The Rise Of Adjuncts - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Simulation Tests Academic Reading Test 09 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 on the following pages.
The Rise of Adjuncts
A Academia is often thought of as an occupation with immense job security. The traditional image is one of a middle-aged professor with his own office, his own car park, and a cosy job with a middle-class salary that remains unaffected by upturns and downturns in the 'real' business economy. But in the United States today only a minority of professors have anything resembling this lifestyle. For the vast majority, the actual conditions of their employment are very different. They scrape by with low pay, short-term contracts and few or no employee benefits. Many even qualify for food stamps. This shift in employment conditions has far-reaching consequences not only for academics, but also for students and the quality of education they receive, and for academic freedom more generally.
B Originally, almost all professors were in full-time positions and employed under a system known as 'life tenure'. Tenure all but guarantees professors a well-paid job until retirement; their position can only be terminated with 'just cause'. Proving just cause is a lengthy, difficult process that happens rarely — only around 50 of 280,000 tenured professors lose their status every year. The purpose of tenure is to provide shelter for researchers who dissent from dominant opinions, disagree with the authorities of universities, donors or political authorities, or choose to research topics that may have social importance but seem unimportant or unnecessary to others. In this way it seeks to keep intellectual pursuits 'pure' rather than at the whim of external interests. Without tenure, professors might prefer uncontroversial research on popular topics, and draw dishonest conclusions in a bid to please authorities and keep their jobs.
C In an era of perpetual cost-cutting and budget-tightening, however, guaranteeing large numbers of academics lifetime employment with related benefits is increasing untenable. The proportion of university teachers with tenure has slid from 75 percent in 1960 to just 27 percent today. Rising in their place are 'professor adjuncts'. Adjuncts are temporary, part-time employees who were initially brought in only occasionally as special guest lecturers or to provide cover for tenured professors on parental or research leave. Adjuncts teach individual classes and have no research or administrative responsibilities, and their contracts typically run for a single semester, after which they might be renewed. Over the last few decades their use has been extended beyond these temporary exigencies, and adjuncts have become a permanent, institutionalised aspect of academic employment.
D This has created several problems for adjunct professors, who are considered by some to make up a growing 'academic underclass'. Firstly, because contracts are always temporary, adjuncts rarely qualify for insurance and health benefits, such as time off with remuneration for illness, in the same way as tenured professors. Secondly, recompense for adjuncts is often very low. In order to make a living from their work, adjuncts typically need to win contracts with multiple universities. As a consequence of this high teaching workload — and the lack of paid research opportunities — adjuncts tend to find it hard to publish articles and win research grants, therefore making promotion increasingly unlikely with every year that passes (academic promotion is governed by what is known as a 'publish or perish' culture).
E The culture of using adjuncts also has flow-on effects for the quality of teaching that students receive. Because adjuncts come in only for classes, they do not have offices or office hours on campus, and usually do not have the time to meet up with students in small groups or for one-on-one sessions. The disengagement between students and teachers can make it difficult for struggling students to find guidance outside of lectures. Adjuncts are also less 'tied' to the universities they teach at and fail to accumulate reputations over time in the same way as full-time professors. As such, they are not as personally invested in the quality and outcome of their teaching. Finally, it has been reported that many adjuncts practice grade inflation — raising grades higher than deserved — in order to maintain their job security by keeping students pleased. These outcomes are not because adjuncts are malfeasant or incompetent professors, but rather because of the structural pressures this type of work involves — precisely what the tenure system sought to overcome.
F The rising use of adjunct professors also has implications for the research and pedagogical autonomy of teachers. Because adjuncts do not have tenure, they can be fired with the simplest of explanations. Furthermore, administrators who do not want to give any reason at all can choose to simply not renew an adjunct's contract after the semester finishes. As such, there is immense pressure on adjuncts to teach in ways that please those who employ them. While only 50 tenured professors lose their jobs in the USA every year, reports emerge every day about adjuncts who have been fired or not had contracts renewed after disputes with faculty or administrators over course design, teaching, or employment issues. As the pool of growing numbers of adjuncts compete desperately for the shrinking amount of tenure-track positions, intellectual conformity can grow as candidates position themselves as safe, mainstream choices. As theoretical physicist Lee Smolin has written, "...it is practically career suicide for young theoretical physicists not to join the field of string theory..."
The rising use of adjunct professors is mainly rooted in a need for cost efficiency in education, but it has more diffuse effects on the wellbeing of academic professionals and students, the quality of the education they receive, and academic freedom in general. Everyone who is concerned about more than the fiscal 'bottom line' needs to follow this trend carefully.
Questions
Questions 14–19 Matching Headings
Reading Passage 2 has six sections A–F.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i–ix.
i. Uncertain future for academic freedom
ii. Low pay causes problems
iii. Tough life, worse prospects
iv. A safety net for intellectual risk-takers
v. The necessity for economic reform
vi. Educational standards decline
vii. Adverse effects on health of adjuncts
viii. Academic life: perception versus reality
ix. Exploitation of a stop-gap system
Questions 20–22 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Questions 23–26 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 2.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
- Because adjuncts are paid only to teach, they cannot always provide support for 23 .
- Adjuncts do not have the same bonds with one particular institution as permanent staff do so they do not 24 in the same way.
- Giving better marks than warranted enhances adjuncts' 25 .
- Adjuncts do not deliver quality education, not because they are bad lecturers but as a result of 26 .
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | viii | Academia is often thought of as an occupation with immense job security. The traditional image is one of a middle-aged professor with his own office, his own car park, and a cosy job with a middle-class salary that remains unaffected by upturns and downturns in the 'real' business economy. But in the United States today only a minority of professors have anything resembling this lifestyle. For the vast majority, the actual conditions of their employment are very different | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people usually picture academic life as safe and comfortable, but in reality, most university teachers today face very different and much harder working conditions. Answer Explanation: The answer "viii" means that the main theme of Section A is the difference between what people think working as a university professor is like and what it is really like in real life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because Section A contrasts the common belief about university work with the real situation. The paragraph begins by describing the "perception" (or "traditional image") that academia is a comfortable, well-paying job with high job security. It then contrasts this with the "reality" (the "actual conditions"), explaining that most professors today suffer from low pay, temporary contracts, and lack of benefits. |
| Q15 | iv | The purpose of tenure is to provide shelter for researchers who dissent from dominant opinions, disagree with the authorities of universities, donors or political authorities, or choose to research topics that may have social importance but seem unimportant or unnecessary to others | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that job tenure acts as a protective shield for professors who hold different opinions from the majority, argue with powerful leaders, or study topics that other people may not like or support. Answer Explanation: The answer "iv" refers to the heading "A safety net for intellectual risk-takers", which means protection provided to scholars and researchers who explore unpopular, challenging, or controversial ideas. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is iv because Section B explains the purpose of "life tenure" as a protective system for academics. The paragraph states that tenure serves to "provide shelter" (a safety net) for researchers who challenge mainstream views, disagree with university or political authorities, or investigate unpopular subjects (intellectual risk-takers). |
| Q16 | ix | Adjuncts are temporary, part-time employees who were initially brought in only occasionally as special guest lecturers or to provide cover for tenured professors on parental or research leave. Adjuncts teach individual classes and have no research or administrative responsibilities, and their contracts typically run for a single semester, after which they might be renewed. Over the last few decades their use has been extended beyond these temporary exigencies, and adjuncts have become a permanent, institutionalised aspect of academic employment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that adjunct teachers were first hired only to temporarily fill in for absent professors. Over time, universities started using these short-term teachers far more often, turning a temporary solution into a normal, everyday way of hiring staff. Answer Explanation: The answer "ix" means that Section C should be titled "Exploitation of a stop-gap system". This means universities are overusing and relying on a temporary, short-term solution as a regular way of hiring teachers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading ix because Section C explains how adjunct professors were originally hired as a "stop-gap" (a temporary fix or emergency cover for absent full-time professors). However, due to budget cuts, universities began taking advantage of this arrangement, turning these short-term roles into a regular, permanent replacement for expensive tenured jobs. Key ideas include "temporary exigencies" matching "stop-gap" and turning a temporary measure into a permanent, institutional practice. |
| Q17 | iii | This has created several problems for adjunct professors, who are considered by some to make up a growing 'academic underclass'. Firstly, because contracts are always temporary, adjuncts rarely qualify for insurance and health benefits, such as time off with remuneration for illness, in the same way as tenured professors. Secondly, recompense for adjuncts is often very low. In order to make a living from their work, adjuncts typically need to win contracts with multiple universities. As a consequence of this high teaching workload — and the lack of paid research opportunities — adjuncts tend to find it hard to publish articles and win research grants, therefore making promotion increasingly unlikely with every year that passes (academic promotion is governed by what is known as a 'publish or perish' culture) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that adjunct teachers face hard problems like no health insurance, low pay, and heavy workloads across multiple universities. Because they have no time to publish academic papers or get research money, their chances of getting promoted become lower and lower over time. Answer Explanation: The answer heading 'iii. Tough life, worse prospects' means having difficult working and living conditions right now, along with very poor chances of career advancement or success in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'iii' because Section D describes the difficult realities faced by adjunct professors and how these reduce their future career opportunities. The text mentions that adjuncts have a tough life because they lack benefits, receive low pay ('recompense for adjuncts is often very low'), and must work at multiple universities. Furthermore, it explains their worsening future prospects by stating that their high workload leaves no time to publish research, 'making promotion increasingly unlikely with every year that passes'. |
| Q18 | vi | The culture of using adjuncts also has flow-on effects for the quality of teaching that students receive | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that relying on temporary adjunct professors directly affects the quality of education and teaching that students get. Answer Explanation: The answer 'vi' means that the level or quality of education gets worse. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading vi because Section E focuses entirely on how hiring temporary adjunct teachers hurts the student learning experience. The paragraph explains that adjuncts do not have offices to help struggling students, are less invested in student outcomes, and sometimes give artificially high grades (grade inflation) to protect their jobs. These issues all show a fall in 'educational standards' (which corresponds to 'the quality of teaching that students receive'). |
| Q19 | i | The rising use of adjunct professors also has implications for the research and pedagogical autonomy of teachers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that relying more on adjunct teachers affects their freedom to choose what they research and how they teach. Answer Explanation: The answer "i" corresponds to the heading "Uncertain future for academic freedom", meaning that the freedom of teachers to research and teach independently without fear is in danger. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is i because Section F focuses on how the lack of job protection for adjuncts threatens their teaching and research independence. The author explains that because adjuncts can easily lose their jobs, they face heavy pressure to teach in ways that please administrators and avoid controversial ideas, which leads to "intellectual conformity." In this context, "research and pedagogical autonomy" and avoiding "intellectual conformity" directly refer to academic freedom. |
| Q20 | A | The purpose of tenure is to provide shelter for researchers who dissent from dominant opinions, disagree with the authorities of universities, donors or political authorities, or choose to research topics that may have social importance but seem unimportant or unnecessary to others. In this way it seeks to keep intellectual pursuits 'pure' rather than at the whim of external interests | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that tenure protects researchers who disagree with powerful authorities or study unpopular topics. This system ensures that academic research is free and not controlled by outside pressures. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the tenure system was created to protect professors so they can study and research what they want without being controlled by outside people or organizations. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Paragraph B directly explains the goal or purpose (motivation) of tenure. The text states that tenure protects professors who have different opinions from powerful leaders, donors, or the public, ensuring that their work remains honest and independent rather than being controlled by "external interests" (outside influence). |
| Q21 | B | Firstly, because contracts are always temporary, adjuncts rarely qualify for insurance and health benefits, such as time off with remuneration for illness, in the same way as tenured professors | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that because adjunct professors work on short-term contracts, they almost never get health-related job benefits, such as receiving their salary when they are sick and cannot work. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" corresponds to "Paid sick leave", which means getting paid money when taking time off work due to illness. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage states that adjunct professors usually do not receive health benefits such as paid sick leave. Paragraph D points out that adjuncts "rarely qualify for insurance and health benefits, such as time off with remuneration for illness". Here, "remuneration" means payment, so "time off with remuneration for illness" is a synonym for paid sick leave. In contrast, choices A, C, and D are all mentioned in the text as actual features or conditions of adjunct work. |
| Q22 | B | As a consequence of this high teaching workload — and the lack of paid research opportunities — adjuncts tend to find it hard to publish articles and win research grants, therefore making promotion increasingly unlikely with every year that passes (academic promotion is governed by what is known as a 'publish or perish' culture) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that having too much teaching work and no paid research time makes it difficult for adjuncts to write articles and win grants, which reduces their chances of getting promoted. Answer Explanation: The answer means that adjunct professors do not have sufficient time to write and publish academic papers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Paragraph D explains that adjuncts have a very heavy teaching workload across multiple universities and no paid research opportunities. As a result, they struggle to write and publish academic articles and get research grants, which makes it very hard for them to get a job promotion in a university environment driven by publishing. |
| Q23 | struggling students / students | The disengagement between students and teachers can make it difficult for struggling students to find guidance outside of lectures | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when teachers and students are disconnected, students who are having trouble learning cannot easily get help or advice outside of normal class time. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to students who are having difficulty or trouble with their studies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Paragraph E, which explains that adjunct professors only visit campus for their classes and do not have office hours or time for one-on-one meetings. This lack of contact makes it hard for struggling students to get extra help or guidance outside of class time. |
| Q24 | accumulate reputations | Adjuncts are also less 'tied' to the universities they teach at and fail to accumulate reputations over time in the same way as full-time professors | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that temporary professors have weaker connections to the schools where they work, so they do not build up a long-standing good name like permanent professors do. Answer Explanation: The answer "accumulate reputations" means to build or gather respect, fame, or a good name over a period of time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "accumulate reputations" because the passage explains that adjunct professors are less connected to the universities where they work. Because they lack this strong connection, they do not build up their professional names or standings over time like permanent, full-time professors do. In the sentence, "bonds with one particular institution" corresponds to being "'tied' to the universities", and "do not [accumulate reputations]" matches "fail to accumulate reputations". |
| Q25 | job security | Finally, it has been reported that many adjuncts practice grade inflation — raising grades higher than deserved — in order to maintain their job security by keeping students pleased | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that many adjunct professors give students higher grades than they actually deserve so that the students are happy, which helps the teachers keep their jobs safe. Answer Explanation: The answer "job security" means the safety or confidence of keeping one's job and not being fired. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "job security" because Paragraph E explains what happens when adjunct teachers give students higher marks than they actually earned. The text uses the phrase "raising grades higher than deserved" (which matches the sentence's "Giving better marks than warranted") and explains that adjuncts do this "to maintain their job security by keeping students pleased." |
| Q26 | structural pressures | These outcomes are not because adjuncts are malfeasant or incompetent professors, but rather because of the structural pressures this type of work involves — precisely what the tenure system sought to overcome | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these poor teaching outcomes do not happen because the teachers are bad at their jobs, but because of the difficult systemic pressures of adjunct work. Answer Explanation: The answer means systemic difficulties and stress built into the job itself. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "structural pressures" because the text explains that the negative effects on teaching quality happen not because adjuncts are bad or incompetent teachers ("malfeasant or incompetent professors"), but due to the difficult conditions and constraints of this form of employment ("structural pressures"). |