| YES | if the statement agrees with the views of the writer |
| NO | if the statement contradicts the views of the writer |
| NOT GIVEN | if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this |
Earthquakes
1. Every year earthquakes are responsible for a large number of deaths and a vast amount of destruction in various parts of the world. Most of these damaging earthquakes occur either in a narrow belt which surrounds the Pacific Ocean or in a line which extends from Burma to the Alps in Europe. Some of the destruction is directly caused by the quake itself. An example of this is the collapse of buildings as a result of vibration. Other damage results from landslides, tsunamis (large ocean waves) or major fires which are initiated by the quake.
2. There are about a million quakes a year. Fortunately, however, not all of-them are destructive. The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Richter Scale, which goes from 0 upward. The highest magnitude recorded to date is 8.9. Major damage generally occurs from quakes ranging upwards from 6.0. Exceptions to this are those whose epicentres are located far from inhabited areas.
4. In order to minimize the damage and to alleviate some of the suffering resulting from earthquakes, scientists are working on ways to enable accurate prediction. Two of the instruments presently in use to achieve this goal are seismographs and tiltmeters. The former records any shaking of the earth; by means of calculations seismologists can accurately indicate the exact time, location and size of an earthquake. The latter, as the name suggests, is used to record any changes in the tilt of the land.
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Question Focus: Writer explains the causes of pressure and links them to expansion, contraction and continental drift.
Correct Answer: YES
Why this is correct: The writer clearly states that pressure is produced by several reasons and then names expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift. This shows agreement with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Passage Reference: The actual cause of the quake itself is the rupturing or breaking of rocks at or below the earth's surface. This is produced by pressure which scientists believe may be due to a number of reasons, two of which are the expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift.
Common Mistake: Choosing NOT GIVEN because the student misses the phrase 'may be due to' - Paraphrase trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'pressure ... may be due to ... expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift' = Statement: 'Pressure occurs as a result of expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift'
Tips: When the writer explains causes using phrases like 'due to', that is a clear opinion about reasons.
Key Vocabulary:
- expansion = getting bigger
- contraction = getting smaller
- continental drift = movement of continents
Question Focus: Cause and effect are reversed in the statement.
Correct Answer: NO
Passage Reference: The actual cause of the quake itself is the rupturing or breaking of rocks at or below the earth's surface. This is produced by pressure which scientists believe may be due to a number of reasons, two of which are the expansion and contraction of the earth's crust and continental drift.
Why this is correct: The writer says that rupturing of rocks is produced by pressure, not the other way round. The statement reverses this relationship, so the writer disagrees with it. The answer is NO.
Common Mistake: Answering YES because both words appear in the passage - Causation trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'rupturing ... is produced by pressure' = Statement: 'Pressure results from the rupturing of rocks'
Tips: Always check cause and effect direction. Ask yourself: what causes what?
Key Vocabulary:
- rupturing = breaking
- produced by = caused by
Question Focus: Writer lists multiple types of damage caused by earthquakes.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: Some of the destruction is directly caused by the quake itself. An example of this is the collapse of buildings as a result of vibration. Other damage results from landslides, tsunamis (large ocean waves) or major fires which are initiated by the quake.
Why this is correct: The writer clearly lists collapse of buildings, landslides, tsunamis and fires as results of earthquakes. This fully supports the statement, so the answer is YES.
Common Mistake: Overthinking and choosing NO because not all damage is direct - Partial truth trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'collapse of buildings ... landslides, tsunamis ... major fires' = Statement: 'collapse of buildings, landslides, tsunamis and fires'
Tips: If the writer lists several effects and the statement matches all of them, it is usually YES.
Key Vocabulary:
- initiated = started
- destruction = damage
Question Focus: Writer directly explains the cause of earthquakes.
Correct Answer: YES
Passage Reference: The actual cause of the quake itself is the rupturing or breaking of rocks at or below the earth's surface. This is produced by pressure which scientists believe may be due to a number of reasons.
Why this is correct: The writer directly states that earthquakes are caused by rupturing of rocks at or below the earth's surface. This exactly matches the statement, so the answer is YES.
Common Mistake: Choosing NOT GIVEN because the student thinks it is only background information - Not Given trap
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'rupturing or breaking of rocks at or below the earth's surface' = Statement: 'rocks below the earth's surface rupturing'
Tips: When the writer says 'the actual cause', that is a very strong signal of their view.
Key Vocabulary:
- actual cause = real reason
- below = under
General Tips:
- YNNG tests the WRITER'S VIEW, not just facts. Look for explanations of causes and effects.
- Statements usually follow passage order. Use the previous answer location to find the next one faster.
- Be careful with cause and effect. IELTS often reverses them to trick you.
- YES means the writer supports the idea. NO means the writer says the opposite. NOT GIVEN means the writer never gives that opinion.
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