IELTS Reading Practice Test 5: Enhance Your Skills with Authentic Exercises

The Reading section of the IELTS examination holds significant importance as it plays a crucial role in the overall test. The difficulty level of this section is influenced by the diversity and length of the questions. Typically, the reading section is perceived as more challenging due to the varied question types and the complexity of the passages. This section consists of three passages. Therefore, a key strategy for candidates is to engage in IELTS reading practice tests and self-assessment to effectively prepare for the diverse challenges presented in the Reading section. In this article, we will go in-depth into the IELTS Reading Practice Test 5, along with the answers to the IELTS Reading Practice Test 5. This article contains answers to the IELTS academic reading practice test 5, which includes reading questions from topics such as Corporate Social Responsibility – a new concept of “market”, Photovoltaics on the Rooftop: A Natural Choice for powering the Family Home and Assessing the Risk. All these practice tests are taken from the official practice sets designed by the IELTS examination conducting authorities.

This Story also Contains

1. IELTS Reading Practice Test 5
2. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – A NEW CONCEPT OF "MARKET"
3. PHOTOVOLTAICS ON THE ROOFTOP
4. ASSESSING THE RISK
5. IELTS READING FOR BAND 9
6. IELTS 2025 PRACTICE TESTS

The Reading section of the IELTS examination assesses the candidate's skills in attention to detail, identifying main ideas, comprehension, and understanding the nature and tone of the author. Success in this section requires a dedicated approach to IELTS Reading practice, as there is no shortcut to achieving proficiency and excellence in the IELTS 2025 examination.

IELTS Reading Practice Test 5

This article provides candidates with numerous previous years' IELTS questions along with detailed answers, aiming to assist them in their IELTS preparation for 2025. The Reading section can pose considerable difficulty without efficient IELTS reading practice. Therefore, this article offers a glimpse into what candidates can expect on the exam day, facilitating better preparation for this crucial section.

In the IELTS Reading section, the candidate might find difficulties due to the presence of varying difficulty levels of the passages and the presence of complex vocabulary. The candidate with low language skills would find this very challenging compared to the other candidate. As far as the structure of the IELTS reading section is concerned, the candidates are given three passages of varying difficulties, and in total, there are 40 questions to be answered. Receive one band score, and there is no negative marking, hence, candidates are encouraged to attempt all the questions because they have a possibility of getting more marks.

Some skills are necessary to succeed in this particular section of the IELTS examination 2025: the ability to skim and scan the paragraph, understanding the various question types that may be asked in the IELTS examination, such as true or false questions, not given questions matching heading questions and completion questions and so on. Other skills include identifying essential keywords, paraphrasing the answers, giving importance to contextual understanding, eliminating wrong answers and managing time effectively.

Here in this article, you can find IELTS Reading Samples for the IELTS Academic section and their corresponding answers. The questions are compiled from IELTS sample papers from previous years, and the answers are written by IELTS experts

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – A NEW CONCEPT OF "MARKET"

Maybe Ben & Jerry’s and The Body Shop set themselves up for a fall by appearing to have a monopoly on making an honest buck. But their struggles are a lesson on how little we know about the minefield of “ethical” marketing. The Body Shop, along with the American ice cream maker Ben and Jerry’s, was hailed as a new breed of green, or environmentally conscious, business.

Ben and Jerry’s

A. Ben & Jerry’s offers a very sweet benefits package to employees. First, every one of the 700+ Ben & Jerry’s workers is entitled to three free pints of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt per day worked. (Some workers use allotments of their free treats to barter for other goods and services in town such as haircuts.) Beyond the freebies, personnel receive a 50% discount on the company’s frozen goodies, a 40% discount on merchandise and a further 30% break on non-Ben & Jerry’s foods at company outlets.

B. Workers are further entitled to paid family leave and may take advantage of the Employee Stock Purchase Program to purchase company stock (after six months with the organization) at a 15% discount. Beginning in 1998,316 stock options are awarded to each worker (excluding directors and officers) and stock is also assigned to each employee’s 40IK plan at the end of the calendar year. These contributions are intended to achieve the company’s goal of linked prosperity, i.e. to assure that future prosperity is widely shared by all employees.

The Body Shop

C. History of The Body Shop Anita Roddick started The Body Shop with a mere £4,000 and a dream. With over 1,900 stores in 50 countries. The Body Shop was founded in 1976 in Brighton, England. From her original shop, which offered a line of 25 different lotions, creams, and oils, Roddick became the first successful marketer of body care products that combined natural ingredients with ecologically benign manufacturing processes. Her company’s refusal to test products on animals, along with an insistence on non-exploitative labour practices among suppliers around the world, appealed especially to upscale, mainly middle-class women, who were and have continued to be the company’s primary market. As sales boomed, even the conservative financial markets approved of The Body Shop, 's impressive profit picture, and a public stock offering in 1984 was successful. An expansion campaign followed. In 1988 the company entered the U.S. market by opening a store in New York City, and by 1997 the company boasted 1,500 stores, including franchises, in 47 countries. Anti-marketing seemed to be smart marketing, at least as far as The Body Shop was concerned.

D. Part of the secret of The Body Shop’s early success was that it had created a market niche for itself. The company was not directly competing against the traditional cosmetics companies, which marketed their products as fashion accessories designed to cover up flaws and make women look more like the fashion models who appeared in their lavish ads. Instead, The Body Shop offered a line of products that promised benefits other than appearance healthier skin, for instance rather than simply a better-looking complexion. The company is known for pioneering the natural ingredient cosmetic market and establishing social responsibility as an integral part of company operations. The Body Shop is known for its ethical stances, such as its monetary donations to the communities in which it operates, and its business partnerships with developing countries. In 1988 Roddick opened her first store in the United States, and by that time- through various social initiatives such as the 66 Stop the Bum” campaign to save the Brazilian rainforest (the source of many of the company’s natural ingredients, (and strong support of employee volunteerism -The Body Shop name had become synonymous with social activism and global preservation worldwide. The company had also become immensely profitable.

E. By the mid-1990s, however, The Body Shop faced growing competition, forcing it to begin its first major advertising initiative, the most prominent part of which was the “Ruby” campaign. The campaign was personified by Ruby, a doll with Rubenesque proportions who was perched on an antique couch and who looked quite pleased with herself and her plump frame. Randy Williamson, a spokesperson for The Body Shop, said: “Ruby is the fruit of our long-established practice of challenging the way the cosmetic industry talks to women. The Ruby campaign is designed to promote the idea that The Body Shop creates products designed to enhance features, moisturize, cleanse, and polish, not to correct ‘flaws.5 The Body Shop's philosophy is that there is real beauty in everyone. We are not claiming that our products perform miracles.”

F. The Competition - The Body Shop lost market share in the late 1990s to product-savvy competitors that offered similar cosmetics at lower prices. The main competitors are H20, Sephora, Bath and Body Work, and Origins. Research Results Research showed that women appreciate The Body Shop for their ethical standards. They are pleased by companies with green actions, not promises. The research proved that The Body Shop has been put on the back burner in many people’s minds: overcrowded by newer, fresher Brands. Companies like the Body Shop continually hype their products through advertising and marketing, often creating a demand for something where a real need for it does not exist. The message pushed is that the route to happiness is through buying more and more of their products. Under such consumerism, the increasing domination of multinationals and their standardised products is leading to global cultural conformity. Other downfall factors also include misleading the public, low pay and against unions, and exploiting indigenous people; Also the mass production, packaging and transportation of huge quantities of goods are using up the world’s resources faster than they can be renewed and filling the land, sea and air with dangerous pollution and waste.

G. The Problem - The Body Shop has used safe and timid advertising over the last decade, decreasing market share and brand value. With the rise of new, more natural and environmentally friendly competitors, The Body Shop can no longer stand behind being the greenest or most natural. The Solution The Body Shop is the originator of ethical beauty with our actions speaking louder than our words. This is the new direction of The Body Shop. We will be a part of different acts of kindness in big cities. We will eliminate unwanted graffiti, purify city air, and allow the customer to be a part of something good.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – A NEW CONCEPT OF "MARKET" QUESTIONS

Questions 1-4

The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

1. An action is taken to Establish social responsibility in the conservation project

2. A description of the conventional way the ads are applied to talk to its customers

3. A history of a humble origin and expansion

4. Management practices are intended to line up the company’s goal with participants, prosperity

Questions 5-7

Choose the three correct letter, A- F.

Write your answers in boxes 5-7 on your answer sheet.

What is true about Ben & Jerry’s company management

A. There was little difference between the highest salary and the lowest

B. They were advertising their product with powerful internal marketing.

C. They offer the employees complimentary products

D. Employees were encouraged to give services back to the community

E. The products are designed for workers to barter for other goods and services

F Offered a package of benefits for disabled employees

Questions 8-10

Choose the three correct letters, A- F.

Write your answers in boxes 8-10 on your answer sheet.

What are the factors that contributed to the success of the BODY SHOP?

A. Pioneering the natural-ingredient cosmetics market

B. Appealed to the primary market mainly of the rich women

C. Focused on their lavish ads campaign

D. The company avoided producing traditional cosmetics products

E. Its moral concept that refuses to use animals- tested ingredients

F. Its monetary donations to the communities and in developing countries

Questions 11-13

Choose the three correct letter, A- F.

Write your answers in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.

What are the factors leading to the later failure of BODY SHOP company?

A. Its philosophy that there is real beauty in everyone is faulty

B. Fails to fulfil promises while acted like misleading the public

C. Faced growing competition

D. Its creating demand for something that the customers do not actually need

E. its newer, fresher Brands are not successful in the Market

F. fail to offer cosmetics at lower prices than competitors

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – A NEW CONCEPT OF "MARKET" SOLUTIONS

1. Answer: D

The process to attempt the solution:

Start by skimming through the paragraphs to get an overview of the content.

Look for information related to The Body Shop's success, market niche, and its unique approach compared to traditional cosmetics companies.

Pay attention to details about the company's stance on ethical practices, refusal to test products on animals, and its engagement in social initiatives.

Locate the paragraph that provides a historical perspective on The Body Shop, including its early success and expansion.

2. Answer:

The process to attempt the solution:

Skim through the passage to find information about The Body Shop losing market share and facing competition.

Identify competitors mentioned in the passage and the reasons behind The Body Shop's decline.

Look for details about The Body Shop's response to competition, including any advertising initiatives.

Focus on the paragraph that discusses the challenges faced by The Body Shop in the late 1990s and its competitors.

3. Answer: C

The process to attempt the solution:

Begin by looking for information about the history of The Body Shop, including its founder Anita Roddick.

Identify key milestones such as the founding year, the number of stores, and significant events in the company's growth.

Pay attention to details about The Body Shop's initial offerings, market approach, and its appeal to a specific demographic.

Locate the paragraph that provides a chronological account of The Body Shop's history.

4. Answer: B

The process to attempt the solution:

Search for information related to the benefits and compensation offered to workers at Ben & Jerry’s.

Identify specific perks, such as free ice cream, discounts, stock options, and the company's goal of linked prosperity.

Look for details about the Employee Stock Purchase Program and how it aligns with the company's vision for shared prosperity.

Focus on the paragraph that discusses the comprehensive benefits package for Ben & Jerry’s employees.

5. Answer: C

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Ben & Jerry’s company management," "complimentary product."

Search for information about any benefits or complimentary products offered to employees.

Pay attention to details about the perks provided to employees.

6. Answer: E

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Ben & Jerry’s company management," "products designed for workers to barter for other goods and services."

Look for information about products designed for employee benefits and bartering.

Pay attention to details about how products are used by employees.

7. Answer: F

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Ben & Jerry’s company management," "package of benefits for disabled employees."

Search for information about any benefits or packages specifically for disabled employees.

Pay attention to details about the company's practices regarding disabled employees.

8. Answer: A

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Factors contributing to the success of the BODY SHOP."

Look for information about key factors that contributed to the company's success.

Pay attention to details about the company's pioneering efforts in the natural-ingredient cosmetics market.

9. Answer: E

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Factors contributing to the success of the BODY SHOP."

Search for information about key factors that contributed to the company's success.

Pay attention to details about the company's moral concept, especially its refusal to use animal-tested ingredients.

10. Answer: F

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the question's keywords: "Factors contributing to the success of the BODY SHOP."

Look for information about key factors that contributed to the company's success.

Pay attention to details about the company's monetary donations to communities and in developing countries.

11 - 13

Correct Options:

B. Fails to fulfil promises while acting like misleading the public

C. Faced growing competition

D. It's creating demand for something that the customers do not actually need

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify key factors: Look for information in the passage discussing the reasons for The Body Shop's later challenges.

Exclude irrelevant options: Eliminate choices that are not supported by the passage.

Choose the correct answers: Select options B, C, and D, aligning with the passage details about The Body Shop's difficulties, including unfulfilled promises, growing competition, and creating unnecessary demand.

NOTE

The passage on Corporate Social Responsibility activities focuses on the growth and evolution of a firm. In the context of IELTS Reading, practising with IELTS reading practice tests and online IELTS reading practice is crucial for understanding the information presented. Multiple Choice Questions are integral for IELTS reading exam practice online and require constant dedicated preparation for enhancing the overall performance of the candidate.

A. In the past, urban homeowners have not always had much choice in the way electricity is supplied to their homes. Now, however, there is a choice, and a rapidly increasing number of households worldwide are choosing the solar energy option. Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight into energy, is made possible through the use of ‘photovoltaics’, which are simple appliances that fit onto the roof of a house.

B. The photovoltaics-powered home remains connected to the power lines, but no storage is required on-site, only a box of electronics (the inverter) to the interface between the photovoltaics and the grid network. Figure 1 illustrates the system. During the day, when the home may not be using much electricity, excess power from the solar array is fed back to the grid, to factories and offices that need daytime power. At night, power flows the opposite way. The grid network effectively provides storage. If the electricity demand is well matched to when the sun shines, solar energy is especially valuable. This occurs in places like California in the US and Japan, where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large but heating loads for homes are Small.

C. The first systematic exploration of the use of photovoltaics on homes began in the US during the 1970s. A well-conceived program started with the sitting of a number of residential experiment stations, at selected locations around the country, representing different climatic zones. These stations contained a number of ‘dummy’ houses, each with a different solar-energy system design. Homes within the communities close to these stations were monitored to see how well their energy use matched the energy generated by the stations’ dummy roofs. A change in US government priorities in the early 1980s halted this program.

D. With the US effort dropping away, the Japanese Sunshine Project came to the fore. A large residential test station was installed on Rokko Island beginning in 1986. This installation consists of 18 ‘dummy homes. Each is equipped with its own 2-5 kilowatt photovoltaic system (about 20 – 50 square meters for each system). Some of these simulated homes have their own electrical appliances inside, such as TV sets, refrigerators and air conditioning units, which switch on and off under computer control providing a lavish lifestyle for the non-existent occupants. For the other systems, electronics simulate these household loads. This test station has allowed the technical issues involved in using photovoltaics within the electricity network to be explored systematically, under well-controlled test conditions. With no insurmountable problems identified, the Japanese have used the experience gained from this station to begin their own massive residential photovoltaics campaign.

E. Meanwhile, Germany began a very important “1,000 Roof program, in 1990, aimed a installing photovoltaics on the roofs of 1,000 private homes. Large federal and regional government subsidies were involved, accounting in most cases for 70% of the total system costs. The program proved immensely popular, forcing its extension to over 2,000 homes scattered across Germany. The success of this program stimulated other European countries to launch a similar program.

F. Japan’s ‘One Million Roof program’ was prompted by the experience gained in the Rokko Island test site and the success of the German 1,000 roof program. The initially quoted aims of the Japanese New Energy Development Organization were to have 70,000 homes equipped with photovoltaics by the year 2000, on the way to 1 million by 2010. The program made a modest start in 1994 when 539 systems were installed with a government subsidy of 50 per cent. Under this program, entire new suburban developments are using photovoltaics.

G. This is good news, not only for the photovoltaic industry but for everyone concerned with the environment. The use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is not only costly in financial terms but also in terms of environmental damage. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels in the production of electricity are a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. To deal with this problem, many governments are now proposing stringent targets on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions permitted. These targets mean that all sources of greenhouse gas emissions including residential electricity use will receive closer attention in the future.

H. It is likely that in the future, governments will develop building codes that attempt to constrain the energy demands of new housing. For example, the use of photovoltaics or the equivalent may be stipulated to lessen demands on the grid network and hence reduce fossil fuel emissions. Approvals for building renovations may also be conditional upon taking such energy-saving measures. If this were to happen, everyone would benefit. Although there is an initial cost in attaching the system to the rooftop, the householder’s outlay is soon compensated with savings on energy bills. Also, everyone living on the planet stands to gain from the more benign environmental impact.

PHOTOVOLTAICS ON THE ROOFTOP QUESTIONS

Questions 14-19

Reading passage 2 has nine paragraphs (listed A-H)

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the appropriate letters A-H in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

NB you may use any letter more than once

14 Examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night

15 A detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted throughout the country

16 The negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity

17 An explanation of the photovoltaic system

18 The long-term benefits of using photovoltaics

19 A reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics

Questions 20-26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 20-26 on your answer sheet, write

20 Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.

21 Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics in homes.

22 The solar-powered houses on Rokko Island are uninhabited.

23 In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.

24 Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia all have strict goals concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

25 Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

26. Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.

PHOTOVOLTAICS ON THE ROOFTOP SOLUTIONS

14. Answer: B. Examples of countries where electricity use is greater during the day than at night

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph B in the passage.

Identify information about places like California and Japan where air-conditioning loads for offices and factories are large during the day but heating loads for homes are small.

This information suggests that electricity use is greater during the day in these locations.

15. Answer: D. A detailed description of an experiment that led to photovoltaics being promoted throughout the country

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph D in the passage.

Examine the information about the Japanese Sunshine Project and the installation of a residential test station on Rokko Island.

Analyze how this experiment contributed to the promotion of photovoltaics in Japan.

The experiment involved a large residential test station with dummy homes and photovoltaic systems, providing valuable insights into the technical aspects of using photovoltaics in the electricity network. This experiment's success led to the initiation of a massive residential photovoltaics campaign in Japan.

16. Answer: H. The negative effects of using conventional means of generating electricity

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph G in the passage.

Identify information about the negative effects of using fossil fuels to generate electricity, including financial costs and environmental damage.

Connect this information to the overall discussion of the environmental impact of conventional electricity generation.

Paragraph G discusses the financial and environmental costs associated with using fossil fuels to generate electricity, emphasizing the negative impact on the environment. This aligns with the broader context of increasing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the push for cleaner energy alternatives.

17. Answer: B. An explanation of the photovoltaic system

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph B in the passage.

Examine the information about the photovoltaic system, its connection to power lines, and how excess power is fed back to the grid during the day.

This paragraph provides an explanation of how the photovoltaic system works, where homes remain connected to the power lines, and excess power is redirected to the grid, effectively utilizing it as a form of storage.

18. Answer: H. The long-term benefits of using photovoltaics

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph H in the passage.

Identify information about the long-term benefits of using photovoltaics, including cost savings for homeowners and the reduction of environmental impact.

Connect this information to the passage's discussion on the advantages of photovoltaic systems.

Paragraph H discusses the long-term benefits of using photovoltaics, such as cost savings for homeowners and the positive environmental impact. This connects to the broader theme of the advantages of adopting photovoltaic systems for sustainable energy use.

19. Answer: E. A reference to wealthy countries being prepared to help less wealthy countries have access to photovoltaics

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph E in the passage.

Examine information about Germany's "1,000 Roof program" in 1990, government subsidies, and how it stimulated other European countries to launch similar programs.

Connect this information to the idea of wealthier countries assisting less wealthy ones in adopting photovoltaic systems.

Paragraph E describes Germany's "1,000 Roof program," which involved substantial government subsidies and proved immensely popular. This success prompted other European countries to initiate similar programs, indicating a willingness among wealthier nations to support and promote the adoption of photovoltaics in less wealthy countries.

20. Answer: FALSE. Photovoltaics are used to store electricity.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph B in the passage.

Identify information about excess power from the solar array being fed back to the grid during the day.

Conclude that photovoltaics are not used for on-site storage.

21. Answer: FALSE. Since the 1970s, the US government has provided continuous support for the use of photovoltaics in homes.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit the passage for information on the US government's support for photovoltaics.

Determine that the passage does not provide information on continuous support since the 1970s.

22. Answer: TRUE. The solar-powered houses on Rokko Island are uninhabited.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph D in the passage.

Identify information about the Rokko Island test station with "dummy homes" equipped with photovoltaic systems.

Conclude that the solar-powered houses on Rokko Island are uninhabited as they are part of a test station.

23. Answer: TRUE. In 1994, the Japanese government was providing half the money required for installing photovoltaics on homes.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph F in the passage.

Identify information about the Japanese government providing a 50% subsidy for photovoltaic installations in 1994.

Conclude that the statement is true based on the passage.

24. Answer: NOT GIVEN. Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Australia all have strict goals concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

The process to attempt the solution:

Analyze the passage for information about the specific goals of these countries concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclude that the passage does not explicitly mention these countries' goals.

25. Answer: NOT GIVEN. Residential electricity use is the major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The process to attempt the solution:

Analyze the passage for information about the major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclude that the passage does not explicitly state whether residential electricity use is the major source.

26. Answer: FALSE. Energy-saving measures must now be included in the design of all new homes and improvements to buildings.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit Paragraph H in the passage.

Identify information about the possibility that, in the future, governments may develop building codes to constrain energy demands.

Conclude that the passage does not state that it is a current requirement.

NOTE

The passage underscores the rising global trend of choosing solar energy, specifically through rooftop photovoltaics, as a sustainable power source for homes. Homeowners, now presented with an alternative, are increasingly opting for solar energy conversion facilitated by photovoltaic systems affixed to their rooftops. Relevant to IELTS Reading, it underlines the importance of systematic practice through IELTS reading practice tests and reading IELTS practice tests online. The True/False/Not and match the paragraph questions, are very crucial in IELTS reading exam practice online, focusing on enhancing the overall comprehension skills of the candidate.

ASSESSING THE RISK

A. As a title for a supposedly unprejudiced debate on scientific progress, “Panic attack: interrogating our obsession with risk” did not bode well. Held last week at the Royal Institution in London, the event brought together scientists from across the world to ask why society is so obsessed with risk and to call for a “more rational” approach, which seems to be organising society around the grandmotherly maxim of better safe than sorry,” exclaimed Spiked, the online publication that organised the event. “What are the consequences of this overbearing concern with risks?”

B. The debate was preceded by a survey of 40 scientists who were invited to describe how awful our lives would be if the “precautionary principle” had been allowed to prevail in the past, Their response was: no heart surgery or antibiotics, and hardly any drugs at all; no aeroplanes, bicycles or high-voltage power grids; no pasteurization, pesticides or biotechnology; no quantum mechanics; no wheel; no “discovery” of America. In short, their message was: no risk, no gain.

C. They have missed the point. The precautionary principle is a subtle idea. It has various forms, but all of them generally include some notion of cost-effectiveness. Thus the point is not simply to ban things that are not known to be safe. Rather, it says: “Of course, you can make no progress without risk. But if there is no obvious gain from taking the risk, then don’t take it.”

D. Clearly, all the technologies listed by the 40 well-chosen savants were innately risky at their inception, as all technologies are. But all of them would have received the green light under the precautionary principle because they all had the potential to offer tremendous benefits _ the solutions to very big problems – if only the snags could be overcome.

E. If the precautionary principle had been in place, the scientists tell us, we would not have antibiotics. But of course, we would – if the version of the principle that sensible people now understand had been applied. When penicillin was discovered in the 1920s, infective bacteria were laying waste to the world. Children died from diphtheria and whooping cough, every open-drain brought the threat of typhoid, and any wound could lead to septicemia and even gangrene.

F. Penicillin was turned into a practical drug during the Second World War when the many pestilences that resulted from war threatened to kill more people than the bombs. Of course, antibiotics were a priority. Of course, the risks, such as they could be perceived, were worth taking.

G. And so with the other items on the scientists, list: electric light bulbs, blood transfusions, CAT scans, knives, the measles vaccine —the precautionary principle would have prevented all of them, they tell us. But this is just plain wrong. If the precautionary principle had been applied properly, all these creations would have passed muster, because all offered incomparable advantages compared to the risks perceived at the time.

H. Another issue is at stake here. Statistics are not the only concept people use when weighing up risk. Human beings, subtle and evolved creatures that we are, do not survive to three years and ten simply by thinking like pocket calculators. A crucial issue is the consumer’s choice. In deciding whether to pursue the development of new technology, the consumer’s right to choose should be considered alongside considerations of risk and benefit Clearly, skiing is more dangerous than genetically modified tomatoes. But people who ski choose to do so; they do not have skiing thrust upon them by portentous experts of the kind who now feel they have the right to reconstruct our crops. Even with skiing, there is a matter of cost-effectiveness to consider: skiing, I am told, is exhilarating. Where is the exhilaration in GM soya?

I. Indeed, in contrast to all the other items on Spiked’s list, GM crops stand out as an example of a technology whose benefits are far from clear. Some of the risks can at least be defined. But in the present economic climate, the benefits that might accrue from them seem dubious. Promoters of GM crops believe that the future population of the world cannot be fed without them. That is untrue. The crops that really matter are wheat and rice, and there is no GM research in the pipeline that will seriously affect the yield of either. GM is used to make production cheaper and hence more profitable, which is an extremely questionable ambition.

J. If it had been in place in the past it might, for example, have prevented insouciant miners from polluting major rivers with mercury. We have come to a sorry pass when scientists, who should above all be dispassionate scholars, feel they should misrepresent such a principle for commercial and political propaganda. People at large continue to mistrust science and the high technologies it produces partly because they doubt the wisdom of scientists. On such evidence as this, these doubts are fully justified.

ASSESSING THE RISK QUESTIONS

Questions 27 - 32

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

27 The title of the debate is not unbiased.

28 All the scientists invited to the debate were from the field of medicine.

29 The message those scientists who conducted the survey were sending was people shouldn’t take risks.

30 All the 40 listed technologies are riskier than other technologies.

31 It was worth taking the risks to invent antibiotics.

32 All the other inventions on the list were also judged by the precautionary principle.

Questions 33-39

Summary

Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage， using no more than three words from the Reading Passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 33-39 on your answer sheet.

When applying the precautionary principle to decide whether to invent a new technology, people should also take into consideration the……………. 33…………….., along with the usual consideration of…………………… 34………………. For example, though risky and dangerous enough, people still enjoy …………………… 35…………….. for the excitement it provides. On the other hand, experts believe that the future population desperately needs………………… 36……………… in spite of their undefined risks. However, the research conducted so far has not been directed towards increasing the yield of…………………… 37…………….., but to reduce the cost of ………………. 38…………… and to bring more profit out of it. In the end, such selfish use of the precautionary principle for business and political gain has often led people to ………………….. 39…………….. science for they believe scientists are not to be trusted.

Questions 40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write your answers in box 40 on your answer sheet.

40 What is the main theme of the passage?

A people have the right to doubt science and technologies

B the precautionary principle could have prevented the development of science and technology

C there are not enough people who truly understand the precautionary principle

D the precautionary principle bids us to take risks at all costs

ASSESSING THE RISK SOLUTIONS

27. Answer: TRUE. The title of the debate is not unbiased.

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit the passage to find information about the title of the debate.

Analyze the description of the title "Panic attack: interrogating our obsession with risk."

Conclude that the title is considered not unbiased.

28. Answer: NOT GIVEN. All the scientists invited to the debate were from the field of medicine.

The process to attempt the solution:

Check the passage for information on the fields of the scientists invited.

Conclude that the passage does not provide information about the specific fields of the scientists.

29. Answer: FALSE. The message the scientists who conducted the survey were sending was people shouldn’t take risks.

The process to attempt the solution:

Look for information in the passage about the message sent by the scientists who conducted the survey.

Analyze the passage to find that the message was actually: "no risk, no gain."

Conclude that the statement is false.

30. Answer: NOT GIVEN. All the 40 listed technologies are riskier than other technologies.

The process to attempt the solution:

Examine the passage for information comparing the risk level of the 40 listed technologies to others.

Conclude that the passage does not provide information on the relative risk of the listed technologies.

31. Answer: TRUE. It was worth taking the risks to invent antibiotics.

The process to attempt the solution:

Investigate the passage for information about the risks associated with inventing antibiotics.

Analyze the passage to find that the risks, as perceived at the time, were worth taking.

Conclude that the statement is true.

32. Answer: NOT GIVEN. All the other inventions on the list were also judged by the precautionary principle.

The process to attempt the solution:

Search the passage for information on whether other inventions on the list were judged by the precautionary principle.

Conclude that the passage does not provide information on the judgment of other inventions.

33. Answer: consumer's right

The process to attempt the solution:

Revisit the passage to find information about what should be considered when applying the precautionary principle.

Identify that the consumer's right to choose should be considered alongside risk and benefit considerations.

Conclude that "consumer's choice" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

34. Answer: risk and benefit

The process to attempt the solution:

Analyze the passage to identify the factors mentioned in relation to the consideration of risk and benefit.

Recognize that the precautionary principle involves weighing up risk and benefit.

Conclude that "risk and benefit" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

35. Answer: skiing

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the risky activity mentioned in the passage that people still enjoy for the excitement it provides.

Recognize that skiing is mentioned as a risky activity that people choose to do for exhilaration.

Conclude that "skiing" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

36. Answer: GM crops

The process to attempt the solution:

Look for information in the passage regarding what experts believe the future population desperately needs despite undefined risks.

Identify that GM crops are mentioned as a technology believed to be needed for the future population.

Conclude that "GM crops" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

37. Answer: wheat and rice

The process to attempt the solution:

Find details in the passage about the focus of GM research and whether it aims to increase the yield of specific crops.

Identify that the passage mentions wheat and rice as the crops that really matter in terms of yield.

Conclude that "wheat and rice" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

38. Answer: production

The process to attempt the solution:

Identify the purpose of using GM technology mentioned in the passage and how it relates to reducing costs and increasing profit.

Recognize that GM is used to make production cheaper and more profitable.

Conclude that "production" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

39. Answer: mistrust

The process to attempt the solution:

Analyze the passage to understand how the misuse of the precautionary principle for business and political gain has impacted people's trust in science.

Identify that people continue to mistrust science due to doubts about the wisdom of scientists.

Conclude that "mistrust" is a relevant three-word phrase from the passage.

40. Answer: A) People have the right to doubt science and technologies

The process to attempt the solution:

Analyze the main idea of the passage.

Identify the central theme that discusses people's right to doubt science and technologies.

Choose the option that best reflects the main theme, which is that people have the right to doubt science and technology.

NOTE

The passage discusses an in-depth exploration of the debate on scientific progress and society's preoccupation with risk, as discussed at an event held at the Royal Institution in London. The event aims to explore why society is overly concerned with risk and advocates for a more rational approach. Adhering to IELTS Reading standards, the discussion encompasses numeracy tests with both IELTS reading practice tests and IELTS reading practice tests with answers. True/False/Not Given questions are employed to assess the comprehension of organizing online publication, questions the consequences of this heightened focus on risks., mirroring the structure of IELTS reading exam practice online. The research aims to determine whether these animals showcase innate or learned numerical skills, aligning with the overarching theme of IELTS academic reading practice.

IELTS READING FOR BAND 9

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

IELTS 2025 PRACTICE TESTS

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IELTS 2025 READING PRACTICE TESTS

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IELTS 2025 READING PRACTICE SETS

IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE SETS

IELTS WRITING PRACTICE SETS

IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE SETS

About the Author:

Pooja Aggarwal is an experienced trainer with over 15 years of expertise in helping students achieve their educational goals. With a degree in Education, she focuses on clear, patient, and personalised instruction. Her approach has successfully guided students from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for both Academic and General Training modules of various exams in a supportive and engaging environment.