This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 6 Reading Test 4 Reading Passage 3 with no title about ‘bullying’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 4: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40

The passage is untitled  

Questions 27-30: List of headings:

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question no. 27: Section A

In Section A the writer mentions the survey he conducted in lines 3-5, “ . .. ..  A survey I conducted with Irene Whitney found that in British primary schools up to a quarter of pupils reported experience of bullying, which in about one in ten cases was persistent. … . .”

Here, A survey = research, a quarter of pupils reported experience of bullying, which in about one in ten cases was persistent = how common bullying is,

So, the answer is: iv (Research into how common bullying is in British schools)

Question no. 28: Section B

Section B highlights the effect of bullying on children. Take a look at lines 1-3, “ . .. .  Bullying is clearly unpleasant, and can make the child experiencing it feel unworthy and depressed. In extreme cases it can even lead to suicide, though this is thankfully rare. .. . .  …”

Here, unpleasant, feel unworthy and depressed & it can even lead to suicide = effect of bullying on the children involved,

So, the answer is: vi (The effect of bullying on the children involved)

Question no. 29: Section C

For this question, we have to skim the whole section and we will find the reactions from schools to enquiries about bullying. Take a look at these lines, ‘schools would often deny the problem’, ‘There is no bullying at this school’ has been a common refrain’, ‘There is not much bullying here, but when it occurs we have a clear policy for dealing with it’.

So, the answer is: v (The reaction from schools to enquiries about bullying)f

Question no. 30: Section D

This particular section starts with this line, “Three factors are involved in this change.”

Here, this change = developments that have led to a new approach,

If we scan the lines, we find the factors being “an awareness of the severity of the problem”, “a number of resources to help tackle bullying” and “evidence that these materials work and that schools can achieve something”.

So, the answer is: vii (Developments that have led to a new approach by schools)

Questions 31-34: 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 to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 31: A recent survey found that in British secondary schools –

Keywords for the question: recent survey, British secondary schools,

The writer says at the end of section A, “A Survey I conducted . .. . . .. . . . There was less bullying in secondary schools, with about one in twenty-five suffering persistent bullying, but these cases may be particularly recalcitrant.”

So, the answer is: B (there was less bullying than in primary schools.)

Question no. 32: Children who are bullied –

Keywords for the question: children, bullied,

In paragraph B, take a look at lines 3-5, “. .. . Victimised pupils are more likely to experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships as adults,  .. .. .”

Here, experience difficulties with interpersonal relationship = difficulty forming relationship, adults = later life,

So, the answer is: D (may have difficulty forming relationships in later life.)

Question no. 33: The writer thinks that the declaration ‘There is no bullying at this school’ –

Keywords for the question: writer thinks, declaration, ‘There is no bullying at this school’,

The answer can be found in the beginning of paragraph C. The writer says here, “ .. . .. and little help was available to teachers to deal with bullying. Perhaps as a consequence, schools would often deny the problem. ‘There is no bullying at this school’ has been a common refrain, almost certainly untrue.. .. .”

Here, little help was available = lack of knowledge and resources,

So, the answer is: D (reflected a lack of knowledge and resources.)

Question no. 34: What were the findings of research carried out in Norway?

Keywords for the question: findings, research, carried out in Norway,    

The writer says in paragraph C in lines 10-12, “. .. .. In Norway, after an intervention campaign was introduced nationally, an evaluation of forty-two schools suggested that, over a two-year period, bullying was halved.. .. .. .”

Here, was halved = declined by 50%,  

So, the answer is: A (Bullying declined by 50% after an anti-bullying campaign.)

Questions 35-39: Summary completion:

[In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers for fill in the gaps.]

Question no. 35: The most important step is for the school authorities to produce a ________ which makes the school’s attitude towards bullying quite clear.

Keywords for the question: most important step, for, school authorities, produce, makes, school’s attitude, towards, bullying, quite clear,   

The answer can be found at the beginning of paragraph E. The writer says here, “Evidence suggests that a key step is to develop a policy on bullying, saying clearly what is meant by bullying,. . .”

Here, a key step = the most important step, to develop = to produce, saying clearly = makes. . .. . ..attitude towards bullying quite clear,

So, the answer is: policy

Question no. 36: It should include detailed _________ as to how the school and its staff will react if bullying occurs.

Keywords for the question: it, should include, detailed, how, school and its staff, will react, bullying occurs,    

The answer can be found at the end of paragraph E. The writer says here, “. . .. and giving explicit guidelines on what will be done if it occurs, what records will be kept, who will be informed, what sanctions will be employed, . .”

Here, what will be done if it occurs = how the school and its staff will react if bullying occurs,

So, the answer is: (explicit) guidelines  

Question no. 37: In addition, action can be taken through the ___________. This is particularly useful in the early part of the process, as a way of raising awareness and encouraging discussion. On its own, however, it is insufficient to bring about a permanent solution.

Keywords for the question: in addition, action, can be taken, through, particularly, useful, if, early part, process, as a way, raising awareness, and encouraging discussion, however, insufficient, bring about, permanent solution,   

In the second paragraph of section E, the author mentions, “Other actions can be taken to back up the policy. There are ways of dealing with the topic through the curriculum, using video, drama and literature. These are useful for raising awareness, and can best be tied in to early phases of development, while the school is starting to discuss the issue of bullying… .”

Here, Other actions can be taken = In addition, action can be taken, useful for raising awareness = a way of raising awareness,

So, the answer is: (school) curriculum

Question no. 38: Effective work can also be done with individual pupils and small groups. For example, potential ___________of bullying can be trained to be more self-confident. Or again, in dealing with group bullying, a ‘no blame’ approach, which avoids confronting the offender too directly, is often effective.

Keywords for the question: effective work, individual pupils, small groups, potential, bullying, trained, more self-confident, dealing, group bullying, ‘no blame’ approach, avoids, confronting, offender, too directly, often effective,     

The answer can be found in the third paragraph in section E. The writer says here, “. . .. There are also ways of working with individual pupils, or in small groups. Assertiveness training for pupils who are liable to be victims is worthwhile, . .”

Here, There are also ways of working = Effective work can also be done, liable to be = potential, Assertiveness training = can be trained to be more self-confident,

So, the answer is: victims

Question no. 39: Playground supervision will be more effective if members of staff are trained to recognise the difference between bullying and mere ___________.

Keywords for the question: playground supervision, more effective, if, members of staff, trained, recognise, difference, between bullying,  

In section E, take a look at paragraph no. 4 where the author mentions, “ . .. One helpful step is to train lunchtime supervisors to distinguish bullying from playful fighting, and help them break up conflicts. 

Here, supervisors to distinguish = members of staff are trained to recognise the difference,

So, the answer is: playful fighting

Question no. 40: Multiple choice questions (choosing a title for the passage)

[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 to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 40: Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 3?

Keywords for the question: most suitable title,

If we study the subheading closely, we can find the main idea of the passage which is ‘How can it (bullying) be prevented?’ In this passage, the writer first discusses the problem of persistent bullying in British Education institutions and then proposes some preventive measures.

So, the answer is: D (Bullying: from crisis management to prevention)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 4 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 4 Reading Passage 2