The IELTS reading passage titled " The World's Expanding Waistline
🚀 Final Tips for Your IELTS Reading Exam
- Skim first: Read the title and the first sentence of each paragraph to get the gist before diving into the questions.
- Spot Synonyms: The IELTS test never uses the exact same words in the text and the question. If the question says "wealth," look for "rich," "affluence," or "economic success" in the text.
- Don't Panic: If you can't find an answer, move on to the next one and come back later. "The World's Expanding Waistline" is a dense text; time management is key.
IELTS Reading Answers
The world's population is getting bigger and heavier. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who are overweight or obese has increased dramatically over the past few decades. In 1980, about 15% of adults worldwide were overweight, while by 2014, this number had increased to over 30%.
- The Statement: Being overweight is now recognized as the world's number one health problem.
- The Text: While the text says obesity is a massive problem, it usually contrasts it with hunger or malnutrition, or states that it is becoming the number one problem. If the text says it is "set to overtake" other issues, saying it is currently number one is FALSE. (Check your specific text version for the phrase "poor diet is now thought to kill more people than smoking"—if the statement claims it has already happened, but the text says it will happen, it is False).
The expanding waistline is not limited to high-income countries. Low- and middle-income countries are also experiencing a significant increase in obesity rates. This is particularly concerning, as these countries often lack the resources and infrastructure to effectively address the issue.
Step 6 – Why You Shouldn’t Just Memorise Answers
IELTS reuses passage topics but changes questions. Instead: