IELTS READING

Summary completion questions

Reading 1
Type 1: Summary with wordlist

Culture and Learning

I. Every culture has its own distinctive conventions regarding what should be learned and
how learning should take place. In one culture, students may be encouraged to work with
their classmates, while in another culture this activity may be prohibited. In some societies,
students are discouraged from asking questions, while in others they may be required to do
so.
II. Diversity exists not only between cultures, but also within a single culture. In most British
primary and secondary schools, for example, the teacher is the primary provider of
required information and rote learning plays an important role in the acquisition of this
information. However, when these students proceed to university, they face a new set of
academic norms and expectations. Although memorisation is still required, much more
emphasis is placed on the critical evaluation of learning and independent research.
III. The analysis of writing by students from different cultures suggests that the thinking and
writing processes is a culture-specific phenomenon. The ability to write well in one
language does not necessarily guarantee an equivalent competence in another language, no
matter what an individual’s grammatical proficiency is in that language. Because most
researchers seem to agree that writing and thinking are culture-specific, there have been
several attempts to create profiles of different thinking and writing styles for different
cultures.

Questions 31-34

Complete the summary below using words from the box.

31 ................... determines what and how people learn. In some countries, students are asked to work
32 .................. and to ask questions while in other countries, these practices would not be encouraged.
Students of the same culture might even experience different teaching and learning practices. While
younger students are required to do a good deal of memorisation in primary and secondary schools,
they are asked to do more 33 ................... when they enter university. In terms of writing proficiency,
research has shown that being a good writer in one language doesn’t mean a person will be a good
writer in another language, despite their good level of 34 .....................

A. diversity E. language proficiency

B. culture F. in groups
C. competence G. study
D. alone H. analytical thinking
 Type 2: SUMMARY WITHOUT WORDLIST
Reading 2