IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Question Practice Questions

Table of Contents

1. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Question Practice Questions
   
2. 5 IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Questions & Tips to Solve them (With Answer key) 
   
3. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 1
   
4. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 2
   
5. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 3
   
6. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 4
   
7. Answers for Practice Questions 
   
8. IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Question List For Practice 
   
9. Conclusion 
   
   

You can master answering short answer questions by taking up our IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Questions. In this task, you have to read the given passages in order to answer the list of questions with one to three words. Read the instructions carefully to prevent mistakes like choosing more words than mentioned word limit.

By surveying the previous question papers , we found IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions to be one of the essential IELTS academic reading question types. The aim of this IELTS academic short answer questions Practice Questions is to enhance your reading skills and find out how well you are ready for the IELTS reading section. 

5 IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Questions & Tips to Solve them (With Answer key)

Read the question and understand what type of information it is. Focus on Wh- words such as What, When, Where and Which or a number (How many or How much). Remember the word limit while you’re answering the questions. Use these tips for answering the following practice questions. 

Also read: IELTS academic reading tips

IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 1

 

Answer questions 1-4 which are based on the reading passage below.

Albert Camus

Albert Camus was a French-Algerian philosopher, journalist and writer, who was born in 1913. He wrote significant works such as Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger and The Rebel. He doesn't believe that reason helps us to understand the universe. He claimed that life is basically absurd, which means life doesn’t work based on some logical principles. At the same time, In his work of Myth of Sisyphus, he talks about why one should not commit suicide and In the Rebel, he talks why one should not commit murder.

Most people relate absurdist philosophy to Albert Camus. He wrote the triptych based on the Absurd: The Stranger, a novel; Myth of Sisyphus, a philosophical essay; Caligula, play. He dismissed any rational effort to explain the world. He believed that people attempt suicide because they judged that life is not worth living. But, in his conclusive portion of Myth of Sisyphus, he rejected suicide and emphasized three consequences as a logical response to the absurdity, which are: Revolt, Freedom, Passion.

He used the Sisyphus story analogous to human existence. It is said that Sisyphus was condemned to roll the boulder to the top of the mountain only to see the boulder rolling down. It means, Sisyphus rolls the boulder without purpose. Likewise, he claims humans are living without purpose. But, Camus ended the story with a twist by saying that Sisyphus contented with rolling the boulder itself instead of caring about its purpose. So, humans can be satisfied with life itself rather than finding the purpose of life.

Questions 1–4

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. When was Albert Camus born ?
2. Which philosophy that most people referred to Camus ?
3. What are the three consequences of logical response to absurdity?
4. Which story does Albert Camus relate with human existence ?

Check answer for this exercise

Check more IELTS academic reading short answer questions exercise with answers .

IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 2

Answer questions 1-5 which are based on the reading passage below.

Personality

Personality is the word derived from the Latin word, which is “persona” that means “mask”. On a Psychological level, Personality is something that makes an individual. It includes thoughts, emotions and feelings. It distinguishes one individual from another individual. Several key characteristics of personality is, noticeable order of behaviour and it can be seen in social interactions.
There are several theories that attempt to explain personality. Trait theory is one of those theories that believes that personality is unique to an individual and it is the constitution of combination of elements and characteristics. These characteristics are called traits. Allport developed a trait theory in 1936. He organized the traits into three categories: Cardinal Traits, Central traits and Secondary traits. 
In 1947, Psychologist Hans Eysenk created a personality model. His model expounds that all individuals share some universal traits and they are as follows. Introversion versus extraversion, Introversion comprises the individual who directs their attention toward their inner experiences and extraversion comprises the individual who directs their attention to the outward people. Neuroticism versus emotional stability, Neuroticism individuals who become upset and Emotional stability relates to one’s ability to maintain their emotions.Psychoticism,it is about an individual's manipulative, antisocial and apathetic tendencies.

Questions 1–5

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. Where does the word personality is derived ?
2. Which theory states that personality is unique to the individual?
3. When did Allport develop his Trait theory ?
4. How many categories are there in Allport’s theory ?
5. When did Hans Eysenk develop his theory of personality ?

Check answer for this exercise

Attempt this free IELTS academic reading short answer questions mock test

IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 3

Answer questions 1-4 which are based on the reading passage below.

Dreams

Dreams are thoughts, images or experiences which a person experiences while asleep. Still, psychologists are struggling to understand why we dream and what the purpose of dreams is.  There is a myth that  states morning dreams could become a real incident in one’s life. But, there is no evidence for that. Psychologists developed several theories to explain dreams. Sigmund Freud, a psychoanalyst who believed that dreams are repressed thoughts and emotions in the unconscious. 
In his Interpretation of Dreams book, Freud broke down the dreams into two parts: Manifest Content and Latent Content. Manifest content is the actual thoughts and images that one sees in his or dream. Latent content is the hidden meaning of the content.  To understand the hidden meaning of the content,  Freud even broke down the dreams itself into five parts: Displacement, Projection, Symbolization, Condensation and Secondary Revision.
Carl Jung, a famous psychologist also believed what Freud said. He added that dreams compensate for some parts in the psyche which are underdeveloped during waking life. He believed that dreams reveal the collective unconscious and personal unconscious.

Questions 1–4

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. Who is Sigmund Freud ?
2. How many content parts are there in dreams, according to Freud ?
3. Which content part talks about the hidden meaning of the content ?
4. Which famous psychologist agreed with Freud’s Theory ?

Check answer for this exercise

IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Questions Practice Question 4

Answer questions 1-4 which are based on the reading passage below.

Art Therapy

Art is fundamentally a medium of expression. It can help communicate their stress, fear and different parts of the personality in a beautiful manner. Psychology used art to solve psychological problems of an individual and even to treat psychological disorders. This is called Art Therapy. Combination of creative process and psychotherapeutic techniques to serve the people with psychological problems. It is found art improves interpersonal skills, self awareness and self control.
Art therapy works very well with the following groups. Adults who are struggling with stress. Children with learning disabilities, People with mental problems, People with brain injury and anyone who is suffering from depression, anxiety and domestic abuse. Art therapy is all about healing others. Therapists are not actually interpreting those artworks.When a patient is trying to create art, they think about themselves at the deepest level possible. Self awareness increases while patients turn their problems into symbols.
There are a number of benefits one can get in Art Therapy and they are as follows.Being actively facing one’s anxiety and stress. Decision making ability will be sharpened. Creativity will be nurtured. Catharsis occurs, which means the cleansing of negative feelings. There are different versions one could use in Art Therapy such as music, painting, sculpting, drawing, etc., 

Questions 1–4

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. What is the term used in psychology for solving psychological problems using art?
2. What is another thing used for treating people with psychological problems with a combination of psychotherapeutic techniques ?
3. What increases when  people turn their problems into symbols ?
4. What is the term used for indicating the cleansing of negative feelings ?

Check answer for this exercise

Answers for Practice Questions

• Answer for Practice Question 1

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. 1913

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Albert Camus was a French-Algerian philosopher, journalist and writer, who was born in 1913.

2. absurdist philosophy

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - Most people relate absurdist philosophy to Albert Camus

3. Revolt, Freedom, Passion 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  But, in his conclusive portion of Myth of Sisyphus, he rejected suicide and emphasized three consequences as a logical response to the absurdity, which are: Revolt, Freedom, Passion.

4. Sisyphus story 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - He used the Sisyphus story analogous to human existence

• Answer for Practice Question 2

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. Latin word 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Personality is the word derived from the Latin word, which is “persona” that means “mask”. 

2. Trait theory 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  Trait theory is one of those theories that believes that personality is unique to an individual and it is the constitution of combination of elements and characteristics.

3. 1936 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  Allport developed a trait theory in 1936.

4. three categories 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  He organized the traits into three categories: Cardinal Traits, Central traits and Secondary traits. 

5. 1947 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - In 1947, Psychologist Hans Eysenk created a personality model

• Answer for Practice Question 3

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. a psychoanalyst 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - Sigmund Freud, a psychoanalyst who believed that dreams are repressed thoughts and emotions in the unconscious.

2. two parts 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - In his Interpretation of Dreams book, Freud broke down the dreams into two parts: Manifest Content and Latent Content.

3. Latent content

Explanation: Paragraph 2 -  Latent content is the hidden meaning of the content.

4. Carl Jung 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - Carl Jung, a famous psychologist also believed what Freud said

Answer for Practice Question 4 

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. Art Therapy 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 -  Psychology used art to solve psychological problems of an individual and even to treat psychological disorders. This is called Art Therapy

2. creative process (h6)

Explanation: Paragraph 1 -  Combination of creative process and psychotherapeutic techniques to serve the people with psychological problems.

3. Self awareness 

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - Self awareness increases while patients turn their problems into symbols.

4. Catharsis 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 -  Catharsis occurs, which means the cleansing of negative feelings.

Also check IELTS academic reading short answer questions tips

IELTS Academic Reading Short Answer Question List For Practice 

Answer questions 1-5 which are based on the reading passage below.

Politics

The English word “Politics” is derived from the Greek word, “Politika”, which means “affairs of the cities”. Politics has a profound impact on society and policies of the government. Politics is built on ideological bases. Political parties are divided into two: left and right. Left are liberal, secular and one who opposes authoritarian and domination tendencies in society and the right are one who defends traditional values. Politics is all about developing society in the best possible way.

Politics is not only restricted to the ruling party. There are also opposition parties who criticise the ruling party if they’ve gone wrong. There is a thing called dirty politics, which means parties or individuals who work based on their personal interests rather than for social interests. Sometimes, Political parties during an election give promises for the betterment of the society for gaining votes, also they give money to gain votes from people. Also, parties defame the opposition parties by spreading fake news on them. These are only to gain votes.

Aristotle is the proponent of good life. So, Politics must ensure that every individual attains a good life. He stated that “Man is a political animal”. Aristotle states that the government must work for the general good. If a single person runs a government for the general good, then it's called monarchy. If it is run for private benefit, then it's called tyranny. 

Questions 1–5

Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

1. Where did the word Politics derived from ?
2. How many types of political parties are there ?
3. Which term expresses a notion that parties work based on their personal interests ?
4. What is a man according to Aristotle?
5. Which term states that if a single person runs a government for his private benefits?

Answer for this Exercise 

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. Greek word (or) Politika 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 - The English word “Politics” is derived from the Greek word, “Politika”, which means “affairs of the cities”. 

2. two 

Explanation: Paragraph 1 -  Political parties are divided into two: left and right.

3. dirty politics

Explanation: Paragraph 2 - There is a thing called dirty politics, which means parties or individuals who work based on their personal interests rather than for social interests. 

4. a political animal 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 - Aristotle is the proponent of good life. So, Politics must ensure that every individual attains a good life. He stated that “Man is a political animal”.

5. tyranny 

Explanation: Paragraph 3 -  If a single person runs a government for the general good, then it's called monarchy. If it is run for private benefit, then it's called tyranny. 

Conclusion

A team of IELTS experts acknowledged these IELTS academic reading short answer questions  - practice questions as an effective way to measure the answering skill of the students. Hope these practice questions highlighted your areas of improvement.