The Anthropology of Gift-Giving: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 13 questionsAcademicmedium
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About this passage
The passage opens: “Giving gifts might seem one of the simplest and most spontaneous of human acts, an expression of generosity requiring no explanation. Yet anthropologists who have studied gift-giving in societies around the world have argued that it is a far more complex and revealing practice than it first appears.”
- Passage length: about 725 words
- Questions: 13
- Question types: Yes / No / Not Given, Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“The Anthropology of Gift-Giving” 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
The Anthropology of Gift-Giving answers with explanations
Questions 1–5: Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the passage? Write YES, NO or NOT GIVEN.
- 1
Gift-giving is a more complex practice than it first appears.
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Answer: YES
Why: The writer's view here agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “…anthropologists who have studied gift-giving in societies around the world have argued that it is a far more complex and revealing practice than it first appears.”
- 2
Gifts, though seemingly freely given, in fact create obligations.
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Answer: YES
Why: The writer's view here agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “A key insight of anthropological research is that gifts, despite appearing to be freely given, in fact create obligations.”
- 3
Refusing a gift is generally regarded as a polite and acceptable act.
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Answer: NO
Why: The writer's view here contradicts the statement, so the answer is NO.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…there is the obligation to receive, for to refuse a gift may be taken as an insult or a rejection of the relationship it represents.”
- 4
The objects exchanged as gifts are always valued for their practical usefulness.
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Answer: NO
Why: The writer's view here contradicts the statement, so the answer is NO.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “In many gift economies, certain items circulate endlessly as gifts without ever being consumed or put to practical use, their significance lying entirely in their role within the exchange.”
- 5
Gift-giving is more important in rural societies than in urban ones.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that gift-giving is more important in rural societies than in urban ones, but the passage never confirms or denies this, as it only discusses gift-giving's complexity and social significance generally.
Closest related text · Paragraph 1 “Giving gifts might seem one of the simplest and most spontaneous of human acts, an expression of generosity requiring no explanation.”
Question 6: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. the giver becomes wealthier
- B. the relationship may be strained or even end
- C. the receiver gains higher status
- D. the gift loses its material value
- 6
What may happen if a gift is never reciprocated?
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Answer: B — the relationship may be strained or even end
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — the relationship may be strained or even end.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “A gift that is never reciprocated can strain or even end a relationship, because it leaves the receiver in a position of unrepaid debt.”
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. to buy, to sell and to profit
- B. to give, to receive and to reciprocate
- C. to save, to spend and to lend
- D. to make, to keep and to destroy
- 7
Which three obligations do scholars associate with gift exchange?
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Answer: B — to give, to receive and to reciprocate
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — to give, to receive and to reciprocate.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…the obligation to give... the obligation to receive... the obligation to reciprocate, to return a gift of appropriate value in due course.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. by keeping their possessions to themselves
- B. by giving lavishly and parting with a great deal
- C. by refusing all gifts offered to them
- D. by selling gifts for money
- 8
In some societies, how could a person gain honour through gift-giving?
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Answer: B — by giving lavishly and parting with a great deal
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — by giving lavishly and parting with a great deal.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…a person who gives lavishly may gain honour precisely because of what they part with.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. it is completed immediately and impersonally
- B. it involves money rather than objects
- C. it is personal and aims to create a lasting bond rather than settle accounts
- D. it requires no relationship between the parties
- 9
How does gift exchange differ from a commercial transaction?
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Answer: C — it is personal and aims to create a lasting bond rather than settle accounts
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — it is personal and aims to create a lasting bond rather than settle accounts.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “It is personal rather than impersonal, it is not concluded immediately but extends over time, and its very purpose is to create and maintain a lasting bond rather than to settle accounts and move on.”
Questions 10–13: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- 10
The apparently one-way act of giving is really part of a continuing cycle of what?(max 2 words)
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Answer: exchange
Why: The answer “exchange” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “…the apparently one-way act of giving is really part of a continuing cycle of exchange that binds giver and receiver together over time.”
- 11
Through generous giving, a person in some societies could gain influence and what else?(max 2 words)
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Answer: respect (also accepted: prestige / status)
Why: The answer “respect” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “In some societies, generous giving is a route to influence and respect.”
- 12
In a commercial transaction, goods are exchanged for what?(max 2 words)
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Answer: money
Why: The answer “money” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “In a commercial transaction, goods are exchanged for money, the deal is completed on the spot.”
- 13
Gift-giving is described as a powerful mechanism for creating trust, obligation and what?(max 2 words)
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Answer: solidarity
Why: The answer “solidarity” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 8 “…beneath the apparent simplicity of generosity lies a powerful mechanism for creating trust, obligation and solidarity between people.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 13 / 13 | 9.0 |
| 12 / 13 | 8.5 |
| 11 / 13 | 7.5 |
| 10 / 13 | 7.0 |
| 9 / 13 | 6.5 |
| 8 / 13 | 6.0 |
| 7 / 13 | 5.5 |
| 5–6 / 13 | 5.0 |
| 4 / 13 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 13 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 13 | 3.0 |
| 1 / 13 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 13 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
Yes / No / Not Given
- Identify the claim in the statement and, crucially, whose opinion it represents — these passages often quote several people, so track who is speaking.
- Scan the passage for opinion signals: verbs like "argues", "believes", "suggests", "claims", and phrases such as "in the author’s view".
Common trap: Treating a reported opinion (someone else’s view mentioned by the writer) as the writer’s own conclusion.
Full Yes / No / 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 “The Anthropology of Gift-Giving” under exam conditions
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