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of what happened to the ship vary: while witnesses agree that she was not hit by the French, some maintain that she was outdated, over-laden and sailing too low in the water, others that she was by undisciplined crew.”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 19th 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
