How Computers Store Information in Binary: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 14 questionsAcademicmedium
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About this passage
The passage opens: “To a person, a computer seems able to handle an astonishing variety of things: words, photographs, music, films and much more. Yet beneath this rich surface, every one of these different kinds of information is stored in exactly the same way.”
- Passage length: about 823 words
- Questions: 14
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“How Computers Store Information in Binary” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
How Computers Store Information in Binary answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information.
- 1
Different kinds of information are stored inside a computer in the same basic way.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “…every one of these different kinds of information is stored in exactly the same way.”
- 2
Computers use two symbols because it is easier to build switches with two clear states.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “It is far easier and far more reliable to build a device that can tell the difference between just two clear states than one that must distinguish between many.”
- 3
A byte is made up of four bits.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…a group of eight bits is known as a byte.”
- 4
In the binary system each position is worth ten times the one to its right.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…each position is worth twice the one to its right rather than ten times.”
- 5
The colour of each pixel is recorded as amounts of red, green and blue.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “…its colour is recorded as a set of numbers describing how much red, green and blue it contains.”
- 6
Storing music requires more bits than storing photographs.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that storing music requires more bits than storing photographs, but the passage never confirms or denies this, as it only explains how different types of information are stored using bits and bytes.
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. A group of eight switches
- B. A single binary digit
- C. A grid of pixels
- D. A code for a letter
- 7
What is a bit?
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Answer: B — A single binary digit
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — A single binary digit.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “A single one of these binary digits is called a bit, a name formed by shortening the phrase binary digit.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. From using more than two symbols
- B. From combining bits into groups
- C. From avoiding numbers altogether
- D. From storing each letter as a picture
- 8
According to the passage, where does the power of the binary system come from?
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Answer: B — From combining bits into groups
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — From combining bits into groups.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “The power of the system comes from combining bits into groups.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. As tiny pictures of each letter
- B. Each is assigned a number that is stored in binary
- C. As sound waves
- D. As switches that are always on
- 9
How are letters and characters stored in a computer?
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Answer: B — Each is assigned a number that is stored in binary
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — Each is assigned a number that is stored in binary.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…each letter, digit and punctuation mark is assigned a number of its own, and it is that number, in binary, which is actually stored.”
Question 10: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. By dividing it into pixels
- B. By assigning it a single byte
- C. By measuring the sound wave many times a second and recording each measurement as a number
- D. By translating it into letters
- 10
How is sound stored, according to the passage?
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Answer: C — By measuring the sound wave many times a second and recording each measurement as a number
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — By measuring the sound wave many times a second and recording each measurement as a number.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “…the smoothly changing pressure of a sound wave is measured many thousands of times a second, and each measurement is written down as a binary number.”
Questions 11–14: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- 11
What is the system of representing information using only two values called?(max 3 words)
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Answer: the binary system (also accepted: binary system / binary)
Why: The answer “the binary system” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “This method of representing information using only two possible values is called the binary system”
- 12
What are the tiny electronic components that a computer is built from?(max 3 words)
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Answer: switches (also accepted: electronic switches)
Why: The answer “switches” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “A computer is built from vast numbers of tiny electronic switches.”
- 13
What is a group of eight bits known as?(max 2 words)
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Answer: a byte (also accepted: byte)
Why: The answer “a byte” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…a group of eight bits is known as a byte.”
- 14
What are the tiny squares that an image is divided into called?(max 2 words)
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Answer: pixels (also accepted: pixel)
Why: The answer “pixels” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “…dividing an image into a grid of tiny squares called pixels.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 14 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (Academic) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 14 / 14 | 9.0 |
| 13 / 14 | 8.5 |
| 12 / 14 | 7.5 |
| 11 / 14 | 7.0 |
| 10 / 14 | 6.5 |
| 8–9 / 14 | 6.0 |
| 7 / 14 | 5.5 |
| 6 / 14 | 5.0 |
| 5 / 14 | 4.5 |
| 4 / 14 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 14 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 14 | 3.0 |
| 1 / 14 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 14 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
True / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyMultiple Choice
- Read the question stem carefully before the options so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Because multiple-choice questions follow passage order, locate the relevant section and read it in full — the answer usually depends on more than one sentence.
Common trap: Distractors that use exact words from the passage but distort the meaning.
Full Multiple Choice strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “How Computers Store Information in Binary” under exam conditions
Free, auto-marked, with the 20-minute timer and an instant band estimate.
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