In this tutorial, ex-examiner Robert answers true-false not given questions in the IELTS Reading test.
We look at:
- The best approach to answer True/False/Not Given questions
- A step-by-step guide to answering True/False/Not Given questions
- Sample answers to two True/False/Not Given Questions
- How the True/False/Not Given Questions may trick you into answering incorrectly
The best approach to answer True/False/Not Given Questions
Now, the best approach is to read the True/False/Not Given statements, make the meaning clear to yourself, pick out the keywords, then scan the text to find the relevant part and start to match that with the statement.
Sample True/False/Not Given question #1
The Emirates Mars Mission
The international scientific community was taken aback when, in 2014, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it would send a mission to Mars by December 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the country’s founding. After all, the nation had no space agency and no planetary scientists, and had only recently sent its first satellite into orbit. Six years on and UAE’s fully assembled Mars orbiter has undergone tests at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai and will be launched sometime in July this year.
The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is unique in that it will mark the first interplanetary venture of any Arab nation. Upon reaching the red planet in February 2021, the orbiter, known as Hope, or Amal in Arabic, will produce the first global map of the Martian atmosphere. And, somewhat unusually for a space mission, unrestricted access to its data will be freely available.
Goals other than space exploration underlie this incredible achievement, however. The small, oil-rich Gulf state hopes the Mars project can accelerate its transformation into a knowledge economy—by encouraging research, degree programmes in basic sciences and inspiring youth. The Mars mission is a mega-project designed to cause “a big shift in the mindset”, according to Omran Sharaf, the mission’s project manager.
Right, so this is what I understood after a quick read: UAE Mars mission. Unique in Arab world. Map Mars atmosphere. Plans to change “mindset” as a result of achievement.
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1 Scientists were surprised when the UAE launched its first satellite.
2 Anyone will be able to learn more about the planet Mars.
3 Young graduates will soon join the space exploration project.
Sample answer to True/False/Not Given question #1
Statement 1. Scientists were surprised when the UAE launched its first satellite.
What are the keywords?
Nouns: scientists, UAE, satellite. Verbs: surprised, launched.
Let’s match that with the text.
It begins with “The international scientific community was taken aback”. Good so far. Obviously “scientists” corresponds to “international scientific community” and “was taken aback” means was VERY surprised. Could statement 1 be true, then?
But wait. This “great surprise” refers to the fact that the UAE “announced it would send a mission to Mars by December 2021”, not to the launching itself and the launching? Read on. At the end of paragraph 1: “and will be launched sometime in July this year”. So, in this report, the orbiter is yet to be launched and therefore the statement is FALSE.
Statement 2. Anyone will be able to learn more about the planet Mars.
Keywords? Anyone which means absolutely no limits on future possibilities to learn about Mars.
Checking that with the text, we see at the end of paragraph 2, “And, somewhat unusually for a space mission, unrestricted access to its data will be freely available.” I think it’s clear. If we paraphrase “unrestricted access” that means anyone can have access to data which will be “freely available”, opening up the possibility to learn from it. Statement 2 has to be TRUE.
Statement 3 Young graduates will soon join the space exploration project.
The text does suggest that the UAE hopes to take advantage of this Mars mission to make fundamental changes to its educational aims by “encouraging research, degree programmes in basic sciences and inspiring youth.”. The issue is whether we take this “encouraging and inspiring” to literally mean that in the near future (soon) young graduates will take part in the Mars project. Perhaps so. Who knows? But the text is really talking about shifting the emphasis towards science, not just the space programme. In other words, there is no evidence, even though we might imagine that it might be true. The statement is NOT GIVEN.
Sample True/False/Not Given question #2
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence itself loosely describes the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions and those of others. People who possess a high degree of emotional intelligence know themselves very well and are also able to sense the emotions of others.
Future research in the area might explore the validity of emotional intelligence for predicting outcomes that are more directly connected to emotional skills, such as success in interacting with other people in a variety of individual and group settings. An emotional intelligence quotient, or EQ, although not exclusively used as such, might be relevant to important work-related outcomes such as individual performance, organisational productivity, and developing people because its principles provide a new way to understand and assess the behaviors, management styles, attitudes, interpersonal skills, and potential of people. It would help fulfil an increasingly important consideration in human resource planning, job profiling, recruitment, learning and development, and client relations and customer service, among others.
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer of the Reading Passage?
On your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
- Emotionally intelligent people are likely to be successful at work.
- Emotional intelligence studies should only be applied to the workplace.
- Accurate EQ measurements could benefit employers and employees.
Sample answer to True/False/Not Given question #2
Statement 1: “Emotionally intelligent people are likely to be successful at work”
At a first glance might seem to be something the writer does claim. The first paragraph generally defines the emotionally intelligent as those in control of their own feelings and, at the same time, sensitive to others, characteristics that would seem to point to success in the workplace? Yes or no? But, in the next paragraph, does the writer claim anywhere that emotional intelligence will probably cause success? No, not at all. The writer is interested in whether some model of emotional intelligence could be useful in measuring certain skills, such as “success at interacting with people in a variety of individual and group settings”. It is clear that it is not clear. NOT GIVEN
Statement 2: “Emotional intelligence studies should only be applied to the workplace.”
This is restrictive, thanks to the word “only”. Are these studies ONLY useful in the workplace? “An emotional intelligence quotient, or EQ, although not exclusively used as such, might be relevant to important work-related outcomes”. Certainly not. It is useful in work-related issues but not exclusive. Statement 2 is NO.
Statement 3: “Accurate EQ measurements could benefit employers and employees.”
This rests on the “could”, the possibility of these EQ measurements being of practical use in the workplace.
Repeating what we’ve just seen in 2, “An emotional intelligence quotient, or EQ, although not exclusively used as such, might be relevant to important work-related outcomes” noticing the match “might be relevant” with “could be beneficial” and adding, if it were necessary, the last sentence of the text, “It would help fulfil an increasingly important consideration in human resource planning….”, which reiterates its possible benefits. No doubt of a YES this time.
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