Backbiting and Gossiping: The Social Mix Reading Answers

Backbiting and Gossiping: The Social Mix Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Backbiting and Gossiping: The Social Mix Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the given question set, match the headings below with the correct paragraphs A—G. In the next question set, write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

BACKBITING AND GOSSIPING: THE SOCIAL MIX

A.Backbiting and gossiping are closely related social behaviors that involve talking about others without their presence, often sharing negative or private information. While both are generally viewed as harmful, they perform complicated roles in human society. Psychologists and sociologists have studied how gossip and backbiting affect group dynamics, individual relationships, and social hierarchies. Despite their bad reputation, these behaviors can sometimes serve important social functions.

B.Throughout history, gossip and backbiting have appeared in literature, folklore, and even law codes. Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle recognized that gossip could both bond people and cause conflict. Many traditional cultures regulated these behaviors through social norms, taboos, or even punishments. The persistence of gossip and backbiting suggests that they fulfill deep-rooted human needs beyond mere cruelty or malice.

C.Psychologically, sharing gossip or backbiting can foster social bonding. When people exchange information —especially negative—about others, they often feel closer and build trust with their audience. This shared secret helps create group identity and strengthens interpersonal ties. However, the target of gossip or backbiting often faces damaged reputation and reduced trust, which can lead to social exclusion.

D.Both gossip and backbiting can act as tools of social control. Criticizing others behind their backs reinforces group norms and expectations by spotlighting those who do not conform. Such informal regulation can help maintain social harmony but may also lead to bullying and exclusion, particularly when the criticism is unfounded or excessive.

E.Some researchers argue that gossip and backbiting have evolutionary origins. Early humans may have used these behaviors to exchange important information about potential dangers or untrustworthy individuals, helping groups survive. Although modern gossip often focuses on trivial matters, it may be a remnant of this ancient adaptive strategy.

F.Despite any social functions, gossip and backbiting can cause emotional harm. Victims often suffer from anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and isolation. In workplaces, these behaviors can lead to conflict, low morale, and reduced productivity. Organizations increasingly implement policies aimed at fostering open communication and reducing harmful gossip.

G.To combat the negative effects of gossip and backbiting, many communities promote empathy and honest dialogue. Educational programs teach people to voice concerns directly rather than spread rumors. Some cultures also practice restorative justice, allowing those harmed to confront offenders and rebuild trust. These efforts emphasize transforming destructive social behaviors into positive communication.

Questions 14-20

Match the headings below with the correct paragraphs A—G.

14. The psychological benefits of gossip and backbiting

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Psychologically, sharing gossip or backbiting can foster social bonding. When people exchange information —especially negative—about others, they often feel closer and build trust with their audience.

Keywords: psychologically, social bonding, build trust

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The paragraph begins with the word "Psychologically" and explains how sharing gossip can lead to social bonding and trust, which are psychological benefits.

15. Historical regulation and social norms related to gossip

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Throughout history, gossip and backbiting have appeared in literature, folklore, and even law codes. Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle recognized that gossip could both bond people and cause conflict. Many traditional cultures regulated these behaviors through social norms, taboos, or even punishments.

Keywords: history, ancient, traditional cultures

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The paragraph explicitly discusses the historical context of gossip, mentioning ancient philosophers, traditional cultures, and the regulation of these behaviors through social norms and punishments.

16. Negative consequences of gossip and backbiting in workplaces

Answer: F

Supporting statement: In workplaces, these behaviors can lead to conflict, low morale, and reduced productivity. Organizations increasingly implement policies aimed at fostering open communication and reducing harmful gossip.

Keywords: workplaces, conflict, low morale, reduced productivity

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Paragraph F specifically addresses the negative effects of gossip and backbiting in a work environment, mentioning conflict, low morale, and reduced productivity.

17. Gossip and backbiting as mechanisms for enforcing social rules

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Both gossip and backbiting can act as tools of social control. Criticizing others behind their backs reinforces group norms and expectations by spotlighting those who do not conform.

Keywords: social control, reinforces group norms

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text makes it quite evident that backbiting and gossip serve as social control mechanisms and uphold group norms and expectations.

18. The ancient evolutionary purpose of gossip and backbiting

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Some researchers argue that gossip and backbiting have evolutionary origins. Early humans may have used these behaviors to exchange important information about potential dangers or untrustworthy individuals, helping groups survive.

Keywords: evolutionary origins, early humans, survive

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-3

Explanation: This paragraph connects gossip to evolutionary origins and explains its potential purpose for early humans, such as identifying danger, which is its ancient evolutionary purpose.

19. Methods used by communities to reduce harmful gossip

Answer: G

Supporting statement: To combat the negative effects of gossip and backbiting, many communities promote empathy and honest dialogue. Educational programs teach people to voice concerns directly rather than spread rumors.

Keywords: combat, communities, educational programs, honest dialogue

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The paragraph describes various methods, such as promoting empathy and honest dialogue and using educational programs, that communities use to combat the negative effects of gossip.

20. Overview of gossip and backbiting's roles in society

Answer: A

Supporting statement: Backbiting and gossiping are closely related social behaviors that involve talking about others without their presence…… While both are generally viewed as harmful, they perform complicated roles in human society…….. individual relationships, and social hierarchies.

Keywords: social behaviors, roles in human society, group dynamics

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 1-4

Explanation: The first paragraph gives a broad overview of the topic by describing the habits and detailing the many complex roles backbiting and gossiping play in society.

Questions 21-26

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.

21. Gossip and backbiting involve sharing___________or private information.

Answer: NEGATIVE

Supporting statement: Backbiting and gossiping are closely related social behaviors that involve talking about others without their presence, often sharing negative or private information.

Keywords: sharing, negative, private

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 2

Explanation: The passage states that gossip and backbiting involve sharing negative or private information.

22. Aristotle noted gossip could both _____________people and cause conflict.

Answer: BOND

Supporting statement: Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle recognized that gossip could both bond people and cause conflict.

Keywords: Aristotle, bond

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 2

Explanation: According to the passage, Aristotle recognized that gossip has the power to both unite and drive people apart.

23. Sharing secrets helps create a sense of____________ identity.

Answer: GROUP

Supporting statement: This shared secret helps create group identity and strengthens interpersonal ties.

Keywords: shared secret, group identity

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 3

Explanation: The passage says that sharing secrets helps create group identity.

24. Victims of gossip may suffer from anxiety and lowered____________

Answer: SELF-ESTEEM

Supporting statement: Victims often suffer from anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and isolation.

Keywords: victims, anxiety, decreased self-esteem

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage lists decreased self-esteem as one of the things victims of gossip suffer from.

25. Workplaces implement _______________to encourage open communication.

Answer: POLICIES

Supporting statement: Organizations increasingly implement policies aimed at fostering open communication and reducing harmful gossip.

Keywords: organizations, implement, policies

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that organizations increasingly implement policies to address harmful gossip and foster open communication.

26. Restorative______________ enables rebuilding trust after gossip causes harm.

Answer: JUSTICE

Supporting statement: Some cultures also practice restorative justice, allowing those harmed to confront offenders and rebuild trust.

Keywords: restorative justice, rebuild trust

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage mentions that restorative justice is practised to allow people to rebuild trust after being harmed.

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