True / False / Not Given
A reliable method for True / False / Not Given questions — and how to stop confusing False with Not Given.
In this lesson you will
- Understand the difference between False and Not Given
- Follow a four-step method
- Recognise common traps: paraphrase, qualifiers and your own knowledge
Learn
True — the passage says the same thing (usually in different words). False — the passage says the opposite or something that makes the statement impossible. Not Given — the passage doesn’t say enough to decide.
Method: (1) Underline the key words in the statement, especially names, numbers and qualifiers (all, some, always, never, most, only). (2) Scan the passage for a synonym or the name/number. (3) Read that sentence and the one around it carefully. (4) Ask: does the passage agree, contradict, or not say?
Watch the qualifiers. All students passed vs the passage most students passed → False. The company was the first to… when the passage only says an early example → Not Given.
Don’t use your own knowledge. Even if a statement is true in the real world, if the passage doesn’t say it, the answer is Not Given.
Questions follow the order of the passage, so if you can’t find one, the answer is probably between the answers you found before and after it.
| Passage says | Statement | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Sales rose by 10% in 2020. | Sales increased in 2020. | True |
| Sales rose by 10% in 2020. | Sales fell in 2020. | False |
| Sales rose by 10% in 2020. | Sales rose because of advertising. | Not Given |
| Most staff work from home. | All staff work from home. | False |
Examples
- Passage: “The bridge was completed in 1932.” Statement: “Work on the bridge finished in the 1930s.” → True
- Passage: “Few visitors come in winter.” Statement: “The museum is popular in winter.” → False
- Passage: “The festival began in 1990.” Statement: “The festival was started by students.” → Not Given
Vocabulary
qualifier
a word that limits a statement: all, some, most, only
paraphrase
express the same meaning with different words
contradict
say the opposite
claim
a statement that something is true
scan
read quickly to find a specific word or number
Practice
Passage: “Around 60% of the town’s residents cycle to work.” — Statement: Most residents cycle to work.
Lesson quiz
Passage: “The species is found only in Madagascar.” — Statement: The species also lives in Africa’s mainland.
Review
Key points
- True = agrees; False = contradicts; Not Given = not enough information.
- Underline qualifiers and names/numbers.
- Never use outside knowledge.
- Answers follow passage order.
What you learned
- ✓ I can tell False from Not Given.
- ✓ I have a four-step method.
- ✓ I watch qualifiers carefully.