This IELTS Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading Passage 1 which is about ‘hearing problems’ or ‘auditory function deficit’ but untitled . This is a 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 sincerely hope this post can assist you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 9 Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1:

The headline of the passage: Passage without title (about Hearing Problems)  

Questions 1-6: (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 1: an account of a national policy initiative

Keywords for the question: national policy initiative

IN the beginning of Section H, the writer mentions, “The New Zealand Government has developed a New Zealand Disability Strategy and has embarked on a wide-ranging consultation process.”

Here, New Zealand Disability Strategy is the name of the policy and it is a national policy as it is developed by the New Zealand government.

So, the answer is: H

Question 2: a description of a global team effort

Keywords for the question: global team effort

In the last lines of Section C, the author mentions, “The International Institute of Noise Control Engineering (I-INCE), on the advice of the World Health Organization, has established an international working party, which includes New Zealand, to evaluate noise and reverberation control for school rooms.”

Here, an international working party = global team effort

So, the answer is: C

Question 3:  a hypothesis as to one reason behind the growth in classroom noise  

Keywords for the question: reason, growth, classroom noise,   

Section B starts with this line, “A preliminary study in New Zealand has shown that classroom noise presents a major concern for teachers and pupils… . .. . ” Then in lines 7-9 the writer says, “.. . . . This all amounts to heightened activity and noise levels, which have the potential to be particularly serious for children experiencing auditory function deficit.”

Here, phrases such as A preliminary study and which have the potential to be indicates that the reason behind growth in classroom noise is a hypothesis because it is not confirmed.

So, the answer is: B   

Question 4:  a demand for suitable worldwide regulations

Keywords for the question: suitable, worldwide regulations,    

The last line of Section I give us the answer. “It is imperative that the needs of these children are taken into account in the setting of appropriate international standards to be promulgated in future.”

Here, It is imperative means that a demand has been made. Also, international standards = worldwide regulations,

So, the answer is: I     

Question 5: a list of medical conditions which place some children more at risk from noise than others

Keywords for the question: medical conditions, children, more at risk, from noise, than others,  

In Section D we can find the medical conditions which place some children at more risk from noise. Those conditions are, “… . . hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD).

So, the answer is: D   

Question 6:  the estimated proportion of children in New Zealand with auditory problems

Keywords for the question: estimated proportion, children in New Zealand, auditory problems,     

The last lines of Section A points us to the answer. Here, the author says, “ . .. . . The New Zealand Ministry of Health has found from research carried out over two decades that 6-10% of children in that country are affected by hearing loss.”

So, the answer is: A   

Questions 7-10: Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

[In this kind of questions candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords which will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question 7: For what period of time has hearing loss in schoolchildren been studied in New Zealand?

Keywords for the question: hearing loss, schoolchildren, studied in New Zealand,  

In Section A, in the last lines the writer says, “. .. . . The New Zealand Ministry of Health has found from research carried out over two decades that 6-10% of children in that country are affected by hearing loss.”

The lines suggest that the study on hearing loss in schoolchildren has been done for two decades.

So, the answer is: two decades          

Question 8: In addition to machinery noise, what other type of noise can upset children with autism?  

Keywords for the question: addition to machinery noise, upset, children with autism,

The answer lies in Section E. Here, in lines 9-10, the writer states, “. . . Those experiencing these disorders often find sounds such as crowd noise and the noise generated by machinery painful and distressing.”

Here, other than noise created by machines, the type of noise that can upset children is crowd noise.

So, the answer is: crowd (noise)

Question 9: What term is used to describe the hearing problems of schoolchildren which have not been diagnosed?

Keywords for the question: hearing problems, schoolchildren, not been diagnosed,

In the last lines of paragraph G, the author says, “It is probable that many undiagnosed children exist in the education system with ‘invisible’ disabilities.”

Here, have not been diagnosed = undiagnosed

So, the answer is: invisible (disabilities/disability)

Question 10: What part of the New Zealand Disability Strategy aims to give schoolchildren equal opportunity?

Keywords for the question: What part, New Zealand Disability Strategy, aims, schoolchildren, equal opportunity,

In paragraph H, the writer says, “Objective 3 of the New Zealand Disability Strategy is to ‘Provide the Best Education for Disabled People’ by improving education so that all children, youth learners and adult  learners will have equal opportunities to learn and develop within their already existing school.”

So, the answer is: Objective 3  

Questions 11 & 12: (Choosing the TWO best answers)

[In this type of question, candidates are asked TWO best possible answers for one question. Candidates need to write the correct LETTERS for the answers.  Here, the techniques for Multiple Choice Questions are applicable.]

Question 11 & 12: The list below includes factors contributing to classroom noise.

Which TWO are mentioned by the writer of the passage?

A. Current teaching methods

B. Echoing corridors

C. Cooling systems

D. Large class sizes

E. Loud-voiced teachers

F. Playground games

Keywords for the question: factors, contributing, classroom noise,      

In paragraph B, the writer states in lines 2-5, “Modern teaching practices, the organisation of desks in the   classroom, poor classroom acoustics, and mechanical means of ventilation such as air- conditioning units all contribute to the number of children unable to comprehend the teacher’s voice.”

Here, Modern teaching practices = current teaching methods,

mechanical means of ventilation such as air-conditioning units = cooling systems,

So, the answers are: (in either order)  

A  

C

Question 13: 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.]

What is the writer’s overall purpose in writing this article?

A. To compare different methods of dealing with auditory problems

B. To provide solutions for overly noisy learning environments

C. To increase awareness of the situation of children with auditory problems

D. To promote New Zealand as a model for other countries to follow

Keywords for the question: overall purpose,  

If you take a close look at the beginning of the passage, you will find the writer alerting us by stating that “Hearing impairment or other auditory function deficit in young children can have a major impact on their development of speech and communication, resulting in a detrimental effect on their ability to learn at school. This is likely to have major consequences for the individual and the population as a whole.”

Then, in the following sections, the author gives a detailed description of the situation of hearing deficit in schoolchildren in New Zealand by discussing the causes, effects and ways out to this problem.

So, overall, the writer’s purpose or aim is obviously to ‘increase awareness of the situation of children with auditory problems”.

So, the answer is: C

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading passage 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 9 Test 2 Reading passage 3