# THE CONCEPT OF ROLE THEORY: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 3, Test 2, Reading Passage 3

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 3, Test 2, Reading Passage 3. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 29 | NOT GIVEN | The number of stripes on your arm or pips on your shoulder is a very precise role definition |
| 30 | YES | all blondes are similar - they are forced that way by the expectations of their role. |
| 31 | YES | but it also makes some people very insecure. Without role signs, who is to know who has what role? |
| 32 | NOT GIVEN | It is interesting to observe, for instance, some decline in the emphasis given to marriage rituals. |
| 33 | YES | they may serve a purpose as a kind of uniform in a democratic society |
| 34 | NO | Is this bad? Not necessarily, for the ability to shape one's own role is one of the freedoms that many people desire |
| 35 | NO | At middle and higher management levels, they are often a list of formal jobs and duties that say little about the more subtle and informal expectations |
| 36 | role sign | In organisations, office signs and furniture are often used as role signs. |
| 37 | ritual | the change of role has to have a very obvious sign, hence rituals |
| 38 | role sign | The simplest of role signs is a uniform. |
| 39 | role set | This group of people is called his role set. |
| 40 | C | The current trend towards blurring these role signs in dress is probably democratic |

## Why these answers are right

**29. NOT GIVEN.** The statement asks whether soldiers' role definitions should be made clearer. The writer mentions stripes and pips as a very precise role definition and refers to promotion from the ranks, but never suggests improving soldiers' definitions, so this view is not given.

**30. YES.** The statement links the similarity of accountants to their shared type of job. Paragraph D says there is some likelihood that all accountants will be alike because the expectations of their role force them that way, so the writer agrees.

**31. YES.** Here you judge whether the writer would keep dress as a role sign today. Paragraph F says blurring dress signs makes some people very insecure and asks who will know each role without them, which supports keeping dress as a sign, so the answer is YES.

The why and the trap for questions 32 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/the-concept-of-role-theory/answers).

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