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IELTS Cambridge Academic Reading Questions Explained
MATCHING
Matching questions might be the most frustrating for many candidates because they require reading the biggest portion of the passage, if not all of it, in a short period of time. Another primary obstacle is that more than one paragraph could contain the information or could possibly be matched with more than one heading. Nevertheless, there is a pattern that emerges in all of the reading passages that we are exploring here.
In general, there are five different variations of the IELTS reading matching question as the following: matching headings, matching sentence endings, matching features, and matching information.
The key to address any question in the reading passages is to find the paraphrase of the question within the passage. The whole IELTS test is built on this technique; they provide paraphrased structure in reading and listening, and, consequently, they ask the exam takers to provide the paraphrase in writing and speaking tests. This displays wide range of vocabulary, and helps sounding more interesting instead of sounding monotonous.
Look at the examples below to get a deeper understanding of this practice of paraphrasing.
MATCHING INFORMATION
Reading Passage 1 has eight paragraphs, A–H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
1. how electroreception can be used to help fish reproduce
The answer is C.
These can be used for mating signals and territorial displays as well as locating objects in the water.
You can find this passage here.
MATCHING HEADINGS
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A–F.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A–F from the list of headings.
14. Paragraph A
The answer is viii. > Davis’ unique style of trumpet playing
In paragraph A, these early lessons, paid for and supported by his father, had a profound effect on shaping Davis’ signature sound.
You can find this passage here.
MATCHING SENTENCE ENDINGS
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A–K, below.
14. Bids to become a host city
The answer is E.
E. can take up to ten years to complete.
In the second paragraph, most cities can expect to exhaust a decade working on their bid from the moment it is initiated to the announcement of voting results from International Olympic Committee members.
You can find this passage here.
Completion
There are five different variations of the IELTS reading completion; diagram, flowchart, note, summary, sentences, and table.
You need to find which part of the passage the questions are on beforehand. For the sake of saving time, I have included this in my articles here on the website for all of Cambridge exams. However, you still have to practice skimming and finding this for yourself at some point.
Look at the examples below to get an overview of how this question goes.
DIAGRAM COMPLETION
Label the diagram shown previously.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Shark’s 7 ………………… alert the young ray to its presence
The answer is respiratory movements/signals.
Because marine life of various types is often travelling past, the embryo has evolved only to react to signals that are characteristic of the respiratory movements of potential predators such as sharks.
You can find this passage here.
SUMMARY COMPLETION
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE words from the passage for each answer.
Shark Attack (the title can help finding where the answer is easily)
A shark is a very effective hunter. Firstly, it uses its 10 ……………….. to smell its target.
10. The answer is olfactory organs.
They initially lock onto their prey through a keen sense of smell (two thirds of a shark’s brain is devoted entirely to its olfactory organs).
You can find this passage here.
TABLE COMPLETION
Complete the table below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
| Original Theorist | Theory | Principle |
| René Barjavel | Grandfather paradox | Time travel would allow for 34 …………… that would actually make time travel impossible. |
| Igor Novikov | Self-consistency principle | It is only possible to alter history in ways that result in no 35 ………………… . |
| 36 ……………… | Many-worlds interpretation | Each possible event has an 37 …………………, so a time traveller changing the past would simply end up in a different branch of history than the one he left. |
| Unknown | 38 ……………… | If a time traveller changed the past to prevent his future life, he would not have a 39 ………………… as the person never existed. |
FLOW CHART COMPLETION
Complete the flow chart below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
A rock climbing time line
33. The answer is a safety net.
In paragraph B, others felt that they were only of value as a safety net if all else failed.
You can find this passage here.
Identifying Information
There are two variants of this question. If the passage states facts, the question is true, false, or not given. On the other hand, if the passage characterizes the opinion of the writer, the question is yes, no, or not given. If you mix the two, it is considered a wrong answer. This minute technicality can make you, unnecessarily, lose marks.
Read below for the different ways this question is designed.
TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
- Answer true if the statement agrees with the information.
- Answer false if the statement contradicts the information.
- Answer not given if there is no information on this.
19. Residents of host cities have little use for the full range of Olympic facilities.
The answer is TRUE.
In the fourth paragraph, despite the enthusiasm many populations initially have for the development of world-class sporting complexes in their home towns, these complexes typically fall into disuse after the Olympic fervor has waned.
20. Australians have still not paid for the construction of Olympic sports facilities.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In the fourth paragraph, even Australia, home to one of the world’s most sportive populations, has left its taxpayers footing a $32 million-a-year bill for the maintenance of vacant facilities.
21. People far beyond the host city can expect to benefit from improved infrastructure.
The answer is FALSE.
In the fifth paragraph, another major concern is that when civic infrastructure developments are undertaken in preparation for hosting the Olympics, these benefits accrue to a single metropolitan centre.
You can find this passage here.
YES/NO/NOT GIVEN
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
Yes – if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
No – if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
Not Given – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
20. Davis’ trumpet teacher wanted him to play with vibrato.
The answer is NO.
In paragraph A, whereas most trumpeters of the era favored the use of vibrato (a wobbly quiver in pitch inflected in the instrument’s tone), Davis was taught to play with a long, straight tone, a preference his instructor reportedly drilled into the young trumpeter with a rap on the knuckles every time Davis began using vibrato.
21. According to Davis, studying at Julliard helped him to improve his musical abilities.
The answer is YES.
In paragraph B, Davis did later acknowledge, however, that this time at the school was invaluable in terms of developing his trumpet-playing technique and giving him a solid grounding in music theory.
22. Playing in jazz clubs in New York was the best way to become famous.
The answer is NOT GIVEN.
In paragraph B, Much of his early training took place in the form of jam sessions and performances in the clubs of 52nd Street, where he played alongside both up-and-coming and established members of the jazz pantheon such as Coleman Hawkins, Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, and Thelonious Monk.
You can find this passage here.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO of the following does the author propose as alternatives to the current Olympics?
The answers are A and C (in either order).
A. The Olympics should be cancelled in favor of individual competitions for each sport.
International competition could still be maintained through world championships in each discipline.
C. The Olympics should be held in the same city every time.
The Olympics could simply be scrapped altogether.
You can find this passage here.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Choose the most appropriate title for the reading passage.
A. A history of rock climbing
B. Ethics and issues in rock climbing
C. Current trends in rock climbing
D. Sport climbers versus traditional climbers
The answer is B. > Ethics and issues in rock climbing
It is obvious that this question may be the most confusing as all the choices could work. However, the one choice that matches the general tone of the passage is B, ethics and issues in rock climbing, because the environmental and political issues with climbing have been mentioned thoroughly as if the whole passage leads towards offering a solution and an alternative to this high-risk activity.
You can find this passage here.
Direct Questions
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
6. Who was the first owner of A Bar at the Folies? The answer is Emmanuel Chabrier. In paragraph A, originally belonging to the composer Emmanuel Chabrier, it is now in the possession of The Courtauld Gallery in London, where it has also become a favorite with the crowds. You can find this passage here. |
