‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘The growth mindset’ which is from the Cambridge 18 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘MCQs’, ‘Finding researcher’s Name’ and ‘Yes/No/Not Given’. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 2: ‘The growth mindset’
| Question | Answer |
| 14 | B |
| 15 | C |
| 16 | D |
| 17 | C |
| 18 | B |
| 19 | A |
| 20 | E |
| 21 | B |
| 22 | D |
| 23 | YES |
| 24 | NO |
| 25 | NOT GIVEN |
| 26 | YES |
Questions 14-16
Choose the correct latter, A, B, C or D
Write the correct letter in boxes 14-16 on your answer sheet
14. What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A where the notion of innate intelligence first began
B when ideas about the nature of intelligence began to shift
C how scientists have responded to changing views of intelligence
D why thinkers turned away from the idea of intelligence being fixed
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: This question can be answered after understanding the overall perspective of the paragraph. The writer says in the first two lines, ‘Over the past century, a powerful idea has taken root in the educational landscape The concept of Intelligence as something innate has been supplanted by the idea that intelligence is not fixed, and that, with the right training, we can be the authors of our own cognitive capabilities…’ Here, ‘powerful idea… taken root’ and ‘ideas…began to shift’ means the same. Earlier nature of intelligence was innate but then innate has been supplanted by the idea that intelligence is not fixed.
Answer: B
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
15. The second paragraph describes how schools encourage students to
A identify their personal ambitions.
B help each other to realise their goals.
C have confidence in their potential to succeed
D concentrate on where their particular strengths lie
Location: 2nd paragraph (2nd and 3rd line)
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘School’ and its reference is there in the paragraph. ‘In many schools today you will see hallways covered in motivational posters and hear speeches on the mindset of great sporting heroes who simply believed their way to the top. A major focus of the growth mindset in schools is coaxing students away from seeing failure as an indication of their ability, and towards seeing it as a chance to improve that ability…’ Here, ‘encourage’ and ‘motivational’ are synonyms. Moreover, ‘chance to improve that ability’ has been written as ‘potential to succeed…’.
Answer: C
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
16. In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that students with a fixed mindset
A tend to be less competitive.
B generally have a low sense of self-esteem.
C will only work hard if they are given constant encouragement.
D are afraid to push themselves beyond what they see as their limitations
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second last line of the paragraph. ‘This group had inferred that success or failure is due to innate ability, and this “fixed mindset had led them to fear of failure and lack of effort…’ Here, ‘fear’ and ‘afraid’ are synonyms. In addition, ‘fear of failure and lack of effort’ clarifies that they are afraid to push themselves beyond what they see as their limitations.
Answer: D
Questions 17-22
Look at the following statements (Questions 17-22) and the lot of people
Match each statement with the correct person or people, A-E
Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 17-22 on your answer sheet NB You may use any letter more than once.
17. The methodology behind the growth mindset studies was not strict enough
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The writer states in the initial lines, ‘Aside from the implementation problem, the original growth mindset research has also receive harsh criticism. The statistician Andrew Gelman claims that ‘their research designs have enough degrees of freedom that they could take their data to support just about any theory…’ Here, ‘they have enough degrees of freedom…’ that means there was no strictness.
Answer: C
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
18. The idea of the growth mindset has been incorrectly interpreted.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Much of this criticism is not lost on Dweck, and she deserves great credit for responding to it and adapting her work accordingly. In fact, she argues that her work has been misunderstood and misapplied in a range of ways…’ Here, ‘misunderstood’ and ‘incorrectly interpreted’ means the same. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: B
19. Intellectual ability is an unchangeable feature of each individual
Location: 1st paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third and last line of the paragraph. ‘Psychologist Alfred Binet, the developer of the first intelligence tests, was one of many 19th-century scientists who held that earlier view and sought to quantify cognitive ability…Instead, educators such as John Dewey argued that every child’s intelligence could be developed, given the right environment…’ Here, ‘intelligence’ refers to ‘intellectual skill’. In addition, ‘every child’s intelligence could be developed…’ that clarifies that it is an unchangeable feature.
Answer: A
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
20. The growth mindset should be promoted without students being aware of it
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘Growth mindset supporters David Yeager and Gregory Walton claim that interventions should be delivered in a subtle way to maximize their effectiveness…’ Here, ‘delivered’ and ‘promoted’ means the same. In a subtle way means without students being aware of it. Thus, the answer is E.
Answer: E
21. The growth mindset is not simply about boosting students morale.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the fourth line of the paragraph. ‘For me the growth mindset a tool for learning and improvement. It’s not just a vehicle for making children feel good…’This statement clarifies that growth mindset is not just for boosting children morale but also for learning and improvement. Therefore, the answer is clear.
Answer: B
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
22. Research shows that the growth mindset has no effect on academic achievement
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last two lines of the paragraph. ‘Professor of Psychology Timothy Bates, who has been trying to replicate Dweck’s work, finding that the results are repeatedly mull. He notes that “People with a growth mindset dos cope any better with failure Kids with the growth mindset aren’t getting better grades, either Before or after our intervention study…’ Here, ‘not getting better grades’ that means there was no effect on the academic achievement.
Answer: D
List of People
A Alfred Binet
B Carol Dweck
C Andrew Gelman
D Timothy Bates
E David Yeager and Gregory Walton
Questions 23-26
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN it is impossible to say what the winter thinks about this
23. Dweck has handled criticisms of her work in an admirable way.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘Dweck’ and its reference is there in the initial lines of the paragraph. ‘Much of this criticism is not lost on Dweck, and she deserves great credit for responding to it and adapting her work accordingly…’ Here, ‘adapting her work…’ states that she has handled her work in an admirable way.
Answer: Yes
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
24. Students’ self-perception is a more effective driver of self-confidence than actual achievement is.
Location: 8th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘self-perception’ helps to locate an answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘There is a strong correlation between self-perception and achievement, but there is evidence to suggest that the actual effect of achievement on self-perception is stronger than the other way round…’ Here, the question statement is contradictory to passage statement. The writer states that effect of achievement is stronger than self perception. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: No
25. Recent evidence about growth mindset interventions has attracted unfair coverage in the media.
Location: 9th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘mindset interventions’ and it is there in the paragraph. But there is no information regarding mindset interventions has attracted unfair coverage in the media. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18
26. Deliberate attempts to encourage students to strive for high achievement may have a negative effect
Location: Last paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘Motivational posters and talks are often a waste of time, and might well give students a deluded notion of what success actually means…’ Here, ‘deluded notion of success refers to negative effect. Deluded means to make someone believe that is not true. Moreover, ‘Motivational posters and talks…’ refers to deliberate attempts.
Answer: Yes
‘The growth mindset’ – Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 18