Reading Passage 1:
The headline of the passage: Why pagodas don’t fall down
Questions 1-4: (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 1: Only two Japanese pagodas have collapsed in 1400 years.
Keywords for the question: only two, Japanese pagodas, collapsed, 1400 years,
In paragraph no. 1, the author says in lines 2-3, “ . .. . Records show that only two have collapsed during the past 1400 years.”
The sentence is a clear match with the statement in the question.
So, the answer is: YES
Question 2: The Hanshin earthquake of 1995 destroyed the pagoda at the Toji temple.
Keywords for the question: Hanshin earthquake, 1995, destroyed, pagoda, Toji temple,
In paragraph no. 1, the author says in lines 4-7, “The disastrous Hanshin earthquake in1995 killed 6,400 people . . .. .. . Yet it left the magnificent five-storey pagoda at the Toji temple in nearby Kyoto unscathed, though . ..”
These liens suggest that the Hanshin earthquake did not destroy the pagoda at the Toji temple.
Here, unscathed = unharmed, untouched,
So, the lines contradict the statement made in the question.
So, the answer is: NO
Question 3: The other buildings near the Toji pagoda had been built in the last 30 years.
Keywords for the question: other buildings, near, Toji temple, built, last 30 years,
Only paragraph no. 1 talks about the making of the Toji temple. However, in this passage we cannot find any information that gives us idea whether other buildings near Toji temple were built in the last 30 years or not.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 4: The builders of pagodas knew how to absorb some of the power produced by severe weather conditions.
Keywords for the question: builders, knew, how to absorb, some of the power, produced by, severe weather conditions,
Moving to paragraph no. 4 we find information about the builders’ knowledge about designing pagodas. Here, in lines 4-8, the author says, “When the pagoda reached Japan, however, its architecture was freely adapted to local conditions – they were built less high, typically five rather than nine storeys, made mainly of wood and the staircase was dispensed with because the Japanese pagoda did not have any practical use but became more of an art object. Because of the typhoons that batter Japan in the summer, Japanese builders learned to extend the eaves of buildings further beyond the walls.”
Here, typhoons = severe weather conditions, Japanese builders learned to extend the eaves of buildings further beyond the walls = The builders of pagodas knew how to absorb some of the power,
So, the answer is: YES
Questions 5-10: (Classifying statements)
[This type of question asks candidates to classify information from the given reading text. Candidates are given some statements from the text, and a list of options, which are listed as A, B, C etc. They must match the correct statements with the correct options.
N.B.: This question doesn’t follow any sequence. So, they should be answered after all other questions in the passage.]
Question 5: easy interior access to top
Keywords for the question: easy interior access, top,
In paragraph no. 4, lines 4-7 talk about the difference between Chinese and Japanese pagoda designs, “The Chinese built their pagodas in brick or stone, with inner staircases, and used them in later centuries mainly as watchtowers. When the pagoda reached Japan, however, its architecture was freely adapted to local conditions – they were built less high, typically five rather than nine storeys, made mainly of wood and the staircase was dispensed with because the Japanese pagoda did not have any practical use but became more of an art object.”
The lines suggest that Chinese pagodas had inner staircases for easy access to top. However, Japanese pagodas had no staircases because they did not have any practical use of staircases.
So, the answer is: B (only Chinese pagodas)
Question 6: tiles on eaves
Keywords for the question: tiles, eaves,
In the last sentence of paragraph no. 5, the writer mentions: “For the same reason, the builders of Japanese pagodas seem to have further increased their weight by choosing to cover these extended eaves not with the porcelain tiles of many Chinese pagodas but with much heavier earthenware tiles.”
So, both Chinese and Japanese pagodas use tiles on eaves, but they are different in styles.
So, the answer is: A (both Chinese and Japanese pagodas)
Question 7: use as observation post
Keywords for the question: used, observation post,
In paragraph no. 4, the writer says in lines 2-4, “.. . . The Chinese built their pagodas . . .. . … and used them in later centuries as watchtowers.”
Here, watchtowers = observation post,
However, no Japanese pagodas are or were used as watchtowers.
So, the answer is: B (only Chinese pagodas)
Question 8: size of eaves up to half the width of the building
Keywords for the question: size of eaves, up to, half the width,
In paragraph no. 5 lines 1-2, the writer says, “The roof of a Japanese temple building can be made to overhang the sides of the structure by fifty per cent or more of the building’s overall width.”
In the description of Chinese pagodas, we do not find this about the size of eaves (roof-top).
Here, fifty per cent or more = up to half the width,
So, the answer is: C (only Japanese pagodas)
Question 9: original religious purpose
Keywords for the question: original, religious, purpose,
At the beginning of paragraph no. 4 the writer states, “The multi-storey pagoda came to Japan from China in the sixth century. As in China, they were first introduced with Buddhism and were attached to important temples.”
Here, As in China = just like in China,
This means multi-storey pagoda has the original purpose of Buddhism in Japan as in China.
So, the answer is: A (both Chinese and Japanese pagodas)
Question 10: floors fitting loosely over each other
Keywords for the question: floors, fitting, loosely, over, each other,
Take a look at paragraph no. 7; this paragraph talks about the design of Japanese Pagoda’s central pillar known as shinbashira. Here, in lines 8-10, the author says, “ .. . What those early craftsmen had found by trial and error was that under pressure a pagoda’s loose stack of floors could be made to slither to and fro independent of one another.”
Here, loose stack of floors = floors fitting loosely over each other,
In the description of Chinese Pagodas, we do not find such conditions on floors.
So, the answer is: C (only Japanese pagodas)
Questions 11-13: (Multiple choice questions)
[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]
Question 11: In a Japanese pagoda, the shinbashira –
Keywords for the question: Japanese pagoda, shinbashira,
We find the details about shinbashira in paragraph no. 6 and 7.
In paragraph no. 6, the writer says, “Is the answer that, like a tall pine tree, the Japanese pagoda – with its massive trunk-like central pillar known as shinbashira – simply flexes and sways during a typhoon or earthquake? For centuries, many thought so. But the answer is not so simple because the startling thing is that the shinbashira actually carries no load at all. In fact, in some pagoda designs, it does not even rest on the ground,. . .. .”
Here, carries no load at all and in some pagoda designs, it does not even rest on the ground mean that options A, B, and C are not correct.
Then, in paragraph no. 7, the writer says, “.. . The shinbashira, running up through a hole in the centre of the building, constrained individual storeys from moving too far… ..”
Here, constrained individual storeys from moving too far = stops the floors moving too far,
So, the answer is: D (stops the floors moving too far.)
Question 12: Shuzo Ishida performs experiments in order to –
Keywords for the question: Shuzo Ishida, performs, experiments, to,
In paragraph no. 7, the writer mentions about Shuzo Ishida in lines 3-5, “Mr Ishida, known to his students as ‘Professor Pagoda’ because of his passion to understand the pagoda, has built a series of models and tested them on a ‘shake-table’ in his laboratory.”
Therefore, this can be understood from the lines that the reason for the experiment is to understand the pagoda.
We can gather that the possible answers are:
C. learn about the dynamics of pagodas
Or,
D. understand ancient mathematics.
Then, in lines 5-6 of the same paragraph, the writer says, “The ancient craftsmen, apparently without the assistance of very advanced mathematics… . .. . ”
Therefore, it is clear that no ‘ancient mathematics’ was involved here. So, option D is not correct.
So, the answer is: C (learn about the dynamics of pagodas.)
Question 13: The storeys of a Japanese pagoda are –
Keywords for the question: storeys, Japanese pagoda,
The answer will be option C because we’ve already found it question no. 10. Take a look at paragraph no. 7; this paragraph talks about the design of Japanese Pagoda’s central pillar known as shinbashira. Here, in lines 8-10, the author says, “ .. . What those early craftsmen had found by trial and error was that under pressure a pagoda’s loose stack of floors could be made to slither to and fro independent of one another.”
Here, loose stack of floors = floors fitting loosely over each other,
So, the answer is: C (fitted loosely on top of each other.)
Reading Passage 2:
The headline of the passage: The True Cost of Food
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. 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 cost involved in purifying domestic water
Keywords for this question: cost, purifying, domestic water,
Here, ‘cost’ means the amount of money spent on something.
We can use a short technique here. Let’s find out some symbols such as $, £ or € that indicate ‘cost’.
If you scan the passage for these symbols, we can find out that paragraphs D and E contain the ‘$’ symbol. Now, we need to scan the information around the symbol and look for something that indicates ‘the purification of water’.
In paragraph E, take a look at these lines, “ . . . . £23m for the removal of the bug Cryptosporidium from drinking water by water companies; . . . .”
Here, the removal of the bug . . .. from drinking water = purifying domestic water,
So, the answer is: E
Question 15: the stages in the development of the farming industry
Keywords for this question: stages, development, farming industry,
The keyword here is ‘the stages’ which means we need to look for some linkers indicating ‘process’ such as First, Then, Next, After that etc.
In paragraph B, the writer says at the beginning, “First mechanisation, then mass use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, then monocultures, then battery rearing of livestock, and now genetic engineering – the onward march of intensive farming has seemed unstoppable in the last half-century, as the yields of produce have soared.”
The linkers indicate that the development of the farming industry started with mechanisation; then came the mass use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and after that came monocultures. Next, it was battery rearing of livestock and presently it is genetic engineering.
So, the answer is: B
Question 16: the term used to describe hidden costs
Keywords for this question: term, describe, hidden costs,
Here, we need to look for the term – word or phrase – that describes ‘hidden cost’.
Looking at paragraph C, we can find out the following sentences, “.. . . That is mainly because the costs of all this damage are what economists refer to as externalities: they are outside the main transaction …. . .”
Therefore, we can see that the term ‘externalities’ means the extra cost (they are outside the main transaction).
So, the answer is: C
Question 17: one effect of chemicals on water sources
Keywords for this question: effect, chemicals, water sources,
In paragraph B, take a look at the last lines, “. .. … Natural soil fertility is dropping in many areas because of continuous industrial fertiliser and pesticide use, while the growth of algae is increasing in lakes because of the fertiliser run-off.”
Here, industrial fertiliser and pesticide = chemicals, the growth of algae is increasing = one effect,
So, the answer is: B
Questions 18-21 (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 18: Several species of wildlife in the British countryside are declining.
Keywords for this question: several species, wildlife, British countryside, declining,
We can find the answer in paragraph B, take a close look at lines 4-7, “ . .. . But the damage it has caused has been colossal. In Britain, for example, many of our best-loved farmland birds, such as the skylark, the grey partridge, the lapwing and the corn bunting, have vanished from huge stretches of countryside, as have even more wild flowers and insects.
Here, have vanished = declining,
So, the answer is: YES
Question 19: The taste of food has deteriorated in recent years.
Keywords for this question: taste of food, deteriorated, recent years,
There is a reference to the cost of food in recent years is found in paragraph A. However, no reference to the quality of food, especially the taste is found in this passage.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 20: The financial costs of environmental damage are widely recognised.
Keywords for this question: financial costs, environmental damage, widely recognised,
In paragraph C, in line no. 2, the author talks about the financial costs or environmental damage, “. . .. That is mainly because the costs of all this damage . . . .”
Then, in lines 5-6, the writer says, “ . .. . . To many, the costs may not even appear to be financial at all, but merely aesthetic- a terrible shame, but nothing to do with money.”
These lines suggest that many people may not recognise these costs as financial at all.
So, the answer is: NO
Question 21: One of the costs calculated by Professor Pretty was illness caused by food.
Keywords for this question: one, costs calculated, Professor Pretty, illness, caused by food,
Paragraph E gives the detailed costs calculated by Professor Pretty. In line no. 6, the author mentions one of the calculations, “… £169m from food poisoning; … . .”
Here, food poisoning = illness caused by food,
So, the answer is: YES
Questions 22-26 (Completing summary with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary using information from the passage with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. Keywords and synonyms 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.]
Question 22: Professor Pretty concludes that our __________ are higher than most people realise, because we make three different types of payment.
Keywords for this question: Professor Pretty, concludes, higher than, most people realise, because, make three, types, payment,
Let’s have a look at paragraph E. Here the writer says in lines 6-11, “Professor Pretty draws a simple but memorable conclusion from all this: our food bills are actually threefold. We are paying for our supposedly cheaper food in three separate ways: once over the counter, secondly through our taxes which provide the enormous subsidies propping up modern intensive farming, and thirdly to clean up the mess that modern farming leaves behind.”
Here, higher corresponds to threefold = three times as much/ triple, conclude = draw a conclusion, three different types= three separate ways, make payment = paying for, over the counter = in the shops,
So, the answer is: food bills / food costs
Question 23: He feels it is realistic to suggest that Britain should reduce its reliance on _________.
Keywords for this question: feels, realistic, suggest, Britain, should reduce, reliance on,
In paragraph F, the writer states in lines 1-4, “Breaking away from industrial agriculture as the solution to hunger may be very hard for some countries, but in Britain, where the immediate need to supply food is less urgent, and the costs and the damage of intensive farming have been clearly seen, it may be more feasible.”
Here,
These lines indicate that Professor Pretty shows the attitude that breaking away from industrial agriculture is possible (realistic) though it may be very hard. This is because the need for food in Britain is not so urgent. However, the damage done by intensive farming has been more apparent.
So, the answer is: (modern) intensive farming / agriculture
Question 24: Although most farmers would be unable to adapt to __________.
Keywords for this question: Although, most farmers, unable to adapt,
Let’s have a look at paragraph G where the writer says in lines 2-3, “.. .. . Professor Pretty feels that organic farming would be too big a jump in thinking and in practices for many farmers.”
Here, would be too big a jump in thinking and in practices = would be unable to adapt
So, the answer is: organic farming
Question 25: Professor Pretty wants the government to initiate change by establishing what he refers to as a ___________.
Keywords for this question: Professor Pretty, wants, government, initiate change, establishing, refers to as,
Again in paragraph G, the author states in lines 4-7, “.. . He is recommending the immediate introduction of a ‘Greener Food Standard’, which would push the market towards more sustainable environmental practices than the current norm, while not requiring the full commitment to organic production.”
Therefore, the lines indicate that Professor Pretty wants the government to start making change by introducing (establishing) Greener Food Standard.
So, the answer is: Greener Food Standard
Question 26: He feels this would help to change the attitudes of both __________ and ___________.
Keywords for this question: feels, would help, change, attitudes, both,
In paragraph G, the writer says in the last lines, “… .. . It could go a long way, he says, to shifting consumers as well as farmers towards a more sustainable system of agriculture.”
Here, shifting = change, a more sustainable system of agriculture = the attitudes… changed,
So, the answer is: (in either order)
farmers,
consumers,
Reading Passage 3:
The headline of the passage: Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project
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: Section B
Section B contains two paragraphs.
In paragraph no. 1, the existing communication situation of Makete district has been explained which shows the need for an integrated transport system.
Then paragraph no. 2 starts with these lines, “Before solutions could be proposed, the problems had to be understood. Little was known about the transport demands of the rural households, so Phase I, between December 1985 and December 1987, focused on research.”
Here, the problems had to be understood = the problems had to understood/ identified,
So, the answer is: ii (Identifying the main transport problems)
Question 28: Section C
Section C contains four paragraphs which mostly talk about the primary solutions to the problems related to building a proper transport system.
Take a look at paragraph no. 1 where the writer states, “Having determined the main transport needs, possible solutions were identified which might reduce the time and burden. During Phase II, from January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.”
Here, possible solutions were identified = initial solutions had been identified,
Then, in the following paragraphs, the writer describes the initial improvements that came about.
So, the answer is: v (Initial improvements in mobility and transport modes)
Question 29: Section E
Section E contains one paragraph only.
In the last lines of section E the writer says, “….. . . It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.”
Here, district authorities = district officials,
This means the project became a success because villagers and other rural inhabitants got support (co-operation) from district officials.
So, the answer is: x (Co-operation of district officials)
Question 30: Section F
Section F contains two small paragraphs.
The first paragraph explains how important this MIRTP has been for the rural people of Makete district of south-western Tanzania.
Then, in the last lines of the final paragraph, the author explains, “. . . The experiences from Makete will help in this initiative, and Makete District will act as a reference for future work.”
Here, will act as a reference for future work = as a future model,
So, the answer is: i (MIRTP as a future model)
Questions 31-35: (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 31: MIRTP was divided into five phases.
Keywords for this question: MIRTP, divided into, five phases,
If we skim all the sections of the passages, we can find only three phases in MIRTP.
Phase I is mentioned in Section B (line no. 6).
Phase II is mentioned in Section C (line no. 2).
Phase III is mentioned in Section D (line no. 2).
So, the answer is: NO
Question 32: Prior to the start of MIRTP, the Makete district was almost inaccessible during the rainy season.
Keywords for this question: prior to, start, MIRTP, Makete district, almost inaccessible, rainy season,
Take a close look at section B. In the first sentence the author states, “When the project began, Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season.”
Here, virtually totally isolated = almost inaccessible,
So, the answer is: YES
Question 33: Phase I of MIRTP consisted of a survey of household expenditure on transport.
Keywords for this question: Phase I, MIRTP, consisted of, survey, household expenditure, on transport,
The reference of the survey in Phase I is given in section B, paragraph no. 2. Here, in lines 3-4, the author mentions, “. .. . The socio-economic survey of more than 400 households in the district indicated that a household in Makete spent, on average, seven hours a day on transporting themselves and their goods, .. .. ..”
Therefore, the statement is a clear indication that the survey was on the time spent transporting the people of Makete and their goods, not on household expenditure on transport.
So, the answer is: NO
Question 34: The survey concluded that one-fifth or 20% of the household transport requirement as outside the local area.
Keywords for this question: survey, concluded, one-fifth, 20%, household transport requirement, outside the local area,
In the last lines of section B paragraph no. 2, the author writes, “.. .. .. Interesting facts regarding transport were found: 95% was on foot; 80% was within the locality; and 70% was related to the collection of water and firewood and travelling to grinding mills.”
Here, 80% was within the locality = 20% was outside the locality,
So, the answer is: YES
Question 35: MIRTP hoped to improve the movement of goods from Makete district to the country’s capital.
Keywords for this question: MIRTP, hoped to, improved, movement of goods, Makete, country’s capital,
At first glance, it may seem that the answer might be in Section C.
However, in section C, the author says in the second paragraph, “However the difference from the conventional approach was that this time consideration was given to local transport needs outside the road network.”
The lines show the purpose of the MIRTP which is to make transportation of goods riskless and safer by improving the roads. However, there is no mention of hoping to improve to movement of goods from Makete to the capital of Tanzania, Dodoma.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Questions 36-39 (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 36: Construction of footbridges, steps and handrails –
Keywords for this question: construction, footbridges, steps, handrails,
In section C, the author says in paragraph no. 3, “Most goods were transported along the paths that provide short-cuts up and down the hillsides, but the paths were a real safety risk and made the journey on foot even more arduous. It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.”
Therefore, the sentences indicate that by constructing footbridges, steps and handrails, transportation up and down hillsides became easier using the improved paths.
So, the answer is: D (improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides.)
Question 37: Frequent breakdown of buses and trucks in Makete –
Keywords for this question: frequent, breakdown, buses and trucks,
Have a close look and Section D paragraph no. 4 where you will find the keywords ‘breakdown’ and ‘buses and trucks’. In lines 1-2 the writer mentions, “The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services were not very successful because most of the motorised vehicles in the district broke down and there were no resources to repair them.”
Here, were not very successful means the breaking down of vehicles hindered/hampered the attempts to make the prevailing transport services more efficient.
So, the answer is: I (hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient.)
Question 38: The improvement of secondary roads and paths –
Keywords for this question: improvement, secondary roads, paths,
In section D, in paragraph no. 3, the author says, “Paths and secondary roads were improved only at the request of communities who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance.”
Here, willing to participate in construction and maintenance = willing to lend a hand / willing to co-operate.
So, the answer is: G (was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand.)
Question 39: The isolation of Makete for part of the year –
Keywords for this question: isolation, Makete, for part of the year,
In section D, paragraph no. 2, the writer says, “The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year.”
The lines suggest that road improvements have made it possible to access Makete in particular months of the year. So, it was no problem to go to Makete during the rainy season, thanks to the road improvements.
So, the answer is: E (was no longer a problem once the roads had been improved.)
Question 40: Multiple choice questions (Identifying the main purpose/aim of the passage)
[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options that shows the main aim/purpose using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]
Which of the following phrases best describes the main aim of Reading Passage?
Keywords for this question: best describes, the main aim,
Having a look at the different sections of the passage for all the questions (27-39), it is clear that the passage talks about Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project or MIRTP. The sections deal with the history behind the projects, the problems related to successfully execute the project, the importance of road improvements for Makete and the successful implementation and outcomes of the projects.
Therefore, the main aim of the passage is to show how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was to change the lifestyle of the people of Makete.
So, the answer is: B (to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was)
