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Collecting as a Hobby Reading Answers

By Mrinal Mandal

Updated on Jul 29, 2025 | 1.07K+ views

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One of the most effective ways to boost your success in the IELTS Reading section is through practicing with realistic practice passages. "Collecting as a Hobby" can be a fairly typical IELTS topic which can require comprehension skills, attention to detail, and the usage of the intention of the information provided in a passage. 

This topic can challenge students with many types of questions: sentence completion, multiple choice, and identifying information (True/False/Not Given).

Here is a detailed description of the IELTS Reading Passage Titled "Collecting as a Hobby":

Section

Details

Passage Title

Collecting as a Hobby

Main Theme

Understanding the motivations and types of collectors

Question Types

Matching Information, Sentence Completion, True/False/Not Given

Key Vocabulary

Collectors, obsession, collection value, classification, nostalgia

Keywords to Locate Answers

childhood memories, rare items, emotional satisfaction, investment

Tips

Focus on motivation and purpose of collecting, not just types of items

Common Answer Types

Purpose, comparison, psychological reasoning, factual information

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Collecting as a Hobby IELTS Reading Passage

A. Collecting is a popular hobby and there are many different ways to collect, like collecting stamps, collecting coins, collecting vintage toys or postcards. Often, humans are drawn to collecting due to the thrill of collecting, the love of cataloguing, or perhaps the enjoyment to be found in recognizing familiar material. Some individuals will be exposed to collecting from a young age and continue to develop this passion over a lifetime, while other individuals may be unable to fully appreciate the many forms of collecting until they become older and have some connection to their past.

B. Psychologists have suggested that collecting can help fulfill a person's myriad of emotional needs. For the serious collector it may provide a sense of control or organization in a life that feels out of control, particularly if the collector takes care to curate or display the collections in a tidy way. Many people might also see it as a means of reliving the past, plaster full of memories in childhood. In fact, nostalgia is at times one of the strongest motivations in a collecting habit.

C. Certain individuals use their hobby as an investment; they search, seek and acquire items that they hope will appreciate over time. There have been times when antiques, comic books, and rare trading cards are just a few collectibles that enjoyed strong growth on the market. On the other hand, not all collecting pursuits are driven by a need to financially gain. Most collectors happily collect with little regard to the resale price of their item. This is an important distinction.

D. Research indicates that the majority of truly passionate collectors derive true satisfaction in the practice of collecting itself, which can be the process as much as it is about obtaining anything. Actively searching and researching can be as gratifying as acquisition; and social interaction from sharing their collection with others via clubs, exhibitions or online can add a social component to a hobbyist's activity.

E. Of course, collecting practice can be scrutinized as hoarding behaviour, especially where one is deemed as excessive in the volume of items collected. However, unlike someone who would be assessed as a compulsive hoarder, collectors focus on something in particular, curate the displays, and take the time to maintain the item.Organization, knowledge, and discernment typically separate healthy collecting from problematic behavior.

Also Read: IELTS General Reading Test: Practice Test With Answers

Collecting as a Hobby Reading Answers : Question 1- 4

Match the information with the correct paragraph (A–E)

  1. Financial motives behind collecting
  2. The emotional satisfaction collectors experience
  3. Comparison between hoarding and collecting
  4. Collecting inspired by childhood experiences

Answers & Explanations

Question

Answer

Explanation

1

C

Talks about investing in items for value growth

2

D

Discusses the joy found in collecting process

3

E

Differentiates organized collecting from hoarding

4

B

Mentions nostalgia and childhood as motivators

Collecting as a Hobby Reading Answers : Question 5-8

Sentence Completion (No more than three words)

  1. Some people begin collecting in _______________.
  2. A sense of _______________ is often gained through the act of collecting.
  3. Sharing collections provides a _______________ benefit to hobbyists.
  4. Collectors differ from hoarders in their _______________ of items.

Answers & Explanations:

Question

Answer

Paragraph Reference

Explanation

5

childhood

Paragraph A

Refers to how some start early in life

6

control

Paragraph B

States collecting gives sense of control or order

7

social

Paragraph D

Mentions clubs, exhibitions, and sharing

8

organization

Paragraph E

Highlights how collectors organize their possessions

Also Read: IELTS Academic Reading Test: Preparation Tips with Academic Reading Score

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Collecting as a Hobby Reading Answers : Question 9 - 13 (True/False/Not Given)

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

In boxes 15-18 on your answer sheet, write:

  • TRUE: If the statement agrees with the information in the Reading Passage
  • FALSE: If the statement contradicts the information in the Reading Passage
  • NOT GIVEN: If there is no information about this in the Reading Passage
  1. All collectors hope to profit financially from their collections.
  2. Many collectors value the search more than the actual item.
  3. Collecting is always linked to psychological issues.
  4. Collectors prefer keeping their collections private.
  5. Online communities help collectors connect with others.

Guidelines/Tip for Answering These Types of Questions: Candidates are just to read through the text thoroughly and then simply write, true or false.

Answers & Explanations

Question

Answer

Paragraph Reference

Explanation

9

False

Paragraph C

States not all collectors are motivated by money

10

True

Paragraph D

Suggests enjoyment comes from the search itself

11

Not Given

-

No direct statement is made about psychological issues

12

False

Paragraph D

Sharing through clubs and exhibitions is mentioned

13

True

Paragraph D

Mentions online platforms for sharing

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Conclusion

Boosting your IELTS Reading score involves not only language skills but also the test-taking strategies. You'll improve your ability to find information, understand purpose, and control your timing by practicing with passages like "Collecting as a Hobby" reading answers. Different question types will be presented to you, allowing you the opportunity to be very flexible and adaptable in your test-taking. You should now continue to practice similar passages and digest the explanations, providing you with a solid footing for success in the exam.

Important IELTS Exam Resources

IELTS Exam Overview

IELTS is required to be taken by international students and workers who wish to study or work in a country where English is the primary language of communication. Know the complete details./

IELTS Online Test

IELTS Exam Syllabus

With the right knowledge of the IELTS exam syllabus and pattern, cracking the popular English test won’t be difficult./

IELTS Syllabus

IELTS Exam Pattern

The IELTS exam pattern encompasses four major sections, i.e. listening, speaking, writing, and reading. /

IELTS Exam Pattern

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose or theme of the 'Collecting as a Hobby' passage?

The main focus of the passage is the different reasons people collect; emotional, nostalgic, organizational, financial, and so on. It also gives a clear distinction between collecting and hoarding behavior to address some initial misconceptions.

What does this passage help improve for your IELTS?

The passage improves the ability to read effectively in English, skimming and scanning skills, locating important facts, and understanding different question types (True/False/Not Given, and sentence completion).

Is it common to have financial motivations in collecting?

Financial gain is not a common motivator for collectors. Collecting is a thrill for many collectors, so profit is not a major motivating factor even if some collectors see value in their belongings. Ultimately, many collectors engage with relics for personally nostalgic or perhaps even emotional reasons.

How is collecting different from hoarding?

Collecting tends to be more itemized and specific, and collectors exhibit pride in their organization and preservation of items. Hoarders, on the other hand, simply procure items without any apparent purpose or reason regarding their things.

What emotional benefits can collecting provide?

Collecting provides some emotional comfort and control, and nostalgia. Most collectors enjoy hunting for and acquiring items and it often links them to memories of a more positive time in their lives.

Is the passage taken from a real IELTS test?

The passage is very closely modeled after real IELTS Reading texts. It is not from a real exam but it is representative in terms of complexity and formats of what you can expect on test day.

What vocabulary themes are relevant in this passage?

Some of the relevant vocabulary themes include: emotion (nostalgia, satisfaction), organization (category, order), and comparison (hoarding versus collecting). These keywords will help you quickly locate answers.

Can I expect to see this topic on the IELTS test?

Yes, collecting as a hobby is relevant and an often-used topic in IELTS Reading. It includes descriptive, analytical and comparison features that are required of comprehension-style tests.

Does the passage discuss online communities?

Yes, the passage mentions that collectors share collections on online forums or online clubs and exhibitions, providing social and beyond-the-collection benefits.

Are collections always positive?

Collecting is generally a positive hobby; however, the passage mentions it can also become hoarding when it is not done judiciously. Collecting needs to happen with intention and proper organization to separate positive collecting from hoarding.

Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert |1204 articles published

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