The learner can reliably distinguish TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN (and Yes/No/Not Given) on statements about a short passage.
TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN — the critical distinctions
TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN — the critical distinctions
True/False/Not Given (TFNG) questions test whether statements agree with, contradict, or are simply absent from the text. The three answers mean: TRUE — the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; FALSE — the statement contradicts what the passage says; NOT GIVEN — the passage does not say this at all. Do NOT use your own knowledge or common sense to decide — only what is in the text matters.
The most common mistake is marking NOT GIVEN as FALSE. If the text is silent on a point, the answer is NOT GIVEN even if you personally believe the statement is wrong. The trap works like this: a statement sounds plausible and related to the topic, the text touches the same subject but never actually confirms or denies the specific claim — so the answer is NOT GIVEN, not FALSE.
Statements are always paraphrased. 'Inexpensive' in the question may match 'low-cost' in the text (TRUE). If the text says 'expensive', that is a contradiction (FALSE). If the text never mentions price at all, that is NOT GIVEN.
Yes/No/Not Given questions work on the same logic but apply to the writer's opinion or claims (not factual information). Yes = the text reflects the writer's view; No = the writer's view contradicts the statement; Not Given = the writer does not express a view on this.
Worked example — read this passage: 'Solar panels were first installed on residential homes in California in the 1970s. Today, governments in several countries offer tax incentives to encourage uptake.' Statement A: 'Solar panels appeared in homes before 1980.' → TRUE (the 1970s are before 1980). Statement B: 'All governments worldwide offer subsidies for solar panels.' → FALSE (the text says 'several countries', not 'all'). Statement C: 'Solar panels reduce household electricity bills.' → NOT GIVEN (the text never mentions bills or savings).
Lesson notes
TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN — the critical distinctions
True/False/Not Given (TFNG) questions test whether statements agree with, contradict, or are simply absent from the text. The three answers mean: TRUE — the statement agrees with the information given in the passage; FALSE — the statement contradicts what the passage says; NOT GIVEN — the passage does not say this at all. Do NOT use your own knowledge or common sense to decide — only what is in the text matters.
The most common mistake is marking NOT GIVEN as FALSE. If the text is silent on a point, the answer is NOT GIVEN even if you personally believe the statement is wrong. The trap works like this: a statement sounds plausible and related to the topic, the text touches the same subject but never actually confirms or denies the specific claim — so the answer is NOT GIVEN, not FALSE.
Statements are always paraphrased. 'Inexpensive' in the question may match 'low-cost' in the text (TRUE). If the text says 'expensive', that is a contradiction (FALSE). If the text never mentions price at all, that is NOT GIVEN.
Yes/No/Not Given questions work on the same logic but apply to the writer's opinion or claims (not factual information). Yes = the text reflects the writer's view; No = the writer's view contradicts the statement; Not Given = the writer does not express a view on this.
Worked example — read this passage: 'Solar panels were first installed on residential homes in California in the 1970s. Today, governments in several countries offer tax incentives to encourage uptake.' Statement A: 'Solar panels appeared in homes before 1980.' → TRUE (the 1970s are before 1980). Statement B: 'All governments worldwide offer subsidies for solar panels.' → FALSE (the text says 'several countries', not 'all'). Statement C: 'Solar panels reduce household electricity bills.' → NOT GIVEN (the text never mentions bills or savings).