Free Play Reading Answers

Feb 12, 2026

Free Play Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Free Play Reading Answers has a total of 14 IELTS questions, such as

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? Write true, false, or not given
Complete each of the following statements with the best ending from the box below.
Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

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.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

FREE PLAY

The intense activity that children display during free play is recognised by psychologists as an essential learning process that facilitates the development of the highly complex skills necessary for adult life. When given free time, children invest a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and concentration into exploring their world, and as they do so, they gain experience, knowledge and skills relevant to their own lives. This type of learning is self-directed and meaningful and therefore retained in the long-term memory. Essentially, for the child, learning is play, and this has been the case throughout human history. However, according to experts, this vital part of childhood is being eroded by modern society with potentially devastating consequences. Although the importance of play is widely recognised for pre-school children, there is a general assumption that once a child is 'of school age'. the best way for them to learn is in school, in the same age groups. But while the concept that school education results in children 'learning' is widely believed amongst educators and parents, many experts claim that adult-directed learning of this type is detrimental to child development. In his book Free to Learn, Developmental Psychologist Peter Gray explains that the need for children to play extends far beyond the pre-school age, but that once they begin school and are exposed to predominantly adult-directed activities, their innate curiosity is essentially switched off.

Children are genetically hard-wired to play, and as a result, they learn all they need to know through real experiences which have meaning to their lives. The learning they derive from this is intrinsic (coming from within), so it is highly motivating and engaging. However, once a child goes to school, a distinction is made between learning and play. Generally, teaming is said to occur during periods when the children, usually while sitting down, complete teacher-directed lessons according to a set curriculum, while play is an activity allowed only during a designated play time. In school, the majority of lessons are theoretical because the children only read or hear about the world beyond the classroom — they don't experience it. They are rarely given time to question or discuss a subject in detail, as doing so might affect the teacher's ability to complete the lesson in the allotted time. The purpose of school becomes the memorisation of facts or the production of work to please adults. Creativity is stifled, and the child's thirst for learning wanes, making rewards and coercion necessary as a means of motivation. Such adult-directed, performance-related activities erode the child's sense of self-esteem and individuality. The fact that children have few opportunities to play with older or younger children is a particular concern. Research shows that children learn best when they work collaboratively in mixed-age groups. This is because essential skills such as explaining concepts, negotiating rules, thinking critically, solving problems, and assessing risks are developed. Older children hone vital empathy and care skills, looking after the younger ones while the younger ones benefit from the support, encouragement, and behaviour-modelling of the older children, increasing emotional literacy for all. The concern is that if today's children miss out on mixed-age free play, society will create adults who are lacking in many social and communicative skills.

Unfortunately, most children are not free once the school bell goes because they attend after-school clubs and activities. Performance testing in schools and increasing competition for university places and jobs have led to a sense that children need to be prepared for the competitive stresses of adulthood from an early age. Play is seen by many parents as a waste of valuable learning time, and the more time spent on résumé-building, the better. While on paper, out-of-school activities may give the illusion of a well-rounded childhood, they bring none of the benefits of free play because, like school, they are adult-directed. When children do have free time, they are mostly restricted to their own homes due to parents' safety concerns. Although the media frequently highlights concerns about the amount of screen time that many children and young people have in our modern society, Gray points out that may not necessarily be detrimental because the virtual world is one place where they can play freely without adult intervention and direction. In his opinion. 'Nothing that we do, no amount of toys we buy or quality time or special training we give our children, can compensate for the freedom we take away. The things that children learn through their own initiatives, in free play, cannot be taught in other ways.' While society has changed, children remain children, and therefore, as a society, we need to value childhood and ensure that they are given greater opportunities for free play in all settings, whether at school, in the community or at home.

Questions 27- 30

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this

27. Schools enhance creativity and motivation.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: Creativity is stifled, and the child's thirst for learning wanes, making rewards and coercion necessary as a means of motivation

Keywords: creativity, stifled, motivation, wanes

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 11-12

Explanation: The text states that in a school setting, creativity is "stifled" (suppressed) and motivation "wanes" (decreases), which directly contradicts the idea that schools "enhance" these qualities.

28. Children need mixed-age free play in order to develop their social skills.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: The concern is that if today's children miss out on mixed-age free play, society will create adults who are lacking in many social and communicative skills.

Keywords: mixed-age, social, communicative skills

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 21

Explanation: The passage emphasises that mixed-age play develops essential social skills like negotiation, empathy, and critical thinking. It warns that without this type of play, children will lack these skills as adults.

29. Studies show that children are displaying similar levels of stress to adults.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: While the text mentions that children are being prepared for the "stresses of adulthood," it does not provide any data or study results comparing the actual levels of stress currently felt by children versus adults.

30. According to expert opinion, screen time may have benefits for children.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: Gray points out that may not necessarily be detrimental because the virtual world is one place where they can play freely without adult intervention and direction. In his opinion.

Keywords: Gray, screen time, not necessarily detrimental, freely

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 10-11

Explanation: The expert mentioned, Peter Gray, suggests that the virtual world provides a rare space for "free play" without adult control, implying a potential benefit rather than a purely negative impact.

Questions 31 - 35

Complete each of the following statements with the best ending from the box below.

A. This might affect the teacher's schedule

B. Performance-related activities erode the child's self-esteem

C. exploring their world

D. Children can engage in free play in a variety of settings

E. learning is self-directed and meaningful

F. a waste of valuable learning time

G. widely believed amongst educators and parents

H. They have few opportunities to play with older or younger children

31. Children put a lot of energy, enthusiasm and concentration into

Answer: C

Supporting statement: When given free time, children invest a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and concentration into exploring their world

Keywords: energy, enthusiasm, concentration

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 4

Explanation: The text directly links these three qualities to the act of children exploring the world around them during free time.

32. The concept that school education results in effective learning is

Answer: G

Supporting statement: But while the concept that school education results in children 'learning' is widely believed amongst educators and parents, many experts claim that adult-directed learning of this type is detrimental to child development.

Keywords: school education, widely believed, educators and parents

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 11-13

Explanation: The passage contrasts the popular belief held by parents and educators with the differing opinions of developmental experts.

33. Children rarely have the opportunity to discuss a subject in detail because

Answer: A

Supporting statement: They are rarely given time to question or discuss a subject in detail, as doing so might affect the teacher's ability to complete the lesson in the allotted time.

Keywords: discuss, detail, teacher's ability, allotted time

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The "allotted time" refers to the teacher's schedule; the text explains that deep discussion is sacrificed to ensure the lesson is finished on time.

34. Many parents regard play as

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Play is seen by many parents as a waste of valuable learning time, and the more time spent on résumé-building.

Keywords: parents, waste, learning time

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text describes a shift in parental perspective where free play is viewed as unproductive compared to structured, "résumé-building" activities.

35. As a society, we need to ensure that

Answer: D

Supporting statement: as a society, we need to value childhood and ensure that they are given greater opportunities for free play in all settings, whether at school, in the community or at home.

Keywords: society, ensure, all settings

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 16-17

Explanation: The conclusion of the passage calls for the protection of free play across multiple environments (school, community, and home).

Questions 36 - 40

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Free play develops the highly complex skills required in adulthood. During free play, children explore their world and gain knowledge and skills relevant to their own lives. According to experts, adult-directed learning has a negative effect on 36…………

Answer: CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Supporting statement: many experts claim that adult-directed learning of this type is detrimental to child development.

Keywords: experts, adult-directed, detrimental

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 12-13

Explanation: The text uses the word "detrimental," which is a synonym for having a "negative effect."

Schools make a distinction between 37…………..lessons are mainly theoretical, as the children do not experience a subject beyond the classroom.

Answer: LEARNING AND PLAY

Supporting statement: However, once a child goes to school, a distinction is made between learning and play.

Keywords: distinction, school

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 4

Explanation: The passage explains that schools separate "learning" (curriculum-based) from "play" (designated break times).

However, children learn best through free play in mixed-age groups because they hone essential skills such as critical thinking, 38…………and risk assessment. A lack of mixed-age free play could create adults with poor social and communicative Skills.

Answer: SOLVING PROBLEMS

Supporting statement: This is because essential skills such as explaining concepts, negotiating rules, thinking critically, solving problems, and assessing risks are developed.

Keywords: essential skills, thinking critically, assessing risks

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 16-17

Explanation: "Solving problems" is listed alongside critical thinking and risk assessment as key benefits of mixed-age play.

Most children now spend their free time at home due to parents' 39…………… But the virtual world is one place where they can play freely without adult direction.

Answer: SAFETY CONCERNS

Supporting statement: When children do have free time, they are mostly restricted to their own homes due to parents' safety concerns.

Keywords: free time, restricted, homes

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 8

Explanation: The text explicitly identifies "safety concerns" as the reason children are kept indoors/at home.

As a society, we should 40………..and enhance opportunities for free play.

Answer: VALUE CHILDHOOD

Supporting statement: While society has changed, children remain children, and therefore, as a society, we need to value childhood and ensure that they are given greater opportunities for free play

Keywords: society, ensure, opportunities

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 15-16

Explanation: The passage concludes with a call to action for society to "value childhood" as a means to protect the right to play.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples