leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Aug 13, 2024, 13:50

The passage explores the significance of handwriting, contrasting past and present practices. Paragraph A discusses the shift from teaching handwriting to prioritising keyboard skills. Paragraph B highlights the importance of neat handwriting in recruitment. Paragraph C explains that handwriting aids in faster reading, idea generation, and memory retention, backed by neuroscientific studies. Paragraph D addresses difficulties non-native English speakers face with certain letters, suggesting cursive as a potential solution for dyslexia. Paragraph E emphasises cursive's role in promoting self-control and preserving cultural heritage. Paragraph F presents a counterargument, questioning handwriting's relevance in modern education. 

 

This passage will help you practice identifying main ideas, summarising content, and understanding detailed arguments, all of which are critical skills for the IELTS Reading section. It also enhances your ability to recognise contrasting viewpoints and draw conclusions based on textual evidence.

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. The Value Of Handwriting Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

Slider image

2. The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers & Questions 

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

The Value Of Handwriting 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.

 

Looking to register for IELTS? Check out the upcoming dates!

 

 

 

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Passage 

 

Paragraph A: 


‘When I was in school in the I 970s,’ says Tammy Chou, ‘my end-of-term report included Handwriting as a subject alongside Mathematics and Physical Education, yet, by the time my brother started, a decade later, it had been subsumed into English. I learnt two scripts: printing and cursive, while Chris can only print.’ The 2013 Common Core, a curriculum used throughout most of the US, requires the tuition of legible writing (generally printing) only in the first two years of school; thereafter, teaching keyboard skills is a priority.

 

 

Paragraph B: 


‘I work in recruitment,’ continues Chou. ‘Sure, these days, applicants submit a digital CV and cover letter, but there’s still information interviewees need to fill out by hand, and I still judge them by the neatness of their writing when they do so. Plus there’s nothing more disheartening than receiving a birthday greeting or a condolence card with a scrawled message.’

 

 

Paragraph C: 


Psychologists and neuroscientists may concur with Chou for different reasons. They believe children learn to read faster when they start to write by hand, and they generate new ideas and retain information better. Karin James conducted an experiment at Indiana University in the US in which children who had not learnt to read were shown a letter on a card and asked to reproduce it by tracing, by drawing it on another piece of paper, or by typing it on a keyboard. Then, their brains were scanned while viewing the original image again. Children who had produced the freehand letter showed increased neural activity in the left fusiform gyrus, the inferior frontal gyrus, and the posterior parietal cortex – areas activated when adults read or write, whereas all other children displayed significantly weaker activation of the same areas. James speculates that in handwriting, there is variation in the production of any letter, so the brain has to learn each personal font – each variant of ‘F’, for example, that is still ‘F’. Recognition of variation may establish the eventual representation more permanently than recognising a uniform letter printed by computer. Victoria Berninger at the University of Washington studied children in the first two grades of school to demonstrate that printing, cursive, and keyboarding are associated with separate brain patterns. Furthermore, children who wrote by hand did so much faster than the typists, who had not been taught to touch type. Not only did the typists produce fewer words but also the quality of their ideas was consistently lower. Scans from the older children’s brains exhibited enhanced neural activity when their handwriting was neater than average, and, importantly, the parts of their brains activated are those crucial to working memory. Paul Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer have shown in laboratories and live classrooms that tertiary students learn better when they take notes by hand rather than inputting via keyboard. As a result, some institutions ban laptops and tablets in lectures and prohibit smartphone photography of lecture notes. Mueller and Oppenheimer also believe handwriting aids contemplation as well as memory storage.

 

 

Paragraph D: 


Some learners of English whose native script is not the Roman alphabet have difficulty in forming several English letters: the lower case ‘b’ and ‘d’, ‘p’ and ‘q’, ‘n’ and ‘u’, ‘m’ and ‘w’ may be confused. This condition affects a tiny minority of first-language learners and sufferers of brain damage. Called dysgraphia, it appears less frequently when writers use cursive instead of printing, which is why cursive has been posited as a cure for dyslexia.

 

 

Paragraph E: 


Berninger is of the opinion that cursive, endangered in American schools, promotes self-control, which printing may not, and which typing – especially with the ‘delete’ function – unequivocally does not. In a world saturated with texting, where many have observed that people are losing the ability to filter their thoughts, a little more restraint would be a good thing. A rare-book and manuscript librarian, Valerie Hotchkiss, worries about the cost to our heritage as knowledge of cursive fades. Her library contains archives from the literary giants Mark Twain, Marcel Proust, HG Wells, and others. If the young generation does not learn cursive, its ability to decipher older documents may be compromised, and culture lost.

 

 

Paragraph F: 


Paul Bloom, from Yale University, is less convinced about the long-term benefits of handwriting. In the 1950s – indeed in Tammy Chou’s idyllic 1970s – when children spent hours practising their copperplate, what were they doing with it? Mainly copying mindlessly. For Bloom, education, in the complex digital age, has moved on.

2.

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers & Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Value Of Handwriting

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Passage 1 on the following page has six sections: A-F.
  • Choose the correct heading for sections B-F from the list of headings below.
  • Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

 

List of Headings


i. Handwriting and a more active brain
ii. The disgrace of dysgraphia
iii. A school subject
iv. Handwriting has had its day
v. Handwriting raises academic performance
vi. Handwriting reduces typing ability
vii. The medium is the message?
viii. Cursive may treat a reading disorder
ix. The social and cultural advantages of handwriting

 

 

Example Answer
Section A iii

1. ; Section B
2. Section C
3. Section D
4.   Section E
5. Section F

 

 

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

 

Question Type:  Matching Headings

 

In this question type, you are provided with a list of headings, usually in the form of short phrases or sentences, and you need to match each heading to the corresponding paragraph or section of the reading passage.


 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Before attempting to match the headings, it's essential to read the passage thoroughly. 
  • The headings should capture the main idea or theme of each paragraph or section.
  • Once you understand the main ideas of the passage, scan each paragraph for specific details that align with the headings. 
  • Cross out any options that don't match the content of the paragraphs, even if they seem somewhat related.
  • The headings should follow a coherent order that reflects the organisation of the text.
  • If you're unsure about a particular match, try to eliminate options that clearly don't fit. 


 

1. VII

 


Reference: 


Paragraph B 
disheartening than receiving a birthday greeting or a condolence card with a scrawled message.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph B highlights the social and cultural value of handwriting, particularly in personal communication, supporting the heading that the medium (handwriting) carries significant social and cultural weight.

 

2. I

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C Psychologists and neuroscientists may concur with Chou for different reasons. They believe children learn to read faster when they start to write by hand, and they generate new ideas and retain information better. 

Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C links handwriting with increased brain activity, indicating that handwriting enhances cognitive functions such as learning to read, generating ideas, and retaining information.

 

3. VIII

 


Reference: 


Paragraph D Called dysgraphia, it appears less frequently when writers use cursive instead of printing, which is why cursive has been posited as a cure for dyslexia.

Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph D suggests that cursive writing may help alleviate dysgraphia, a condition often linked with dyslexia, supporting the heading that cursive writing can treat reading disorders.

 

4. IX

 


Reference: 


Paragraph E  A rare-book and manuscript librarian, Valerie Hotchkiss, worries about the cost to our heritage as knowledge of cursive fades. Her library contains archives from the literary giants Mark Twain, Marcel Proust, HG Wells, and others. If the young generation does not learn cursive, its ability to decipher older documents may be compromised, and culture lost.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph E emphasizes the cultural importance of cursive writing, particularly in preserving and understanding historical documents and literature, aligning with the heading on the social and cultural advantages of handwriting. 

 

5. IV

 


Reference: 


Paragraph F  Paul Bloom, from Yale University, is less convinced about the long-term benefits of handwriting. In the 1950s – indeed in Tammy Chou’s idyllic 1970s – when children spent hours practising their copperplate, what were they doing with it? Mainly copying mindlessly. For Bloom, education, in the complex digital age, has moved on.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph F reflects Bloom's view that handwriting is outdated and no longer holds significant value in modern education, supporting the heading that handwriting has had its day.

 


Read more about Dictation Words for IELTS: Practice and Preparation!

 

Questions and Answers 6-9
  • Look at the following statements and list of people below.
  • Match each statement with the correct person: A, B, C, or D.
  • Write the correct letter A, B, C, or D, in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet.

 

 

6. According to him/ her/ them, education is now very sophisticated, so handwriting is unimportant.
7.   He/ She/ They found children who wrote by hand generated more ideas.
8. Universities have stopped students using electronic devices in class due to his/ her/ their research.
9.   He/ She/ They may assess character by handwriting.

 

 

List of people


A.   Tammy Chou
B.   Victoria Berninger
C. Paul Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer
D. Paul Bloom

 

 

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers with Explanations (6-9)

 

 

Type of question: Matching Features

 

In the task of "Matching Features," you typically need to pair related items based on certain criteria. This could involve comparing characteristics, identifying connections, or linking items that complement each other. The specific approach will depend on the task's context. 


 

How to best answer the question

 

  • Start by identifying the key aspects of each item and then clearly demonstrate how they align or differ. 
  • Providing specific examples or evidence to support your comparisons can strengthen your answer. 
  • It's also essential to ensure that your response is organised and easy to follow, so consider using a structured format such as a table or a side-by-side comparison.


 

6. D

 


Reference: 


Paragraph F 
Paul Bloom, from Yale University, is less convinced about the long-term benefits of handwriting.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph F captures Bloom's belief that handwriting is unimportant in today's sophisticated educational landscape, indicating that education has progressed beyond traditional handwriting practices.

 

7. B

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
Victoria Berninger at the University of Washington studied children in the first two grades of school to demonstrate that printing, cursive, and keyboarding are associated with separate brain patterns.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C shows Berninger's findings that children who wrote by hand generated more ideas compared to those using keyboards, emphasising the cognitive benefits of handwriting.

 

8. C

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
Paul Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer have shown in laboratories and live classrooms that tertiary students learn better when they take notes by hand rather than inputting via keyboard.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C indicates that universities have stopped students from using electronic devices in class due to Mueller and Oppenheimer's research, which showed that handwriting aids learning better than typing.

 

9. A

 


Reference: 


Paragraph B 
I work in recruitment," continues Chou. "Sure, these days, applicants submit a digital CV and cover letter, but there’s still information interviewees need to fill out by hand, and I still judge them by the neatness of their writing when they do so. 



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph B demonstrates that Tammy Chou assesses character by handwriting, as she judges applicants based on the neatness of their handwritten information.


 

Read more about A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life!

Questions and Answers 10-14
  • Complete the summary using the list of words, A-H, below.
  • Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 10-14 on your answer sheet.

 

A   correlation B dispute C essentially D evidence
E inevitable F proponents G psychologists H teachers

 

The value of handwriting

 

Educators in the US have decided that handwriting is no longer worth much curriculum time. Printing, not cursive, is usually taught. Some 10.……………….. and neuroscientists 11……………….. this decision as there seems to be a(n) 12……………….. between early reading and handwriting. Children with the best handwriting produce the most neural activity and the most interesting schoolwork. 13……………….. of cursive consider it more useful than printing. However, not all academics believe in the necessity of handwriting. In the digital world, perhaps keyboarding is 14…………………

 

 

The Value Of Handwriting Reading Answers with Explanations (10-14)

 

 

Type of Question: Summary Completion

 

Summary completion questions provide a summary of part of the reading passage with several blanks. Your task is to fill in these blanks with appropriate words or phrases from the passage. The summary may cover a whole passage or a part of it, focusing on key points and main ideas.


 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • Quickly skim the passage to get an idea of its main ideas and structure.
  • Focus on keywords in the summary and look for them or their synonyms in the passage.
  • Carefully read the instructions to know the word limit and any specific guidelines.
  • Identify the part of the passage related to the summary. This often involves scanning for keywords or phrases.
  • Ensure the words you choose fit grammatically and contextually within the summary.
  • After filling in the blanks, review the summary to ensure it makes sense and adheres to the word limit.

     
10. G

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
Psychologists and neuroscientists may concur with Chou for different reasons.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C indicates that psychologists and neuroscientists are among the professionals who support the significance of handwriting in learning.

 

 

11. B


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
Psychologists and neuroscientists may concur with Chou for different reasons.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C shows that Victoria Berninger is among those who support the connection between handwriting and learning.

 

 

12. A

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
They believe children learn to read faster when they start to write by hand, and they generate new ideas and retain information better.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C demonstrates a correlation between early reading skills and handwriting.

 

13. F

 


Reference: 


Paragraph C 
Not only did the typists produce fewer words but also the quality of their ideas was consistently lower.



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph C highlights proponents of cursive writing and its advantages over typing in generating ideas.

 

 

14. E

 


Reference: 


Paragraph F 
Paul Bloom, from Yale University, is less convinced about the long-term benefits of handwriting.

 



Explanation: 


This line from Paragraph F shows that Paul Bloom views keyboarding as inevitable in the modern digital age, diminishing the necessity of handwriting.

 

 

Read More:

 

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

FAQs

Q. What types of questions are in the IELTS Reading section?

Ans. The IELTS Reading section features various question types, including multiple-choice, true/false/not given, matching headings, summary completion, sentence completion, and short answer questions. These are designed to test a range of reading skills, such as understanding main ideas, detail, logical argument, and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes, and purposes.

Q. How long is the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. During this time, candidates must read three passages and answer a total of 40 questions. Time management is crucial to ensure all questions are attempted.

Q. Can I write on the question paper?

Ans. Yes, candidates are allowed to write on the question paper, which can help note key points or highlight important information. However, only answers written on the answer sheet will be marked, so it is essential to transfer answers accurately.