Reading has become one of the challenging section apart from writing to get a

good score, most of the general students’ needs 7 and academic students’ needs
6 or 6.5 . So anywhere between 23 to 30 questions are needed on an academic
paper to achieve that level, which would be our focus for today.
This exercise can be done by both academic as well as general students. I have
appeared for IELTS numerous times and based on the observation of other
students, I can say for certain that in majority of cases the problem is with the
way the students attempt the exam.
Since the first question type in the first passage is headings we are going to skip
it, and read the heading of the passage – why being bored is stimulating and
useful, too ( passage can be about advantages of being bored ). The second
question type is who said what and the third is summary. So we are going to
attend summary followed by 20-23 and finally , the headings.
24) The word John eastwood, and attention system is the key, look for them, it
should take you less than 15 seconds. Once you have located it, the next keyword
is “ cannot “ , the answer is something that people cannot do ______. since it is
a one word answer it should be comparatively easy. ( less than 1 min )
25) The word “ team “ is the location keyword, locate the para ( 15 seconds ), the
next keyword is “ coping “ , brainstorm a synonym of coping in class , if you can,
next is ‘ important aim’, which is represented by a word starting with ‘m’ in the
passage. ( less than 1.5 mins )
26) The word ’whereas’ represents comparison, so this answer likely follows the
previous answer. The work characteristics is used while in the passage the
synonym is used starting with the letter ’t’. ( less than 1 min )
Now we move to previous question set, here you need to keep patience as you
don’t know what you are looking for.
20) Peter toohey, ( location time 10 sec ), once you have located it , you need to
read it for 2-3 sentences or till the next person’s name comes up, like here that
name is Thomas Goetz.
Here the emphasis is on understanding what the author is trying to say. In the
passage, Peter compares boredom to disgust, and gives an example ,as disgust
protects us from infection, similarly , boredom protects us from ‘infectious’ social
situations ( bad situations ). Now go the options A-E. and choose the appropriate
one. ( less than 1 min )
21) Thomas Goetz , ( location time 5 sec ), Here you would have to read the whole
paragraph, it starts by saying that there are five types of boredom, their names
and characteristics, which one is the most damaging , or the most useful. Go
through the options A-E choose the most appropriate. ( less than 1.5 mins )
22) John eastwood , ( location time 5 sec ), here you would have to read the para
again, he says it is undesirable state, and is not adaptive, people can’t feel
anything, efforts to improve makes you feel worse, and an example of it. Go
through the remaining options. ( less than 2 mins )
23) Francoise Wemelsfelder , ( location time 5 sec ), here you read the whole para
again. she blames boredom on lifestyle, and some suggestion on how to avoid
boredom. go through the remaining options ( less than 1 min )
14) Here you should read the first two sentences and what we know from
previous questions. Based on that you need to make a logical guess.
15) Here again rely on previous information, the classification, the parameters,
etc. make an accurate guess.
16) We have not read this passage before so we are going to read the first two
lines and make a logical guess. All emotions are there for a reason – ask yourself,
is it a positive or a negative statement ? Being bored makes us more creative –
are they talking about advantages of boredom?? or its benefits.
17) We have read this passage twice, so we know that boredom is not adaptive,
people can’t feel anything, efforts to improve makes you feel worse, and an
example of it. Choose logically.
18) Here we have read it, they are talking about how different people with
different personality deals or are affected by boredom. Make a logical guess
19) We have read it , she blames boredom on lifestyle, and some suggestion on
how to avoid boredom. Make an accurate selection.
Expected score 10/13 for an average student. 18 mins total.
Passage 3:
Read the heading, than go to questions, we should attempt the 1st question type,
the last one and then the 2nd one.
27) Location time= 0 secs, clearly mentioned in the first para. If the para is small,
it is advisable to skim it. there are 4 examples are given , all of which focuses on
the fact that computer has excelled everywhere. choose the option ( less than 1
min )
28) Location time = 10 secs, why are the people worried, passage states that ‘ it
scares a lot of people because it is taking something special away from what is
means to be human’, something basic is taken away from humans. choose the
option ( less than 2 mins )
29) key difference between aaron and painting fool ( location time 15 secs ) , the
comparison is in the forth para, where it starts from Unlike, ( whenever two
things are mentioned, usually the comparison begins after the second thing ), the
passage states’ minimal direction’ ‘own web searches’ ’kind of imagination’ ‘
creating pictures from scratch’. choose from the option ( less than 2 mins )
30) What point does colton make, when someone is trying to make a point, they
would argue or give example , so look for such words, the answer is in the same
line. choose from the option. ( less than 1.5 min)
31) The answer is in forth paragraph, but a bit complicated, see if you figure it
out, don’t spend more than 2 mins.
38) People’s reaction to EMI was negative, as Cope destroyed it, did the Moffat
experiment explained it, what was the experiment ? Did the experiment tell us
whether people where biased or not ?? Choose the option.
39) Predictability of non-experts, which are mentioned in the second last line of
the david moffat para, is mentioned or not?? if it says they where predictable,
than the answer is Yes, if it says there where unpredictable , than the answer is
No. Or else it would be NG.
40) Here there are three possibilities,
a) Justin kruger negates paul blooms theory - Yes
b) Justing kruger supports paul blooms theory - No
c) There is no relation between them – Not given.
Now go through the theories there is just one sentence for each theory and find
out what happens.
32) Colton don’t believe it is right to measure machine creativity directly to that
of humans who “ have had millennia to develop our skills”. Based on this
statement make a choice. Now, some students cannot find this single sentence
in the whole para, that is where the trick lies, you need to be constantly aware
about the location of information to achieve 100% accuracy.
33) Here we know about EMI, rather than reading passage make an educated
guess here.
34) This question requires you to read the passage but the information is very
superficial. Answer the question. Also, this proves that there are easy questions
even in the final passage.
35) Just read the single line after the name douglas Hofstadter, the answer is
obvious.
36) This question requires you to read the passage but the information is very
superficial. Answer the question. synonym of angry is used – starting with “o”.
37) No need to read the passage , we already have the information, those student
who don’t remember please go to the passage , the synonym of “ assess “ is used.

Hope this activity was fruitful, I would appreciate the feedback if you have any,
on facebook page of VIEC Rajkot.
Cheers
Malhar Sir.