READING
You will meet a number of different question type in the IELTS test. It is a useful strategy to become familiar with them and learn how best to approach them. The answer keys back of this site not only provide you with the answer to each question, but also give a suggested approach to each type question, so take the time to work through them carefully.
READING PASSAGE 1.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 1-15 which are bused on Reading passage 1 below.
A spark, a flint: How fire leapt to life.
The control of fire was the first and perhaps greatest of humanity’s steps towards a life-enhancing technology
To early man, fire was a divine gift randomly delivered in the form of lightning, forest fire or burning lava. Unable to mark flame for themselves, the earliest peoples probably stored fire by keeping slow burning logs alight or by carrying charcoal in post.
How and where man learnt how to produce flame at will is unknown. It was probably a secondary invention, accidentally made during tool-making operations with wood or stone. Studies of primitive societies suggest that the earliest method of making fire was through friction. European peasants would insert a wooden drill in a round hole and rotate it briskly between their palms. This process could be speeded up by wrapping a cord around the drill and pulling on each end.
The Ancient Greeks used lenses or concave mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays and burning glasses were also used by Mexican Aztecs and the Chinese.
Percussion methods of fir – lighting date back to Paleolithic times, when some Stone Age tool-makers discovered that chipping flints produced sparks. The technique became more efficient after the discovery of iron, about 5000 years ago. In Arctic North America, the Eskimos produced a slow-burning spark by striking quartz against iron pyrites, a compound that contains sulphur. The Chinese lit their fires by striking porcelain with bamboo. In Europe, the combination of steel, flint and tinder remained the main method of fire-lighting until the mid-19th century.
Fire – lighting was revolutionized by the discovery of phosphorus, isolated 1669 by a German alchemist trying to transmute silver into gold. Impressed by the element’s compensability, several 17th century chemists used it to manufacture fire-lighting devices, but the results were dangerously inflammable. With phosphorus costing the equivalent of several hundred pounds per ounce, the first matches were expensive.
The quest for a practical match really began after 1781 when a group of French chemists came up with the Phosphoric Candle or Ethereal Mateb, a sealed glass tube containing a twist of paper tipped with phosphorus. When the tube was broken, air rushed in, causing the phosphorus to self-combust. An even more hazardous device, popular in American, was the instaneous Light Box-a bottle filled with sulphuric acid into which splints treated with chemicals were dipped.
The first matches resembling those used today were made in 1827 by John walker, an English pharmacist who borrowed the formula from a military rocket-maker called Congreve. Costing a shilling a box, Congreves were splints coated with sulphur and tipped with potassium chlorate. To light them, the user brew quickly through folded glass paper.
Walker never patented his invention, and three years later it was copied by a Samuel Jones, who marketed his product as Lucifer’s. About the same time, a French chemistry student called Charles Sauria produced the first ‘strike-anywhere’ match by substituting white phosphorus for the potassium chlorate in the Walker formula. However, since white phosphorus is a deadly poison, from 1845 match-makers exposed to its fumes succumbed to necrosis, a disease that eats away jaw-bones. It wasn’t until 1906 that the substance was eventually banned.
That was 62 year after a chemist called Pasch had discovered non-toxic red amorphous phosphorus, a development exploited commercially by Pasch’s compatriot J E Lundstrom in 1885. lundstrom’s safety matches were safe because the red phosphorus was non-toxic; it was painted on to the striking surface instead potassium chlorate with a relatively high ignition temperature of 182 degrees centigrade.
American lagged behind Europe in match technology and safety standards. It wasn’t until 1900 that the Diamond match Company bought a French patent for safety matches-but the formula did not work properly in the different climatic conditions prevailing in America and it was another 11 year before scientists finally adapted the French patent for the US.
The American, however, can claim several ‘first’ in match technology and marketing. In 1892 the Diamond Match Company pioneered book matches. The innovation didn’t catch on until after 1896, when a brewery had the novel idea of advertising product in match books. Today book matches are the most widely used type in the US, with 90 percent handed out free by hotcis, restaurants and others.
Other American innovations include an anti-afterglow solution to prevent the match form smoldering after it has been blowe out; and the waterproof match, which lights after eight hours in water.
Questions 1-8.
Complete the below. Choose your answers from the box at the bottom of the page and write them in boxes 1–8 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more words than spaces so will not use them all.
You may use any of the words more than once.
EAELY FIRE-LIGHTING METHODS
Primitive societies saw fire as a … (Example) … gift. Answer heavenly
They tried to … (1) … burning logs or charcoal … (2) that they
could create fire themselves. It is suspected that the first man-made
flames were produced by … (3) …
The very first fire-lighting methods involved the creation of … (4) …
by, for example, rapidly … (5) … a wooden stick in a round hole. The
use of … (6) … or persistent chipping was also widespread in Europe
and among other peoples such as the Chinese and … (7) … European
practice of this method continued until the 1850s … (8) … the
discovery of phosphorus some earlier.
List of Words
Mexicans random rotating
despite preserve realizing
sunlight lacking heavenly
percussion chance friction
unaware without make
heating Eskimos surprised
until smoke
Questions 9-15.
Look at the following notes that have been made about the matches described in Reading Passage 1.
decide which type of match (A-H) corresponds with description and write your answers in boxes 9–15 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more words than spaces so will not use them all.
You may use any of the words more than once.
Example, Answer.
Could be lit after speaking in water. H.
NOTS
9 made using a less poisonous type of phosphorus
10 identical to previous type of match
11 caused a deadly illness
12 first to look like modern matches
13 first matches used for advertising
14 relied on an airtight glass container
15 made with the help of an army design
Type of Matches
A the Ethereal Match
B the Instantaneous Light box
C Congreves
D Lucifer’s
E the first strike-anywhere match
F Lundstrom’s safety match
G site matches
H waterproof match
READING PASSAGE 2.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 16-28 which are bused on Reading passage 2 below.
Zoo consecration programmers.
One of London Zoo’s recent advertisements caused me some irritation, so patently did it distort reality.
Headlined ‘Without zoos you might as well tell these animals to stuffed’, it was bordered with illustrations of several endangered species
and went on to extol the myth that without zoos like London Zoo these animals ‘will almost certainly disappear forever’.
With the zoo world’s rather mediocre record on conservation, one might be forgiven for being slightly skeptical about such an advertisement.
Zoos were originally created as places of entertainment, and their suggested involvement with conservation didn’t seriously arise until about
30 years ago, when the Zoological Society of London held the first formal international meeting on the subject.
Eight year later, a series of world conferences took place, entitled ‘The Breeding of Endangered Species’, and from this point onwards
conservation became the zoo community’s buzzword. This commitment has now been clearly defined in The World Zoo Consecration Strategy
(WZCS, September 1993), which – although an important and welcome document – does seem to be based on an unrealistic optimism about
the nature of the zoo industry.
The WZCS estimates that there are about 10,000 zoos in the world, of which around 1,000 represent a core of quality collections capable of
participating in co-coordinated conservation programmers. This is probably the document’s first failing, I believe that 10,000 is a serious underestimate of
the total number of places masquerading as zoological establishments. Of course it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective,
I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.
The second flaw in the reasoning of the WZCS document is the naïve faith it places in its 1,000 core zoos. One would assume that the caliber of
these institutions would have been carefully examined, but it appears that the criterion for inclusion on this select list might merely be that the zoo is
it member of a zoo federation or association. This might be a good starting point, working on the premise that members must meet certain standards,
but again facts don’t support the theory. The greatly respected American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) has had
extremely dubious members, and in the UK the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland national press.
These include Robin Hill Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight, which many considered the most notorious collection of animals in the country.
This establishment, which for years was protected by the Isle’s local council (which viewed it as a tourist amenity), was finally closed down following
a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. As it was always a collection of dubious repute,
one is obliged to reflect upon the standards that the Zoo Federation sets when granting membership. The situation is even worse in developing countries
where little money is available for redevelopment and it is hard to see a way of incorporating collections into the overall scheme of the WZCS.
Even assuming that the WZCS’s 1,000 core zoos are all of a high standard – complete with scientific staff and research facilities, trained and
dedicated keepers, accommodation that permits normal or natural behavior, and a policy of co-operating fully with one another – what might be
the potential for conservation? Colin Tudge, author of Last Animals at the Zoo (Oxford University Press, 1992), argues that ‘if the world’s zoos
worked together in co-operative breeding programmes, then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land
vertebrates’. This seems an extremely optimistic proposition from a man who must be aware of the failings and weaknesses of the zoo industry – the
man who, when a member of the council of London Zoo, had to persuade the zoo to devote more of its activities to conservation. Moreover,
where are the facts to support such optimism?
Today approximately 16 species might be said to have been ‘saved’ by captive breeding programmes, although a number of these can hardly be
looked upon as resounding successes. Beyond that, about a further 20 species are being seriously considered for zoo conservation programmes.
Given that the international conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, this is pretty slow progress, and a long way off Tudge’s target of 2,000.
Questions 16-22.
Do the following statement agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 16-22 write.
YES if the statement aggress with the writer,
NO if the statement contradicts the writer,
NOT GIVEN if it impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
Example. Answer.
London Zoo’s advertisements are poorly presented. NOT GIVEN.
16. London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest.
17. Zoos made an insignificant contribution to conservation up until 30
years ago.
18. The WZCS document is not known in Eastern Europe.
19. Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.
20. No-one knew how the animals were being treated at Robin Hill
Adventure Park.
21. Colin Tudge was dissatisfied with the treatment of animals at London
Zoo.
22. The number of successful zoo conservation programmes is
unsatisfactory.
Questions 23-25.
Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write them in boxes 23–25 on your answer sheet.
23. What were the objectives of the WZCS document?
- A. to improve the caliber of zoos world-wide,
- B. to identify zoos suitable for conservation practice,
- C. to provide fund for zoos in underdeveloped countries,
- D. to list the endangered species of the world.
24. Why does the writer refer to Robin Hill Adventure Park?
- A. to support the Isle of Wight local council,
- B. to eriticise the 1981 Zoo Licensing Act,
- C. to illustrate a weakness in the WZCS document,
- D. to exemplify the standards in AAZPA zoos.
25. What word best describes the writer’s response to Colin Tudge’s prediction
on captive breeding programmes?
- A. disbelieving,
- B. impartial,
- C. prejudiced,
- D. accepting.
Questions 26-28.
The writer mentions a number of factors which lead him to doubt the value of the WZCS document.
Which THREE of the following factors are mentioned? Write your answers (A-F) in boxes 26–28 on your answer sheet.
List of Factors.
A. the number of unregistered zoos in the world,
B. the lack of money in developing countries,
C. the actions of the Isle of Wight local council,
D. the failure of the WZCS to examine the
standards of the ‘core zoos’,
E. the unrealistic aim of WZCS in view of the
number of species ‘saved’ to date,
F. the policies of WZCS zoo managers.
READING PASSAGE 3.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 29-40 which are bused on Reading passage 3 below.
ARCHITECTURE – Reaching for the Sky.
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A buildings reflects the scientific and technological achievements of
the age as well as the ideas and aspirations of the designer and client. The appearance of individual buildings, however, is often controversial.
The use of architectural style cannot be said to start or finish on a specific date. Neither is it possible to say exactly what characterises a particular
movement. But the origins of what is now generally known as modern architecture can be traced back to the social and technological changes of
the 18th and 19th centuries.
Instead using timber, stone and traditional building techniques, architects began to explore ways of creating buildings by using the latest technology and
materials such as steel, glass and concrete strengthened steel bars, known as reinforced concrete. Technological advances also helped bring about
the decline of rural industries and an increase in urban populations as people moved to the towns to work in the now factories. Such rapid and
uncontrolled growth helped to turn parts of cities into slums.
By the 1920s architects throughout Europe were reacting against the conditions created by industrialisation. A new style of architecture emerged to
reflect more idealistic notions for the future. It was made possible by new materials and construction techniques and was know as Modernism.
By the 1930s many buildings emerging from this movement were designed in the international Style. This was largely characterised by the bold use
of new materials and simple, geometric forms, often with white walls supported by stilt-like pillars. These were stripped of unnecessary decoration that would detract from their primary purpose – to be used or lived in.
Walter Gropius, Charles Jeanneret (better known as Le Corbusier) and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe were among the most influential of the many
architects who contributed to the development of Modernism in the first half of the century. But the economic depression of the 1930s and the Second
World War (1939-45) prevented their ideas form being widely realized until the economic conditions improved and war-torn cities had to be rebuilt.
By the 1950s, the International Style had developed into a universal approach to building, which standardized the appearance of new buildings in cities
across the world.
Unfortunately, this Modernist interest in geometric simplicity and function became exploited for profit. The rediscovery of quick-and-easy-to-handle
reinforced concrete and an improved ability to prefabricate building sections meant that builders could meet the budgets of commissioning authorities and
handle renewed demand for development quickly and cheaply. But this led to many badly designed buildings, which discredited
the original aims of Modernism.
Influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas on town planning, every large British city built multi-storey housing estates in the 1960s. Mass-produced,
low-cost high-rises seemed to offer a solution to the problem of housing a growing inner-city population. But far from meeting human needs,
the new estates often proved to be windswept deserts lacking essential social facilities and services. Many of these buildings were poorly designed and
constructed and have since been demolished.
By the 1970s, a new respect for the place of buildings within the existing townscape arose. Preserving historic buildings or keeping only their facades
(or fronts) grew common. Architects also began to make more use of building styles and materials that were traditional to the area. The architectural style
usually referred to as High-Tech was also emerging. It celebrated techniques used in construction. Such buildings are commonly made of metal and glass;
examples are Stansted airport and the Lloyd’s building in London.
Disillusionment at the failure of many of the poor imitations of Modernist architecture led to interest in various styles and ideas from the past and present.
By the different styles of architecture in the same building became known as Post-Modern. Other architects looked back to the classical tradition.
The trend in architecture now favours smaller scale building design that reflects a growing public awareness of environmental issues sues as energy efficiency.
Like the Modernists, people today recognise that a well designed environment improves the quality of life but is not necessarily achieved by adopting one
well defined style of architecture.
Twentieth century architecture well mainly be remembered for its tall buildings. They have been made possible by the development of light steel frames and
safe passenger lifts. They originated in the US over a century ago to help meet the demand for more economical land. As construction techniques improved,
the skyscraper became a reality.
Ruth Coleman
Questions 29-35.
Complete the table below using information from Reading Passage 3. Write NO MORE THEN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 29–35 on your answer sheet.
|
PERIOD. |
STYLE OF PERIOD. |
BUILDING MATERIALS. |
CHARATERISTICS. |
|
Before 18th century. |
Example. Traditional. |
… (29) … |
|
|
1920s. |
Introduction of … (30) … |
steel, glass and concrete. |
Exploration of latest Technology. |
|
1930s – 1950s. |
…(31) … |
Geometric forms. |
|
|
1960s. |
Decline of Modernist. |
pre-fabricated sections. |
… (32) … |
|
1970s. |
End of Modernist era. |
traditional materials. |
… (33) … of historic buildings. |
|
1970s. |
beginning of … (34) … era |
metal and glass. |
sophisticated techniques paraded. |
|
1980s. |
Post-Modernism. |
…(35) … |
Questions 36-40.
Reading Passage 3 describes a number of cause and effect relationships. Match each Cause (36-40) in List A, with its Effect (A-H) in List B.
Write your answers (A-H) in boxes 36–40 on your answer sheet…
NB. There are more effect in List B than will need, so you will not use all of them. You may
use any effect more than once if you wish.
|
List A CAUSES.
|
List B EFFECTS.
|
|
36. A rapid movement of people from rural areas to cities is triggered by technological advance. 37. Buildings become simple and functional. 38. An economic depression and the second world war hit Europe. 39. Multi-storey housing estates are built according to contemporary ideas on town planning. 40. Less land must be used for building.
|
A. The quality of life is improved. B. Architecture reflects the age. C. A number of these have been knocked down. D. Light steel frames and lifts are developed. E. Historical buildings are preserved. F. All decoration is removed. G. Parts of cities become slums. H. Modernist ideas cannot be put into practice until the second half of the 20th century.
|
WRITING.
You will find four sample answers to writing tasks, one for each task type on each module. These have been included to give you an idea of
the type of writing expected. However, there will be alternative approaches to each question and the model answers given should not be
seen as prescriptive. Look carefully at the description of the writing test (given above in the introduction) to see exactly which criteria you should
be paying attention to in each task.
WRITING 1.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The charts below show the results of a survey of adult education. The first chart shows the reasons why adults decide to study.
The pie chart shows how people think the costs of adult education should be shared.
Write a report for a university lecturer, describing the information shown below.
WRITING 2.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic:
There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of
a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere nowadays?
You should write at lest 250 words.
Use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your argument with examples and relevant evidence.
SPEAKING.
The sample speaking tasks are to help you prepare for part 3 of the Speaking test. Remember that the examiner will expect you to show how much
English you know and it is up to you to demonstrate that. You are expected to ask a lot of questions in part 3 and the examiner will not speak
very much and may even appear to be ‘unhelpful’ at times, to encourage you to ask more questions. The sample speaking tasks include
suggested examiner’s prompts so that you can see how the interaction might unfold. It may be a useful preparation strategy to work with
a friend and practise the interview format in this way.
CANDIDATE’S CUE CARD. Task 1.
UNIVERSITY CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
You have just arrived at new university. It is orientation week and you want to know about the different clubs and associations you can join.
Your examiner is a student union representative.
Ask the examiner about: Types of clubs,
Meeting times,
Benefits,
Cost.
INTERNVIEWER’S NOTES.
UNIVERSITY CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
Prompts for interviewer.
Overseas Student Club.
v Meets once a week in Student
Center, near Library, All welcome.
v Helps you to meet other student,
v Financial contributions welcome.
Chess Club.
v Meets once a week in Library, Not suitable for beginners.
v Plays other universities, Serious players only.
v No subscription.
Table Tennis Club.
v Meet every day at lu
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