The Disappearing Art of Letter Writing Reading Answers

Aug 2, 2025

The Disappearing Art of Letter Writing Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Disappearing Art of Letter Writing Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set, you have to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (i-viii). In the next question, choose the correct letter. In the last question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text

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

THE DISAPPEARING ART OF LETTER WRITING

A.For centuries, letter writing was an essential method of communication, not only between loved ones separated by distance but also between scholars, leaders, and even entire nations. Carefully composed with pen and paper, letters offered a glimpse into the thoughts, emotions, and values of individuals, preserving both personal and historical narratives. However, in the digital era, the art of writing letters is in sharp decline, replaced by rapid and concise digital communication forms.

B.The rise of email, instant messaging, and social media has transformed how people interact. Convenience and speed are the main drivers—why wait for days or weeks for a letter when a message can be sent instantly? These digital tools have undoubtedly made global communication easier and more frequent, but they have also affected the depth and deliberation once found in personal correspondence.

C.Handwritten letters required effort: choosing the right words, composing paragraphs, and often rewriting to avoid errors. This process encouraged reflection and emotional honesty. Today's fast-paced messaging habits, in contrast, rely heavily on abbreviations, emojis, and sometimes incomplete thoughts. As a result, digital messages often lack the richness and intimacy that letters once carried.

D.Despite the benefits of digital communication, many historians, psychologists, and even relationship experts argue that something valuable has been lost. Letters were tangible, unique artifacts—complete with handwriting, ink smudges, and personal touches. They were often kept, reread, and treasured for years. Psychologists note that writing and receiving letters can deepen emotional bonds and enhance memory, as the process of handwriting activates cognitive and emotional regions of the brain.

E.In some ways, the decline of letter writing has impacted not just personal relationships but also historical documentation. Historians have long relied on personal letters to understand major events and the thoughts of people during those times. Without physical records, future generations may struggle to gain insight into our current era. Emails and messages, unless archived, can be easily deleted or lost in vast digital storage.

F.Nevertheless, there are signs of a small resurgence. Letter-writing clubs and “slow communication” movements have emerged in recent years, encouraging people to take time and write by hand again. Some schools are also reintroducing letter writing as a classroom activity to develop patience, expression, and empathy in students. While unlikely to replace digital methods, these efforts may help preserve the personal and cultural value of the handwritten letter.

Questions 28-33

Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number (i-viii)

LIST OF HEADINGS

i. Efforts to revive traditional letter writing

ii. Digital messages are more expressive than letters

iii. A deeper cognitive connection through handwriting

iv. How modern life discourages detailed writing

v. Letter writing and its historical significance

vi. A comparison of digital and traditional communication

vii. Letters as historical evidence

viii. The emotional richness of handwritten communication

28. Paragraph A

Answer: V

Supporting statement: “For centuries, letter writing was an essential method of communication,...............letters offered a glimpse into the thoughts, emotions, and values of individuals, preserving both personal and historical narratives.”

Keywords: centuries, communication, scholars, leaders, nations

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph A begins by emphasising the long history of letter writing (For centuries) and its importance as a communication method for various groups, highlighting how it preserved personal and historical narratives. This directly relates to its historical significance.

29. Paragraph B

Answer: IV

Supporting statement: “The rise of email, instant messaging, and social media has transformed how people interact. ………… These digital tools have undoubtedly made global communication easier and more frequent, but they have also affected the depth and deliberation once found in personal correspondence.”

Keywords: Convenience and speed, instant, depth and deliberation

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-4

Explanation: Paragraph B explains how modern digital communication tools, driven by convenience and speed, have replaced the more “deliberate” nature of letters, thereby discouraging the detailed writing that traditional letters required.

30. Paragraph C

Answer: VI

Supporting statement: “Handwritten letters required effort: choosing the right words, composing paragraphs, and often rewriting to avoid errors……… Today's fast-paced messaging habits, in contrast, rely heavily on abbreviations, emojis......... As a result, digital messages often lack the richness and intimacy that letters once carried.”

Keywords: Handwritten letters, lack the richness and intimacy

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-5

Explanation: Paragraph C directly contrasts the effort and reflection involved in handwritten letters with the abbreviations and incomplete thoughts common in “Today's fast-paced messaging habits,” highlighting the differences between the two forms of communication.

31. Paragraph D

Answer: III

Supporting statement: “Psychologists note that writing and receiving letters can deepen emotional bonds and enhance memory, as the process of handwriting activates cognitive and emotional regions of the brain.”

Keywords: Psychologists, emotional bonds, enhance memory, cognitive and emotional

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 4-6

Explanation: Paragraph D discusses the psychological benefits of handwriting, specifically mentioning how it activates cognitive and emotional regions of the brain, leading to deeper emotional bonds and enhanced memory. This directly aligns with the idea of a deeper cognitive connection.

32. Paragraph E

Answer: VIII

Supporting statement: “ Historians have long relied on personal letters to understand major events and the thoughts of people during those times. Without physical records, future generations may struggle to gain insight into our current era.”

Keywords: Historians, physical records, current era

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 2-4

Explanation: Paragraph E primarily focuses on how the decline of letter writing affects historical documentation and how Historians have long relied on personal letters to understand major events, emphasising their role as historical evidence.

33. Paragraph F

Answer: I

Supporting statement: “Nevertheless, there are signs of a small resurgence. Letter-writing clubs………Some schools are also reintroducing letter writing as a classroom activity to develop patience, expression, and empathy in students.”

Keywords: small resurgence, Letter-writing clubs, reintroducing letter

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-3

Explanation: Paragraph F details various initiatives like “Letter-writing clubs” and schools, reintroducing letter writing, to encourage and bring back the practice, which are all efforts to revive traditional letter writing.

Question 34

Choose the correct letter.

34. A suitable title for the whole passage would be:

A. The Psychological Benefits of Writing

B. How the Internet Improved Human Relationships

C. The Lost Tradition of Letter Writing

D. History Through the Lens of Emails

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “However, in the digital era, the art of writing letters is in sharp decline, replaced by rapid and concise digital communication forms.”

Keywords: art of writing letters, sharp decline, replaced by digital communication

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 5

Explanation: The passage's main point is the decline of letter writing and its implications, making “The Lost Tradition of Letter Writing” the best title.

Questions 35-40

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

35. Emails are often more emotionally honest than letters.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “As a result, digital messages often lack the richness and intimacy that letters once carried.”

Keywords: digital messages, lack, richness and intimacy

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage states that handwritten letters encouraged reflection and emotional honesty, while digital messages (like emails) lack the richness and intimacy. This directly contradicts the idea that emails are more emotionally honest.

36. Some psychologists believe letters can create stronger emotional connections.

Answer: TRUE

Keywords: Psychologists, emotional, cognitive

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Writing and receiving letters can strengthen emotional ties, according to psychologists, as the passage states.

37. Schools have completely replaced letter writing with typing classes.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Some schools are also reintroducing letter writing as a classroom activity to develop patience, expression, and empathy in students.”

Keywords: reintroducing letter, expression, and empathy

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The statement says schools have completely replaced letter writing, but the text explicitly states some schools are also reintroducing letter writing, which contradicts the idea of a complete replacement.

38. Letters have been a useful tool for historians.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Historians have long relied on personal letters to understand major events and the thoughts of people during those times.”

Keywords: Historians, personal letters, major events

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage directly states that Historians have long relied on personal letters, indicating their usefulness for historical understanding.

39. All digital messages are stored permanently.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Emails and messages, unless archived, can be easily deleted or lost in vast digital storage.”

Keywords: unless archived, easily deleted or lost

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The statement claims all digital messages are stored permanently. However, the text explicitly states that digital messages “can be easily deleted or lost unless archived,” which contradicts the idea of permanent storage for all of them.

40. Handwriting stimulates certain areas of the brain.

Answer: TRUE

Keywords: handwriting activates, handwriting, brain

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The passage clearly states that the process of handwriting activates cognitive and emotional regions of the brain, confirming that it stimulates certain areas of the brain.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples