Ielts part 3 Reading test continued … Filling in the answer sheet

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
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN  if there is no information on this


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

• 
  TRUE
  
• 
  FALSE
  
• 
  NOT GIVEN
  

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

• 
  TRUE
  
• 
  FALSE
  
• 
  NOT GIVEN
  

10   Methods 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.