IELTS Cambridge 4 Test 1: ACADEMIC READING ANSWERS

Reading Passage 1: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 1: The plight of the rainforests has largely been ignored by the media. 

Keywords for the question: plight of the rainforests, largely been ignored, by the media,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 1. First, the writer says in lines 1-2, “Adults and children are frequently confronted with statements about the alarming rate of loss of tropical rainforests. .. .”

Here, the alarming rate of loss of tropical rainforests = The plight of the rainforests,

Then, in lines 7-8, the writer says, “ . .. . In the face of the frequent and often vivid media coverage,  . . . ..”  

Here, frequent and often vivid media coverage = not been ignored at all by the media,  

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 2: Children only accept opinions on rainforests that they encounter in their classrooms.

Keywords for the question: children, only accept, opinions on rainforests, encounter, classrooms,   

The answer can be found in paragraph no.1, lines 8-11, “ . .. it is likely that children will have formed ideas about rainforests – what and where they are, why they are important, what endangers them – independent of any formal tuition. .. . .”

Here, independent of any formal tuition = children do not need to form opinions only in their classrooms, they accept opinions which they conceive outside classrooms also,  

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 3: It has been suggested that children hold mistaken views about the ‘pure’ science that they study at school.

Keywords for the question: children hold, mistaken views, ‘pure’ science, study, at school,    

The very first lines of paragraph no. 2 give us the answer. The writer says here, “Many studies have shown that children harbour misconceptions about ‘pure’, curriculum science. .. ..”

Here, children harbour misconceptions = children hold mistaken views, ‘pure’, curriculum science = ‘pure’ science that they study at school,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 4: The fact that children’s ideas about science form part of a larger framework of ideas means that it is easier to change them.

Keywords for the question: the fact, children’s ideas about science, form, part of, larger framework of ideas, means, easier, change,    

In line 2-4 of the second paragraph, the writer says, “ . . . These misconceptions do not remain isolated but become incorporated into a multifaceted, but organised, conceptual framework, making it and the component ideas, some of which are erroneous, more robust but also accessible to modification. .. . .”

Here, These misconceptions = children’s ideas, become incorporated = form, multifaceted, but organised, conceptual framework = larger framework, accessible to modification = easier to change them,

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question no. 5: The study involved asking children a number of yes/no questions such as ‘Are there any rainforests in Africa’?

Keywords for the question: study involved, asking, children, yes/no questions,   

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, in lines 2-3, the writer says, “Secondary school children were asked to complete a questionnaire containing five open-form questions. .. ..”

Here, complete a questionnaire = asking children questions, open-form questions = open-ended questions/ questions where the answers are always some information and not yes/no.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 6: Girls are more likely than boys to hold mistaken views about the rainforests’ destruction.

Keywords for the question: girls, more likely, than boys, hold mistaken views, about, rainforests’ destruction,    

The views on reasons for rainforests’ destruction in explained in paragraph no. 7. However, we find no comparison between boys’ and girls’ views.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 7: The study reported here follows on from a series of studies that have looked at children’s understanding of rainforests.  

Keywords for the question: study, follows on, from a series of studies, looked at, children’s understanding of rainforests,   

In the final paragraph, look at lines 5-7, “ . .. . . One encouragement is that the results of similar studies about other environmental issues suggest that older children seem to acquire the ability to appreciate, value and evaluate conflicting views. .. . .”

Here, similar studies = a series of studies, older children seem to acquire the ability to appreciate, value and evaluate conflicting views = looked at children’s understanding of rainforests,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 8: A second study has been planned to investigate primary school children’s ideas about rainforests.

Keywords for the question: a second study, planned, to investigate, primary school children’s ideas, about rainforests,

There is no reference to a second study planned to investigate primary school children’s ideas about rainforests in this passage.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Questions 9-13: Matching responses with questions

[In this type of question candidates are asked to match some questions with some responses given from the passage. This type of question generally appears in passage 3. Skimming first for the keywords and then scanning to match the information is the best option to find answers to these questions.]

Question no. 9: What was the children’s most frequent response when asked where the rainforests were?

Keywords for the question: children’s most frequent response, where the rainforests were,

The question about the geographical locations is found in paragraph no. 4, lines 5-7, “ . .. . The second question concerned the geographical location of rainforests. The commonest responses were continents or countries: Africa (given by 43% of children), South America (30%), Brazil (25%). . ..”

Here, The commonest responses = most frequent response, Africa (given by 43% of children) = most children thought that rainforests were found in Africa,

So, the answer is: M (Rainforests are found in Africa)

Question no. 10: What was the most common response to the question about the importance of the rainforests?

Keywords for the question: most common response, importance of the rainforests,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 5, in lines 1-2, “Responses to question three concerned the importance of rainforests. The dominant idea, raised by 64% of the pupils, was that rainforests provide animals with habitats. . …”

Here, The dominant idea = most common response, rainforests provide animals with habitats = Without rainforests some animals would have nowhere to live,

So, the answer is: E (Without rainforests some animals would have nowhere to live.)

Question no. 11: What did most children give as the reason for the loss of the rainforests?

Keywords for the question: most children, reason, loss of the rainforests,  

Let’s have a look at paragraph no. 7. The writer says here, “The fourth question concerned the causes of the destruction of rainforests. Perhaps encouragingly, more than half of the pupils (59%) identified that it is human activities which are destroying rainforests, some personalising the responsibility by the use of terms such as ‘we are’. .. . . .”

Here, more than half of the pupils (59%) = most children, human activities which are destroying rainforests = People are responsible for the loss of the rainforests,

So, the answer is: G (People are responsible for the loss of the rainforests.)

Question no. 12: Why did most children think it important for the rainforests to be protected?  

Keywords for the question: most children, think, important for the rainforests, to be protected,   

Take a look at the beginning of paragraph no. 9. The writer says here, “In answer to the final question about the importance of rainforest conservation, the majority of children simply said that we need rainforests to survive. .. . .”

Here, the importance of rainforest conservation = important for the rainforests to be protected, majority of children = most children, we need rainforests to survive = Humans depend on the rainforests for their continuing existence,

So, the answer is: P (Humans depend on the rainforests for their continuing existence.)

Question no. 13: Which of the responses is cited as unexpectedly uncommon, given the amount of time spent on the issue by the newspapers and television?

Keywords for the question: unexpectedly uncommon, the amount of time spent on the issue, newspapers and television,

In paragraph no. 9, the author of the text says in lines 3-5, “ .. .. . Only a few of the pupils (6%) mentioned that rainforest destruction may contribute to global warming. This is surprising considering the high level of media coverage on this issue. .. . .”

Here, Only a few of the pupils (6%) & This is surprising = unexpectedly uncommon, rainforest destruction may contribute to global warming = As the rainforests are destroyed, the world gets warmer; the high level of media coverage on this issue = given the amount of time spent on the issue by the newspapers and television,

So, the answer is: J (As the rainforests are destroyed, the world gets warmer.)

Question no. 14: Multiple choice questions (Identifying the main purpose/aim/title of the passage)

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options that shows the main aim/purpose/title using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 14: Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 1?

Keywords for the question: most suitable title,

At the beginning of the passage, in paragraph no. 1, the writer expresses his concern about misconceptions that children may have about the destruction of rainforests around the world.

Then, in the following paragraphs, he shows some data regarding the knowledge and conceived ideas about the issue among children.

Finally, in the very last paragraphs, the writer restates that some of the ideas that children have about the loss of rainforests might have been wrong. Also, the writer proposes in the final lines, “ . .. . Environmental education offers an arena in which these skills can be developed, which is essential for these children as future decision-makers.” This suggests that the writer is proposing the inclusion of environmental education for children in the course design.

So, the answer is: B (Children’s ideas about the rainforests and the implications for course design.)

Reading Passage 2: What Do Whales Feel?

Questions 15-21: Completing table: NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS

[In this type of question candidates need to fill in the gaps in a table with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question no. 15:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Taste	all	poor	nerves linked to there are undeveloped

Keywords for the question: taste, nerves, liked to, undeveloped  

The answer to this question can be found in the final lines of the first paragraph. The writer says here, “ .. . .. .. Similarly, although at least some cetaceans have taste buds, the nerves serving these have degenerated or are rudimentary.”

Here, some cetaceans = all species, nerves serving these = nerves linked to their taste buds, degenerated = undeveloped, rudimentary = basic or poor,

So, the answer is: taste buds

Question no. 16:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Vision	___________	yes	probably do not have stereoscopic vision

Keywords for the question: vision, probably, do not have, stereoscopic vision,  

In paragraph no. 3, lines 5-7 say, “ .. .. .. . However, the position of the eyes so restricts the field of vision in baleen whales that they probably do not have stereoscopic vision.”

So, the answer is: baleen/ the baleen whales

Question no. 17:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Vision	dolphins, porpoises,	yes	probably have stereoscopic vision __________ and __________

Keywords for the question: vision, dolphins, porpoises, probably, have, stereoscopic vision,  

Have a look at the first few lines of paragraph no. 4, “On the other hand, the position of the eyes in most dolphins and porpoises suggests that they have stereoscopic vision forward and downward.”

So, the answer is: forward, downward (in either order)

Question no. 18:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Vision	____________	yes	probably have stereoscopic vision  forward and upward

Keywords for the question: vision, probably, have, stereoscopic vision, forward, upward,

In paragraph no. 4, lines 2-4 say, “ . . .. . Eye position in freshwater dolphins, which often swim on their side or upside down while feeding, suggests that what vision they have is stereoscopic forward and upward. .. . ..”

So, the answer is: (the) freshwater dolphin(s)

Question no. 19:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Vision	bottlenose dolphins	yes	exceptional in __________ and good in air-water interface

Keywords for the question: vision, bottlenose dolphins, exceptional, good in, air-water interface,  

The answer lies in paragraph no. 4, in lines 4-7. Here, the writer says, “ . . . . By comparison, the bottlenose dolphin has extremely keen vision in water. Judging from the way it watches and tracks airborne flying fish, it can apparently see fairly well through the air-water interface as well. .. .. .”

Here, By comparison . .. . has extremely keen vision = exceptional vision, see fairly well through = good in,

So, the answer is: (the) water

Question no. 20:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Hearing	most large baleen	yes	usually use ___________; repertoire limited

Keywords for the question: hearing, most large baleen, usually use, repertoire, limited,

In the final paragraph (paragraph no. 6), lines 5-6 say, “ . .. . . Large baleen whales primarily use the lower frequencies and are often limited in their repertoire.  .. . … .”

Here, primarily use = usually use, limited in their repertoire = repertoire limited,

So, the answer is: (the) lower frequencies  

Question no. 21:

SENSE	SPECIES	ABILITY	COMMENTS
Hearing	__________ whales and __________ whales	yes	song-like

Keywords for the question: hearing, song-like,

The answer can be found in the final paragraph (paragraph no. 6), in lines 6-7. The writer says here, “ . . . Notable exceptions are the nearly song-like choruses of bowhead whales in summer and the complex, haunting utterances of the humpback whales. .. . .”

Here, song-like choruses & haunting utterances = song-like ability,

So, the answer is: bowhead, humpback (in either order)  

Questions 22-26: Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

[In this kind of question candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords which will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question no. 22: Which of the senses is described here as being involved in mating?  

Keywords for the question: being involved in, mating,

The explanation of the sense of touch is given in paragraph no. 2. Here, in lines 5-7, the author of the text says, “ . .. . . This contact may help to maintain order within a group, and stroking or touching are part of the courtship ritual in most species. .. .. .” 

Here, stroking or touching = sense of touch, courtship ritual = mating,

So, the answer is: (sense of) touch

Question no. 23: Which species swims upside down while eating?  

Keywords for the question: swims, upside down, while eating,    

In paragraph no. 4, lines 2-3 say, “ . .. .. Eye position in freshwater dolphins, which often swim on their side or upside down while feeding, .. .. .”

Here, feeding = eating,

So, the answer is: (the) freshwater dolphin(s)

Question no. 24: What can bottlenose dolphins follow from under the water?

Keywords for the question: bottlenose dolphins, follow from, under the water,

To find the answer to this question, we have to look at paragraph no. 4, in lines 4-7, “ . .. By comparison, the bottlenose dolphin has extremely keen vision in water. Judging from the way it watches and tracks airborne flying fish, it can apparently see fairly well through the air–water interface as well. .. . .”

Here, the way it watches and tracks = follow from under the water,

So, the answer is: airborne flying fish

Question no. 25: Which type of habitat is related to good visual ability?

Keywords for the question: habitat, related to, good visual ability,

Have a close look at these lines 2-3 of paragraph no. 5, “ .. . . For example, vision is obviously more useful to species inhabiting clear open waters than to those living in turbid rivers and flooded plains. .. .. .”

Here, vision is obviously more useful = related to good visual ability, inhabiting = habitat,

So, the answer is: clear (open) water(s)

Question no. 26: Which of the senses is best developed in cetaceans?

Keywords for the question: best developed, cetaceans,     

The answer can be found in the final paragraph (paragraph no. 6). In lines 1-3, the writer says, “ … .. Although the senses of taste and smell appear to have deteriorated, and vision in water appears to be uncertain, such weaknesses are more than compensated for by cetaceans’ well-developed acoustic sense. .. . ..”

Here, well-developed = best developed,

So, the answer is: (the) acoustic sense

Reading Passage 3: Visual Symbols and the Blind

Questions 27-32: Multiple choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is set found as the last question set in most passages so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about these questions.]

Question no. 27: In the first paragraph the writer makes the point that blind people

Keywords for the question: first paragraph, blind people,

The answer can be found in the first paragraph, in lines 1-3, “From a number of recent studies, it has become clear that blind people can appreciate the use of outlines and perspectives to describe the arrangement of objects and other surfaces in space. .. …”

Here, appreciate = recognise, use of outlines and perspectives = conventions such as perspective,

So, the answer is: C (can recognise conventions such as perspective.)

Question no. 28: The writer was surprised because the blind woman

Keywords for the question: writer, surprised, because, blind woman,  

In the first paragraph, the author of the text says in lines 4-7, “ . .. . . This fact was drawn to my attention dramatically when a blind woman in one of my investigations decided on her own initiative to draw a wheel as it was spinning. To show this motion, she traced a curve inside the circle (Fig. 1). I was taken aback. .. . .”  

Here, as it was spinning .. .. traced a curve inside the circle = included a symbol representing movement, I was taken aback = The writer was surprised,

So, the answer is: C (included a symbol representing movement.)

Question no. 29: From the experiment described in Part 1, the writer found that the blind subjects

Keywords for the question: experiment, Part 1, writer found, blind subjects,  

In part 1, take a look at these lines from paragraph no. 5, “ . . .. the task I gave them involved some problem solving. Evidently, however, the blind not only figured out meanings for each line of motion, but as a group they generally came up with the same meaning at least as frequently as did sighted subjects.” 

Here, as a group = the blind subjects, generally came up with the same meaning at least as frequently as did sighted subjects = had good understanding of symbols representing movement,

So, the answer is: A (had good understanding of symbols representing movement.)

Questions 30-32: Labeling a diagram

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to label a diagram with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Question no. 30:

Lines 4-5 in paragraph no. 4 (Part 1) says, “ .. . Subjects assumed that spokes extending beyond the wheel’s perimeter signified that the wheel had its brakes on.. . .. .”

Here, spokes = lines,

So, the answer is: E (use of brakes)

Question no. 31:

Line no. 6 in paragraph no. 4 (Part 1) says, “ . .. . dashed spokes indicated the wheel was spinning quickly.”

Here, spokes = lines,

So, the answer is: C (rapid spinning)

Question no. 32:

In paragraph no. 4 of Part 1, take a look at line no. 2, “. .. . . Most guessed that the curved spokes indicated that the wheel was spinning steadily; .. ..”

Here, spokes = lines,

So, the answer is: A (steady spinning)

Questions 33-39: Completing summary with list of words:

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with list of words taken from the passage. Candidates must write the correct letters (not the words) which are given in the box under the questions as the answers. Keywords and synonyms are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Question no. 33 & 34: In the experiment described in Part 2, a set of word 33. _________ was used to investigate whether blind and sighted people perceived the symbolism in abstract 34. _________ in the same way.

Keywords for the question: experiment, Part 2, a set of word, used, to investigate, blind and sighted people, perceived, symbolism, abstract, same way,

The answers can be found in paragraph no. 1 and 2 of Part 2, “ . .. . . I have begun exploring how well blind people understand the symbolism behind shapes such as hearts that do not directly represent their meaning.

We gave a list of twenty pairs of words to sighted subjects and asked them to pick from each pair the term that best related to a circle and the term that best related to a square. . . .”

Here, how well blind people understand the symbolism = leaning on one side (selection of areas of research), twenty pairs of words = a set of word pairs,

Hearts, a circle, a square = shapes,

So, the answers are:

• pairs
• shapes

Question no. 35: Subjects were asked which word fitted best with a circle and which with a square. From the ________ volunteers, everyone thought a circle fitted ‘soft’ while a square fitted ‘hard’.

Keywords for the question: subjects, asked, which word fitted best, circle, square, volunteers, everyone thought, circle fitted ‘soft’, square fitted ‘hard’,  

The writer says in paragraph no. 2 and in the beginning of paragraph no. 3 (Part 2) “We gave a list of twenty pairs of words to sighted subjects and asked them to pick from each pair the term that best related to a circle and the term that best related to a square. For example, we asked: What goes with soft? A circle or a square? Which shape goes with hard?

All our subjects deemed the circle soft and the square hard. .. . .”

Here, sighted subjects = sighted volunteers, All our subjects deemed the circle soft and the square hard = everyone thought a circle fitted ‘soft’ while a square fitted ‘hard’,

So, the answer is: sighted

Question no. 36 & 37: However, only 51% of the 36. ________ volunteers assigned a circle to 37. _________.

Keywords for the question: however, only 51% of, volunteers, assigned a circle to,     

The answers can be found in lines 5-6 of paragraph no. 3 (Part 2),  “All our subjects . . . . And only 51% linked deep to circle and shallow to square. .. . .”  

Here, All our subjects = sighted volunteers, linked = assigned,  

So, the answers are:

• sighted
• deep

Question no. 38 & 39: When the test was later repeated with 38. ________ volunteers, it was found that they made 39. ________ choices.

Keywords for the question: when, the test, later repeated, with, volunteers, found, they made, choices,

The answers can be found in paragraph no. 3 (Part 2) in lines 7-10. The writer says here, “. . .. When we tested four totally blind volunteers using the same list, we found that their choices closely resembled those made by the sighted subjects. . .. .. ”

Here, When we tested. .. . using the same list = When the test was repeated,  their choices closely resembled those made by the sighted subjects = they made similar choices,

So, the answers are:

• blind
• similar

Question no. 40: Multiple choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is set found as the last question set in most passages so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about these questions.]

Question no. 40: Which of the following statements best summarises the writer’s general conclusion?

Keywords for the question: best, summarises, writer’s, general conclusion,

In the final lines of paragraph no. 3 (Part 2), the author of the text says, “ . . .. Thus, we concluded that the blind interpret abstract shapes as sighted people do.”  

Here, interpret = comprehend, abstract shapes = visual metaphors, as sighted people do = in similar ways to sighted people,

So, the answer is: B (The blind comprehend visual metaphors in similar ways to sighted people.)