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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 486
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 486 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 486
READING PASSAGE – 2
The terror of terrorism
A. Terrorism has become one of the most important news items these days. Newspapers, Magazines, Weblogs, everywhere there is a spurt of articles related to terrorism. Though a lot is being written and discussed about this topic, I feel that most of discussions lack truth and clarity. In most of the countries, the big media houses continue to carry out their government’s vision of terrorism, whereas most of the discussions on other small forums are driven by opinions rather than facts. Arguments are made based on emotions and affiliations, rather than on rationality.
The human society has been constantly evolving. We have come a long way from the Stone Age (when man was a predator) to the diplomatic world of today (where violence is a crime). Human beings have assumed different roles through these different ages; predators, agrarians, barbarians. In today’s society, use of any kind of violence against fellow human beings (very few people have same compassion for the non-human lives) is socially and politically unacceptable. Despite a strong social disapproval, violence and wars still occur in different part of the world, for different motives. It is important to understand how these kinds of violence and wars are different from terrorism.
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B. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. At present, there is no internationally acceptable definition of terrorism. The common definitions of terrorism refer only to those acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants.
The only general characteristic of terrorism generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence. However, the criterion of violence alone does not produce a useful definition, as it includes many acts not usually considered terrorism: war, riot, organised crime, or even a simple assault.
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The attack was carried out in such a way as to maximise the severity and length of the psychological impact. Each act of terrorism is a “performance” devised to have an impact on many large audiences. Terrorists also attack national symbols, to show power and to attempt to shake the foundation of the country or society they are opposed to. This may negatively affect the ruling government, while increasing the prestige of the given terrorist organisation and/or ideology behind a terrorist act.
C. Something many terrorist attacks have in common is a political purpose. Terrorism is a political tactic, like letter-writing or protesting, which is used by activists when they believe that no other means will effect the kind of change they desire. The change is desired so badly that failure to achieve change is seen as a worse outcome than the deaths of civilians.
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It is commonly held that the distinctive nature of terrorism lies in its intentional and specific selection of civilians as direct targets. Specifically, the criminal intent is shown when babies, children, mothers and the elderly are murdered, or injured and put in harm’s way.
Terrorists almost invariably pretend to be non-combatants, hide among such non-combatants, fight from vantage points in the midst of non-combatants, and (when they can), strive to mislead and provoke the government soldiers into attacking other people, so that the government will be blamed. When an enemy is identifiable as a combatant, the word “terrorism” is rarely used.
Some official (notably government) definitions of terrorism add a criterion of illegitimacy or unlawfulness to distinguish between actions authorised by a government (and thus “lawful”) and those of other actors, including individuals and small groups. Using this criterion, actions that would otherwise qualify as terrorism would not be considered terrorism if they were government sanctioned.
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For example, firebombing a city, which is designed to affect civilian support for a cause, would not be considered terrorism if it were authorised by a government. This criterion is inherently problematic and is not universally accepted, because it denies the existence of state terrorism. The same act may or may not be classed as terrorism depending on whether its sponsorship is traced to a “legitimate” government. “Legitimacy” and “lawfulness” are subjective, depending on the perspective of one government or another; and it diverges from the historically accepted meaning and origin of the term.
Questions 14-16
Reading passage 2 has three marked sections, A-C.
Choose the correct heading for each section A-C.
Write the correct number, i-vi.
14. Section A
15. Section B
16. Section C
i. Government approved terrorism
ii. Characteristics of terrorism
iii. Attitude towards terrorism over ages
iv. What is terrorism?
v. Tendency to target civilians
vi. National symbols-the primary target
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Questions 17-21
Which of the following are mentioned as the characteristics of terrorism in reading passage 2?
Write the correct letters, A-H.
A. Is government sanctioned
B. Violence or threat of violence is involved
C. Religious extremism is always involved
D. Terrorists always prefer to stay away from common people
E. Terrorists tend to avoid nationally important things and places
F. Intentionally tries to create long-term fear in the minds of people
G. Intentionally aims common citizens
H. Is always motivated by an ideology
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Questions 22-26
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 22-26 of your answer sheet, write
YES – if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO – if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
22. Most discussions on terrorism are dishonest.
23. Terrorism is defined in different ways in different places.
24. Terrorists do not intend to make long-term impact in the minds of target audience.
25. In most cases, terrorism is used as a last resort.
26. Terrorists encourage non-combatants to attack government soldiers.
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ANSWERS
14. III
15. IV
16. II
17. B/F/H/G/A
18. B/F/H/G/A
19. B/F/H/G/A
20. B/F/H/G/A
21. B/F/H/G/A
22. YES
23. YES
24. NO
25. YES
26. NOT GIVEN
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