An Aging Population- IELTS Reading Answers

The Reading Module of the IELTS can be the top scoring category, with diligent practice. To achieve the best results in this section, you must understand how to approach and answer the different Question types in the Reading Module. By solving and reviewing Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark.

The IELTS reading passage of topic: An Aging Population consist of the following questions,

• Note Completion
• Yes/No/Not Given
• Multiple Choice Question

Note Completion 

One of the complex types of questions in the IELTS Reading Passage is note completion, which requires the test-taker to fill in the blank spaces with the words taken from the reading passages. Test-takers should pay attention to the word limit as to how many words should be filled in the blank spaces. It will be specified in the instruction box.

Yes/No/Not Given 

Similar to the True/False/Not Given type of questions, the Yes/No/Not Given type of questions are very common in the IELTS reading test, both in IELTS General and Academic. These types of questions require the test-takers to answer Yes/No/Not Given if the statement agrees, disagrees, or doesn’t match with the information in the passage.

Multiple Choice Question 

A multiple-choice question is a type of closed question and requires the test-taker to choose a relevant response to the question from a list of pre-determined options. The test-taker should read the question, identify the keyword, and trace the answer in the passage. They can eliminate the wrong answer before selecting the right answer.

Answer

27 Answer: longevity

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 1

Answer explanation: In the first line of the second paragraph, it is clearly mentioned that population aging is driven by declines in fertility and improvements in health and longevity, which means that it is an increasing median age in a population due to the declining fertility rate and rising life expectancy. Here, “population aging” means changes in the population’s age composition, such as an increase in the proportion of elderly people, and “longevity” refers to long life. Thus, the answer is Longevity.

28 Answer: less developed countries

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 2, Line 3 & 4

Answer explanation: Paragraph 2 of the reading passage illustrates the population aging. As quoted in the third line, “Perhaps the most surprising demographic development of the past 20 years has been the pace of fertility decline in many less developed countries.”

According to the stated lines, the rate of fertility drop in less developed countries was the most surprising demographic development of the last 20 years. According to the given sentence, we can find information traces here, so “less developed countries” is the answer.

29 Answer: more developed nations

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 2

Answer explanation: As quoted in paragraph 3, “Over several decades in the latter part of the 20th century, many of the more developed nations lowered the official age at which people become fully entitled to public pension benefits. This was propelled by general economic conditions, changes in welfare, philosophy, and private pension trades.”

These quoted lines indicate that because of changing trends such as general economic situations, changes in welfare, philosophy, and private pension markets, several developed countries in the later part of the twentieth century decreased the official age at which people were entitled to public pension payments. So, the answer is more developed nations.

30 Answer: Reform

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 3, Line 7 & 8

Answer explanation: After scanning paragraph 3, we can locate the answer in line 7, where it is mentioned, “Many countries already have taken steps towards much-needed reforms of their old-age social insurance programs. One common reform has been to raise the age at which workers are eligible for full public pension benefits.”

We understand from these quoted lines that several countries took steps towards the required reforms of their old-age social insurance programs. The most popular reform was to raise the retirement age, allowing workers to receive full public pension payments. Here, “required” means much-needed, and “entitled” refers to eligible. According to the statement, many countries have already taken steps towards the reforms. So, the answer is Reform.

31 Answer: Contributions

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 9 & 10

Answer explanation: In the ninth of paragraph 3, it is quoted, “Another strategy for bolstering the economic security for older people has been to increase the contributions by workers.”

These lines refer to reforms that many countries require, which are usually accomplished by raising the official pension age of workers or increasing their contributions. The increase in age will boost the economic security of the elderly, while the workers’ contribution will bolster the economic security of these older people. Here, “raise” means increase. Hence, the answer is contribution.

32 Answer: generations

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1

Answer explanation: In the first line in paragraph 4, it is quoted, “As life expectancy increases in most nations, so do the odds of different generations within a family coexisting.”

These quoted sentences illustrate that when life expectancy is increased in many countries, different age groups of the same family live with each other. Here,” age groups” refer to generations, and “live with each other” means coexisting. So, the answer that fits correctly with the statement is generations.

33 Answer: (historical) precedent

Question type: Note completion

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 7

Answer explanation: When we scan paragraph 4, we find traces of information related to the given statement. That is, “There is no historical precedent for a majority of middle-aged and older adults having living parents.”

These quoted sentences depict the there are no historical events that can be regarded as an example or guide for the majority of middle-aged adults having living parents. Here, “events that can be regarded as an example” means precedent. So, according to the statement, (historical) precedent fits in at the blank spaces and is the right answer.

34 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line in the fifth paragraph quotes, “The study estimates that today, non-communicable diseases account for 85% of the burden of disease in high-income countries and a surprising 44% of the burden of disease in low and middle-income countries.”

From the quoted lines, we can understand that a study has reckoned that non-communicable diseases account for 85% of the burden of disease in high-income countries whereas it is surprising that 44% of the burden of diseases is witnessed in low and middle-income countries. Thus, the information in the passage contradicts the statement. So, the answer is No.

35 Answer: Not Given

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 12

Answer explanation: We can find references in the following lines where it is quoted as, “The critical issue for low- and middle-income countries are how to mobilize and allocate resources to address non-communicable diseases, as they continue to struggle with the continued high prevalence of communicable diseases. Of course, a significant jump in disability numbers has accompanied the increase in longevity.”

However, we are not aware of what the author thinks about the increase in chronic diseases and decrease in the number of people with disability problems. So, the answer is Not Given.

36 Answer: Yes

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 2 & 3

Answer explanation: It is quoted in Paragraph 6, “Studies predict that, in the near term, surplus capital will flow from Europe and North America to emerging markets in Asia and Latin America, where the population is younger and cheaper and supplies of capital relatively low. In another 20 years, when the baby boom generation in the West has mostly retired, capital will most likely flow in the opposite direction.”

These quoted lines illustrate that according to the studies, there will be a surplus flow of money from Europe and North America to emerging markets in Asia and Latin America in the near term, where the population will be younger, cheaper, and supply of money will be low. However, after 20 years, when the baby boom generation in the West retires, the money is expected to flow in the opposite direction.

From this, we understand that money invested in short-term in Asia will be reinvested again after 20 years. So, the information agrees with the passage. Thus, the answer is yes. Here, “near term” means short-term, and “money” means capital.

37 Answer: Not Given

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 6

Answer explanation: In paragraph 6, it is mentioned that studies predict that in the near term, surplus capital will flow from Europe and North America to emerging markets in Asia and Latin America, where the population is younger and cheaper and supplies of capital relatively low. In another 20 years, when the baby boom generation in the West has mostly retired, capital will most likely flow in the opposite direction. However, these studies rest on an uncertain assumption that capital will flow easily across national boundaries.

We understand that paragraph illustrates the flow of money from Europe and North America to markets in Asia and Latin America, where the population is younger and cheaper, and in another 20 years when the baby boom generation in the West has mostly retired, and capital will flow in the opposite direction. However, it is not predicted anywhere in the passage that problems in the international flow of capital will lead to armed conflict between some countries. So, the answer is Not Given.

38 Answer: Yes

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 7

Answer explanation: As quoted in Paragraph 7, “Despite the weight of scientific evidence, the significance of population aging and its global implications have yet to be wholly appreciated.”

These lines illustrate that even after scientific evidence, the importance of population aging and its worldwide consequences have not been entirely realized. The effects of population aging around the world have still not been fully understood. Hence the statement agrees with the information in the passage. So, the answer is Yes. Here, “realized” means appreciated, “effects” means implications.

39 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 6

Answer explanation: In paragraph 6, it is clearly mentioned, “Experience shows that for nations, as for individuals, it is critical to address problems sooner rather than later. Waiting significantly increases the costs and difficulties of addressing these challenges.”

From the above-mentioned quoted sentences, we come to the conclusion that it is important for nations to address the problem at the earliest rather than later, because waiting can raise the costs and difficulties of overcoming these challenges. So, the information in the passage contradicts the given statement. Hence the answer is No.

40 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Passage 3

Answer explanation: When we read and scan the passage, we understand that

“Despite the recent trend toward increased workforce participation at older ages, a significant gap between official and actual ages of retirement persists. This trend is emerging in rapidly aging developing countries as well. Many countries have already taken steps towards much-needed reform of their old-age social insurance programs. One common reform has been to raise the age at which workers are eligible for full public pension benefits.”

Thus, we understand from the quoted lines that passage 3 presents an overview of the causes and consequences of the world’s aging population. So, the answer is B.

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