IELTS 4.

0- Unit 1: Relationships

Lesson 1: READING

- Identifying key words in a question

- Scanning
- Short answer questions
Part 1. Reading: Identifying key words in a question
There are two types of key words:

Key words help identify information Key words help answer questions

• Eye-catching words (like Numbers (1992, • Amount (the majority of, at least,…)
40%), Capital letters (Atlantic), Name • Adjectives (difficulty, easy, strong,…)
(Susan Smith), Italic, Bold) • Adverbs (quietly, strongly,…)
• Normal texts • Comparison (more attractive than, the
most difficult, harder,…)
• Negative words (ignore, fail to, refuse,
deny, reject,…)
• Verbs (expected, learned,…)
• Others

Example: GREEN TAXES IN BRITAIN

According to a survey, most Britons believe “green” taxes on 4×4s, plastic bags and other
consumer goods have been imposed to raise cash rather than change our behaviour, while
two-thirds of Britons think the entire green agenda has been hijacked as a ploy to increase
taxes.
The UK is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, a target that
most experts believe will be difficult to reach. The results of the poll by Opinium, a leading
research company, indicate that maintaining popular support for green policies may be a
difficult act to pull off and attempts in the future to curb car use and publicly fund
investment in renewable resources will prove deeply unpopular.
The findings were released as the Prince of Wales yesterday called on Britain’s business
leaders to take “essential action” to make their firms more sustainable. Speaking in central
London to some of the country’s leading chief executives, Prince Charles said: “What more
can I do but urge you, this country’s business leaders, to take the essential action now to
make your businesses more sustainable. I’m exhausted with repeating that there really is no
time to lose.”
Are the following statements TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN in the text?
IELTS 4.0- Unit 1: Relationships

1. Most Britons think that the Government wants to change people’s behaviour.
2. By the year 2050 the Government will have imposed higher green taxes.
3. The survey predicts that it will be difficult to change people’s dependence on cars.
4. The Prince of Wales believes that most businesses are not sustainable.
ð Keywords help identify information are underlined and in italic.
ð Keywords help answer the questions are in bold.
Based on the keywords, decide if the statements are True, False or Not Given.

Part 2. IELTS Reading: Scanning

1. Scanning is high-speed reading for specific information such as names or numbers.
Looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary is an example of scanning for specific
information.

This skill is often used when you have a specific question in mind.
Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly across the page; you do not read every word,
only the key words or ideas that will answer the question. In other words, you know what
you are looking for and concentrate on finding the answer. Scanning helps you learn to skip
over unimportant words or information so that you can read faster.
2. Steps of scanning a text
Step 1: Read the question(s)/statement(s) carefully to understand what you are trying to
find and do not forget to underline the key words in each question/statement.
Step 2: Based on the key words and your general understanding of each question or
statement’s meaning, try to predict how the answer might appear and what clues help you
locate the answer.

Sometimes, headings or any other aids in the text may also help you identify which sections
might contain the information you are looking for.
E.g. if you are looking for a certain year, read the text quickly specifically looking for
numbers or other time expressions.

To answer questions about Look for

Who, where Capital letters, names

When Numbers, dates, time periods

How much, how many, how long Numbers, measurements (e.g. meters, inches, etc.)
IELTS 4.0- Unit 1: Relationships

What, how, why Key word(s)/word(s) from the questions

Step 3: Selectively read and skip through sections of the text. Do not stop reading until you
find the specific information in the reading that matches the key words in the question. One
effective way is to use finger movement to help you ignore irrelevant information to your
question.
Note: In fact, if the key words/ phrases you are looking for do not appear directly in the
reading, seek synonyms or other paraphrased/reword forms (the words/phrases that convey
the same message but are written with different grammatical structures).

E.g. By words: I need some water. = I am thirsty.

By structure: John is taller than Pat. = Pat is not as tall as John.
Step 4: Read these sentences/ the sections you have found in the reading thoroughly;
however, in some cases, you also need to read the other parts that stand before and after
those to understand exactly what the author wants to express.
Step 5: Compare the information in that text with the one in the exam questions/
statements to decide your answers.
Note: If there are some new words that you think are important or helpful for your
understanding of the text, underline them and then try to guess their meanings.
E.g. Scan the passage and answer the questions. Apply the steps above.
Some Endangered Species paragraph
There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered world-wide. An endangered species
is one that is in immediate danger of becoming extinct if nothing is done to protect it.
(‘Immediate’ is usually taken to mean between 10 and 20 years.) Below are some of the
world’s main endangered mammals.
African elephant. Classified as endangered due to a reduction of at least 50% of the African
elephant population over the last three generations. Hunting is now
banned in many countries, but poaching for ivory continues.
Asian elephant. Classified as endangered due to a reduction of at least 50% of population
over the last three generations. Four sub-species affected: Indian, Ceylonese, Sumatran and
Malaysian elephants.
a. How many sub-species of Asian elephant are endangered? ______________________
b. How much has the population of the African elephant declined over the last three
generation? ____________________
IELTS 4.0- Unit 1: Relationships

Part 3. IELTS Reading: Short answer questions

Example: The fattest animals

As the largest animal in the world, the blue whale also has the most fat. In a 1968 study
involving 49 different species of mammal from across the US and Brazil, researchers
deduced that the blue whale had the highest percentage of body fat – more than 35%. With
the whales weighing in at up to 180 tonnes, that’s easily a record-breaking amount of fat for
one animal.
But if we look at things proportionally, you might be surprised by some of the world’s full-
fat species. We’ll begin with blubber, the fat rich tissue belonging to marine mammals that
has myriad benefits for streamlining, buoyancy, defence, insulation and energy storage.
In waters further north live bowhead whales. To survive in these frosty, remote waters they
have a layer of blubber almost half a metre thick. In his studies, Dr Craig George found
blubber mass ranged from 43% to 50% of the body mass of yearling whales.
IELTS 4.0- Unit 1: Relationships

Answer the questions with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS:

1. Which animal has the most fat?
2. How is called tissue of marine mammals that is rich with fat?

3. Which marine animals need a thick layer of fat to survive in cold waters?
Step-by-step guide:

• Read the instructions carefully. Remember the word limit. In this case, you are not
allowed to write more than two words.

• Identify the key words in questions. Try to predict type of information needed to
answer each question.
1. Which animal has the most fat? à noun (an animal)

2. How is called tissue of marine mammals that is rich with fat? à noun (a name)

3. Which marine animals need a thick layer of fat to survive in cold waters? à noun (an
animal)

• Scan for key words in the passage. Locate information and answer the questions.
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