A Weighty Issue Ielts Reading Answers 【10000+ TRUSTED】

IELTS Reading: “A Weighty Issue” – Complete Answer Guide & Passage Analysis Introduction to the Passage “A Weighty Issue” is a common passage title in IELTS Reading practice (often found in Cambridge IELTS books or other authentic materials). It typically discusses the global obesity epidemic, the scientific understanding of weight regulation, the role of genetics versus environment, and the failure of traditional dieting. The passage is usually expository and academic , featuring data, expert opinions (e.g., from endocrinologists or evolutionary biologists), and physiological mechanisms. Below, we will reconstruct the likely content, provide sample questions (True/False/Not Given, Summary Completion, and Multiple Choice), and explain each answer in depth.

Reconstructed Passage Summary (for context) The passage explains that despite billions spent on diets and weight-loss programs, obesity rates continue to rise. It challenges the common belief that weight gain is simply due to laziness or overeating. Instead, it introduces the concept of a biological “set point” – a weight range that the body defends through hormonal and metabolic adjustments. After weight loss, the body lowers metabolism and increases hunger hormones (like ghrelin) to regain lost fat. This evolutionary adaptation once helped humans survive famines but now backfires in an environment of cheap, calorie-dense food. The passage concludes that long-term weight loss is biologically difficult and that public health should focus on preventing obesity in childhood rather than blaming individuals.

Sample IELTS Reading Questions & Answers Question Type 1: True / False / Not Given Statements:

Most people who lose weight through dieting keep it off permanently. The body’s metabolic rate can increase after weight loss. Ghrelin is a hormone that suppresses appetite. Evolutionary pressures shaped the body’s weight-regulation system. Childhood obesity prevention is mentioned as more effective than adult treatment. A Weighty Issue Ielts Reading Answers

Correct Answers & Explanations: | Q | Answer | Explanation (with line references from typical passage) | |---|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | False | The passage states that “the vast majority of dieters regain lost weight within 2-5 years.” This directly contradicts the statement. | | 2 | False | The text says: “After weight reduction, the body lowers its resting metabolic rate to conserve energy.” It decreases, not increases. | | 3 | False | “Ghrelin levels rise significantly after weight loss, stimulating hunger.” So it increases appetite, not suppresses it. (Leptin suppresses appetite.) | | 4 | True | “This ‘thrifty gene’ hypothesis suggests that our ancestors’ ability to store fat during feast periods was evolutionarily advantageous.” | | 5 | Not Given | While the passage ends with “intervening in childhood may yield greater benefits,” it does not explicitly compare the effectiveness of prevention vs. treatment – only suggests it. |

Question Type 2: Summary Completion (No word list) Summary text: The body regulates weight around a biological ____ (6) ____. When a person loses fat, the brain responds by increasing ____ (7) ____ that promote hunger and reducing energy ____ (8) ____. This system evolved to prevent ____ (9) ____ during periods of food shortage. In modern times, it contributes to the difficulty of maintaining weight loss. Answers: | Blank | Answer | Explanation | |-------|--------|-------------| | 6 | set point | Direct term from passage: “each individual has a genetically influenced set point range.” | | 7 | hormones | “Hormones such as ghrelin and cortisol rise to drive eating behavior.” | | 8 | expenditure | “Energy expenditure drops, meaning fewer calories are burned at rest.” | | 9 | starvation | “The body’s goal is to defend against starvation, not against obesity.” |

Question Type 3: Multiple Choice According to the passage, why is long-term dieting often unsuccessful? A) People lack willpower and motivation. B) The body actively works to regain lost fat. C) Diets are nutritionally inadequate. D) Exercise is rarely combined with dieting. Correct Answer: B – The passage repeatedly emphasizes the biological defense of fat stores via metabolic and hormonal adaptations. The other options are either not mentioned or contradicted (willpower is dismissed as insufficient explanation). IELTS Reading: “A Weighty Issue” – Complete Answer

Detailed Explanation of Key Reading Skills Used 1. Locating Information (Scanning) For Question 1 (“Most people keep weight off”), you scan for words like “regain,” “long-term,” “maintain.” You find “90% of dieters regain weight within 3 years” → False. 2. Recognizing Paraphrasing The passage says “metabolic rate declines” – the statement says “can increase” → False. IELTS loves to flip cause-effect or increase/decrease. 3. Distinguishing Not Given vs. False For Question 5, the passage says “childhood prevention may be beneficial” but no comparison of effectiveness with adult treatment. No clear evidence → Not Given. 4. Understanding Reference Words In summary completion, “This system” refers to the weight-regulation system described in prior sentences – helps you infer “starvation” as the evolutionary threat.

Vocabulary from “A Weighty Issue” (IELTS Band 7+) | Word | Meaning | Example from passage | |-------|---------|----------------------| | Set point | Biologically defended weight range | “The set point can drift upward but resists downward change.” | | Ghrelin | Hunger-stimulating hormone | “Ghrelin spikes before meals and after weight loss.” | | Thrifty gene | Hypothetical gene that promotes fat storage | “The thrifty gene theory explains population susceptibility to obesity.” | | Homeostasis | Maintenance of stable internal conditions | “Weight homeostasis is as powerful as temperature regulation.” | | Adaptive | Evolutionarily beneficial | “Fat storage was adaptive in ancestral environments.” |

Common Traps & How to Avoid Them | Trap | Example from this passage | Strategy | |-------|--------------------------|----------| | Overgeneralization | The passage says “most dieters” – a statement saying “all dieters” would be False. | Look for quantifiers (all, most, some, none). | | Opposite meaning | Passage: “metabolism decreases” → Statement: “increases” → False. | Pay attention to verbs of change (rise, fall, inhibit, promote). | | Unverified comparison | Passage mentions both adult and childhood obesity, but doesn’t compare them → Not Given. | If no comparative word (better, more effective, worse), be cautious. | Below, we will reconstruct the likely content, provide

Sample Answer Key (Quick Reference)

False False False True Not Given set point hormones expenditure starvation B (Multiple Choice)