Answers for all fourteen questions on Cambridge IELTS 19 Test 1 Passage 3, grouped by question type, with notes on the traps in the summary and YES / NO / NOT GIVEN blocks.
How to attack this block: Each question points at one named part of the passage, so locate the reference first and read only that stretch. Two of the four answers are D, so there is no last-option decoy pattern to lean on here; elimination beats picking whichever option reuses the most words from the text.
Question 27
Answer: DParagraph 1
What is the writer's main point about misinformation in the opening paragraph?
Deceiving others can offer an apparent opportunity to gain strategic advantage, to motivate others to action, or even to protect interpersonal bonds. Moreover, people inadvertently have been sharing inaccurate information
Question says → Passage says
a number of reasonsto gain strategic advantage, to motivate others to action, or even to protect interpersonal bonds
the spread of misinformationboth deliberately promoted and accidentally shared
Why: The paragraph lists why people lie (advantage, motivating others, protecting relationships) and adds that people also pass on false information by accident. That's a range of reasons for misinformation spreading, which is D.
The trap: A is the reverse of the text: 'it is not a new problem', and people have lied 'for roughly as long as verbal communication has existed'. B and C (spotting misinformation easily, information changing as it passes on) aren't mentioned at all.
Question 28
Answer: AParagraph 2
What does the writer say technology might do?
Yet the means to correct misinformation might, over time, be found in those same patterns of mass communication and of the facilitated spread of information.
Question says → Passage says
may at some pointmight, over time
provide us with a solutionthe means to correct misinformation… be found
Why: Technology spreads misinformation fast, 'Yet' the same mass communication might eventually supply a way to correct it. 'Might, over time' is the hedged future of 'may at some point', and 'means to correct' is 'a solution'.
The trap: D is tempting because it sounds like the same idea, but the writer never says technology has already made checking easier. The solution is possible and in the future, not something that has happened.
Question 29
Answer: CParagraph 4
What is the fourth paragraph doing?
At least three observations related to misinformation in the contemporary mass-media environment warrant the attention of researchers, policy makers, and really everyone
Question says → Passage says
outlining which issuesAt least three observations… First of all… Secondly… Thirdly
significant todayin the contemporary mass-media environment warrant the attention
Why: The paragraph sets out three points that deserve attention now: people believe misinformation at first, media don't block it, and correcting it is costly. 'Contemporary' = 'today', and 'warrant the attention' = 'significant'. The rest of the article then deals with each point in turn.
The trap: D picks up 'policy makers', but they're just one of the groups who should pay attention. The paragraph says nothing about what policy makers think. A and B (different opinions, changes over time) don't fit a list of current observations.
Question 30
Answer: DParagraph 6
What is the writer's point about regulation in the US?
these roles typically do not involve preemptive censoring… Such programs, although laudable and useful, do not keep false advertising off the airwaves.
Question says → Passage says
fails to preventdo not keep… off / without being preemptively blocked
appearing in the mediathe airwaves
Why: US regulators act after broadcast ('post hoc detection'), not before. Even the FDA's 'Bad Ad' programme can't keep false adverts off the air. So regulation fails to stop misinformation appearing, which is D.
The trap: B is close to the last sentence, which says corrected misinformation can still affect attitudes. But that's about corrections, not regulation, and it's not about opinions of new drugs. A and C (simpler FDA guidelines, more regulators than other countries) are never said.
Summary completion (list of phrases A-J)
Questions 31-36
How to attack this block: Six gaps drawn from ten phrases, so four options are pure distractors. Work grammatically first by deciding what each gap needs, then match meaning. Letters are never reused in this set, so every letter you commit removes an option from the gaps that follow.
Question 31
Answer: GParagraph 5, second sentence
What do people regularly have to misinformation?
Although it is fairly routine for individuals to come across information that is false
Question says → Passage says
Although people haveAlthough it is fairly routine for individuals
exposure to misinformationcome across information that is false
Why: 'Fairly routine' means it happens often, and to 'come across' false information is to be exposed to it. 'Have frequent exposure to' also fits the grammar exactly. That's G.
The trap: A, 'constant conflict', looks possible after 'have', but nothing suggests people fight misinformation all the time. F, 'extreme distrust', is the opposite of the passage: people tend to believe it at first.
Question 32
Answer: JParagraph 5, middle
What did Descartes and Spinoza have about how people take in information?
a contrast between how the 17th-century philosophers René Descartes and Baruch Spinoza described human information engagement, with conflicting predictions
Question says → Passage says
had different ideasa contrast between how… described / conflicting predictions
Why: The two philosophers disagreed: Descartes said we judge first, Spinoza said we accept first and check later. 'Conflicting predictions' and 'a contrast' both mean different ideas, so J.
The trap: A, 'constant conflict', grabs you because of 'conflicting'. But the passage describes opposing views, not an ongoing quarrel between two men. 'Constant' has no support.
Question 33
Answer: HParagraph 5, middle
What did Spinoza say is used to verify or reject information?
then subsequently verify or reject it through a separate cognitive process
Question says → Passage says
a distincta separate
mental operationcognitive process
Why: 'Distinct' = 'separate', and 'cognitive process' = 'mental operation'. The gap needs a singular noun phrase after 'a distinct', and H is exactly that.
The trap: C, 'different locations', sounds right because the brain comes up later. But that's the last sentence of the paragraph and comes from recent research, not Spinoza. It's also plural, which doesn't fit 'a distinct'.
Question 34
Answer: BParagraph 5, second half
What has recent research given Spinoza's theory?
empirical evidence from the research teams of Erik Asp of the University of Chicago and Daniel Gilbert at Harvard University, among others, has supported Spinoza's account
Question says → Passage says
Recent researchIn recent decades… the research teams
provided additional evidence forempirical evidence… has supported
Why: Research has supported Spinoza with evidence. 'Provided ___ for Spinoza's theory' needs something that backs a theory, and B, 'additional evidence', does that.
The trap: D, 'experimental subjects', sits in the same topic area (research, testing) but you can't 'provide experimental subjects for a theory'. Read the gap with the words around it.
Question 35
Answer: EParagraph 5, near the end
How long do people accept information as true before checking it?
people appear to encode all new information as if it were true, even if only momentarily
Question says → Passage says
even if this is for an extremely short periodeven if only momentarily
Why: 'Momentarily' means for a moment. The gap follows 'an extremely', so it needs an adjective and noun: E, 'short period'.
The trap: None of the other phrases is about time, so the only real risk is misreading the gap. 'For an extremely ___' needs a length of time.
Question 36
Answer: CParagraph 5, last sentence
Where are scepticism and perception handled in the brain?
mental resources for skepticism physically reside in a different part of the brain than the resources used in perceiving and encoding
Question says → Passage says
are in different locations in the brainphysically reside in a different part of the brain
Why: 'Reside in a different part' = 'are in different locations'. The gap comes after 'are in', so it needs a place, and C is the only phrase that names one.
The trap: H, 'mental operation', is the other brain-related phrase, but it's already used for gap 33 and 'are in mental operation' isn't a location.
YES / NO / NOT GIVEN
Questions 37-40
How to attack this block: This block asks about the writer's claims rather than about facts, so you are matching opinion to opinion. Half the block is NOT GIVEN: if the passage discusses the topic but never commits to the specific claim, that is NOT GIVEN, not NO.
Question 37
Answer: YESParagraph 7, second sentence
Does the writer think correction campaigns fail if people can't understand them?
For corrective campaigns to be persuasive, audiences need to be able to comprehend them
Question says → Passage says
Campaigns designed to correct misinformationcorrective campaigns
if people are unable to understand themaudiences need to be able to comprehend them
fail to achieve their purposeto be persuasive
Why: The writer sets understanding as a condition: to persuade, a campaign must be understood. Flip it round and a campaign people can't understand won't persuade, so it fails. That agrees with the statement.
The trap: Some people go for NOT GIVEN because 'fail' isn't in the text. But 'need to be able to' is a requirement, and failing a requirement means failing the purpose.
Question 38
Answer: NOT GIVENParagraph 7, middle
Has teaching young pupils about misinformation met with opposition?
That some audiences might be unaware of the potential for misinformation also suggests the utility of media literacy efforts as early as elementary school.
Question says → Passage says
teach elementary school students about misinformationmedia literacy efforts as early as elementary school
Why: The writer thinks media literacy teaching in elementary school would be useful. Nobody is said to have opposed it, and we aren't even told whether it has been tried. The opposition part is simply missing.
The trap: If you read 'suggests the utility' as 'the writer supports it, so no one opposes it', you'd pick NO. But the writer's support says nothing about other people's reaction. That makes it NOT GIVEN.
Question 39
Answer: NOParagraph 8
Does the writer think misinformation could be beaten quickly?
The journey forward undoubtedly will be a long and arduous one.… we will need coordinated efforts over time, rather than any singular one-time panacea
Question says → Passage says
in a relatively short periodlong and arduous / over time
overcome the problemovercome the worst effects
Why: The writer is certain ('undoubtedly') that the journey will be long and hard, and says we need effort over time, not a quick fix. That directly contradicts a short-term solution, so NO.
The trap: 'Many people also are passionately developing potential solutions' sounds hopeful, which can push you to YES. Effort and enthusiasm don't make the timescale short.
Question 40
Answer: NOT GIVENParagraph 8, near the end
Does the writer say the need to keep up with new information is overstated?
Misinformation arises as a result of human fallibility and human information needs.
Question says → Passage says
The need to keep up with new informationhuman information needs
Why: The writer mentions 'human information needs' as one cause of misinformation, and stops there. There's no comment on whether that need is exaggerated or how strong it is today.
The trap: Because 'information needs' matches the statement's wording, people often feel the writer must have an opinion on it. They only name it as a cause, so the 'hugely exaggerated' judgement isn't there.
Words from this passage worth keeping
inadvertently(Paragraph 1)
without meaning to
unduly(Paragraph 3)
more than is right or reasonable
detrimental(Paragraph 3)
harmful
warrant(Paragraph 4)
deserve or justify
garnered(Paragraph 5)
attracted or gathered
preemptive(Paragraph 6)
done in advance to stop something happening
laudable(Paragraph 6)
deserving praise
panacea(Paragraph 8)
a single solution to every problem
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The full Cambridge 19 Test 1 reading paper: all three passages, 60 minutes, marked the second you finish with a review of every answer. Already done it? Take it again and see if the same traps still get you.
Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 1, Reading Passage 3. The passage and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full text, or sit the test on Langujet.
