Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample

Latest Update: The global average score in IELTS Academic Reading stands at 7.5. Band 7 typically requires 30 correct responses, reflecting stable assessment standards across test centers.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Reading section often presents topics drawn from current research and social developments. One such example is “Greying Population Stays in the Pink” from Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, which explores surprising health patterns among older adults.

With 13 questions targeting skills like matching information and sentence completion, this passage challenges readers to identify precise evidence and understand implications. More than 3.5 million IELTS tests are taken annually in over 140 countries, making it crucial for candidates to sharpen these key reading strategies.

This blog covers Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample in detail, offering clear explanations and IELTS reading tips to help you confidently handle similar passages.

Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample: Overview

Health improvements among the American elderly are at the heart of this Cambridge IELTS 6, Test 2, Passage 2 study, which summarizes findings from a 14-year longitudinal analysis. The passage combines expert commentary with concrete statistics.

With IELTS academic reading questions, mainly Matching Headings and Sentence Completion, it checks your ability to match details to broader claims and understand data-based conclusions. You can refer to the detailed table below to know how each question is constructed in the IELTS exam and what it measures.

IELTS Reading Question Type	Skill Assessed
Sentence Completion	Selecting words that complete ideas while preserving the writer’s original intent.
Matching Information or Headings	Linking statements or summaries to the paragraph that expresses them most directly.
Multiple Choice	Evaluating multiple details and choosing the one that aligns directly with the text.
Summary Completion	Identifying key concepts and supporting details that logically fit the summary.

Practising with the authentic IELTS Reading section builds accuracy, sharpens question recognition skills, and prepares you to handle different formats under timed conditions.

Also Read: IELTS Exam Fees in India 2025: Complete Breakdown & Cost Guide

This overview summarises key points. Now, let’s take a closer look at the passages for IELTS reading answers: "Greying Population".

IELTS Reading Passage: Greying Population Stays In The Pink

The passage “Greying Population Stays In The Pink” is divided into 11 sections (A-K). It reviews recent trends showing better health among the elderly. It uses data and expert comments to challenge old assumptions about aging.

The text requires careful reading of statistics and key information, making it valuable for practicing fact-finding and summarizing skills. Here’s a breakdown of this IELTS general reading passage:

Passage A:

American researchers report that older adults are becoming healthier, more content, and increasingly self-reliant. A 14-year study, soon to be released, shows that illnesses often linked with aging are affecting fewer individuals and tend to appear later in life.

Passage B:

Since the study began, the National Long-term Health Care Survey has tracked the health and habits of over 20,000 people aged 65 and older. According to the data collected in 1994, conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and circulation issues are becoming less common each year. The decline in these illnesses appears to be gaining speed. Similar patterns have been observed with other age-related conditions, including dementia, stroke, arteriosclerosis, and emphysema.

Passage C:

Kenneth Manton, a demographer from Duke University, notes that these findings challenge long-standing ideas about what is considered typical ageing. Symptoms seen in 65-year-olds in the early 1980s now often emerge a decade later.

Passage D:

While improvements in medical care play a clear role, other elements may also contribute. Better childhood nutrition in the early 20th century likely helped improve long-term health among today’s elderly population.

Passage E:

However, not all trends are positive. The data also show increases in certain conditions, such as some forms of cancer and bronchitis. Researchers suggest these may be linked to rising smoking rates in past decades and worsening air quality. Manton notes that many participants have faced prolonged exposure to pollution, which could explain these results.

Passage F:

Another notable pattern is that individuals with more education tend to live longer. For instance, 65-year-old women with less than eight years of schooling typically reach 82. Those with extended education live, on average, seven years longer. While income plays a role, Manton believes that better access to healthcare and a greater likelihood of seeking treatment are the main reasons for this difference.

Passage G:

The survey also measured how self-sufficient people over 65 were, and the findings showed a clear pattern. Nearly 80% of those surveyed in 1994 could handle basic daily tasks like eating and dressing without help, as well as more involved tasks such as cooking and managing money. This reflects a sharp decline in the number of elderly individuals living with disabilities. If earlier trends had continued unchecked, there would be around one million more disabled older adults in the current population. Manton estimates that this shift has saved the U.S. Medicare system over $200 billion, suggesting that an aging population may not be as financially demanding as once assumed.

Passage H:

Greater independence among the elderly may be partly due to a rise in the use of simple medical aids at home. For example, the number of people using raised toilet seats has more than doubled since the beginning of the study, and bath seat use has increased by over 50%. According to a report by the MacArthur Foundation’s research team on aging, such tools can also support health. Older individuals who maintain their independence are more likely to stay well.

Passage I:

Physical activity also seems to support brain function. Carl Cotman, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine, discovered that rats running on treadmills produce more of a hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This hormone helps nerve cells function properly, and Cotman suggests that it might help keep the human brain healthy with age.

Passage J:

In a related part of the study, Teresa Seeman, a social epidemiologist at the University of Southern California, found links between self-confidence and stress in people over 70. In lab tests simulating activities like driving, those who felt they had control over their lives produced lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. High cortisol levels over time have been tied to heart problems.

Passage K:

Still, independence has its limits. Seeman found that elderly individuals who felt emotionally alone maintained high levels of stress hormones even during sleep. The research suggests that older adults benefit most when they can care for themselves but also feel supported by others. Seeman says the results are consistent with practical advice many people grow up hearing. “The kind of things your grandmother told you seem to be exactly right,” she concludes.

Also Read: How to Get IELTS Certificate: A Complete Guide for International Students

Having presented the full passage, it’s time to focus on the specific questions designed to test your understanding.

Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample: Questions and Answers

“Greying Population Stays In The Pink” tests your ability to fill in missing information precisely through 9 Sentence Completion questions, which require attention to wording and meaning. The final 4 questions ask you to match specific details within the text, demanding quick scanning skills.

Let’s start with a close look at the first IELTS test format, approaching the Sentence Completion section.

Questions 1–9: Sentence Completion

These 9 Sentence Completion questions form nearly 70% of the total in this passage, making accuracy here critical. You’ll need to locate exact phrases in the text and understand how they fit grammatically into the incomplete statements. Pay close attention to paraphrased expressions and contextual word choice.

Here’s the full list of Sentence Completion questions and IELTS reading answers: "Greying Population".

Q1: The 14-year survey found that illnesses such as arthritis and high blood pressure are affecting fewer elderly people and occurring ______ in life.

Focus: Identifying trends in the timing of age-related illnesses

Strategy: Locate mentions of when these illnesses appear compared to earlier decades

Impact: Tests the ability to interpret shifts in disease onset timing

Answer: later Explanation: Passage A and B note that conditions like arthritis and high blood pressure are troubling fewer individuals, and when they do occur, they appear later than they did in the past. This change marks a shift in what might be considered “normal” ageing, with signs of illness now showing up closer to 70 or 75 instead of 65. Recognizing this timing trend is key to answering correctly. The use of “later” captures the delay in onset reported in the study.

Q2: Kenneth Manton believes that assumptions about ______ ageing may need to be reconsidered.

Focus: Understanding expert interpretation of health trends

Strategy: Find Manton’s views on the impact of delayed illness onset

Impact: Tests the ability to extract expert opinion from narrative text

Answer: normal Explanation: Passage C highlights Kenneth Manton’s observation that diseases once seen as typical at age 65 are now showing up much later. He suggests that what is traditionally accepted as “normal ageing” might no longer be accurate. This question checks if the reader can pinpoint and interpret nuanced expert commentary. The phrase “normal ageing” directly matches the passage language, making it the correct and precise choice.

Q3: Improvements in ______ during early childhood may have contributed to better elderly health today.

Focus: Linking long-term causes to present-day outcomes

Strategy: Search for early-life factors mentioned as contributors to elderly health

Impact: Tests understanding of cause-effect over a long time span

Answer: nutrition Explanation: Passage D connects better nutrition in the first quarter of the 20th century to improve health outcomes among today’s older adults. It implies that the foundation for elderly health may begin decades before old age. Identifying “nutrition” as a key factor requires attention to subtle causal links in the text. It also distinguishes between medical treatment and preventative public health factors.

Q4: Increased levels of some cancers and bronchitis may be linked to long-term ______ exposure.

Focus: Identifying environmental causes of health issues

Strategy: Focus on passages discussing worsening health trends

Impact: Evaluates the ability to interpret negative trends in context

Answer: pollution Explanation: Passage E states that some illnesses, like certain cancers and bronchitis, may be tied to worsening air quality and pollution exposure over six decades. The passage emphasizes these “subtle influences” and their effects on elderly health. Choosing “pollution” demonstrates understanding of environmental contributors to illness, contrasting them with improvements elsewhere in the study.

Q5: People with more education tend to live ______ than those with less schooling.

Focus: Recognizing statistical patterns related to life expectancy

Strategy: Look for comparative figures on education and longevity

Impact: Tests ability to compare and interpret data trends

Answer: longer Explanation: Passage F details that individuals with extended education live, on average, seven years more than those with under eight years of schooling. This shows a clear correlation between education level and life expectancy. Selecting “longer” reflects an understanding of how lifestyle and socio-economic factors influence health outcomes. The contrast is numerically supported in the passage.

Q6: Around 80% of the elderly in the 1994 survey could handle both simple and ______ daily tasks.

Focus: Identifying the range of functional independence

Strategy: Locate data on elderly self-sufficiency

Impact: Tests interpretation of specific lifestyle activities in data

Answer: complex Explanation: Passage G reports that nearly 80% of those surveyed could manage both basic tasks, like eating and dressing, and more demanding ones such as cooking and managing money. These are termed “complex tasks” in the text. The question checks the reader’s ability to distinguish between levels of daily functioning and relate that to statistical claims.

Q7: The greater use of home medical aids like raised toilet seats has likely contributed to improved ______ among the elderly.

Focus: Understanding how tools support elderly independence

Strategy: Search for the health impact of assistive devices

Impact: Assesses inference from technological use to health status

Answer: independence Explanation: Passage H explains that increased use of aids like bath seats and raised toilets supports older adults’ ability to remain self-reliant. The passage directly links the use of these devices to maintaining independence and health. “Independence” best fits the blank because it summarizes the goal and benefit of such devices.

Q8: Brain function in older adults may benefit from regular physical ______.

Focus: Understanding links between lifestyle and cognitive health

Strategy: Identify scientific findings tied to physical routines

Impact: Tests ability to draw conclusions from scientific examples

Answer: activity Explanation: Passage I presents neuroscientific findings that associate treadmill running in rats with higher levels of a hormone that helps neurons function. This supports the idea that staying physically active aids brain health in older adults. The word “activity” encapsulates this point and is a direct fit with the sentence structure.

Q9: High levels of stress hormones like cortisol have been connected to problems affecting the ______.

Focus: Identifying health risks associated with hormonal imbalance

Strategy: Look for cause-effect between stress and physical health outcomes

Impact: Evaluates understanding of biological risks in ageing

Answer: heart Explanation: Passage J shows that participants who felt in control had lower cortisol levels, while high cortisol levels over time were associated with heart disease. The focus is on stress response and its physiological consequences. “Heart” is correct because it reflects the primary risk named in the passage and shows how emotional factors can affect physical health.

Also Read: How to Prepare for Computer Based IELTS - Tips & Tricks

Now that sentence completion has been covered, let’s shift attention to the matching information section, which requires linking facts to the passage.

Questions 10–13: Matching Information

In this final set, you’re asked to find specific ideas scattered across different paragraphs. Matching Information tasks often test how well you connect subtle clues to the correct section of the text. This type rewards strong skimming and scanning techniques, especially under time pressure.

Below are the Matching Information questions to practice for IELTS reading answers: "Greying Population".

Q10: The use of raised toilet seats increased because

A) elderly people prefer them for comfort.

B) simple medical aids help maintain independence.

C) doctors recommended them for specific illnesses.

D) they are less expensive than other medical devices.

Focus: Reason for increased use of raised toilet seats (Passage H)

Strategy: Look for mentions of home medical aids and their benefits to elderly independence.

Impact: Clarifies how simple aids contribute to daily functioning and health maintenance.

Answer: B Explanation: Passage H states that the rise in the use of raised toilet seats is connected to helping elderly people remain independent in their daily tasks. The passage highlights that these simple aids enable self-reliance and promote health benefits by supporting everyday activities. There is no mention that comfort, doctor recommendations, or cost are primary reasons for their increased use, making option B the best supported by the text.

Q11: According to the study, higher education levels correlate with

A) longer life expectancy due to better healthcare use.

B) wealth as the main factor for increased lifespan.

C) lower exposure to pollution in early life.

D) a decrease in chronic diseases in old age.

Focus: Connection between education and longevity (Passage F)

Strategy: Identify explanations given for why more educated individuals live longer.

Impact: Highlights the role of education in health outcomes beyond income factors.

Answer: A Explanation: Passage F explains that educated individuals tend to live longer mainly because they seek medical care more frequently and have better access to healthcare services. Although higher income plays some role, Manton emphasizes that health behavior related to education is the primary reason. The passage does not support ideas that education reduces pollution exposure or chronic diseases directly, nor does it state wealth as the main cause.

Q12: The increase in some cancers and bronchitis is thought to result from

A) genetic changes in the elderly population.

B) lifestyle factors such as smoking and pollution.

C) better diagnosis and reporting methods.

D) decreased physical activity in later life.

Focus: Causes for rising cancer and bronchitis rates (Passage E)

Strategy: Look for the researchers’ suggested explanations for increases in these illnesses.

Impact: Tests understanding of environmental and behavioral influences on health trends.

Answer: B Explanation: Passage E attributes the rise in certain cancers and bronchitis to past smoking habits and worsening air quality, suggesting lifestyle and environmental causes. The passage does not mention genetic factors, improved diagnosis, or activity levels as explanations. The researchers note the long-term exposure to pollution as a subtle but influential factor, reinforcing option B.

Q13: The research found that stress hormone levels in elderly people are lower when they

A) have high physical activity levels.

B) maintain control and confidence in daily life.

C) take medication for heart problems.

D) live with family members or caregivers.

Focus: Factors influencing stress hormones in older adults (Passage J)

Strategy: Identify what conditions reduce cortisol levels during stressful tasks.

Impact: Shows the importance of psychological well-being on physical health.

Answer: B Explanation: Passage J discusses that older adults who feel in control and confident produce lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol during simulated stressful activities. This suggests that a sense of control over one’s life plays a key role in managing stress. The passage does not associate stress hormone levels directly with physical activity, medication, or living arrangements, making option B the most accurate.

Also Read: How Long Does it Take to Prepare for IELTS

With the question types explained, understanding the importance of vocabulary will help improve your overall comprehension and accuracy.

Greying Population Stays In The Pink IELTS Reading Sample: Vocabulary

The passage includes clinical and important vocabulary like self-reliance, emphysema, and demographer, which are critical for understanding cause-and-effect and statistical claims. Misreading such terms can easily misinterpret answer selection in Sentence Completion tasks.

IELTS candidates often lose marks here due to unfamiliar medical terminology. Below is a table with key vocabulary explained in the passage's context to prepare you for the IELTS reading test.

Term	Meaning	Contextual Usage
Ageing population	Increasing proportion of elderly individuals in a society	“The greying of America’s population may prove less of a financial burden…”
Self-reliance	The ability to live independently without external help	“The increasing self-reliance of many elderly people is probably linked to…”
Medicare system	U.S. federal health insurance for those 65 and older	“Slowing the trend has saved the United States government’s Medicare system…”
Disability rates	The proportion of a population living with physical or mental impairments	“That represents a significant drop in the number of disabled old people…”
Home medical aids	Simple tools used to assist with health-related tasks at home	“The use of raised toilet seats has more than doubled since the start of the study.”
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)	A hormone that supports neuron health and brain function	“Rats that exercise have raised levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor…”
Cortisol	A hormone released in response to stress	“Those who felt in control… pumped out lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol.”
Emotional isolation	A lack of emotional connection or support from others	“Elderly people who felt emotionally isolated maintained higher levels of stress hormones…”
Educational attainment	The highest level of education completed by an individual	“Women with more education lived, on average, seven years longer.”
Preventive health behaviour	Actions taken to prevent illness or detect it early	“People with more education are more likely to seek treatment early…”

Also Read: IELTS Last Minute Tips & Advice for Exam Day

Now, let’s examine important collocations and phrases that frequently appear in IELTS reading passages, increasing your word knowledge.

Collocations and Phrases

Common collocations such as “public health,” “medical advances,” and “normal aging” appear repeatedly and often link directly to True/False/Not Given logic. Recognizing these phrases improves your ability to match paraphrased statements to the text.

This section helps you pick up such grouped expressions without confusion. Here’s a list of essential collocations and phrases from the passage with meaning.

Collocation / Phrase	Meaning
Age-related conditions	Health problems that become more common with increasing age
Health trends	Patterns or directions in how population health is changing over time
Functional independence	The ability to perform everyday tasks without help
Simple medical aids	Basic tools that assist elderly people with mobility or hygiene
Elderly self-sufficiency	Older adults’ ability to live independently without regular support
Cognitive decline	A reduction in mental ability, such as memory or decision-making
Stress hormone levels	Amounts of hormones like cortisol released in response to stress
Emotional well-being	The mental state related to feeling supported and emotionally balanced
Educational impact on longevity	How education levels influence life expectancy
Preventive healthcare behaviour	Actions taken to maintain health and prevent illness
Healthcare cost savings	Reduction in medical spending due to better health outcomes
Environmental exposure	Contact with physical surroundings like pollution, affecting health

Also Read: IELTS Reading Tips For Band 9: Tips And Tricks For IELTS Reading

Having strengthened your vocabulary, it’s essential to be aware of common mistakes to avoid during your IELTS reading practice.

Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample: Mistakes to Avoid

Many candidates struggle with distinguishing between the actual health improvements and general aging trends, leading to incorrect conclusions. Misreading statistical comparisons or confusing expert opinions with factual data is common. Below are specific errors to watch for and IELTS preparation tips to avoid them:

1. Misinterpreting Statistical Data

• Candidates often assume all health indicators improved uniformly, missing minor differences in the 14-year longitudinal study.
• Example: If the passage says cardiovascular health improved but mental health remained the same, candidates might mistakenly generalize the improvement to all areas.

Tip: Pay close attention to what each statistic specifically measures; some reflect improvement, others show stability or decline.

2. Confusing Author’s Viewpoint with Reported Facts

• The passage presents expert commentary and data side by side, which can blur the line between opinion and evidence.
• Example: The phrase “surprisingly positive results” reflects the author’s tone, not the data itself.

Tip: Differentiate clearly between the study’s findings and the author’s interpretation or tone.

3. Errors in Matching Headings

• Choosing headings that are too broad or too narrow for paragraphs, especially when paragraphs combine multiple health aspects.
• Example: Choosing “Improved Life Expectancy” for a paragraph that discusses both physical mobility and social well-being is too narrow.

Tip: Focus on the main point of each paragraph, not minor details or examples.

4. Ignoring Time Frames in Sentence Completion

• Answers that fail to reflect the specific periods mentioned (e.g., early vs. late years of the study) often lose accuracy.
• Example: A sentence about health trends in the first seven years of the study gets wrongly completed with data from the final phase.

Tip: Check dates and timelines carefully to match the correct phase described in the question.

5. Overlooking Paraphrased Terms

• Terms like “life expectancy” might be rephrased as “average lifespan,” which can confuse test-takers looking for exact wording.
• Example: “Life expectancy” might appear in the passage as “average number of years lived.”
• Tip: Recognize synonyms and related expressions linked to health and aging.

6. Spending Too Much Time on Complex Data Comparisons

• Focusing excessively on intricate statistical details slows down progress through the passage.
• Example: Spending minutes comparing two lines on a graph instead of identifying the general trend.
• Tip: Prioritize understanding overall trends and significant findings; revisit complex details if time permits.

Avoiding these mistakes will help you improve your IELTS reading skills and confidence when tackling the “Greying Population Stays In The Pink” passage.

Also Read: Types of Essays in IELTS You Must Know

To complement your study, here are additional resources that provide extra practice and guidance.

Guide to Resources: Greying Population Stays In The Pink Answers IELTS Reading Sample

The passage “Greying Population Stays In The Pink” relies heavily on longitudinal data, expert analysis, and trend interpretation in public health. Effective practice should include materials that focus on interpreting statistics, understanding factual claims, and comparing findings across time frames.

Use resources that sharpen your ability to connect precise details with general arguments to reach a good IELTS score, especially Band 7 or Band 8. Below is a handpicked list for that kind of practice.

Resource	Focus Area	Why Use It?
IELTS Online Coaching	Structured Preparation	Provides personalized guidance to help minimize mistakes in complex interpretation tasks.
Free IELTS Exam Preparation Material	Comprehensive IELTS skills	Enhances your ability to answer fact-based and summary completion questions effectively.
IELTS Reading Test	Academic Reading Practice	Builds skills to focus on and understand detailed, data-heavy texts like the Global Warming passage.
IELTS Preparation Videos	Strategy-Based Video Lessons	Breaks down difficult question types such as True/False/Not Given using clear examples.

Also Read: IELTS Plan for 1 Month – A Complete Preparation Strategy

For personalized support aligned to your goals, discover how upGrad can help you master IELTS reading passages effectively.

Practical IELTS Reading Support: What upGrad Offers?

upGrad’s IELTS Reading program focuses on timed strategies and targeted guidance that match the actual exam. It helps learners handle dense passages like “Greying Population Stays In The Pink” by improving question recognition and pacing under pressure.

The platform shows where you went wrong, whether it’s skipping a key detail or choosing the wrong word from the text. To improve faster, book a free 1:1 session with upGrad experts for personalized reading strategies based on your current performance.