Academic/General Training Module by Adam Smith First Published in 2015

Glossary 
1. dung: the droppings or excreta of animals 
2. cow pats: droppings of cows 
 
 

---

 IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
87 
11. Short-answer questions 
 
Task Type & Format 
This task type requires candidates to answer questions, which usually relate to 
factual information, about details in the text. Thus it is most likely to be used 
with a text that contains a lot of factual information and detail. 
Candidates must write their answers in words or numbers on the answer sheet.
Candidates must write their answers using words from the text. The instructions 
will make it clear how many words/ numbers candidates should use in their 
answers, e.g. ‘NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the 
passage’, ‘ONE WORD ONLY’ or ‘NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS’. If candidates 
write more than the number of words asked for, they will lose the mark.
Numbers can be written using figures or words. Contracted words are not 
tested. Hyphenated words count as single words. 
The questions are in the same order as the information in the text. 
 
Task Focus 
This task type assesses the candidate’s ability to locate and understand precise 
information in the text. 
Tip: 
Make sure you copy the words correctly and you spell them as they are 
spelled in the text. 
 
 

---

 IELTS
 JOURNAL 
 
88 
Example: 
Here is part of a text about a vessel that is used to explore the depths of the 
ocean. Each answer should be no more than two words and/or a number. 
A great deal of research into the depths of the ocean has been carried out using 
submersible Alvin, a craft that can carry three people down to a depth of 4,500 
meters. Constructed in 1964, it is operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic 
Institution (WHOI) in the USA. 
Alvin is manufactured from syntactic foam, a material which is strong enough to 
withstand the enormous water pressure that the submersible encounters. It is 
equipped with lights, two robotic arms to manipulate instruments, and a basket 
for tools and for samples picked up from the ocean floor.
Question:
Answer the questions below. 
1. In which year was Alvin built? …… 
2. What material is Alvin made of? …… 
3. What equipment on Alvin can operate instruments? …… 
4. What equipment on Alvin is used as a container? ……