4.Think About Whichreading Skills Are Being Tested

IELTS

Part 3

Reading test continued …

1.Filling in theanswer sheet.

2.Keeping toreadingtime limits.

3. Practice with differenttask types.

4.Think about whichreading skillsare being tested.

5. Read theinstructionscarefully as they may not always be the same.

6. Pick outkey wordsfrom the questions.

Recognisingcohesive devices

Different text types have different ways of organising information and if students can recognise which text type they are reading, it will help them to read more efficiently to find their way through the text and locate the answers to questions.

Another way of finding your way through a text is to practice in looking at ways in which ideas are linked together in a text – that is, the cohesion of a text. Recognising cohesion will develop your intensive reading skills.

Look at the following sentence from a text about horses:

Horses continued to define military tactics well into the 1900s, until they finally became outmoded by machine guns, tanks, airplanes and other modern weapons.

The linking worduntilis used to add information about when something happened andtheyis used to refer back to horses in the text. These are called cohesive devices. The ability to recognise cohesive devices is essential in making sense of a text. It is also an important way of finding answers in a text.

In order to be an effective reader, it is important to be able to recognise the use of cohesive devices.

Task1

Look at these four sentences from a paragraph about horses. Put them in the correct order.

Their muscular bodies are heavier in the front than in the back, making them well balanced to pull heavy loads
Yet they can also be agile and quick – fit to carry out difficult tasks at top speed.
So for more than a thousand years, people have called on the power of horses to cultivate the land and manage livestock.
Horses are built for power.

Answers:
Read the paragraph again and look at the pronouns that have been highlighted. Choose the correct answers.

Horses are built for power. Their muscular bodies are heavier in the front than in the back, makingthemwell balanced to pull heavy loads. Yettheycan also be agile and quick – fit to carry out difficult tasks at top speed. So for more than a thousand years,wehave called on the power of horses to cultivate the land and manage livestock.

Read the paragraph again and look at the pronouns that have been highlighted. Choose the correct answers.

The pronounthemrefers to the word

power.
front.
horses.

The pronountheyrefers to the word(s)

humans.
horses.
agile and fit.

The pronounwerefers to the word

humans.
muscles.
horses.

Linking words and their uses

These are words that act like signposts to guide you through and mark the logical development of a text.

Linking words include words and phrases to:

indicate time periods (e.g.afterwards).
add something (e.g.and).
make a contrast (e.g.but).
give a reason (e.g.because).

talk about the result (e.g.so).
give an example (e.g.for example).
to list (e.g.firstly, secondly).
introduce paraphrasing (e.g.In other words).

Look at the linking wordso, which has been highlighted in the text. Think about what it means in the text.

Choose the correct answer.

Horses are built for power. Their muscular bodies are heavier in the front than in the back, making them well balanced to pull heavy loads. Yet they can also be agile and quick – fit to carry out difficult tasks at top speed.Sofor more than a thousand years, we have called on the power of horses to cultivate the land and manage livestock.

The linking word so is used to:

give an example of something.
make a contrast with something.
explain the reason or consequence for something

Identifying writers’ opinions

An understanding of the purpose of linking words will also help you to answer questions in the Reading test. In the Academic Reading test, candidates might also be asked to identify a writer’s opinion (in Yes / No / Not given questions).

Look at this example question.

Horses are built for power. Their muscular bodies are heavier in the front than in the back, making them well balanced to pull heavy loads. Yet they can also be agile and quick – fit to carry out difficult tasks at top speed. So for more than a thousand years, we have called on the power of horses to cultivate the land and manage livestock.

... write:

YESif the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NOif the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVENif it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

27 The writer believes that horses are useful because of their physical characteristics.

The answer isYES. The use of the wordsoindicates that the statement is giving the consequence of horses’ physical abilities

See the group headings matched to the correct parts of the table.

giving reasons

because
as
since

/ making a contrast

on the other hand
however
but
and yet

/ adding information

moreover
as well as this
in addition
furthermore

/ indicating time

since that time
previously
a year later

giving an example

for example
such as
like

/ listing opinions and arguments

firstly
finally
in the first place

/ describing a result

that's why
therefore
so

/ introducing paraphrasing

in other words

Identifying information: Approaching the task

An effective way to approach this type of question is to follow the following stages:

Identify the key words and phrases in the question.
Try and think of synonyms or ways to paraphrase these key words and phrases.
Search for the key words and phrases and their synonyms in the text.
Read intensively around the key words and phrases in the text to try to find the answer to the question.

Let's try using the strategy to answer the following questions. Read the instructions and choose the correct answer to each question.

... write

TRUEif the statement agrees with the information

FALSEif the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVENif there is no information on this

8 The last of the wild horses lived around 10,000 years ago.

TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN

9Initially people probably used domesticated horses to supplement their diet.

TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN

10Methods of artificial selection have changed over the centuries.

TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN

You will notice that sometimes the key words in the questions will appear in the text (e.g.wild horses,10,000 years ago) and other times synonyms have been used (e.g.initially–first, diet–food).

Explaining the answers

It is important to be able to explain the answers.One way to do this is to show the relevant part of the text with the phrases highlighted.

Let’s look at each of the questions in turn.

8The last of the wild horses lived around 10,000 years ago.

This wasFALSE. Here is the reading text. The highlighted words show you why FALSE is the correct answer.

Horses have been racing across the landscape for around 55 million years – much longer than our own species has existed. However, prehistoric remains show that at the end of the Ice Age, some 10,000 years ago, wild horses died out in the Americas and dwindled in western Europe, for reasons that are not clear.But they continued to thrive on the steppes of eastern Europe and Central Asia, where short grasses and shrubs grow on vast, dry stretches of land. Most scholars believe it was here that people domesticated the horse. However, the DNA of domestic horses is very diverse. This suggests they may be descended from a number of different wild horse populations, in several locations.

9Initially people probably used domesticated horses to supplement their diet.

This wasTRUE. Here is the reading text. The highlighted words show you why TRUE is the correct answer.

Once horses and humans encountered each other, our two species became powerfully linked. Humans domesticated horses some 6,000 years ago, and over time, we have created more than 200 breeds.The first domestic horses were likely to have been kept mainly as a source of food, rather than for work or for riding. There is evidence of horses being raised for meat in Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, around 5,500 years ago later they began to pull chariots, and horseback riding became common in Afghanistan and Iran about 4,000 years ago. As we have shaped horses to suit our needs on battlefields, farms and elsewhere, these animals have shaped human history. The ways we travel, trade, play, work and fight wars have all been profoundly shaped by our use of horses.

10Methods of artificial selection have changed over the centuries.

This wasNOT GIVEN. Here is the reading text. The highlighted words show you where there is information about the methods of artificial selection used over the centuries, but there is no information in the text to show that these methods have changed.

When people domesticate animals, they control their behavior in many ways. For example, animals that are being domesticated no longer choose their own mates. Instead, people control their breeding. Individuals with traits that humans prefer are more likely to produce offspring and pass on their genes. In the course of several generations, both the body and behavior of the animal are transformed. In the wild, animals that are well adapted to their environment live long and reproduce, while others die young. In this way, nature "chooses" the traits that are passed on to the next generation. This is the process of evolution by natural selection.Domestic animals also evolve, but people do the selecting. Humans seek out qualities like tameness, and help animals with those traits to survive and bear young. This is evolution by artificial selection. Most domestic animals are naturally social. Their wild ancestors lived in groups, with individuals responding to each other – some led, others followed.In domestic animals, the tendency to submit to others is especially strong. Generations of breeding have encouraged them to let people take the lead.

Write how you would explain these words.

Individuals … that humans prefer are more likely to produceoffspringand pass on their genes.

When people with horsesclashedwith those without, horses provided a huge advantage.

Yet they can also beagileand quick – fit to carry out difficult tasks at top speed.

When you come across unfamiliar word, look it up in the Dictionary.

Multiple choice questions: Approaching the task

Overview

In multiple choice questions, candidates choose the correct answer to a question on the text from four given options. This requires scanning to find the correct place in the text and then intensive reading to analyse the exact meaning.

Look at an example of the type of question that appears in the Reading test, which is based on the text about horses.

Choose the correct letter,A,B,CorD.

33Prehistoric evidence has been found that shows that

Apeople have existed in the Americas much longer than horses.

Bhorses in the Americas prefer to eat short grasses and shrubs.

Cas the ice caps melted, the wild horse became extinct in the Americas.

Ddomestic horses have similar DNA to horses 10,000 years ago.

Horses have been racing across the landscape for around 55 million years – much longer than our own species has existed. However, prehistoric remains show that at the end of the Ice Age, some 10,000 years ago, wild horses died out in the Americas and dwindled in western Europe, for reasons that are not clear. But they continued to thrive on the steppes of eastern Europe and Central Asia, where short grasses and shrubs grow on vast, dry stretches of land. Most scholars believe it was here that people domesticated the horse. However, the DNA of domestic horses is very diverse. This suggests they may be descended from a number of different wild horse populations, in several locations.

Answer

The answer is C. The answer can be found in the following part of the text:

… prehistoric remains show that at the end of the Ice Age, some 10,000 years ago, wild horses died out in the Americas…

Short answer questions: Approaching the task

Overview

In this task type, candidates answer questions by using words from the text. Predicting the kind of answers required is a particularly useful skill when answering short answer questions and candidates can use the question words to help them do this. For instance, the answer to a question beginning ‘Where …’ will be a location, the answer to a question beginning ‘Who/Whose …’ will be a person, the answer to a question beginning ‘What …’ will be a thing, and so on.

Task

Look at the following two questions which are similar to those that appear in the Reading test. They are based on a text about a competition. Before you read the text, decide whether the answer will be a place, person, thing etc. Then highlight the correct answers in the text.

Answer the questions below usingNO MORE THAN THREE WORDSfor each answer.

1What can be found on the jars of some Delicious Foods products?

2Where can you find the telephone number on the jars?

IMPORTANT NOTICE: COMPETITION

Delicious Foodswishes to inform the publicthat they have placed prizes inselected jars ofDelicious Foods Strawberry Jam.The winning jars have all been marked with agold strawberry.Prizes must be claimedby the end of the year.The telephone numberto call to claimthe prizeis printedon the bottomof each jar.

Clear all answers

Candidate responses

As with all completion questions, candidates write the words on the answer sheet. They should make sure they answer the question and spell the words correctly.

Look at the responses a candidate gave to the same questions. Why did they get no marks for their responses?

1What can be found on the jars of some Delicious Foods products?

Candidate’s response: 'gold strawbry'

2Where can you find the telephone number on the jars?

Candidate’s response:'on the bottom of each'

Answers

1 The wordstrawberryis spelled incorrectly.

2 There are more than three words in this answer.

Make sure that youread ALL instructions carefully and copy spelling carefully.

Task 2

Fill in the gaps.

A career in journalism
Trainees (1)………… into the industry by a variety of routes. Some are recruited (2) ………… by a newspaper in their local area and carry out their (3) ………… training under the terms of a training contract. This is known as direct entry.

1 What type of word do you think is missing in gap 1? Is it an adjective, verb or adverb?
2 What type of word do you think is missing in gap 2? Is it an adjective, verb or adverb?
3 What type of word do you think is missing in gap 3? Is it an adjective, verb or adverb?

(Answers: 1 verb; 2 adverb; 3 adjective.)

3 Try to think of suitable words to complete the text.

Original text:

A career in journalism: How do I get into journalism?

Traineescomeinto the industry by a variety of routes. Some are recruiteddirectlyby a newspaper in their local area and carry out theirbasictraining under the terms of a training contract. This is known as direct entry.

Understanding the meaning of a text

Task 3

Read a textof your choice and attempt answering the questions below:

Some texts which you may want to read:

1What do you think is the author’s opinion?

2What is the article about?

3Who is your favourite character and why?

4What is the most exciting thing that has happened in the article story/book so far?

5Describe the place where the story/book is set.

6If the story/book was made into a film, who would you choose as the actors?

7What do you think is going to happen next?

8Would you recommend this article/story/book? Why / Why not?

How did you do? Share your answers with the tutor.

√You can now read this Unit’s Review.