This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 3 which is titled ‘When conversations flow’. 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.

Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40

The headline of the passage: When conversations flow

Questions 27-32: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN

In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts with the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[TIPS: For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 27: Conversation occupies much of our time.  

Keywords for the question: Conversation occupies, much, time,   

In the first paragraph, let’s take a look at the first few lines, “We spend a large part of our daily life talking with other people and, consequently, we are very accustomed to the art of conversing.  .. . .” 

Here, talking with other people = conversation, We spend a large part of our daily life = occupies much of our time,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 28: People assess information according to how readily they can understand it.   

Keywords for the question: assess information, how readily, can understand,

In paragraph no. 2, the writer says in the beginning, “ . .. .  Research has shown that processing fluency – the ease with which people process information – influences people’s judgements across a broad range of social dimensions.” 

Here, influences people’s judgements = People assess information,

processing fluency – the ease with which people process information = how readily they can understand it,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 29: A quick response to a question is thought to show a lack of knowledge.  

Keywords for the question: quick response, question, thought to show, lack of knowledge,

In lines 7-16 of paragraph no. 2, the writer of the passage says, “ … .. . For instance, people feel that when something is easily processed, it is more true or accurate.  . .. . .. Research indicates that a speaker is judged to be more knowledgeable when they answer questions instantly, . .. . .”

Here, answer questions instantly = quick response to a question, judged to be more knowledgeable = thought to show plenty of (opposite of lack) knowledge,

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 30: Video observations have often been used to assess conversational flow.  

Keywords for the question: Video observations, often, been used, assess, conversational flow,   

We find the mention of ‘video observations’ in paragraph no. 6, in lines 11-12. However, it doesn’t clarify the point whether ‘video observations’ have been used ‘often’ or not. 

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN  

Question no. 31: People who talk less often have clearer ideas than those who talk a lot.   

Keywords for the question: who talk less, often, clearer ideas, than, who talk a lot,

We do not find any point or discussion on having clearer ideas between people who talk less and people who talk a lot.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN 

Question no. 32: Delays in online chat fail to have the same negative effect as disruptions that occur in natural conversation.

Keywords for the question: delays, online chat, fail to have, same negative effect, disruptions, occur in, natural conversation,

The answer can be found in lines 9-18 of the final paragraph, “ . .. . . On a societal level, one could even imagine that a lack of conversational flow may hamper the integration of immigrants who have not completely mastered the language of their new country yet. In a similar sense, the ever-increasing number of online conversations may be disrupted by misinterpretations and anxiety that are produced by insuperable delays in the Internet connection. .. .. .”

Here, integration of immigrants = natural conversation among different immigrants, In a similar sense = same negative effect, may be disrupted = disruptions, insuperable delays in the Internet connection = delays in online chat,

The lines suggest that delays in online chat have the same negative effect as disruptions that occur in natural conversations like natural conversation among different immigrants.

So, the answer is: NO

Questions 33-40: Summary completion:

[In this kind of questions 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 from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.]

Title of the summary: Synchrony   

Question no. 33: There is a human desire to co-ordinate _______ in an effort to be ‘in harmony’.   

Keywords for the question: human desire, co-ordinate, effort, to be, ‘in harmony’,  

The answer can be found in the opening lines of paragraph no. 3, Here in lines 1-8, the writer says, “One of the social needs addressed by conversational flow is the human need for ‘synchrony’ – to be ‘in sync’ or in harmony with one another. Many studies have shown how people attempt to synchronize with their partners, by coordinating their behavior. This interpersonal coordination underlies a wide array of human activities, . .. . … ..” 

Here, how people attempt to synchronize = there is a human desire to co-ordinate .. .. . in an effort to be ‘in harmony’,

So, the answer is: (their) behaviour/ behavior/ activities

Question no. 34: This co-ordination can be seen in conversations when speakers alter the speed and extent of their speech in order to facilitate ________.     

Keywords for the question: co-ordination, when, speakers, alter, speed, extent, speech, in order to,  facilitate,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4, “In conversations, interpersonal coordination is found when people adjust the duration of their utterances and their speech rate to one another so that they can enable turn-talking to occur, without talking over each other or experiencing awkward silences, .. … .”

Here, interpersonal coordination = this co-ordination, when people adjust the duration of their utterances and their speech rate = when speakers alter the speed and extent of their speech, so that they can enable = in order to facilitate,

So, the answer is: turn-talking  

Question no. 35: This is often achieved within milliseconds: only tiny pauses take place when a conversation flows; when it doesn’t, there are ________ and silences, or people talk at the same time.    

Keywords for the question: often achieved, within milliseconds, only tiny pauses, take place, conversation flows, when it doesn’t, and silences, people talk, at the same time,  

The answer can be found in lines 6-13 of paragraph no. 4, “ . . .. … Since people are very well-trained, in having conversations, they are often able to take turns within milliseconds, resulting in a conversational flow of smoothly smashed behaviors. A lack of flow is characterized by interruptions, simultaneous speech or mutual silences.  

Here, they are often able to take turns within milliseconds = This is often achieved within milliseconds, A lack of flow = when it doesn’t, mutual silences = silences, simultaneous speech = people talk at the same time,

So, the answer is: interruptions  

Question no. 36: Our desire to ______ is also an important element of conversation flow.    

Keywords for the question: desire to, also, important element, conversation flow,  

The answer can be found in the opening lines of paragraph no. 5, “The need to belong has been identified as one of the most basic of human motivations and plays a role in many human behaviors. .. .. .”  

Here, The need to = our desire to, one of the most basic of human motivations = an important element of conversation flow,

So, the answer is: belong

Question no. 37: According to research, our ________ increase even if silences are brief.    

Keywords for the question: research, increase, even if, silences are brief,  

The answer can be found in lines 9-12 of paragraph no. 5, “ .. .. . . We all know that silences can be pretty awkward, and research shows that even short disruptions in conversational flow can lead to a sharp rise in distress levels. . . .. .”

Here, research shows = According to research, a sharp rise = increase, even short disruptions in conversational flow = even if silences are brief,

So, the answer is: distress levels

Question no. 38: Humans have a basic need to be part of a group, and they experience a sense of ________ if silences exclude them.    

Keywords for the question: humans have, basic need, part of a group, experience, sense of, if, silences, exclude them,  

The answer can be found in lines 17-21 of paragraph no. 5, “ .. . .. Group membership is of elementary importance to our wellbeing and because humans are very sensitive to signals of exclusion, a silence is generally taken as a sign of rejection. . . .. .”

Here, Group membership = be part of a group, elementary importance = Humans have a basic need, a sign of = a sense of,

So, the answer is: rejection  

Question no. 39: People also attempt to co-ordinate their opinions in conversation. In an experiment, participants’ judgement of the overall ________ among speakers was tested using videos of a fluent and a slightly disrupted conversation.    

Keywords for the question: people, attempt, co-ordinate, opinions,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 6. Here, the writer says in lines 7-24, “ . .. . One way in which people can justify their worldviews is by assuming that, as long as their conversations run smoothly, their interaction partners probably agree with them. This idea was tested by researchers using video observations. Participants imagined being one out of three people in a video clip who had either a fluent conversation or a conversation in which flow was disrupted by a brief silence. Participants who watched the fluent conversation rated agreement to be higher than participants watching the conversation that was disrupted by a silence,

Here, This idea was tested by researchers using video observations = tested using videos, a conversation in which flow was disrupted by a brief silence = a slightly disrupted conversation,

Here, the lines suggest that participants judged the overall agreement among speakers.

So, the answer is: agreement  

Question no. 40: The results showed that the _______ of the speakers’ discussion was less important than the perceived synchrony of the speakers.    

Keywords for the question: results, showed, of the speakers’ discussion, less important than, perceived synchrony, speakers,  

Take a look at the final lines of paragraph no. 6, “ . . .. . … It appears that the subjective feeling of being out of sync informs people of possible disagreements, regardless of the content of the conversation.”

Here, It appears that = The results showed that, being out of sync = the perceived synchrony, regardless = less important,  

So, the answer is: content  

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 3 Reading Passage 2