Multiple Choice questions seek just one correct answer from a variety of answers. Exam takers have to be aware of all the ways in which the IELTS exam will try to confuse or distract you to make a wrong choice.

Procedure:

1. underline (paper) or highlight (computer) keywords in the questions PROMPT
2. SCAN the text for these words or common synonyms (vocabulary) or paraphrase
3. Check the answer statement options and choose the answer that best reflects the meaning the question prompt asks.

To perform well on this task, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ THE ENTIRE TEXT. SCAN the text for the keywords because you 1. Will save a lot of time on the exam and 2. Will not necessarily remember where all the answers are after one reading.

Note: Where you find the correct answer for the first question IN THE TEXT, the following ANSWERS will be found AFTER the first correct answer. By knowing this you will be able to move quickly to locate keywords from the question prompts. So, the process you are employing during Multiple-Choice questions is a Back-and-Forth motion from the answer key, looking for keywords, and then to the text, locating keywords or synonyms.

For the following Multiple-Choice questions practice the above method and try to finish within 2 to 2 ½ minutes. Both examples below are typical of General Training and Academic Reading exams.

Hadrian, Publius Aelius (76 – 138)

Hadrian was a Roman emperor from 117, born in Rome, or according to some sources, in Italica, in Spain. After his father’s death in 86, he accompanied the emperor Trajan, his kinsmen, and his guardian, on his wars. He became prefect of Syria, and after Trajan’s death was proclaimed emperor by the army. Insurrections had broken out in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria; Moesia and Mauretania were invaded by barbarians, and the Parthians had once more asserted their independence.

Hadrian concluded peace with the Parthians, having resolved to limit the boundaries of the empire in the East, and after appeasing the invaders in Moesia, he established his authority in Rome and suppressed a conspiracy against his life.

At about 120, he began his long tour of the empire. He visited Gaul, Germany, Britain (where he built the wall from Solway to Tyne), Spain, Mauretania, Egypt, Asia Minor, and Greece, returning to Rome at the end of 126. He wintered twice in Athens (125 – 126, 129 – 130). After crushing a major revolt in Judaea (132-134), he returned to Italy, where he died.

He reorganized the army, ruled justly, and was a patron of the arts. Among his buildings were his mausoleum (now part of the castle of St. Angelo); the magnificent villa at Tibur, and he founded Adrianopolis.

Questions 1 -5

Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.

1. Who did Hadrian escort in 86?
2. A. his father
3. B. the Prefect of Syria
4. C. Trajan
5. D. the army

2. Who declared Hadrian emperor?
3. A. his father
4. B. Trajan
5. C. the army
6. D. the barbarians

3. What did Hadrian have to concede to the Parthians?
4. A. his throne
5. B. Asia Minor
6. C. Moesia
7. D. boundaries in the east