THE CONCEPT OF ROLE THEORY - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 29–40
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 29–40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
THE CONCEPT OF ROLE THEORY
Role set
Any individual in any situation occupies a role in relation to other people. The particular individual with whom one is concerned in the analysis of any situation is usually given the name of focal person. He has the focal role and can be regarded as sitting in the middle of a group of people, with whom he interacts in some way in that situation. This group of people is called his role set. For instance, in the family situation, an individual's role set might be shown as in Figure 6.
The role set should include all those with whom the individual has more than trivial interactions.
Role definition
The definition of any individual's role in any situation will be a combination of the role expectations that the members of the role set have of the focal role. These expectations are often occupationally denned, sometimes even legally so. The role definitions of lawyers and doctors are fairly clearly defined both in legal and in cultural terms. The role definitions of, say, a film star or bank manager, are also fairly clearly defined in cultural terms, too clearly perhaps.
Individuals often find it hard to escape from the role that cultural traditions have defined for them. Not only with doctors or lawyers is the required role behaviour so constrained that if you are in that role for long it eventually becomes part of you, part of your personality. Hence, there is some likelihood that all accountants will be alike or that all blondes are similar - they are forced that way by the expectations of their role.
It is often important that you make it clear what your particular role is at a given time. The means of doing this are called, rather obviously, role signs. The simplest of role signs is a uniform. The number of stripes on your arm or pips on your shoulder is a very precise role definition which allows you to do certain very prescribed things in certain situations. Imagine yourself questioning a stranger on a dark street at midnight without wearing the role signs of a policeman!
In social circumstances, dress has often been used as a role sign to indicate the nature and degree of formality of any gathering and occasionally the social status of people present. The current trend towards blurring these role signs in dress is probably democratic, but it also makes some people very insecure. Without role signs, who is to know who has what role?
Place is another role sign. Managers often behave very differently outside the office and in it, even to the same person. They use a change of location to indicate a change in role from, say, boss to friend. Indeed, if you wish to change your roles you must find some outward sign that you are doing so or you won't be permitted to change - the subordinate will continue to hear you as his boss no matter how hard you try to be his friend. In very significant cases of role change, e.g. from a soldier in the ranks to officer, from bachelor to married man, the change of role has to have a very obvious sign, hence rituals. It is interesting to observe, for instance, some decline in the emphasis given to marriage rituals. This could be taken as an indication that there is no longer such a big change in role from single to married person, and therefore no need for a public change in sign.
In organisations, office signs and furniture are often used as role signs. These and other perquisites of status are often frowned upon, but they may serve a purpose as a kind of uniform in a democratic society; roles without signs often lead to confused or differing expectations of the role of the focal person.
Role ambiguity
Role ambiguity results when there is some uncertainty in the minds, either of the focal person or of the members of his role set, as to precisely what his role is at any given time. One of the crucial expectations that shape the role definition isthat of the individual, the focal person himself. If his occupation of the role is unclear, or if it differs from that of the others in the role set, there will be a degree of role ambiguity. Is this bad? Not necessarily, for the ability to shape one's own role is one of the freedoms that many people desire, but the ambiguity may lead to role stress which will be discussed later on. The virtue of job descriptionsis that they lessen thisrole ambiguity.
Unfortunately, job descriptions are seldom complete role definitions, except at the lower end of the scale. At middle and higher management levels, they are often a list of formal jobs and duties that say little about the more subtle and informal expectations of the role. The result is therefore to give the individual an uncomfortable feeling that there are things left unsaid, i.e. to heighten the sense of role ambiguity.
Looking at role ambiguity from the other side, from the point of view of the members of the role set, lack of clarity in the role of the focal person can cause insecurity, lack of confidence, irritation and even anger among members of his role set. One list of the roles of a manager identified the following: executive, planner, policy maker, expert, controller of rewards and punishments, counsellor, friend, teacher. If it is not clear, through role signs of one sort or another, which role is currently the operational one, the other party may not react in the appropriate way — we may, in fact, hear quite another message if the focal person speaks to us, for example, as a teacher and we hear her as an executive.
Questions
Questions 29–35 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements reflect the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
YES if the statement reflects the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to know what the writer thinks about this
Questions 36–39 Sentence Completion
Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 3 for each answer.
- A new headmaster of a school who enlarges his office and puts in expensive carpeting is using the office as a 36
- The graduation ceremony in many universities is an important 37
- The wig which judges wear in UK courts is a 38
- The parents of students in a school are part of the headmaster's 39
Questions 40–40 One Choice
Choose the appropriate letter A-D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q29 | NOT GIVEN | In very significant cases of role change, e.g. from a soldier in the ranks to officer, from bachelor to married man, the change of role has to have a very obvious sign, hence rituals | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage mentions soldiers simply as an example of a situation where a person changes their role and needs a visible sign to show that change. It does not provide any judgment on whether the specific roles of soldiers need more detail or clarity. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not contain any information about whether the author thinks soldiers' roles should be described more clearly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only mentions soldiers to illustrate how people use signs and traditions (rituals) when they get a new position, such as moving from a basic soldier to an officer. While the author notes that certain signs like stripes or pips provide a 'precise role definition,' they never discuss if these definitions are currently insufficient or if improve them would be a 'good idea.' Since the author's opinion on this specific suggestion is not mentioned, the statement cannot be confirmed or denied. |
| Q30 | YES | Hence, there is some likelihood that all accountants will be alike or that all blondes are similar - they are forced that way by the expectations of their role | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is a chance that all accountants will be the same because the rules and social expectations of their job force them to behave in a certain way. Answer Explanation: The answer YES means the writer believes it is true that people in the same job, like accountants, might act or look the same. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because the author states that job roles often come with specific expectations. These expectations are so strong that they can change a person's behavior or personality to fit the job. The text specifically mentions accountants and suggests they might all seem similar because they are pushed to act a certain way to meet the requirements of their profession. Keywords to notice are 'likelihood' (meaning it is possible), 'alike' (meaning similar), and 'expectations of their role' (meaning what people expect from their job). |
| Q31 | YES | The current trend towards blurring these role signs in dress is probably democratic, but it also makes some people very insecure. Without role signs, who is to know who has what role | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that while making dress more casual or equal might seem fair, it actually makes some people feel worried. It asks a question suggesting that without these visual signs, we cannot easily tell who is in charge or what someone is supposed to be doing. Answer Explanation: The answer is YES. This means the writer believes it is likely a helpful choice to continue using clothes to show a person's position or job even today. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because the writer explains that when we stop using clothes to show a person's job or position, people can feel "insecure" (worried or unsafe). The writer mentions that without these visual clues, it is difficult to know what someone's role is. This suggests the writer sees the value in keeping these signs to help people feel more comfortable and understand each other better. |
| Q32 | NOT GIVEN | It is interesting to observe, for instance, some decline in the emphasis given to marriage rituals. This could be taken as an indication that there is no longer such a big change in role from single to married person, and therefore no need for a public change in sign | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that marriage ceremonies are becoming less important. It suggests this is because moving from a single life to a married life is not a huge change anymore. It does not say we should go back to the old ways. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the writer does not say if the change in marriage traditions is a good thing or a bad thing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the text mentions that people are putting less importance on marriage rituals (ceremonies), but it does not give the writer's opinion on this trend. The writer explains why this might be happening—perhaps because the change from being single to being married is not as big as it used to be. However, the writer never suggests that this trend is wrong or that it should be stopped or reversed. Since we do not know the writer's personal feelings or advice on this topic, we cannot choose YES or NO. |
| Q33 | YES | In social circumstances, dress has often been used as a role sign to indicate the nature and degree of formality of any gathering and occasionally the social status of people present In organisations, office signs and furniture are often used as role signs. These and other perquisites of status are often frowned upon, but they may serve a purpose as a kind of uniform in a democratic society |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people use clothes to show how important they are or what kind of event they are at. It then says that inside businesses, office items and furniture are used in a similar way to show a person's rank, almost like a uniform. Answer Explanation: The answer YES means that the writer agrees with the statement. Clothing (dress) has historically been used to show someone's position, and now furniture in an office does the same thing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because the author defines both clothes and furniture as "role signs." Role signs are things that show what a person's job or status is. The writer notes that dress has frequently been used to show status or formality. Later, the writer explains that in modern companies, things like office furniture also serve as these signs, working like a uniform to help people understand a person's role. |
| Q34 | NO | Is this bad? Not necessarily, for the ability to shape one's own role is one of the freedoms that many people desire, but the ambiguity may lead to role stress which will be discussed later on | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that having roles that are not perfectly clear is not definitely a bad thing. This is because it gives people the power to choose how they behave in their roles, which is a type of freedom that many people want. Answer Explanation: The answer NO means the writer’s view is that it is not always a good idea to remove role ambiguity because it can have positive effects. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the author explicitly asks if role ambiguity is 'bad' and answers 'Not necessarily.' The writer explains that many people actually want the freedom to decide and shape their own roles, which is only possible when there is some ambiguity (lack of clarity). While the writer mentions that ambiguity can lead to stress, the statement that it is a 'good idea' to remove it is too extreme and contradicts the writer's point about the value of personal freedom. |
| Q35 | NO | Unfortunately, job descriptions are seldom complete role definitions, except at the lower end of the scale. At middle and higher management levels, they are often a list of formal jobs and duties that say little about the more subtle and informal expectations of the role. The result is therefore to give the individual an uncomfortable feeling that there are things left unsaid, i.e. to heighten the sense of role ambiguity | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that for managers, job descriptions are almost never complete. They focus on official tasks but leave out many other parts of the job. This makes managers feel like they do not know everything they are supposed to do, which increases their confusion. Answer Explanation: The answer means that job descriptions do not completely remove the confusion about a manager's job; in many cases, they can actually make that confusion worse. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "NO" because the writer states that job descriptions are usually not enough to explain everything a manager has to do. While these lists might help workers at "lower" levels, for "middle and higher management," the descriptions often miss many "subtle and informal" (hidden or unofficial) parts of the job. Instead of making everything clear (eliminating confusion), these incomplete lists can actually "heighten" (increase) the feeling of uncertainty, which is the opposite of eliminating it. |
| Q36 | role sign | In organisations, office signs and furniture are often used as role signs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that inside companies or groups, the things found in an office and the signs used there are frequently used to signal a person's specific role to others. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a physical signal or object that shows other people what a person's specific job or position is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the section of the text discussing how objects in a workspace function. The passage mentions that in business settings, things like office signs and furniture act as indicators of a person's position. Since a headmaster enlarging an office and adding expensive carpet involves furniture and office space, these objects serve as "role signs" to define their status or job to others. Students should look for the keyword "office" and the phrase "role signs" to find this connection. |
| Q37 | ritual | In very significant cases of role change, e.g. from a soldier in the ranks to officer, from bachelor to married man, the change of role has to have a very obvious sign, hence rituals | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that when a person's position in society changes in a major way, there must be a clear public sign for it, which is why we have rituals. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ritual' means a special formal ceremony or event that marks a person's movement from one important stage or role in life to another. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ritual' because the passage explains that when someone goes through a very important change in their role (like moving from being a student to a professional), they need a clear signs to show this change. The passage uses examples like becoming a soldier to an officer or a single person to a married person and calls these special signs 'rituals'. A graduation ceremony fits this description of a major role change. |
| Q38 | role sign | These and other perquisites of status are often frowned upon, but they may serve a purpose as a kind of uniform in a democratic society | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that extra things showing a person's importance, like special furniture or clothing, might be disliked by some. However, these things act as a 'uniform' that helps everyone understand what a person's job or status is in a group. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a physical signal or object, such as clothing, that tells other people what your job or position is at a specific time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'role sign' because the passage defines 'role signs' as the ways people make it clear what their job or position is. It mentions that the simplest type of role sign is a uniform. Since a wig worn by a judge in a court is a special piece of clothing (like a uniform) that shows their job, it is a role sign. Using this 'sign' prevents confusion so that people know how to behave around the judge. |
| Q39 | role set | He has the focal role and can be regarded as sitting in the middle of a group of people, with whom he interacts in some way in that situation. This group of people is called his role set | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when someone is at the center of a situation, the group of people they talk to and work with is known as their "role set." Answer Explanation: The answer "role set" refers to the group of different people that an individual deals with or has a relationship with within a particular setting or job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "role set" because the passage defines this term as the collection of people who interact with a central person (the "focal person"). In the context of a school, a headmaster is the central figure, and the parents of students represent one of the groups they must interact with regularly, making them part of the headmaster's role set. The text mentions that a role set includes everyone who has more than a minor connection with the person in question. |
| Q40 | C | In social circumstances, dress has often been used as a role sign to indicate the nature and degree of formality of any gathering and occasionally the social status of people present. The current trend towards blurring these role signs in dress is probably democratic, but it also makes some people very insecure | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people use clothes as signs to show their job or importance in social groups. It mentions that nowadays, there is a movement toward making these signs less obvious. While this might seem fair or 'democratic,' it can lead to people feeling unsure or worried because they do not know others' roles. Answer Explanation: The answer means that this writing is from an academic book or research paper that looks closely at how people show their rank or job using signs like clothes and how this affects our world today. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because a significant portion of the text is dedicated to explaining 'role signs'—tools like uniforms, clothes, or office furniture that signal a person's position. The text analyzes these signals not just in a work setting, but in 'social circumstances' and 'cultural traditions' (like marriage rituals). It also critiques modern changes, such as the 'trend' of people dressing more alike, and explains how this can make people feel 'insecure' or 'confused.' This detailed analysis of social signals and their impact on modern life makes it a critical study of society. |