The Rise of Adjuncts- IELTS Reading Answers

21 What was the motivation behind the tenure system?

1. To allow professors to pursue their research without outside influence.
2. To prevent academic positions from being used for research that is not useful.
3. To discipline professors who make claims that are not true.
4. To provide professors with a secure income so that they can focus on research.
5. Which of the following is NOT a feature of adjunct employment?

1. Contract that expires after a limited period
2. Paid sick leave
3. Lecturing responsibilities
4. Difficulty securing funding for research

22 Why do adjuncts have low prospects for improving their academic position?

A They are unable to receive medical care.

B They do not have enough time for writing articles.

C They work at more than one institution.

D They are under-qualified.

Questions 23-26

23 Because adjuncts are paid only to teach, they cannot always provide support for……

24 Adjuncts do not have the same bonds with one particular institution as the permanent staff does so they do not……………….. in the same way.

25 Giving better marks than warranted enhances adjuncts’…….

26 Adjuncts do not deliver quality education, not because they are bad lecturers but as a result of ………………………..

Answer key

20 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 5-8

Answer explanation: “The purpose of tenure is to provide shelter for researchers who dissent from dominant opinions, disagree with the authorities of universities, donors, or political authorities, or choose to research topics that may have social importance but seem unimportant or unnecessary to others.” This suggests that tenure professors didn’t have to worry about the outside influences being an obstruction in their research and could carry out without having to bother about such influences. Hence, the answer would be A.

21 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, lines 12-14

Answer explanation: “Firstly, because contracts are always temporary, adjuncts rarely qualify for insurance and health benefits, such as time off with remuneration for illness, in the same way as tenured professors. “ This suggests that adjuncts don’t get subsidiary benefits such as time-offs, medical benefits, etc. Therefore, this is not the feature of adjuncts. Hence, the answer would be option B.

22 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, lines 16-19

Answer explanation: “As a consequence of this high reaching workload—and the lack of paid research opportunities—adjuncts tend to find it hard to publish articles and win research grants, therefore making promotion increasingly unlikely with every year that passes ( academic promotion is governed by what is known as a ‘publish or perish’ culture).” This suggests that owing to the lack of money and time, adjuncts aren’t able to write/publish their articles. This leads to the stagnancy of their career growth. Hence the answer is option B.

23 Answer: ( STRUGGLING ) STUDENTS

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 4-5

Answer explanation: “The disengagement between students and teachers can make it difficult for struggling students to find guidance outside of lectures.” This suggests that since the adjuncts don’t impart extra time beyond the classroom hours to students who struggle with their studies, the struggling students find it difficult to improve themselves.

24 Answer: ACCUMULATE REPUTATIONS

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 5-7

Answer explanation: “Adjuncts are also less tied to the universities they teach at and fail to accumulate reputations over time in the same way as full-time professors.” This suggests that since the adjuncts don’t generally stay in an institution for a longer duration of time, they aren’t able to make their identity/reputation among their students.

25 Answer: JOB SECURITY

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 8-10

Answer explanation: “Finally, it has been reported that many adjuncts practice grade inflation—raising grades higher than deserved—to maintain their job security by keeping students pleased.” This suggests that the adjuncts increase the grades of students to please them and hence, ensure their job security.

26 Answer: STRUCTURAL PRESSURES

Question type: Sentence Completion

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 10-12

Answer explanation: “These outcomes are not because adjuncts are malfeasant or incompetent professors, but rather because of the structural pressures this type of work involves—precisely what the tenure system sought to overcome.” This suggests that adjuncts practice grade inflation due to the temporary nature of their contract and hence to combat the structural pressure, they are compelled to do so.

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