Author: theieltsbridge

Reading Passage 1: Cork

Question 1-5 : TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

Note: This type of question maintains a sequence. So, if you find the answer to question 2 in the first few lines of Paragraph 2, look for the answer to question 1 in paragraph 1.

Strategies to answer the questions: This post may help you to answer this type of question easily.

https://ieltsdeal.com/2018/01/13/ielts-reading-a-smart-strategy-to-handle-yes-no-not-given/

Now let’s look at the questions and explanations.

1. The cork oak has the thickest bark of any living tree.
   
   

Keywords for the question: thickest bark

In paragraph 1 of the passage the author mentions, “Cork- the thick bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) – is a remarkable material.” Again, in paragraph 2, the author mentions, “Its bark grows up to 20cm in thickness.” In both these lines, the word THICK is available. But, in our question, the phrase is the thickest bark. Here, the word thickest is in the superlative form of an adjective, which means this tree has to be in rank no. 1 as far as thickness is concerned. There is no such comparison in the passage and it means that our answer is not available in the passage.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN 

• Scientists have developed a synthetic cork with the same cellular structure as natural cork.

Keywords for the question: synthetic cork, same cellular structure, natural cork

In paragraph 2 lines 9-13, the author mentions the cellular structure of the bark of the cork oak “ . . .. ..  the bark of the cork oak has a particular cellular structure – with about 40 million cells per cubic centimetre – that technology has never succeeded in replicating”.

Here, there is a clear contradiction or disagreement between the question and the above-quoted text from the passage. The question says,  scientists have developed or discovered or invented an artificial synthetic cork that matches the cellular structure of natural cork. But the words “technology has never succeeded in replicating” means that technology or scientists have not been successful to make anything similar to the natural cork, with all of the same qualities.

Here, the word replicate may create confusion as a new or unknown word, which means duplicate or same.

So, the answer is: FALSE

• Individual cork oak trees must be left for 25 years between the first and second harvest.

Keywords for the question: individual, 25 years, the first and second harvest

Take a close look at paragraph 4, which talks about the harvesting of an individual cork oak tree. The author says, “From the planting of a cork sapling to the first harvest takes 25 years, and a gap of approximately a decade must separate harvests from an individual tree”.

* Approximately a decade = nearly 10 years. So, the gap is 10 years, not 25 years.

* A gap = must be left……….. between

So, the answer is: FALSE

Note: If there is only a numeric (number) difference between the question and the passage, the answer is always False. Here is a picture to explain question no. 3 in a better way.

• Cork bark should be stripped in dry atmospheric conditions.

Keywords for the question: stripped, dry atmospheric conditions

The word stripped is directly mentioned in paragraph 4 (Follow the order of the text from the previous question). Here, in line 15 the author states, “If the bark is stripped on a day when it’s too cold – or when the air is damp – the tree will be damaged”.

This text agrees with the question, but in a reverse pattern. Here, the word “damp” is antonym for the word “dry”. So, the bark should not be stripped in damp atmospheric conditions; rather, it needs to be stripped in dry atmospheric conditions.

So, the answer is: TRUE

• The only way to remove the bark from cork oak trees is by hand.

Keywords for the question: only way, remove, by hand

The answer is available in paragraph 5, where the author maintains, “No mechanical means of stripping cork bark has been invented, so the job is done by teams of highly skilled workers.”

Stripping = remove

Since the author’s negative statement “no mechanical means has been invented” suggests that there is no mechanical technology available to remove the bark, it has to be done by hand (the hands of highly skilled workers).

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 6-13: NOTE-COMPLETION (One word only)

Note: This type of question is nothing more than filling in the blanks. Read the title of the note, which is very important to have an idea about the questions and targeted paragraphs to find the answers.

• do not affect the ___________ of the bottle contents
  
  

Keywords for the question: affect, bottle contents

First, find the main keyword “bottle contents” and then scan the line carefully.
The author states in paragraph 6, “Recent years have seen the end of the virtual monopoly of cork as the material for bottle stoppers, due to concerns about the effect it may have on the contents of the bottle…..The tiniest concentrations – as little as three or four parts to a trillion – can spoil the taste of the product contained in the bottle. The result has been a gradual yet steady move first towards plastic stoppers and, more recently, to aluminium screw caps.”

Here, look at the synonymous links.

• Affect = spoil
  • Bottle contents = the product contained in the bottle

These lines indicate that aluminium screw caps overcame one disadvantage of cork bottle stoppers, which is that they “spoil the taste of the product contained in the bottle”. So, we understand from here that aluminium screw caps do not affect the taste of the product inside the bottle.

So, the answer is: taste

• are ________ to produce

Keywords for the question: produce

• are _______ to use
  
  

Keywords for the question: use

In the final sentence of paragraph 6, the author states, “These substitutes are cheaper to manufacture and, in the case of screw caps, more convenient for the user”.

Here,

These substitutes = aluminium screw caps

Manufacture = produce,

for the user = to use

So, we can gather the meaning from here that they are cheaper to produce and more convenient for the user. However, the question requires ONE WORD ONLY, so the answers for questions 7 and 8 have to be “cheaper” and “convenient”.

• Produce = manufacture
• To use = for the user

So, the answers are:

7. cheaper  

8. convenient

• Suit the ______ of quality products

Keywords for the question: suit, quality products

We find some information about quality products in the sentence in paragraph 7 line 3: “Firstly, its(the cork bottle stopper) traditional image is more in keeping with that of the type of high-quality goods with which it has long been associated”.

Here, the phrase “in keeping with” means “suit”. So the answer is “traditional image”, but the answer requires only one word, so it has to be “image”. It is because you have to choose a noun between a noun and an adjective.

• Products = goods
  • In keeping with = suit

So, the answer is: image

1. made from a ______ material

Keywords for the question: made from, material

1. easily ______

In the very following sentence, the author mentions “Secondly – and very importantly – cork is a sustainable product that can be recycled without difficulty”.

Recycling often is linked with the material. So the author is referring to its material here. The answer is
“sustainable” and “recycled”
Here, without difficulty = easily

So, the answers are:

10. sustainable   

11. recycled

1. cork forests aid _______

Keywords for the question: cork forests, aid

1. cork forests stop _____ happening

Keywords for the question: cork forests, stop

In paragraph 7 line 9, in the end, the author states about the cork forests – “Moreover, cork forests are a resource which support local biodiversity, and prevent desertification in the regions where they are planted. So, given the current concerns about environmental issues, the future of this ancient material once again looks promising”.

Here, support = aid

Prevent = stop.

So the answers are clearly “biodiversity” and “desertification”

So, the answers are:

12. Biodiversity  

13. Desertification

Reading Passage 2 : Collecting as a hobby

This passage mainly deals with the different forms of collecting as a hobby and its psychological aspects. It secondarily deals with the purpose of collecting as a hobby. 

Question 14 – 21: Fill in the blanks in a sentence. (Choose ONE WORD ONLY)

1. The writer mentions collecting _____ as an example of collecting in order to make
   money.

Key words for the question: collecting, make money

The question asks to find which things are collected for making money.

If you scan first sentence of paragraph 2, you will see that the author mentioning- “There are the people who collect because they want to make money – this could be called an instrumental reason for collecting; that is, collecting as a means to an end.”

Here, Because = in order to

So, that’s our first clue matching with the question.

Now, you will look for the next sentence to find out the example – “They’ll look for, say, antiques that they can buy cheaply and expect to be able to sell at a profit.”

Here, the word “,say,” has something special. When you find the word “SAY” in the middle of a sentence with two commas, you can be sure that this particular word is indicating an example or instance.

So, the answer is: antiques.

1. Collectors may get a feeling of _________ from buying and selling items.

Key words for the question: collectors, feeling, buying and sellingIn paragraph 2, you will find a sentence stating buying and selling items, that is: “But there may well be a psychological element, too – buying cheap and selling dear can give the collector a sense of triumph”.

Here, a sense of = a feeling of.

So, the answer is: triumph.

You can watch a video on YouTube on how to find the answers for the two questions above. Follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwI28glBvVo&feature=youtu.be

1. Collectors’ clubs provide opportunities to share ____________

Key words for the question: collectors’ clubs, share

In the opening sentence of paragraph 3, the author states “a group of collectors” – “attending meetings of a group of collectors and exchanging information on items.”

We can understand from the lines that these groups as “collectors’ clubs”. It’s saying that they can exchange information on items while attending those clubs. But the question requires one word only, so we choose the most important word from the sentence – “information”.
Here,  a group of = a club and exchange = share

So, the answer is: information.

1. Collectors’ clubs offer _______ with people who have similar interests.

Key words for the question: Collectors’ clubs, similar interests.

Again, in this question we find “collectors’ clubs” as in the question above. Therefore, we must stay at paragraph 3 to find the answer. In the second sentence, we see a phrase “like–minded people”.

The phrase like-minded means “people who have the same/similar interests”. And those clubs bring them into “contact” with other collectors, so the answer simply is “contact”. “Attending meetings” in clubs is one
way in which collectors come into contact socially.

Here, in the sentence, bring means offer and people who have similar interests means like – minded people.

So, the answer is: contact/meetings.

1. Collecting sometimes involves a life-long ______ for a special item.
   Key words for the question: collecting, life – long, special item.​

The first clue of the question is given in paragraph 3.

As the questions in IELTS Reading frequently follow the text’s order, you should look at the following sentences and find the similar words to the question you are practicing. The final sentence of paragraph 3 states   another purpose of collecting – which is “the desire to find something special” (Here, the word special means special item). But there is no mention of anything similar to “life-long”. Therefore you must continue reading to find the accurate answer. Interestingly, in the very next sentence, the author says “Some may spend their whole lives in a hunt for this” (“the whole lives = life – long”). Now, we can understand that the writer means to say “Collectors sometimes have a life-long desire/ spend their whole lives in a hunt for a special item.” So, the answer can be both “desire” or “hunt”.
Here, the phrase ‘whole lives’ means life- long

So, the answer is: hunt / desire.

1. Searching for something particular may prevent people from feeling their life is completely ______.

Key words for the question: searching, prevent, their life.

Have a look at paragraph 4. Here, the author states, “Some may spend their whole lives in a hunt for this. Psychologically, this can give a purpose to a life that otherwise feels aimless.”

Scanning the sentence two times, you will understand that “This” means “spend their whole lives in a hunt for a special item”. We can also understand that “a hunt” means “searching for”.

So, the author is claiming that if they are not looking for a special item, they will feel “aimless”. Then, in the following lines, we are again told (in paragraph 4 line 7-8), if the collector finds that special item, they may then “feel empty”, because the search has ended with the finding of the special item.

So, the answer is: aimless / empty.

• Stamp collecting may be _____ because it provides facts about different countries.

Key words for the question: stamp collecting, facts, different countries.

The main or primary key word for this question is “stamp collecting”, so we have to find that part of the passage which contains information about such type of collecting – which is paragraph 5. In this paragraph, the author mentions, “If you think about collecting postage stamps another potential reason for it – or, perhaps, a result of collecting – is its educational value. Stamp collecting opens a window to other countries, and to the plants, animals, or famous people shown on their stamps.”

The writer is clearly of the opinion that stamp collecting has some educational value as it “opens a window to other countries” with things described or shown on their stamps.

So, the answer is: educational.

• _______ tends to be mostly a male hobby.

Key words for the question: male hobby.

This question has a gender related word, which is “male”. This is our keyword.  In paragraph 7, the author talks about “trainspotting” as “a popular form of collecting, particularly among boys and men”. The opening lines say, “In the past – and nowadays, too, though to a lesser extent – a popular form of collecting, particularly among boys and men, was trainspotting.”

Here, boys and men means male.

So, the answer is: trainspotting.

Question 22-26           TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

Note: This type of questions maintains a sequence. For instance, if you find answer to question 2 in the first few lines of Paragraph 2, look for answer to question 1 in paragraph 1.

• The number of people buying dolls has grown over the centuries.

Key words for the question: the number of, buying dolls, grown.

As, in this question, the primary or main keyword is doll, we have to find every part of the text about “dolls”. Paragraph 8 talks about this topic. But it is about the things which interest doll collectors, but there is no information about the number of people buying dolls. No numeric data is given here.

So, the answer is: Not given.

NB: Sometimes, it can be difficult for you to be sure about this answer (NOT GIVEN). If you are not sure enough, you can skip this question and go to the next one. As you know, these questions are arranged in order, if you find out clues for the answer of next question, then you can be sure that the following sentences has no information about the answer for this question.)

• Sixteenth century European dolls were normally made of wax and porcelain.

Key words for the question: 16th century, made of, wax and porcelain.

In the same paragraph (paragraph 8) about dolls, the writer also says in the second sentence: “These have changed over the centuries from the wood that was standard in 16th century Europe, through the wax and porcelain of later centuries, to the plastics of today’s dolls.” So, it can be gathered from the lines, in 16th century, European dolls were often made of wood. And the wax and porcelain dolls were popular in later centuries, which indicates the 17th century and the ones after.

Here, materials that are used means made of

So, the answer is: False.

• Arranging a stamp collection by the size of the stamps is less common than other methods.

Key words for the question: arranging, by the size, less common.

Paragraph 9 should be focused, which contains information about arranging a stamp collection. In this paragraph, the author only states the reason behind some collectors’ liking to arrange their collection and the types of arrangement. But, you can find no reference to what kind of arrangement is more or less common.

So, the answer is: Not given.

• Someone who collects unusual objects may want others to think he or she is also unusual.

Key words for the question: unusual objects, think.

In paragraph 10, the author says “One reason, conscious or not, for what someone chooses to collect is to show the collector’s individualism”, and gives an example by stating, “Someone who decides to collect something unexpected as dog collars,” (which means unusual objects), they may be passing on their belief (which means they want others to think) that they are interesting as well.

Here, unusual means unexpected

So, the answer is: True.

• Collecting gives a feeling that other hobbies are unlikely to inspire.

Key words for the question: other hobbies, inspire

In the final paragraph, the writer says, “More than most other hobbies, collecting can be totally engrossing, and can give a strong sense of personal fulfillment.” This means collecting needs all your attention and makes you completely satisfied, while most other hobbies could not do the same (more than most other hobbies).

Here, give a sense means give a feeling and inspire means fulfill.

So, the answer is: True.

Reading Passage 3 : What’s the Purpose of Gaining Knowledge?

Question 27-32           List of Headings/ Matching Headlines

In this kind of question, time is a crucial matter. It will take a lot of your important time. You must not waste too much time in other easy question. This will help you to save some extra time which may come beneficial to you. As questions like these target the whole paragraph, we may need some time to get used to at first. You need not panic. Practicing them regularly will surely upgrade your skills. Skills like skimming and scanning will come handy here. Speculating some answers may also help. Most importantly, you need to apply some techniques like avoiding reading the whole paragraph and focusing on key sentences. Read the first lines and, in some cases, the last line. Don’t read the whole paragraph!

• Section A

This section discusses the university founders’ passion to a wide variety of courses and majors. So, we must focus on headings related to those contents – they are ii, vi and vii (headings about the title, there is no heading about the other contents). In section A, the author writes “But what would the founders of these two institutions have thought of a course called Arson for Profit’?”. The author also says: “I kid you not…” to make clear that this course title is not a mere joke. We may have doubts about the existence of the course, but the writer confirms that it does exist. Since this is only one unexpected title, it cannot match with vii (different names) and the author states nothing related to its meanings, so it cannot be ii (with two meanings). The answer is vi because it says A surprising course title.

So, the answer is: vi

• Section B

Section B deals with targeting students of the course because the first sentence says: “the course is intended for prospective arson investigators”. After that the author throws a question: “But wouldn’t this also be the perfect course for prospective arsonists to sign up for?” The author asks this question to show the possibility of attracting the wrong kind of students. The course might attract those students who might be interested in starting fires, not fighting fires.

So, the answer is: viii

• Section C

Section C talks about the author and his life-story about the title of the course. There are only two outstanding headings that could be related to a title – ii and vii. We have already a confirmed answer-vi for Section A. As in this section, the author only states one confusing title that could be recognized by his students in two different ways, as it deals with the two meanings of ‘principles’. So, the answer has to be “a course title with two meanings”.

So, the answer is: ii

• Section D

Section D is a very small paragraph and you can cross out some answers straightaway because you know they are wrong for sure. As an example, in this section, the author does not talk about any commitment, so the answer heading ‘i’ is wrong– “Courses that require a high level of commitment”. Continue to do the same for other answers. Thus, only heading iv – “Applying a theory in an unexpected context” will remain. Here, the writer provides a reference to the idea of the philosopher Kant that any body of knowledge is principled. The author states in the first line that this idea sounds “downright crazy in the light of the evidence”, which is a clear match with “an unexpected context” in the heading when applied to an immoral practice like marketing.

So, the answer is: iv

• Section E

In this section, the writer states two important terms in marketing, means and end, in the very first line. So, there are two important matters which are discussed in this section. In the last lines, he supposes that “A field of knowledge or a professional endeavor is defined by both the means and the end; hence both deserve scrutiny”, which means that both terms are equally important. Therefore, the answer is “the equal importance of two key issues”.

So, the answer is: iii

• Section F

In the last lines final section, the author gives the example of a doctor and a poisoner/murderer. Both may gather the same body of knowledge, but they use that knowledge for completely different purposes/ends, and so we give different names: we say that the doctor is practicing medicine and we say that the other is practicing murder. The author does not talk about anything related to “financial benefits” (heading v) and “a high level of commitment” (heading i). Therefore, the most suitable heading for this section is “Different names for different outcomes” (vii).

So, the answer is: vii

Question 33-36           Summary Completion (using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

In this question type, you are given a short text with some blank spaces. You have to fill in the blanks with one or two words taken directly from the passage. To practice this question type effectively, look at the words or phrases just before and after the blank spaces carefully. This may give you some idea about where to look for the answers in the passage.

• […] undergraduates and who are studying ____

In the final sentence of the first section, the author mentions: “Any undergraduates who have met the academic requirements can sign up for the course in our program in ‘fire science’.” So, it can be said that students who can sign up for the course are undergraduates and those who are studying ‘fire science’. (in this question you can write no more than two words).

So, the answer is: fire science.

• […] that they will become ____

The opening lines of the second section says: “Naturally, the course is intended for prospective arson investigators”. We can see here that expectation means prospective, which means they are studying to be arson investigators in the future. The answer is investigators.

Here, expectation = prospective and will be = in the future

So, the answer is: investigators.

• […] cases of arson and find ____ of criminal intent

In this question, the clause “The course will help them” means students can learn something from the course, so we need to look at this reference in section B, lines 1-3: “…. who can learn all the tricks of the trade for detecting whether a fire was deliberately set, discovering who did it, and establishing a chain of evidence for effective prosecution in a court of law.” Here, “A fire was deliberately set” can be taken as an example of criminal intent, that is: the arsonist deliberately intended to start a fire. Then the course can help them to detect whether it is done deliberately or not, who did it, and find a chain of evidence. So, the answer has to be “evidence”.

Here, find means to detect or establish

So, the answer is: evidence.

• […] leading to successful ____ in the courts.

The answer required for this question is just after an adjective (successful) and in front of an adverb of place (in the courts). Therefore, we can understand that the answer has to be a noun. In section B, the author states the court in this phrase in lines 3-4: “establishing a chain of evidence for effective prosecution in a court of law”. Here, “effective” means “successful”, and “in a court of law” means “in the courts”. So, the answer is “prosecution”.

So, the answer is: prosecution.

Question 37-40           TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

Note: This type of question maintains a sequence. For instance, if you find answer to question 2 in the first few lines of Paragraph 2, look for answer to question 1 in paragraph 1.

• It is difficult to attract students onto courses that do not focus on a career.

If this statement is true, you must find a sentence in the text conveying the same idea. If this statement is false, you need to point out what is wrong with it and find a sentence in the passage given to correct it. However, there is no reference like that in the passage. In the passage, we can’t find any sentence telling us about difficulties in attracting students onto such courses.

So, the answer is: Not given.

• The ‘Arson for Profit’ course would be useful for people intending to set fire to buildings.

Hence, we have already learned from our previous reading of the passage that “use the very same knowledge” means they can use what they have learned from this course (= this course would be useful for them). Moreover, “destructive, dangerous, reckless activity” can include “set fire to buildings.” Therefore, the answer is Yes. Further in section F, the author once again states the “Arson for Profit” course and mentions: “As we have seen, someone could use the very same knowledge of means to achieve a much less noble end, such as personal profit via destructive, dangerous, reckless activity”.

So, the answer is: Yes.

• Fire science courses are too academic to help people to be good at the job of firefighting.

Look at section B where the author speaks about the knowledge learned on the course to its usefulness for students who want to become firefighters. They will be capable of doing the job in a professional and expert way: “…. programs in fire science: they are highly welcome as part of the increasing professionalization of this and many other occupations”. The course surely helps the students. Here, To be good at the job of means professionalization.

So, the answer is: No.

• The writer’s fire science students provided a detailed definition of the purpose of their studies.

Take a look at section F where the author asks the students about the purpose of the course, “When I ask fire science students to articulate the end, or purpose, of their field, they eventually generalize to something like, ‘The safety and welfare of society,’ which seems right.” Here, they only “generalize”, which means “to make a flat/general statement or form a general opinion”. Their opinion is only general or flat, not detailed or particularly clear. Here, provides a detailed definition of means to articulate.

So, the answer is: No.

Reading Passage 1: Research using twins

Questions 1-4:  (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 1: There may be genetic causes for the differences in how young the skin of identical twins looks.

Keywords for the question: may be, genetic cause, differences, young, skin,

The answer can be found in lines 8-11 of the first paragraph. Here, the writer says, “Any differences between them – one twin having younger looking skin, for example – must be due to environmental factors such as less time spent in the sun.” It means the differences are because of the environment, not for genetic causes.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 2: Twins are at greater risk of developing certain illnesses than non-twins.

Keywords for the question: greater risk, developing certain illnesses,

Many of you might think the answer is in the second paragraph because of these lines, “If identical twins are more similar to each other with respect to an ailment than fraternal twins are, then vulnerability to the disease must be rooted at least in part in heredity. Unfortunately, the sentence starts with ‘if’, which means the writer only compares identical twins with fraternal twins, he doesn’t make a comparison between twins and non-twins.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN                   

Question 3: Bouchard advertised in newspapers for twins who had been separated at birth.

Keywords for the question: Bouchard, advertised, newspapers,

In paragraph no. 3 and 4, we find reference to the groundbreaking research on twins. However, nowhere in the paragraph we find any reference to advertisement in newspapers.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN                   

Question 4: Epigenetic processes are different from both genetic and environmental processes.

Keywords for the question: Epigenetic, different from, genetic and environmental,

In paragraph no. 6, the writer mentions, “… .. .nature and nurture are not the only elemental forces at work. According to a recent field called epigenetics, there is a third factor also in play, one that in some cases serves as a bridge between the environment and our genes.” In the previous paragraphs, genetic and environmental processes (nature and nurture) have been explained. Now, in paragraph 6 this line means that the epigenetic process works as a bridge between those two processes. It means it is neither a genetic process nor an environmental process.

So, the answer is: TRUE       

Questions 5-9: (Matching statements with a list of researchers)

[In this kind of questions, the candidates have to match the statements which are stated by different researchers given in the list.]

Question 5: invented a term used to distinguish two factors affecting human characteristics

Keywords for the question: invented a term, distinguish, characteristics

It is quite easy to find this answer because there is a trick that works here perfectly.

Special Tips:

The phrase “invented a term” is synonymous to ‘coined the phrase’. It means saying something special that no one used this way before. Remember the saying, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” by the greatest boxer Mohammad Ali. He coined the phrase. 🙂

So, for this question, we need to find ‘coined the phrase’ and we find it in paragraph no. 4. Here, the writer says, “The idea of using twins to measure the influence of heredity dates back to 1875, when the English scientist Francis Galton first suggested the approach (and coined the phrase ‘nature and nurture’.)”

So, the answer is: A (Francis Galton)

Question 6: expressed the view that the study of epigenetics will increase our knowledge

Keywords for the question: study of epigenetics, will increase, knowledge

The answer can be found at the end of paragraph 12 lines 1-3. Here, we find the comments or views of Geneticist Danielle Reed. “Reed adds, the latest work in epigenetics promises to take our understanding even further”. This means that Reed is hopeful that the study of epigenetics will give us a better understanding or knowledge.

So, the answer is: C (Danielle Reed)  

Question 7: developed a mathematical method of measuring genetic influences.

Keywords for the question: developed, mathematical method, measuring genetic influences

In paragraph 5, the author mentions, “Bouchard and his colleagues used this mountain of data to identify how far twins were affected by their genetic makeup. The key to their approach was a statistical concept called heritability. In broad terms, the heritability of a trait measures the extent to which differences among members of a population can be explained by differences in their genetics”.

Here, statistical concept = mathematical method

So, the answer is: B (Thomas Bouchard)

Question 8: pioneered research into genetics using twins

Keywords for the question: pioneered, research, genetics, twins

Answer to this question can be found in paragraph no. 4 lines 1-4, “The idea of using twins to measure the influence of heredity dates back to 1875, when the English scientist Francis Galton first suggested the approach. .. . . .”. Here, the phrase “first suggested” means that Francis Galton was the first person or the pioneer to use twins to measure the influence of heredity.

So, the answer is: A (Francis Galton)

Question 9: carried out research into twins who had lived apart

Keywords for the question: carried out, research, twins who had lived apart,  

To find the answer to this question, we need to locate the key phrase ‘twins who had lived apart’ which can be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, the writer says in lines 6-10, “… .. twin studies took a surprising twist in the 1980s, with the arrival of studies into identical twins who had been separated at birth and reunited as adults. Over two decades 137 sets of twins eventually visited Thomas Bouchard’s lab….”

So, the answer is: B (Thomas Bouchard)

Question 10-13: (Summary completion using the list of words)

(In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two, or three paragraphs with some fill-in-the-blanks questions. As these are fill-in-the-blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing ONE, TWO, or THREE words for each answer or, for this kind of question, choose words from a given list. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.)

Question 10 and 11: In epigenetic processes, 10 __________ influence the activity of our genes, for example in creating our internal 11 ____________.

Keywords for the question: epigenetic process, influence, activity of our genes, creating, our internal,

The answer lies in paragraph 7. You need to read the whole paragraph. First, the writer says, in line 1 and 2, what epigenetic processes are. “Epigenetic processes are chemical reactions .. .. . ..” Then in the last few lines of the paragraph, the writer explains what these chemical reactions influence, “These reactions influence how our genetic code is expressed: how each gene is strengthened or weakened; even turned on or off, to build our bones, brains and all other parts of our bodies.”

So, it can be deduced or realized from these lines that ‘chemical’ reactions influence how our internal body parts are created such as ‘our bones, brains’ etc.

So, the answers are:

1. D (chemicals)
2. B (organs)

Question 12: The study of epigenetic processes is uncovering a way in which our genes can be affected by our  ________.

Keywords for the question: uncovering a way, our genes can be affected,   

In paragraph 9, the writer mentions in lines 1-5, “One way the study of epigenetics is revolutionizing our understanding of biology is by revealing a mechanism by which the environment directly impacts our genes.”

Here, the word ‘impact’ is synonymous to ‘affected’, ‘revealing’ is synonymous to ‘uncovering a way’.

So the answer is: E (environment)

Question 13: One example is that if a pregnant rat suffers stress, the new-born rat may show problems in its ____________.

Keywords for the question: pregnant rat, suffers stress,

The answer to this question can also be found in  paragraph  9, where the  writer  says  in lines 5-9, “Studies  of  animals,  for  example,  have  shown  that  when  a  rat experiences  stress  during  pregnancy,  it  can  cause  epigenetic  changes  in  a  fetus  that  lead  to  behavioral problems as the rodent grows up.”

So the answer is: F (behavior/ behavior)

Reading Passage 2: An Introduction to Film Sound

Questions 14-20: (Multiple Choice Questions)

[Multiple choice questions are a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming techniques might come in handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.]

[TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not to understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 14: In the first paragraph, the writer makes a point that

Keywords for the question: NO KEYWORDS HERE

In  the first  paragraph,  the  author  describes the importance of sound in lines 1-4, at the very opening of the paragraph,  “Though  we  might  think  of  film  as  an  essentially  visual experience, we really cannot afford to underestimate the importance of film sound.”

Here, the word ‘underestimate’ means ‘overlook’.

After that, the author also gives details of how important film sound is. So, he makes a point that it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.

*Underestimate = overlook

So, the answer is: B (it would be wrong to overlook the contribution of sound to the artistry of films.)

Question 15: One reason that the writer refers to Humphrey Bogart is to exemplify

Keywords for the question: Humphrey Bogart, exemplify,

In the second paragraph, the author gives reference to Humphrey Bogert in lines 4-10, “Often with film characterization, the audience perceives little or no difference between the character and the actor. Thus, for example, the actor Humphrey Bogart is the character Sam Spade; film personality and life personality seem to merge.”

• merge = become one

This clearly means that Humphrey Bogart is mentioned to exemplify the significance of the actor and the character appears to have similar personalities.

So, the answer is: A (the importance of the actor and the character appearing to have similar personalities.)

Question 16: In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that

Keywords for the question: NO KEYWORDS HERE

In paragraph no. 3, the writer mentions the use of dialogues in lines 6-12, “It  is  interesting  to  note  that  how  dialogue  is  use and the very amount of dialogue used varies widely  among  films.  For  example,  in  the  highly  successful  science-fiction  film  2001,  little  dialogue  was evident, and most of it was banal  and of little intrinsic interest.”

Here, banal means dull or boring

So, the answer is: B (film dialogue that appears to be dull may have a specific purpose.)

Question 17: What does the writer suggest about Bringing Up Baby?

Keywords for the question: suggest, Bringing Up Baby,

The answer lies in the beginning of paragraph no. 4, in lines 1-8. Here, the author says, “The comedy Bringing Up Baby, on the other hand, presents practically non-stop dialogue delivered at breakneck speed. This use of dialogue underscores not only the dizzy quality of the character Katherine Hepburn, but also the absurdity of the film itself and thus its humor.”

These lines suggest that the dialogue in the film Bringing Up Baby highlights key elements of the film.

• key elements = the absurdity of the humor of the film

So, the answer is: D (The nature of the dialogue emphasizes key elements of the film.)

Question 18: The writer refers to the ‘click’ of a door to make the point that realistic sounds

Keywords for the question: click of a door, realistic sounds

We can see the reference to the ‘click’ sound in paragraph no. 5. Here, in lines 6-19 the author says, “Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere. For example, the ‘click’ of a door being opened may simply serve to  convince  the  audience  that  the  image  portrayed  is  real,  and  the  audience  may  only  subconsciously note the expected sound. However, if the ‘click’ of an opening door is part of an ominous action such as a burglary, the sound mixer may call attention to the ‘click’ with an increase in volume; this helps to engage the audience in a moment of suspense.”

These lines suggest that realistic sounds can be modified by increasing the sound volume to make it more realistic.

So, the answer is: C (may be modified in order to manipulate the audience’s response to the film.)

Question 19-23: (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 19: Audiences are likely to be surprised if a film lacks background music.

Keywords for the question: audiences, likely to be surprised, film lack background music

In the very beginning of paragraph no. 7, the writer says that “We are probably all familiar with background music in films, which has become so ubiquitous as to be noticeable in its absence.”

Here, ubiquitous = ever-present

This means background sound or music has become an essential part of films. So, there is a high possibility that the audience will surely notice it and be surprised if background music is absent from a film.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 20: Background music may anticipate a development in a film.

Keywords for the question: anticipate, development

Again, in paragraph no. 7, the author mentions in the end, “In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood.”

Here, the word ‘foreshadow’ is synonymous to ‘anticipate’. This means the background music can make the audience understand what changes are going to happen in a film.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 21: Background music has more effect on some people than on others.

Keywords for this question: more effect, some people than on others     

We find the reference to ‘background music’ and its effects in both paragraphs no. 7 and 8. But we cannot find any comparison as to whether it has more or less effect on some people.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 22: Background music may help the audience to make certain connections within the film.

Keywords for this question: help the audience, make certain connections  

The writer states in lines 1 and 2 of paragraph no. 8, “Background music may aid viewer understanding by linking scenes.”

Here, help means aid, audience means viewer, make connections within a film means linking scenes

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 23: Audiences tend to be aware of how the background music is affecting them.

Keywords for this question: audiences, tend to, be aware, how, affecting,    

In the final paragraph, the author says, “The effects of sound are often largely subtle and often are noted by only our subconscious minds.”

Here, subtle means delicate or faint or slight

So, audiences aren’t truly aware of the background music’s effect. Rather, subconscious mind takes note of it.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24-26: (Completing sentences with correct ending)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and end of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 24: The audience’s response to different parts of a film can be controlled

Keywords for this answer: response, different parts, controlled

 In paragraph no. 1, the writer states in lines 8-13, “The entire sound track consists of three essential ingredients: the human voice, sound effects and music. These three tracks must be mixed and balanced so as to produce the necessary emphases which in turn create desired effects”.

The lines mean that the response or reaction of the audience can be influenced if voice, sound, and music are appropriately combined.

Here, combined appropriately means mixed and balanced.

So, the answer is: C

Question 25: The feelings and motivations of characters become clear

Keywords for this answer: feelings, motivation, clear

In paragraph 2, the writer says in lines 1-4, “… . As is the case with stage drama, dialogue serves to tell the story and expresses feelings and motivations of characters as well.”

This means that listening to dialogues clarifies the feelings and motivations of characters in the film.

So, the answer is: A

Question 26: A character seems to be a real person rather than an actor

Keywords for this answer: seems to be real person, than actor

In paragraph no. 3, the writer says in lines 1-3, “When voice textures fit the performer’s physiognomy  and gestures, a whole and very realistic person emerges.”

Here, actor means performer, appearance means physiognomy, moves means gestures, consistent with means fit

These lines suggest that a character appears to be a real person rather than an actor given to the fact that the audience listens to the voice, looks at the appearance of the character, and watches how he/she moves.

So, the answer is: E

Reading Passage 3: This Marvellous Invention

Questions 27-32:  (List of headings/ Matching Headlines):

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C, and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections so some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Read the first two lines, and occasionally, the last line of each heading. In most cases, the answers are found here. Do it for all the paragraphs. Do not read too much. If you still don’t find the answers, only then, read the remaining texts.]

Question 27: Paragraph A

In paragraph A, we find two different lines which confirm our answer. The first line is line no. 1 which says, “Of all mankind’s manifold creations, language must take pride of place.” The second line is line no. 3 which says, “… Compared to language, all other inventions pale in significance, since …  … . .” These two lines explain that language is the best invention of all.

So, the answer is: vi (Why language is the most important invention of all)

Question 28: Paragraph B

In paragraph B, again, the first and last lines give us the answer. Line 1 & 2 says, “.. . . . In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: . . ..” Here, the writer gives us the impression that language is something that is special (extraordinary sophistication) yet it is of an idea which may surprise us because of the creative simplicity (ingenious simplicity), and this is why it is incompatible or mismatched. Also, take a look at the last lines, “Language is mankind’s greatest invention – except, of course, that it was never invented. This apparent paradox is at the core of our fascination with language, and it holds many of its secrets.” Here, paradox = irony or contradiction or mismatched.

So, the answer is: iv (Apparently incompatible characteristics of language)

Question 29: Paragraph C

In paragraph C, first, the writer asks in line 2-3, “How else could this instrument make so much out of barely three dozen measly morsels of sound?” Then, we find in the next few lines the explanations of how the alphabets or letters work out by arranging themselves to make perfect sounds that can be conveyed into a language. “In themselves, these configurations of mouth – p, f, b, v, t, d, k, sh, a, e and so on –amount to nothing .. . . . . . But run them through the cogs and wheels of the language machine, let it arrange them in some very special orders, and there is nothing that these meaningless streams of air cannot do: from sighing the interminable boredom of existence to unravelling the fundamental order of the universe.”

Here, barely three dozen measly morsels of sound = a few sounds

So, the answer is: ii (The way in which a few sounds are organised to convey a huge range of meaning)

Question 30: Paragraph D

In paragraph D, the writer talks about the universal or worldwide or common ability to use language  “The language machine allows just about everybody – from pre-modern foragers in the subtropical savannah, to post-modern philosophers in the suburban sprawl – to tie these meaningless sounds together into an infinite variety of subtle senses, and all apparently without  the slightest exertion.” This means that language is universal to use.

So, the answer is: vii (The universal ability to use language)

Question 31: Paragraph E

In  paragraph E,  the  writer  states, “Often,  it  is  the  only  estrangement  of  foreign  tongues,  with their many exotic and outlandish features, that brings home the wonder of language’s design.” This means the more a language is different from other language, the more it becomes impressive. The writer also provides the example of a Turkish word of outstanding length that takes a whole sentence to utter in English.

So, the answer is:i (Differences between languages highlight their impressiveness)

Question 32: Paragraph F

In paragraph F, the answer is found in lines 8-9, “… . . . . even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to express something specific.”

Here, the absence of a sound = silence, specific = meaningful

So, the answer is: v (Even silence can be meaningful)

Questions 33-36: (Summary completion with the given list of words)

[In this kind of question candidates get a summary for one, two, or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. As these are fill-in-the-blanks or gaps questions, there is a condition of writing the answers from the given list of words for each answer and candidates must maintain this condition. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps. The letters for the words are the answers, so candidates must not put down the words.]

Title of the summary: The importance of language

Question 33 and 34 : The wheel is one invention that has had a major impact on __________ aspects of life, but no impact has been as _________ as that of language.

Keywords for these questions: wheel, invention, impact, aspects

In paragraph A, the writer states about the inventions like wheel, “Other inventions – the wheel, agriculture, sliced bread – may have transformed our material existence, but the advent of language is what made us human.  Compared to language, all other inventions pale in significance, since everything we have ever achieved depends on language and originates from it.”

These lines suggest that the invention of wheel has had a major impact on material aspects of life, but such impacts has not been as significant or fundamental as that of language, because all other inventions have originated from language.

So, the answers are:

• E (material)
• G (fundamental)

Question 35: Language is very _________, yet composed of just a small number of sounds.

Keywords for this question: composed, small number of sounds

At the beginning of paragraph B, the author states, “In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: .. .. .” Then in the next lines, the writer talks about the limitation of numbers of sounds, “… this marvelous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expression . . . .. “

These lines suggest that language is sophisticated or complex but it comes out of only a few sounds.

So, the answer is: B (complex)

Question 36: Language appears to be ________ to use. However, its sophistication is often overlooked.    

Keywords for this question: appears, sophistication, overlooked

This answer is found in paragraph D. Here, in lines 5-9, the author says, “.. . .. Yet it is precisely this deceptive ease which makes language a victim of its own success since in everyday life its triumphs are usually taken for granted. The wheels of language run so smoothly that one rarely bothers to stop and think about all the resourcefulness and expertise that must have gone into making it tick.” The lines suggest that language provides us ease, and this ease has made people think very little about how sophisticated a language is or how it is being constructed.

So, the answer is: F (easy)

Questions 36-40 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement contradicts the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN]

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

Question 37: Human beings might have achieved their present position without language.

Keywords for this question: human beings, present position, without language

In the very first paragraph, the writer says in the end, “Without language, we could never have embarked on our ascent to unparalleled power over all other animals, and even over nature itself.”

So, the statement directly contradicts with the passage.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 38: The Port-Royal grammarians did justice to the nature of language.

Keywords for this question: Port-Royal grammarians, did justice,

In paragraph B, the writer gives reference to the grammarians of Port-Royal, “. . .. This was how, in 1660, the renowned French grammarians of the Port-Royal abbey near Versailles distilled the essence of language, and no one since has celebrated more eloquently the magnitude of its achievement.”

The lines suggest that the Port-Royal grammarians have most eloquently or beautifully described the essence or nature of language. So, surely they did justice to the nature of language.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 39: A complex idea can be explained more clearly in a sentence than in a single word.

Keywords for this question: complex idea, clearly, sentence

We do not find any such statement as to whether a complex idea can be described more easily or clearly than in a single word. The writer refers to the long Turkish word in paragraph E to explain that one word can clarify a big sentence.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 40: The Sumerians were responsible for starting the recording of events.

Keywords for this question: Sumerians, recording events

In  paragraph  F,  the  writer  states,  “And  if  that  sounds  like  some  one-off  freak,  then  consider Sumerian,  the  language  spoken  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  some  5,000  years  ago  by  the  people  who invented writing and thus enabled the documentation of history.”  So, the statement suggests clearly that the Sumerians invented writing and documentation of history.

So, the answer is: YES

Reading Passage 1: The Story of Silk

Questions 1-9: (Completing notes with ONE WORD ONLY)

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write only one word/ no more than two words to complete notes on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

Question 1: Around 3000 BC, according to legend:

• silkworm cocoon fell into emperor’s wife’s __________

Keywords for the question: 3000 BC, fell into, emperor’s wife

We find the mention of 3000 BC in paragraph no. 1. So, we should try to locate the answer from here. The answer to this question can be found in paragraph no. 1 lines 14-17 where, the author writes, “It just so happened that while she was sipping some tea, one of the cocoons that she had collected landed in the hot tea and started to unravel into a fine thread.”

So, the answer is: tea

Question 2: – emperor’s wife invented a ______ to pull out silk fibres

Keywords for the question: emperor’s wife, invented, pull out silk fibres

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 1 lines 21-24. Here, the author writes, “She also devised a special reel to draw the fibres from the cocoon into a single thread so that they would be strong enough to be woven into fabric.” This means that the emperor’s wife devised or invented a reel to draw out or pull out silk fibres.

So, the answer is: reel                        

Question 3: Only _______ were allowed to produce silk

Keywords for the question: only, were allowed to produce

Paragraph no. 2 contains the answer to this question at the very beginning. Here, in lines 1-2, the author says, “Originally, silkworm farming was solely restricted to women and .. .. . .”. Here, the phrase solely restricted to women means that only women were allowed to farm silk.

So, the answer is: women                  

Question 4: Only _______ were allowed to wear silk

Keywords for the question: only, allowed to wear

In paragraph no. 2 lines 6-7 say, “…. . . only royalty were entitled to have clothes made of silk.” This clearly means that only royalty were allowed to wear silk clothes.

So, the answer is: royalty      

Question 5: Silk used as a form of _______

• g. farmer’s taxes consisted partly of silk

Keywords for the question: silk used, form of, farmer’s taxes  

To locate this answer, we need to find the keywords farmer’s taxes and it can be found in lines 15-16 of paragraph no. 2. So, we need to look for the answer a few lines ahead because ‘farmer’s taxes’ is an example here. In lines 12-16, the writer says, “… . .. .silk was so prized that it was also used as a unit of currency. Government officials were paid their salary in silk, and farmers paid their taxes in grain and silk.”

So, the answer is: currency  

Question 6: Silk used for many purposes

• g. evidence found of _____ made from silk around 168 AD

Keywords for the question: 168 AD, many purposes, evidence

The answer can be found at the end of paragraph 2. Here, in lines 20-23, the writer mentions, “The earliest indication of silk paper being used was discovered in the tomb of a noble who is estimated to have died around 168 AD.” So, it can be understood that paper made from silk was found around 168 AD.

So, the answer is: paper  

Question 7: Merchants use Silk Road to take silk westward and bring back _______ and precious metals.

Keywords for the question: Merchants, Silk Road, bring back, precious metals

In paragraph no. 3, the author talks about trading of silk through Silk Road. In lines 3-5 of the paragraph, the author writes, “…. now known as the Silk Road, taking silk westward and bringing gold, silver and wool to the East.” So, the merchants took silk westward and traded them for precious metals like gold and silver and for wool.

So, the answer is: wool

Question 8: 550 AD: ______ hide silkworm eggs in canes and take them to Constantinople.

Keywords for the question: 550 AD, hide, eggs, canes, Constantinople

Answer to this question can be found in the middle of paragraph no. 4 where we can find the reference to Constantinople. Here, in lines 10-14, the writer says, “According to another legend, monks working for  the Byzantine emperor  Justinian smuggled silkworm eggs to Constantinople in 550 AD, concealed inside hollow bamboo walking canes.”

So, the answer is: monks

Question 9: 20th century: ______ and other manmade fibres cause decline in silk production.

Keywords for the question: 20th century, manmade fibre, cause decline,

To find the answer to this question, we need to locate the keywords ‘20th century’ and ‘decline in silk production’ which is found in the last paragraph. Here, the writer says in lines 7-8, “Then in the twentieth century, new manmade fibres, such as nylon, started to be used in what had traditionally been silk products, such as stockings and parachutes.” So, it can be understood that nylon was a man-made fibre.

So, the answer is: nylon

Question 10-13                        (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE

The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE

The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 10: Gold was the most valuable material transported along the Silk Road.

Keywords for the question: gold, most valuable material

In paragraph 3, the writer mentions in lines 1-8, “Demand for this exotic fabric eventually created the lucrative trade route now known as the Silk Road, taking silk westward and bringing gold, silver and wool to the East. It was named the Silk Road after its most precious commodity, which was considered to be worth more than gold.” So, it can be safely guessed that gold is not the most valuable material, it’s silk.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 11: Most tradesmen only went along certain sections of the Silk Road.

Keywords for the question: tradesmen, certain sections

In paragraph 3, the writer indicates that “The Silk Road stretched over 6,000 kilometers from Eastern China to the Mediterranean Sea .. .. . . Few merchants traveled the entire route; goods were handled mostly by a series of middlemen.”  This clearly means that the journey through Silk Road was long enough for merchants to travel along; therefore, they only travelled along certain sections.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 12: The Byzantines spread the practice of silk production across the West.

Keywords for the question: The Byzantines, spread  

In paragraph 4, from line 3, the writer mentions, “The Byzantines were as secretive as the Chinese, however, and for many centuries the weaving and trading of silk fabric was a strict imperial monopoly. Then in the seventh century, the Arabs conquered Persia, capturing their magnificent silks in the process. Silk production thus spread through Africa, Sicily and Spain as the Arabs swept through these lands.” Therefore, it was the the Arabs, not the Byzantines, who spread the practice of silk production across the West.

So the answer is: FALSE

Question 13: Silk yarn makes up the majority of silk currently exported from China.

Keywords for the question: silk yarn, the majority, exported, China

In the last paragraph, the writer says, “.. .. .in more recent decades, China has gradually recaptured its position as the world’s biggest producer and exporter of silk and silk yarn.” So, it is unclear from the lines whether silk yarn makes up the majority of silk currently exported from China, we only make out that both silk and silk yarn are exported, but there is no information on which product makes up the majority of silk exported from China.

So the answer is: NOT GIVEN

IELTS Cambridge 11 Test 3 : ACADEMIC READING MODULE

Reading Passage 2:

Great Migrations

Questions 14-18: 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 – TRUEThe statement in the question contradicts with the information in the passage – FALSEIf 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 14: Local gulls and migrating arctic terns behave in the same way when offered food.

Keywords for the question: local gulls, migrating arctic terns, behave, same way, offered food,

In paragraph no. 2, the first few lines indicate the answer, “An arctic tern, on its 20,000 km flight from the extreme south of South America to the Arctic circle, will take no notice of a nice smelly herring offered from a bird-watcher’s boat along the way. While local gulls will dive voraciously for such handouts, the tern flies on. .. ..”

The lines suggest that local gulls will be attracted to food offered while arctic terns will not pay attention to food when migrating; they behave differently.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 15: Experts’ definitions of migration tend to vary according to their area of study.

Keywords for the question: experts’ definitions, migration, tend to vary, area of study,

In paragraph no. 4, take a look at the first few lines, “But migration is a complex issue, and biologists define it differently, depending in part on what sorts of animals they study. .. .”

Here,biologists = experts, define = definitions, differently = vary, depending in = according to, what sorts of animals they study = their area of study,

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question 16: Very few experts agree that the movement of aphids can be considered migration.

Keywords for the question: very few experts, agree, movement, aphids, can be considered, migration,

We find the mention of aphids’ movement in paragraph no. 5, “But daily vertical movements by zooplankton in the ocean – upward by night to seek food, downward by day to escape predators – can also be considered migration. So can the movement of aphids when, having depleted the young leaves on one food plant, their offspring then fly onward to a different host plant, with no one aphid ever returning to where it started.”

However, no comparison has been made on experts’ opinion about aphids’ movement considered as migration.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 17: Aphids’ journeys are affected by changes in the light that they perceive.

Keywords for the question: Aphids’ journey, affected, changes, light, they perceive,

In paragraph no. 6, the answer to this question can be traced in lines 6-11, “ . .. . They allow for the fact that, for example, aphids will become sensitive to blue light (from the sky) when it’s time for takeoff on their big journey, and sensitive to yellow light (reflected from tender young leaves) when it’s appropriate to land. .. .”

Here, when it’s time for takeoff on their big journey = aphids’ journey, will become sensitive to blue light & sensitive to yellow light = affected by changes in the light,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 18: Dingle’s aim is to distinguish between the migratory behaviours of different species.

Keywords for the question: Dingle’s aim, distinguish, migratory behaviours, different species,

In paragraph no. 6, the answer is found in the last few lines “.. .. The value of his definition, Dingle argues, is that it focuses attention on what the phenomenon of wildebeest migration shares with the phenomenon of the aphids, and therefore helps guide researchers towards understanding how evolution has produced them all. ..”  

This means the aim of Dingle is to focus attention on the similarities between wildebeest migration and aphid migration, not to distinguish the migratory behaviours of different species. 

So, the answer is: FALSE  

Questions 19-22: Completing/Matching sentences with correct endings

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and end of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 19: According to Dingle, migratory routes are likely to –

Keywords for the question: Dingle, migratory routes, likely to,

Take a look at lines 8-13 of paragraph no. 1, “ . .. . The biologist Hugh Dingle has identified five characteristics that apply, in varying degrees and combinations, to all migrations. They are prolonged movements that carry animals outside familiar habitats; they tend to be linear, . .. .”

Here, tend to = likely to, linear = follow a straight line,

So, the answer is: G (follow a straight line.)

Question 20: To prepare for migration, animals are likely to –

Keywords for the question: prepare, migration, animals, likely to,

Again, in paragraph no. 1 at lines 14-16, the writer says, “ . .. .  they involve special behaviours concerning preparation (such as overfeeding) and arrival; .. .”

Here, preparation = to prepare for migration, overfeeding = eat more than they need,   

So, the answer is: C (eat more than they need for immediate purposes.)

Question 21: During migration, animals are unlikely to –

Keywords for this question:during, migration, animals, unlikely to,

In paragraph no. 1, the writer mentions in lines 17-22, “ .. . And one more: migrating animals maintain an intense attentiveness to the greater mission, which keeps them undistracted by temptations and undeterred by challenges that would turn other animals aside.”

Here, undeterred = unlikely to be discouraged, challenges = difficulties,

So, the answer is: A (be discouraged by difficulties.)

Question 22: Arctic terns illustrate migrating animals’ ability to –

Keywords for this question:Arctic terns, illustrate, migrating animals’ ability,   

The answer is in lines 1-5 of paragraph no. 2, “An arctic tern, on its 20,000 km flight from the extreme south of South America to the Arctic circle, will take no notice of a nice smelly herring offered from a bird-watcher’s boat along the way. . .. .”

Here, will take no notice of = ignore, nice smelly herring (food) = distractions,

So, the answer is: E (ignore distractions.)

Question 23-26: Summary completion with ONE word only

[In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. As these are fill in the blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing ONE, TWO or THREE words for each answer. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.]

Title of the summary: The migration of pronghorns

Question 23: Pronghorns rely on their eyesight and _________ to avoid predators. 

Keywords for this question:Pronghorns, rely on, eyesight, to avoid, predators,    

Let’s take a look at paragraph no. 7 (where the writer talks about the Pronghorns) in lines 24-25, “ .. . Pronghorn, dependent on distance vision and speed to keep safe from predators, .. . .”

Here, dependent on = rely on, vision = eyesight, keep safe = avoid,

So, the answer is: speed  

Question 24: One particular population’s summer habitat is a national park, and their winter home is on the _________ where they go to avoid the danger presented by the snow at that time of year.

Keywords for this answer: one particular population’s summer habitat, national park, winter home, where, go, avoid, danger, snow,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 7 in lines 6-12, “ .. . One population, which spends the summer in the mountainous Grand Teton National Park of the western USA, follows a narrow route from its summer range in the mountains, across a river, and down onto the plains. Here they wait out the frozen months, feeding mainly on sagebrush blown clear of snow.  … .”

Here, One population = one particular population, spends the summer = summer habitat, Grand Teton National Park = national park, they wait out the frozen months = their winter home, 

So, the answer is: plains  

Question 25: However, their route between these two areas contains three ________.

Keywords for this answer: their route, these two area, contains, three,

In paragraph no. 7, lines 13-16 say, “. ..  . These pronghorn are notable for the invariance of their migration route and the severity of its constriction at three bottlenecks. .. . .”

Here, route = migration route,

So, the answers are: bottlenecks

Question 26: One problem is the construction of new homes in a narrow __________ of land on the pronghorns’ route.

Keywords for this answer: one problem, construction of new homes, narrow, land, pronghorns’ route, 

Take a close look at the last few lines of paragraph no. 7, “ . .. At one of the bottlenecks, forested hills rise to form a V, leaving a corridor of open ground only about 150 metres wide, filled with private homes. Increasing development is leading toward a crisis for the pronghorn, threatening to choke off their passageway.”

Here, a crisis = one problem, Increasing development = construction of new homes, only about 150 metres wide = narrow,

So, the answers are: corridor/passageway

 

Reading Passage 3: =Preface to ‘How the other half thinks: Adventures in mathematical reasoning

Questions 27-34:  Identifying information:

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 27: a reference to books that assume a lack of mathematical knowledge

Keywords for this question: books, assume, lack of mathematical knowledge,   

In section D, the first lines say, “Other scientists have written books to explain their fields to non-scientists, but have necessarily had to omit the mathematics, . .. ..”

Here, had to omit the mathematics = had to exclude the subject of mathematics thinking that the readers might have a lack of knowledge in mathematics,

So, the answer is: D

Question 28: the way in which this is not a typical book about mathematics

Keywords for this question: the way, not, typical book, about mathematics,

In section B, take a look at the last lines of the first paragraph and the first lines of the second paragraph,
“. . . I want to reveal not only some of the fascinating discoveries, but, more importantly, the reasoning behind them.

In that respect, this book differs from most books on mathematics written for the general public.”

Here, this book differs from most books on mathematics = not a typical book about mathematics.

The lines suggest that this particular book is not typically a book on mathematics.

So, the answer is: B

Question 29: personal examples of being helped by mathematics

Keywords for this question: personal examples, being helped, by mathematics,

Section G has three paragraphs and paragraphs no. 1 and 2 deal with examples provided in favour of mathematics by a physician and a lawyer.

In the first paragraph, it says, “A physician wrote, ‘The discipline of analytical thought process [in mathematics] prepared me extremely well for medical school. . .. ..”

In the second paragraph, we find another example from the experience of a lawyer.

So, the answer is: G

Question 30: examples of people who each had abilities that seemed incompatible

Keywords for this question: examples, people, each had abilities, seemed incompatible,

Take a look at the last few lines of Section C, “ .. . . To illustrate our human potential, I cite a structural engineer who is an artist, an electrical engineer who is an opera singer, an opera singer who published mathematical research, and a mathematician who publishes short stories.”

Here, we can find the examples of different people having abilities that seem quite incompatible or mismatched.

So, the answer is: C

Question 31: mention of different focuses of books about mathematics

Keywords for this question: different focuses of books, about mathematics,

Section B has two paragraphs and the second paragraph says, “In that respect, this book differs from most books on mathematics written for the general public. Some present the lives of colorful mathematicians. Others describe important applications of mathematics. Yet others go into mathematical procedures, but assume that the reader is adept in using algebra.”

Here, we can learn from these lines that books about mathematics have different focuses.

So, the answer is: B

Question 32: a contrast between reading this book and reading other kinds of publication

Keywords for this question:  contrast, reading this book, reading other kinds of publication,

In Section E, look at lines 4-5, “ . .. . . You will turn these pages much more slowly than when reading a novel or a newspaper. .. .”

Here, a novel or a newspaper = other kinds of publication,

So, the answer is: E

Question 33: a claim that the whole of the book is accessible to everybody

Keywords for this question: claim, the whole of the book, accessible, everybody,

Section A of the passage contains two paragraphs.

In the first paragraph, the writer says in lines 6-7, “ . . .. Each of the eight chapters in this book illustrates this phenomenon. Anyone can understand every step in the reasoning.”

Then, in the second paragraph, the writer says again, “ . .. . . Thus all readers will have the chance to participate in a mathematical experience, to appreciate the beauty of mathematics, and to become familiar with its logical, yet intuitive, style of thinking.”

These lines suggest that the complete book is accessible to anyone.

So, the answer is: A

Question 34: a reference to different categories of intended readers of this book

Keywords for this question: different categories, intended readers, of this book,

In section F the author talks about categories of readers who can enjoy this book. “ .. . As I wrote, I kept in mind two types of readers: those who enjoyed mathematics until they were turned off by an unpleasant episode, usually around fifth grade, and mathematics aficionados, who will find much that is new throughout the book. This book also serves readers who simply want to sharpen their analytical skills . ….”

So, the answer is: F

Questions 35-40: Completing sentences with ONE WORD ONLY

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write ONE WORD ONLY to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question 35: Some areas of both music and mathematics are suitable for someone who is a ___________.

Keywords for this question: some areas, both music and mathematics, suitable for,

Take a look at lines 1-2 in section A, as the writer says, “Occasionally, in some difficult musical compositions, there are beautiful, but easy parts – parts so simple a beginner could play them. So it is with mathematics as well.

Here, easy parts – parts so simple = suitable for someone,

So, the answer is: beginner

Question 36: It is sometimes possible to understand advanced mathematics using no more than a limited knowledge of ___________.

Keywords for this question: sometimes possible, understand, advanced mathematics, using, no more than, limited knowledge,

In section A, lines 3-6 say, “ . … .. There are some discoveries in advanced mathematics that do not depend on specialized knowledge, not even on algebra, geometry, or trigonometry. Instead, they may involve, at most, a little arithmetic, such as ‘the sum of two odd numbers is even’, and common sense. … … .”

Here, at most, a little = no more than a limited knowledge of,

 So, the answer is: arithmetic

Question 37: The writer intends to show that mathematics requires _________ thinking, as well as analytical skills.

Keywords for this question: the writer, intends to show, mathematics, requires, thinking, analytical skills,

The answer can be found in section C lines 3-4, “ . .. . As the chapters will illustrate, mathematics is not restricted to the analytical and numerical; intuition plays a significant role.”

Here, the writer means that in addition to analytical skills, mathematics requires or needs intuition, or intuitive thinking.

So, the answer is: intuitive

Question 38: Some books written by _________ have had to leave out the mathematics that is central to their theories.

Keywords for this question: some books, written by, had to leave out, mathematics, central to their theories,

To find the answer to this question, we have to go to section D. Here, in lines 1-2, the author writes, “Other scientists have written books to explain their fields to non-scientists, but have necessarily had to omit the mathematics, although it provides the foundation of their theories. . .. .”

Here, had to omit = have had to leave out, provides the foundation = central,

So, the answer is: scientists  

Question 39: The writer advises non-mathematical readers to perform __________ while reading.

Keywords for this question: the writer, advices, non-mathematical readers, perform, while reading,

In section E, the author says, “Still, the non-mathematical reader can go far in understanding mathematical reasoning.  . .. . .. . . . . . It may help to have a pencil and paper ready to check claims and carry out experiments.”  

Here, carry out = perform,

So, the answer is: experiments  

Question 40: A lawyer found that studying __________ helped even more than other areas of mathematics in the study of law.

Keywords for this question: lawyer, found, studying, helped, more than other areas, mathematics, study of law,

In Section G, paragraph no. 2, the writer mentions a lawyer, “A lawyer made the same point, “Although I had no background in law – not even one political science course — I did well at one of the best law schools. I attribute much of my success there to having learned, through the study of mathematics, and, in particular, theorems, how to analyze complicated principles. . ..”

Here, I did well at one of the best law schools = helped even more than other areas of mathematics,

So, the answer is: theorems   

Reading Passage 1 : Raising the Mary Rose

Questions 1-4 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN]

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

Question 1: There is some doubt about what caused the Mary Rose to sink.

Keywords for the question: some doubt, caused the Mary Rose to sink

To find the answer to this question, we need to locate the keyword ‘some doubt’ which can be found in paragraph no. 1, lines 10-16. Here, the author writes, “Accounts of what happened to the ship vary: while witnesses agree that she was not hit by the French, some maintain that she was outdated, over-laden and sailing too low in the water, others that she was by undisciplined crew.” Here, Accounts ….. vary: means that the accounts on how the ship sank has some doubts.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 2: The Mary Rose was the only ship to sink in the battle of 19^th July 1545.

Keywords for the question: the only ship to sink, in the battle

As we found information about the sinking of the Mary Rose in paragraph no. 1, we look for the answer to this question in the same paragraph. But we find no reference to whether Mary Rose was the only ship that sank in the battle because this paragraph and the following paragraphs only discusses about the Mary Rose.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN                   

Question 3: Most of one side of the Mary Rose lay undamaged under the sea.

Keywords for the question: Most of one side, lay undamaged

Paragraph no. 2 talks about the undamaged part of the Mary Rose. Look carefully at lines 10-11. The lines say, “Because  of  the  way  the  ship  sank,  nearly  all  of  the starboard half survived intact.”

Here, nearly all of  the starboard half matches with Most of one side, survived intact matches with lay undamaged`       

So, the answer is: TRUE                   

Question 4: Alexander Mckee knew that the wreck would contain many valuable historical objects.

Keywords for the question: Alexander Mckee, the wreck would contain, valuable historical objects

We find the mention of Alexander Mckee in paragraph no. 4 and 5. However, paragraph no. 4 does not have any information about valuable historical objects. But take a close look at lines 5-9 of paragraph no. 5, “McKee and his team now knew for certain that they had found the wreck, but were as yet unaware that it also housed a treasure trove of beautifully preserved artefacts.” So, these lines indicate that Mckee and his team were not aware that the ship would have precious artefacts or valuable historical objects.

So, the answer is: FALSE     

Questions 5-8     (Matching statements with the correct date/year)

[In these questions, the candidates need to match statements with the correct dates or years. It is somewhat similar to Matching statements with Researchers/ Writers/ Persons. You need to scan the lines with dates or years to find the match with the statements. Remember that the answers may not follow a sequence or order.]

Question 5: A search for the Mary Rose was launched.

Keywords for the question: search, launched

The first parts of paragraph no. 4 have the answer to this question. Here, in lines 1-5, the author states, “The Mary Rose then faded into obscurity for another hundred years. But in 1965, military historian and amateur diver Alexander McKee, in conjunction with the British Sub-Aqua Club, initiated a project called ‘Solent Ships’.” Here, initiated = launched.

So, the answer is: C

Question 6: One person’s exploration of the Mary Rose site stopped.  

Keywords for the question: exploration, stopped  

We can find the reference to Diver John Deane’s search in the Mary Rose in paragraph no. 3. Then in lines 13-14, the writer explains, “…. …Deane continued diving on the site intermittently until 1840, ….. . .. ” So, this means Deane stopped his exploration in 1840.

So, the answer is: B

Question 7: It was agreed that the hull of the Mary Rose should be raised.

Keywords for the question: agreed, the hull, should be raised  

In paragraph no. 5, the author talks about the decision about raising the hull of the Mary Rose. In the last lines of the paragraph, the author writes, “While the original aim was to raise the hull if at all feasible, the operation was not given the go-ahead until January 1982, when all the necessary information was available.”

So, the answer is: G

Question 8: The site of the Mary Rose was found by chance.

Keywords for the question: found by chance

Answer to this question can be found in the first lines of paragraph no. 3. Here, the writer says, “Then,  on  16  June  1836,  some  fishermen  in  the  Solent  found  that  their  equipment  was caught on an underwater obstruction, which turned out to be the Mary Rose.”

So, the answer is: A

Questions 9-13 (Labeling the diagram with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write only one word/ no more than two words to label the diagram on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.]

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question 9: ________ attached to hull by wires 

Keywords for the question: attached, by wires  

In the last paragraph, the writer says in lines 6-7 “The hull was attached to a lifting frame via a network of bolts and lifting wires.”

So, the answer is: lifting frame

Question 10: ______ to prevent hull being sucked into mud

Keywords for the question: prevent, sucked into mud  

The answer lies in lines 8-10 of the last paragraph where the writer says, “The problem of the hull being sucked back downwards into the mud was overcome by using 12 hydraulic jacks.”

So, the answer is: hydraulic jacks

Question 11: legs are placed into ________

Keywords for the question: legs, placed into

We find the answer to this question in lines 22-24 of the last paragraph. The author says, “This required precise positioning to locate the legs into the ‘stabbing guides’ of the lifting cradle.”

So, the answer is: stabbing guides

Question 12: hull is lowered into _________

Keywords for the question: hull, lowered into  

The answer is found in lines 18-21 of the last paragraph. The author says, “In this stage, the lifting frame was fixed to a hook attached to a crane, and the hull was lifted completely clear of the seabed and transferred underwater into the lifting cradle.” Here, transferred underwater into = lowered into

So the answer is: lifting cradle

Question 13: _____ used as extra protection for the hull

Keywords for the question: used as, extra protection    

The answer is found in lines 3-4 of the last paragraph, “The lifting cradle was designed to fit the hull using archaeological survey drawings, and was fitted with airbags to provide additional cushioning for the hull’s delicate timber framework.”

Here, additional cushioning = extra protection

So the answer is: airbags

Reading Passage 2: What destroyed the civilization of Easter Island?

Questions 14-20: (List of headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 14: Paragraph A

In paragraph A, the answer to this question is found at the end in lines 12-13 where the author mentions, “Modern science – linguistic, archeological, and genetic evidence – has definitely proved the moai builders were Polynesians, ……”. Here, the phrase definitely proved means that the fact has no dispute.

So, the answer is: ii (An undisputed answer to a question about the moai)

Question 15: Paragraph B

In paragraph B lines 9-12, the author writes, “When the islanders (the Rapanui people) cleared the forests for firewood and farming, the forests didn’t grow back. As trees became scarce and they could no longer construct wooden canoes for fishing, they ate birds. Soil erosion decreased their crop yields.” All these indicate that the food resources actually decreased or diminished.

So, the answer is: ix (Diminishing food resources)

Question 16: Paragraph C

The very first line of paragraph C has the answer. Here, the writer says, “The moai, he thinks, accelerated the self-destruction.” Then, the writer supports this idea and presented a list of what the moai (the statues) did, for example, competing by building ever bigger figures, laying the moai on wooden sledges, hauling over log rails, clearing land etc. So, the right answer for this paragraph has to be how the statues made the situation worse.

So, the answer is: viii (How the statues made a situation worse)

Question 17: Paragraph D

In Paragraph D, the answer to this question can be traced simply by looking at the last line. The author writes, “… .. . the prehistoric Rapanui were pioneers of sustainable farming.” So, this line indicates that the Rapanui people were the people to innovate some environmental friendly farming methods. The author supports it with previous lines, “.. .. . archaeological excavations indicate that the Rapanui went to heroic efforts to protect the resources of their wind-lashed,  infertile fields.  They built thousands of circular stone windbreaks and gardened inside them, and used broken volcanic rocks to keep the soil moist”.

So, the answer is: i (Evidence of innovative environment management practices)

Question 18: Paragraph E

In Paragraph E, the answer is found in line no. 4. “.. .. Hunt and Lipo say, archeological evidence backs up Rapanui folklore… .. ” Here, backs up means support, folklore means local belief.

So, the answer is: iv (A theory which supports a local belief)

Question 19: Paragraph F

In paragraph F, the author mentions a number of damages for which the Rapanui people were not responsible, for instance, rats and some deadly diseases. The first line gives the indication, “Moreover, Hunt and Lipo are convinced that the settler were not wholly responsible for the loss of the island’s trees. . . .”  Then, in line 4, he talks about the rats, “.. .. The rats arrived along with the settlers… … .” and in lines 10-11 the writer mentions the diseases, “.. .. of the Europeans, who introduced deadly diseases to which islanders had no immunity”.

So, the answer is: vii (Destruction outside the inhabitants’ control)

Question 20: Paragraph G     

In Paragraph G, the writer talks about two different views of the Rapanui. In one side, Hunt and Lipo provides the vision that the moai builders were “…  peaceful  and  ingenious” (lines 1 & 2)., while we find another view that the Rapanui “were reckless destroyers ruining their own environment and society.” (lines 2 &3). And the writer agrees with both vision in line 4. “Whichever is the case.. .. .” So, the correct heading for this paragraph has to be two opposing views about the Rapanui people.

So, the answer is: vi (Two opposing views about the Rapanui people)

Question 21-24       (Summary completion with ONE word only)

(In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill-in-the-blanks questions. As these are fill-in-the-blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing ONE, TWO or THREE words for each answer. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.)

As the heading of the summary is Jared Diamond’s View, we have to start looking for answers from paragraph B.

Question 21: Diamond believes that the Polynesian settlers on Rapa Nui destroyed its forests, cutting down its trees for fuel and clearing land for _________.

Keywords for this question:destroyed forests, cutting down trees, for fuel, clearing land    

In paragraph B, the writer mentions in lines 5-9, “US scientist Jared Diamond believes that the Rapanui people – descendants of Polynesian settlers wrecked their own environment. They had unfortunately settled on an extremely fragile island – dry, cool, and too remote to be properly fertilised by windblown volcanic ash. When islanders cleared the forests for firewood and farming, the forests didn’t grow back.”

It can be gathered from the lines that the islanders cleared the forests for two reasons, firewood (fuel) and farming.

So, the answer is: farming

Question 22: When the islanders were no longer able to build the _____ they needed to go fishing, …. ..

Keywords for this question:no longer able to build, needed to go fishing

The answer is in line 10 of paragraph B. “As trees became scarce and they could no longer construct wooden canoes for fishing, they ate birds.” This means that the islanders failed to construct (build) canoes with which they used to go fishing.

So, the answer is: canoes

Question 23: . . … they began using the island’s _______ as a food source, according to Diamond.

Keywords for this question:began using, island’s, food source 

We came to know from the previous question that the islanders failed to build canoes with which they could fish. And so, what did they do? Line 10 of paragraph B gives us the clue. “As trees became scarce and they could no longer construct wooden canoes for fishing, they ate birds.” They started eating the birds of the island.

So, the answer is: birds

Question 24: ….  .. .and that the methods of transporting the statues needed not only a great number of people, but also a great deal of _______.

Keywords for this answer: methods of transporting, statues, great number of people,   

In paragraph C, we find the reference to the construction of the moai (the big statues). Here, in lines 4-5, the writer talks about how they might have moved the statues. “Diamond thinks they laid the moai on wooden sledges, hauled over log rails, but that required both a lot of wood and a lot of people.”

Here, required = needed, a lot of people = a great number of people.

So, the answer is: wood

Question 25-26:          (Choosing TWO answers from given options)

Questions 25 and 26: On what points do Hunt and Lipo disagree with Diamond?

To find these answers, we need to look at points where Diamond discussed a thing Hunt and Lipo disagreed with him.

Let’s take a look at paragraph C where Diamond presumes, and the writer mentions, “they (the Rapanui people) laid the moai on wooden sledges; hauled over log rails, but that required both a lot of wood and a lot of people.” However, in paragraph E, Hunt and Lipo give their opinion, and the author says here, “moving the moai required few people and no wood.” So, it can be gathered that Hunt and Lipo’s suggestion differs from Diamond’s about how the moai were transported. Again, in paragraph C, Diamond believes that the moai (the statues) accelerated the destruction of the island whereas in paragraph F, the writer opines, “Hunt and Lipo are convinced that the settlers were not wholly responsible for the loss of the island’s trees.” So, here, Hunt and Lipo disagree with Diamond’s view about the impact of the moai on Rapanui society.

So, the answers are: B and C  

Reading Passage 3:Neuroaesthetics

Questions 27-30:  (Multiple Choice Questions)

[Multiple choice questions are a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. It is also found in the Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming technique might come handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.]

[TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 27: In the second paragraph, the writer refers to a shape-matching test in order to illustrate

Keywords for this question: shape-matching test, illustrate  

In paragraph 2, the writer mentions in lines 4-6, “We certainly do have an inclination to follow the crowd. When asked to make … . . .. .  people often choose a definitively wrong answer if they see others doing the same.”

This clearly means that the writer gives reference to a shape-matching test with the aim of illustrating human tendency that is influenced by the opinions of others.

So, the answer is: C

Question 28: Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings indicate that people

Keywords for this question: Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings

In paragraph 3, in the last few lines, the writer mentions what Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s experiment shows. “… . .. . volunteers generally preferred the work of renowned artists, even when they believed it was by an animal or a child. It seems that the viewers can sense the artist’s vision in paintings, even if they can’t explain why.”  Therefore, Angelina Hawley-Dolan’s findings point out that people have the capacity to recognize the intention behind artwork.

So, the answer is: D

Question 29: Results of studies involving Robert Pepperell’s pieces suggest that people

Keywords for this question: results of studies, Pepperell’s pieces, suggest

At the end of paragraph 4, in lines 6-7, the author argues that “It would seem that the brain sees these images as puzzles, and the  harder  it  is  to  decipher  the  meaning,  the  more  rewarding  is  the  moment  of  recognition.”  This indicates that the results of studies involving Robert Pepperell’s pieces give hint that people find it satisfying to work out what a painting signifies.

Here, satisfying means rewarding, work out means decipher, what a painting means = the meaning

So, the answer is: B

Question 30: What do the experiments described in the fifth paragraph suggest about the paintings of Mondrian?

Keywords for this question: experiments, suggest, paintings of Mondrian

In the fifth paragraph, in lines 3-5, the writer points to the fact that “.. .. .. eye-tracking studies confirm that they (Mondrian’s) works are meticulously composed, and that simply rotating a piece radically changes the way we view it.” This implies that the paintings of Mondrian are more carefully designed than they seem to be.

Here, experiments means studies

So, the answer is: A

Questions 31-33: (Summary completion with the given list of words)

[In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. As these are fill in the blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing the answers from given list of words for each answer and candidates must maintain this condition. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps. The letters for the words are the answers, so candidates must not put down the words.]

Title of the summary: Art and the Brain

Question 31: The discipline of neuroaesthetics aims to bring scientific objectivity to the study of art. Neurological studies of the brain, for example, demonstrate the impact which Impressionist paintings have on our ___________.

Keywords for this question: the impact, Impressionist paintings have on our

As the question starts with the aim of neuroaesthetics, we have to look for the answer in the first paragraph.  In the first paragraph, the writer says in lines 3-5, “The blurred imagery of Impressionist paintings seems to stimulate the brain’s amygdala, for instance. Since the amygdala plays a crucial role in our feelings, that finding might explain why many people find these pieces so moving.” This indicates that Impressionist paintings greatly impact our feelings.

Here, emotions = feelings

So, the answer is: C

Question 32: Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool believes many artists give their works the precise degree of _______ which most appeals to the viewer’s brain.

Keywords for this question:  Alex Forsythe, precise degree, most appeals to the viewer’s brain

For this question, we have to jump to paragraph no. 7 where the writer mentions of Alex Forsythe. In paragraph 7, in lines 1-3, the writer says, “In another experiment, Alex Forsythe of the University of Liverpool analysed the visual intricacy of different pieces of art, and her results suggest that many artists use a key level of detail to please the brain.” Here, the writer means that Alex Forsythe believes many artists furnish their works with the exact scale of visual intricacy or complexity which most appeals to the viewer’s brain.

So, the answer is: B

Question 33: She also observes that pleasing works of art often contain certain repeated ________ which occur frequently in the natural world.

Keywords for this question: pleasing works of art, repeated

In paragraph 7, the writer argues in lines 4-8, “What’s more, appealing pieces both abstract and representational, show signs of ‘fractals’ -repeated motifs recurring in different scales. Fractals are common throughout nature, for example, in the shapes of mountain peaks of branches of trees. It is possible that our visual system, which evolved in the great outdoors, finds it easier to process such patterns.”

So, pleasing or appealing works of art or pieces frequently contain certain repeated motifs/ patterns/ images which commonly appear in the natural world.

So, the answer is: H

Questions 34-39: (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN)

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

The statement in the question matches the claim of the writer in the text- YESThe statement in the question contradicts the claim of the writer in the text- NOThe statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

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

Question 34: Forsythe’s findings contradicted previous beliefs on the function of ‘fractals’ in art.

Keywords for this question: contradicted, previous beliefs

We find about Alex Forsythe in paragraph 7. But we find no information regarding any comparison between Forsythe’s findings and any previous beliefs in this paragraph and the following paragraph.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 35: Certain ideas regarding the link between ‘mirror neurons’ and art appreciation require further verification.

Keywords for this question: link, mirror neurons, art appreciation, further verification

In paragraph 8, the writer says in lines 1-5 “It is also intriguing that the brain appears to process movement when we see a handwritten letter, as if we are replaying the writer’s moment of creation.  This has led some to wonder whether Pollock’s works feel so dynamic because the brain reconstructs the energetic actions the artist used as he painted.  This may be down to our brain’s ‘mirror neurons’, which are known to mimic others’ actions.  The hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested…”

Here, require further verification = the hypothesis will need to be thoroughly tested

So, the answer is: YES

Question 36: People’s taste in paintings depends entirely on the current artistic trends of the period.

Keywords for this question: taste, current artistic trends

At the end of paragraph 8, in lines 7-9, the writer mentions, “While the fashion of the time might shape what is currently popular, works that are best adapted to our visual system may be the most likely to linger once the trends of previous generations have been forgotten.” Therefore, we can safely say it is incorrect that people’s taste in paintings depends entirely on the current artistic trends of the period. It may stay as long as people remember the previous trends.

Here, trend of the period = fashion of the time

So, the answer is: NO

Question 37: Scientists should seek to define the precise rules which govern people’s reactions to works of art.

Keywords for this question: define precise rules, govern, reactions

The last paragraph has the answer to this question. The writer says in lines 2-3, “It would, however, be foolish to reduce art appreciation to set a set of scientific laws.”  Therefore, it can be gathered from the lines, it is not correct that scientists should seek to define the precise rules which govern people’s reactions to works of art.

• Here, rules = laws, people’s reactions to works of art = art appreciation

So, the answer is: NO

Question 38: Art appreciation should always involve taking into consideration the cultural context in which an artist worked.

Keywords for this question: always, cultural context

In  the  last  paragraph,  the  writer  says in lines 3-4,  “We  shouldn’t  underestimate  the  importance  of  the  style  of  a particular artist, their place in history and the artistic environment of their time.” This means that we should consider the cultural context in which an artist worked.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 39: It is easier to find meaning in the field of science than in that of art.

Keywords for this question: easier, meaning in science, art

In the final paragraph, we find a comparison between art and science, but they are only compared in terms of “looking for systems and decoding meaning so that we can view and appreciate the world in a new way”. There is no comparison in terms of which one’s meaning is easy or difficult.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 40: (Most appropriate subtitle)

[In this kind of question (choosing title or subtitle), most of the students may face big difficulty. The good point about the question is that by the time you face a question, you have already answered all the other questions. Try to locate the main idea of the passage for this question. In most cases, the introduction, the second paragraph, and the conclusion may help you to trace this question.]

Question 40: What would be the most appropriate subtitle for the article?

In this passage about Neuroaesthectics, the writer gives reference to some scientific experiments or studies, theories and knowledge of the methods the brain shows reaction to abstract artworks. The main topic is mentioned in Paragraph no. 1 in the study of past masterpieces (“……has already given us a better understanding of many masterpieces). Interestingly, the writer asks in lines 1-2 of the second paragraph:  “Could the same approach also shed light on abstract twentieth-century pieces .. ..  . . …?”

Then, our previous reading of the whole article shows that the writer tries to answer this question with some scientific experiments and theories of scientists and artists on artwork (Angelina Hawley-Dolan, Robert Pepperell, Mondrian, Oshin vartanian, Alex Forsythe, etc.) as a follow-through. For this reason, the most suitable subtitle for this article is some scientific insights into how the brain responds to abstract art.

So, the answer is: A

Reading Passage 1: Crop-growing skyscrapers

Questions 1-7: Completing sentences by filling in the gaps (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

Indoor Farming

1. Some food plants, including ­­­_______, are already grown indoors.

The key phrase for the answer is: already grown indoors

The answer is found in the first sentence of Paragraph 2 where the author states, “The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes and other produce has been in vogue for some time”.

The example of only tomatoes clarifies the answer to the question. In the question, the word including is synonymous to for example.

More clues: in vogue for some time = already, hothouse production= grown indoors

Answer: tomatoes

• Vertical farms would be located in _________, meaning that there would be less need to take them long distances to customers.

Key words / phrases for the answer are: vertical farm, located, distances

The answer is found in line 15 of Paragraph 2 where the author says, “Situated in the heart of urban centres, they (vertical farms) would drastically reduce the amount of transportation required to bring food to customers”.

More clues: situated= located, transportation= distance, drastically reduce= would be less

Answer: urban centers / centres

• Vertical farms could use methane from plants and animals to produce ________.

Key words for the answer are methane, produce

The answer is found in paragraph 4 where the word methane is mentioned. Therefore, we should focus on it. Here, line 15 says, “Although the system would consume energy, it would return energy to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants”.

More clues:  return = produced as a result

Answer: energy

• The consumption of ______ would be cut because agricultural vehicles would be unnecessary.

Key words for this answer are consumption, cut, vehicles

The answer is found in lines 19, 20, 21 of Paragraph 4 where the writer states, “It would also dramatically reduce fossil fuel use, by cutting out the need for tractors, ploughs and shipping.”

More clues: use = consumption, reduce = cut, tractors = vehicles

Answer: fossil fuels

• The fact that vertical farms would need ______ light is a disadvantage.

Key words for the answer are need, light, and disadvantage

The answer is found in the opening of Paragraph 5 where the writer states, “A major drawback of vertical farming, however, is that the plants would require artificial light”. So, here we find a description of light which is artificial.

More clues: require = need, drawback = disadvantage

Answer: artificial

• One form of vertical farming involves planting in ______ which are not fixed.

Key words / phrases for this answer are one form, planting, not fixed.

The answer is found in the opening of Paragraph 6 where the author mentions, “One variation on vertical farming that has been developed is to grow plants in stacked trays that move on rails”.

More clues: One variation =One form, move on rails = not fixed

Answer: (stacked) trays

• The most probable development is that food will be grown on ___ in towns and cities.

Key phrases/ words for the answer are most probable, grown on, towns and cities

The answer is found at the ending of the passage, the author mentions, “Most experts currently believe it is far more likely that we will simply use the space available on urban rooftops.”

More clues: far more likely = most probable, urban = towns and cities

Answer: (urban) rooftops

Questions 8-13: True, False, Not Given (You have to write whether the statements Yes, No or there is no information in the passage about it.)

• Methods for predicting the Earth’s population have recently changed.

Key phrase for the answer is have recently changed

In the first paragraph, the author says, “applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends”. With this the author guesses the future population. However, there is no information about current / recent changes in population predicting methods.  Therefore, we have to take the answer as NOT GIVEN.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

More clues: predict = estimate, demographic trends = population change

• Human beings are responsible for some of the destruction to food-producing land.

Key words for the answer are responsible and destruction.

In Paragraph 3, line 4 continues, “….. we despoiled most of the land we work, often turning verdant, natural eco-zones into semi-arid deserts”. It clearly tells us that human action is the reason for the injury to agricultural land. Humans destroyed most of the crop-growing land, causing natural eco-zones to be turned into semi-arid deserts. So, the statement is TRUE.

Answer: True

More clues: natural areas of plants and animals = eco-zones, semi-arid = with low rate of water,

1. The crops produced in vertical farms will depend on the season.

Key words for this answer are depend, seasons, produced

At the outset of paragraph 2, the writer defines a benefit of vertical farming which is “sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (through year-round production of all crops)”.

In short, crops are produced in a controlled condition of the environment and therefore not influenced by natural conditions. For this reason, the statement is FALSE. The production will not depend on the season.

Answer: False

1. Some damage to food crops is caused by climate change.

Key phrase for this answer is climate change.

The answer is in Paragraph 3 states, “However, more often than not now, due to a rapidly changing climate, this is not what happens. Massive floods, long droughts, hurricanes and severe monsoons take their toll each year, destroying millions of tons of valuable crops”. Therefore, because of climate change, unpleasant natural disasters result in the damage of many valuable crops. For this, the statement is TRUE.

More clues: plants which are grown for food = crops

Answer: True

1. Fertilisers will be needed for certain crops in vertical farms.

Key phrase for this answer is fertilisers needed

The answer is located in the center of paragraph 4 where the writer states, “All the food could be grown organically, eliminating the need for herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers”.

It is clear that there is zero need for fertilisers to grow crops in vertical farms. The statement opposes the information in the passage and so the statement is FALSE.

Answer: False

1. Vertical farming will make plants less likely to be affected by infectious diseases.

Key word / phrase for this answer are less, infectious diseases

The answer lies in paragraph 4 where the writer says, “The system would greatly reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface”. The method (vertical farming) would decrease infectious diseases, which makes plants less likely to be affected. So, the statement is TRUE.

Answer: True

Reading Passage 2: The Falkirk Wheel (A unique engineering achievement)

Questions 14-19 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN]

1. The Falkirk Wheel has linked the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal for the first time in history.

Keywords for this question: linked, Forth and Clyde Canal, Union Canal, first time,

In paragraph 2 lines 4-9 say, “….Historically, the two canals had been joined near the town of Falkirk by a sequence of 11 locks – enclosed sections of canal in which the water level could be raised or lowered- that stepped down across a distance of 1.5 km. This has been dismantled in 1933, .. … .” These lines mean that both the canals had been linked before, so this is not the first time.

So, the answer is: FALSE

1. There was some opposition to the design of the Falkirk Wheel at first.

Keywords for this question: opposition, design, at first

As the most important keyword for this question is ‘opposition’, we need to find any word that relates to the word ‘opposition’. Apparently, there is no such information in the text.  According to paragraph 3, many ideas were submitted for the project but the writer does not show whether anyone opposed the plan that was approved.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

1. The Falkirk Wheel was initially put together at the location where its components were manufactured.

Keywords for this question: initially, put together, location, components, manufactured

As this question asks for the location of the wheel, we need to find the information about the Wheel’s location.

According to paragraph 4, lines 1-4, “The various parts of the Falkirk Wheel were all constructed and assembled at Butterley Engineering’s Steelworks in Derbyshire.. . . .. .”.

So the statement and the information in the text have the same meaning.

So, the answer is: TRUE

1. The Falkirk Wheel is the only boat lift in the world which has steel sections bolted together by hand.

Keywords for this question: only boat lift, bolted together by hand

At the end of paragraph 4, the writer says, “Over 45,000 bolt holes were matched with their bolts, and each bolt was hand-tightened.”

So, the writer does mention bolts being hand-tightened. But, we do not find any information which confirms that it was the only boat with such a unique feature.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

1. The weight of the gondolas varies according to the size of boat being carried.

Keywords for this question: weight, varies, size of boat

The answer can be found in paragraph 5 lines 6-7. Here, the writer says, “….These gondolas always weigh the same, whether or not they are carrying boats.”

It means that the weight is always the same.

So, the answer is: FALSE

1. The construction of the Falkirk Wheel site took into account the presence of a nearby ancient monument.

Keywords for this question: construction, presence, ancient, monument

In relation to the last paragraph, “the Wheel could not be constructed to elevate boats over the full 35-metre difference between the two canals, owing to the presence of historically important Antonine Wall”. Here, historically important means ancient.  So, we can understand from here that the construction of the Wheel is influenced by the presence of an ancient monument.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 20-26 (Labeling diagram)

[In this type of question, candidates will be asked to work on a picture and fill in some gaps in the given points or labels. There is a condition to write the answers with no more than one, two, or three words. An interesting point about this type of question is that the answers for these questions are generally found around one or two paragraphs. The picture or diagram can become useful because it may help a lot to find critical information.]

Title of the diagram: How a boat is lifted on the Falkirk Wheel

• A pair of ______ are lifted in order to shut out water from canal basin.

Keywords for this question: a pair, lifted, shut out water

In lines 4-7 of paragraph 6, we can find these, “Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin”. Now, here we find some matches with keywords.

Here,  a pair of = two, lifted = raised, shut out water = seal off from water,

So, the answer is: gates

• A _______ is taken out, enabling Wheel to rotate

Keywords for this question: taken out, rotate

The writer mentions in the fourth sentence of paragraph 6, “A hydraulic clamp ______ , is removed, allowing the Wheel to turn”.

We find some matches with keywords here, taken out = removed, rotate = turn,

So, the answer is: clamp

• Hydraulic motors drive_______

Keywords for this question: drive

As far as paragraph 6 is concerned, “In the central machine room an array of ten hydraulic motors then begins to rotate the central axle“.

So it means that the hydraulic motors drive, or control the axle by rotating it.

So, the answer is: axle

• A range of different-sized ________ ensures boat keeps upright.

Keywords for this question: different-sized, upright

Again in paragraph 6, lines 16-21 say, “As the wheel rotates, the gondolas are kept in the upright position by a simple gearing system. Two eight-metre-wide cogs orbit a fixed inner cog of the same width connected by two smaller cogs…..” Here, the writer says that the writer illustrates the gearing system which comprises many cogs of different sizes. So, the word in the blank is cogs.

So, the answer is: cogs

• Boat reaches top Wheel, then moves directly onto…

Keywords for this question: moves directly onto

If we look closely at the end of paragraph 6, the author indicates, “When the gondola reaches the top, the boat passes straight onto the aqueduct situated 24 metres above the canal basin”. Here, *move onto=pass onto, * directly=straight

So, the answer is: aqueduct

• Boat travels through tunnel beneath Roman __________

Keywords for this question: beneath, Roman

The end of the text provides us with the answer.

Here, in the last lines of the last paragraph, the writer says, “Boats travel under this wall via a tunnel …..”.

“This wall” indicates the wall built by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. Also, here under means beneath.

So, the answer is: wall

• ________ raise boat 11m to level of Union Canal.

Keywords for this question: raise, reach

The final paragraph begins with special information. “The remaining 11 metres of lift needed to reach the Union Canal is achieved by a pair of locks“. 

So, here it means that the locks actually lift or raise the boat.

So, the answer is: locks

Reading Passage 3: Reducing the Effects of Climate Change

Questions 27-29 (Identifying Information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. For this passage, first answer questions 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to questions 1-3. And just like the List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

• mention of a geo-engineering project based on an earlier natural phenomenon.

Keywords for this question: geo-engineering, earlier natural phenomenon

Here, the question asks us to find whether a geo-engineering project had been modelled on any natural phenomenon. We can skim the paragraphs one by one and in paragraph D, we find the mention of a natural phenomenon or disaster in lines 3-4, where it states, “The idea is modelled on historic volcanic explosions, such as that of Mount Pinatubo…… . .”

So, the answer is: D

• an example of a successful use of geo-engineering.

Keywords for this question: successful use, geo-engineering

In paragraph B lines 1-2 say, “Geo-engineering has been shown to work, at least on a small localized scale. For decades, May Day parades in Moscow have taken place under clear blue skies, aircraft having deposited dry ice, silver iodide and cement powder to disperse cloud.’’

We can easily find here an example of a successful use of geo-engineering.

So, the answer is: B

• a common definition of geo-engineering

Keywords for this question: common, definition

Generally, a definition of anything can be found in the first few paragraphs. So, we need to look carefully in Paragraph A. In paragraph A lines 7-8 state, “…. … .  .geo-engineering – a term which generally refers to the intentional large-scale manipulation of the environment.”

Here, refers to = means / defines

So, the answer is: A

Questions 30-36 (Completing table)

[Here, the candidates are given a table with two portions where there are some blanks. Candidates must fill up these blanks with ONE WORD only. Finding keywords quickly can help here a lot.]

• to create a _________ that would reduce the amount of light reaching Earth.

Keywords for this question: create, would reduce, light reaching earth

Look carefully through the first few paragraphs and try to find out the word ‘spacecraft’ because this word is found in the Procedure column in the question. The mention of the word ‘spacecraft’ can be found in paragraph B, line 6. So, we have to scan from here. Lines 6-8 say, “…. His scheme would employ up to 16 trillion minute spacecraft, each weighing about one gram, to form a transparent, sunlight-refracting sunshade in an orbit 1.5 million km above the Earth. This could, argues Angel, reduce the amount of light reaching the Earth by two per cent.”

Here, tiny = minute, create = form, far above Earth = 1.5 million km above the Earth

So, the answer is: sunshade

• place………in the sea

Keywords for this question: place, the sea

In paragraph C, line 2 the writer says, “…. . . and depositing iron in the ocean to stimulate the growth of algae – …”.

Here, depositing = place, ocean = the sea

So, the answer is: iron

• to encourage ……..to form

Keywords for this question: encourage, to form

In paragraph C, line 2 the writer says, “…. . . and depositing iron in the ocean to stimulate the growth of algae – …”.

Here, to stimulate the growth = encourage, to form

So, the answer is: algae

• to create ……….that would reduce the amount of light reaching Earth.

Keywords for this question: create, would reduce, light reaching Earth

To find this question, we need to find out the paragraph that contains the information about aerosol sprays because there is a phrase – ‘aerosol spray’ – in the Procedure column. We find the phrase ‘aerosol spray’ in paragraph D, line 1, and in line 3 it says, “… .. .. so that sulphur dioxide would form clouds which would, in turn, lead to a global dimming.”

Here, create = form, reduce the amount of light reaching Earth = a global dimming,

So, the answer is: clouds

• fix strong……to Greenland ice sheets

Keywords for this question: fix, strong, Greenland ice sheets

Just try to find the word ‘Greenland’ and you will get the answer. Focusing on paragraph D, we find the following lines – “Scientists have also scrutinized whether it’s possible to preserve the ice sheets of Greenland with reinforced high-tension cables, preventing icebergs from moving into the sea.”

Here, strong = reinforced

So, the answer is: cables

• to allow the……..to reflect radiation

Keywords for this question: allow, reflect, radiation

As said by the table, we have to find out information about planting trees in Russian Arctic, because at the end of paragraph D, the author says, “Meanwhile in the Russian Arctic, geo-engineering plans include the planting of millions of birch trees. Whereas the region’s native evergreen pines shade the snow and absorb radiation, birches would shed their leaves in winter, thus enabling radiation to be reflected by the snow.” So, planting trees would allow snow to reflect radiation.

Here, lose = shed, allow = enable

So, the answer is: snow

• change the direction of ……….. to bring more cold water into ice-forming areas.

Keywords for this question: change, direction, to bring, more cold water, ice-forming areas

For this question, the keyword is ice-forming areas. At the end of paragraph D, the author points out that “Re-routing Russian rivers to increase cold water flow to ice-forming areas could also be used to slow down warming, say some climate scientists.”

Here, change the direction of = re-route, bring more cold water =  increase cold water flow

So, the answer is: rivers

Questions 37-40 (Matching statements with a list of people)

[In this kind of question, candidates have to match the given statements in the questions with the persons who gave those statements in the passage. To successfully answer these questions, you need to follow some simple steps:

Step 1: Read the questions carefully and select the keywords,
Step 2:Take a look at the list of people,
Step 3: Start reading from the beginning and quickly look for the names of people with any statement.
Step 4: When you find a names with statements, read it attentively and match it with the questions.
Step 5: Mark it properly so that you do need not to read it again. Then go to the next statement in the text.
Step 6:Continue doing the same for the rest of the questions.]

For these questions, we must focus on the last four paragraphs of Reading Passage 3 which contain the scientists’ statements.

• The effects of geo-engineering may not be long-lasting.

Keywords for this question: effects, not long-lasting

In paragraph E, there is a statement from Dr Phil Rasch which is as follows – “I think all of us agree that if we were to end geo-engineering on a given day, then the planet would return to its pre-engineered condition very rapidly… . . .. ” This means that once geo-engineering does its job, the effects of it on the planet may end, too. In other words, “the effects of geoengineering may not be long-lasting”

So, the answer is: B

• Geo-engineering is a topic worth exploring

Keywords for this question: worth exploring

In the last paragraph, Dr Martin Sommerkorn gives stress that “Human-induced climate change has brought humanity to a position where we shouldn’t exclude thinking thoroughly about this topic and its possibilities.”

Here, we find some matches:

worth exploring = should not exclude thinking thoroughly

So, the answer is: D

• It may be necessary to limit the effectiveness of geo-engineering projects.

Keywords for this question: limit

In paragraph G, we find a statement from Dan Lunt – “To avoid such a scenario, Lunt says Angel’s project would have to operate at half strength; all of which reinforces his view that the best option is to avoid the need for  geo- engineering altogether.”

Here, limit the effectiveness = operate at half strength

So, the answer is: C

• Research into non-fossil-based fuels cannot be replaced by geo-engineering.

Keywords for this question: non-fossil-based fuels

The answer is in paragraph E, Angel says that his plan is “no substitute for developing renewable energy, the only ‘permanent solution’.”

Here, non-fossil-based fuels = renewable energy, cannot be replaced = no substitute for

So, the answer is: A

Reading Passage 1: The megafires of California

Questions 1-6: (Completing notes with ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER):

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write only word and/or a number to complete some notes on the given topic. For this type of question, first skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text, etc.]

Questions 1 and 2: Characteristics of wildfires and wildfire conditions today compared to the past:

– Occurrence: more frequent

– Temperature:  hotter

– Speed: faster

– Movement: 1 ____________ more unpredictably

– Size of fires: 2 ____________ greater on average than two decades ago.

Question 1: Movement:  ____________ more unpredictably

Keywords for the question: movement, more unpredictably 

Read the last lines of paragraph no. 1. “The wildfires themselves, experts say, are generally hotter, faster, and spread more erratically than in the past.” Here, erratically means unpredictably.

So, the answer is: spread

Question 2: Size of fires:  ____________ greater on average than two decades ago.

Keywords for the question: size of fire, greater, than two decades ago   

The first lines of paragraph no. 2 give us the answer. ““Megafires, also  called ‘siege fires’ are the increasingly frequent blazes that burn 50,000 acres or more – 10 times the size of the average forest fire of 20 years ago.

Here, 20 years ago means two decades ago.

So, the answer is: 10/ten times

Questions 3-6:

Reasons wildfires cause more damage today compared to the past:

– Rainfall: 3 _________ average

– More brush to act as 4 __________

– Increase in yearly temperature

– Extended fire 5 __________

– More building of 6 __________ in vulnerable places

Question 3: Rainfall: _________ average

Keywords for the question: rainfall, average   

We can find the keyword ‘rainfall’ in paragraph no. 3 but the word is not present there directly. We can see a synonym of ‘rainfall’ in line no. 4. Let’s read lines 1-4 of paragraph no. 3. “One explanation for the trend to more superhot fires is that the region, which usually has dry summers, has had significantly below normal precipitation in many recent years.”

Here, the words ‘precipitation’ means ‘rainfall’, ‘normal’ means ‘average’.

So, the answer is: below        

Question 4: More brush to act as __________

Keywords for the question: more brush, act as,    

Read lines 9-11 of paragraph no. 3, where the author says, “The unintentional consequence has been to halt the natural eradication of underbrush, now the primary fuel for megafires.” These lines mean that previously US Forest Service had a policy to cut down (eradication) the underbrush regularly because it was the main reason (primary fuel) for forest fires. But now the service is at halt (stop). So, more underbrush is growing more and more and it is acting as the fuel for megafires.

So, the answer is: fuel                        

Question 5: Extended fire __________

Keywords for the question: extended fire    

In paragraph no. 4 the author mentions three other factors of megafires. Take a look at the second factor in lines 5-7, “. .. . Second is fire seasons that on average are 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago.”

Here, 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago = extended

So, the answer is: seasons

Question 6: More building of __________ in vulnerable places

Keywords for the question: more building, vulnerable places,     

Again, in paragraph no. 4 the author mentions three other factors of megafires. Look at the third factor in lines 7-9, “Third is increased construction of homes in wooded areas.”

As we know, wood is vulnerable/ risky for catching fire, here wooded areas mean vulnerable places. Also, increased construction means more building.

So, the answer is: homes

Questions 7-13: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

In this type of question, candidates need to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 7: The amount of open space in California has diminished over the last ten years.

Keywords for the question: amount of open space, California, diminished, last ten years

Lines 1-7 of paragraph no. 6 give the answer. “In California, where population growth has averaged more than 600,000 a year for at least a decade, more residential housing is being built. What once was open space is now residential homes providing fuels to make fires. .. . .”

The lines suggest that California has a big population growth (600,000 every ten years/decade) and more residential houses has been built. So, open spaces have been occupied by residential homes which means the amount of open space has diminished (decreased).

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 8: Many experts believe California has made little progress in readying itself to fight fires.

Keywords for the question: many experts, California, little progress, fight fires,

At the beginning of paragraph 7, the writer mentions, “That said, many experts give California high marks for making   progress   on   preparedness   in   recent   years,   after   some   of   the   largest   fires   in   state history scorched  thousands  of  acres,  burned  thousands  of  homes,  and  killed  numerous  people.”

The lines suggest that experts believe that California should get high marks or praise for the progress in preparedness in firefighting. So, the question contradicts the information in the passage.

Here, the phrase ‘readying itself’ means ‘preparedness’.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 9: Personnel in the past have been criticised for mishandling fire containment.

Keywords for the question: personnel, criticised, mishandling, fire containment,

In the final half part of paragraph 7, the author talks about the criticism, “Stung in the past by criticism of bungling that allowed fires to spread when they might have been contained, personnel are meeting the peculiar challenges of neighborhood – and canyon – hoping fires better than previously, observers say.”

Here, stung in the past by criticism = criticised, bungling = mishandling, they might have been contained = fire containment,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 10: California has replaced a range of firefighting tools.

Keywords for this question: replaced, firefighting tools,

In paragraph 9, the writer starts by saying,  “Besides providing money to upgrade the fire engines that must traverse the mammoth state and wind along serpentine canyon roads, the state has invested .. .. .” These lines suggest to the fact that the State of California has invested money to upgrade (replace) its firefighting engines or tools.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 11: More firefighters have been hired to improve fire-fighting capacity.

Keywords for this question: more firefighters, hired, improve, fire-fighting capacity,

In this passage, we find the writer mentioning the upgrading of firefighting engines or tools,  but there is no mention of whether more firefighters have been hired to improve fire-fighting capacity.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 12: Citizens and government groups disapprove of the efforts of different states and agencies working together.

Keywords for this question: citizens and government groups, disapprove, states and agencies, working together,

Take a look at the end of paragraph 9, where the writer states, “There is a sense among both government and residents that the speed, dedication, and coordination of firefighters from several states and jurisdictions are resulting in greater efficiency than in past ‘siege fire’ situations.”

The lines clearly suggest that both citizens (residents) and government groups approve or support the efforts of different states and agencies (jurisdictions) working together (coordination). So, the statement in the passage contradicts with the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 13: Randy Jacobs believes that loss of life from fires will continue at the same levels, despite changes made.

Keywords for this question: Randy Jacobs, loss of life, same levels,

We find the comments of Randy Jacobs at the very end of the passage who says, “Notwithstanding all the damage that will continue to be caused by wildfires, we will no longer suffer the loss of life endured in the past because of the fire prevention and firefighting measures that have been put in place”.

This means as a result of the fire prevention and firefighting measures, citizens of California will no longer suffer the loss of life from fires like they did in the past. So, the statement clearly contradicts the given question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Reading Passage 2: Second Nature

Questions 14-18 (Summary completion with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)

(In this kind of questions candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers for fill in the gaps.

TIP: First skim to go to the paragraph(s) from where the questions have been set. Then scan for keywords to find the answer. Remember, the answers will follow a sequence. )

Question 14 and 15: Psychologists have traditionally believed that a personality 14 ___________ was impossible and that by a 15 _____________, a person’s character tends to be fixed.

Keywords for this question: traditionally believed, personality, impossible, character, fixed

In section A, paragraph no. 1, we find the view of psychologists at the very beginning. “Psychologists have long held that a person’s character cannot  undergo  a  transformation  in  any meaningful  way  and  that  the  key  traits  of  personality  are determined at a very young age.”

Here, cannot undergo = was impossible, are determined = tends to be fixed,

So, the answers are:

1. transformation
2. young age

Question 16: One of the easiest qualities to acquire is ____________.

Keywords for this question: easiest qualities, acquire,

In section A paragraph no. 2, the writer starts by saying, “Some qualities are less challenging to develop than others, optimism being one of them.”

Here, less challenging = easiest quality to acquire,

So, the answer is: optimism  

Question 17 and 18: However, regardless of the quality, it is necessary to learn a wide variety of different 17 ___________ in order for a new quality to develop; for example, a person must understand and feel some 18 __________ in order to increase their happiness.

Keywords for this question: learn, different, new quality to develop, understand and feel, increase, happiness,

In section A paragraph no. 2, the writer says at the end, “However, developing qualities requires mastering a range of skills which are diverse and sometimes surprising. For example, to bring more joy and passion into your life, you must be open to experiencing negative emotions.”

Here, developing qualities = a new quality to develop, a wide variety of = a range of,

Increase their happiness = bring more joy and passion, must understand and feel = must be open to experience,

So, the answers are:

1. skills
2. negative emotions

Questions 19-22 (Matching statements with the correct persons)

(In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements which are given by or links to some persons in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person and read around it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.)

Question 19: People must accept that they do not know much when first trying something new.

Keywords for this question: must accept, not know much, new

Take a look the end of paragraph F where you can find a statement made by Todd Kashdan, “As a newcomer, you also have to tolerate and laugh at your own ignorance. You must be willing to accept the negative feelings that come your way.”

Here, as a newcomer means when first trying something new, tolerate means accept, ignorance means do not know much

So, the answer is: E

Question 20: It is important for people to actively notice when good things happen.

Keywords for this question: important, actively notice, good things, happen

The answer is found in paragraph D, in the recommendations made by Suzanne Segerstrom in lines 3-4, “She recommends you train yourself to pay attention to good fortune by writing down three positive things that come about each day.”

Here, pay attention = actively notice, positive things = good things, come about = happen.

So, the answer is: C

Question 21: Courage can be learned once its origins in a sense of responsibility are understood.

Keywords for this question: courage, be learned, origins, understood

Take a look at lines 6-9 of paragraph H, the writer mentions here, “According to Cynthia Pury, a psychologist at Clemson University, Pedeleose’s story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness, but by moral obligation. Pury also believes that people can acquire courage.”

Here, moral obligation = sense of responsibility

So, the answer is: G

Question 22: It is possible to overcome shyness when faced with the need to speak in public.

Keywords for this question: overcome shyness, the need to speak in public,

In paragraph B Christopher Peterson gives account of his own life experience, “Inherently introverted, he (Christopher  Peterson) realised early on that as an academic, his reticence would prove disastrous in the lecture hall. So he learned to be more outgoing and entertain his classes. “Now my extroverted behaviour is spontaneous,”  he says. …”

Here, reticence = shyness, to be more outgoing and entertain his classes = speak in public, overcome shyness = learned to be more outgoing,

So, the answer is: A

Question 23-26: (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. For this passage, first answer question 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to question 1-3. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 23: a mention of how rational thinking enabled someone to achieve physical goals.

Keywords for this answer: rational thinking, achieve goals

In paragraph E the writer mentions in lines 5-9, “The physical stamina required for this sport is intense but the psychological demands are even more overwhelming. Streeter learned to untangle her fears from her judgment of what her body and mind could do.”

Here, judgment means rational thinking.

So the last lines mean that Streeter had learned to untangle (recover from) her fears by rationally thinking or judging.

So, the answer is: E

Question 24: an account of how someone overcame a sad experience

Keywords for this answer: overcame, sad experience

Take a look at paragraph C where the writer says, “He (David Fajgenbaum) was preparing for university, when he had an accident that put an end to his sports career…He launched a support group to help others in similar situations. He took action despite his own pain – a typical response of an optimist.”

Here, accident = sad experience, took action despite his own pain = overcame

So, the answer is: C

Question 25: a description of how someone decided to rethink their academic career path.

Keywords for this answer: rethink, academic career path

We can find the answer in paragraph G, “He (Mauro Zappaterra) was miserable as his research wasn’t compatible with his curiosity about healing. He finally took a break and during eight months in Santa Fe, Zappaterra learned about alternative healing techniques not taught at Harvard. When he got back, he switched labs to study how cerebrospinal fluid nourishes the developing nervous system.”

Here, learned about alternative healing techniques . .. . and he switched labs to study. .. ..  = rethink … academic career path

So, the answer is: G

Question 26: an example of how someone risked his career out of a sense of duty.

Keywords for this answer: risked his career, duty

The answer is found in paragraph H, in lines 3-8, “The new manager was intimidating staff so Pedeleose carefully recorded each instance of bullying and eventually took the evidence to a senior director, knowing his own job security would be threatened…. Pedeleose’s story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness, but by moral obligation.”

Here, his own job security would be threatened = risked his career, a sense of duty=moral obligation

So, the answer is: H

Reading Passage 3: When evolution runs backwards

Questions 27-31 (Multiple choice questions)

[‘Multiple choice questions’ is a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. It is also found in the Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming techniques might come in handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 27: When discussing the theory developed by Louis Dollo, the writer says that –

Keywords for this question: theory, Louis Dollo,   

We find the mention of Louis Dollo in paragraph no. 3. Here, in lines 2-13, the writer says, “… . ..a Belgian palaeontologist called Louis Dollo was studying fossil records and coming to the opposite conclusion. In 1890, he proposed that evolution was irreversible: that ‘an organism is unable to return, even partially, to a previous stage already realised in the ranks of its ancestors’. Early 20th-century biologists came to a similar conclusion, though they qualified it in terms of probability, stating that there is no reason why evolution cannot run backwards – it is just very unlikely.”

Here, they qualified it in terms of probability = they (20^th century biologists) modified the theory of Louis Dollo.

So, the answer is: C (it was modified by biologists in the early twentieth century)

Question 28: The humpback whale caught off Vancouver Island is mentioned because of –

Keywords for this question: humpback whale, Vancouver Island

In paragraph no. 4 we find the reference to the discovery of humpback whales, “In 1919, for example, a humpback whale with a pair of leg-like appendages over a metre long, complete with a set of limb bones, was caught off Vancouver Island in Canada. Explorer Roy Chapman Andrews argued at the time that the whale must be a throwback to a land-living ancestor.” This argument of Andrews is quite opposite to the theory presented by Dollo’s law.

Therefore, we need to understand that the humpback whale is mentioned here because of its strange / unusual features.

So, the answer is: D (the reason given for its unusual features)

Question 29: What is said about ‘silent genes’?

Keywords for this question: silent genes  

In paragraph no. 5, the last lines give us the answer, “They reasoned that while some evolutionary changes involve the loss of genes and are therefore irreversible, others may be the result of genes being switched off. If these silent genes are somehow switched back on, they argued, long-lost traits could reappear.”

The lines mean that ‘silent genes’ could lead to the re-emergence of certain characteristics.

Here, characteristics = traits and re-emerge = reappear

So, the answer is: C (They could lead to re-emergence of certain characteristics)

Question 30: The writer mentions the mole salamander because –

Keywords for this question: mole salamander

In paragraph no. 6, the writer mentions Rudolf Raff’s 10-million-year time frame of the survival of silent genes. Then, we find the reference to mole salamander in paragraph no. 7. At the end of paragraph no. 7, the writer says, “The salamander example fits with Raff’s 10-million-year time frame.”

Here, fits = matches

This means that the example of a mole salamander proves that Raff’s theory was correct.

So, the answer is: B (it suggests that Raff’s theory is correct)

Question 31: Which of the following does Wagner claim?

Keywords for this question: Wagner, claim,  

In paragraph no. 8, “According to his (Wagner’s) analysis of the Bachia family tree, the toed species re-evolved toes from toeless ancestors and, what is more, digit loss and gain has occurred on more than one occasion over tens of millions of years”

So, the lines suggest Wagner claims that members of the Bachia lizard family have lost and regained certain features more the one time.

Here, several times = on more than one occasion

So, the answer is: A (Members of the Bachia lizard family have lost and regained certain features several times)

Questions 32-36 (Matching sentence ending)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and ending of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 32: For a long time biologists rejected –

Keywords for this question: long time, biologists, rejected,  

In paragraph no. 1, take a look at lines 3-6, “.. .. .. For the better part of a century, most biologists have been reluctant to use those words, mindful of a principle of evolution that says ‘evolution cannot run backwards’…”.

Here, ‘those words’ indicate to the words in the previous lines ‘evolutionary throwback’.

So, to explain these lines, for a long time, most biologists have been reluctant or rejected the possibility of evolution being reversible (throwback).

So, the answer is: F (the possibility of evolution being reversible.)

Question 33: Opposing views on evolutionary throwbacks are represented by –

Keywords for this question: opposing views, evolutionary throwbacks,  

In lines 1-4 of paragraph no. 3, the writer states, “While Lombroso was measuring criminals; a Belgian palaeontologist called Louis Dollo was studying fossil records and coming to the opposite conclusion.”

The lines suggest that Lombroso and Dollo were studying different fields but they were also studying the same theory whether evolution could reappear. But their conclusions or findings were opposing.

So, the answer is: G (Dollo’s findings and the convictions held by Lombroso.)

Note: here, convictions = beliefs or views

Question 34: Examples of evolutionary throwbacks have led to –

Keywords for this question: examples, evolutionary throwbacks,

In the first few lines of paragraph no. 5, the author states, “Since then, so many other examples have been discovered that it no longer makes sense to say that evolution is as good as irreversible. And this poses a puzzle: how can characteristics that  disappeared  millions  of  years  ago  suddenly  reappear?”

This means the examples have led us to the puzzle or question about the reappearance of long-lost traits or characteristics.

So, the answer is: A (the question of how certain long-lost traits could reappear.)

Question 35: The shark and killer whale are mentioned to exemplify –

Keywords for this question: shark, killer whale,

In paragraph 9 the writer mentions, “One possibility is that these traits are lost and then simply reappear, in much the same way that similar structures can independently arise in unrelated species, such as the dorsal fins of sharks and killer whales.” These lines suggest that the shark and killer whale are mentioned to exemplify the occurrence of a particular feature in different or unrelated species.

So, the answer is: B (the occurrence of a particular feature in different species.)

Question 36: One explanation for the findings of Wagner’s research is –

Keywords for this question: Wagner, research,  

In paragraph 9 the writer mentions, “Another more intriguing possibility is that the genetic information needed to make toes somehow survived for tens or perhaps hundreds of millions of years in the lizards and was reactivated.”

This means an explanation of Wagner’s research is that the continuous existence (survived for tens or perhaps hundreds of millions of years)

So, the answer is: D (the continued existence of certain genetic information.)

Questions 37-40 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- YESThe statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- NOThe statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 37: Wagner was the first person to do research on South American lizards.

Keywords for this question: Wagner, first, South American lizards

Studying the passage we can learn that Wagner did research on South American research (paragraph no. 8). However, whether Wagner was the first person to do such research is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 38: Wagner believes that Bachia lizards with toes had toeless ancestors.

Keywords for this question: Bachia lizards with toes, toeless ancestors,    

Take a look at these lines in paragraph 8, “According to his analysis of the Bachia family tree, the toed species re-evolved toes from toeless ancestors…”  These lines suggest that the statement is true.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 39: The temporary occurrence of long-lost traits in embryos is rare.

Keywords for this question: temporary occurrence, long-lost traits, rare,

In the last paragraph, the writer mentions in lines 4-5,“Early embryos of many species develop ancestral features.”

These lines suggest that the temporary occurrence of long-lost traits (ancestral features) in embryos is not rare as it happens in many species.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 40: Evolutionary throwbacks might be caused by developmental problems in the womb.

Keywords for this question: Evolutionary throwbacks, might be caused, developmental problems, womb,

Again in the last paragraph, look at lines 1-4, “But if silent genes degrade within 6 to 10 million years, how can long-lost traits be reactivated over longer time scales? The answer may lie in the womb.”

The lines suggest that we find the answer to the question about evolutionary throwbacks if we look at research findings about the womb.

So, the answer is: YES

Reading Passage 1: The Context, Meaning and Scope of Tourism

Questions 1-7: (List of Headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 1: Paragraph B

In the first line of Paragraph B the author talks about tourism. Then in the second line, the author says, “.. .. Historians suggest that the advent of mass tourism began in England during the industrial revolution with the rise of the middle class and the availability of relatively inexpensive transportation.” Then the author talks about the creation of commercial airline industry…. .  And then, “… .. This growth led to the development of a major new industry: tourism.”

So, the answer is: ii (The development of mass tourism)

Question 2: Paragraph C

Read only the first line of paragraph C. “Tourism today has grown significantly in both economic and social importance.” This first line is the main idea of the whole paragraph.

So, the answer is: i (Economic and social significance of tourism)

Question 3: Paragraph D

Again, we should read the first lines which provide us with the main idea. “However, the major problems of the travel and tourism industry that have hidden, or obscured, its economic impact are the diversity and fragmentation of the industry itself “. It means it has become difficult to recognise (hidden/obscured) the economic impacts of tourism.

So, the answer is: v (Difficulty in recognising the economic effects of tourism)              

Question 4: Paragraph E

Read lines 3-5 where the author says, “…. .. . . suggests that tourism has become the largest commodity in international trade for many nations and, for a significant number of other countries, it ranks second or third.” Then, he shows some examples. So, the lines show the impact of tourism worldwide.

So, the answer is: vii (The world impact of tourism)                      

Questions 5-10: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 5: The largest employment figures in the world are found in the travel and tourism industry.

Keywords for the question: largest employment figures, travel and tourism industry

For this question, we have to look at figures of employment. So, we need to find out words like ‘employment’, ‘employee’, ‘employer’ etc. In paragraph C, the author says in lines 9-10, “The travel and tourism industry is the world’s largest employer with almost 130 million jobs, or almost 7 percent of all employees.”

So, the answer is: TRUE                   

Question 6: Tourism contributes over six per cent of the Australian gross national product.

Keywords for the question: tourism, over six per cent, Australian, gross, national, product  

There is no mention of the Australian gross national product or Australia in the passage.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 7: Tourism has a social impact because it promotes recreation.

Keywords for the question: tourism, social impact, promotes recreation 

We can find the mention of the ‘social impact’ of tourism in paragraph C. However, the paragraph has no clue about whether or not tourism has a social impact because of its promotion of recreation.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 8: Two main features of the travel and tourism industry make its economic significance difficult to ascertain.

Keywords for the question: two main features, economic significance, difficult to ascertain

Look closely at paragraph D. The first lines say, “However, the major problems of the travel and tourism industry that have hidden, or obscured, its economic impact are the diversity and fragmentation of the industry itself.”

The lines mean that two main features of the travel and tourism industry (diversity and fragmentation) have hidden, or obscured (make difficult to ascertain) its economic significance.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 9: Visitor spending is always greater than the spending of residents in tourist areas.

Keywords for this question: visitor spending, greater, resident spending

We find a mention of ‘spending by visitors’ in line 7 of paragraph D. However, this paragraph does not give us any specific information about any comparison of visitor spending and resident spending.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 10: It is easy to show statistically how tourism affects individual economies.

Keywords for this question: easy to show, statistically, tourism affect economies.

In paragraph E, take a look at the last of the paragraph. “However, because of problems of definition, which directly affect the statistical measurement, it is not possible with any degree of certainty to provide precise, valid or reliable data about the extent of world-wide tourism participation or its economic impact.”

The lines mean it is not so easy (it is not possible with any degree of certainty) to present statistically (statistical measurement) the impact of tourism.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Questions 11-13 :(Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write no more than three words to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word/words.]

Question 11: In Greece, tourism is the most important ___________.

Keywords for this question: Greece, most important

We find the mention of Greece in the last paragraph (paragraph E), lines 5-6: “For example, tourism is the major source of income in Bermuda, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and most Caribbean countries.”
Here, major means most important.

So, the answer is: source of income

Question 12: The travel and tourism industry in Jamaica is the major ___________.

Keywords for this question: Jamaica, the major

In paragraph E, look at lines 8-10, where the author says, “…… suggest that the travel and tourism industry is the number one ranked employer in the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, France, (the former) West Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.”

Here, number one ranked means major.

So, the answer is: employer

Question 13: The problems associated with measuring international tourism are often reflected in the measurement of __________.

Keywords for this question: problems, measuring international tourism, often reflected, measurement,

Have a look at the last lines of paragraph E, “However, because of problems of definition, which directly affect statistical measurement, it is not possible with any degree of certainty to provide precise, valid, or reliable data about the extent of world-wide tourism participation or its economic impact. In many cases, similar difficulties arise when attempts are made to measure domestic tourism.”

Here, similar difficulties arise means reflected.

So, the answer is: domestic tourism

Reading Passage 2: Autumn Leaves

Questions 14-18 (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. For this passage, first answer question 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to question 1-3. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 14: a description of the substance responsible for the red colouration of leaves.

Keywords for this question: substance, responsible, red colouration, leaves

For this question we need to find the clue (the substance) which causes the leaves to turn red. Take a look at the first lines of paragraph C. The writer says, “The source of the red is widely known: it is created by anthocyanins, water-soulable plant pigments reflecting the red to blue range of the visible spectrum.”

This means the substance which is responsible for red colouration of leaves is anthocyanins.

So, the answer is: C

Question 15: the reason why trees drop their leaves in the autumn.

Keywords for this question: reason, trees drop, leaves, autumn

In paragraph B lines 3-7 say, “As  fall  approaches  in  the  northern  hemisphere,  the amount  of  solar  energy  available  declines  considerably.  For  many  trees – evergreen  conifers  being  an exception – the  best  strategy is  to  abandon  photosynthesis  until  the  spring.  So  rather  than  maintaining the  now  redundant  leaves  throughout  the  winter,  the  tree  saves  its  precious  resources  and  discards them.”

So, the lines suggest that many trees like the conifers cannot create photosynthesis due to the lack of solar energy. So, they stop their photosynthesis until spring. The tree drops the leaves to save its precious energy.

Here, discards = drops

So, the answer is: B

Question 16: some evidence to confirm a theory about the purpose of the red leaves

Keywords for this question: evidence, confirm, theory, purpose, red leaves.

In paragraph H the writer starts by saying, “Even if you had never suspected that this is what was going on when leaves turn red, there are clues out there.” The lines suggest that there are some clues or evidences which can confirm the purpose of red leaves. Then, in the following lines the writer shows three evidences to confirm the theory.

So, the answer is: H

Question 17: an explanation of the function of chlorophyll

Keywords for this question: function, chlorophyll

In  paragraph  B,  the  author  says in the very first lines, “Summer  leaves  are  green  because  they  are  full  of chlorophyll,  the  molecule  that  captures  sunlight  and  converts  that  energy  into  new  building materials for the tree.”

So, this line explains what chlorophyll does.

So, the answer is: B

Question 18: a suggestion that the red colouration in leaves could serve as a warning signal

Keywords for this question: red colouration, could serve as, warning signal

In paragraph E the first lines talk about a suggestion, “It  has also  been proposed that trees may produce vivid red colours to  convince herbivorous  insects  that they are healthy  and  robust  and would be easily able to  mount chemical defenses against infestation.”

So, this proposal means that the red colouration works as a warning sign for herbivorous insects and protect the trees from those insects.

So, the answer is: E

Questions 19-22 (Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write no more than three words to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word/words.]

Question 19: The most vividly coloured red leaves are found on the side of the tree facing the _________.

Keywords for this question: most vividly coloured red leaves, found, side, facing

In paragraph H lines 2-3, the writer says,“One is straightforward: on many trees, the leaves that are the reddest are those on the side of the tree which gets most sun.”

Here, the leaves that are the reddest = most vividly coloured red leaves, get = faces

So, the answer is: sun

Question 20: The __________ surfaces of leaves contain the most red pigment.

Keywords for this question: surface, contains, most red pigment

Take a look at lines 3-4 in paragraph H, where the writer says, “Not only that, but the red is brighter on the upper side of the leaf.” Here, the lines mean that the red colour/ pigment is found most (the red is brighter) on the upper side (surface).

So, the answer is: upper

Question 21: Red leaves are most abundant when daytime weather conditions are ________ and sunny.

Keywords for this question: most abundant, daytime weather, sunny

Again, in paragraph H, the writer mentions in lines 4-5, “It has also been recognised for decades that the best conditions for intense red colours are dry, sunny days and . . … . .  ” The lines suggest that ‘intense red colour’ (Red leaves are most abundant) when the daytime weather is dry and sunny.

So, the answer is: dry

Question 22: The intensity of the red colour of leaves increases as you go further __________.

Keywords for this question: intensity of red colour, increases, go further

In paragraph H lines 7-8, the writer says, “And finally, trees such as maples usually get much redder the more north you travel in the northern hemisphere.”

Here, the lines mean if you travel further north, you will see much redder leaves / the intensity of red colour will increase.

So, the answer is: north

Questions 23-25: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUEThe statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSEThe statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 23: It is likely that the red pigments help to protect the leaf from freezing temperatures.

Keywords for this answer: red pigments, protect, freezing temperatures

In paragraph D, the writer talks about the possibility of the defense mechanism of red pigments in the very first sentence, “Some theories about anthocyanins have argued that they might act as a chemical defense against attacks by insects or fungi, or that they might attract fruit-eating birds or increase a leaf’s tolerance to freezing.”

The statement suggests that red pigment actually increases the leaf’s tolerance to freezing, not protecting the leaf from freezing temperature.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24: The ‘light screen’ hypothesis would initially seem to contradict what is known about chlorophyll.

Keywords for this answer: light screen hypothesis, seem to contradict, about chlorophyll

In paragraph F, the author mentions in lines 1-3, “Perhaps the most plausible suggestion as to why leaves would go to the trouble of making anthocyanins when they’re busy packing up for the winter is the theory known as the ‘light screen’ hypothesis. It sounds paradoxical, … …”

Here, paradoxical = seems to contradict

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 25: Leaves which turn colours other than red are more likely to be damaged by sunlight.

Keywords for this answer: turn colours other than red, more likely, damaged, sunlight

In paragraph I we find the writer’s confused tone over the issue of colouration of leaves by some trees and not by others. “…. .. is why some trees resort to producing red pigments while others don’t bother, and simply reveal their orange or yellow hues. Do these trees have other means at their disposal to prevent overexposure to light in autumn? …  .. ..”

There is no clue or clear decision regarding this.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 26: Multiple choice question

For which of the following questions does the writer offer an explanation?

A why conifers remain green in winter

B how leaves turn orange and yellow in autumn

C how herbivorous insects choose which trees to lay their eggs in

D why anthocyanins are restricted to certain trees

In paragraph B we find a clear explanation about how leaves turn orange and yellow in autumn. The writer concludes the paragraph by saying, “.. ..This unmasking explains the autumn colours of yellow and orange. .. . . .. . …”

So, the answer is: B

Reading Passage 3: Beyond the blue horizon  

Questions 27-31 (Summary completion using list of words)

(In this kind of questions candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. As these are Fill in the blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing the words from given list of words for each answer. The words are given with letters and candidates must fill in the blanks with the correct letter, not the word/words. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords form the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers for fill in the gaps.)

The title of the summary: The Efate burial site

Question 27 and 28: A 3,000-year-old burial ground of a seafaring people called the Lapita has been found on an abandoned 27 _________ on the Pacific Island of Efate. The cemetery, which is a significant 28 _______, was uncovered accidentally by an agricultural worker.

Question 27:

Keywords for this question: 3000 years old burial ground, Lapita, abandoned,  

The answer is found in lines 5-9, where the author mentions the discovery of a 3000-year-old burial site. “… .. . An agricultural worker, digging in the grounds of a derelict plantation, scraped open a grave – the first of dozens in a burial ground some 3,000 years old.”

Here, the word ‘derelict’ means ‘abandoned’.

So, the answer is: B (plantation)

Question 28:

Keywords for this question: cemetery, significant,

IMPORTANT TIPS: Generally, all the answers in ‘fill in the blanks’ type of questions maintain sequence. In this question, however, the answer is found way before question no. 1. This can happen in Reading Passage 3 and candidates need to be aware of this.

So, we need to look for keywords which match the keyword ‘significant’. The very first line says, “An important archaeological discovery on the island of Efate in the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu has revealed traces . .. . .”  And then, in the next few lines we find the mention of the discovery of the cemetery (burial ground) by an agricultural worker.

So, the answer is: F (archaeological discovery)

Questions 29: The Lapita explored and colonised many Pacific islands over several centuries. They took many things with them on their voyages including __________ and tools.

Keywords for this question: The Lapita, voyages, tools,

We find about the voyages made by the Lapita in the following paragraph. Lines 1-6 of paragraph no. 2 say, “They were daring blue-water adventurers (voyagers) who used basic canoes to rove across the ocean. But they were not just explorers.  They were also pioneers who carried with them everything they would need to build new lives – their livestock, taro seedlings and stone tools.”.

Here, the line inform us of the Lapita taking some important things with them on their voyages or sea/ ocean journeys; livestock, taro seedlings and stone tools. The word ‘livestock’ means ‘animals’, ‘taro seedlings’ mean saplings of some sort of root-type plants and stone tools mean tools made of stone. The word ‘tools’ is mentioned at the end of the question. Therefore, our answer should be either ‘livestock/animals’ or ‘taro seedlings’. In the options given with question, we do not find any synonyms for ‘taro seedlings’.

So, the answer is: I (animals) the word is synonymous to ‘livestock’.

Question 30 and 31: The burial ground increases the amount of information about the Lapita available to scientists. A team of researchers, led by Matthew Spriggs from the Australian National University, are helping with the excavation of the site. Spriggs believes the 30 _______  which was found at the site is very important since it confirms that the 31 ________ found inside are Lapita.

Keywords for these questions: team of researchers, Matthew Spriggs, very important, confirms, found inside

Here, we need to look for thoughts/comments/remarks made by researcher Matthew Spriggs about a discovered material and its importance. Look at lines 6-11 in paragraph no. 3. “Other items included a Lapita burial urn with modeled birds arranged on the rim as though peering down at the human remains sealed inside. . .. . “It’s an important discovery,” says Matthew Spriggs, … . .. .‟ for it conclusively identifies the remains as Lapita.

Here, the lines mean that the team of researchers led by Matthew Spriggs, professor of archaeology at the Australian National University, says that the burial urn found in the discovery is important because it carried human remains inside which proved to the remains of Lapita people.

• Human remains = bones

So, the answers are:

• G (burial urn)
• D (bones)

Questions 32-35 (Multiple choice questions)

[‘Multiple choice questions’ is a common type of question set in IELTS Reading test. It is also found in Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of questions because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming technique might come handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 32: According to the writer, there are difficulties explaining how the Lapita accomplished their journeys because –

Keywords for this question: difficulties, explaining, Lapita, accomplished, journeys, because,

In paragraph no. 5, the author mentions,  “There is one stubborn question for which archaeology has yet to provide any answers: how did the Lapita accomplish the ancient equivalent of a moon landing, many times over?  No-one has found one of their canoes or any rigging, which could reveal how the canoes were sailed. Nor do the oral histories and traditions of later Polynesians offer any insights, for they turn into myths long before they reach as far back in time as the Lapita.”

The lines indicate to the fact that archaeology of the present time could not verify all the information relating to their accomplishments made by Lapita so long ago. Even local Polynesians could not provide any insight regarding this matter.

So, the answer is: C (Little information relating to this period can be relied upon for accuracy)

Question 33: According to the sixth paragraph, what was extraordinary about the Lapita?

Keywords for this question: sixth paragraph, extraordinary about, Lapita,

In lines 9-14 of paragraph no. 6, the writer states, “The real adventure didn’t begin, however, until their Lapita descendants sailed out of sight of land, with empty horizons on every side. This must have been as difficult for them as landing on the moon for us today.”

The lines suggest that the voyages / sailing out of sight of land (beyond the point where land was visible) were really extraordinary for the Lapita as it is compared to landing on the moon.

So, the answer is: A (They sailed beyond the point where land was visible)

Question 34: What does ‘This’ refer to in the seventh paragraph?

Keywords for this question: ‘This’, seventh paragraph,

The answer is in paragraph 7. Here, the writer mentions the comments of Professor Geoff Irwin, “They could sail out for days into the unknown and assess the area, secure in the knowledge that if they didn’t find anything, they could turn about and catch a swift ride back on the trade winds. This is what would have made the whole thing work.”

So, in this context, the word ‘this’ indicates to the Lapita people’s belief that if they failed to find anything in the open, wide ocean and they could turn back, the trade winds would guide them and bring them back home swiftly.

So, the answer is: D (the Lapita’s belief they would be able to return home)

Question 35: According to the eighth paragraph, how was the geography of the region significant?

Keywords for this question: eighth paragraph, how, geography, significant

The answer is both at the beginning and at the end of paragraph no. 8. In the beginning, the writer says, “For returning explorers, successful or not, the geography of their own archipelagoes would have provided a safety net. Without this to go by, overshooting their home ports, getting lost and sailing off into eternity would have been all too easy.” This means that the geography of the area gave them safety from getting lost in the open ocean. Then at the end of the paragraph, “.. . . ..its scores of intervisible islands forming a backstop for mariners riding the trade winds home.” This line suggests that the mariners used the intervisible islands (islands which can be seen from one island to another) to use trade wind accurately to return home, which means the navigation on returning home was made easy by the geography of the area.

So, the answer is: C (It provided a navigational aid for the Lapita)

Questions 36-40 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 36: It is now clear that the Lapita could sail into a prevailing wind.

Keywords for this question: now clear, sail into, prevailing wind

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 9. Here, the writer mentions the remarks of Professor Atholl Anderson. Look carefully, “All this presupposes one essential detail, says Atholl Anderson, professor of prehistory at the Australian National University: the Lapita had mastered the advanced art of sailing against the wind. ‘And there’s no proof they could do any such thing.’ Anderson says.”

So, the answer is: NO

Question 37: Extreme climate conditions may have played a role in Lapita migration.

Keywords for this question: extreme climate conditions, Lapita migration  

Take a look at paragraph no. 10, where the writer mentions El Nino. “Rather than give all the credit to human skill, Anderson invokes the winds of chance. El Nino, the same climate disruption that affects the Pacific today, may have helped scatter the Lapita,. …”

Here, Professor Anderson is suggesting the climate disruption (extreme climate condition) named El Nino played a significant role to scatter the Lapita (Lapita migration).

So, the answer is: YES

Question 38: The Lapita learnt to predict the duration of El Ninos.

Keywords for this question: predict, duration, El Ninos,  

We find the mention of El Nino only in paragraph no. 10. However, there is no information regarding the Lapita people learned to predict about the duration of El Nino.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39: It remains unclear why the Lapita halted their expansion across the Pacific.

Keywords for this question: unclear, halted expansion, the Pacific,

Paragraph no. 11 starts with this line, “However they did it, the Lapita spread themselves a third of the way across the Pacific, then called it quits for reasons known only to them.”

Here, however they did it = It is unclear to us/ the writer, quits for reasons known only to them = only the Lapita knew about the halt (quit) of their expansion

Therefore, the expansion halted by the Lapita for reasons known only to them.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 40: It is likely that the majority of Lapita settled on Fiji.

Keywords for this question: the majority, Fiji,

The last paragraph mentions about Fiji but it doesn’t mention about the number of population settled in Fiji. It only says, “They probably never numbered more than a few thousand in total, . ..” And at the last of the paragraph the number of islands in Fiji is mentioned. “. .. . they encountered hundreds of islands – more than 300 in Fiji alone.”

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Reading Passage 1: Tea and the Industrial Revolution

Questions 1-7: (List of Headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 1: Paragraph A

The answer can be found in the last lines of paragraph A. Here, the author asks, “Why did this particular Big Bang-the world-changing birth of industry – happen in Britain? And why did it strike at the end of the 18 century?” These questions give us the hint about the place and the time of Industrial Revolution.

So, the answer is: iv (The time and place of the Industrial Revolution)

Question 2: Paragraph B

The answer can be found in paragraph B, lines 1-2 says, “There are about 20 different factors and all of them need to be present before the revolution can happen.” Then the writer mention the factors such as technology, power, cheap labour, easy transportation, market-driven economy, political system etc.  All of these factors are the conditions required for Industrial Revolution.

So, the answer is: viii (Conditions required for industrialisation)

Question 3: Paragraph C

The answer is found in paragraph C, lines 1 and 2 mentions the missing conditions or factors, “Tea  and  beer,  two  of  the  nation’s  favorite  drinks,  fueled  the revolution.” Then the author explains why they were the keys or important factors, “The antiseptic properties of tannin, the active ingredient in tea, and of hops in beer – plus the fact that both are made with boiled water – allowed urban communities to flourish at close quarters without succumbing to water-borne diseases such as dysentery.”

So, the answer is: vii (Two keys to Britain’s industrial revolution)                       

Question 4: Paragraph D

In the first lines of paragraph D the writer says, “Macfarlane had wondered for a long time how the Industrial Revolution came about.” This line suggests that Macfarlane was searching the reason behind the revolution. Then in lines 3-4, the writer says, “Between about 1650 and 1740, the population in Britain was static. But then there was a burst in population growth.” Then in the following lines he lists four questions which were suggested as causes of this burst.

So, the answer is: i (The search for the reasons for an increase in population)               

Question 5: Paragraph E

In paragraph E lines 7-11, the author mentions, “For a long time, the English were protected by the strong antibacterial agent in hops, which were added to help preserve the beer. But in the late 17th century a tax was introduced on malt, the basic ingredient of beer. The poor turned to water and gin and in the 1720s, the mortality rate began to rise again. Then it suddenly dropped again.”  This means that the English changed their habit of drinking, which, in return, changed the mortality rate too.

So, the answer is: vi (Changes in drinking habits in Britain)                   

Question 6: Paragraph F

Paragraph F starts with the line, “Macfarlane looked to Japan, . .. .” Then in the following lines we find a comparison between Japan and Britain. … . “Water-borne disease had a much looser grip on the Japanese population than those in Britain.” Thus Macfarlane was able to find out that “. .. . . the history of tea in Britain provided an extraordinary coincidence of dates”.

So, the answer is: ix (Comparisons with Japan lead to the answer)

Question 7: Paragraph G

The answer is in lines 3-5 where the author says, “ . .. .  it had turned its back on the essence of any work-based revolution by giving up labour-saving devices such as animals, afraid that they would put people out of work.” This means fear of unemployment because of industrialisation.

So, the answer is: ii (Industrialisation and the fear of unemployment)

Questions 8-13: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 8: China’s transport system was not suitable for industry in the 18th century.

Keywords for the answer: China, transport, not suitable, 18th century

Though the writer mentions the country China in paragraphs B and F, and China and the 18th century are also mentioned in Paragraph F; we cannot find any mention of the transport system in China anywhere in the paragraphs.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 9: Tea and beer both helped to prevent dysentery in Britain.

Keywords for these answers: tea, beer, both, helped, prevent dysentery

Remember reading lines from Paragraph C for list of headings?

“The antiseptic properties of tannin, the active ingredient in tea, and of hops in beer – plus the fact that both are made with boiled water – allowed urban communities to flourish at close quarters without succumbing to water-borne diseases such as dysentery.”  These lines suggest that antiseptic properties in tea and beer helped to prevent dysentery in urban communities though they lived in close quarters.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 10: Roy Porter disagrees with Professor Macfarlane’s findings.

Keywords for this answer:  Roy Porter, disagree, Macfarlane

At the end of paragraph C, the author says, “Macfarlane’s case has been strengthened by support from notable quarters- Roy  Porter…. . .. . ”.  This line suggests that Roy Porter agreed and supported Professor Macfarlane’s findings. The statement contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 11: After 1740, there was a reduction in population in Britain.

Keywords for this answer:  After 1740, reduction, population, Britain

In paragraph D, lines 3-4 say, “Between 1650 and 1740, the population in Britain was static. But then there was a burst in population growth.” This means that after 1740, there was a huge increase in population in Britain. The statement contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 12: People in Britain used to make beer at home.

Keywords for this answer:  Britain, make beer, at home

Though drinking beer is mentioned in paragraphs C and E, there is no such information that makes it clear to understand that people in Britain used to make beer at their homes.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 13: The tax on malt indirectly caused a rise in the death rate.

Keywords for this answer:  tax on malt, indirectly caused, rise, death rate

We find the mention of tax and death rate at the end of paragraph E, “But in the late 17 century, a tax was introduced on malt, the basic ingredient of beer. The poor turned to water and gin and in the 1720s the mortality rate began to rise again.” This clearly suggests that the introduction of tax on malt led poor people to stop drinking beer and started to drink water and gin, which caused a rise in the mortality rate/death rate.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Reading Passage 2:Gifted children and learning

Questions 14-17 (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. For this passage, first answer question 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to question 1-3. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 14: a reference to the influence of the domestic background on the gifted child.

Keywords for this question:  influence, domestic background, gifted child

In paragraph A, the author mentions the importance of ‘home educational provision’ and ‘reported verbal interactions with parents, number of books and activities in their home etc.’ Take a look at the lines 4-6, “For example, a very close positive relationship was found when children’s IQ scores were compared with their home educational provision (Freeman, 2010)”. These suggest the fact that home or domestic background of a gifted child has a great influence on him/her.

So, the answer is: A

Question 15: reference to what can be lost if learners are given too much guidance

Keywords for this question:  what can be lost, learners given, too much guidance

Look at lines 2-3 of paragraph D. The author says, “Conversely, teachers who have a tendency to ‘overdirect’ can diminish their gifted pupils’ learning autonomy.” The line means that if a gifted child is ‘overdirected’ / given too much guidance by their teachers, the gifted pupils’/ learners’ autonomy / independence is badly affected.

So, the answer is: D

Question 16: a reference to the damaging effects of anxiety

Keywords for this question:  effects, anxiety

In paragraph F, the author directly argues in lines 3-5, “Fear, for example, can limit the development of curiosity, which is a strong force in scientific advance, because it motivates problem-solving behaviour.”  So, fear (synonymous to anxiety) has negative effects on the development of curiosity.

So, the answer is: F

Question 17: examples of classroom techniques which favour socially-disadvantaged children

Keywords for this question:  techniques, socially-disadvantaged children

Take a look at the last few lines of paragraph D, “There are quite a number of new methods which can help, such as child-initiated learning, ability-peer tutoring, etc.  Such practices have been found to be particularly useful for bright children from deprived areas.”

Here, new methods = classroom techniques, favour = found to be particularly useful, socially-disadvantaged children = children from deprived areas.

So, the answer is: D

Questions 18-22 (Matching statements with correct person or people):

(The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the keywords and read around different names of people or person carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order. )

Question 18: Less time can be spent on exercises with gifted pupils who produce accurate work.

Keywords for this question:  less time, exercises, gifted pupils, produce accurate work

In paragraph C, we find the results done by Shore and Kanevsky in 1993. The lines say, “If they (the gifted) merely think more quickly, then we need only teach more quickly. If they merely make fewer errors, then we can shorten the practice.”

Here, make fewer errors = produce accurate work, shorten the practice = less time spent on exercises

So, the answer is: B (Shore and Kanevsky)

Question 19: Self-reliance is a valuable tool that helps gifted students reach their goals.

Keywords for this question: self-reliance, valuable tool, reach, goals

In paragraph E, we find the research findings of Simonton in 1988 who came “ . . .. . … to the conclusion that  above a certain high level, characteristics such as independence seemed to contribute more to reaching the highest levels of expertise than intellectual skills, due to the great demands of effort and time needed for learning and practice.” The lines suggest that independence or self-reliance contributes more or helps a lot to reach the highest level or goal.

So, the answer is: D (Simonton)

Question 20: Gifted children know how to channel their feelings to assist their learning.

Keywords for this question: channel feelings, assist learning

Take a look at the last lines of the last paragraph, “In Boekaerts’ (1991) review of emotion in the learning of very high IQ and highly achieving children, she found emotional forces in harness. They (which mean the gifted children) were not only curious, but often had a strong desire to control their environment, improve their learning efficiency, and increase their own learning resources.” These lines mean that gifted children actually know to control their learning environment which helps them better to learn more.

Here, emotional forces in harness = channel their feelings, improve their learning efficiency = assist their learning

So, the answer is: E (Boekaerts)

Question 21: The very gifted child benefits from appropriate support from close relatives.

Keywords for this question: benefits, support from close relatives

In paragraph A we find about close relatives’ support from the research of Freeman (2010). Look at lines 7-9, “The higher the children’s IQ scores, especially over IQ 130, the better the  quality of their educational backup, measured in terms of reported verbal interactions with parents, number of books and activities in their home, etc.” Here, parents are the close relatives who support gifted children to learn.

So, the answer is: A (Freeman)

Question 22: Really successful students have learnt a considerable amount about their subject.

Keywords for this question: learn, considerable amount, about their subject

In paragraph E, the second and third lines are the findings of Elshout (1995) “… .. individuals who know a great deal about a specific domain will achieve at a higher level than those who do not.”

Here, know a great deal = have learnt a considerable amount, a specific domain = their subject, achieve at a higher level = really successful,

So, the answer is: C (Elshout)

Questions 23-26: (Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write no more than two words to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word/words.]

Question 23: One  study  found  a  strong  connection  between  children’s  IQ  and  the  availability  of _________ and ________ at home.

Keywords for this answer: connection, children’s IQ, at home

Look at paragraph A where the writer argues that “A very close positive relationship was found when children’s IQ scores were compared with their home educational provision. The higher the children’s IQ scores, especially over IQ 130, the better the quality of their educational backup, measured in terms of reported verbal interactions with parents, number of books and activities in their home, etc.”

Here, A very close positive relationship = a strong connection

So, the answers are: books, activities

Question 24: Children  of  average  ability  seem  to  need  more  direction  from  teachers  because  they  do  not have ________.

Keywords for this answer: average ability, more direction, they do not have,

In  paragraph B, the author mentions in lines 4-7, “There appears to be a qualitative difference in the way the intellectually highly able think, compared with more average-ability or older pupils, for whom external regulation by the teachers often compensates for lack of internal regulation.”

Here, external regulation = more direction, lack of = do not have,

So, the answer is: internal regulation

Question 25: Metacognition involves children understanding their own learning strategies, as well as developing __________.

Keywords for this answer: Metacognition, children understanding, learning strategies, developing,

In paragraph B, “To be at their most effective in their self-regulation, all children can be helped to identify their own ways of learning – metacognition – which include strategies of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and choice of what to learn. Emotional awareness is also part of metacognition, so children should be helped to be aware of their feelings around the area to be learned.”

So, the lines suggest that along with the learning strategies, metacognition includes emotional awareness.

So, the answer is: emotional awareness

Question 26: Teachers who rely on what is known as _________ often produce sets of impressive grades in class tests.

Keywords for this answer: rely on, produce impressive grades, tests,

In paragraph D we find in the first lines talk about teachers’ directing gifted children. Then in lines 3-4 the writer says, “Although ‘spoon-feeding’ can produce extremely high examination results, .. …. .. . ”

Here, extremely high examination results = sets of impressive grades in class tests

So, the answer is: spoon-feeding

Reading Passage 3:Museums of fine art and Their public

Questions 27-31 (Summary completion using a list of words)

(In this kind of question candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill-in-the-blanks questions. As these are Fill in blanks or gaps, there is a condition of writing the words from the given list of words for each answer. The words are given with letters and candidates must fill in the blanks with the correct letter, not the word/words. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.)

Questions 27 and 28: People go to art museums because they accept the value of seeing an original work of art. But they do not go to museums to read original manuscripts of novels, perhaps because the availability of novels has depended on  27. __________ for so long, and also because with novels, the 28. _________are the most important thing.

Question 27:

Keywords for this question: museums, novels,

For this question, we have to find out the reason people do not go to museums to read original manuscripts of novels. Let’s have a look at the second paragraph because we find the word ‘novel’ in this paragraph. At the beginning of paragraph 2, the writer says in lines 5-10, “This might be explained by the fact that the novel has evolved precisely because of technological developments that made it possible to printout huge numbers of texts, whereas oil paintings have always been produced as unique objects.” This means people do not need to go to museums to read novel manuscripts because novels are now available as a huge production of printed documents.

Here, to printout huge numbers of texts = mass production

So, the answer is: B (mass production)

Question 28:

Keywords for this question: novels, most important,

To find the answer to this question, we need to move to lines 13-16 of paragraph 2. Here the writer makes another comment about novels. “With novels, the reader attends mainly to the meaning of words rather than the way they are printed on the page.” These lines clearly indicate that the reader finds the meaning of words most important.

Here, most important = mainly, the meaning of words = underlying ideas

So, the answer is: H (underlying ideas)

Questions 29-30: However, in historical times, artists such as Leonardo were happy to instruct 29. _________to produce copies of their work and these days new methods of reproduction allow excellent replication of surface relief features as well as colour and 30. __________.

Question 29:

Keywords for this question: artists, instruct, copies

Let’s take a look at paragraph 3 for this question. The author talks about artists here and says that “…in the 16th century, artists seemed perfectly content to assign the reproduction of their creations to their workshop apprentices as regular ‘bread and butter’ work.”

Here, content = happy, workshop apprentices = assistants, reproduction = copy

So, the answer is: L (assistants)

Question 30:

Keywords for this question: excellent replication, colour, surface relief

The last part of paragraph  3 says,  “And  today  the  task  of  reproducing  pictures  is  incomparably  more  simple  and reliable, with reprographic techniques that allow the production of high-quality prints made exactly to the original scale, with faithful colour values,  and even  with  duplication of the surface relief of the painting.” The lines mean that along with the surface relief features and faithful colour values, new methods allow the copies made exactly to the original scale or the original size.

Here, reproducing = replication, today = these days

So, the answer is: G (size)  

Question 31: It is regrettable that museums still promote the superiority of original works of art, since this may not be in the interests of the ____________.

Keywords for this question: promote, original works, not in the interests of

In paragraph 5, “Unfortunately, this seems to place severe limitations on the kind of experience offered to visitors.”

The line suggests that it is an unfortunate or regrettable matter that museums still highlight or promote the most superior types of arts because general visitors do not have a great interest in them.

Here, regrettable = unfortunately, severe limitations on the kind of experience offered = may not be in the interests of, visitors = the public

So, the answer is: D (public) 

Questions 32-35 (Multiple choice questions)

[‘Multiple choice questions’ is a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. It is also found in the Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming techniques might come in handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 32: The writer mentions London’s National Gallery to illustrate —

Keywords for this question: London’s National Gallery  

To find the answer to this question, let’s find out the mention of London’s National Gallery. Take a look at paragraph 6. Here the author says, “In addition, a major collection like that of London’s National Gallery is housed in numerous rooms, each with dozens of works, any one of which is likely to be worth more than all the average visitor possesses. In a society that judges the personal status of the individual so much by their material worth, it is therefore difficult not to be impressed by one’s own relative ‘worthlessness’ in such an environment.”

These lines suggest the fact that London’s National Gallery is mentioned to demonstrate the adverse / negative effect a museum can have on visitors’ opinions of themselves.

Here, one’s own relative ‘worthlessness’ = negative

So, the answer is: C

Question 33: The writer says that today, viewers may be unwilling to criticise a work because —

Keywords for this question: unwilling, criticise a work

Read quickly paragraph 7,  “…since  these  works  were  originally  produced,  they  have  been  assigned  a  huge monetary value  by some  person  or  institution  more  powerful  than  themselves.” These lines talk about the strong power behind the artworks and their maintenance in the museum. Then read the following lines, “Evidently, nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter the value, and so today’s viewer is deterred from trying to extend that spontaneous, immediate, self-reliant kind of reading which would originally have met work.” Now, these lines clearly show that the viewers or audiences in a museum feel that their opinion is of no importance or significance/nothing the viewer thinks about the work is going to alter the value and so they are deterred from trying to give any opinion.

So, the answer is: D

Question 34: According to the writer, the „displacement effect‟ on the visitor is caused by –

Keywords for this question: displacement effect, caused by

The answer is in paragraph 8. Here, the writer says at the very beginning, “The visitor may be struck by the strangeness of seeing such diverse paintings, drawings and sculptures brought together in an environment for which they were not originally created. This ‘displacement effect’ . …  .. . .. .. ” These lines describe what the displacement effect is. It means the variety of works placed and arranged somewhere they are not created for.

So, the answer is: A

Question 35: The writer says that unlike other forms of art, a painting does not –

Keywords for this question: unlike other forms of art, a painting does not

Take a close look at the first lines in paragraph 9 where the writer differentiates between paintings and other arts. “A fundamental difference between paintings and other forms is that there is no prescribed time over which a painting is viewed.” Then again in lines 11-13, “whereas a picture has no clear place at which to start viewing, or at which to finish.” So, the lines explain the fact that the difference between other forms of art and a painting is that a painting has no specific start or end.

So, the answer is: D

Questions 36-40 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- YESThe statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- NOThe statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 36: Art history should focus on discovering the meaning of art using a range of media.

Keywords for this question: art history, meaning of art, media

We find the mention of art history/historian in paragraph 10. “Consequently, the dominant critical approach becomes that of the art historian, a specialised academic approach devoted to ‘discovering the meaning’ of art within the cultural context of its time”. So, it means it has become common for art historians to devote themselves to discovering the meaning. But the lines do not tell us whether art history should focus on meaning or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 37: The approach of art historians conflicts with that of art museums.

Keywords for this question: approach, art historians, conflicts, art museums.  

For the previous question, we found that art historians devote themselves on discovering the meaning of art forms. Now, look at lines 5-6 of paragraph 10, “This is in perfect harmony with the museum’s function, since . . . .. . . .” So, this line suggests that there is a ‘harmony’ between art historian’s approach and the function of art museum. The word ‘harmony’ is the exact antonym/ opposite of ‘conflict’.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 38: People should be encouraged to give their opinions openly on works of art.

Keywords for this question: should be encouraged, give, opinions openly,

Take a look at the last paragraph, lines 4-7, “The museum public, like any other audience, experience art more rewardingly when given the confidence to express their views.” The lines suggest that if people provide their opinions about works of art, the museums can benefit from this. So, this is an encouragement for people to provide opinions.

Here, express their views means to give their opinions.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 39: Reproductions of fine art should only be sold to the public if they are of high quality.

Keywords for this question: reproductions, should only be sold, high quality

We find the discussion about reproductions of fine art in the last paragraph. “If appropriate works of fine art could be rendered permanently accessible to the public by means of high-fidelity reproductions, as literature and music already are, the public may feel somewhat less in awe of them.”

There is no information about “selling fine art reproductions to the public”.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 40: In the future, those with power are likely to encourage more people to enjoy art.

Keywords for this question: future, power, encourage, enjoy art

Take a look at the very last line of the last paragraph, “Unfortunately, that may be too much to ask from those who seek to maintain and control the art establishment.” The line means it is a very unfortunate matter that it is not a very good idea (too much to ask) to ask people with power to establish and maintain museums to encourage people to enjoy art.

So, the answer is: NO

Reading Passage 1: Stepwells

Questions 1-5 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[For this type of question, divide each statement into three independent pieces and go through with the answer.]

Question 1: Examples of ancient stepwells can be found all over the world.

Keywords for these answers: examples of ancient stepwells, all over the world,

The answer can be found in paragraph 2 lines 7-11 says, “Most stepwells are found dotted round the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are called baori), while a few also survive in Delhi.” This means that stepwells are unique to India, so they cannot be found all around the world.

So, the answers are: FALSE

Question 2: Stepwells had a range of functions, in addition to those related to water collection.

Keywords for these answers: range of functions, in addition to, water collection, 

The answer can be found in paragraph 2 lines 11-14 says, “Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for travelers.” In the same paragraph, the writer also says in the previous lines, “During their heyday, they (stepwells) were places of  gathering of leisure and relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest classes.”

This means that stepwells were not only used for collecting water. They were also used for other social purposes.

So, the answers are: TRUE

Question 3: The few existing stepwells in Delhi are more attractive than those found elsewhere.

Keywords for this answer: few existing, Delhi, more attractive

In this passage, there is no comparison of the decorations of the stepwells.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN                   

Question 4: It took workers many years to build the stone steps characteristic of stepwells.

Keywords for this answer: stone steps characteristic,

We can find the mention of ‘stone steps’ in both paragraphs 3 and 4. However, no paragraph indicates whether it took the workers many years or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN                   

Question 5: The number of steps above the water level in a stepwell altered during the course of a year.

Keywords for this answer: number of steps, altered, course of a year,

In paragraph 3 lines 6-9, the author mentions, “When the water level was high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated.” These lines suggest that the water level changed during the year, which means that the number of steps above the water level changed, too.

So, the answer is: TRUE       

Questions 6-8: Short answers to open questions

[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 that will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question 6: Which part of some stepwells provided shade for people?

Keywords for the answer: shade

The answers is in lines 6-8 of paragraph no. 4, where the writer says, “Built from stone and supported by pillars, they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat.”

Here, sheltered visitors from the relentless heat = provided shade,

So, the answer is: pavilions

Question 7: What type of serious climatic event, which took place in southern Rajasthan, is mentioned in the article?

Keywords for these answers: serious climate event, southern Rajasthan,

The answers is in the last lines of paragraph no. 5. The writer says, “. .. . . .southern Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004.”

We know that drought is a serious climate event.

So, the answer is: drought

Question 8: Who are frequent visitors to stepwells nowadays?

Keywords for this answer:  frequent visitors, nowadays,

The word ‘nowadays’ indicates the present tense. So, we need to find recent information about stepwells. The final paragraph starts with the word ‘today’ which indicates the present tense. So, we need to check here for the answer. In lines 6-8 of the final paragraph the writer says, “. .. .. .. . Tourists flock to wells . .. .”

Here, the word flockmeans visit frequently.

So, the answer is: tourists

Questions 9-13 (Table completion):

In this type of question, candidates have to fill in the blanks in a table. It is one of the easiest questions because many keywords are available to find the answers.

Question 9:
Other notes: Restored in the 1960s.

Excellent condition, despite the _________ of 2001.

Keywords for this answer: Rani Ki Vav, Restored, 1960s, excellent condition, despite, 2001,

To find the answer to this question, let’s find the times between the 1960s and 2001. In paragraph no. 7 we can find both the times 1960s (line 7) and 2001 (line 14).
Now, let’s read the last lines in this paragraph, “Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived an earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.” So, the stepwell remained in excellent condition even though/despite it suffered an earthquake.

So, the answer is: earthquake

Question 10:
Features: Steps on the __________ produce a geometrical pattern.

Keywords for this answer: Surya Kund, produce, geometrical pattern,

The answer is in lines 8-10 of paragraph no. 8. The author says here, “. . .. Besides, it is the steps on the four sides that create a geometrical formation.”

So, the answer is: 4 sides (four sides is not the answer because of the given condition in the instruction)

Question 11:
Other notes: Looks more like a _______ than a well.

Keywords for these answers: Surya Kund, looks more like,

The answer is in lines 4-6 of paragraph no. 8. The author says here, “It  actually  resembles  a  tank  rather  than  a  well,. . .”

Here, resembles = look more like

So, the answer is: tank

Question 12:
Other notes: Old, deep and very dramatic

Has ________ which provide a view of the steps

Keywords for this answer: Chand baori, old, deep, dramatic, provide, view of the steps,

In paragraph 10, the last lines have the answer to this question. “On the fourth side, verandas which are supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.” The same paragraph has the words like oldest, deepest, most dramatic.

Here, overlook the steps = provide a view of the steps.

So, the answer is: verandas

Question 13:
Features: Has two ______ levels

Keywords for this answer: Neemrana Ki Baori, two,

In paragraph 11, lines 4-5 give us the answer. “. .. .storeys deep, with the last two being underwater.”

So the answer is: underwater

Reading Passage 2 : European Transport System 1990-2010

Questions 14-18: (List of headings)

[To find answers for List of Headings, check the first and (occasionally) the last few lines of each paragraph. Most of the time, the answer is there for you containing some synonymous words, which have a match with the lists of headings. If you cannot find the answers in the first and last few lines, you may need to check the middle of the paragraphs. This we did in other tests too.]

Question 14: Paragraph A

In  paragraph  A,  the  author  states in lines 2-4  “Although  modern  information  technologies  can  reduce  the demand   for   physical   transport   by  facilitating   teleworking   and   teleservices,   the   requirement   for transport  continues  to  increase.”  Also in lines 6-7, the author says, “The number of cars on European Union (EU) roads saw an increase of three million cars each year from 1990 to 2010, … .. . ..” This means that the requirement  for  vehicles  continues  to  rise.

So, the answer is: viii (The rapid growth of private transport)

Question 15: Paragraph B

In  paragraph  B,  the  first  sentence  gives us  the  main  clue  “As  far  as  goods  transport  is  concerned, growth  is  due  to  a  large  extent  to  changes  in  the  European  economy  and  its  system  of  production.” Right after that,  the  author  also suggests that these  changes  are the reason of  some  production  sites  to  be  shifted  far  away from  the  final  assembly  plant  or  away  from  users, “ –even though the production site is hundreds  or  even  thousands  of kilometres away… ..”. These lines means that these changes clearly affect the transport distances.

So, the answer is: iii (Changes affecting the distances goods may be transported)

Question 16: Paragraph C

In paragraph C, some important transport statistics is provided by the author, in some nations which wish to enter the EU,  “….candidates  for  entry  to  the  EU”.   The  statistics show  a clear  increase  in  road  transport  and  a decrease in  rail  transport.

So, the answer is: xi (Transport trends in the countries awaiting EU admission)

Question 17: Paragraph D

In paragraph D, after the first line “A new imperative – sustainable development- offers an opportunity for adapting the  EU’s  common  transport  policy.. .. ”, we find the word objective. And in the last line we find the time needed to implement the objective “… in 30 years’ time.”

• Objective = goal
• In 30 years’ time = long-term

So, the answer is: i (A fresh and important long-term goal)

Question 18: Paragraph E

In  paragraph  E,  we can see the mention of the  effect  of  energy  consumption  in  the  transport  sector  on  the  environment. This is specified by the statistic provided on CO₂ (carbon-di-oxide). The paragraph says that CO₂ emissions are projected to rise by 50% by 2020 because of the increase in traffic. So, the environment is paying heavily for the increase of CO₂.

So, the answer is: v (The environmental cost of road transport)

Question 19: Paragraph G

Paragraph  G  proposes a  solution  that  concentrates  on  road  transport  only through  pricing. This is because the previous paragraph (paragraph E) talks about transport rebalance.

• charging=pricing
• alone=solely
• restrict=curb

So, the answer is: x (Restricting road use through charging policies alone)

Question 20: Paragraph H

Paragraph H is also about another solution to achieve transport balance. Here, the approach is to concentrate “… .. .on road transport pricing but is accompanied by measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes (better quality of services, logistics, technology.)”.

Here, other modes mean other transport methods.

So, the answer is: ii (Charging for roads and improving other transport methods)

Question 21: Paragraph I

Paragraph I specifically talks about the change needed to restructure the modes of transport and the transport network. Look at the first two lines “the  third  approach  comprises  a  series  of  measures  ranging  from  pricing  to revitalising  alternative  modes  of  transport  and  targeting  investment  in  the  trans-European  network… … ”

So, the answer is: iv (Taking all the steps necessary to change transport patterns)

Question 22-26: (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN)

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

Question 22: The need for transport is growing, despite technological developments.

Keywords for this answer: growing, technological developments,

In paragraph A, look at these lines, “Although modern information technologies can reduce the demand for physical transport by facilitating teleworking and teleservices, the requirement for transport continues to rise.” So, the main indication here is “the requirement or need for transport is rising”.

In this paragraph,

• requirement means need
• rise means grow
• information technologies means technological developments

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 23: To reduce production costs, some industries have been moved closer to their relevant customers.

Keywords for this answer: reduce production costs, closer to customers

The answer is found in paragraph B.  “This  phenomenon  has  been  emphasized  by  the  relocation  of  some  industries, particularly those which are labour intensive, to reduce production costs, even though the production site  is  hundreds  or  even  thousands  of  kilometres  away  from  the  final  assembly  or  away  from users.”

This means that some industries are moved much far away from their relevant customers, not moved closer.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24: Cars are prohibitively expensive in some EU candidate countries.

Keywords for this answer: prohibitively expensive, candidate countries.

The phrase “EU candidate countries” is mentioned in paragraph C. However, there is no mention of any information about the price of EU countries’ cars or any indication of whether they are expensive or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 25: The Gothenburg European Council was set up 30 years ago.

Keywords for this answer: The Gothenburg Council, 30 years ago

In Paragraph D, we find the mention of The Gothenburg Council. However, there is no information about the founding time of the Gothenburg Council in this paragraph or the following paragraph.

Don’t be fooled by the mention of ’30 years’ at the end of paragraph D. It indicates to the time needed to complete the objective of sustainable development.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 26: By the end of this decade, CO₂ emissions from transport are predicted to reach 739 billion tonnes.

Keywords for this answer: the end of this decade, 739 billion tonnes,

In  paragraph  E,  the  writer  argues  that  “… ..  CO₂  emissions  from  transport  can  be  expected  to increase by 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes, compared with the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990.” This means that 739 billion tonnes is the figure or CO₂ emissions in 1990, not “by the end of this decade”.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Reading Passage 3: The psychology of innovation

Questions 27-30 (Multiple Choice Questions)

[Multiple choice questions is a common type of question set in IELTS Reading test. It is also found in Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of questions because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming technique might come handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.]

[TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique here. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 27: The example of the ‘million-dollar quartet’ underlines the writer’s point about –

Keywords for this question: ‘million-dollar quartet’

The phrase ‘million-dollar quartet’ is found in paragraph no. 3, line 7. A quick skimming of the paragraph lets us know that ‘million-dollar quartet’ was, in fact, a famous picture of four great “….. … singers Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jonny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis jamming at a piano in Sun  Studios in Memphis …. .. .” However, the paragraph also points out that the picture missed another great singer of the time who was Roy Orbison. The four singers joined hands together at Sun Studios under Sam Phillips, but ‘… .. . Orbison wasn’t inspired by the goal, and only ever achieved one hit with the Sun label’.

This means Orbison did not like the idea of sharing success.

So, the answer is: C (having a shared objective)

Question 28: James Watson suggests that he and Francis Crick won the race to discover the DNA code because they –

Keywords for this question: James Watson, Francis Crick, won, discover the DNA code,

In paragraph no. 6 we find the mention of James Watson and Francis Crick, the great minds who discovered DNA code. Here, in this paragraph, look at lines 18-20. “…..  he (James Watson) and Crick had succeeded because they were aware that they weren’t the most intelligent of the scientists pursuing the answer.”

It means both James Watson and Francis Crick knew that they had learning limitations.

So, the answer is: A (were conscious of their own limitations)

Question 29: The writer mentions competitions on breakfast cereal packets as an example of how to –

Keywords for this question: competitions on breakfast cereal packets

In paragraph no. 8, ‘competitions on breakfast cereal packets’ is mentioned in lines 8-9. The reason of mentioning this example is described just before. In lines 5-7, the writer says, “…..  . . even something as simple as writing deepens every individual’s engagement in the project.”

So, the answer is: D (strengthen commitment to an idea)

Question 30: In the last paragraph, the writer suggests that it is important for employees to –

Keywords for this question: important for employees to  

In the middle of the last paragraph, lines 4-9, we find the final comments of Cialdini. “ …  …  Cialdini says: ‘Leaders should encourage  everyone  to  contribute  and  simultaneously assure all concerned that every recommendation is important to making the right decision and will be given full attention.’ … ..”

This means that company owners or employers should provide a view to their employees that they (employees) are also a big part of the company and their suggestions are valued.

So, the answer is: B (feel that their contributions are valued)  

Questions 31-35 (Completing sentences with correct endings)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and ending of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 31: Employees whose values match those of their employers are more likely to –

Keywords for this question: values, match, more likely to,

In paragraph no. 2, the writer says in lines 5-12, “. . . .. . Research shows that the fit between an employee’s values and a company’s values makes difference to what contribution they make and whether they’re still at the company”.

This clearly suggests that the matching or fitting of value has an influence on whether employees stay in their present jobs or not.

So, the answer is: G (remain in their jobs)

Question 32: At times of change, people tend to –

Keywords for this question: time of change,  

In paragraph no. 4, the writer mentions in lines 4-6, “ . .. .. when things change, we are hard-wired to play it safe.”

This line suggests that when there are changes we or people try our best to play safe or avoid risks.

So, the answer is: E (avoid risk)

Question 33: If people are aware of what they might lose, they will often –

Keywords for this question: if, aware, might lose, will often

At the end of paragraph no. 4 the writer says, “.. .. . studies show that we invariably take more gambles when threatened with a loss than when offered a reward”.

This means that when people are threatened with a loss or damage, people will take gambles or chances.

So, the answer is: A (take chances)

Question 34: People working under a dominant boss are liable to –

Keywords for this answer: dominant boss, liable to, 

In paragraph  no. 9, lines 7-11, we find comments of Cialdini, “. .. . crew  members  of  multipilot  aircraft  exhibit  a  sometimes  deadly passivity when the flight captain makes a clearly wrong-headed decision. This behaviour is not unique to  air  travel,  but  can  happen  in  any  workplace  where  the  leader  is  overbearing.”

These lines indicate the fact that people working under an overbearing or dominant boss tend to take more passive decision or action.

To be more precise, they become liable to ignore their duties.

So, the answer is: F (ignore their duties)

Question 35: Employees working in organisations with few rules are more likely to –

Keywords for this answer: employees, with few rules

We find the answer in paragraph no. 10 Here, the writer specifies that the environment ‘. .. . where the only rule was that there were no  rules.. ..’  … … .. .  ‘.. . .encouraged a free interchange of ideas…. ..’

*interchange = share

This means that employees who work in organisations with few rules are more likely to interchange or share their ideas.

So, the answer is: B (share their ideas)

Questions 36-40 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN):

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- YESThe statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- NOThe statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 36: The physical surroundings in which a person works play a key role in determining their creativity.

Keywords for this answer: surroundings, determining creativity

In paragraph no. 1, lines 3-9 say, “There are, nevertheless, people working in luxurious, state-of-the-art centres designed to stimulate innovation who find that their environment doesn’t make them feel at all creative. And there are those who don’t have a budget, or much space, but who innovate successfully.”

This means that the working environment or physical surroundings of the workplace does not affect the employees’ creativity.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 37: Most people have the potential to be creative.

Keywords for this answer: potential, creative,

In paragraph no. 2, lines 11-14, the writer says, “… . .. . although some individuals may be more creative than others, almost every individual can be creative in the right circumstances.” The lines clearly agree with the statement.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 38: Teams work best when their members are of equally matched intelligence.

Keywords for this answer: work best, equally matched intelligence

We find a reference to teamwork in paragraph no. 7. However, there is no mention of whether teamwork gives the best work result when team members are equally intelligent.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39: It is easier for smaller companies to be innovative.

Keywords for this answer: easier, smaller companies, innovative

Again, in paragraph 5, the author only argues in lines 2-6, “It’s easy for a company to be pulled in conflicting directions as the marketing, product development, and finance departments each get different feedback from different sets of people.” The author also says in lines 8-10, “… .. .it’s also easy for small ‘pockets of innovation’ to disappear.”

Therefore, ‘whether it is easy or difficult for smaller companies to be creative or innovative’ is not clearly mentioned here.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 40: A manager’s approval of an idea is more persuasive than that of a colleague.

Keywords for this answer: manager’s approval, more persuasive

At the last part of paragraph no. 7, the writer mentions in lines 8-11,  “.. . . Research shows that peer power, used horizontally not vertically, is much more powerful than any boss’s speech.”

So, the statement clearly contradicts with the view of the writer. It means a colleague or peer’s speech is more persuasive or powerful than a boss.

So, the answer is: NO

Reading Passage 1: The Life and Work of Marie Curie

Questions 1-6: (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 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 1: Marie Curie’s husband was a joint winner of both Marie’s Nobel Prizes.

Keywords for the question: husband, joint winner, both Nobel Prizes,

Let’s have a look at the first paragraph. In lines 5-8 the writer says, “With her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel, she (Marie) was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, and was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.”

The lines suggest that Marie Curie shared her first Nobel Prize with her husband and Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel in 1903, but she won the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry alone (sole winner).

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 2: Marie became interested in science when she was a child.

Keywords for the question: interested, science, child,

In paragraph no. 2 we find information about Marie Curie’s childhood. We can learn about the brilliance of her memory. But there is no information about her interest in science.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN  

Question 3:  Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because of her sister’s financial contribution.

Keywords for the question: attend the Sorbonne, sister’s financial contribution,

In the end of paragraph no. 2, the writer says, “.. .. . . From her earnings, she was able to finance her sister Bronia’s medical studies in Paris, on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education.”

This means Marie financed her sister Bronia’s education and hoped that one day Bronia would be able to help in Marie’s education.

Then, in the next paragraph, the writer says, “In 1891, this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris and began to study at the Sorbonne (the University of Paris).”

So, it is correct that Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because her sister contributed to her financially.

So, the answer is: TRUE       

Question 4:  Marie stopped doing research for several years when her children were born.

Keywords for the question: stop doing research, children, born,

At the beginning of paragraph no. 6, the writer mentions, “The births of Marie’s two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904 failed to interrupt her scientific work.”

So, it’s a false statement that Marie stopped doing her research for some years when her children were born.

So, the answer is: FALSE     

Question 5: Marie took over the teaching position her husband had held.

Keywords for the question: took over, teaching position, husband, held,

In paragraph no. 7, in lines 3-5, the writer says, “On May 13, 1906, she was appointed to the professorship that had been left vacant on her husband’s death, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne.”

So, the answer is: TRUE       

Question 6:  Marie’s sister Bronia studied the medical uses of radioactivity.

Keywords for the question: Bronia, studied, medical uses of radioactivity,

There is no mention in this passage on whether Bronia studied radioactivity or not.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Questions 7-13: (Completing notes with ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER):

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write only word and/or a number to complete some notes on the given topic. For this type of question, first skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question 7: When uranium was discovered to be radioactive, Marie Curie found that the element called _________ had the same property.

Keywords for the question: uranium, radioactive, element, same property,

In paragraph no. 4, in lines 3-4, the writer says, “Marie decided to find out if the radioactivity discovered in uranium was to be found in other elements. She discovered that this was true for thorium.”

Here, this was true for = had the same property

So, the answer is: thorium    

Question 8:  Marie and Pierre Curie’s research into the radioactivity of the mineral known as _______ led to the discovery of two new elements.

Keywords for the question: radioactivity, mineral, known, the discovery of two new elements,

In paragraph no. 5, the writer says in lines 1-5, “Turning her attention to minerals, she found her interest drawn to pitchblende, a mineral whose radioactivity, superior to that of pure uranium, could be explained by the presence in the ore of small quantities of an unknown substance of very high activity. Pierre Curie joined her in the work that she had undertaken to resolve the problem, and that led to the discovery of the new elements, polonium and radium.”

So, it was the research of pitchblende which further progressed to the discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium.

So, the answer is: pitchblende          

Question 9: In 1911, Marie Curie received recognition for her work on the element ________.

Keywords for the question: In 1911, received recognition, element,

In paragraph no 7, in the last lines, the author says, “In 1911, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the isolation of a pure form of radium.”

Here, received recognition for = was awarded the Nobel Prize for

So, the answer is: radium  

Question 10: Marie and Irene Curie developed X-radiography which was used as a medical technique for ___________.

Keywords for the question: Irene, X-radiography, medical technique for,

In paragraph no. 8, in the beginning, the writer says, “During World War I, Marie Curie, with the help of her daughter Irene, devoted herself to the development of the use of X-radiography, including the mobile units which came to be known as ‘Litter Curies’, used for the treatment of wounded soldiers.”

Here, medical technique = treatment

So, the answer is: soldiers

Question 11: Marie Curie saw the importance of collecting radioactive material both for research and for cases of _________.

Keywords for the question: importance, collecting radioactive material, research,   

In paragraph no. 10, the writer indicates in the very beginning, “One of Marie Curie’s outstanding achievements was to have understood the need to accumulate intense radioactive sources, not only to treat illness but also to maintain an abundant supply for research.”

Here, saw the importance means understood the need, collect means accumulate,

It means that Marie Curie found out the importance of collecting or accumulating radioactive materials for research and treating illness.

So, the answer is: illness

Question 12: The radioactive material stocked in Paris contributed to the discoveries in the 1930s of the ________ and of what was known as artificial radioactivity.

Keywords for the question: radioactive material, Paris, discoveries in the 1930s, artificial radioactivity,   

In paragraph no. 10, the writer says that “The existence in Paris at the Radium Institute of a stock of 1.5 grams of radium made a decisive contribution to the success of the experiments undertaken in the years around 1930. This work prepared the way for the discovery of the neutron by Sir James Chadwick and, above all, for the discovery in 1934 by Irene and Frederic Joliet-Curie of artificial radioactivity.”

Here, made a decisive contribution means contributed to

So, the answer is: neutron

Question 13: During her research, Marie Curie was exposed to radiation and as a result, she suffered from _________.

Keywords for the question: exposed, radiation, suffered from,   

At the very end of paragraph no. 10, the author says, “A few months after this discovery, Marie Curie died as a result of leukaemia caused by exposure to radiation.”

This means that Marie Curie died suffering from leukaemia, as she was exposed to radiation when doing her research.

So, the answer is: leukaemia

Reading Passage 2:Young children’s sense of identity

 Questions 14-19 (Identifying information):

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 14: an account of the method used by researchers in a particular study

Keywords for the question: method used, researchers, particular study,    

In paragraph G, the writer gives reference to a particular study in lines 4-8, “In one experiment, Lewis and Brooks-Gunn (1979) dabbed some red power on the noses of children who were playing in front of a mirror, and then observed how often they touched their noses. The psychologists reasoned that if the children knew what they usually looked like, they would be surprised by the unusual red mark and would start touching it.”

Here, a particular study means one experiment

So, the answer is: G

Question 15: the role of imitation in developing a sense of identity

Keywords for the question: imitation, developing, sense of identity,  

Paragraph C talks about mimicry or imitation by little children. “Another powerful source of information for infants about the effects they can have on the world around them is provided when others mimic them. Many parents spend a lot of time, particularly in the early months, copying their infant’s vocalizations. . … However,  Lewis and Brooks-Gunn (1979) suggest that infants’ developing understanding that the movements they see in the mirror are contingent on their own, leads to a growing awareness that they are distinct from other people.”

Here, imitate and copying means mimic, developing a sense of identity means are distinct from other people

So, the answer is: C

Question 16: the age at which children can usually identify a static image of themselves

Keywords for the question: age, children, usually identify, static image, themselves,    

Again, take a look at paragraph G, the writer states in the beginning, “Lewis and Brooks-Gunn argued that an important developmental milestone is reached when children become able to recognise themselves visually without the support of seeing contingent movement. This recognition occurs around their second birthday.”

Here, identify a static image of themselves means recognise themselves visually without the support of seeing contingent movement

So, the answer is: G

Question 17: a reason for the limitations of scientific research into ‘self-as-subject’

Keywords for the question: reason, limitations, research, ‘self-as-subject’,

The answer is found in paragraph D. The author says here, “Empirical investigations of the self-as-subject in young children are, however, rather scarce because of difficulties of communication: even if young infants can reflect on their experience, they certainly cannot express this aspect of the self directly.”

Here, scarce and cannot express = limitations

So, the answer is: D

Question 18: reference to a possible link between culture and a particular form of behaviour

Keywords for the question: possible link, culture, particular, behaviour,

In paragraph H, the author says in the last lines, “Although it may be less marked in other societies, the link between the sense of ‘self’ and of ‘ownership’ is a notable feature of childhood in Western societies.”

These lines suggest that there is a possible link between special behaviour (of ‘self’ and of ‘ownership’) and culture (Western societies).

So, the answer is: H

Question 19: examples of the wide range of features that contribute to the sense of ‘self-as-object’

Keywords for the question: wide range of features, contribute, sense, ‘self-as-object’,

If we skim-read and go to paragraph E, we find the reference of ‘self-as-object’. So, we need to scan this paragraph. In lines 3-4 of the paragraph, the writer says, “This second step in the development of a full sense is what James called the ‘self-as-object’.”

Then, at the end of the paragraph, we find the wide range of features that contribute to this sense, “ . .. characteristics which derive their meaning from comparison or interaction with other people (such as trustworthiness, shyness, sporting ability).”

So, the answer is: E

Questions 20-23: (Matching research findings with the researchers)

[In this kind of question, the candidates have to match the statements which are stated by different researchers given in the list. Candidates must write the correct letter A, B, C, D or E; and not the correct name.]

Question 20: A sense of identity can never be formed without relationships with other people.

Keywords for the question: sense of identity, never be formed, without relationships, other people,

In paragraph F, the writer describes in lines 6-9, “Mead (1934) went even further: the self is essentially a social structure, and it arises in social experience  . . .. . . … it is impossible to conceive of a self-arising outside of social experience”

Here, relationships with other people means social experience

So, the answer is: D (Mead)

Question 21: A child’s awareness of self is related to a sense of mastery over things and people

Keywords for the question: awareness of self, mastery, things, people

In paragraph B, the writer says, “Cooley (1902) suggested that a sense of the self-as-subject was primarily concerned with being able to exercise power. He proposed that the earliest examples of this are in infant’s attempts to control physical objects, such as toys and his or her own limbs. This is followed by attempts to affect the behaviour of other people.”

Here, sense of the self-as-subject = awareness of self, control physical objects, such as toys and his or her own limbs = mastery over things,

So, the answer is: B (Cooley)

Question 22: At a certain age, children’s sense of identity leads to aggressive behaviour.

Keywords for the question: certain age, aggressive behaviour

In paragraph H, the writer states, “In the longitudinal study of groups of three or four children, Bronson (1975) found that the intensity of the frustration and anger in their disagreements increased sharply between the ages of 1 and 2 years.”

Here, aggressive behaviour = frustration and anger

So, the answer is: E (Bronson)

Question 23: Observing their own reflection contributes to children’s self awareness.

Keywords for the question: observing, reflection, self awareness

In paragraph C, the writer states, “However, Lewis and Brooks-Gunn suggest that infants’ developing understanding that the movements they see in the mirror are contingent on their own, leads to a growing awareness that they are distinct from other people.”

Here, movements in the mirror = reflection, see = observe, lead to = contribute to,

So, the answer is: C (Lewis and Brooks-Gunn)

Questions 24-26 (Completing summary)

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with ONE WORD ONLY from the passage. Keywords 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.]

Title of the summary: How children acquire a sense of identity

Question 24: First, children come to realise that they can have an effect on the world around them, for example by handling objects, or causing the image to move when they face a _________.

Keywords for this question: effect on the world, handling objects, image, move, face

In paragraph C, the writer says in lines 4-5, “.. … .  …. young children enjoy looking in mirrors, where the movements they can see are dependent upon their own movements.”

The lines suggest that when young children look in the mirrors, they can cause the image to move by moving themselves.

So, the answer is: mirror  

Question 25: This aspect of self awareness is difficult to research directly, because of __________ problems.

Keywords for this question: difficult to research, problems,

We can find about ‘research difficulties’ in paragraph D. Here, in lines 4-7, the author writes, “Empirical investigations of the self-as-subject in young children are, however, rather scarce because of difficulties of communication: even if young infants can reflect on their experience, they certainly cannot express this aspect of the self directly.”

Here, investigations = research, difficult to research = rather scarce,

So, the answer is: communication  

Question 26: In Western societies at least, the development of self awareness is often linked to a sense of _____________, and can lead to disputes..

Keywords for this question: Western, self awareness, linked,

At the end of paragraph H, “Although it may be less marked in other societies, the link between the sense of ‘self’ and of ‘ownership’ is a notable feature of childhood in Western societies.”

Here, disputes means disagreement

So, the answers are: ownership   

Reading Passage 3:The Development of Museums

 Questions 27-30   (List of headings):

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C, and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence. ]

Question 27: Paragraph B

In paragraph B, the author first says in line no. 1, “Recently, attitudes towards history and the way it should be presented have altered.”  After that, he presents some fine examples of changes to museums in Britain (UK) and (America) US.

And then, he explains the fact that, though many of the historical theme parks and museums are successful in “ . .. . the re-enactment of historical events is increasingly popular, ….”, these developments have been criticized as an intolerable vulgarisation. However, the last lines say, “. . . but the success of many historical theme parks and similar locations suggest that the majority of public does not share this opinion.”

This means people have mixed views on the recent changes to museums.

So, the answer is: ii (Mixed views on current changes to museums)

Question 28: Paragraph C

In this paragraph, the author mentions in the first few lines, “In a related development, the sharp distinction between museum and heritage sites, on the one hand, and theme parks on the other, is gradually evaporating. They already borrow ideas and concepts from one another.”

These lines suggest that the major differences between historical parks (heritage sites) and museums are decreasing slowly, (the differences are becoming fewer.)

After that, he gives some evidence to support his idea.

Here, differences means distinction,

So, the answer is: vi (Fewer differences between public attractions)

Question 29: Paragraph D

This paragraph details the writer’s statement that museums and heritages are facing great competition and for that matter experts on museums and histories are under huge amounts of pressure. The reason is explained in these lines, “Museum and heritage experts do not have to invent stories and recreate historical environments to attract their visitors… .. . . However, exhibits must be both based on artifacts and facts as we know them and attractively presented. Those who are professionally engaged in the art of interpreting history must steer a narrow course between the demands of ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness’, especially given the increasing need in the heritage industry for income-generating activities.”

These lines clearly suggest that there is a huge commercial pressure on those people who operate museums.

Here, people in charge means those who are professionally engaged in the art of interpreting history,

So, the answer is: i (Commercial pressures on people in charge)

Question 30: Paragraph E

The answer to this question lies in the following statements found in paragraph E.

“. . . .. . in order to make everything in heritage more real, historical accuracy must be increasingly altered”. (lines 1-2).

“……… . : if they did not provide the interpretation, visitors would do it for themselves, based on their own ideas, misconceptions and prejudices. And no matter how exciting the result, it would contain a lot more bias than the presentations provided by experts”. (lines 8-10)

These lines suggest that interpretation of the facts related to the exhibits in the museums must be avoided so that visitors do not get biased.

So, the answer is: iii (Interpreting the facts to meet visitor expectations)

Questions 31-36: (Multiple Choice Questions)

[‘Multiple choice questions’ is a common type of question set in the IELTS Reading test. It is also found in the Listening test.  Most of the time, they come with four options but sometimes there are three options. Candidates need to work hard for this type of question because this may confuse them easily in passage 2 or passage 3. There will be long answers for each question, so they may kill valuable time. So, quick reading or skimming techniques might come in handy here.  Remember that answers in 3 options out of 4 will be very close. So, vocabulary power will help a lot to choose the best answer.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question 31: Compared with today’s museums, those of the past –

Keywords for this question: museums, past,

In the first paragraph, the writer points out in these lines, “Museums used to look – and some still do – much like storage rooms of objects  packed together in  showcases:  good  for scholars who wanted to  study the subtle differences in design, but not for the ordinary visitor, to whom it all looked alike.”

The lines suggest that back in the past museums were not mainly intended for the general people.

Here, the general people means the ordinary visitor

So, the answer is: B (were not primarily intended for the public)

Question 32: According to the writer, current trends in the heritage industry –

Keywords for this question: current trends, heritage industry,

In paragraph B, the author says, “On so-called heritage sites the re-enactment of historical events is increasingly popular, and computers will soon provide virtual reality experiences, which will present visitors with a vivid image of the period of their choice, in which they can themselves act as if part of the historical environment.”

Here, they can themselves act means personal involvement

The lines suggest that present trends in the heritage industry emphasize personal involvement.

So, the answer is: A (emphasize personal involvement)

Question 33: The writer says that museums, heritage sites and theme parks –

Keywords for this question: museums, heritage sites, theme parks,

In paragraph C, the writer mentions, “In a related development, the sharp distinction between museum and heritage sites on the one hand, and theme parks on the other, is gradually evaporating.”

This means that museums, heritage sites and theme parks are becoming harder to differentiate than before.

So, the answer is: D (are less easy to distinguish than before)

Question 34: The writer says that in preparing exhibits for museums, experts –

Keywords for this question: preparing exhibits, experts,

In paragraph D, the author describes, “Museum and heritage experts do not have to invent stories and recreate historical environments to attract their visitors: their assets are already in place. However, exhibits must be both based on artefacts and facts as we know them. Those who are professionally engaged in the art of interpreting history must steer a narrow course between the demands of ‘evidence’ and ‘attractiveness’.. …”

The lines suggest that experts must balance conflicting priorities in preparing exhibits for museums.

Here, balance = steer a narrow course between, conflicting priorities = evidence and attractiveness,

So, the answer is: D (have to balance conflicting priorities)

Question 35: In paragraph E, the writer suggests that some museum exhibits –

Keywords for this question: Paragraph E, museum exhibits,

The answer can be found in paragraph E, the writer says, “Such presentations tell us more about contemporary perceptions of the world than about our ancestors.”

This means that museum exhibits expose more about current beliefs than about the past.

Here, reveal means tell, present beliefs means contemporary perceptions, the past means our ancestors

So, the answer is: C (reveal more about present beliefs than about the past)

Question 36: The passage ends by noting that our view of history is biased because –

Keywords for this question: view of history, biased,

In the final paragraph of the passage, the writer says, “. . . . human bias is inevitable, but another source of bias in the representation of history has to do with the transitory nature of the materials themselves. The simple fact is that not everything from history survives the historical process. Castles, palaces and cathedrals have a longer lifespan than the dwellings of ordinary people.”

This means that we have a biased view that only long-lasting objects remain from the past.

So, the answer is: B (only very durable objects remain from the past)

Questions 37-40: (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 – TRUEThe statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSEIf 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 37: Consumers prefer theme parks which avoid serious issues.

Keywords for this question: prefer theme parks, avoid serious issues,

In paragraph D, the author says, “Theme parks are undergoing other changes, too, as they try to present more serious social and cultural issues, and move away from fantasy.  This development is in response to market forces… .. .”

The lines clearly show that museums are moving towards depicting serious issues.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 38: More people visit museums than theme parks.

Keywords for this question: more people visit, museums, theme parks,

In this passage, we do not find any comparison between museum visits and theme park visits.

In paragraph D, we find comments about competition in presenting more serious issues. The writer says, “… .. . . they are operating in a very competitive environment, where visitors make choices on how and where to spend their free time”.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39: The boundaries of Leyden have changed little since the seventeenth century.

Keywords for this question: boundaries, Leyden, changed little,

In the last paragraph, the writer mentions, “In a town like Leyden in Holland, which in the seventeenth century was occupied by approximately the same number of inhabitants as today, people lived within the walled town, an area more than five times smaller than modern Leyden.”

Here, more than five times smaller contradicts the question where it says ‘have changed little. . . .”

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 40: Museums can give a false impression of how life used to be.

Keywords for this question: museums, give false impression,

In the last paragraph, the writer says, “. .. … the evidence in museums indicates that life was so much better in the past. This notion is induced by the bias in its representation in museums and heritage centres.”

This means that museums can give biased information about past lifestyles.

So, the answer is: TRUE