Passage Reference: Marriage has become particularly unfashionable for women in their 20s. Perhaps mindful of the divorce statistics, couples are waiting longer than ever before making a commitment to marriage.

Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Not Given trap. Some students think 'perhaps' makes it uncertain, but the writer is still giving an opinion-based explanation.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'mindful of the divorce statistics' = Statement: 'concerned about the high rate of divorce'

Tips: When the writer explains a reason using opinion language, that usually signals YES.

Key Vocabulary:

• mindful = aware of
• commitment = serious promise

Question Focus: Writer predicts fewer large divorce settlements, not larger ones

Correct Answer: NO

Passage Reference: Marriage projections have great implications for government policy, as well as significant sociological effects. For example, if current trends continue, there will be far fewer hefty divorce settlements in favour of women.

Why this is correct: The writer says there will be far fewer hefty divorce settlements, which is the opposite of men paying larger ones. This is a clear contradiction of the statement.

Common Mistake: YES - Contradiction trap. Students notice divorce settlements but miss that the writer says fewer, not more.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'far fewer hefty divorce settlements' = Statement: 'larger divorce settlements'

Tips: Always check direction words like fewer or more before choosing YES.

Key Vocabulary:

• hefty = large
• in favour of = benefiting

Question Focus: Writer describes cohabitation as fragile

Correct Answer: NO

Passage Reference: Jill Kirby, of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: 'The serious decline of marriage is a very worrying development. Cohabitation is an inherently fragile partnership.

Why this is correct: Calling cohabitation inherently fragile clearly shows disagreement with the idea that it is as stable as marriage. The writer presents a negative opinion.

Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Contradiction trap. The opinion is clearly stated, not missing.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'inherently fragile partnership' = Statement: 'as stable a partnership as marriage'

Tips: Strong adjectives like fragile often signal the writer's clear opinion.

Key Vocabulary:

• inherently = by nature
• fragile = easily broken

Question Focus: Writer explicitly states moving in and out of relationships is worse than divorce

Correct Answer: YES

Passage Reference: It is not divorce that will have a serious impact on children in the future but parents moving in and out of different relationships in which marriage is not a factor.

Why this is correct: The writer clearly says it is not divorce but unstable relationships that will seriously affect children. This directly supports the statement.

Common Mistake: NO - Reverse meaning trap. Some students focus on the word divorce and miss the contrast.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'parents moving in and out of different relationships' = Statement: 'short-term relationships between parents'

Tips: Watch for contrast phrases like 'it is not X but Y'.

Key Vocabulary:

• impact = effect
• factor = element

Question Focus: Financial independence mentioned, but not linked to number of children

Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN

Passage Reference: Experts said the decision not to marry was partially fuelled by women in the work force who do not necessarily have to marry to be economically secure.

Why this is correct: The writer mentions financial security but says nothing about these women having more children. The opinion in the statement is not expressed.

Common Mistake: NO - Not Given trap. The passage does not say the opposite, it simply does not discuss children here.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'economically secure' = Statement: 'financially independent'

Tips: If the idea is missing completely, choose NOT GIVEN, not NO.

Key Vocabulary:

• economically secure = financially independent
• fuelled = encouraged

Question Focus: Writer links declining desire for children to cost

Correct Answer: YES

Passage Reference: Andrew Beveridge, a demographer at Queens College of the City University of New York, said: 'Now one of the major reasons to get married is to have children, and the attractiveness of having children has declined for many people because of the cost.'

Why this is correct: The writer clearly states that the cost has made having children less attractive. This directly agrees with the statement.

Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Synonym match. Some students miss that 'attractiveness has declined' means less inclined.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'attractiveness of having children has declined' = Statement: 'less inclined to have children'

Tips: Look for cause words like because of to confirm writer opinion.

Key Vocabulary:

• attractiveness = appeal
• declined = gone down

Question Focus: Writer highlights imbalance in unpaid work

Correct Answer: YES

Passage Reference: While we have had a revolution in the large numbers of women going out to work, men still are not sharing the unpaid work in the home.

Why this is correct: The writer contrasts women working more with men not sharing housework. This clearly supports the statement.

Common Mistake: NOT GIVEN - Wrong section trap. Students may stop reading before this opinion appears.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'not sharing the unpaid work in the home' = Statement: 'still do the majority of the housework'

Tips: Contrast words like while often signal the writer's opinion.

Key Vocabulary:

• unpaid work = housework
• sharing = doing equally

Question Focus: Writer calls for change but does not compare balances

Correct Answer: NOT GIVEN

Passage Reference: We now need a revolution in men's lives too. This would be of benefit not only to women with male partners, but to all women and men who want a better work life balance.

Why this is correct: The writer says both men and women want a better work-life balance. There is no opinion that men currently have a better one.

Common Mistake: YES - Partial truth trap. Students assume imbalance means men are better off, but this is not stated.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'men who want a better work life balance' = Statement: 'men have a better work-life balance'

Tips: Do not infer comparisons unless the writer clearly makes them.

Key Vocabulary:

• benefit = help
• revolution = major change

General Tips:

• YNNG tests the WRITER'S VIEW, not just facts or statistics.
• If the passage mentions a topic but gives no opinion on the exact idea, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
• Pay close attention to contrast phrases like 'not X but Y'.
• Statements usually follow passage order, so scan forward, not back.
• Be careful with cause and effect - look for words like because, so, or therefore.