Unlocking the mystery of dreams
Read Unlocking the mystery of dreams and check the IELTS Reading answers. Thousands of years ago, dreams were seen as messages from the gods, and in many cultures, they are still considered prophetic, foretelling things to come. In ancient Greece, sick people slept at the temples of Asclepius, the…
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Thousands of years ago, dreams were seen as messages from the gods, and in many cultures, they are still considered prophetic, foretelling things to come. In ancient Greece, sick people slept at the temples of Asclepius, the god of medicine, in order to receive healing dreams. Modern dream science really begins at the end of the 19th century with Sigmund Freud, who theorized that dreams were the expression of unconscious desires often from childhood. He believed that exploring these hidden emotions through analysis could help cure mental illness. After Freud, the most important event in dream science was the discovery in the early 1950s of a phase of sleep characterized by intense brain activity and rapid eye movement (REM).
Vocabulary from this passage
12 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- activation-synthesis hypothesis noun
A neurobiological theory suggesting that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural firing
The activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests that dreams are formed by random nerve signals sent from the pons.
- anterior cingulate cortex noun
A brain region involved in error detection, impulse control, and emotional regulation
Activity in the anterior cingulate cortex might be the reason why people often solve tricky problems while dreaming.
- captivated verb
Attracted and held the interest and attention of; charmed or fascinated by something
The mystery of why we dream has captivated thinkers and philosophers since the dawn of ancient times.
- coherent adjective
Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole that is easy to understand or follow
Dreams often lack a coherent narrative because the brain's logical center is less active during sleep.
- diagnostic equipment noun
Tools and devices used by medical professionals to identify diseases or monitor biological conditions
Modern diagnostic equipment like fMRI has allowed researchers to watch the dreaming brain in real-time.
- diffuse verb
To spread or cause to spread over a wide area; to reduce the intensity of a feeling
Some researchers believe that the act of dreaming helps to diffuse powerful emotions and maintain mental health.
- electroencephalograph noun
A machine used for recording the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes attached to the scalp
Using an electroencephalograph, researchers observed that brain activity during REM sleep resembles the waking state.
- limbic system noun
A complex system of nerves and networks in the brain concerned with instinct and mood
The limbic system, which controls our emotions, is one of the most active areas during REM sleep.
- physiological function noun
The normal, healthy operation of a biological system or organ in a living organism
Some scientists believe that REM sleep fulfills a basic physiological function, with dreams being a mere byproduct.
- prefrontal cortex noun
The front part of the frontal lobe involved in complex cognitive behavior and decision making
The inactivity of the prefrontal cortex during REM explains why dreams often lack a coherent story line.
- prophetic adjective
Accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future; relating to a prophecy
In many cultures, dreams are still considered prophetic messages that foretell significant events yet to come.
- unconscious desire noun
Feelings, thoughts, or urges that are not in the immediate awareness but influence behavior
Freud theorized that dreams were the symbolic expression of unconscious desires often rooted in early childhood.
Answers with explanations
- 27. F
Paragraph F directly addresses the significance of dreams on **artists' work**. It explicitly mentions how famous **painters** such as Jasper Johns and Salvador Dali 'found inspiration in their dreams'. This provides a clear match to the required information.
- 28. C
Paragraph C outlines the 'activation-synthesis hypothesis', which suggests dreams are merely random nerve signals. The paragraph ends by asking 'what is the **point of studying them?**' This rhetorical question perfectly encapsulates a concern about the overall **usefulness of dream research**.
- 29. B
Paragraph B discusses the evolution of REM sleep and explicitly lists the **types of living creatures** that experience it. It states that REM sleep is 'universal at least in **mammals and even birds**'. This directly fulfills the prompt's request.
- 30. G
Paragraph G discusses research on **psychological well-being**. It highlights Rosalind Cartwright's findings that people who dream vividly are **less likely to remain depressed**, creating a clear link between dreaming and mental health benefits.
- 31. D
Paragraph D focuses on how modern technology supports historical theories. It mentions that modern **medical diagnostic equipment** like fMRI and PET scans 'might actually **lend new support to Freud's ideas**'. This perfectly matches the prompt's description.
- 32. D
The text states that in ancient times, dreams were considered **prophetic, foretelling things to come**. The correct option explicitly matches this by stating dreams 'predicted future events'. The distractor about messages *to* the gods reverses the text (they were messages *from* the gods).
- 33. C
The text explicitly states that 'REM sleep **heats up the brain**'. The correct option aligns perfectly by stating 'The temperature of the brain increases'. Other options incorrectly assert that people rarely dream or that brain activity differs heavily from being awake (the text says it *resembles* being awake).
- 34. C
Paragraph E explicitly ties the lack of a coherent storyline to the fact that the **prefrontal cortex**, which handles **logical thinking**, is 'much less active during REM sleep'. The correct option directly captures this by noting the part of the brain in control of reasoning is **less involved**.
- 35. A
The passage identifies the **anterior cingulate cortex** as the active brain region responsible for detecting inconsistencies. Eric Nofzinger explicitly connects this specific brain area to the ability of people to **solve tricky problems** in their sleep. Therefore, this is the correct region.
- 36. C
The statement connects technology to the brain areas dealing with feelings. In Paragraph D, **Mark Solms** argues that medical imaging shows the active parts of the dreaming brain **control emotion** (feelings). This links directly to Researcher C.
- 37. B
The statement suggests dreams are meaningless pictures. In Paragraph C, **Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley** propose a theory resulting in the conclusion that dreams are merely **insignificant night-time images** activated by random nerve signals. This matches Researcher B.
- 38. G
The statement refers to dreaming as a method of calming strong feelings. In Paragraph G, **Rosalind Cartwright**'s research on depression concludes that dreaming helps to **diffuse powerful emotions**. 'Diffuse powerful emotions' directly translates to calming strong feelings. This links to Researcher G.
- 39. F
The statement is about dreams revealing unexpected self-knowledge. In Paragraph G, **Clara Hill** explicitly states that dreams **reveal stuff about you that you didn't know was there**, which is a direct paraphrase of the prompt. This matches Researcher F.
- 40. A
The statement ties dreams to maintaining an essential body function. In Paragraph B, **Jerry Siegel** argues that sleep regulates brain temperature to allow repairs, stating that REM sleep is likely 'filling a **basic physiological function**' and dreams are just a byproduct. This corresponds to Researcher A.