A Silent Force IELTS Reading Answers

16 Answer: iii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 2

Answer explanation: A line in the passage mentions that reading has come a long way since Augustine’s day. There was a time when it was a menial job of scribes and priests, not the mark of civilization it became in Europe during the Renaissance when it was seen as one of the attributes of the civilized individual. From this paragraph, we can say that now reading is a mark of civilization.

17 Answer: viii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 1

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can point out that modern nations are now seriously affected by their levels of literacy. For example, while the western world has seen a noticeable decline, other less developed countries have advanced and overtaken the West.  So, European countries are in danger of falling even further behind economically. This proves that with literacy comes economic advancement. As the European countries have declining literacy rates, their economy is also being affected.

18 Answer: xi

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: A line in the said paragraph infers that reading as a skill is the key to an educated workforce, which in turn is the bedrock of economic advancement, particularly in the present technological age. The skill of reading is now a fully-fledged economic force.

19 Answer: vi

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, a line in the passage specifies that part of the problem with reading is that it is a skill which is not appreciated in most developed societies. This is an attitude that has condemned large swathes of the population in most Western nations to illiteracy. It might be surprising to learn that in the United Kingdom and indeed in some other European countries (developed countries), the literacy rate has fallen to below that of so-called less developed countries. So, the author is telling us that the attitude of the people in developed countries is the reason why the literacy rate is declining.

20 Answer: x

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 2

Answer explanation: If you observe, in the said paragraph to the fact that it is not cool among a younger generation to be seen with anything else other than computer screens or a Walkman. The solitude of reading is not very appealing. Sometimes, peer pressure among young people is so powerful that it often kills any attempts to change attitudes to habits like reading. So, this paragraph discusses the negative attitude of the young generation towards reading.

21 Answer: xii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 1

Answer explanation: Paragraph F brings forth the author’s attitude towards the decline in reading habits when he asks that apart from the negative connotations of reading, is modern Western society standing Canute-like against an uncontrollable spiral of decline? Then the answer is provided with – ‘I think not’. So, this means that the author does not feel that the modern world is going to stand like Canute (an English king who ordered waves to stop) against decline.

22 Answer: vii

Question type: Matching Headings

Answer location: Paragraph G, line 1

Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line that claims, “how should people be encouraged to read more?” indicates that the author is trying to find ways to persuade people to read. It can easily be done by increasing basic reading skills at an early age and encouraging young people to borrow books from schools. Some schools have classroom libraries as well as school libraries. It is no good waiting until pupils are in their secondary school to encourage an interest in books which needs to be pushed at an early age.

23 Answer: YES

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph B, last line

Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, refer that, European countries can no longer rest on their laurels (satisfied with past achievements) which they have done for far too long. As a result, they are in danger of falling even further behind economically, that is, thay have allowed other countries to overtake them in certain areas.

24 Answer: YES

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph C, last line

Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. In the passage, it is said that the skill of reading is now a fully-fledged economic force.

25 Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Answer location: N/A

Answer explanation: It is given that it might be surprising that in the United Kingdom and in some other European countries, the literacy rate has fallen to below that of so-called less developed countries. Apart from this reference, there is no mention of whether the literacy rate in less developed nations is considerably higher than in all European countries.

26 Answer: YES

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph H, line 6

Answer explanation: Few lines in said paragraph discuss that the best idea to stop the negative attitudes to reading from forming in the first place is by taking children to local libraries. It will bring them into contact with an environment where they can become relaxed among books. So, it is advised to catch them young and they just might all become bookworms, that is, if the young children are encouraged to read when they are young the negative attitude to reading that grows in some subcultures will be eliminated.

27 Answer: NO

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions

Answer location: Paragraph G, 2nd last line

Answer explanation: Paragraph G intimates that what people, whether they be adults or children, read is of little import. What is significant is the fact that they are reading. For example, someone who reads a comic today may have the courage to pick up a more substantial one later on. So, people should not be discouraged from reading comics and magazines as it might lead them to read more in the future.