Part 3ReadingSection 6 of 13
3.6Question type: Yes, No, Not Given
This looks identical to the previous type but it is not. True, False and Not Given ask about facts in the text. Yes, No and Not Given ask about the views and claims of the writer.
| Type | You are checking | Typical text |
|---|---|---|
| TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN | Factual information | Rules, notices, procedures, reports |
| YES / NO / NOT GIVEN | The writer's opinion or claim | Opinion articles, argument pieces |
The method is the same, but you are now hunting for opinion language: I believe, it seems clear that, unfortunately, surprisingly, the real problem is, critics argue. When a text is full of such language, expect this question type.
Careful
If the writer reports what someone else thinks, that is not the writer's own view. A sentence such as some economists claim that the policy failed tells you what economists think, not what the writer thinks. A statement about the writer's own view would then be NOT GIVEN.