HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS
182
Academic reading
Reading Passage 7, Questions 201 to 214.
Recalling it
201
B
202
D
203
C
204
F
205
E
206
NOT GIVEN
207
FALSE
208
TRUE
209
FALSE
210
FALSE
211
B
212
A
213
D
214
C
Reading Passage 8, Questions 215 to 226.
Home-schooling
215
Section B iii) Problems at school
216
Section C ix)
Parents as teachers
217
Section D v) Overcoming a weakness
218
Section E ii)
Range of benefits
219
Section F viii) Shared responsibility
ANSWERS
183
220
FALSE
221
TRUE
222
NOT GIVEN
223
TRUE
224
FALSE
225
FALSE
226
TRUE
Reading Passage 9, Questions 227 to 240.
Biofuels backlash
227
Section A ii) Fossil fuel replacements
228
Section B vi)
Environmentally friendly
229
Section C viii) Adverse affects
230
Section D x)
Thorough examination
231
Section E iv) The way forward
232
FALSE
233
TRUE
234
FALSE
235
NOT GIVEN
236
FALSE
237
G
238
C
239
J
240
H
HOW TO MASTER THE IELTS
184
Academic writing
The following writingtask answers have been written by the author.
The method
used is explained at the end of each task. There are no right or wrong answers but
you must cover all parts of the question. Marks are lost for mistakes in grammar,
punctuation and spelling, as well as repetition of words. A higher mark is awarded
for wellconstructed sentences that communicate a clear message using sufficient
vocabulary.
Writing task
1
Comparing activities, we can see that email is the most popular activity with users of
all ages. At least 90% of people use the internet for emails.
Whilst 80% of teenagers play online games, this figure drops to 55% of people in
their twenties and 36% of people in their thirties. Online gaming reaches a low of
20% with people in their fifties and then increases in popularity with older people.
Music and video downloads display a similar trend to internet games, but they
are less popular in general and decline markedly with people over age 40. Only 6%
of people over age 70 download music and videos.
Online travel reservations are made by over half of all people except for teenagers
who do not book any travel over the internet. Travel reservations peak in the thirties
age group, when almost threequarters of people make reservations in this way.
Online purchases are made by approximately twothirds of people, except for
those
at both ends of the age scale, where internet shopping is less popular.
Searching for people online is done by between onequarter and onethird of
people depending on age, except for teenagers who make only three searches out
of every 100.
Method
The first paragraph identifies the most popular internet activity across the age groups.
The second paragraph deals with online games, comparing percentages across the
age groups, describing trends. The third paragraph deals with music and videos,
in a similar way, as does the fourth paragraph on travel reservations. The fifth
paragraph begins with online purchases and ends with searching for people.
ANSWERS
185
Writing task
2
I believe that eating fast food is making our society overweight. However, people can
choose what type of food they eat so fast food is not entirely to blame.
People will gain weight if they eat too much food or if it has a high fat or sugar
content. It should be possible to control your weight
by avoiding convenience
foods, biscuits and snacks, and by making healthy choices at mealtimes. A lack of
exercise also encourages obesity as does a family history of putting on weight.
People should take action to stop themselves from becoming obese; for example, by
going on a diet or taking more exercise. A more active lifestyle will help people to
burn off the extra calories.
Fastfood companies must take some blame for obesity in society because they
often sell highfat food in oversize portions. They should offer healthier alternatives
and label their food with its calorie content. Readymade meals are very popular but
these are not always the healthiest choices. People should cook more of their own
food so that they know what has gone into it.
I think that obesity in children is the fault of the parents. Children should not be
exposed to unhealthy highfat foods too early in life or be allowed to develop a ‘sweet
tooth’. A visit to a fastfood restaurant should be an occasional treat rather than a
regular eating habit. It is also important that schools encourage healthy eating in
children by providing tasty, healthy food at lunchtime. If young people can make the
right nutritional choices then obesity will not be a problem for society. (270)
Method
In the first paragraph, the author deals with the first part of the question, stating an
opinion (‘I believe’), whilst being careful to address both sides of the argument. The
second paragraph deals with the factors that are responsible for obesity and how to
deal with them. No specialist knowledge is required. The third paragraph deals with
obesity looked at as a fastfood problem. The fourth paragraph discusses childhood
obesity and some of the reasons for it; for example, unhealthy eating habits. There is
no mention of exercise being important for children, but this is still a comprehensive
and well thought out answer.
