This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 14 Reading Test 3 Passage 3 which is entitled ‘The power of play’. This is an aimed post for candidates who have major problems in finding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to comprehend every Reading answer without much difficulty. Tracing IELTS Reading answers is a slow process and I hope this post can help you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 14 Test 3: AC Reading Module
Reading Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: The power of play

N.B.: There are 11 paragraphs in this passage (After paragraph no. 6, there is a short description on a Scale of playfulness, which is attached to paragraph no. 6.).

Questions 27-31 (Matching researchers with statements)

(The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person and read around 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 27: Play can be divided into a number of separate categories

Keywords for this question: divided into, a number of, separate categories,

The answer is in paragraph no. 4 in lines 2-3 where the author writes, “. .. . .Definitions range from discrete descriptions of various types of play such as physical, construction, language, or symbolic play (Miller & Almon 2009). . ..”.

So, the lines suggest that play can be divided into some categories like physical, construction, language, symbolic etc.

So, the answer is: B (Miller & Almon)

Question 28: Adults’ intended goals affect how they play with children

Keywords for this question: adult’s goals, affect, how, play with children,

In paragraph no. 8, we can see the reference of adults’ goal. In lines 3-4 the author says, “. . .The adults’ role in play varies as a function of their educational goals and the child’s developmental level (Hirsch-Pasek et al. 2009).”

Here, varies = affect

So, the answer is: G (Hirsch-Pasek et al.)

Question 29: Combining work with play may be the best way for children to learn

Keywords for this question: combining work with play, best way, to learn,

In paragraph no. 7 the writer mentions in lines 3-5, “. . .. Researcher Joan Goodman (1994) suggested that hybrid forms of work and play are not a detriment to learning; rather they can provide optimal contexts for learning.”

So, the answer is: F (Joan Goodman)

Question 30: Certain elements of play are more significant than others

Keywords for this question: certain elements, more significant than others,

Paragraph no. 6 gives us the answer. Here, the writer says, “Rubin and colleagues did not assign greater weight to any one dimension in determining playfulness; however, other researchers have suggested that process orientation and a lack of obvious functional purpose may be the most important aspects of play (e.g. Pellegrini 2009).”

The lines suggest that though Rubin and his colleagues did not think that any one dimension (element) is not more significant than other, Pellegrini thought differently.

So, the answer is: E (Pellegirni)

Question 31: Activities can be classified on a scale of playfulness

Keywords for this question: activities, classified, scale of playfulness,

The answer is in paragraph no. 5 where the writer gives reference of the research conducted by Rubin and colleagues in 1983 (Rubin et.al. 1983), “Often, play is defined along a continnum as more or less playful using the following set of behavioral and dispositional criteria (e.g. Rubin et al. 1983):. . .” Then the wirter explains the scale of playfulness.

So, the answer is: C (Rubin at al.) 

Questions 32-36: (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts 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 32: Children need toys in order to play.

Keywords for this question: Children, toys,

The very first lines of paragraph no. 1 give us the answer, “Virtually every child, the world over, plays. The drive to play is so intense that children will do so in any circumstances, for instance when they have no real toys, or when parents do not actively encourage the behaviour. In the eyes of a young child, running, pretending and building is fun.”

The lines clearly suggest that children take running, pretending or building as play when they do not get a toy.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 33: It is a mistake to treat play and learning as separate types of activities.

Keywords for this question: mistake, treat, play and learning, separate, activities, 

The answer is in the last line of paragraph no. 2. “Our society has created a false dichotomy between play and learning.”

Here, false = mistake, dichotomy = separate,

So, the answer is: YES

Question 34: Play helps children to develop their artistic talents.

Keywords for this question: helps, children, develop, artistic talents,

As we have found the answer for question no. 33 at the end of paragraph no. 2 and the main keyword ‘definition’ for question no. 35 is found in paragraph no. 4, the answer for question no. 34 has to be found in paragraph no. 3 (This type of question maintains a sequence).

There is no information about ‘artistic talents’ in this paragraph.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 35: Researchers have agreed on a definition of play.

Keywords for this question: researchers, agreed, definition of play, 

In paragraph no. 4 we find the keyphrase ‘definition of play’. The first line gives us the answer, “Full consensus on a formal definition of play continues to elude the researchers and theorists who study it.”

Here, elude = make confused and avoid, consensus = agreement,

This means researchers are not in agreement on a definition of play.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 36: Work and play differ in terms of whether or not they have a target.

Keywords for this question: work and play, differ, have a target,   

We find the reference of ‘work and play’ in paragraph no. 7. Here, in lines 2-3 the writer says, “. . .Unlike play, work is typically not viewed as enjoyable and it is extrinsically motivated (i.e. it is goal-oriented).”

Here, goal-oriented = have a target,

Thus, the line suggests that work is different from play because it is mainly based on a target.

So, the answer is: YES 

Questions 37-40 (Completing summary with ONE WORD ONLY):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to ONE WORD ONLY to complete a summary on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word/words.]

Title of the summary: Guided play     

Question 37: In the simplest form of guided play, an adult contributes to the environment in which the child is playing. Alternatively, an adult can play with a child and develop the play, for instance by __________ the child to investigate different aspects of their game.

Keywords for this question: Alternatively, adult, play with child, develop, for instance, investigate,  

The answer is found in paragraph no. 9 in lines 2-5, “. .. In the more direct form of guided play, parents or other adults can support children’s play by joining in the fun as a co-player, raising thoughtful questions, commenting on children’s discoveries, or encouraging further exploration or new facets to the child’s activity.”

Here, further exploration means investigate

So, the answer is: encouraging

Question 38: Adults can help children to learn through play, and may make the activity rather structured, but it should still be based on the child’s __________ to play.

Keywords for this question: adults, help children, learn, make, activity, structured, should still be, based on,  

The last lines of paragraph no. 9 have the answer. Here, the author writes, “. . . .Although playful learning can be somewhat structured, it must also be child-centered (Nicolopolou et al. 2006). Play should stem from the child’s own desire.”

Here, stem from = based on,

So, the answer is: desire

Question 39 & 40: Play without the intervention of adults gives children real __________; with adults, play can be __________ at particular goals. However, all forms of play should be an opportunity for children to have fun.

Keywords for this question: without, intervention of adults, with adults, particular goals,

The answers are in the last paragraph. Here, in line no. 2 gives the answer for question no. 39. “Intrinsically motivated free play provides the child with true autonomy, …”

Here, free play = play without the intervention, true = real,

Again, in lines 2-3, we find the answer for question no. 40. “. ..while guided play is an avenue through which parents and educators can provide more targeted learning experiences.”

Here, parents and educators = adults, learning experiences = particular goals,

So, the answers are:

39. autonomy

40. targeted

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 14 Test 3 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 14 Test 3 Reading Passage 2