THE DEVELOPING WORLD - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Succeed in IELTS Academic Reading Test 2 · 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.
THE DEVELOPING WORLD
A
THE DEVELOPING WORLD - the economically underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America - is considered as an entity with common characteristics, such as poverty, high birth rates, and economic dependence on the advanced countries. Until recently, the developing world was known as 'the third world'. The French demographer Alfred Sauvy coined the expression (in French) in 1952 by analogy with the 'third estate' - the commoners of France before and during the French Revolution - as opposed to priests and nobles, comprising the first and second estates respectively. 'Like the third estate', wrote Sauvy, 'the third world is nothing, and it wants to be something'. The term therefore implies that the third world is exploited, much as the third estate was exploited and that, like the third estate, its destiny is a revolutionary one. It conveys as well a second idea, also discussed by Sauvy – that of non-alignment, for the developing world belongs neither to the industrialised capitalist world nor to the industrialised former communist bloc. The expression 'third world' was used at the 1955 conference of Afro-Asian countries held in Bandung, Indonesia. In 1956 a group of social scientists associated with Sauvy's National Institute of Demographic Studies, in Paris, published a book called 'Le Tiers-Monde'. Three years later, the French economist Francois Perroux launched a new journal, on problems of underdevelopment, with the same title. By the end of the 1950s the term was frequently employed in the French media to refer to the underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. Present-day politicians and social commentators, however, now use the term 'developing world' in a politically correct effort to dispel the negative connotations of 'third world'.
B
Countries in the developing world have a number of common traits: distorted and highly dependent economies devoted to producing primary products for the developed world; traditional, rural social structures; high population growth and widespread poverty. Nevertheless, the developing world is sharply differentiated, for it includes countries on various levels of economic development. And despite the poverty of the countryside and the urban shanty towns, the ruling elites of most third world countries are wealthy.
C
This combination of conditions in Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America is linked to the absorption of the developing world into the international capitalist economy, by way of conquest or indirect domination. The main economic consequence of Western domination was the creation, for the first time in history, of a world market. By setting up sub-economies linked to the West throughout the developing world, and by introducing other modern institutions, industrial capitalism disrupted traditional economies and, indeed, societies. This disruption led to underdevelopment.
D
Because the economies of underdeveloped countries have been geared to the needs of industrialised countries, they often comprise only a few modern economic activities, such as mining or the cultivation of plantation crops. Control over these activities has often remained in the hands of large foreign firms. The prices of developing world products are usually determined by large buyers in the economically dominant countries of the West, and trade with the West provides almost all the developing world's income. Throughout the colonial period, outright exploitation severely limited the accumulation of capital within the foreign-dominated countries. Even after decolonisation (in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s), the economies of the developing world grew slowly, or not at all, owing largely to the deterioration of the 'terms of trade' - the relationship between the cost of the goods a nation must import from abroad and its income from the exports it sends to foreign countries. Terms of trade are said to deteriorate when the cost of imports rises faster than income from exports. Since buyers in the industrialised countries determined the prices of most products involved in international trade, the worsening position of the developing world was scarcely surprising. Only the oil-producing countries – after 1973 – succeeded in escaping the effects of Western domination of the world economy.
E
No study of the developing world could hope to assess its future prospects without taking into account population growth. While the mortality rate from poverty-related diseases continues to cause international concern, the birth rate continues to rise at unprecedented levels. This population explosion in the developing world will surely prevent any substantial improvements in living standards, as well as threaten people in stagnant economies with worsening poverty and starvation levels.
Questions
Questions 14–18 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 2 has five paragraphs, A - E.
Choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph from the list of headings.
i. The great divide between rich and poor.
ii. The status and destiny of the developing world follows a European precedent.
iii. Economic progress in the developing world slowed down by political unrest.
iv. More people, less food.
v. Western countries refuse to acknowledge their history of colonisation.
vi. Open trade is the main reason these countries become impoverished.
vii. Rivalry in the developing world between capitalist and former communist bloc countries.
viii. Prices and conditions set by outsiders.
Questions 19–22 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
Write
YES if the statement agrees with the information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 23–26 Matching Sentence Endings
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A - F.
A. economic dependence on developed countries.
B. that decolonisation took a long time to achieve.
C. dictate the needs of industrialised countries.
D. share common characteristics.
E. that many economies stagnated.
F. a society that wants something it does not have.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | ii | The French demographer Alfred Sauvy coined the expression (in French) in 1952 by analogy with the 'third estate' - the commoners of France before and during the French Revolution - as opposed to priests and nobles, comprising the first and second estates respectively. 'Like the third estate', wrote Sauvy, 'the third world is nothing, and it wants to be something'. The term therefore implies that the third world is exploited, much as the third estate was exploited and that, like the third estate, its destiny is a revolutionary one | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the name 'third world' came from a comparison with the French 'third estate' (the regular people of France during the revolution). Just like those common people in France were mistreated and brought revolution, the developing world is also exploited and headed toward a revolutionary future. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ii' means that the current condition and future path of developing nations are compared to what happened earlier in European history (specifically, the common people during the French Revolution). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading ii because Paragraph A explains how the term 'third world' was created by comparing developing nations to a European historical example: the French 'third estate'. The text explicitly notes that the third world shares a similar condition (being exploited) and future path (having a revolutionary future) with this European group. Key phrases in the text include 'analogy with the "third estate" - the commoners of France', 'the third world is exploited, much as the third estate was exploited', and 'its destiny is a revolutionary one', which directly match 'status and destiny' and 'European precedent'. |
| Q15 | i | And despite the poverty of the countryside and the urban shanty towns, the ruling elites of most third world countries are wealthy | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that even though many people in the villages and poor parts of cities live in poverty, the leaders in power have a lot of money. Answer Explanation: The answer means that there is a very big gap between wealthy people and poor people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading i because Paragraph B highlights the huge contrast between wealth and poverty. The paragraph mentions "widespread poverty" in the countryside and city slums, but directly contrasts this by stating that the "ruling elites" (the leaders and top class) are very "wealthy". This large gap matches the phrase "great divide between rich and poor". |
| Q16 | vi | The main economic consequence of Western domination was the creation, for the first time in history, of a world market. By setting up sub-economies linked to the West throughout the developing world, and by introducing other modern institutions, industrial capitalism disrupted traditional economies and, indeed, societies. This disruption led to underdevelopment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that bringing developing nations into a single world market broke their traditional ways of doing business, and this damage caused them to remain poor and underdeveloped. Answer Explanation: The answer 'vi' means that entering the global trading system is the primary cause of these nations becoming poor. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading vi because Paragraph C explains how connecting poorer regions to the global capitalist market caused them to become poor. The text points out that creating a 'world market' and connecting local economies to the West 'disrupted traditional economies' and that 'This disruption led to underdevelopment.' In the heading, 'open trade' matches the 'world market' and 'international capitalist economy', and 'become impoverished' matches 'underdevelopment'. |
| Q17 | viii | Control over these activities has often remained in the hands of large foreign firms. The prices of developing world products are usually determined by large buyers in the economically dominant countries of the West, and trade with the West provides almost all the developing world's income | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that powerful foreign companies control major economic activities in developing countries. Furthermore, big buyers from rich Western nations decide the selling prices of products from these developing nations. Answer Explanation: The answer selects heading viii, which means that the costs of goods and the rules for business are decided by outside, foreign nations rather than by the developing countries themselves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because Paragraph D explains how foreign powers control the economies of developing countries. In the paragraph, it mentions that 'Control' stays with 'large foreign firms' and that 'prices... are usually determined by large buyers in the economically dominant countries of the West'. The term 'outsiders' in the heading matches 'foreign firms' and 'buyers in the industrialised countries', while 'prices and conditions set' matches 'prices... are usually determined' and 'control over these activities'. |
| Q18 | iv | This population explosion in the developing world will surely prevent any substantial improvements in living standards, as well as threaten people in stagnant economies with worsening poverty and starvation levels | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that having too many people born too quickly will stop living conditions from getting better and will put people at risk of extreme hunger and poverty. Answer Explanation: The answer 'iv' means that as the number of people increases rapidly, there is not enough food, leading to hunger. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is iv because Paragraph E discusses the rapid increase in population ('population growth', 'birth rate continues to rise', 'population explosion') and explains that this leads to severe problems, including 'worsening poverty and starvation levels'. Here, 'population explosion' matches 'More people', and 'starvation' matches 'less food'. |
| Q19 | YES | Because the economies of underdeveloped countries have been geared to the needs of industrialised countries, they often comprise only a few modern economic activities, such as mining or the cultivation of plantation crops | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that poorer countries have economies focused on only a few specific businesses, including growing and harvesting crops on large farms. Answer Explanation: The answer "YES" means the statement is true according to the text: farming or agriculture is still an active part of the economy in developing nations. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because Paragraph D explains that the economies of underdeveloped nations include activities such as the "cultivation of plantation crops". The word "cultivation" means growing plants or farming, which is agriculture. Therefore, farming is an ongoing part of their economic activity, matching the statement completely. |
| Q20 | NOT GIVEN | While the mortality rate from poverty-related diseases continues to cause international concern, the birth rate continues to rise at unprecedented levels | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that babies are being born at very high rates, but it does not say that this happens because countries need more workers. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means that the text does not say whether the population grows quickly because of a need to renew the workforce. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because although the text mentions that the birth rate is growing rapidly ("the birth rate continues to rise at unprecedented levels"), it never explains the reason for this growth. Specifically, there is no mention anywhere in the passage about needing to "renew the labour force" or replace workers. |
| Q21 | YES | Even after decolonisation (in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s), the economies of the developing world grew slowly, or not at all, owing largely to the deterioration of the 'terms of trade' - the relationship between the cost of the goods a nation must import from abroad and its income from the exports it sends to foreign countries. Terms of trade are said to deteriorate when the cost of imports rises faster than income from exports | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that developing countries had trouble growing their economies because the prices of the goods they bought from other nations went up faster than the money they made from selling goods abroad. Answer Explanation: The answer "YES" means that the text confirms that nations can face difficulties if the money they pay for things bought from other countries is greater than the money they make by selling things to other countries. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is YES because the passage explains that developing nations faced economic problems—specifically, their economies grew slowly or did not grow at all. The text explains that this happened because the cost of what they had to import increased more quickly than the money they received from exports. Therefore, when paying for imports outpaces earnings from exports, countries suffer negative effects or problems. |
| Q22 | NO | Only the oil-producing countries – after 1973 – succeeded in escaping the effects of Western domination of the world economy | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage clearly states that after the year 1973, countries that make and sell oil were the only ones that managed to get away from being controlled by Western economies. Answer Explanation: The answer "NO" means that the statement is false because it directly contradicts the facts given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the statement claims that oil-rich countries suffered from Western control just like other developing countries, but the text states the opposite. In Paragraph D, the author explains that oil-producing nations were the only ones that successfully avoided or got away from the negative effects of Western economic control after 1973. Key terms to pay attention to include "oil-producing countries" (which means oil-rich countries), "effects of Western domination" (which relates to being victims of Western power), and "escaping" (which means getting away from or not being trapped by it). |
| Q23 | D | Countries in the developing world have a number of common traits | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that nations belonging to the developing world share several similar qualities or conditions. Answer Explanation: The answer means that nations in the developing world have several features or qualities that are similar to each other. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Paragraph B directly states that these nations share multiple similar features. In this context, the phrase 'have a number of common traits' in the reading matches the meaning of 'share common characteristics' in option D. Here, 'traits' is a direct synonym for 'characteristics', and 'have... in common' means to 'share'. |
| Q24 | F | 'Like the third estate', wrote Sauvy, 'the third world is nothing, and it wants to be something' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows Alfred Sauvy's quote stating that, just like the common people in historical France, the third world currently has nothing of importance, but it desires to become something significant. Answer Explanation: The answer means a group of people or society that wishes to get or achieve something it currently lacks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because paragraph A explains how Alfred Sauvy created the phrase 'the third world' by comparing it to France's 'third estate'. He wrote that 'the third world is nothing, and it wants to be something'. This directly matches the meaning of a society desiring something it does not currently possess. |
| Q25 | A | common characteristics, such as poverty, high birth rates, and economic dependence on the advanced countries | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that developing countries typically share shared problems and traits, one of which is relying on advanced nations for their economic survival. Answer Explanation: The answer means that poorer, developing nations rely heavily on richer, advanced nations for their economy and trade. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because paragraph A explains that developing countries share several common features or widespread conditions, including relying on wealthier nations economically. The passage mentions "common characteristics" (which matches "factor that is prevalent") such as "economic dependence on the advanced countries" (which corresponds to "economic dependence on developed countries"). |
| Q26 | E | Even after decolonisation (in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s), the economies of the developing world grew slowly, or not at all, owing largely to the deterioration of the 'terms of trade' - the relationship between the cost of the goods a nation must import from abroad and its income from the exports it sends to foreign countries | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that developing countries saw little to no economic growth mainly because of bad terms of trade, meaning their costs to buy imports grew faster than the money they earned from selling exports. Answer Explanation: The answer "E" means that one result of the unfair trade conditions was that the economies of many countries stopped growing or grew very little. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because paragraph D explains the effect of the worsening "terms of trade." The text mentions that "the economies of the developing world grew slowly, or not at all, owing largely to the deterioration of the 'terms of trade'". The phrase "grew slowly, or not at all" directly means that economies stagnated (stopped developing). Therefore, economic stagnation was a consequence of the terms of trade. |