Cambridge Academic Reading 13 Test 4

Reading Passage 1:

The headline of the passage: The Importance of Children’s Play

Questions 1-8: (Completing notes with ONE WORD only):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write only ONE WORD 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/words.]

Questions 1 and 2 are under the title: Uses of children’s play

Question 1: building a ‘magical kingdom’ may help develop ____________.

Keywords for the question: magical kingdom, help develop

We find the keyword ‘magical kingdom’ in paragraph no. 1. So, we should scan it carefully. In the last lines of the paragraph, the writer says, “Although she isn’t aware of it, this fantasy is helping her take her first steps towards her capacity for creativity and . .  . .. ..”

Here, helping her take her first steps towards her capacity = help develop

So, the answer is: creativity

Question 2: board games involve ___________ and turn-taking

Keywords for the question: board games, turn-taking  

We find the keyword ‘board game’ in paragraph no. 2, line no. 3. So, we should scan it carefully. The line says, “Later on, when they tire of this and settle down with a board game, she’s learning about the need to follow rules and take turns with a partner.”

Here, take turns with a partner = turn-taking  

So, the answer is: rules

Questions 3-6 are under the title: Recent changes affecting children’s play

Question 3: populations of ________ have grown

Keywords for the question: recent changes, populations, grown    

The question asks us to find out recent changes regarding populations. We find the answer in paragraph no. 5, lines 1-2. “But we live in changing times, and Whitebread is mindful of a worldwide decline in play, pointing out that over half the people in the world now live in cities.”

Here, we live in changing times = recent changes, over half the people = populations grown

So, the answer is: cities          

Opportunities for free play are limited due to:

Question 4 and 5 : fear of _________

Keywords for the question: opportunities, limited, fear of

The answers can be found in lines 2-5 of paragraph no. 5. The writer says, “The opportunities for free play, …. . . .   .. . . .   .. . are becoming increasingly scarce.’ he says. Outdoor play is curtailed by perceptions of risk to do with traffic, as well as parents’ increased wish to protect their children from being the victims of crime.”

Here, becoming increasingly scarce = limited, perceptions of risk = fear, parents’ increased wish to protect their children = fear

So, the answers are (in any order):

traffic

crime

Question 6: increased __________ in school

Keywords for the question: increased, school

The answer is in lines 5-6 of paragraph 5. The writer says here, “ . . .. .and by the emphasis on ‘earlier is better’ which is leading to greater competition in academic learning and schools.”

Here, leading to greater = increased

So, the answer is: competition

International policies on children’s play:  

Question 7: it is difficult to find __________ to support new policies

Keywords for the question: difficult to find, support new policies  

The answer is found in paragraph no. 6. Here, the author says, “International bodies like the United Nations and the European Union have begun to develop policies . … ..” Then in the last line, “ . .. .But what they often lack is the evidence to base policies on.”

Here, what they often lack = it is difficult to find

So, the answer is: evidence

Question 8: research needs to study the impact of play on the rest of the child’s __________.  

Keywords for the question: research, need, study, rest of the child’s

The answer lies in lines 2-3 of paragraph no. 8. In the previous paragraph (paragraph no. 7) the writer talks about the need of research to study the impact. Then, in paragraph no. 8, the mention the reaction of Dr Jenny Gibson, “Dr Jenny Gibson agrees, pointing out . .. ., there is very little data on the impact it has on the child’s later life.”

Here, child’s later life = rest of the child’s life

So, the answer is: life

Questions 9-13: 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 9: Children with good self-control are known to be likely to do well at school later on.

Keywords for this question: good self-control, likely, do well, school, later

The answer lies in paragraph no. 11, “In a study carried out by Baker with toddlers and young pre-schoolers, she found that children with greater self-control solved problems more quickly when exploring an unfamiliar set-up requiring scientific reasoning. ‘This sort of evidence makes us think that giving children the chance to play will make them more successful problem-solvers in the long run.”

So, the lines clearly show that children with self-control do well in the long run (later on).

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 10: The way a child plays may provide information about possible medical problems.

Keywords for this question: the way child plays, may provide info, possible medical problems

The answer lies in paragraph no. 13, where Dr Gibson says, “… Playful behaviour is also an important indicator of healthy social and emotional development. . .. . .. . . .give us important clues about their well-being and . .. .. . .. .useful in the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.”

Here, the lines clearly shows that the way a child plays can be used to identify medical problems (autism).

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 11: Playing with dolls was found to benefit girls’ writing more than boys’ writing.

Keywords for this question: playing with dolls, benefit, girls’ writing,

We find reference to playing with dolls in paragraph 14 line 4. But there is no comparison between girls’ writing and boys’ writing.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 12: Children had problems thinking up ideas when they first created the story with Lego.

Keywords for this question: children, problems, thinking up ideas, first created, Lego  

The answer is found in lines 3-5 of paragraph no. 15. “…. Children wrote longer and better-structured stories when they first played with dolls representing characters in the story. In the latest study, children first created their story with Lego, with similar results.”

The lines show the fact that children produced longer and better-structured story when playing with dolls and Legos. They did not face any problem there. In the last lines of the same paragraph the writer repeats the result. “With the Lego building.. .. .. ….  The whole year of the project.”

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 13: People nowadays regard children’s play as less significant than they did in the past.

Keywords for this question: nowadays, children’s play, less significant, did in the past  

The first line of the last paragraph gives us the answer. “Somehow the importance of play has been lost in recent decades. It’s regarded as something trivial, or even as something negative that contrasts with ‘work’.”

The lines suggest that nowadays (in recent decades) children’s play has become less significant (has been lost, …. Regarded as something trivial)

So, the answer is: TRUE

Reading Passage 2:

The headline of the passage: SAVING THE SOIL

Questions 14-17: (Summary completion with NO MORE THAN OEN WORD)

(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 no more than ONE, TWO or THREE 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 for fill in the gaps.)

Question 14: Healthy soil contains a large variety of bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as plant remains and _________ .

Keywords for this question: bacteria, microorganisms, plant remains

The reference to bacteria and microorganisms is found in paragraph B, lines 4-6. So, our answer to this question is surely there. Here, the writer says, “A single gram of healthy soil might contain 100 million bacteria, as well as other microorganisms such as viruses and fungi, living amid decomposing plants and various minerals.” Here, decomposing plants = plant remains.

So, the answer is: minerals

Question 15: It provides us with food and also with antibiotics, and its function in storing ________ has a significant effect on the climate.

Keywords for this question: food, antibiotics, storing, effect on the climate

In paragraph B, lines 9-11 say, “… Soil is also an ally against climate change: as microorganisms within soil digest dead animals and plants, they lock in their carbon content, holding three times the amount of carbon as does the entire atmosphere.”

Here, holding = store; an ally against climate change = a significant effect on climate change
So, the lines mean that carbon content found in soil actually has a great effect on the climate or atmosphere.

So, the answer is: carbon

Question 16: In addition, it prevents damage to property and infrastructure because it holds _________.

Keywords for this question: prevent damage, property, infrastructure, holds,  

The answer can be found in lines 11-13 of Paragraph B. Here, the writer gives reference to the prevention of damage done by flood, “….. .. .Soils also store water, preventing flood damage: in the UK, damage to buildings, roads and bridges from floods caused by soil degradation costs £233 million every year.” So, it means soil can store (hold) water, which can prevent damages to property and infrastructure (damage to buildings, roads and bridges) done by flood.

So, the answer is: water

Question 17: the main factor contributing to soil degradation is the ________ carried out by humans.

Keywords for this question: main factor, soil degradation, carried out by humans  

In Paragraph C, lines 5-9 give us information about “Agriculture is by far the biggest problem …. Humans tend not to return unused parts of harvested crops directly to the soil to enrich it, meaning that the soil gradually becomes less fertile.”
Here, biggest problem = the main factor
Soil degradation = soil gradually becomes less fertile

The lines mean that the way humans doing agriculture is affecting the fertility of the soil and it is degrading.

So, the answer is: agriculture

Question 18-21: (Completing sentences/sentence completion)

[Here, candidates have to complete sentences by matching one part of the sentence with the other. The first part will be the question part and the second part will be the answer part. Candidates need to check the keywords from the question parts and try to match those keywords with the information given in the passage to match the answers.]

Question 18: Nutrients contained in the unused parts of harvested crops

Keywords for this question: nutrients, unused parts of harvested crops

The answer is in lines 7-8 of paragraph C. Here the writer says, “Humans tend not to return unused parts of harvested crops directly to the soil to enrich it, meaning that the soil gradually becomes less fertile”. It means humans have the tendency not to put back the unused parts of harvested crops directly and thus the soil slowly becomes less fertile.

So, the answer is: C

Question 19: Synthetic fertilizers produced with the Haber-Bosch process

Keywords for this question: Synthetic fertilizers, produced, Haber-Bosch process, 

In Paragraph D, line no. 3, we find the reference of the Haber-Bosch process. Then in lines 6-9 say, “…Chemical fertilisers can release polluting nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and excess is often washed away with the rain, releasing nitrogen into rivers. More recently, we have found that indiscriminate use of fertilisers hurts the soil itself, turning it acidic and salty, and degrading the soil they are supposed to nourish.”

These lines suggest that the Haber-Bosch process may be responsible for the degradation of soil.

So, the answer is: E

Question 20: Addition of a mixture developed by Pius Floris to the soil      

Keywords for this question: mixture developed by Pius Floris  

In Paragraph E, line 1, we find the mention of Pius Floris, a farmer from the Netherlands. He developed a cocktail (mixture) which contained beneficial bacteria, fungi and humus. Then in line 7-10, the writer says, “When they applied Floris’s mix to the desert-like test plots, a good crop of plants emerged that were not just healthy at the surface, but had roots strong enough to pierce dirt as hard as rock”. Here, the lines mean that Pius Floris’ mixture or cocktail may improve the number and quality of plants.

So, the answer is: A

Question 21: The idea of zero net soil degradation

Keywords for this question: zero net soil degradation   

We can find the answer to this question in lines1-7 of paragraph G. “We need ways of presenting the problem that bring it home to governments and the wider public, says Pamela Chasek… . .. ..and vice versa. Chasek and her colleagues have proposed a goal of ‘zero net land degradation.. . . .”

Here, the lines indicate that zero net land degradation can be helpful for governments to be extra conscious about soil-degradation.

So, the answer is: D  

Question 24-26 : (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.]

Question 22: a reference to one person’s motivation for a soil-improvement project   

Keywords for this question: one person’s motivation, soil-improvement project

The answer is in lines 1-3 of paragraph E. “One of the people looking for a solution to this problem is Pius Floris, who started out running a tree-care business in the Netherlands, and now advises some of the world’s top soil scientists.” This paragraph indicates how Pius Floris’ cocktail became successful against soil degradation.

So, the answer is: E

Question 23: an explanation of how soil stayed healthy before the development of farming

Keywords for this question: soil stayed healthy, before, development of farming   

We find the reference of soil staying healthy in the second part (in the beginning) of paragraph C. Here, the writer says, “….. In the wild, when plants grow they remove nutrients from the soil, but then when the plants die and decay these nutrients are returned directly to the soil.” These lines explain how soil was healthy in natural-environmental process.

Then, the writer again says, “….. Humans tend not to return unused parts of harvested crops directly to the soil to enrich it, meaning that the soil gradually becomes less fertile.” These lines mean that agriculture done by human has made the soil less fertile or unhealthy.

So, the answer is: C

Question 24: examples of different ways of collecting information on soil degradation

Keywords for this answer: different ways of collecting information, soil degradation  

In paragraph F, lines 6-8 say, “Researchers from nine countries are working together to create a map linked to a database that can be fed measurements from field surveys, drone surveys, satellite imagery, lab analyses and so on to provide real-time data on the state of the soil”.
All these are different systems by which scientists can collect data about soil degradation.

So, the answer is: F

Question 25: a suggestion for a way of keeping some types of soil safe in the near future

Keywords for this answer: suggestion, keeping, some types of soil, safe, near future  

Answer to this question can be found in Paragraph G. Here, in lines 2-4, the writer says, “Chasek and her colleagues have proposed a goal of ‘zero net land degradation.”
Here, proposed = suggestion, goal = target for near future, zero net land degradation = keeping soil safe

So, the answer is: G

Question 26: a reason why it is difficult to provide an overview of soil degradation

Keywords for this answer: why, difficult, provide an overview, soil degradation    

The answer to this question is found in Paragraph F, lines 2-4, where the writer says, “To assess our options on a global scale we first need an accurate picture of what types of soil are out there, and the problems they face. That’s not easy. For one thing, there is no agreed international system for classifying soil.”

Here, That’s not easy = it is difficult,

picture of what types of soil are out there, and the problems they face = an overview of soil degradation

So, the answer is: F

Cambridge 13 Reading Test 4 Passage 3:

The headline of the passage: Book Review

Questions 27-29:  (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, a 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: What is the reviewer’s attitude to advocates of positive psychology?  

Keywords for this question: reviewer’s attitude, advocates of positive psychology

We can find the reference to ‘positive psychology’ in line 6 of paragraph no. 1. Here, the writer defines ‘positive psychology’.  However, the mention of ‘advocates of positive psychology’ is found in line 12 of paragraph no. 2.  The writer says in lines 2-5 about them, “Those who think in this way are oblivious to the vast philosophical literature in which the meaning and value of happiness have been explored and questioned, and write as if nothing of any importance had been thought on the subject until it came to their attention.”

Here, as if nothing of any importance had been thought on the subject until it came to their attention means they are actually ignorant about the ideas which they should consider.

*The word oblivious also means unaware or ignorant.

So, the answer is: D

Question 28: The reviewer refers to the Greek philosopher Aristotle in order to suggest that happiness   

Keywords for this question: Aristotle,  

We find the mention of Greek philosopher Aristotle in line 7 of paragraph no. 2. So, we need to scan the lines carefully. Here, the writer says in lines 6-10, “For Bentham it was obvious that the human good consists of pleasure and the absence of pain. The Greek philosopher Aristotle may have identified happiness with self-realisation in the 4th century,. .. . .. .. .   but for Bentham all this was mere metaphysics or fiction.” The writer discusses here that Bentham considers happiness as only with pleasure and with the absence of pain. But for Aristotle it was not only pleasure and absence of pain. Rather, it was something that could be identified by self-realisation, which may not seem correct all the time.

So, the answer is: A

Question 29: According to Davies, Bentham’s suggestion for linking the price of goods to happiness was significant because

Keywords for this question: Davies, Bentham’s suggestion, linking, price of goods,

The answer is in the fourth paragraph, where the writer talks about price of goods. Here, in the last few lines, the writer says, “By associating money so closely to inner experience, Davies writes, Bentham ‘set the stage for the entangling of psychological research and capitalism that would shape the business practices of the twentieth century’.”  The writer explains here that Bentham had associated money or price of goods with inner experience and thus made a connection between work and human psychology.

So, the answer is: B

Questions 30-34: (Summary completion with NO MORE THAN ONE WORD)

[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 no more than ONE, TWO, or THREE 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.]

Title of the summary: Jeremy Bentham

Question 30: In the 1790s he suggested a type of technology to improve _________ for different Government departments.

Keywords for this question: 1790s, technology, to improve, different Government departments  

The answer to this question lies in paragraph no. 3, lines 6-7 where the author writes, “In the 1790s, he wrote to the Home Office suggesting that the departments of government be linked together through a set of ‘conversation tubes’.”

These lines indicate that Bentham proposed to the Home office that Governmental departments should establish communication with Home office through ‘conversation tubes’.

So, the answer is: F (communication)

Question 31: He developed a new way of printing banknotes to increase ________

Keywords for this question: developed, new way, printing banknotes  

In paragraph no. 3, the author says in lines 8-9, “… and to the Bank of England with a design for a printing device that could produce unforgeable banknotes”. Here, unforgeable means something that cannot be forged or falsified or falsified. So, this means that Bentham actually developed a new way of printing banknotes to increase safety or security.

So, the answer is: B (security)

Question 32: and also designed a method for the ________ of food.

Keywords for this question: designed, method, food

The reference to food can be found in lines 9-10 of paragraph no. 3. “He drew up plans for a “frigidarium” to keep provisions such as meat, fish, fruit and vegetables fresh.” These lines directly refer to the preservation of food.

So, the answer is: G (preservation)

Question 33: He also drew up plans for a prison which allowed the _______ of prisoners at all times, … .. . .

Keywords for this question: drew up plans, prison, allowed, prisoners

The answer is in lines 10-12 of paragraph no. 3. Here, the author writes, “He celebrated design for a prison to be known as ‘Panoptieon’, in which prisoners would be kept in solitary confinement while being visible at all time to the guards, ….”  Here, while being visible = under observation

So, the answer is: E (observation)

Question 34: when researching happiness, he investigated possibilities for its ________, and suggested some methods of doing this.  

Keywords for this question: investigated, possibilities, suggested some methods   

The answer to this question is also found in lines 1-2 of Paragraph no. 4. “If happiness is to be regarded as a science, it has to be measured,….” This means Bentham suggested the methods of taking measurement.

So, the answer is: A (measurement)

Questions 35-40 (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 in the question contradicts with 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 35: One strength of The Happiness Industry is its discussion of the relationship between psychology and economics.

Keywords for this question: The Happiness Industry, discussion, relationship, psychology, economics

The answer can be found in the first few lines of paragraph no. 5 “The Happiness Industry describes how the project of a science of happiness has become integral to capitalism. We learn much that is interesting about how economic problems are being redefined and treated as psychological maladies”. So, it is clear from these lines that there is a strong relationship between psychology and economics.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 36: It is more difficult to measure some emotions than others.

Keywords for this question: difficult to measure, some emotions,

The answer cannot be found in this passage. There is a sentence in paragraph 5 about the feeling of pleasure and displeasure that can be measured which gives further information for research management and advertising. “In addition, Davies shows how the belief that inner states of pleasure and displeasure can be objectively measured has informed management studies and advertising.” But it is not related to this question.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 37: Watson’s ideas on behaviourism were supported by research on humans he carried out before 1915.   

Keywords for this question: Watson’s ideas, behaviuorism, supported, research, humans, before 1915

The answer is found in lines 7-9 of paragraph no. 5 which directly contradicts the given question. “When he became president of the American Psychological Association in 1915, he had never even studied a single human being: his research had been confined to experiments on white rats.”

This means Watson’s experiments were on rats, not on humans.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 38: Watson’s ideas have been most influential on governments outside America.

Keywords for this question: Watson’s ideas, most influential, governments outside America

In paragraph 5 there is no information about the impact of Watson’s ideas on countries outside the USA.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39: The need for happiness is linked to industrialisation. 

Keywords for this question: need for happiness, linked, industrialisation  

Answer to this question can be found in the opening sentence paragraph no. 6 which talks about the need for happiness that is connected with labour market. “Modern industrial societies appear to need the possibility of ever-increasing happiness to motivate them in their labours.” This is a clear match with the question.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 40: A main aim of government should be to increase the happiness of the population.

Keywords for this question: main aim, government, increase, happiness of the population  

The writer says in lines 2-3 in paragraph no. 6, “But whatever its intellectual pedigree, the idea that governments should be responsible for promoting happiness is always a threat to human freedom.”

Our question asks to find out the aim. But we find out that this is a comment from the author, not a statement on the aim of government.

So, the answer is: NO  

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