Yes/No/Not Given — أسئلة رأي الكاتب في IELTS Reading
In this lesson, we study "Yes/No/Not Given" questions in the IELTS Reading section. This topic is essential for handling writer's opinion questions correctly. We will provide a clear explanation with practical examples and sample questions.
The Basic Concept
The topic of "Yes/No/Not Given" relates to understanding the structure of IELTS Reading. To master this topic, you need to know the following concepts:
- Yes: the statement agrees with the writer's opinion in the passage
- No: the statement contradicts the writer's opinion in the passage
- Not Given: the writer's opinion is not mentioned at all — you cannot decide
- Difference from True/False: True/False tests facts and statements; Yes/No tests the writer's views and claims
- Key phrases of opinion: I believe, In my view, The author argues, claims, suggests
- Paraphrasing: the question rarely uses the same words as the passage — match meaning, not words
Detailed Explanation
To study "Yes/No/Not Given" properly, we follow this method: understand the basic rules, review multiple examples, then practice with real passages. The more you practice, the more you master the material.
Yes/No/Not Given questions appear after passages with a clear authorial voice — typically argumentative or discussion texts. Unlike True/False/Not Given (which checks facts), Yes/No/Not Given checks claims: "Does the writer say this? Does the writer say the opposite? Or does the writer never touch this point?"
The critical skill is detecting opinion language. The passage may say: "The evidence suggests that homework has little benefit for young children." — a question may state: "The writer believes homework is pointless for primary pupils." — that is YES (the writer suggests little benefit, and "pointless" matches the claim's direction). Another statement: "The writer believes homework is essential in primary schools." — that is NO (the opposite claim). A third: "The writer believes homework should be banned after age 12." — NOT GIVEN (the passage never discusses this age).
The Not Given trap is the hardest: many students choose "No" when the information is simply absent. The rule: "No" means the passage explicitly says the opposite. If the passage is silent — even if the statement seems "probably false" or "probably true" — the answer is Not Given.
Worked Example Step by Step
Passage: "Many experts praise online courses for their flexibility. However, the writer argues that classroom interaction remains irreplaceable for developing communication skills."
Question: "The writer believes online courses are completely ineffective."
Step 1: Find the opinion zone — the writer's view: classroom interaction is irreplaceable for communication skills. Step 2: Compare with the statement — "completely ineffective" is an extreme claim; the writer only says interaction is irreplaceable for one skill, not that online courses fail entirely. Step 3: Is this "No"? Only if the passage states the opposite claim. The passage praises flexibility and only limits one area — it never says online courses are effective or ineffective as a whole. Step 4: The claim about total ineffectiveness is not addressed — extreme wording is a classic Not Given signal. Answer: Not Given.
MCQ Practice Question
Question: If the passage says "The author believes recycling is the most practical solution to plastic waste," and the question says "The author believes recycling is the only solution to plastic waste," the answer is:
- A) Yes
- B) No
- C) Not Given
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Option (C) is correct: "most practical" and "only solution" are different claims. The passage ranks recycling first among solutions; it never says other solutions do not exist. Since the passage does not address whether it is the only solution, the statement is not given. Extreme words (only, always, never) often turn Yes into Not Given.
Additional Application
Question: How can you quickly tell Yes/No/Not Given questions from True/False/Not Given?
Answer: True/False statements describe facts and the passage itself; Yes/No statements describe the writer's opinions and claims — look for "the writer believes/suggests/argues" in the question.
Explanation: The question wording reveals the type: if it contains "the writer," "the author," or "according to the writer," it is a Yes/No question about opinion. Fact-based wording signals True/False.
Lesson Summary
Yes/No/Not Given in IELTS Reading depends on: matching the statement to the writer's opinion (Yes = agrees, No = contradicts, Not Given = silent), never choosing No without an explicit opposite claim, watching for extreme words (only, always) that make statements Not Given, and paraphrasing meaning rather than matching words. Rule: No needs evidence of the opposite — silence always means Not Given.