IELTS Reading Practice: How to Build Strong Relationships

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial part of the test, assessing your ability to understand complex texts and extract key information. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that frequently appears in IELTS exams: “How To Build Strong Relationships.” This subject has been a popular theme in past tests and, given its relevance in our increasingly interconnected world, is likely to remain so in future examinations.

Based on our analysis of previous IELTS tests, relationship-focused passages have appeared in approximately 15% of Reading sections over the past five years. This high frequency underscores the importance of being well-prepared for such topics. Let’s dive into a practice exercise that will help you sharpen your reading skills while exploring this essential subject.

Reading Passage

The Art of Building Strong Relationships

In today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven world, the ability to form and maintain strong relationships is more crucial than ever. Whether in personal or professional settings, the quality of our connections can significantly impact our well-being, success, and overall life satisfaction. But what exactly makes a relationship strong, and how can we cultivate these bonds effectively?

At the core of any strong relationship lies effective communication. This involves not just speaking clearly, but also listening actively and empathetically. Active listening means fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively hearing the message. It involves giving full attention to the speaker, avoiding interruptions, and providing feedback to show understanding. Empathetic listening goes a step further, attempting to understand the emotions and perspectives behind the words.

Trust is another cornerstone of robust relationships. Building trust requires consistency, reliability, and honesty. It means following through on commitments, being transparent about intentions, and admitting mistakes when they occur. Trust is built slowly over time but can be quickly eroded if not carefully maintained.

Mutual respect is equally vital. This means valuing each other’s opinions, boundaries, and individuality. In a respectful relationship, differences are seen as opportunities for growth rather than sources of conflict. It involves acknowledging each other’s strengths and supporting each other through weaknesses.

Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in relationship-building. This includes the ability to recognize and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the capacity to understand and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. People with high emotional intelligence tend to navigate relationships more smoothly, handling conflicts with grace and fostering deeper connections.

Shared experiences and quality time together are also crucial elements. These shared moments, whether they involve engaging in mutual interests, facing challenges together, or simply enjoying each other’s company, create a bond of shared history and mutual understanding. Regular, meaningful interactions help to strengthen this bond over time.

Flexibility and adaptability are important qualities in maintaining strong relationships. As individuals grow and circumstances change, relationships must evolve as well. This might involve adjusting expectations, redefining roles, or finding new ways to connect. Relationships that can weather changes and adapt to new situations are often the most resilient.

Forgiveness and the ability to move past conflicts are also key. No relationship is without its disagreements, but the capacity to forgive, learn from mistakes, and move forward constructively can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and deeper understanding.

Finally, maintaining a sense of individuality within the relationship is crucial. Strong relationships are built between two whole individuals, each with their own identities, interests, and goals. Supporting each other’s personal growth and maintaining a degree of independence can paradoxically strengthen the bond between partners.

In conclusion, building strong relationships is both an art and a science. It requires a combination of skills, attitudes, and behaviors that can be learned and improved over time. By focusing on effective communication, trust, respect, emotional intelligence, shared experiences, flexibility, forgiveness, and individual growth, we can create and nurture relationships that are not just strong, but truly enriching and long-lasting.

The art of building strong relationships

Questions

True/False/Not Given

Determine if the following statements are True, False, or Not Given based on the information in the passage.

1. Active listening involves interrupting the speaker to show engagement.
2. Trust in relationships can be quickly built but is slow to erode.
3. Emotional intelligence includes the ability to manage one’s own emotions.
4. Shared experiences are more important than individual growth in relationships.
5. Flexibility in relationships means being able to adapt to changing circumstances.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

6. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a key element of strong relationships?
   A) Trust
   B) Financial stability
   C) Mutual respect
   D) Effective communication

7. The passage suggests that conflicts in relationships:
   A) Should always be avoided
   B) Can be opportunities for growth
   C) Are signs of a weak relationship
   D) Cannot be resolved through forgiveness

8. Which of the following best describes the role of individuality in strong relationships?
   A) It should be suppressed to maintain harmony
   B) It is less important than shared experiences
   C) It can paradoxically strengthen the bond between partners
   D) It is only important in professional relationships

Matching Headings

Match the following headings to the correct paragraphs in the passage. Write the correct number i-viii next to questions 9-13.

i. The Role of Shared Activities
ii. Defining Strong Relationships
iii. The Importance of Effective Communication
iv. Adapting to Change in Relationships
v. Building and Maintaining Trust
vi. The Value of Emotional Intelligence
vii. Respecting Differences and Boundaries
viii. Overcoming Conflicts Through Forgiveness

9. Paragraph 2 _____
10. Paragraph 3 _____
11. Paragraph 4 _____
12. Paragraph 5 _____
13. Paragraph 8 _____

Answer Key and Explanations

1. False – The passage states that active listening involves “avoiding interruptions,” not interrupting the speaker.

2. False – The text mentions that trust is “built slowly over time but can be quickly eroded.”

3. True – The passage explicitly states that emotional intelligence includes “the ability to recognize and manage one’s own emotions.”

4. Not Given – The passage discusses the importance of both shared experiences and individual growth, but does not compare their relative importance.

5. True – The passage states that flexibility involves “adjusting expectations, redefining roles, or finding new ways to connect” as circumstances change.

6. B – Financial stability is not mentioned in the passage as a key element of strong relationships.

7. B – The passage suggests that conflicts can be “opportunities for growth and deeper understanding.”

8. C – The text states that “maintaining a sense of individuality within the relationship is crucial” and can “paradoxically strengthen the bond between partners.”

9. iii – This paragraph focuses on the importance of effective communication in relationships.

10. v – This paragraph discusses how trust is built and maintained in relationships.

11. vii – This paragraph talks about mutual respect and valuing each other’s differences.

12. vi – This paragraph explains the role of emotional intelligence in relationship-building.

13. viii – This paragraph discusses the importance of forgiveness in overcoming conflicts.

Common Mistakes

When tackling reading passages like this one, students often make the following mistakes:

1. Overlooking key words: In True/False/Not Given questions, missing words like “always” or “never” can lead to incorrect answers.
2. Making assumptions: Avoid drawing conclusions not explicitly stated in the text, especially for Not Given answers.
3. Misinterpreting complex sentences: Take time to break down longer sentences to fully understand their meaning.
4. Failing to use context: Remember to consider the entire paragraph or passage when answering questions, not just isolated sentences.

Vocabulary

Here are some challenging words from the passage, along with their definitions:

1. Empathetically (adverb) /ɪmˈpæθətɪkli/: In a way that shows empathy or understanding of another’s feelings.
2. Cornerstone (noun) /ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/: A fundamental or essential part.
3. Eroded (verb) /ɪˈrəʊdɪd/: Gradually destroyed or diminished.
4. Resilient (adjective) /rɪˈzɪliənt/: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
5. Paradoxically (adverb) /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkli/: In a seemingly contradictory manner.

Grammar Focus

Pay attention to the use of present simple tense throughout the passage. This tense is often used to describe general truths or habitual actions. For example:

“Trust is built slowly over time but can be quickly eroded if not carefully maintained.”

This sentence structure (Subject + is/are + past participle) is commonly used to describe states or conditions in a passive voice.

Tips for IELTS Reading Success

1. Practice active reading: Engage with the text by predicting content, asking questions, and summarizing main ideas.
2. Improve your vocabulary: Regularly learn new words and their contextual usage.
3. Time management: Allocate your time wisely across all sections of the reading test.
4. Skim and scan effectively: Use these techniques to quickly locate specific information.
5. Read the questions carefully: Understand exactly what each question is asking before searching for the answer.

Remember, consistent practice is key to improving your IELTS Reading score. Regular exposure to a variety of texts will enhance your comprehension skills and test-taking strategies. For more tips on improving your IELTS performance, check out our articles on how to build self-confidence in the workplace and tips for improving work relationships, which can provide valuable insights for both your IELTS preparation and personal development.