True / False / Not Given
Master the strict logic of True / False / Not Given: contradiction versus no information, qualifiers, comparisons, causes and numbers, the traps that cost most marks, and a step-by-step method you can trust under time pressure.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Apply the exact definitions of TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN using the 'prove it' test
- Distinguish a contradiction (FALSE) from missing information (NOT GIVEN)
- Judge statements that turn on qualifiers, comparisons, superlatives, causes, dates and numbers
- Avoid the three biggest traps: own knowledge, partial matches and 'FALSE because it is not mentioned'
- Use a seven-step method to answer a full TFNG group accurately at exam pace
The instructions, word for word
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
The key words are agrees and contradicts.
- TRUE: the passage says the same thing, usually paraphrased. Every part of the statement must be supported, including any qualifier, number, time or cause.
- FALSE: the passage says something that makes the statement impossible: the opposite, a different number, a different person, or a claim that clashes with it.
- NOT GIVEN: the passage does not tell you whether the statement is true or false. The statement might be true in real life, and that doesn't matter.
The 'prove it' test
- TRUE → you can point to words in the passage that confirm the statement.
- FALSE → you can point to words in the passage that contradict it.
- NOT GIVEN → you can point to nothing that confirms or contradicts the key point.
TFNG is used for factual information. Its twin, YES / NO / NOT GIVEN, uses the same logic for the writer's views or claims (the next lesson). Write the words the instructions ask for: YES on a TRUE/FALSE question is marked wrong.
One sentence, three possible answers
| Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
The museum opened in the late 1990s. | TRUE | 1998 is in the late 1990s: a number paraphrased in words |
The museum's first collection contained over 500 paintings. | FALSE | 'around 200' contradicts 'over 500' |
Most of the original paintings were by artists from outside the region. | FALSE | 'most of them by local artists' contradicts it |
Some of the original paintings were by local artists. | TRUE | If most were local, then some were. A weaker claim contained in a stronger one is TRUE |
The first collection was donated by a single family. | NOT GIVEN | The passage says nothing about where the paintings came from |
The museum is the largest art gallery in the city. | NOT GIVEN | No comparison with other galleries is made |
FALSE vs NOT GIVEN: the distinction that decides your band
FALSE = contradiction
The passage commits to a fact that clashes with the statement.
Passage: The bridge was opened in 2005. Statement: The bridge was opened in 2008.
You can underline the words that make the statement impossible ('2005').
Ask: If the passage is correct, can the statement also be correct? → No → FALSE.
NOT GIVEN = no information
The passage is silent on the key point. The topic may be discussed, but not this detail.
Passage: The bridge was opened in 2005. Statement: The bridge was opened by the prime minister.
The statement could be true or false and the passage would still be correct.
Ask: Could both be correct at the same time, with nothing confirming it? → Yes → NOT GIVEN.
The decisive question: if every word of the passage is correct, could the statement still be true? If NO, it is FALSE. If YES, but the passage doesn't confirm it, it is NOT GIVEN. If the passage confirms it, it is TRUE.
Qualifiers: small words, big consequences
| Passage | Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
Only some species of frog can survive being frozen. | All frogs can survive being frozen. | FALSE | 'Only some' rules out 'all' |
Most visitors arrive by train; the rest come by bus. | Every visitor arrives by train. | FALSE | The passage says some come by bus |
The drug helped many of the patients in the trial. | The drug helped most of the patients in the trial. | NOT GIVEN | 'Many' could be 30% or 80%; we cannot tell if it was over half |
Most of the patients reported fewer headaches. | Some patients reported fewer headaches. | TRUE | 'Most' includes 'some' |
The bird is rarely seen outside Asia. | The bird has never been recorded outside Asia. | FALSE | 'Rarely' means it has been seen occasionally |
The festival is held in both Sylhet and Rajshahi. | The festival is held only in Sylhet. | FALSE | The passage names a second city |
Rickshaw pullers in Dhaka were interviewed for the study. | Only rickshaw pullers were interviewed for the study. | NOT GIVEN | We are not told whether other groups were interviewed too |
Scientists are not yet certain whether the policy will reduce pollution. | Scientists have confirmed that the policy reduces pollution. | FALSE | 'Not yet certain' contradicts 'confirmed' |
Comparisons, superlatives, causes, dates and numbers
| Passage | Statement | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
Wind power is now cheaper than nuclear power in the region. | Nuclear power is cheaper than wind power in the region. | FALSE | The comparison is reversed |
Wind power has become much cheaper since 2010. | Wind power is now cheaper than solar power. | NOT GIVEN | Solar power is never compared |
Chattogram is Bangladesh's busiest seaport. | Chattogram is the largest city in Bangladesh. | NOT GIVEN | Busiest port ≠ largest city. You may know Dhaka is larger, but the passage doesn't compare cities |
In 1851 the company opened its first overseas office. | The company was the first to open an overseas office. | NOT GIVEN | 'Its first' (the company's own) ≠ 'the first' (before all others) |
Sales fell in 2020, the year the factory moved to a new site. | The move caused sales to fall. | NOT GIVEN | Two events at the same time are not cause and effect unless the passage says so |
Poor harvests led to rising food prices. | Rising food prices led to poor harvests. | FALSE | Cause and effect reversed |
Construction began in 1998 and was completed four years later. | The building was completed in 2002. | TRUE | Simple calculation: 1998 + 4 = 2002 |
Nearly 40% of the forest was cleared. | Almost half of the forest was cleared. | FALSE | About 40% is not 'almost half' |
The seven-step TFNG method
- 1
1. Check the instructions
TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN (information) or YES/NO/NOT GIVEN (writer's views)? Write exactly the words the instructions ask for.
- 2
2. Dissect the statement
Underline the subject, the verb and especially any qualifier (all, only, most, some, never, usually, first), comparison, number, date or cause word. The answer very often turns on these words.
- 3
3. Predict paraphrases
Ask how the passage might express the key idea in other words (Lesson 3). Soon after might appear as within months; farmers as shepherds.
- 4
4. Locate the evidence
Scan for a stable anchor (name, date, technical term). Statements follow the order of the passage, so the evidence for question 5 lies between the evidence for 4 and 6.
- 5
5. Read carefully
Read the located sentence plus the sentence before and after. Watch for however, although, only, not, and pronouns like this and it.
- 6
6. Compare piece by piece
Check subject → action → qualifier → number/time → cause/comparison. All parts match: TRUE. One part clashes: FALSE. Nothing clashes, but a key part is missing: NOT GIVEN.
- 7
7. Decide and move on
Apply the 'prove it' test. If you have searched the right section for about 60–90 seconds and nothing addresses the key point, NOT GIVEN is the likely answer. There is no rule about how many of each answer appear, so never change an answer just to 'balance' the group.
Check the logic
8 questions- 1
Construction of the dam began in 1961 and took eight years to complete.
The dam was finished in the late 1960s.
- 2
The library holds more than 5,000 manuscripts, the oldest dating from the twelfth century.
The library has the largest collection of manuscripts in the country.
- 3
Although the tiger population in the reserve rose slightly between 2015 and 2018, it remains below the level recorded in 2004.
There were more tigers in the reserve in 2018 than in 2004.
- 4
Many local farmers have switched to drought-resistant rice varieties in recent years.
Drought-resistant rice varieties produce higher yields than traditional varieties.
- 5
The researchers interviewed 120 commuters, most of whom travelled by bus.
Some of the commuters interviewed used buses.
- 6
The exhibition, which was organised by the city council, attracted fewer visitors than expected.
The city council organised and paid for the exhibition.
- 7
Which reason correctly justifies the answer FALSE?
- 8
Statement: 'The scheme was the first of its kind in Asia.' Passage: 'The scheme was launched in Dhaka in 2016 and has since been copied by several other cities.' What is the answer?
Answer every question to check.
TFNG practice: nine statements, full explanations
Work at exam pace. The timer is a guide — it won't stop you.
What each question was testing
| Q | Answer | What it tested |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUE | Paraphrase of time (for centuries… until = long before) |
| 2 | FALSE | The qualifier only vs a share… together with two others |
| 3 | NOT GIVEN | A comparison (more often) the passage never makes |
| 4 | TRUE | Paraphrase of a technical explanation |
| 5 | FALSE | A reversed relationship (longer → further) |
| 6 | TRUE | Synonyms for every part of the statement |
| 7 | NOT GIVEN | Partial match: right topic, missing key claim |
| 8 | FALSE | A distractor detail (scent) next to the real evidence |
| 9 | NOT GIVEN | The word first: a superlative with no support |
Score yourself honestly. If most of your errors were NOT GIVEN ↔ FALSE confusions, go back to the compare block and the 'prove it' test. If you chose NOT GIVEN for 1, 4 or 6, your problem is paraphrase recognition (Lesson 3), not logic.
Final quiz: extra TFNG practice
11 questions- 1
Only two of the twelve original buildings survive today.
Most of the original buildings have been lost.
- 2
The congestion scheme cut car journeys in the city centre by 15 per cent in its first year.
Car journeys in the city centre fell by about a quarter in the scheme's first year.
- 3
Unemployment in the town rose sharply after the factory closed in 2009.
The factory's closure was the main reason for the rise in unemployment.
- 4
Unlike their wild relatives, domesticated silk moths are unable to fly.
Wild silk moths cannot fly.
- 5
The museum is open daily except on public holidays.
Visitors can enter the museum on every day of the year.
- 6
Keepers once lived at the lighthouse, but the last one retired in 1998 when the light was automated.
The lighthouse has been operated automatically since the late 1990s.
- 7
Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh and is especially popular during the Bengali New Year.
Hilsa is the most commonly eaten fish in Bangladesh.
- 8
The new vaccine was tested on adults aged between 18 and 60.
The vaccine has been shown to be safe for children.
- 9
You have read the whole section between the evidence for questions 5 and 7, and nothing discusses the key point of question 6 (you also checked for paraphrases). What is the most likely answer to question 6?
- 10
Choose TWO correct statements about True / False / Not Given questions.
Select 2.
- 11
If any part of a statement is contradicted by the passage, the answer is .
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Words from this lesson
Saved as flashcards with a free accountcontradict
verb/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/
to say the opposite of something, so that both cannot be true
বিরোধিতা করা; খণ্ডন করা
The passage contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
qualifier
noun/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪə/
a word that limits or changes the strength of a statement, such as 'most', 'only' or 'usually'
সীমাবদ্ধকারী শব্দ (যেমন most, only)
Underline the qualifier in every TFNG statement before you look for evidence.
explicit
adjective/ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
stated clearly and directly, leaving no doubt
স্পষ্ট; সুস্পষ্টভাবে বলা
A comparison must be explicit in the passage before you can mark it TRUE.
infer
verb/ɪnˈfɜː/
to reach a conclusion from the information available rather than from a direct statement
অনুমান করে সিদ্ধান্তে আসা
You can infer that most buildings were lost if only two of twelve survive.
forager
noun/ˈfɒrɪdʒə/
an animal (or person) that searches widely for food
খাদ্য-সন্ধানী
Returning foragers dance to show other bees where food can be found.
vigorously
adverb/ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with great energy and force
জোরালোভাবে; উদ্যমের সঙ্গে
Bees from rich flowers dance more vigorously and attract more followers.
settle (a debate)
verb/ˈsetl/
to end an argument or question by producing a clear answer
বিতর্কের মীমাংসা করা
Radar tracking largely settled the debate about the bee dance.
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