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The IELTS Reading section's success can be an uphill task for candidates with low vocabulary and language skills. Only a constant and dedicated IELTS reading practice can help the candidates to successfully tackle this challenge. The essential tips that can help the candidates include practising the chunking technique or breaking down complex passages into simpler ones, keeping an eye on the transitions given in the passages in mind, practising mind mapping techniques, and reading aloud during the IELTS reading preparation. Furthermore, the candidates can also Utilize Practice Tests Strategically, Prioritize Question Types and Guess from Contexts of the passages to improve their scores.
The IELTS Reading section plays a vital role in assessing an individual's English proficiency, as it evaluates their comprehension and analytical abilities. This article explains the pivotal role of IELTS Reading practice tests, exemplified by the IELTS reading practice set derived from the previous year’s IELTS Reading section questions.
Understanding the structure of the IELTS exam is crucial for test-takers. The Reading section, characterized by diverse question formats and challenging passages, necessitates continuous IELTS reading practice preparation. The candidate's proficiency in paying attention to detail, grasping the main idea, and comprehending the style and tone of the writing is evaluated during the reading phase. A dedicated commitment to IELTS Reading practice is essential for candidates to excel on the IELTS exam.
To assist candidates in their IELTS preparation journey, this article provides a set of three past year's IELTS questions accompanied by comprehensive solutions. Given the potential challenges of this section for applicants without effective IELTS reading practice, this article aims to provide them with insights into what to expect on the exam day.
A The oceans of Earth cover more than 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, yet, until
quite recently, we knew less about their depths than we did about the surface of the
Moon. Distant as it is, the Moon has been far more accessible to study because
astronomers have been able to look at its surface, first with the naked eye and
then with the telescope instruments that focus light. And, with telescopes tuned
to different wavelengths of light, modern astronomers can not only analyze Earth’s
atmosphere but also determine the temperature and composition of the Sun or other
stars many hundreds of light-years away. Until the twentieth century, however, no
analogous instruments were available for the study of Earth’s oceans: Light, which
can travel trillions of miles through the vast vacuum of space, cannot penetrate very
far in seawater.
B Curious investigators long have been fascinated by sound and the way it travels in
water. As early as 1490, Leonardo da Vinci observed: “If you cause your ship to stop
and place the head of a long tube in the water and place the outer extremity to your
ear, you will hear ships at a great distance from you.” In 1687, the first mathematical
theory of sound propagation was published by Sir Isaac Newton in his Philosophiae
Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Investigators were measuring the speed of sound in
air beginning in the mid-seventeenth century, but it was not until 1826 that Daniel
Colladon, a Swiss physicist, and Charles Sturm, a French mathematician, accurately
measured its speed in water. Using a long tube to listen underwater (as da Vinci had
suggested), they recorded how fast the sound of a submerged bell travelled across
Lake Geneva. Their result-1,435 meters (1,569 yards) per second in water of 1.8
degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit)- was only 3 meters per second off from the
speed accepted today. What these investigators demonstrated was that water -
whether fresh or salt- is an excellent medium for sound, transmitting it almost five
times faster than its speed in air.
C In 1877 and 1878, the British scientist John William Strutt, third Baron Rayleigh,
published his two-volume seminal work, The Theory of Sound, often regarded as
marking the beginning of the modem study of acoustics. The recipient of the Nobel
Prize for Physics in 1904 for his successful isolation of the element argon, Lord
Rayleigh made key discoveries in the fields of acoustics and optics that are critical to
the theory of wave propagation in fluids. Among other things, Lord Rayleigh was the
first to describe a sound wave as a mathematical equation (the basis of all
theoretical work on acoustics) and the first to describe how small particles in the
atmosphere scatter certain wavelengths of sunlight, a principle that also applies to
the behaviour of sound waves in water.
D A number of factors influence how far sound travels underwater and how long it
lasts. For one, particles in seawater can reflect, scatter, and absorb certain
frequencies of sound - just as certain wavelengths of light may be reflected,
scattered, and absorbed by specific types of particles in the atmosphere. Seawater
absorbs 30 times the amount of sound absorbed by distilled water, with specific
chemicals (such as magnesium sulfate and boric acid) damping out certain
frequencies of sound. Researchers also learned that low-frequency sounds, whose
long wavelengths generally pass over tiny particles, tend to travel farther without loss
through absorption or scattering. Further work on the effects of salinity, temperature,
and pressure on the speed of sound has yielded fascinating insights into the
structure of the ocean. Speaking generally, the ocean is divided into horizontal layers
in which sound speed is influenced more greatly by temperature in the upper regions
and by pressure in the lower depths. At the surface is a sun-warmed upper layer, the
actual temperature and thickness of which varies with the season. At mid-latitudes,
this layer tends to be isothermal, that is, the temperature tends to be uniform
throughout the layer because the water is well mixed by the action of waves, winds,
and convection currents; a sound signal moving down through this layer tends to
travel at an almost constant speed. Next comes a transitional layer called the
thermocline, in which temperature drops steadily with depth; as the temperature falls, so
does the speed of sound.
E The U.S. Navy was quick to appreciate the usefulness of low-frequency sound and
the deep sound channel in extending the range at which it could detect submarines.
In great secrecy during the 1950s, the U.S. Navy launched a project that went by the
code name Jezebel; it would later come to be known as the Sound Surveillance
System (SOSUS). The system involved arrays of underwater microphones, called
hydrophones, that were placed on the ocean bottom and connected by cables to
onshore processing centres. With SOSUS deployed in both deep and shallow waters
along both coasts of North America and the British West Indies, the U.S. Navy not
only could detect submarines in much of the northern hemisphere, it also could
distinguish how many propellers a submarine had, whether it was conventional or
nuclear, and sometimes even the class of sub.
F The realization that SOSUS could be used to listen to whales also was made by
Christopher Clark, a biological acoustician at Cornell University, when he first visited
a SOSUS station in 1992. When Clark looked at the graphic representations of
sound, scrolling 24 hours a day, every day, he saw the voice patterns of blue, finback,
minke, and humpback whales. He also could hear the sounds. Using a SOSUS
receiver in the West Indies, he could hear whales that were 1,770 kilometres (1,100
miles) away. Whales are the biggest of Earth’s creatures. The blue whale, for
example, can be 100 feet long and weigh as many tons. Yet these animals also are
remarkably elusive. Scientists wish to observe blue time and position them on a
map. Moreover, they can track not just one whale at a time, but many creatures
simultaneously throughout the North Atlantic and the eastern North Pacific. They
also can learn to distinguish whale calls. For example, Fox and colleagues have
detected changes in the calls of finback whales during different seasons and have
found that blue whales in different regions of the Pacific Ocean have different calls.
Whales firsthand must wait in their ships for the whales to surface. A few whales
have been tracked briefly in the wild this way but not for very great distances, and
much about them remains unknown. Using the SOSUS stations, scientists can track
the whales in real time and position them on a map. Moreover, they can track not just
one whale at a time, but many creatures simultaneously throughout the North
Atlantic and the eastern North Pacific. They also can learn to distinguish whale calls.
For example, Fox and colleagues have detected changes in the calls of finback
whales during different seasons and have found that blue whales in different regions
of the Pacific Ocean have different calls.
G SOSUS, with its vast reach, also has proved instrumental in obtaining information
crucial to our understanding of Earth’s weather and climate. Specifically, the system
has enabled researchers to begin making ocean temperature measurements on a
global scale - measurements that are keys to puzzling out the workings of heat
transfer between the ocean and the atmosphere. The ocean plays an enormous role
in determining air temperature the heat capacity in only the upper few meters of
the ocean is thought to be equal to all of the heat in the entire atmosphere. For sound
waves travelling horizontally in the ocean, speed is largely a function of temperature.
Thus, the travel time of a wave of sound between two points is a sensitive indicator
of the average temperature along its path. Transmitting sound in numerous
directions through the deep sound channel can give scientists measurements
spanning vast areas of the globe. Thousands of sound paths in the ocean could be
pieced together into a map of global ocean temperatures and, by repeating
measurements along the same paths over time, scientists could track changes in
temperature over months or years.
H Researchers also are using other acoustic techniques to monitor climate.
Oceanographer Jeff Nystuen at the University of Washington, for example, has
explored the use of sound to measure rainfall over the ocean. Monitoring changing
global rainfall patterns undoubtedly will contribute to understanding major climate
change as well as the weather phenomenon known as El Nino. Since 1985, Nystuen
has used hydrophones to listen to rain over the ocean, acoustically measuring not
only the rainfall rate but also the rainfall type, from drizzle to thunderstorms. By using
the sound of rain underwater as a “natural” rain gauge, the measurement of rainfall
over the oceans will become available to climatologists.
Extracted from - IELTS Reading Practice Sets. Copyright © 2023 by IDP education, British Council and Cambridge Assessment English
Questions 1-4
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage above? In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE | if the statement is true |
FALSE | if the statement is false |
NOT GIVEN | if the information is not given in passage |
1 In the past, difficulties of research carried out on the Moon were much easier than that of
2 The same light technology used on the investigation of the moon can be employed in the field of the ocean.
3 Research on the depth of the ocean by a method of sound waves is more time-consuming.
4 Hydrophone technology is able to detect the category of precipitation.
Questions 5-8
The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-H, in boxes 5-8 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once
5 Elements affect sound transmission in the ocean.
6 Relationship between global climate and ocean temperature
7 Examples of how sound technology helps people research the ocean and creatures in it
8 Sound transmission underwater is similar to that of light in any condition.
Questions 9-13
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.
9 Which of the following is dedicated to the research of the rate of sound?
A Leonardo da Vinci
B Isaac Newton
CJohn William Strutt
D Charles Sturm
10 Who explained that the theory of light or sound wavelength is significant in water?
ALord Rayleigh
B John William Strutt
C Charles Sturm
D Christopher Clark
11 According to Fox and colleagues, in what pattern does the change of finback whale calls happen
A Change in various seasons
B Change in various days
C Change in different months
D Change in different years
12 In which way does the SOSUS technology inspect whales?
A Track all kinds of whales in the ocean
B Track bunches of whales at the same time
C Track only finback whales in the ocean
D Track whales by using multiple appliances or devices
13 What could scientists inspect via monitoring along a repeated route?
A Temperature of the surface passed
B Temperature of the deepest ocean floor
C Variation of temperature
D Fixed data of temperature
SOSUS: Listening to the Ocean SOLUTIONS
Answer: 1. FALSE
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the accessibility of the Moon for research.
Analyze the information provided about the Moon and ocean research.
Conclude that the passage does not support the idea that research difficulties on the Moon were much easier than those of the ocean.
Clarify that the Moon's accessibility is attributed to observational methods but does not imply easier research.
Answer: 2. FALSE
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing instruments used for studying the Moon and oceans.
Analyze the information on telescopes and their applicability to the ocean.
Conclude that the passage indicates no analogous instruments for ocean study using light technology.
Answer: 3. NOT GIVEN
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing research methods in the ocean.
Look for information on the time-consuming nature of sound wave research compared to other methods.
Conclude that the passage does not explicitly provide information on the time consumption of sound wave research.
Answer: 4. TRUE
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the use of hydrophones for monitoring climate.
Analyze the information about hydrophones detecting rainfall type.
Conclude that the passage supports the statement that hydrophone technology can detect the category of precipitation.
5. Answer: D. Elements affect sound transmission in the ocean.
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit paragraph D which discusses factors influencing sound transmission in the ocean.
Analyze the information related to elements affecting sound transmission.
Conclude that paragraph D provides information about how elements influence sound transmission in the ocean.
6. Answer: G. Relationship between global climate and ocean temperature
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit paragraph G which talks about SOSUS and its role in understanding Earth's weather and climate.
Analyze the information regarding the relationship between ocean temperature measurements and global climate.
Conclude that paragraph G provides information about the relationship between global climate and ocean temperature.
7. Answer: F. Examples of how sound technology helps people research the ocean and creatures in it
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit paragraph F which discusses the use of SOSUS for detecting submarines and listening to whales.
Analyze the examples provided in the paragraph regarding how sound technology helps in ocean research.
Conclude that paragraph F provides examples of how sound technology assists in researching the ocean and its creatures.
8. Answer: D. Sound transmission underwater is similar to that of light in any condition.
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit paragraph D which talks about the early fascination with sound traveling in water.
Analyze the information related to sound transmission in water and compare it to light transmission.
Conclude that paragraph D suggests that sound transmission in water is not similar to that of light in any condition.
9. Answer: D. Charles Sturm
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the measurement of the speed of sound in water.
Identify the information about who accurately measured the speed of sound in water.
Conclude that Charles Sturm, along with Daniel Colladon, conducted the experiment to measure the speed of sound in water.
10. Answer: A. Lord Rayleigh
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the seminal work on sound.
Analyze the information related to the first description of a sound wave as a mathematical equation.
Conclude that Lord Rayleigh (John William Strutt) made key discoveries in acoustics, including the theory of sound wavelength.
11. Answer: A. Change in various seasons
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the work of Fox and colleagues on whale calls.
Examine the information about changes in finback whale calls.
Conclude that the passage suggests changes in finback whale calls occurring during different seasons.
12. Answer: B. Track bunches of whales at the same time
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the use of SOSUS technology for whale tracking.
Analyze the information related to the capabilities of SOSUS in tracking whales.
Conclude that SOSUS can track many creatures simultaneously, including bunches of whales.
13. Answer: C. Variation of temperature
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage discussing the use of sound paths for temperature measurements.
Examine the information about transmitting sound in numerous directions for temperature measurements.
Conclude that scientists could inspect the variation of temperature through repeated measurements along the same paths.
NOTE
The SOSUS passage underlines the significance of consistent IELTS Reading practice. True/False/Not Given questions assess comprehension, focusing on aspects such as the historical perspective of underwater sound detection, the capabilities of SOSUS, and its applications in detecting submarines. The matching paragraphs questions discuss detailed knowledge, covering topics like the discoverer of sound wave equations, factors influencing sound travel underwater, and the applications of SOSUS beyond submarine detection, including its role in monitoring climate and measuring rainfall over the ocean. This passage emphasizes the importance of thorough IELTS reading practice, whether through practice tests or during the actual exam, to face the diverse question types effectively.
AS AN EAST WIND blasts through a gap in the Cordillera de Tilaran, a rugged
mountain range that splits northern Costa Rica in half, a female mantled howler
monkey moves through the swaying trees of the forest canopy.
A Ken Glander, a primatologist from Duke L University, gazes into the canopy,
tracking the female’s movements. Holding a dart gun, he waits with infinite patience
for the right moment to shoot. With great care, Glander aims and fires. Hit in the
rump, the monkey wobbles. This howler belongs to a population that has lived for
decades at Hacienda La Pacifica, a working cattle ranch in Guanacaste province.
Other native primates — white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys —
once were common in this area, too, but vanished after the Pan-American Highway
was built nearby in the 1950s. Most of the surrounding land was clear-cut for
Pasture.
B Howlers persist at La Pacifica, Glander explains, because they are leaf-eaters.
They eat fruit, when it’s available but, unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, do not
depend on large areas of fruiting trees. “Howlers can survive anyplace you have half
a dozen trees because their eating habits are so flexible,” he says. In forests, life is
an arms race between trees and the myriad creatures that feed on leaves. Plants
have evolved a variety of chemical defences, ranging from bad-tasting tannins,
which bind with plant-produced nutrients, rendering them indigestible, to deadly
poisons, such as alkaloids and cyanide.
C All primates, including humans, have some ability to handle plant toxins. “We can
detoxify a dangerous poison known as caffeine, which is deadly to a lot of animals:’
Glander says. For leaf-eaters, long-term exposure to a specific plant toxin can
increase their ability to defuse the poison and absorb the leaf nutrients. The leaves
that grow in regenerating forests, like those at La Pacifica, are actually more howler-friendly than those produced by the undisturbed, centuries-old trees that survive
farther south, in the Amazon Basin. In younger forests, trees put most of their limited
energy into growing wood, leaves and fruit, so they produce much lower levels of
toxin than do well-established, old-growth trees.
D The value of maturing forests to primates is a subject of study at Santa Rosa
National Park, about 35 miles northwest of Hacienda La Pacifica. The park hosts
populations not only of mantled howlers but also of white-faced capuchins and spider
monkeys. Yet the forests there are young, most of them less than 50 years old.
Capuchins were the first to begin using the reborn forests when the trees were as
young as 14 years. Howlers, larger and heavier than capuchins, need somewhat
older trees, with limbs that can support their greater body weight. A working ranch at
Hacienda La Pacifica also explains the population boom in Santa Rosa. “Howlers
are more resilient than capuchins and spider monkeys for several reasons, Fedigan
explains. “They can live within a small home range, as long as the trees have the
right food for them. Spider monkeys, on the other hand, occupy a huge home range,
so they can’t make it in fragmented habitat”
E Howlers also reproduce faster than other monkey species in the area.
Capuchins don’t bear their first young until about 7 years old, and spider monkeys do
so even later, but howlers give birth for the first time at about 3.5 years of age. Also,
while a female spider monkey will have a baby about once every four years, well-fed
howlers can produce an infant every two years.
F The leaves howlers eat hold plenty of water, so the monkeys can survive away
from open streams and water holes. This ability gives them a real advantage over
capuchin and spider monkeys, which have suffered during the long, ongoing drought
in Guanacaste.
G Growing human population pressures in Central and South America have led to
persistent destruction of forests. During the 1990s, about 1.1 million acres of Central
American forest were felled yearly. Alejandro Estrada, an ecologist at Estacion de
Biologia Los Tuxtlas in Veracruz, Mexico, has been exploring how monkeys survive
in a landscape increasingly shaped by humans. He and his colleagues recently
studied the ecology of a group of mantled howler monkeys that thrive in a habitat
completely altered by humans: a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico. Like many
varieties of coffee, cacao plants need shade to grow, so 40 years ago the
landowners planted fig, monkey pod and other tall trees to form a protective canopy
over their crop. The howlers moved in about 25 years ago after nearby forests were
cut. This strange habitat, a hodgepodge of cultivated native and exotic plants, seems
to support about as many monkeys as would a same-sized patch of wild forest. The
howlers eat the leaves and fruit of the shade trees, leaving the valuable cacao pods
alone, so the farmers tolerate them
H Estrada believes the monkeys bring underappreciated benefits to such farms,
dispersing the seeds of fig and other shade trees and fertilizing the soil with faeces.
He points out that howler monkeys live in shade coffee and cacao plantations in
Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well as in Mexico. Spider monkeys also forage in such
plantations, though they need nearby areas of forest to survive in the long term. He
hopes that farmers will begin to see the advantages of associating with wild
monkeys, which includes potential ecotourism projects.
“Conservation is usually viewed as a conflict between agricultural practices and the
need to preserve nature,” Estrada says. “We’re moving away from that vision and
beginning to consider ways in which agricultural activities may become a tool for the
conservation of primates in human-modified landscapes.”
Extracted from - IELTS Reading Practice Sets. Copyright © 2023 by IDP education, British Council and Cambridge Assessment English
Questions 14-19
The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
14 a reference of reduction in forest inhabitant
15 only one species of monkey survived while the other two species were vanished.
16 a reason for Howler Monkey of choosing new leaves
17 mention to Howler Monkey’s nutrient and eating habits
18 a reference of asking farmers’ changing attitude toward wildlife
19 the advantage for Howler Monkey’s flexibility living in a segmented habitat
Match each description with the correct place, A-E.
Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 20-22 on your answer sheet.
List of places |
A Hacienda La Pacifica |
B Santa Rosa National Park |
C a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico |
D Estacion de Biologia Los Tuxtlas in Veracruz, Mexico |
E Amazon Basin |
20 Howler Monkey’s benefit to the local region’s agriculture
21 Original home for all three native monkeys
22 A place where Capuchins monkey comes for a better habitat
Questions 23-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 23-27 on your answer sheet.
The reason Howler monkeys survive better
in the focal region than the other two species
of Howlers in La Pacifica since they can feed themselves with the leaf when 23………………………is not easily found
Howlers have a better ability to alleviate the 24………………………. which old and young trees used to protect themselves)
When compared to that of spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys, 25…………….. the rate of Howlers is relatively faster (round for just every 2 years).
The monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes as the leaves howlers eat hold a high content of 26………………………………. which ensures them to resist continuous 27………………………………………. in Guanacaste
Monkeys and Forests Solutions
Answer 14: Paragraph G
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information related to the reduction in forest inhabitants.
Identify keywords associated with the topic.
Scan the paragraphs and find the one discussing the reduction in forest inhabitants.
Answer 15:
Paragraph A
Process to attempt the solution:
Search for information regarding the survival of only one monkey species while the others vanished.
Identify relevant keywords.
Quickly scan the paragraphs to locate the passage discussing the survival of one monkey species.
Answer 16:
Paragraph C
Process to attempt the solution:
Focus on finding reasons for Howler Monkeys choosing new leaves.
Identify keywords related to the Howler Monkey's eating habits.
Scan the paragraphs to find information about the Howler Monkey's preference for new leaves.
Answer 17:
Paragraph B
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information about Howler Monkey's nutrients and eating habits.
Identify keywords related to the Howler Monkey's diet.
Scan the paragraphs to find details about the Howler Monkey's nutrient absorption and eating habits.
Answer 18:
Paragraph H
Process to attempt the solution:
Search for a reference to farmers' changing attitudes toward wildlife.
Identify keywords associated with farmers' attitudes.
Scan the paragraphs and find the one discussing the changing attitude of farmers.
Answer 19:
Paragraph D
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information about the advantage of Howler Monkey's flexibility in a segmented habitat.
Identify keywords related to the Howler Monkey's flexibility.
Scan the paragraphs to find details about the advantage of the Howler Monkey's flexibility in a segmented habitat.
20. Answer: C. A cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section discussing howler monkeys thriving in a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico.
Analyze the content: Look for information about how howler monkeys benefit the local region’s agriculture in a cacao plantation.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing how the howler monkeys bring benefits to the local agriculture in the specified location.
21. Answer: A. Hacienda La Pacifica
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section mentioning Hacienda La Pacifica, where howlers persist.
Analyze the content: Look for information explaining why Hacienda La Pacifica is mentioned in the context of howler monkeys and their resilience.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing the factors contributing to the resilience of howler monkeys in Hacienda La Pacifica.
22. Answer: B. Santa Rosa National Park
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section discussing Santa Rosa National Park.
Analyze the content: Look for information about why Santa Rosa National Park is mentioned in relation to capuchin monkeys seeking a better habitat.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing the reasons capuchin monkeys come to Santa Rosa National Park for a better habitat.
23. Answer: fruit
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section mentioning how howler monkeys can feed themselves with leaves when fruit is not easily found.
Analyze the content: Understand the context of how howler monkeys adapt their diet to leaves when fruit is scarce.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing that howler monkeys can rely on leaves as a food source when fruit is not readily available.
24. Answer: toxins
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section discussing how howler monkeys have a better ability to alleviate toxins that old and young trees use to protect themselves.
Analyze the content: Understand the context of how howler monkeys deal with toxins produced by trees.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing that howler monkeys can alleviate or cope with the toxins produced by trees.
25. Answer: reproductive
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section comparing the reproductive rate of howler monkeys to that of spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys.
Analyze the content: Understand the context of how the reproductive rate of howler monkeys is relatively faster, producing an infant every two years.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing that the reproductive rate of howler monkeys is faster compared to spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys.
26. Answer: water
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section mentioning that the leaves howler monkeys eat hold a high content of water.
Analyze the content: Understand the context of how the high water content in leaves benefits howler monkeys.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing that the leaves howler monkeys eat have a high water content.
27. Answer: drought
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the relevant section: Go back to the passage and find the section mentioning how howler monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes during continuous drought in Guanacaste.
Analyze the content: Understand the context of how howler monkeys' ability to survive is mentioned in relation to the continuous drought in Guanacaste.
Conclude the answer: Summarize the information found, emphasizing that howler monkeys can resist continuous drought in Guanacaste.
NOTE
The "Monkeys and Forests" passage emphasizes the importance of consistent IELTS Reading practice. Multiple choice questions evaluate comprehension, covering topics like the ecological advantages of howler monkeys in various habitats, their reproductive patterns, and their adaptation to drought conditions. The Completion questions discuss in depth specific details, testing knowledge on the impact of human activities on forests, howler monkey behaviour in altered landscapes like cacao plantations, and the potential benefits of monkeys in shade coffee and cacao plantations. This passage underscores the necessity of regular IELTS reading practice, whether through practice tests or during the actual exam, to effectively tackle diverse question types and comprehend the information presented.
A While it may not be possible to completely age-proof our brains, a brave new world
of anti-ageing research shows that our grey matter may be far more flexible than we
thought. So no one, no matter how old, has to lose their mind. The brain has often
been called the three-pound universe. It’s our most powerful and mysterious organ,
the seat of the self, laced with as many billions of neurons as the galaxy has stars.
No wonder the mere notion of an ageing, failing brain——and the prospect of memory
loss, confusion, and the unravelling of our personality——is so terrifying. As Mark
Williams, M.D., author of The American Geriatrics Society’s Complete Guide to
Aging and Health, says, "The fear of dementia is stronger than the fear of death
itself.” Yet the degeneration of the brain is far from inevitable. " Its design features
are such that it should continue to function for a lifetime,” says Zaven Khachaturian,
Ph.D., director of the Alzheimer1s Association1s Ronald and Nancy Reagan
Research Institute. "There’s no reason to expect it to deteriorate with age, even
though many of us are living longer lives." In fact, scientists ‘ view of the brain1s
potential is rapidly changing, according to Stanford University neuroscientist Robert
Sapolsky, Ph.D.
"Thirty-five years ago we thought Alzheimer's disease was a dramatic version of
normal aging. Now we realize it is a disease with a distinct pathology. In fact, some
people simply don’t experience any mental decline, so we’ve begun to study them."
Antonio Damasio, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Department of Neurology at the
University of Iowa and author of Descartes’ Error, concurs. "Older people can
continue to have extremely rich and healthy mental lives.’
B The seniors were tested in 1988 and again in 1991. Four factors were found to be
related to their mental fitness: levels of education and physical activity, lung function,
and feelings of self-efficacy "Each of these elements alters the way our brain
functions, " says Marilyn Albert, Ph.D. , of Harvard Medical School, and colleagues
from Yale, Duke, and Brandeis Universities and the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine,
who hypothesize that regular exercise may actually stimulate blood flow to the brain
and nerve growth, both of which create more densely branched neurons, rendering
the neurons stronger and better able to resist disease. Moderate aerobic exercise,
including long brisk walks and frequently climbing stairs, will accomplish this.
C Education also seems to enhance brain function. People who have challenged
themselves with at least a college education may actually stimulate the neurons in
their brains. Moreover, native intelligence may protect our brains. It’s possible that
smart people begin life with a greater number of neurons, and therefore have a
greater reserve to fall back on if some begin to fail. "If you have a lot of neurons and
keep them busy, you may be able to tolerate more damage to your brain before it
shows," says Peter Davies, M.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the
Bronx, New York. Early linguistic ability also seems to help our brains later in life. A
recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 93 elderly nuns and
examined the autobiographies they had written 60 years earlier, just as they were
joining a convent. The nuns whose essays were complex and dense with ideas
remained sharp into their eighties and nineties.
D Finally, personality seems to play an important role in protecting our mental
prowess. A sense of self-efficacy may protect our brain, buffeting it from the harmful
effects of stress. According to Albert, there’s evidence that elevated levels of stress
hormones may harm brain cells and cause the hippocampus——a small
seahorse-shaped organ that is a crucial moderator of memory——to atrophy. A
sense that we can effectively chart our own course in the world may retard the
release of stress hormones and protect us as we age. “It’ 's not a matter of whether
you experience stress or not, " Albert concludes, "it’s your attitude toward it. "
Reducing stress by meditating on a regular basis may buffer the brain as well. It also
increases the activity of the brain’s pineal gland, the source of the antioxidant
hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep and may retard the ageing process.
Studies at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and the University of
Western Ontario found that people who meditated regularly had higher levels of
melatonin than those who took 5-milligram supplements Another study, conducted
jointly by Maharishi International University, Harvard University, and the University of
Maryland, found that seniors who meditated for three months experienced dramatic
improvements in their psychological well-being, compared to their non-meditative
Peers.
E Animal studies confirm that both mental and physical activity boost brain fitness. At
the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology in Urbana, Illinois,
psychologist William Greenough, Ph. D., let some rats play with a profusion of toys.
These rodents developed about 25 per cent more connections between their neurons
than did rats that didn’t get any mentally stimulating recreation. In addition, rats that
exercised on a treadmill developed more capillaries in specific parts of their brains
than did their sedentary counterparts. This increased the blood flow to their brains.
"Clearly the message is to do as many different flyings as possible," Greenough
says.
F It’s not just scientists who are catching anti-aging fever. Walk into any health food
store, and you111 find nutritional formulas ——with names like Brainstorm and Smart
ALEC——that claim to sharpen mental ability. The book Smart Drugs & Nutrients, by
Ward Dean, M.D., and John Morgenthaler, was self-published in 1990 and has sold
over 120,000 copies worldwide. It has also spawned an underground network of
people tweaking their own brain chemistry with nutrients and drugs——the latter
sometimes obtained from Europe and Mexico. Sales of ginkgo ——an extract from
the leaves of the 200-mill ion-year-old ginkgo tree, which has been shown in
published studies to increase oxygen in the brain and ameliorate symptoms of
Alzheimer's disease——are up by 22 per cent in the last six months alone, according
to Paddy Spence, president of SPINS, a San Francisco-based market research firm.
Indeed, products that increase and preserve mental performance are a small but
emerging segment of the supplements industry, says Linda Gilbert, president of
Health Focus, a company that researches consumer health trends. While
neuroscientists like Khachaturian liken the use of these products to the superstition
of tossing salt over your shoulder, the public is nevertheless gobbling up nutrients
that promise cognitive enhancement.
Extracted from - IELTS Reading Practice Sets. Copyright © 2023 by IDP education, British Council and Cambridge Assessment English
Questions 28-31
Choose the Four correct letters between A-G.
Write your answers in boxes 28-31 on your answer sheet.
Which of the FOUR situations or conditions assist the Brain’s function?
A Preventive treatment against Alzheimer’s disease
B Doing active aerobic exercise and frequently climbing stairs
C High levels of education
D Early verbal or language competence training
E Having more supplements such as ginkgo tree
F Participate in a more physical activity involving in stimulating tasks
G Personality and feelings of self-fulfilment
Questions 32-39
Use the information in the passage to match the people (listed A-G) with opinions or deeds below.
Write the appropriate letters A-G in boxes 32-39 on your answer sheet.
NB you may use any latter more than once
A. Zaven Khachaturian
B. William Greenough
C. Marilyn Albert
D. Robert Sapolsky
E. Linda Gilbert
F. Peter Davies
G Paddy Spence
32. Alzheimer’s was probably a kind of disease rather than a normal aging process.
33. Keeping neurons busy, people may be able to endure more harm to your brain
34. Regular exercises boost blood flow to the brain and increase anti-disease disability.
35. Significant increase of Sales of ginkgo has been shown.
36. More links between their neurons are found among stimulated animals.
37. Effectiveness of the use of brains supplements products can be of little scientific proof.
38. Heightened levels of stress may damage brain cells and cause part of brain to deteriorate.
39. Products that upgrade and preserve mental competence are still a newly developing industry.
Question 40
Choose the correct letters among A-D.
Write your answers in box 26 on your answer sheet.
26 According to the passage, what is the most appropriate title for this passage?
A Making our minds last a lifetime
B Amazing pills of the ginkgo
C How to stay healthy in your old hood
D More able a brain and neurons
28 - 31
Participate in more physical activity involving stimulating tasks (C): The passage mentions that both mental and physical activity boost brain fitness. The example given is of rats that developed more connections between their neurons when engaged in mentally stimulating recreation.
NOTE
The "Age-proofing Our Brains" passage emphasizes the malleability of the brain in the face of ageing and explores various factors contributing to mental fitness. In the context of IELTS Reading preparation, regular practice through IELTS reading tests and online resources is crucial. Completion questions (questions 27-30) explain the significance of education, physical activity, lung function, and self-efficacy in maintaining mental health. True/False/Not Given questions (questions 31-37) assess candidates' comprehension of the correlation between lifestyle factors and mental skills. The passage also explores the impact of stress on the brain and suggests that a positive attitude and stress reduction practices like meditation contribute to maintaining mental well-being. This comprehensive passage explains the importance of consistent IELTS reading practice for effective comprehension and interpretation of diverse question types.
32: Answer: D. Robert Sapolsky
Process to attempt the solution:
Identify the statement related to Alzheimer's disease and normal aging.
Scan the paragraphs to find the person who supports this statement.
33: Answer: F. Peter Davies
Process to attempt the solution:
Identify the statement related to keeping neurons busy and enduring harm to the brain.
Look for the person who discusses the role of keeping neurons busy.
34: Answer: C. Marilyn Albert
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information about the effect of regular exercise on blood flow to the brain.
Identify the person discussing the impact of exercise on brain function.
35: Answer: G Paddy Spence
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information about the significant increase in sales of ginkgo.
Identify the person or authority discussing the increase in sales.
36: Answer: B. William Greenough
Process to attempt the solution:
Identify the statement related to increased links between neurons in stimulated animals.
Look for the person discussing the results of the study on stimulated animals.
37: Answer: A. Zaven Khachaturian
Process to attempt the solution:
Identify the statement related to the effectiveness of brain supplements and scientific proof.
Look for the person discussing the use of brain supplements and their scientific support.
38: Answer: C. Marilyn Albert
Process to attempt the solution:
Identify the statement related to heightened levels of stress damaging brain cells.
Look for the person discussing the impact of stress on brain cells.
39: Answer: E. Linda Gilbert
Process to attempt the solution:
Look for information about the products that upgrade and preserve mental competence.
Identify the person discussing the emerging industry of products for mental competence.
40. Answer: A. Making our minds last a lifetime
Process to attempt the solution:
Revisit the section in the passage: Return to the introduction and main content of the passage. Look for information that encapsulates the main theme or message related to maintaining brain health throughout one's life.
Analyze the results: Identify key points or statements in the passage that convey the central idea about preserving mental function and flexibility as we age. Look for evidence that suggests the brain can remain healthy and functional throughout a lifetime.
Determine the implication of the information: Understand the broader implications of the information provided in the passage regarding the longevity and adaptability of the brain. Consider if there are specific strategies or insights mentioned for maintaining mental health.
Conclude the answer: Summarize your analysis and conclude that the most appropriate title for the passage is "Making our minds last a lifetime." Connect the information from the passage to the answer choice (A) and explain why it best captures the essence of the passage.
NOTE
The "Age-proofing Our Brains" passage emphasizes the malleability of the brain in the face of aging and explores various factors contributing to mental fitness. In the context of IELTS Reading preparation, regular practice through IELTS reading tests and online resources is crucial. Completion questions (questions 27-30) explain the significance of education, physical activity, lung function, and self-efficacy in maintaining mental health. True/False/Not Given questions (questions 31-37) assess candidates' comprehension of the correlation between lifestyle factors and mental skills. The passage also explores the impact of stress on the brain and suggests that a positive attitude and stress reduction practices like meditation contribute to maintaining mental well-being. This comprehensive passage explains the importance of consistent IELTS reading practice for effective comprehension and interpretation of diverse question types.
Aspects | SOSUS: Listening to the Ocean | Monkeys and Forests | Age-proofing Our Brains |
Understanding the Passage | The passage discusses the history of studying oceans and the development of SOSUS. | Focuses on how howler monkeys adapt to changing environments. | Explores the potential of the brain and factors influencing mental fitness. |
Time Management | Describes historical developments in understanding ocean acoustics. | Discusses the persistence of howler monkeys in specific environments over time. | Covers various factors influencing brain health over a lifetime. |
Vocabulary Skills | Introduces terms like SOSUS, hydrophones, and acoustics. | Includes terms related to primatology, ecology, and monkey behaviour. | Involves terms related to neuroscience, mental fitness, and brain aging. |
Identifying Key Ideas | Focuses on the development and applications of SOSUS in underwater sound monitoring. | Highlights the adaptability and survival strategies of howler monkeys. | Emphasizes factors such as education, physical activity, and personality in brain health. |
Understanding Tone | Tends to have an informative and historical tone. | Mixes scientific observations with an ecological perspective. | Conveys a positive and encouraging tone towards the potential of brain flexibility. |
Multiple Choice Questions | Discusses the development and applications of SOSUS technology. | Explores the behaviour, adaptation, and reproduction of howler monkeys. | Talks about factors like education, exercise, and personality impacting mental fitness. |
True/False/Not Given | Provides factual information about the development and applications of SOSUS. | Presents information about howlers' adaptation and reproduction in different environments. | Offers scientific insights and hypotheses about factors influencing brain health. |
Matching Headings | Matches headings with discussions about the historical development of SOSUS. | Matches headings with sections about the adaptation and survival of howler monkeys. | Matches headings with sections about various factors contributing to brain health. |
Practice for the IELTS exam is crucial for every candidate, regardless of their proficiency level. Whether you're already skilled in the language or just beginning your IELTS journey, practising is vital for everyone.
For candidates tackling the reading section of the IELTS exam, the challenges presented by all four passages can be challenging, especially for those with limited language proficiency. Consistent practice is the key to overcoming these hurdles.
The reading section of the IELTS exam includes 40 questions in total. These questions are spread across three passages, with each passage followed by a set of questions.
A score of 4.5 on the IELTS exam is considered a below-par result. While it may meet the requirements for some institutions or purposes, it might not meet the minimum requirements for the majority of other universities. Generally, for academic purposes such as university admission, a higher score is usually required, often around 6.0 or above.
If you have completed a master's degree in the UK, you might still need to take the IELTS test to qualify for a Permanent Residency (PR) or Work Visa in Australia. While your degree from an English-speaking country like the UK may demonstrate your proficiency in English, Australian immigration authorities typically require a standardized English language test score, such as IELTS, to assess your language skills formally.
For better guidance, Invicta Institute can provide you with detailed information and assistance regarding the specific English language requirements for Australian PR or Work Visa applications. Invicta's experienced counselors can help you navigate the process and determine if your UK degree suffices or if you need to take the IELTS test.
Since you're currently in the first year of your Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), planning ahead for your MBA abroad is a wise decision. The ideal time to take your IELTS exam is during your third year of B.Com. This timing ensures that your IELTS score, which is valid for two years, will still be valid when you apply for MBA programs.
Hello,
It is very highly unlikely to obtain a legitimate IELTS certificate without taking the exam. Any claims suggesting otherwise are likely scams. It is essential to take the exam through authorized testing centers to ensure the validity and credibility of the certificate.
Hope this helps you ,
Thank you
The IELTS General and IELTS Academic tests serve different purposes, so their difficulty levels can vary depending on your strengths and background. The IELTS Academic is generally considered more challenging, particularly in the Reading and Writing sections. It focuses on language skills needed in an academic setting, including understanding complex texts and writing essays on abstract topics. The IELTS General, on the other hand, is designed for everyday use, such as for immigration or work purposes, and involves more practical tasks like writing letters and understanding basic articles. If you're comfortable with academic English, the Academic test might be manageable, but for most people, the General test is slightly easier due to its more straightforward content.
The IELTS results are typically released 13 days after the test date, but the exact time of release can vary depending on the test center. While some test centers might release results at noon on the 13th day, others might have different schedules. For specific guidance and precise information regarding the release of your IELTS results, it is advisable to contact your test center directly. Additionally, for personalized assistance and expert advice on navigating the IELTS process and studying abroad, you may consider reaching out to Invicta Career Consultancy, which can provide tailored support based on your individual needs and goals, While there are other options available, hence you can pay a visit to their website (icclearning.com) and get consult with them for better guidance. All the best to you.
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