Cambridge IELTS 14 · Academic · Test 3 · Passage 3
The Power Of Play — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for The Power Of Play, Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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The Power Of Play answer key at a glance
Questions 27–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Matching Features (Q27–31), Yes / No / Not Given (Q32–36), Summary Completion (Q37–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 27–31: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
Play can be divided into a number of separate categories.
“Definitions range from discrete descriptions of various types of play such as physical, construction, language, or symbolic play (Miler & Almon 2009)”
B: paragraph B notes definitions 'range from discrete descriptions of various types of play such as physical, construction, language, or symbolic play', i.e. categories.
Adults’ intended goals affect how they play with children.
“The adult’s role in play varies as a function of their educational goals and the child’s developmental level (Hirsch-Pasek et al. 2009)”
G: paragraph G says 'the adult's role in play varies as a function of their educational goals', which is the claim in the question.
Combining work with play may be the best way for children to learn.
“Researcher Joan Goodman (1994) suggested that hybrid forms of work and play are not a detriment to learning; rather, they can provide optimal contexts for learning.”
F: Goodman suggested hybrid work-play forms 'can provide optimal contexts for learning', matching the claim about combining work and play.
Certain elements of play are more significant than others.
“Rubin and colleagues did not assign greater weight to any one dimension in determining playfulness; however, other researchers have suggested that process orientation and a lack of obvious functional purpose may be the most important aspects of play (e.g. Pellegrini 2009)”
E: some researchers argue 'process orientation and a lack of obvious functional purpose may be the most important aspects of play', treating some elements as weightier.
Activities can be classified on a scale of playfulness.
“According to this view, children’s playful behaviors can range in degree from 0% to 100% playful”
C: children's playful behaviours 'can range in degree from 0% to 100% playful', a scale of playfulness as described.
Questions 32–36: Yes / No / Not Given
Strategy: These test the writer's opinions, not facts. Look for evaluative language, and treat 'may' or 'could' as weaker than the question's claim.
Children need toys in order to play.
“The drive to play is so intense that children will do so in any circumstances, for instance when they have no real toys”
NO: the drive to play is so strong that children play 'when they have no real toys', so toys are not necessary.
It is a mistake to treat play and learning as separate types of activities.
“Our society has created a false dichotomy between play and learning”
YES: the passage calls the separation of play and learning 'a false dichotomy', supporting the view that treating them separately is mistaken.
Play helps children to develop their artistic talents.
“Through play, children learn to regulate their behavior, lay the foundations for later learning in science and mathematics, figure out the complex negotiations of social relationships, build a repertoire of creative problem-solving skills, and so much more.”
NOT GIVEN: listed benefits include self-regulation, science and maths foundations, social skills and problem-solving, but artistic talent is never mentioned.
Researchers have agreed on a definition of play.
“Full consensus on a formal definition of play continues to elude the researchers and theorists who study it”
NO: 'full consensus on a formal definition of play continues to elude the researchers and theorists', so they have not agreed.
Work and play differ in terms of whether or not they have a target.
“Unlike play, work is typically not viewed as enjoyable and it is extrinsically motivated (i.e. it is goal oriented)”
YES: work 'is extrinsically motivated (i.e. it is goal oriented)', unlike play, so the two differ in having a target.
Questions 37–40: Summary Completion
Strategy: Read the summary as a paragraph first to establish the logic, then locate the missing idea in the passage. With a lettered list, confirm the grammar fits.
“encouraging further exploration or new facets to the child’s activity”
The summary needs a participle describing the adult's supportive role; guided play involves 'encouraging further exploration'.
“Play should stem from the child’s own desire”
Play 'should stem from the child's own desire', so desire is what it must originate from.
“Intrinsically motivated free play provides the child with true autonomy”
Intrinsically motivated free play 'provides the child with true autonomy', the quality the summary asks for.
“while guided play is an avenue through which parents and educators can provide more targeted learning experiences. In either case, play should be actively engaged, it should be predominantly child-directed, and it must be fun.”
Guided play lets parents and educators 'provide more targeted learning experiences', so targeted is the adjective needed.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the The Power Of Play passage come from?
It is Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Reading Test 3, and it covers Questions 27–40.
What question types appear in The Power Of Play?
The passage is tested with Matching Features, Yes / No / Not Given, Summary Completion. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.