| TRUE | if the statement agrees with the information |
| FALSE | if the statement contradicts the information |
| NOT GIVEN | if there is no information on this |
Roger High field reports
Readers can join a unique experiment to discover what goes on in our brains and bodies at the fairground
A. For decades, thrill-seekers have happily queued to experience a few seconds of the adrenaline-spiking, intestine-twisting thrills of roller coaster and other funfair joy rides. Nowadays, people also spend hours living out the virtual excitement of computer games.
B. An experiment will soon lay bare the science of thrills and help to build the foundation of the next generation of funfair rides and sensational computer games. Brendan Walker, a self-proclaimed ‘thrill engineer’, is curating this extraordinary venture where people can become a guinea pig. Fairground: Thrill Laboratory, at the Science Museum’s Dana Centre, will include three different rides over three weeks - the Booster, to measure the physiology of excitement and thrill; a ghost train, to measure fear and the tingle of anticipation; and Miami Trip, a gentler ride designed to explore pleasure.
C. One of the collaborators in the thrill lab is Prof Tom Rodden. Its impetus is the blurring of the boundary between the real and the digital worlds, he explained: ‘Today, trainers count footsteps, wrist watches can measure heart rate, satellites can detect where we are and, all the while, computer games are being played in the streets not just the living room, and computer accessories such as joysticks are being replaced with real-world objects such as tennis racquets. ’
D. Doctors already understand the broad effects of joy rides. As a roller coaster puts the body through weightlessness, high gravitational forces and acceleration, the brain struggles to make sense of conflicting and changing signals from the senses. There are effects on the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, that detects position and motion, and on the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary systems in the body, such as heartbeat.
E. Added to the confusion of these signals are the messages from the eye, which may be different from those of the other systems. This can lead to peculiar effects such as the vection illusion (think of when you are stopped at a traffic light and the car next to you edges forward - you feel as though you are moving).
F. Overall the brain responds to an exhilarating ride by triggering the release of a potent cocktail of biochemicals to deal with the body’s stress, including more adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine which can suppress pain and boost the glow of euphoria that follows. The result can be pleasure but can also be nausea. Military and Nasa researchers have studied the problem for half a century, calling it ‘simulator sickness’.
G. But engineers and scientists have not figured out how to fool the senses at the same rate at the same time. They still don’t know for sure who might get sick. Meanwhile, the latest rides are pushing the boundaries of endurance. The human body cannot take much more of a G-force than the latest rollercoasters, so we need to understand more about what distinguishes a spine-tingling thrill from a gutemptying fright to ensure the experience is memorable for the right reasons.
H. At the thrill lab, volunteers will be asked to try the fairground rides while hooked up to special equipment. This includes an accelerometer that measures the G-force their body is subjected to; a measure of blood oxygen levels; measures of skin conductance (sweating) and an ECG monitor that keeps track of their heart rate.
In addition, a helmet-mounted video camera will film their expressions, from the first gasp to the last scream. As with astronauts and test pilots, information will be beamed in real time to a computer. And measurements will be displayed publicly. Aside from providing amusement for onlookers, participants can relive their terrifying experiences.
I. This study will help designers of amusement parks to squeeze more shrieks out of people by creating the illusion of imminent death, said Prof Rodden. Equally, the next generation of rides will sense when too many people feel nauseous and wind down accordingly. In short, they will be able to distinguish terror from titillation. This work will also help computer games to escape the boundaries of the Xbox and PlayStation. Steve Benford, of the mixed-reality lab at the University of Nottingham, believes that the thrill lab will help to design more immersive rides and games, ‘real-time adaptive spaces’.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Difference between excitement from computer games and thrill rides
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why this is correct: The passage tells us that people enjoy thrill rides and also enjoy computer games, but it does not compare them directly. It never says whether the excitement is different, similar, stronger, or weaker. So we do not have enough information.
Passage Reference: A. For decades, thrill-seekers have happily queued to experience a few seconds of the adrenaline-spiking, intestine-twisting thrills of roller coaster and other funfair joy rides. Nowadays, people also spend hours living out the virtual excitement of computer games.
Common Mistake: Students often choose FALSE because they assume physical rides and games must feel different. That is adding your own idea. The passage simply does not compare them, which is a Not Given trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'thrills of roller coaster' and 'virtual excitement of computer games' = Statement: 'excitement from computer games is different from that of thrill rides'
Tips: If the statement uses comparison words like 'different' or 'more than', check carefully whether the passage actually compares them.
Key Vocabulary:
- thrill-seekers = people who look for excitement
- virtual = not physically real
Question Focus: How the brain processes signals during thrill rides
Correct Answer: FALSE
Passage Reference: D. Doctors already understand the broad effects of joy rides. As a roller coaster puts the body through weightlessness, high gravitational forces and acceleration, the brain struggles to make sense of conflicting and changing signals from the senses.
Why this is correct: The statement says the brain has little difficulty, but the passage clearly says the brain struggles to make sense of the signals. This is the opposite meaning.
Common Mistake: Some students miss the word struggles and choose NOT GIVEN. But the passage clearly contradicts the statement. This is a Contradiction trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'struggles to make sense' = Statement: 'has little difficulty processing information'
Tips: For FALSE questions, always look for strong opposite words like 'struggles' versus 'little difficulty'.
Key Vocabulary:
- struggles = has difficulty
- conflicting = not matching
Question Focus: Comparing effects on the heart and the eye
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Passage Reference: D. There are effects on the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, that detects position and motion, and on the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary systems in the body, such as heartbeat. E. Added to the confusion of these signals are the messages from the eye, which may be different from those of the other systems.
Why this is correct: The passage mentions effects on heartbeat and also mentions signals from the eye, but it never compares which one is affected more. The passage does not discuss whether the heart is impacted more than the eye.
Common Mistake: Students often choose TRUE or FALSE because both the heart and eye are mentioned. But there is no comparison of strength or degree. This is a Not Given trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'effects on ... heartbeat' and 'messages from the eye' = Statement: 'greater impact on the heart than the eye'
Tips: When you see words like 'greater than', look for a clear comparison in the passage. If there is none, choose NOT GIVEN.
Key Vocabulary:
- vestibular system = balance system in the ear
- impact = effect
Question Focus: Physical limits of the human body and G-force
Correct Answer: TRUE
Passage Reference: G. Meanwhile, the latest rides are pushing the boundaries of endurance. The human body cannot take much more of a G-force than the latest rollercoasters, so we need to understand more about what distinguishes a spine-tingling thrill from a gutemptying fright
Why this is correct: The passage clearly says the body cannot take much more G-force than the latest rollercoasters. This means modern rides are very close to the body's limit.
Common Mistake: Some students choose FALSE because they think 'close to limits' is an interpretation. But the wording in the passage directly supports it. This is a Synonym match.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'cannot take much more of a G-force' = Statement: 'take the body close to its G-force limits'
Tips: Words like 'cannot take much more' often mean 'close to the limit'. Train yourself to spot these paraphrases.
Key Vocabulary:
- endurance = physical limit
- G-force = force felt during acceleration
Question Focus: Composition of volunteers in the thrill lab
Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN
Passage Reference: H. At the thrill lab, volunteers will be asked to try the fairground rides while hooked up to special equipment. This includes an accelerometer that measures the G-force their body is subjected to; a measure of blood oxygen levels; measures of skin conductance (sweating) and an ECG monitor that keeps track of their heart rate.
Why this is correct: The passage explains what volunteers will do and what equipment they will use, but it says nothing about men and women or equal numbers. The passage does not discuss gender at all.
Common Mistake: Students sometimes assume scientific studies balance genders. That is outside knowledge, not from the text. This is a Not Given trap.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'volunteers will be asked to try the fairground rides' = Statement: 'lab volunteers will consist of equal numbers of men and women'
Tips: Never assume typical research rules. If gender or numbers are not written, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Key Vocabulary:
- volunteers = people who choose to take part
- consist of = be made up of
Question Focus: Ability of future rides to respond to participants
Correct Answer: TRUE
Passage Reference: I. Equally, the next generation of rides will sense when too many people feel nauseous and wind down accordingly. In short, they will be able to distinguish terror from titillation.
Why this is correct: The phrase wind down accordingly shows that rides will change their behavior based on how people feel. This clearly matches the idea of adapting to people's reactions.
Common Mistake: Some students miss the meaning of 'wind down' and choose NOT GIVEN. This is a Synonym match where the idea is expressed in different words.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'wind down accordingly' = Statement: 'adapt to people's reactions'
Tips: When you see verbs like 'sense' or 'respond', look for ideas about change or adaptation.
Key Vocabulary:
- accordingly = in response to something
- nauseous = feeling sick
General Tips:
- TFNG statements follow passage order - use the location of the previous answer to find the next one faster.
- If the statement makes a comparison, always check whether the passage actually compares those things.
- FALSE means the passage clearly says the opposite. NOT GIVEN means the passage is silent about that specific claim.
- Do not use your own knowledge or assumptions. Only use what is written in the passage.
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