed that the human nose is an acutely sensitive instrument capable of guiding everyday behavior.
- evoke verb
To bring or recall a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind through sensory or cognitive triggers
Certain aromas have the unique power to evoke vivid memories of specific events from a person's early childhood.
- forefront noun
The leading or most important position or place; the vanguard of research, social movements, or scientific inquiry
Nasal activity has rarely been at the forefront of sensory research compared to the study of vision.
- limbic system noun
A complex network of brain structures responsible for processing emotions, behavioral responses, and the formation of long-term memories
The olfactory centers are intimately linked to the limbic system, explaining the strong connection between smell and memory.
- microsmatic adjective
Having a poorly developed sense of smell, characteristic of certain mammals that rely more on other primary senses
Early anatomists classified humans as microsmatic species because of the small proportion of the brain devoted to olfaction.
- misconception noun
A view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or an incomplete understanding
It is a common misconception that humans possess a significantly weaker sense of smell than other mammals.
- olfactory stimuli noun
Chemical signals or odors that trigger a response in the sensory receptors of the nasal cavity and brain
Research suggests that humans are deeply influenced by olfactory stimuli, even when they are not consciously perceived.
- prejudice noun
A preconceived opinion or bias that is not based on reason or actual experience; a stereotypical assumption
Scientific progress was delayed by the prejudice that humans are not significantly influenced by their sense of smell.
- receptor noun
An organ or cell in the body able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimulus and transmit signals
The human nose contains approximately 400 different types of receptors to process various incoming chemical scents.
- subsequent encounter noun
An event or meeting with a specific stimulus that happens after the initial or first experience of it
The brain's emotional response to a smell is strongest during the first meeting rather than any subsequent encounter.
Answers with explanations
- 14. D
To match this information, we look for a finding about distinguishing similar substances. Paragraph D explicitly mentions being gifted at **telling smells apart** involving **two molecules** whose only difference is that they are **mirror images**. This perfectly matches the concept of human beings distinguishing between two extremely similar substances.
- 15. B
The question asks for a categorisation of species by smell sensitivity. Paragraph B describes how Pierre Paul Broca suggested mammals can be **classed into two broad groups** based on whether they have a finely tuned sense of smell (like dogs) or rely on it only to a small extent (like primates and humans). This provides the specific categorisation mentioned.
- 16. F
The prompt asks for a situation where smell negatively affects choices. Paragraph F describes a task testing **decision-making skills** where men **performed significantly worse** when subjected to a novel smell. Making worse decisions during this task directly corresponds to negatively affecting people's ability to make choices.
- 17. C
We need to find a study showing human perception of a tiny quantity of a substance. Paragraph C discusses a study revealing that humans can detect **certain chemicals diluted** to less than **one part per billion**. This minuscule measurement perfectly exemplifies the perception of a tiny quantity of a substance.
- 18. A
The question asks for an observation that olfactory studies have been undervalued. Paragraph A clearly states that noses have not been at the **forefront of sensory research** and were **pushed aside** in favour of vision and hearing. This confirms the sense of smell has been historically undervalued compared to other senses.
- 19. E
We are looking for an example of smell prompting purchases. Paragraph E highlights how estate agents use the smell of baking bread or brewing coffee to **promote the sale of a house**. Using a pleasing aroma to encourage buyers to purchase property directly matches the question's requirement.
- 20. E
The statement claims a faint smell motivated people to do chores. We look for a specific researcher's name. Paragraph E mentions **Rob Holland** discovering that a **hint of aroma** from a cleaner was enough to **persuade students** to **clean up**. This clearly matches researcher E.
- 21. C
The statement compares human capability to interpret smell favorably against other species. Paragraph C points out that **Charles Greer** showed the human nose and brain are well connected compared to other animals, giving us a **good ability to process incoming scents**. This directly matches researcher C.
- 22. F
The statement links smell to feelings rather than logic. Paragraph F details a study by **William Overman and colleagues** concluding that scent stimulated areas connected with emotion, making decisions **emotional rather than rational**. This perfectly aligns with the contrast between feelings and the logical brain, matching researcher F.
- 23. B
We need to find who claimed humans don't need a sophisticated smelling ability. Paragraph B references **Pierre Paul Broca**, who asserted the relative unimportance of human smelling, stating we **rely on to a small extent** our olfactory organs. This correctly matches researcher B.
- 24. amygdala
The blank requires a singular noun naming a brain part. Paragraph G explicitly identifies the **amygdala** as a specific brain area dedicated to both **emotion** (feeling) and **olfaction** (smell). Therefore, 'amygdala' fits grammatically and semantically as the correct answer.
- 25. unpleasant
The sentence needs an adjective describing what kind of smells create powerful memory associations. Paragraph G states that the link between a memory and a smell is **stronger** if the smell is **unpleasant**. This fits the blank grammatically and completes the meaning of the sentence.
- 26. childhood
The blank requires a noun representing a time or state prompted by smell. Paragraph G explains that smells encountered at a young age lay strong foundations for memory, which is why they often **transport us back to our childhood**. 'Childhood' is the exact word matching the concept of prompting early memories.