The Development of Trial by Jury: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 14 questionsAcademicmedium
Haven't taken this test yet?
Looking at the answers first spoils the practice — you only get one honest first attempt at a passage. Take the test with the 20-minute timer, get an instant score and estimated band, then come back here to study every answer.
About this passage
The passage opens: “In many countries today, a person accused of a serious crime may be judged not by professional officials but by a group of ordinary citizens chosen from the community. This institution, known as trial by jury, is often regarded as a cornerstone of justice, a safeguard that places the fate of the accused in the hands…”
- Passage length: about 741 words
- Questions: 14
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“The Development of Trial by Jury” 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 Development of Trial by Jury answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
- 1
The modern jury system was created all at once by a single reform.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “…the jury as we know it was not designed all at once; it developed slowly over many centuries, and its role changed profoundly along the way.”
- 2
Trial by ordeal assumed that a higher power would protect the innocent.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “…an accused person might be made to undergo a painful or dangerous test... on the belief that a higher power would protect the innocent and reveal the guilty.”
- 3
The earliest jurors were chosen because they knew nothing about the case.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…the members of the jury were not neutral strangers hearing evidence for the first time, but local people who were expected to know something about the case or the parties involved.”
- 4
In a modern jury trial, the judge decides questions of law.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…the professional judge presides over the proceedings and rules on questions of law, but it is the jury that decides what actually happened.”
- 5
Juries reach their verdicts more quickly than professional judges do.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that juries reach verdicts more quickly than professional judges, but the passage neither confirms nor denies this, focusing instead on the jury's role and evolution in the justice system.
- 6
The use of juries is the same in every legal system.
Show answerHide answer
Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “…the use of juries varies considerably from one legal system to another, and in some places their role has been limited to only the most serious cases.”
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. as impartial strangers
- B. as more like witnesses than judges
- C. as trained legal officials
- D. as representatives of the state
- 7
How were the earliest jurors best described?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B — as more like witnesses than judges
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — as more like witnesses than judges.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “In effect, the earliest jurors were more like witnesses than judges, drawing on their own knowledge of local affairs to reach a decision.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. jurors came to be expected to know the facts personally
- B. jurors were expected to approach a case with an open mind, judging only on the evidence
- C. jurors were replaced by professional judges
- D. jurors were required to give reasons for their verdicts
- 8
How did the understanding of the jury's role change over time?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B — jurors were expected to approach a case with an open mind, judging only on the evidence
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — jurors were expected to approach a case with an open mind, judging only on the evidence.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “The jury came to be seen instead as a body that should approach a case with an open mind, forming its verdict solely on the basis of evidence presented in court.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. because it makes trials cheaper
- B. because ordinary citizens have legal training
- C. because it acts as a check on the power of the state and officials
- D. because it speeds up the legal process
- 9
Why do supporters value the involvement of ordinary citizens in trials?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: C — because it acts as a check on the power of the state and officials
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports C — because it acts as a check on the power of the state and officials.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “The involvement of ordinary citizens is seen as a check on the power of the state and of professional officials, making it harder for the authorities to secure a conviction against the conscience of the community.”
Question 10: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. that juries are too small
- B. that untrained citizens may struggle to understand complex evidence
- C. that judges refuse to work with juries
- D. that juries always agree with the state
- 10
What is one criticism of trial by jury mentioned in the passage?
Show answerHide answer
Answer: B — that untrained citizens may struggle to understand complex evidence
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — that untrained citizens may struggle to understand complex evidence.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “Some have questioned whether ordinary citizens, without legal training, are well equipped to understand complex evidence or complicated points of law.”
Questions 11–14: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- 11
What was the name of the older method in which an accused underwent a painful test?(max 3 words)
Show answerHide answer
Answer: trial by ordeal (also accepted: ordeal)
Why: The answer “trial by ordeal” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “In one such method, known as trial by ordeal, an accused person might be made to undergo a painful or dangerous test.”
- 12
The earliest jurors were summoned because they were familiar with what?(max 3 words)
Show answerHide answer
Answer: the neighbourhood (also accepted: the case / local affairs / the neighborhood)
Why: The answer “the neighbourhood” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “They were summoned precisely because they were familiar with the neighbourhood and could speak to what they knew.”
- 13
In a modern trial, on the basis of what must the jury form its verdict?(max 3 words)
Show answerHide answer
Answer: evidence (also accepted: the evidence / evidence presented in court)
Why: The answer “evidence” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…forming its verdict solely on the basis of evidence presented in court.”
- 14
Where does the jury typically discuss the case before delivering its verdict?(max 2 words)
Show answerHide answer
Answer: in private (also accepted: private)
Why: The answer “in private” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…then delivers its verdict, typically after discussing the case in private.”
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 “The Development of Trial by Jury” under exam conditions
Free, auto-marked, with the 20-minute timer and an instant band estimate.
Take this test first (timed)More IELTS Reading tests with answers
The Standardisation of Time Zones
medium
The Terracotta Army of the First Emperor
medium
The Trombe Wall: Heating Buildings with Sunlight
hard
The True Colours of the Ancient World
medium
The Volunteer Ranger Programme
medium
Using the Self-Service Laundry
easy