You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-28, which are based on the
Reading Passage below.
Just Relax
A. Hypnosis is an intriguing and fascinating process. A trance-like mental state is
induced in one person by another, who appears to have the power to command
that person to obey instructions without question. Hypnotic experiences were
described by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, whilst references to deep sleep
and anaesthesia have been found in the Bible and in the Jewish Talmud. In the
mid-1700s, Franz Mesmer, an Austrian physician, developed his theory of 'animal
magnetism', which was the belief that the cause of disease was the 'improper
distribution of invisible magnetic fluids'. Mesmer used water tubs and magnetic
wands to direct these supposed fluids to his patients. In 1784, a French
commission studied Mesmer's claims, and concluded that these 'cures' were only
imagined by the patients. However, people continued to believe in this process of
'mesmerism' and it was soon realised that successful results could be achieved,
but without the need for magnets and water.
B. The term hypnotism was first used by James Braid, a British physician who
studied suggestion and hypnosis in the mid-1800s. He demonstrated that
hypnosis differed from sleep, that it was a physiological response and not the
result of secret powers. During this same period, James Esdaile, a Scottish
doctor working in India, used hypnotism instead of anaesthetic in over 200 major
surgical operations, including leg amputations. Later that century, a French
neurologist, Jean Charcot, successfully experimented with hypnosis in his clinic
for nervous disorders.
C. Since then, scientists have shown that the state of hypnosis is a natural human
behaviour, which can affect psychological, social and/or physical experiences.
The effects of hypnotism depend on the ability, willingness and motivation of the
person being hypnotised. Although hypnosis has been compared to dreaming
, and sleepwalking, it is not actually related to sleep. It involves a more active and
intense mental concentration of the person being hypnotised. Hypnotised people
can talk, write, and walk about and they are usually fully aware of what is being
said and done.
D. There are various techniques used to induce hypnosis. The best known is a
series of simple suggestions repeated continuously in the same tone of voice.
The subject is instructed to focus their attention on an object or fixed point, while
being told to relax, breathe deeply, and allow the eyelids to grow heavy and
close. As the person responds, their state of attention changes, and this altered
state often leads to other changes. For example, the person may experience
different levels of awareness, consciousness, imagination, memory and
reasoning or become more responsive to suggestions. Additional phenomena
may be produced or eliminated such as blushing, sweating, paralysis, muscle
tension or anaesthesia. Although these changes can occur with hypnosis, none
of these experiences is unique to it. People who are very responsive to hypnosis
are also more responsive to Suggestions when they are not hypnotised. This
responsiveness increases during hypnotism. This explains why hypnosis takes
only a few seconds for some, whilst other people cannot be easily hypnotised,
E. It is a common misunderstanding that hypnotists are able to force people to
perform criminal or any other acts against their will. In fact, subjects can resist
suggestions, and they retain their ability to distinguish right from wrong. This
misunderstanding is often the result of public performances where subjects
perform ridiculous or highly embarrassing actions at the command of the
hypnotist. These people are usually instructed not to recall their behaviour after
re-emerging from the hypnotic state, so it appears that they were powerless while
hypnotised. The point to remember, however, is that these individuals chose to
participate, and the success; of hypnotism depends on the willingness of a
person to be hypnotised.
F. Interestingly, there are different levels of hypnosis achievable. Thus deep
hypnosis can be induced to allow anaesthesia for surgery, childbirth or dentistry.
Reading Passage below.
Just Relax
A. Hypnosis is an intriguing and fascinating process. A trance-like mental state is
induced in one person by another, who appears to have the power to command
that person to obey instructions without question. Hypnotic experiences were
described by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, whilst references to deep sleep
and anaesthesia have been found in the Bible and in the Jewish Talmud. In the
mid-1700s, Franz Mesmer, an Austrian physician, developed his theory of 'animal
magnetism', which was the belief that the cause of disease was the 'improper
distribution of invisible magnetic fluids'. Mesmer used water tubs and magnetic
wands to direct these supposed fluids to his patients. In 1784, a French
commission studied Mesmer's claims, and concluded that these 'cures' were only
imagined by the patients. However, people continued to believe in this process of
'mesmerism' and it was soon realised that successful results could be achieved,
but without the need for magnets and water.
B. The term hypnotism was first used by James Braid, a British physician who
studied suggestion and hypnosis in the mid-1800s. He demonstrated that
hypnosis differed from sleep, that it was a physiological response and not the
result of secret powers. During this same period, James Esdaile, a Scottish
doctor working in India, used hypnotism instead of anaesthetic in over 200 major
surgical operations, including leg amputations. Later that century, a French
neurologist, Jean Charcot, successfully experimented with hypnosis in his clinic
for nervous disorders.
C. Since then, scientists have shown that the state of hypnosis is a natural human
behaviour, which can affect psychological, social and/or physical experiences.
The effects of hypnotism depend on the ability, willingness and motivation of the
person being hypnotised. Although hypnosis has been compared to dreaming
, and sleepwalking, it is not actually related to sleep. It involves a more active and
intense mental concentration of the person being hypnotised. Hypnotised people
can talk, write, and walk about and they are usually fully aware of what is being
said and done.
D. There are various techniques used to induce hypnosis. The best known is a
series of simple suggestions repeated continuously in the same tone of voice.
The subject is instructed to focus their attention on an object or fixed point, while
being told to relax, breathe deeply, and allow the eyelids to grow heavy and
close. As the person responds, their state of attention changes, and this altered
state often leads to other changes. For example, the person may experience
different levels of awareness, consciousness, imagination, memory and
reasoning or become more responsive to suggestions. Additional phenomena
may be produced or eliminated such as blushing, sweating, paralysis, muscle
tension or anaesthesia. Although these changes can occur with hypnosis, none
of these experiences is unique to it. People who are very responsive to hypnosis
are also more responsive to Suggestions when they are not hypnotised. This
responsiveness increases during hypnotism. This explains why hypnosis takes
only a few seconds for some, whilst other people cannot be easily hypnotised,
E. It is a common misunderstanding that hypnotists are able to force people to
perform criminal or any other acts against their will. In fact, subjects can resist
suggestions, and they retain their ability to distinguish right from wrong. This
misunderstanding is often the result of public performances where subjects
perform ridiculous or highly embarrassing actions at the command of the
hypnotist. These people are usually instructed not to recall their behaviour after
re-emerging from the hypnotic state, so it appears that they were powerless while
hypnotised. The point to remember, however, is that these individuals chose to
participate, and the success; of hypnotism depends on the willingness of a
person to be hypnotised.
F. Interestingly, there are different levels of hypnosis achievable. Thus deep
hypnosis can be induced to allow anaesthesia for surgery, childbirth or dentistry.
