IELTS READING - Y/N/NG

IELTS Reading – YES / NO / NOT GIVEN

One difficult question type type in the IELTS Reading Test is YES / NO / NOT GIVEN.

Often to answer this question type you need to identify the opinions held by the author. 

(T / F / NG is usually about FACTS, rather than opinions.)

Read the first paragraph of an article from the Guardian newspaper about neuroscience and decide if the following sentences are YES, NO or NOT GIVEN.
 

Our brains, and how they're not as simple as we think

I never used to discuss neuroscience on the bus but it's happened twice in the last month. On one occasion a fellow passenger mentioned that her "brain wasn't working properly" to explain that she had gone through a long period of depression. On another, an exchange student enthusiastically told me that one of the advantages of learning abroad is that a new language "made your brain more efficient". In each case, the conversation was spattered with references to the brain as casually as we mention family members– "I don't think my brain can handle multi-tasking" gliding between us as easily as "my cousin studied in Paris". A grey day in London, rain on the windows, talking neuroscience with strangers.

Note: neuroscience = the science of brain function

Write YES if the sentence agrees with the author’s opinion.

Write NO if the contradicts the author’s opinion.

Write NOT GIVEN if no information is given about the writer's opinion.

1. The writer never discusses neuroscience on the bus.  

2. The exchange student was keen to talk about the benefits of studying overseas.

3. Learning new languages can improve your brain efficiency.

4. The writer likes the weather in London.

Continue reading for the answers and tips...

Answers

1. The writer never discusses neuroscience on the bus.  N

The writer never USED TO do this, but has done recently.

2. The exchange student was keen to talk about the benefits of studying overseas. Y

Many synonyms are used to rephrase the sentence, but the meaning is the same; KEEN = ENTHUSIASTIC, BENEFITS = ADVANTAGES, STUDYING = LEARNING, OVERSEAS = ABROAD.

3. Learning new languages can improve your brain efficiency. NG

We can see this opinion presented in the article, but it is NOT the writer’s opinion. The key phase here is an “exchange student enthusiastically told me…” Make sure opinions presented are the author’s, not someone else. The author doesn’t give their own opinion about this issue here, so it is NOT GIVEN.

4. The writer likes the weather in London. NG

Again this is NOT GIVEN as there is no opinion expressed by the author. The weather is mentioned, but no view is given.

TIPS

Make sure you do the following things for YES / NO / NOT GIVEN questions.

1. Look for synonyms and check the meaning is the same.

2. Read around the opinion, making sure that the views are the author’s, not someone else’s. Often writers present other people’s opinions so that they can disagree.

3. Don’t confuse TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN questions with YES / NO / NOT GIVEN

Continue reading this interesting article and create your own Y/N/NG sentences for others to try.