This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Reading Test 1 Reading Passage 3 titled ‘The future of work’. This is an aimed post for IELTS candidates who face major problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer quite easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40

The headline of the passage: The future of work

Questions 27-30: Multiple-choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers for previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 27: The first paragraph tells us about –  

Keywords for the question: first paragraph,  

Let’s have a look at the first paragraph. The first few lines say, “According to a leading business consultancy, 3-14% of the global workforce will need to switch to a different occupation within the next 10-15 years, and all workers will need to adapt as their occupations evolve alongside increasingly capable machines. . .. .. .”

Here, 3-14% of the global workforce will need to switch to a different occupation within the next 10-15 years = the extent to which AI will alter the nature of the work that people do,

So, the answer is: B (the extent to which AI will alter the nature of the work that people do.)

Question no. 28: According to the second paragraph, what is Stella Pachidi’s view of the ‘knowledge economy’?

Keywords for the question: second paragraph, Stella Pachidi’s view, ‘knowledge economy,

In the second paragraph, the writer says in the beginning, “Dr Stella Pachidi from Cambridge Judge Business School believes that some of the most fundamental changes are happening as a result of the ‘algorithmication’ of jobs that are dependent on data rather than on production – the so-called knowledge economy. .. . . ..”

Here, some of the most fundamental changes are happening = current developments in the workplace,

So, the answer is: D (It is a key factor driving current developments in the workplace.)

Question no. 29: What did Pachidi observe at the telecommunications company?  

Keywords for the question: Pachidi, observe, telecommunications company,  

We find the reference of Pachidi observing a telecommunications company in Paragraph no. 5. Here, take a close look at lines 4-6, “ . .. . .. However, the company had started using a[n] … algorithm that defined when account managers should contact certain customers about which kinds of campaigns and what to offer them.”

Here, a[n] … algorithm = AI, account managers = staff, contact certain customers about which kinds of campaigns and what to offer them = produces the results that they want,

So, the answer is: C (staff making sure that AI produces the results that they want.)

Question no. 30: In his recently published research, Ewan McGaughey –

Keywords for the question: recently published research, Ewan McGaughey,

In paragraph no. 11, we can find about Dr Ewan McGaughey and in paragraph no. 12 we can learn about the research he did. Here, in paragraph no. 12, take a look at lines 1-3, “His recently published research answers the question of whether automation, AI and robotics will mean a ‘jobless future’ by looking at the causes of unemployment. ‘History is clear that change can mean redundancies. But social policies can tackle this through retraining and redeployment.’”

Here, redundancies = joblessness/ unemployment,

social policies can tackle this through retraining and redeployment = changes in the job market can be successfully handled,

So, the answer is: D (illustrates how changes in the job market can be successfully handled.)

Questions 31-34: Completing summary with list of words

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with a list of words taken from the passage. Candidates must write the correct letters (not the words) which are given in the box under the questions as the answers. Keywords and synonyms are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the summary: The ‘algorithmication’ of jobs

Question no. 31: Stella Pachidi of Cambridge Judge Business School has been focusing on the ‘algorithmication’ of jobs which rely not on production but on __________.  

Keywords for the question: Stella Pachidi, Cambridge Judge Business School, focusing on, ‘algorithmication’ of jobs, rely, not on production,  

Paragraph no. 2 has the answer to this question. Here, the author of the text writes in the beginning, “Dr Stella Pachidi from Cambridge Judge Business School believes that some of the most fundamental changes are happening as a result of the ‘algorithmication’ of jobs that are dependent on data rather than on production . . .. . .”

Here, dependent on = rely . .. . on, data = information,

So, the answer is: G (information)

Question no. 32: While monitoring a telecommunications company, Pachidi observed a growing _________ on the recommendations made by AI, as workers begin to learn through the ‘algorithm’s eyes’.  

Keywords for the question: monitoring, a telecommunications company, Pachidi observed, growing, recommendations made by AI, workers, begin to learn through, ‘algorithm’s eyes’,

We can find about Dr Pachidi observing a telecommunications company in paragraph no. 5. Then, in paragraph no. 6, in lines 1-4, the writer of this passage says, “The algorithm – usually built by external designers – often becomes the keeper of knowledge, she explains. In cases like this, Pachidi believes, a short-sighted view begins to creep into working practices whereby workers learn through the ‘algorithm’s eyes’ and become dependent on its instructions. .. . ..”

Here, its instructions = recommendations made by AI, dependent = reliance,

So, the answer is: E (reliance)

Question no. 33: Meanwhile, staff are deterred from experimenting and using their own ___________, and are therefore prevented from achieving innovation.  

Keywords for the question: meanwhile, staff, deterred from, experimenting and using, own, therefore, prevented from, achieving innovation,    

Take a look at the final lines of paragraph no. 6, “ . . .. . Alternative explorations – where experimentation and human instinct lead to progress and new ideas – are effectively discouraged.”

Here, experimentation = experimenting, are effectively discouraged = are therefore prevented, human instinct = intuition,

So, the answer is: C (intuition)

Question no. 34: To avoid the kind of situations which Pachidi observed, researchers are trying to make AI’s decision-making process easier to comprehend, and to increase users’ _________ with regard to the technology.    

Keywords for the question: to avoid, situations, Pachidi observed, researchers, trying to make, AI’s decision-making process, easier to comprehend, to increase, users’, technology,      

In paragraph no. 8, the writer says in the beginning, “It’s scenarios like this that many researchers are working to avoid. Their objective is to make AI technologies more trustworthy and transparent, so that organisations and individuals understand how AI decisions are made. .. .. . .”

Here, make AI technologies more trustworthy and transparent = make AI’s decision-making process easier to comprehend, organisations and individuals = users, understand how AI decisions are made = increase confidence,

So, the answer is: F (confidence)

Questions 35-40: Matching statements with a list of people

[In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements that are given by or links to people in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person and read it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.]

Question no. 35: Greater levels of automation will not result in lower employment.  

Keywords for the question: greater levels of automation, not result in, lower employment,  

Let’s have a look at paragraph no. 10. Here, we find comments made by Hamish Low. Read lines 1-4, “On the subject of job losses, Low believes the predictions are founded on a fallacy: ‘It assumes that the number of jobs is fixed. If in 30 years, half of 100 jobs are being carried out by robots, that doesn’t mean we are left with just 50 jobs for humans. The number of jobs will increase: we would expect that to be 150 jobs.”

Here, half of 100 jobs are being carried out by robots = greater levels of automation, doesn’t mean we are left with just 50 jobs for humans = will not result in lower employment,

So, the answer is: B (Hamish Low)

Question no. 36: There are several reasons why AI is appearing to businesses.   

Keywords for the question: several reasons, why, AI, appearing to businesses,

In paragraphs no. 2 and 3, we find the reasons of AI’s appearance to businesses stated by Dr Stella Pachidi. Take a look at lines 3-5 in paragraph no. 2, “ . .. . Algorithms are capable of learning from data to undertake tasks that previously needed human judgement,  . .. .. .”

Then, read paragraph no. 3, “‘In many cases, they can outperform humans,’ says Pachidi. ‘Organisations are attracted to using algorithms because they want to make choices based on what they consider is “perfect information”, as well as to reduce costs and enhance productivity.’” 

So, the answer is: A (Stella Pachidi)

Question no. 37: AI’s potential to transform people’s lives has parallels with major cultural shifts which occurred in previous eras.  

Keywords for the question: AI’s potential, transform, people’s lives, has parallels, major cultural shifts, occurred, previous eras,      

Paragraphs 11-14 provide the views of Dr Ewan McGaughey.

Here, in the final paragraph (paragraph no. 14), let’s have a look at lines 1-4, “‘The promises of these new technologies are astounding. They deliver humankind the capacity to live in a way that nobody could have once imagined,’ he adds. ‘Just as the industrial revolution brought people past subsistence agriculture, and the corporate revolution enabled mass production, a third revolution has been pronounced. . . . .”

Here, Just as = parallels,

the industrial revolution brought people past subsistence agriculture & the corporate revolution enabled mass production = major cultural shifts which occurred in the previous eras,

So, the answer is: C (Ewan McGaughey)

Question no. 38: It is important to be aware of the range of problems that AI causes.

Keywords for the question: important, to be aware, range of problems, AI causes,      

The first line of paragraph no. 4 gives us the answer to this question, “‘But these enhancements are not without consequences,’ says Pachidi. . .. . .”

Here, these enhancements = AI, not without consequences = range of problems,

So, the answer is: A (Stella Pachidi)

Question no. 39: People are going to follow a less conventional career path than in the past.

Keywords for the question: people, going to follow, less conventional career path, than, past,     

In paragraph no. 9, lines 2-3 say, “ . . . . ‘The traditional trajectory of full-time education followed by full-time work followed by a pensioned retirement is a thing of the past,’ says Low. . …”

Here, The traditional trajectory of full-time education followed by full-time work followed by a pensioned retirement = conventional career path, a thing of the past = people will not follow this conventional career path,

So, the answer is: B (Hamish Low)

Question no. 40: Authorities should take measures to ensure that there will be adequately paid work for everyone.  

Keywords for the question: authorities, should take measures, ensure, will be, adequately paid work, everyone,     

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 13 in the very beginning. This which provides the views of Dr Ewan McGaughey, “He adds: ‘If there is going to be change to jobs as a result of AI and robotics then I’d like to see governments seizing the opportunity to improve policy to enforce good job security. … .. .”

Here, like to see governments seizing the opportunity = Authorities should take measures, improve policy to enforce good job security = ensure that there will be adequately paid work for everyone,

So, the answer is: C (Ewan McGaughey)

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