Terrorism- Are we addressing the cause? Reading Answers

Study Abroad Expert | Updated On - Apr 4, 2024

Terrorism- Are we addressing the cause? Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Terrorism- Are we addressing the cause? Reading Answers have a total of 12 IELTS questions in total. In the first 7 questions, you have to say whether the statement is correct ot not. In the next 5 questions, you have to choose an appropriate choice given in the question.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Terrorism- Are we addressing the cause? Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Text Below and Answer Questions

Terrorism- Are we addressing the cause?

Heinous acts of terrorism have become commonplace in today's world. While efforts are on to apprehend terrorists and fight the menace to society, the question arises, are we targeting the root cause? In western countries, it is common for people to associate certain religions with terrorism. But this argument is seen as a major distortion of the actual motives of the terrorists and their cells. Terrorist acts are horrifying and unpardonable. But we do need a change of perspective to understand the true motive behind them.

Whether we talk of the 9/11 act on the twin towers, the 26/11 attack on the city of

Mumbai, or the gruesome attacks in Paris, these acts of terrorism have shaken our world. All of the above attacks were conducted with precision and occurred in some of the world's purportedly safest places. Particularly after the terrorist attack in Paris, there was a torrent of compassion for the people of Paris.

We have to question; how much hatred can be harboured by these terrorists? What evil resides in their hearts that makes it possible for them to plot acts that take the lives of innocent men, women and children? And most importantly, what is it about a religion that they do not comprehend? These questions are not easy to answer or compartmentalize.

Reducing such multifaceted issues to clichés where it is a simple matter to label people as good or bad, the media and the politicians are prone to oversimplify a very serious subject. If we are to tackle the menace at the root level, a historical perspective and a genuine wish to get to the heart of the matter are essential.

To this end, there is a need to acknowledge that terrorist cells do not surface

spontaneously. They are a result of desperation and despair stemming from humiliations and injustices that are either real or perceived. That they are more often than not supplied with arms by forces that claim to be fighting them is the paradox. In the past, military interventions have succeeded in fuelling conflict in Middle Eastern countries. This, in turn, has shaped the mindset of thousands of angry youth who can very easily be manipulated by hard-line clerics and misleading propaganda on the net.

Chris Floyd, a columnist for US-based online magazine 'The Nation, wrote, We, the West, overthrew Saddam by violence. We overthrew Gaddafi by violence. We are trying to overthrow Assad by violence. Harsh regimes all-but far less draconian than our Saudi allies, and other tyrannies around the world...without the American crime of aggressive war against Iraq-which, by the measurements used by western governments themselves, left more than a million innocent people dead-there would be no ISIS, no Al Qaeda in Iraq.'

Tamara Pearson, also a writer in the 'The Nation, has asked a very pertinent question. 'Why did the Paris attack elicit so much worldwide sympathy from heads of state and ordinary folk when terrorist acts that have killed more people in places such as Beirut, Syria, Palestine, Nigeria, Somalia and Kenya did not?' A well-known scholar Louise Richardson puts forward a very compelling argument. She feels that fervour is not the actual cause of terrorism. This is because without a multitude

of individuals there to give direction to the fervour, very little can be achieved to incite

terror against the west. The economic depression of people in the Middle East about the wealth enjoyed by the west is a major cause.

People, who are aware of the relative income gap whether it is in the higher ranks of their society or comparison to the west, tend to look for a cause that is very conveniently provided by religious fanatics. Dissatisfied youth, thus become the force of terrorist groups. Not only do they feel like they are part of something big but also because they get much-needed finance with which to support their families.

Without addressing the causes, nothing much can be achieved in the war against

terrorism. It is a sad reflection on the society we live in that refugees from Syria who are a product of military intervention by the allies are no longer welcome in the very countries that fuelled the crisis that they are now facing.

Section 2

Solution and Explantion

Questions 29-35

Choose

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer of the passage, choose
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer, or choose
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

Some countries tend to generalise about anti-social activities and perpetrators.

Answer: YES
Supporting statement:“........In western countries, it is common for people to associate certain religions with terrorism. But this argument is seen as a major distortion of the actual motives of the terrorists and their cells. ............”
Keywords: motives, terrorists
Keyword Location: para 1, line 2
Explanation: The passage says that some countries tend to generalize about anti-social activities and perpetrators, particularly associating certain religions with terrorism.

Western countries have established an agreeable relation between religion and radicalism.

Answer: NO
Supporting statement:“.......But this argument is seen as a major distortion of the actual motives of the terrorists and their cells.............”
Keywords: motives, cells
Keyword Location: para 1, line 4
Explanation: The passage suggests the opposite. It argues against associating certain religions with terrorism, indicating that such an association is a distortion of the actual motives of terrorists and their cells.

State leaders and reporters choose to ignore the intensity of terrorist activities by merely categorising intentions as harmful.

Answer: YES
Supporting statement:“..........Reducing such multifaceted issues to clichés where it is a simple matter to label people as good or bad, the media and the politicians are prone to oversimplify a very ..........”
Keywords: prone, media
Keyword Location: para 4, line 2
Explanation: The passage criticizes oversimplification by the media and politicians regarding terrorism, which means that they tend to ignore the intensity of terrorist activities by categorizing intentions as harmful, rather than addressing the root causes.

It can be said that most terrorist activities are spontaneous reactions to injustice and hatred.

Answer: NO
Supporting statement:“.........To this end, there is a need to acknowledge that terrorist cells do not surface spontaneously. They are a result of desperation and despair stemming from ...........”
Keywords: result, despair
Keyword Location: para 5, line 1
Explanation: The passage suggests that terrorist cells do not surface spontaneously but are a result of desperation and despair stemming from real or perceived humiliations and injustices.

Technology, like the internet, has led people to change their mindset about handling conflicts successfully.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage does not directly address the influence of technology, like the internet, on changing people's mindset about handling conflicts successfully.

Economic differences are compared by the general population only within a country. VEN

Answer: NO
Supporting statement:“........People, who are aware of the relative income gap whether it is in the higher ranks of their society or comparison to the west, tend to look for a cause that is very ............”
Keywords: higher, west
Keyword Location: para 8, line 1
Explanation: The passage mentions economic disparities between the Middle East and the West, indicating that people compare economic differences not only within a country but also between different regions, such as the Middle East and the West.

Syrian refugees face a crisis because of political interference from their enemies.

Answer: NO
Supporting statement:“..........It is a sad reflection on the society we live in that refugees from Syria who are a product of military intervention by the allies are no longer welcome in the very countries that fuelled the crisis that they are now facing..........”
Keywords: refugees, fuelled
Keyword Location: para 9, line 3
Explanation: The passage mentions the crisis faced by Syrian refugees to military intervention by allies, suggesting that the crisis is fueled by external factors such as military actions rather than political interference from enemies.

Questions 36-40

Choose the correct answer.

Why does the author mention the attacks in the 2nd paragraph?

to describe the tense situation after such events
to point out that security measures are well planned and sufficient
to point out that security measures have successfully been caught unawares
to present a chronological order of such incidents

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“........Whether we talk of the 9/11 act on the twin towers, the 26/11 attack on the city of Mumbai, or the gruesome attacks in Paris, these acts of terrorism have shaken our ............”
Keywords: gruesome, terrorism
Keyword Location: para 2, line 2
Explanation: The author mentions the attacks in the second paragraph to present a chronological order of such incidents.

The author believes that

compassion is the only response to terror attack victims.
Some places are safer than others.
there is no single motive behind a terrorist plan.
terrorist activities can be compartmentalised.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:"Reducing such multifaceted issues to clichés where it is a simple matter to label people as good or bad..."
Keywords: simple, people
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1
Explanation: The author believes that there is no single motive behind a terrorist plan.

The root cause of terrorism cannot be handled

without considering it as a serious subject in the media.
without an honest intention and relooking into the past.
unless the media and politicians stop labelling perpetrators.
unless the presence of terrorist cells is acknowledged.

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“.........If we are to tackle the menace at the root level, a historical perspective and a genuine wish to get to the heart of the matter are essential............”
Keywords: perspective, heart
Keyword Location: para 4, line 6
Explanation: The root cause of terrorism cannot be handled without an honest intention and relooking into the past. This is evident from the passage, where the author argues that addressing the root cause requires a historical perspective and a genuine wish to understand the underlying issues.

Columnists and scholars have expressed

approval of the reactions from depressed groups.
endorsement of the moves made by the American leaders in other countries.
concern over public reactions to the Paris attack.
concern over guided misrepresentations in young minds by influential leaders.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“.......Tamara Pearson, also a writer in the 'The Nation, has asked a very pertinent question…....."
Keywords: pertinent, Nation
Keyword Location: para 7, line 1
Explanation: Columnists and scholars have expressed concern over public reactions to the Paris attack. This is given in the passage, where Tamara Pearson's question and Louise Richardson's argument are presented, both highlighting the disparity in reactions to different terrorist attacks.

The purpose of the passage is to

blame the misguided youth for terrorist activities.
criticise the media for sensationalizing particular incidents.
analyse factors behind terrorist activities objectively.
urge leaders to arrive at a solution for global peace.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“.........To this end, there is a need to acknowledge that terrorist cells do not surface spontaneously..........”
Keywords: end, terrorist
Keyword Location: para 5, line 1
Explanation: The purpose of the passage is to analyze factors behind terrorist activities objectively. Throughout the passage, the author discusses various aspects of terrorism, its root causes, and the need for a deeper understanding of the issue, rather than blaming specific groups or individuals.

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