“UNSTATED” QUESTIONS

a. Definition

Another type of questions in READING section is “UNSTATED” or questions.

Usually the UNSTATED questions (and also known as NEGATIVE QUESTIONS) will
appear about 3-6 times for total. It means that it might appear once in every passage.
UNSTATED/NEGATIVE questions are some questions that require the test taker to
choose one of the answer options that is NOT STATED, NOT MENTIONED and NOT
TRUE in the passage. This type of question really means that three of the answers are
STATED, MENTIONED and TRUE based on the passage.

Moreover, the test taker should note that there are two kinds of answer based on
this type of questions. First, there are three of the answers are TRUE and one is NOT
(based in the passage). Second, there are three of the answers are TRUE and one that
is NOT MENTIONED/STATED in the passage.

b. Example of Questions
- Which of the following is not stated….?
- Which of the following is not mentioned ….?
- Which of the following is not discussed….?
- All of the following are true except….
c. Strategies
There are some strategies that you can use to answer this type of questions:
- The answer of these questions usually can be found in order in the
passage. In other hand the “stated/mentioned/true” statements are placed
close to each other.
- Choose a key word (key words) in the question.
- Scan the appropriate place in the passage for the key words or similar and
related ideas.
- Read the sentences that contains the key words carefully

A Solution for Better Human Resources

 - Look for the answers that are true based on the passage. Try to eliminate
the answers. Finally, choose the answer which is not mentioned in the
passage.
- Usually, TRUE answers are located nearby, while the FALSE answer is
placed in a separated location.
- Be careful with ABSOLUTE words such as Only, Always, or Never.
d. Application

Read the following passages:

Text 1

In English, there are many different kinds of expressions that people use to give a
name to anything whose name is unknown or momentarily forgotten. The word gadget
is one such word. It was first used by British sailors in the 1850s and probably came
from the French word gachette, which was a small hook. In everyday use, the word has
a more general meaning. Other words are also used to give a name to something
unnamed or unknown, and these words tend to be somewhat imaginative. Some of
the more commonly used expressions are a what-d’ye-call-it, a whatsis, a
thingamabob, a thingamajig, a doodad, or a doohickey.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an expression for

something that is not known?

a. A what-is-it
b. A gadget
c. A thingamabob
d. A doohickey

Answer : A

Explanation : This question asks for the one answer that is not mentioned, so three of
the answers are listed in the passage and one is not. You should look for the three
answers that are mentioned. Since gadget, thingamabob, and doohickey are listed in
the passage, the second, third, and fourth answers are incorrect. A what-is-it is not
listed in the passage, so A is the best answer to this question.

A Solution for Better Human Resources

Text 2
The Florida Keys are a beautiful chain of almost 1,000 coral and limestone islands
These islands form an arc that heads first southwest and then west from the mainland.
U.S. Highway 1, called the Overseas Highway connects the main islands in the chain.
On this highway, it is necessary to cross 42 bridges over the ocean to cover the 159
miles from Miami on the mainland, to Key West the farthest island on the highway and
the southernmost city in the United States.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Florida Keys?

a. The Florida Keys are a chain of islands.

b. The Florida Keys contain coral and limestone
c. The Florida Keys are in the shape of an arc.
d. The Florida Keys are not all inhabited.

Answer : D

Explanation: The first question asks for the one answer that is not mentioned about
the Florida Keys. The passage states that the Florida Keys are a chain (answer A) with
coral and limestone (answer B) in the shape of an arc (answer C), so these answers are
not correct. The best answer is therefore answer (D). The passage does not discuss
whether or not the keys are all inhabited.

Which of the following is NOT true about U.S. Highway 1?

a. It is also known as the Overseas Highway

b. It joins all of the islands in the Florida Keys.
c. It has more than 40 bridges
d. It connects Miami and Key West

Answer: B

A Solution for Better Human Resources

The second question asks for the answer that is not true about U.S. Highway 1. The
passage states that it is called the Overseas Highway (answer A), that it has 42 bridges
(answer C), and that it cover(s) the 159 miles from Miami.to Key West (answer D), so
these answers are not correct. The best answer is answer (B). The passage states that
the Overseas Highway connects the main islands in the chain, so it does not connect all
of the islands.

A Solution for Better Human Resources