The IELTS Reading section has different passages, and each one comes with its own set of questions. These questions test how well you understand the text, spot small details, and catch ideas that are written in different words. This page covers the is there anybody out there reading answers in full detail, along with the answer location for every question?
The passage looks at SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and why scientists keep trying to find signals from other civilisations. It talks about radio waves and why they're the best bet for reaching across such huge distances. It also gets into the assumptions scientists make about alien life and what we'd even do if we picked up a signal.
This passage is known as Cambridge IELTS 9, Academic Reading Test 1, Passage 2. You'll find it used across many IELTS practice sites and books as a standard test passage, including in mini IELTS-style mock sets. So if you're checking, is there anybody out there reading the answers to the mini IELTS version or the regular one, this is the right passage and question set.
The questions test a few different skills. Some ask you to match a heading to its paragraph. Some want a short factual answer pulled straight from the text. Others check whether a statement agrees with the writer, supports it, or isn't mentioned at all. If you're looking for the ielts reading is there anybody out there answers, or searching is anybody out there reading answers, or need the is there anybody out there ielts reading answers with location for each question, this set covers it all.
Is There Anybody Out There IELTS Reading Passage
An IELTS Reading passage gives you a short text, and your job is to dig out facts, track the writer's logic, and answer questions built off that text. Is There Anybody Out There is one such passage from the IELTS exam, and it's built around scientific reasoning, so skimming alone won't get you far here.
Here's a strategy worth trying before you start. Read the questions first, then the passage, then loop back to the questions once more. That way, you already know what to look for, instead of treating every sentence the same way.
Here's what each paragraph covers:
Paragraph A: Why SETI matters and what drives the whole search
Paragraph B: The two assumptions scientists make before they even start looking
Paragraph C: How little we actually know, despite the sheer number of stars out there
Paragraph D: The practical side, the telescopes, the frequency range, the funding behind it all
Paragraph E: What happens if a signal actually turns up, and why nobody wants to rush a reply
For the exact, is there anybody out there reading answers with location tied to each of these paragraphs that are coming up right below.
Is There Anybody Out There Reading Passage
Paragraph A: The idea that we might one day make contact with an alien civilisation is not new. For centuries, philosophers and scientists have speculated about the existence of life on other worlds. In the twentieth century, however, the question moved from the realm of philosophy into that of science. The invention of radio technology meant that, for the first time, it was physically possible to send and receive signals across the vast distances of space.
Paragraph B: The first serious scientific attempt to detect signals from extraterrestrial civilisations was Project Ozma, launched in 1960 by astronomer Frank Drake at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. Drake pointed a large radio telescope at two nearby stars, Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani, and listened for any unusual signals. The project ran for several months but detected nothing conclusive. Despite this, Drake remained confident that intelligent life existed elsewhere in the universe, and he later devised what became known as the Drake Equation, a formula designed to estimate the number of communicating civilisations in our galaxy.
Paragraph C: Drake's equation took into account a number of factors: the rate of star formation in the galaxy, the proportion of stars with planetary systems, the fraction of planets that could support life, the fraction on which life actually develops, the fraction on which intelligent life evolves, the fraction of those civilisations that develop technology capable of sending detectable signals, and finally the length of time such civilisations survive and continue to transmit. When Drake first presented his equation at a conference in 1961, the estimates for each variable were largely uncertain. Even today, while astronomers have improved estimates for some variables, particularly the rate of star formation and the proportion of stars with planets, the biological and sociological factors remain deeply contested.
Paragraph D: One major problem with searching for extraterrestrial intelligence is the sheer size of the universe. Even the nearest star to our sun, Proxima Centauri, is so distant that a radio signal travelling at the speed of light would take over four years to reach it. If a civilisation existed on a planet orbiting a star hundreds or thousands of light years away, any exchange of messages would take centuries or millennia. This makes two-way communication, of the kind imagined in science fiction, essentially impractical within a human lifetime.
Paragraph E: Another difficulty is deciding which radio frequency to use when listening for alien signals. The electromagnetic spectrum contains an enormous number of possible frequencies. However, most SETI researchers have focused on a narrow band around 1420 megahertz, the frequency at which neutral hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, emits radiation. The reasoning is that any technologically advanced civilisation would know about hydrogen and might choose this frequency as a universal meeting point. This approach is not without critics. Some scientists argue that focusing on a single frequency band is too restrictive and that signals could arrive at any frequency, or indeed by means entirely different from radio waves.
Paragraph F: The most famous moment in SETI history occurred on 15 August 1977, when astronomer Jerry Ehman, working at the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University, detected a signal so striking that he circled it on the printout and wrote "Wow!" in the margin. The signal, now known simply as the Wow! signal, lasted 72 seconds and matched almost exactly the profile that SETI researchers had predicted an extraterrestrial signal might have. Despite decades of subsequent observation, the signal has never been detected again, and its origin remains unexplained.
Paragraph G: Since the 1990s, the search has been transformed by computing power. The SETI@home project, launched by the University of California, Berkeley in 1999, allowed millions of ordinary computer users to donate their unused processing power to analyse radio telescope data. At its peak, SETI@home was one of the largest distributed computing projects in history. The project was put into hibernation in 2020, but the data it generated continues to be analysed. More recently, the Breakthrough Listen initiative, funded by Russian-Israeli entrepreneur Yuri Milner, has injected substantial new resources into the search, using some of the world's most powerful telescopes to survey the nearest million stars.
Paragraph H: Despite decades of effort and no confirmed detection of an alien signal, many scientists remain optimistic. They argue that we have so far surveyed only a tiny fraction of the stars in our galaxy, and that the absence of a signal so far does not mean the absence of a civilisation. Others are less hopeful. The Fermi Paradox, named after physicist Enrico Fermi, who reportedly asked "Where is everybody?", points out that, given the age and size of the galaxy, if intelligent civilisations were at all common, we should by now have heard from them, or even been visited. The fact that we have not is, for some, strong evidence that we are alone.
Is There Anybody Out There Reading Answers with Explanations
Here's the full set of is there anybody out there reading answers with location, so you know exactly where each one sits in the passage. Don't just spot one matching word and move on. Read the sentence around it first, then decide what the passage is actually saying.
Questions 14–17 Matching Headings Answers and Explanations
These questions ask you to match a heading to its paragraph, so read the whole paragraph before picking one. A single matching word can trick you here.
List of Headings used:
i. Seeking the transmission of radio signals from other planets
ii. Appropriate responses to signals from other civilisations
iii. Vast distances to Earth's closest neighbours
iv. Assumptions underlying the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
v. Reasons for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
vi. Knowledge of extraterrestrial life forms
vii. Likelihood of life on other planets
Q14: Paragraph B
Answer: iv
Explanation: The paragraph lays out two ground rules scientists stick to. Ignore UFOs since the evidence is weak, and assume alien life resembles us enough that we'd actually recognise it. Both are assumptions, so this heading fits.
Q15: Paragraph C
Answer: vii
Explanation: This paragraph talks about the huge number of stars and galaxies out there. It gives a rough estimate too, one in 100,000 stars might have a life bearing planet. That's the writer working out the likelihood of life existing elsewhere.
Q16: Paragraph D
Answer: i
Explanation: The paragraph gets into radio waves, the 1000 to 3000 MHz range, and the telescopes searching for them. That's the transmission side of things, so it matches this heading directly.
Q17: Paragraph E
Answer: ii
Explanation: This one covers what happens if a signal comes through. The writer says nobody should reply straight away. That's about responding, not detecting.
Questions 18–20 Short Answer Answers and Explanations
These want a short factual answer, no more than three words and/or a number. Don't overwrite your answer here.
Q18: What is the life expectancy of Earth?
Answer: several billion years
Explanation: Paragraph A says the lifetime of a planet like ours runs into several billion years. That's the exact phrase to lift here.
Q19: What kind of signals from other intelligent civilisations are SETI scientists searching for?
Answer: radio waves / radio signals
Explanation: The passage says detecting a radio signal would answer the big question. Paragraph D backs this up, saying every search so far has focused on radio waves.
Q20: How many stars are the world's most powerful radio telescopes searching?
Answer: 1000
Explanation: Paragraph D says the targeted search, using the biggest telescopes in Arecibo and Nancy, covers the nearest 1000 likely stars.
Questions 21–26 Yes/No/Not Given Answers and Explanations
Don't just hunt for matching words here. Check if the writer states it, contradicts it, or never mentions it at all.
Q21: Alien civilisations may be able to help the human race to overcome serious problems.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The passage says an older civilisation might pass on its experience of dealing with threats like nuclear war and pollution. That's help with serious problems, stated directly.
Q22: SETI scientists are trying to find a life form that resembles humans in many ways.
Answer: YES
Explanation: Paragraph B says scientists assume the life form is pretty much like us, since anything too different might not even be recognised as life.
Q23: The Americans and Australians have co-operated on joint research projects.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage mentions Australian searches at Parkes and separately talks about NASA's funding. It never says the two worked together on anything.
Q24: So far SETI scientists have picked up radio signals from several stars.
Answer: NO
Explanation: The passage directly says there haven't been any detections from the few hundred stars searched so far. That's the opposite of the claim.
Q25: The NASA project attracted criticism from some members of Congress.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage says Congress voted NASA funding for the search. It never mentions anyone in Congress criticising the project.
Q26: If a signal from outer space is received, it will be important to respond promptly.
Answer: NO
Explanation: The passage says a delay of years or even decades wouldn't matter, since the human race needs time to debate before replying. That goes directly against responding promptly.
How to Solve the Is There Anybody Out There IELTS Reading Passage
This passage uses words like SETI, radio waves, and frequency a lot. If those sound unfamiliar, don't stress. You don't need a science background to get through the is there anybody out there reading answers here.
You just need to follow how the writer builds each idea, one paragraph at a time. Most students don't lose marks because this passage is tough. They lose marks because they rush past the scientific details instead of slowing down, especially around the radio wave range in Paragraph D.
Identify Scientific Keywords and Paraphrases
Words like SETI, radio signals, and frequency don't show up everywhere. They're specific, so they're easy to spot once you know what to look for.
See "radio signal" in a question? Scan the passage for that word first
Same goes for frequency, telescope, and civilisation
These words don't repeat randomly, so they lead you straight to the right paragraph
Sometimes the question rewords things. Can't find "detect"? Try "pick up" or "receive"
This trick alone helps a lot when you're working through the is there anybody out there ielts reading answers under time pressure.
Follow the Development of Ideas
This passage builds one idea on top of another. Curiosity leads to the search, the search leads to assumptions, and the assumptions lead to the method used.
Paragraph A explains why the search matters in the first place
Paragraph B sets the ground rules scientists follow before they even start
Paragraph C admits how limited our knowledge still is, even with billions of stars around us
Don't mix up the ground rules with the actual search method; questions test this difference more than once
Confirm Answers From Context
Spotting one matching word feels like a win, but it's not enough on its own. Read the full sentence around it before you commit to an answer.
Passage says: "we make a very conservative assumption"
Question says: "SETI scientists are trying to find a life form that resembles humans"
Same idea, just worded differently
This happens right through the passage, not just in one spot, so look for the meaning behind the sentence, not just the words on the page
Getting this right matters if you want the is there anybody out there reading answers with location to actually make sense, not just feel memorised.
Common Mistakes in Is There Anybody Out There Reading Answers
Most students who lose marks here already got the passage. It's usually one of these small habits that quietly gets in the way, especially around the is there anybody out there reading answers with location that need a bit more care.
✗ Common Mistake
✓ What to Do Instead
Confusing similar scientific ideas, like mixing up the assumptions in Paragraph B with the actual search method in Paragraph D
Slow down and check which idea the question is actually about. Assumptions are what scientists believe before searching; methods are what they actually do
Searching only for exact words from the question
Look for the same idea in different words. The passage says "conservative assumption" the question might say "resembles humans in many ways"
Ignoring the word limit on short answer questions
Check the instructions above the question first. NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER means exactly that, going over gets marked wrong even if the answer is right
Picking an answer without checking the full context
A familiar word sitting nearby doesn't make it the right answer. Read the whole sentence, sometimes the whole paragraph, before deciding
Take one more look at your answers before submitting. Paragraph D especially packs in a lot of detail, telescopes, frequency ranges, and funding all close together, so it's easy to rush and mix things up.
Looking for more IELTS Reading practice? Read these answer guides to practise different passage topics and question types:
A good reading score doesn't come from knowing big words. It comes from reading smart, even with the clock ticking. Whether you're working through the is there anybody out there reading answers or any other passage, these small habits actually move the needle once you stick with them.
Read the question first, before you even touch the passage
Pick out strong keywords; scientific terms work well since they don't repeat much
Scan for details instead of rereading the whole passage each time
Look for the same idea said differently, not just exact word matches
Check the full sentence before locking in an answer, not just one word that jumps out
Stick to the word limit, no matter how complete a longer answer feels
When you get something wrong, figure out why before moving on
Practice similar passages with a timer running, speed builds with repetition, not overnight
None of these habits need an overnight fix. Build one at a time, and the score follows on its own.
Working through the is there anybody out there reading answers really comes down to one thing, knowing what each question type wants before you start hunting for words in the passage. That's the real skill here, not just memorising the answer key.
Matching Headings needs you to grasp the full idea of a paragraph, not just one word that jumps out. Yes, No, Not Given needs careful reading of what's actually said, not what feels implied, and that's especially true for questions like 23 and 25, where the passage mentions two things separately but never links them together.
Here's the full is there anybody out there ielts reading answers key one more time for quick reference:
Q14: iv
Q15: vii
Q16: i
Q17: ii
Q18: several billion years
Q19: radio waves / radio signals
Q20: 1000
Q21: YES
Q22: YES
Q23: NOT GIVEN
Q24: NO
Q25: NOT GIVEN
Q26: NO
A few things matter most here:
Knowing which question type you're solving before you start scanning
Locating specific information instead of going off memory
Catching paraphrased wording instead of hunting for exact matches
Reading the full sentence around a keyword, not just the keyword itself
Sticking to word limits and instructions exactly as given
Checking your answer against the passage once more before moving on
If you're prepping for this passage or similar ones, try these next:
Practise a few more Matching Headings and Yes, No, Not Given passages
Lean on what's written in the text, not assumptions or outside knowledge
Time yourself while solving; it helps with both speed and accuracy
Go back over every wrong answer and figure out where it slipped, don't just memorise the right one
What is the Is There Anybody Out There IELTS Reading passage about?
It looks at SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The passage covers why scientists search, what assumptions guide that search, and how radio telescopes are used to scan for signals from other civilisations.
How many questions are there in the Is There Anybody Out There Reading passage?
There are 13 questions in total, numbered 14 to 26. The is there anybody out there reading answers that cover three question types across these 13 questions.
What question types are included in this passage?
You'll find Matching Headings for questions 14 to 17, Short Answer questions for 18 to 20, and Yes, No, Not Given for 21 to 26. Each type needs a slightly different reading approach.
Where can I find the is there anybody out there reading answers with location?
Each answer above includes its paragraph location and a brief explanation. This way you know exactly where in the passage each answer sits, not just what the answer is.
Is this the same passage used in mini ielts practice tests?
Yes, this passage shows up in several mini ielts style mock sets too. If you're searching for the is there anybody out there reading answers mini ielts version, this same passage and question set applies.
How should I approach the Matching Headings questions in this passage?
Read the full paragraph before picking a heading. Don't match on one word alone, since a paragraph can mention several ideas, but only one of them captures the main point.
Why do I need to watch the word limit on the short answer questions?
Questions 18 to 20 ask for no more than three words and/or a number. Going over that limit gets marked wrong, even if the actual answer is correct.
What's the trickiest part of the Yes, No, Not Given questions here?
Telling NOT GIVEN apart from NO. If the passage never states something, like whether Congress criticised the NASA project, that's NOT GIVEN, not NO.
Can I find the ielts reading is there anybody out there answers with full explanations?
Yes, each answer above comes with an explanation showing exactly why that answer is correct, based on the line it comes from in the passage.
Why does paraphrasing matter so much in this passage?
The questions rarely use the same words as the passage. Spotting reworded ideas, not just repeated words, is what actually gets you to the right answer here.
Where can I practise more passages like this one, searching is anybody out there reading answers or similar science topics?
Try more Matching Headings and Yes, No, Not Given passages on science topics. The same reading skills carry over, spotting assumptions, following cause and effect, and confirming answers from context.
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