Lesson 26 · Lesson guide
Reading: Yes / No / Not Given — The Writer’s Views
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! YES / NO / NOT GIVEN looks like TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN, but it asks a different question. Not “Is this fact in the text?” but “Does the writer agree with this?”
YES means the statement matches the writer’s view. NO means the writer thinks the opposite. NOT GIVEN means the writer does not tell us what they think about it.
Two things make this task difficult. Opinions are often hidden in small words like “unfortunately” or “frankly”. And writers often report what other people think (“Some people argue that…”) before giving their own view. Today you will learn to find the writer’s own voice.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
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The three answers
YES
The writer agrees
The statement says the same as the writer’s view, often in other words.
- Text: Sugary drinks should be taxed more. → “Sugary drinks should cost more.” YES
NO
The writer disagrees
The writer’s view is the opposite of the statement.
- Text: I do not believe vitamin pills are necessary. → “Healthy adults need vitamin pills.” NO
NOT GIVEN
No view on this
The writer does not say what they think about this exact idea.
- Text: I support free gyms for teenagers. → “Gyms should be free for adults.” NOT GIVEN
Remember!
Only the writer’s own view counts. “Some people say…” is not the writer.
Signals of the writer’s view
I believe / In my view / I am convinced that
the writer’s own opinion
Unfortunately / Sadly / Worryingly
the writer thinks it is bad
Fortunately / It is encouraging that
the writer thinks it is good
I doubt that / It is hard to see how
the writer thinks it is unlikely
Some people argue / Critics claim
other people’s views
Common mistakes
Not: “Many parents believe sport is a waste of time.” → Sport is a waste of time: YESSay: NOT GIVEN (it is the parents’ view, not the writer’s)
Reported views are not the writer’s view.
Not: The writer does not mention adults → NOSay: NOT GIVEN
NO needs the opposite view; silence is NOT GIVEN.
Check yourself
How is YES / NO / NOT GIVEN different from TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN?
“Frankly, the claim is exaggerated.” Does the writer agree with the claim?
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher