DISTANCE LEARNING - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Succeed in IELTS Academic Reading Test 6 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14 - 26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
DISTANCE LEARNING
A
Distance learning is not a recent innovation in education, correspondence courses having been used for over 150 years, but new interactive technologies are providing new opportunities and strategies for teaching at a distance. Several studies have compared face-to-face classrooms to distance classrooms in order to evaluate differences in student performance and quality of instruction. A meta-analysis of these studies showed that distance-learning students performed equally well and some distance courses outperformed their classroom counterparts.
This result has been consistent over many studies across many disciplines; advances in communication technology and innovative methods of delivery of instruction at a distance have challenged the idea that laboratory courses can only be delivered in a face-to-face laboratory setting. In engineering, for example, virtual laboratories have been used to teach thermodynamics, electronic circuits, and other experimental courses as well. Programmes in nursing, engineering, technology and other sciences are beginning to use different technologies and innovative methods to deliver courses via distance-learning methodology in order to reach students in different locations and boost enrolment. A survey of online distance-learning programmes revealed a large increase in student enrolment. The availability of distance courses has made it possible for some people to attend college because courses are accessible within their locality or the time of course delivery is convenient for them.
This opportunity for learning has not been without its critics who keep a close eye on the quality of instruction, and rightly so as with any form of instructional delivery. Quality issues are a major concern for those who intend to pursue degree programmes via distance learning, especially with the proliferation of distance-learning programmes. Although it is difficult for academics to agree on specific standards that constitute quality in distance learning, nonetheless, attributes such as accreditation standards for programmes, evaluating students' experiences, teacher-student interaction, student-to-student interaction, learning resources for the learner, learner assessment and performance, instructional resources for faculty, faculty training, and learner satisfaction are valid criteria. These and many other factors can determine the quality of delivery of instruction in both distance and face-to-face classrooms.
B
Distance-Learning Technologies and Innovation in Laboratory Course Delivery
In a selected UK university, five departments that offered laboratory courses in Technology and Engineering via distance learning used combinations of instructional technologies. The technologies most used were Interactive Microwave TV (two-way audio and video), compressed video, the Internet, CDs, computer software (virtual software), and video tapes. At the selected university in the UK, interviews were conducted on-site with faculty and staff. A wide range of teaching materials, student portfolios, and a secure website were observed. In addition to the Internet, CDs, and video, the university used the following innovative ways to deliver laboratory courses.
Residential and Summer Schools
Residential and summer schools serve a similar purpose; the difference is the duration. The summer school is one week long and combines labs, lectures, and problem sessions. In general, these schools provide four key features, providing the opportunity for students to:
1. undertake experimental work considered too hazardous for a student working at home.
2. undertake lab work using more sophisticated equipment, or equipment too expensive to provide at home.
3. undertake assessed lab work.
4. work together with fellow students.
Some courses even arranged to take students on a study trip, perhaps to a company with special processes, or to a geographic site of interest.
C
Demonstration Laboratory
The demonstration laboratory introduces students to the work they are going to undertake, illustrating how to proceed, how to make particular types of measurements, etc. It also covers topics considered too dangerous for students or situations in which the equipment is not available at the residential school. Many of these demonstrations are recorded on video to control both the process taught and the quality of the teaching across numerous groups of students at different levels.
D
Support Services Provided to Faculty and Students Engaged in Distance Learning
All the departments that offer distance-learning courses offer support services to students and faculty. The support services include e-mail systems, graduate assistants, course websites, proctors, telephone conferencing, electronic library materials, and instructional designers to work with faculty to design and develop courses. At the selected university in the UK, interviews with instructional designers and faculty revealed the significant role played by instructional designers. Although they are not the content experts, they advise faculty, for example, on how information is presented on a website or the format in which the information is presented. The purpose is to maintain a standard format and quality in print materials, including electronic resources. The selected university in the UK also provides a support service to faculty that is unique from other institutions in this study: staff tutors who are regionally based to provide the link between the university faculty and students within the regions. The staff tutors have a key role in quality assurance, especially in facilitating effective teaching of the university faculty's courses, and are responsible for the selection, monitoring, and development of part-time Associate Lecturers. They contribute to faculty research and the development and presentation of courses. The staff tutors are highly qualified in their fields, and as such, bridge the distance gap between the university faculty and students at different locations.
E
The UK university, by using innovative strategies such as the Residential and Summer Schools, Field Trips and Demonstration Laboratories in combination with new technologies, is able to teach all its laboratory courses via distance learning to nearly 200,000 students within and outside the UK. Distance learning is not meant to replace a face-to-face classroom, but it is one major way to make education more accessible to society. As advances in communication and digital technology continue, residential or demonstration labs may someday be replaced with comparable experiences provided through distance education.
Questions
Questions 14–18 Matching Information
Reading Passage 2 has five sections A - E.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A - E in spaces 14 - 18 below.
NB Some sections may be used more than once.
Questions 19–22 One Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Questions 23–26 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In spaces 23 - 26 below, write
YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims
NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | B | Some courses even arranged to take students on a study trip, perhaps to a company with special processes, or to a geographic site of interest | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that certain classes organize trips for learners to visit places like an operating business or a special outdoor location. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that Section B of the text contains details about learners visiting a real workplace and going on educational trips. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the end of Section B explicitly mentions that certain courses organise trips for students to visit real workplaces and interesting locations. In this section, the phrase "study trip" matches "educational excursions", and visiting "a company with special processes" matches gaining experience in "a working environment". |
| Q15 | A | Several studies have compared face-to-face classrooms to distance classrooms in order to evaluate differences in student performance and quality of instruction. A meta-analysis of these studies showed that distance-learning students performed equally well and some distance courses outperformed their classroom counterparts | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that researchers looked at traditional classrooms and online classes, and they found that distance learners did just as well as, and sometimes better than, students who sat in regular classrooms. Answer Explanation: The answer means that section A mentions that whether students study in a real classroom or from home does not negatively affect their learning results. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because this section discusses studies comparing traditional, in-person classrooms with remote, distance learning. It reveals that students learning at a distance got scores just as good as, or even better than, students attending regular classes. Key phrases connecting to the question include 'face-to-face classrooms to distance classrooms' (where the instruction takes place) and 'student performance' or 'performed equally well' (students' achievements). |
| Q16 | E | Distance learning is not meant to replace a face-to-face classroom, but it is one major way to make education more accessible to society | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that learning from a distance is not planned to stop or replace normal classroom lessons, but rather to help more people get an education easily. Answer Explanation: The answer E means that Section E contains the statement that online or distance education is not intended to take the place of regular, in-person classroom learning. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because paragraph E clearly states that distance learning is not created to replace regular classroom teaching. In this section, the phrase "Distance learning" matches "This method of instruction", "is not meant to replace" matches "is not designed to replace", and "a face-to-face classroom" matches "traditional teaching techniques". |
| Q17 | E | As advances in communication and digital technology continue, residential or demonstration labs may someday be replaced with comparable experiences provided through distance education | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that as modern technology keeps improving, students in the future might no longer need to visit physical laboratories in person because distance learning could offer similar practical experiences. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies Section E as the part of the text discussing how technology could replace in-person laboratory sessions in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the final sentence of Section E discusses what could happen in the future. It explains that as digital technology advances, in-person lab sessions (called "residential or demonstration labs") might "someday be replaced" by remote distance-learning experiences. Keywords to notice include "advances in communication and digital technology" (the use of technology), "someday" (in the future), and "residential or demonstration labs may... be replaced" (students will not need to attend practical in-person instruction sessions). |
| Q18 | B | undertake lab work using more sophisticated equipment, or equipment too expensive to provide at home | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these laboratory courses give students the chance to do science experiments using advanced machines and tools that cost too much money to have at home. Answer Explanation: The answer is section B because this part of the text talks about students going to in-person schools to use costly tools that they cannot have in their homes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because section B describes "Residential and Summer Schools" where distance-learning students attend practical laboratory sessions. It lists the main benefits of these sessions, explicitly stating that students get the opportunity to use "more sophisticated equipment, or equipment too expensive to provide at home." This directly matches the statement about benefiting from "expensive equipment not otherwise available to them." |
| Q19 | B | In general, these schools provide four key features, providing the opportunity for students to:1. undertake experimental work considered too hazardous for a student working at home.2. undertake lab work using more sophisticated equipment, or equipment too expensive to provide at home.3. undertake assessed lab work.4. work together with fellow students | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists the four main things students can do at these schools, including doing lab work that is officially graded and evaluated (assessed), as well as working alongside other students with advanced tools. Answer Explanation: The answer means that one goal of the summer school is to give students the chance to have their practical science work tested and graded in person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Section B explains the main purposes of residential and summer schools. It lists four key opportunities they give to students, the third of which is to "undertake assessed lab work." In this context, "undertake assessed lab work" directly matches the idea to "enable students to be assessed directly." The other options are incorrect because students work with fellow students (not individually) and do hazardous or advanced work with expensive equipment (not simple experiments). |
| Q20 | D | Although they are not the content experts, they advise faculty, for example, on how information is presented on a website or the format in which the information is presented | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that even though instructional designers do not know all the subject details, they advise teachers on how the study material should appear and be arranged on a website. Answer Explanation: The answer means that instructional designers help teachers by giving advice on how course materials look and are shown on a screen or page. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the text states that instructional designers guide teachers on how information is shown on a website and what layout format to use. In this context, keywords like "how information is presented on a website or the format in which the information is presented" match the phrase "visual display of coursework". Furthermore, the passage explicitly notes that they "are not the content experts", which rules out advice on course content. |
| Q21 | C | The staff tutors have a key role in quality assurance, especially in facilitating effective teaching of the university faculty's courses, and are responsible for the selection, monitoring, and development of part-time Associate Lecturers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that staff tutors are in charge of choosing, checking, and training part-time Associate Lecturers. Answer Explanation: The answer means that staff tutors have the job of choosing or hiring specific teachers, specifically part-time Associate Lecturers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Paragraph D clearly states that staff tutors are responsible for the 'selection, monitoring, and development of part-time Associate Lecturers'. Here, the word 'selection' is a synonym for 'appointment' (choosing someone for a job), and 'part-time Associate Lecturers' matches 'certain teaching staff'. Other options are incorrect: they do not monitor students' progress, nor do they train all teaching staff (only part-time Associate Lecturers). |
| Q22 | C | Quality issues are a major concern for those who intend to pursue degree programmes via distance learning, especially with the proliferation of distance-learning programmes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that because distance-learning courses are multiplying so quickly, people who want to take these degree courses are very worried about educational quality. Answer Explanation: The answer means that as more online or remote courses become available, people worry more about how good the teaching really is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text states that quality is a big concern, particularly as the number of distance-learning courses rapidly grows. In the reading passage, the phrase 'proliferation of distance-learning programmes' matches 'increasing number of distance-learning courses', and 'Quality issues are a major concern' matches 'the standard of teaching has become an issue'. |
| Q23 | NOT GIVEN | Although it is difficult for academics to agree on specific standards that constitute quality in distance learning, nonetheless, attributes such as accreditation standards for programmes, evaluating students' experiences, teacher-student interaction, student-to-student interaction, learning resources for the learner, learner assessment and performance, instructional resources for faculty, faculty training, and learner satisfaction are valid criteria | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that interaction between students is one of several factors used to judge course quality. However, it does not state whether students think a lack of this interaction is a disadvantage. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means that the text does not say whether many students consider the lack of contact with other students to be a problem or downside. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions "student-to-student interaction" only as one of many measures to evaluate the quality of a course. The author never mentions whether students themselves feel that missing this interaction is a negative thing or a disadvantage. |
| Q24 | YES | Residential and summer schools serve a similar purpose; the difference is the duration | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that both types of schools do almost the same thing, but they last for different amounts of time. Answer Explanation: The answer "YES" means that the statement matches the information provided in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because the author states that residential and summer schools have a similar purpose, and the only difference between them is their "duration". In English, the keyword "duration" means the amount of time something lasts, which is the same as the "length" of the courses. Therefore, the statement completely agrees with the text. |
| Q25 | NO | The UK university, by using innovative strategies such as the Residential and Summer Schools, Field Trips and Demonstration Laboratories in combination with new technologies, is able to teach all its laboratory courses via distance learning to nearly 200,000 students within and outside the UK | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that by combining new technology with practical programs like summer schools and demonstration labs, the UK university can successfully provide every single one of its laboratory courses to nearly 200,000 distance-learning students. Answer Explanation: The answer "NO" means that the statement directly contradicts the facts given by the author in the reading text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the statement claims that the UK university faces problems or difficulties when teaching science subjects that require lab experiments. However, the text clearly states that the university successfully manages to teach "all its laboratory courses" through distance learning to around 200,000 students by using clever methods like summer schools, demonstration labs, and new technologies. Because the university has solved this challenge and successfully teaches all its lab courses, the statement contradicts the text. |
| Q26 | NOT GIVEN | At the selected university in the UK, interviews with instructional designers and faculty revealed the significant role played by instructional designers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that instructional designers have an important role in supporting university staff, but it does not mention anything about their pay or income. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the reading text never mentions whether instructional designers get paid a lot of money or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only describes the job and responsibilities of instructional designers (such as helping teachers present course materials properly). It does not provide any information about their "salaries" or earnings. Because there is no mention of how much money they make, it is impossible to know if this statement is true or false. |