How Much Do You Really Know? IELTS Reading Answers & Explanation (2026)

This post provides a complete answer explanation for IELTS Academic Reading: How much do you really know? – Passage 1, Test 2 from the official IELTS Academic Volume 2 by IDP. Each answer is explained step by step, showing how keywords are paraphrased and where the correct information appears in the text. It also includes difficult vocabulary with meanings, synonyms, and examples, helping you improve both reading accuracy and vocabulary for a higher band score.

Questions 1-4  Multiple Choice questions

 1. The writer uses the example of restaurants in Sydney in order to : Answer  B

Keywords: Sydney restaurants = place to eat, ignorance 

Answer Location: Paragraph 1, last few Lines, ... I know nothing about the latest developments in astrophysics, and little about current European art. If you want to know about good places to eat in Sydney, Australia, I'm not the best person to ask.

2. The writer mentions that economic analysis was used to illustrate that people: Answer  C

Keywords: economic analysis, harm by

answer Location: Paragraph 2 lines ... of course, many people may argue that ignorance is unavoidable, stating that most, if not all of the things people are ignorant about are related to obscure topics that do not have much impact on their daily lives....

3. The author gave the example of the National Science Foundation survey to illustrate: Answer A

Keywords: National Science Foundation survey, lack of knowledge

Answer Location: Paragraph 3, Lines 5-7. In that regard,the US-based National Science Foundation,in its biannual survey of scientific knowledge, has found large gaps in the  American population's grasp of basic scientific facts.

4. The Dunning -Kruger effect is summarised as: Answer B

Keywords: Dunning -Kruger being recognised

Answer Location: Paragraph 5, lines 2-6. According to the argument presented here, people with substantial gaps in their knowledge or expertise should not be able to recognise those gaps. Despite potentially making errors, they should tend to think they are doing just fine. In short, those who are incompetent, for lack of a better term, have little insight into their incompetence, as an assertion that 

has come to be known as the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Questions 5-7   Yes /No/ Not Given

5. The author suggests that ignorant people face a 'double burden' because recognising errors requires knowledge. Answer Yes

Keywords: double burden, poor performer

Answer location: Paragraph 6, Line 1-2, When it comes to judgment of performance based on knowledge. A poor performer may face a double burden.

6. Weaker students often feel discouraged when trying to improve. Answer: Not given

Keywords: Weaker student, discouraged,

Answer Location: Paragraph 7, lines,  there is no mention regarding how poor or weaker students feel any kind of discouragement, so the answer is not given.

7. The author concludes that ignorance is never beneficial. Answer: No

Keywords: ignorance, never beneficial

Answer Location: Last Paragraph, Last few lines, But could Ignorance be an advantage in moments when people must act decisively, perhaps being wise is not such a good idea. 

(At last author says being smart is not always beneficial, which means being ignorant is sometimes advantageous, so the Answer  is No)

Questions 8-13: Complete the summary

8. Answer H

Keywords: extent, easier to recognise, in others

Answer location: Paragraph 4, lines 2-4. It is perhaps ironic that the one thing people are most likely to be ignorant about is the extent of their own ignorance, where it stops.

9. Answer B

Keywords: unknown, large propertion of population

Answer Location: Paragraph 4  Lines. It is not the ignorance they witness in themselves,rather it is the ignorance they witness in others.

10. Answer  F

Keywords: hard time, relating  it, invisible

Answer Location: Paragraph 4, Lines arguing that ignorance tends to be invisible can be difficult, because many people may have a hard time relating to it.

11. Answer  A

Keywords: errors after error, least skill or knowledge,

Answer location:  Paragraph 5, Lines 3-6, according to the argument presented here, people with substantial gaps in their knowledge or expertise should not be able to recognise those gaps.

Despite potentially making error after error, they should tend to think they are doing just fine.

 12 Answer  D

Keywords: skill, process of assessment, depend on= relys 

Answer Location: Paragraph 6, lines 6-8. The process of assessment relies on the same set of skills needed to produce a grammatically correct sentence in the first place,

13. Answer  C

Keywords: another reason, defensive, self-esteem 

Answer Location:   Paragraph 7, last few lines. It may be that motivational defences -aimed at keeping self-esteem high are to blame

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Hard Vocabulary used in the Passage: How much do you really know?

Inevitable

Meaning: Something that is certain to happen and cannot be avoided.

Synonyms: Unavoidable, certain, inescapable.

Example: Due to climate change, rising temperatures seem inevitable.

IELTS-style paraphrase: Rising temperatures are impossible to prevent as a result of climate change.

Obscure

Meaning: Difficult to understand or not clearly expressed.

Synonyms: Unclear, vague, hidden.

Example: The writer uses obscure language in the passage.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The language in the text is not clearly expressed, making it difficult to understand.

Rational

Meaning: Based on logical thinking rather than emotions.

Synonyms: Logical, reasonable, sensible.

Example: A rational approach helps solve the problem effectively.

IELTS-style paraphrase: A logical method is effective in dealing with the issue.

Tangible

Meaning: Something that can be touched or clearly perceived.

Synonyms: Concrete, physical, real.

Example: The policy produced tangible benefits.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The policy led to clear and measurable advantages.

Grasp

Meaning: To understand something fully.

Synonyms: Comprehend, understand.

Example: Students must grasp the main idea of the passage.

IELTS-style paraphrase: Students need to fully understand the central message.

Biannual

Meaning: Occurring twice a year.

Synonyms: Semi-annual, twice-yearly.

Example: The report is published biannually.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The report is released two times per year.

Ascertain

Meaning: To find out something with certainty.

Synonyms: Determine, confirm, establish.

Example: The study aims to ascertain the cause of the problem.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The research seeks to identify the reason for the issue.

Extent

Meaning: The degree or amount of something.

Synonyms: Degree, scope, level.

Example: The article explains the extent of damage.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The text describes how severe the damage is.

Ironic

Meaning: A situation where the outcome is opposite to expectations.

Synonyms: Paradoxical, unexpected.

Example: It is ironic that the expert made such a basic mistake.

IELTS-style paraphrase: It is unexpected and contradictory that an expert would make such an error.

Introspect

Meaning: To examine one’s own thoughts and feelings.

Synonyms: Reflect, self-examine.

Example: The experience made her introspect deeply.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The experience caused her to reflect on her own behaviour.

Manifestation

Meaning: A clear sign or expression of something.

Synonyms: Evidence, indication, demonstration.

Example: Stress is a manifestation of modern life pressures.

IELTS-style paraphrase: Stress is a clear sign of pressures in contemporary life.

Incompetence

Meaning: Lack of skill or ability to perform a task.

Synonyms: Inefficiency, inability.

Example: The failure was due to administrative incompetence.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The collapse occurred because of poor management skills.

Burden

Meaning: A heavy responsibility or difficulty.

Synonyms: Load, strain, responsibility.

Example: Debt places a heavy burden on families.

IELTS-style paraphrase: Financial debt creates serious pressure on households.

Assessing

Meaning: Evaluating something carefully.

Synonyms: Evaluating, examining, judging.

Example: The teacher is assessing student performance.

IELTS-style paraphrase: The teacher is carefully evaluating how students perform.

Conclude

Meaning: To reach a decision after considering evidence.

Synonyms: Decide, infer, determine.

Example: Researchers conclude that pollution levels are rising.

IELTS-style paraphrase: Researchers reach the conclusion that pollution is increasing.