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The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Sep 06, 2024, 07:05

This passage, “The Meaning Of Volunteering”, explores the demographics and motivations behind volunteering. It reveals that higher-income individuals, those with higher education, and those in employment are more likely to engage in formal volunteering. Volunteering activities cover a wide range of sectors, and while volunteers often possess expertise, the impact of volunteering extends to all individuals, including the young and less experienced. Volunteering can enhance skills, benefit communities, and improve job prospects. Essential qualities for volunteers include selflessness and adaptability, but self-interest also plays a role in the process. The passage clarifies that coercion-based community work is not considered genuine volunteering.
 

This passage will help you prepare for the IELTS Reading section by demonstrating how to summarise complex information, identify key details, and understand the relationship between various factors (e.g., income and volunteering). Practising with such passages can improve your skills in extracting relevant information and understanding nuanced arguments, which are essential skills for the IELTS Reading score.
 

Let’s look at the “The Meaning Of Volunteering” reading passage along with questions, answers and explanations.

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1. The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below.

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2. The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Questions & Answers.

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1.

The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

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The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Passage

 

Paragraph A

Volunteering, some might mistakenly think, embraces a plethora of people from all walks of life and activities, but data from the other side of the world suggest otherwise. A 2001 survey on who participated in volunteering by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that people in higher-income households are more likely than others to volunteer. In England and Wales, 57 per cent of adults with gross annual household incomes of £75,000 or more have volunteered formally (such as raising or handling money for a charity or being a member of a committee) in the 12 months prior to the survey date. They were almost twice as likely to have done than those living in households with an annual income under £10,000.

 

Paragraph B

As well as having high household incomes, volunteers also tend to have higher academic qualifications, be in higher socio-economic groups, and be in employment. Among people with a degree or postgraduate qualification, 79 per cent had volunteered informally, and 57 per cent had volunteered formally in the previous 12 months. For people with no qualifications, the corresponding proportions were 52 per cent and 23 per cent. But voluntary work is certainly not the exclusive preserve of the rich, nor should it be. Does the answer not lie, perhaps in the fact that the rich tend to have money to allow them the time to become involved in voluntary work compared to less well-off people?
 

Paragraph C

A breakdown in the year 2000 of the range of volunteering activities taken from The Australian Bureau of Statistics gives an idea of the scale of activities in which people are typically involved. Eleven sectors are given, ranging from Community and Welfare, which accounted for just over a quarter of the total hours volunteered in Australia, to Law/justice/politics, with 1.2 per cent at the other end of the scale. Other fields included sport/recreation, religious activities, and education, followed by 21.2 per cent, 16.9 and 14.3 per cent respectively. Foreign/international volunteer work accounted for 2.4 per cent of the total hours. The data here also seem to point to a cohort of volunteers with expertise and experience.
 

Paragraph D

The knock-on effect of volunteering on the lives of individuals can be profound. Voluntary work helps foster independence and imparts the ability to deal with different situations, often simultaneously, thus teaching people how to work their way through different systems. It, therefore, brings people into touch with the real world; and, hence, equips them for the future.
 

Paragraph E

Initially, young adults in their late teens might not seem to have the expertise or knowledge to impart to others that, say, a teacher, agriculturalist, or nurse would have, but they do have many skills that can help others. And in the absence of any particular talent, their energy and enthusiasm can be harnessed for the benefit of their fellow human beings and, ultimately, themselves. From all this, the gain to any community, no matter how many volunteers are involved, is immeasurable.
 

Paragraph F

Employers will generally look favourably at people who have shown an ability to work as part of a team. It demonstrates a willingness to learn and an independent spirit, which would be desirable qualities in any employee. So, to satisfy employers’ demands for experience when applying for work, volunteering can act as a means of gaining experience that might otherwise elude would-be workers and can ultimately lead to paid employment in the desired field.
 

Paragraph G

But what are the prerequisites for becoming a volunteer? One might immediately think of attributes like kindness, selflessness, strength of character, ability to deal with others, determination, adaptability and flexibility, and a capacity to comprehend the ways of other people. While offering oneself selflessly, working as a volunteer makes further demands on the individual. It requires a strength of will, a sense of moral responsibility for one’s fellow human beings, and an ability to fit into the ethos of an organisation or community. But it also requires something which in no way detracts from the valuable work done by volunteers and which may seem at first glance both contradictory and surprising: self-interest.
 

Paragraph H

Organisations involved in any voluntary work have to be realistic about this. If someone, whatever the age, is going to volunteer and devote their time without money, they do need to receive something from it for themselves. People who are unemployed can use volunteer work as a stepping-stone to employment or as a means of finding out whether they really like the field they plan to enter or as a way to help them find themselves.
 

Paragraph I

It is tempting to use some form of community work as an alternative to national service or as punishment for petty criminals by making the latter for example clean up parks, wash away graffiti, and work with victims of their own or of other people. This may be acceptable, but it does not constitute volunteer work, two cardinal rules of which are the willingness to volunteer without coercion and working unpaid.

2.

The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers 1-6
  • Reading Passage has nine paragraphs A-I.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

 

1. a description of what does not satisfy the criteria for volunteer work

2. the impact of voluntary work on the development of individuals

3. the requirement for both selflessness and self-interest in volunteers

4. various areas in which people volunteer

5. the benefit of voluntary work for the young

6. a mistaken view of volunteering


The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Answers with Explanations (1-6)

 

Type of question: Locating Information

 

In this task, you are required to find specific details, facts, or information within the passage. These questions typically ask you to identify where particular information is located in the text.
 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Understand what specific information you need to find (e.g., a word, phrase, or detail).
  • Quickly skim through the relevant paragraph or section to locate keywords related to the question.
  • Ensure the answer fits grammatically and contextually into the sentence or passage.
  • Check for synonyms or keywords to locate the information
  • Finalise your answers.
     
1. I

 

Reference:

From paragraph I:  "It is tempting to use some form of community work as an alternative to national service or as punishment for —------ rules of which are the willingness to volunteer without coercion and working unpaid." 

 

Explanation: This line reveals that using community work as punishment for petty criminals does not satisfy the true criteria for volunteer work. It highlights that true volunteering involves a willingness to work without coercion and without financial compensation. Therefore, the activities mentioned do not qualify as genuine volunteer work, making “paragraph I” the correct reference for what does not meet the criteria.

 

2. D

 

Reference:

From paragraph D: "The knock-on effect of volunteering on the lives of individuals can be profound. Voluntary work helps foster—------ into touch with the real world; and, hence, equips them for the future." 

 

Explanation: This line explains how volunteering positively impacts individuals by fostering independence and helping them manage various situations. It shows that volunteering equips people with practical skills and real-world experience, thus profoundly affecting their personal development. This makes “paragraph D” relevant to describing the impact of voluntary work on individual growth.

 

3. G

 

Reference:

From paragraph G: "While offering oneself selflessly, working as a volunteer makes further demands on the individual. It requires a strength of will, a sense of moral responsibility for one’s fellow human beings, and an ability to fit into the ethos of an organisation or community. But it also requires something which in no way detracts from the valuable work done by volunteers and which may seem at first glance both contradictory and surprising: self-interest." 

 

Explanation: This line outlines that volunteering requires both selflessness and self-interest. It explains that while volunteers must demonstrate moral responsibility and commitment, they also need to address their own interests to fit into the organisation. This dual requirement is central to understanding the motivations behind volunteering, making “paragraph G” the right reference for the need for both attributes in volunteers.

 

4. C

 

Reference:

From paragraph C: "Eleven sectors are given ranging from Community and Welfare, which accounted for just over a quarter of the total hours volunteered in Australia, to Law/justice/politics with 1.2 per cent at the other end of the scale. Other fields included sport/recreation, religious activities, and education, followed by 21.2 per cent, 16.9 and 14.3 per cent respectively. Foreign/international volunteer work accounted for 2.4 per cent of the total hours." 

 

Explanation: This line provides a detailed breakdown of the various sectors where people engage in volunteering, including the percentage of time spent in each area. It gives an overview of the distribution of volunteer activities across different fields, making “paragraph C” the correct reference for the various areas in which people volunteer.

 

5. E

 

Reference:

From paragraph E:  "Initially, young adults in their late teens might not seem to have the expertise or knowledge to impart to others —------- the gain to any community no matter how many volunteers are involved is immeasurable." 

 

Explanation: This line highlights that young adults, despite lacking specific expertise, possess valuable skills and enthusiasm. It emphasises how their energy and enthusiasm can be utilised for the benefit of their communities, showcasing the positive impact of young volunteers. This makes the “paragraph E” relevant to discussing the benefits of voluntary work for young people.
 

6. A

 

Reference:

From paragraph A:  "Volunteering, some might mistakenly think, embraces a plethora of people from all walks of life as well as activities, but data from the other side of the world suggest otherwise."

 

Explanation: This line addresses the mistaken belief that volunteering includes a broad range of people and activities. It clarifies that data contradicts this view, showing that the reality of volunteering is different from the misconception. This makes “paragraph A” the right reference for describing a mistaken view of what volunteering encompasses.

 

Also Read: IELTS General Reading Test.

Questions and Answers 7-10

Choose the correct letters A, B, C, or D.

 

7. The ONS survey was done to find out

A. why do people undertake to volunteer

B. how many people participated in volunteering

C. how many rich people did volunteer work

D. which people were involved in volunteering

 

8. The ONS survey found that people with university qualifications were 

A. as likely to volunteer as those with no qualifications

B. more likely to volunteer than those with no qualifications

C. less likely to volunteer than those with no qualifications

D. the only group likely to do formal volunteer work

 

9. It is suggested that rich people volunteer as a result of having

A. clearer goals

B. fewer children

C. more spare time

D. greater guilt

 

10. Volunteer work benefits people by teaching them how to

A. function in systems

B. communicate clearly

C. deal with failure

D. overcome shyness
 

The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Answers with Explanations (7-10)

 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.

     
7. D

 

Reference:

From paragraph A: "A 2001 survey on who participated in volunteering by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that people in higher-income households are more likely than others to volunteer."

 

Explanation: This line clearly states that the survey was focused on identifying which groups were involved in volunteering. It highlights the primary objective of the survey, which was to determine the demographics of people who participated in volunteer activities, thus making "which people were involved in volunteering" the correct answer.

 

8. B

 

Reference: 
From paragraph B:  "Among people with a degree or postgraduate qualification, 79 percent had volunteered informally, and 57 percent had volunteered formally in the previous 12 months. For people with no qualifications, the corresponding proportions were 52 percent and 23 percent."

 

Explanation: This line compares the volunteering rates between those with higher education and those without. It shows that individuals with university qualifications volunteered more frequently, both informally and formally than those with no qualifications. This makes "more likely to volunteer than those with no qualifications" the correct answer.

 

9. C

 

Reference: 
From paragraph B:  "Does the answer not lie perhaps in the fact that the rich tend to have money to allow them the time to become involved in voluntary work compared to less well-off people?"

 

Explanation: This line suggests that wealthier individuals might have more time to volunteer due to their financial resources. It infers that the ability to engage in volunteering is linked to having more leisure time, which is typically afforded by those with higher incomes. Thus, "more spare time" is the correct answer.

 

10. A

 

Reference: 
From paragraph D: “Voluntary work helps foster independence and imparts the ability to deal with different situations, often simultaneously, thus teaching people how to work their way through different systems.“

 

Explanation: This line explains that voluntary work provides individuals with experiences that develop their ability to navigate various systems and situations. It emphasises that volunteering teaches practical skills for managing different scenarios, making "function in systems" the correct answer.

 

Learn about IELTS Reading Vocabulary here! 

Questions and Answers 11-13

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.

 

11. One of the requirements of being a volunteer is being able to - ____

12. Volunteering can be used as a way for the unemployed to - ____

13. Employers, in general, tend to - ____
 

A. consider workers with volunteer work experience an asset.

B. gain a very well-paid job.

C. gain access to a job in a field of interest.

D. benefits most from volunteer work.

E. understand how people behave.

F. want much younger workers.

 

The Meaning Of Volunteering Reading Answers with Explanations (11-13) 


Type of question: Matching sentence endings

 

In this question type, you will be given incomplete sentences, and you will have to complete the end of the sentence by selecting suitable words or phrases from the given list. 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Skim through the incomplete sentences to get an idea of the context.
  • Recognise keywords in each sentence.
  • Scan your list of options and look for the keywords.
  • Verify the context and check if the word flows with the rest of the sentence. 
  • Finalise your answers.

 

11. E

 

Reference:

From paragraph G:  "One might immediately think of attributes like kindness, selflessness, strength of character, ability to deal with others, determination, adaptability and flexibility, and a capacity to comprehend the ways of other people."

 

Explanation: This line emphasises that various personal attributes are essential for being a successful volunteer, including the ability to understand and interact with others effectively. This understanding of human behaviour is a key requirement for volunteering, making "understand how people behave" the correct answer.

 

12. C

 

Reference:

From paragraph H:  "People who are unemployed can use volunteer work as a stepping-stone to employment or as a means of finding out whether they really like the field they plan to enter or as a way to help them find themselves."

 

Explanation: The line illustrates that volunteering serves as a valuable tool for unemployed individuals to gain experience in their field of interest or to explore their career preferences. By using volunteer work as a stepping-stone, individuals can increase their chances of securing a job in their desired area, making "gain access to a job in a field of interest" the right answer.

 

13. A

 

Reference:

From paragraph F: “Employers will generally look favourably on people who have shown an ability to work as part of a team. It demonstrates a willingness to learn and an independent spirit, which would be desirable qualities in any employee.”


Explanation: This line indicates that employers view volunteer work positively because it demonstrates key qualities such as teamwork and a willingness to learn. These qualities are desirable in potential employees, as they reflect a candidate's ability to contribute effectively to the workplace. Therefore, the correct answer is "consider workers with volunteer work experience an asset."
 

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FAQs

Q. Can I skip the IELTS Reading Module for my IELTS exam?

Ans. No, you cannot skip the IELTS Reading module in the IELTS exam. It is a mandatory part of the test and contributes to your overall band score. The IELTS exam consists of four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. All modules must be completed to obtain a valid score for your test.


 

Q. Does the IELTS Reading Module have more weightage?

Ans. The IELTS Reading module does not have more weightage compared to other modules; each module has equal importance. All four modules, Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, contribute equally to your overall band score. Each module assesses different skills and is essential for evaluating your English proficiency comprehensively.

Q. Does the IELTS Reading Module have a negative marking?

Ans. No, the IELTS Reading module does not have a negative marking. You receive a mark for each correct answer, and incorrect answers do not affect your score negatively. It’s beneficial to attempt all questions, as guessing can still result in receiving points for correct responses. Focus on answering as accurately as possible to maximise your score.