Practice Test 1 / READING PASSAGE 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-15 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below
A spark, a flint: How fire leapt to life
Lundstrom’s safety matches were safe because the red phosphorus was non-toxic; it was painted on to the striking surface instead of the match tip, which contained potassium chlorate with a relatively high ignition temperature of 182 degrees centigrade.
America lagged behind Europe in match technology and safety standards. It wasn’t until 1900 that the Diamond Match Company bought a French patent for safety matches — but the formula did not work properly in the different climatic conditions prevailing in America, and it was another 11 years before scientists finally adapted the French patent for the US.
The Americans, however, can claim several “firsts” in match technology and marketing. In 1892 the Diamond Match Company pioneered book matches.
The innovation didn’t catch on until after 1896, when a brewery had the novel idea of advertising its product in match books. Today book matches are the most widely used type in the US, with 90 percent handed out free by hotels, restaurants and others.
Other American innovations include an anti-afterglow solution to prevent the match from smouldering after it has been blown out; and the waterproof match, which lights after eight hours in water.
Practice Test 1
Questions
Complete the summary below. Choose your answers from the box at the bottom of the page
and write them in boxes 1 8 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more words than spaces so you will not use them all You may use any of the
words more than once.
EARLY FIRE-LIGHTING METHODS
Primitive societies saw fire as a … (Example) … gift. Answer heavenly
They tried to … (1) … burning logs or charcoal … (2) … that they could create
fire themselves. It is suspected that the first man-made flames were produced
by … (3) …
The very first fire-lighting methods involved the creation of … (4) … by, for
example, rapidly … (5) … a wooden stick in a round hole. The use of … (6) …
or persistent chipping was also widespread in Europe and among other peoples
such as the Chinese and … (7) … . European practice of this method continued
until the 1850s … (8) … the discovery of phosphorus some years earlier.
List of Words
Mexicans random rotating
despite preserve realising
sunlight lacking heavenly
percussion chance friction
unaware without make
heating Eskimos surprised
until smoke
Look at the following notes that have been made about the matches described in Reading
Passage 1. Decide which type of match (A-H) corresponds with each description and write
your answers in boxes 9 15 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more matches than descriptions so you will not use them all. You may use any
match more than once.
Example Answer
could be lit after soaking in water H
NOTES
9 made using a less poisonous type of phosphorus
10 identical to a previous type of match
11 caused a deadly illness
12 first to look like modern matches
13 first matches used for advertising
14 relied on an airtight glass container
Types of Matches
A the Ethereal Match
B the Instantaneous Lightbox
C Congreves
D Lucifers
E the first strike-anywhere match
F Lundstrom’s safety match
G book matches
H waterproof matches
Cambridge IELTS Reading Practice Tests With Answers PDF
Complete Solutions of Practice Test 1 with Explanation
Part 1: Summary Completion (Questions 1–8)
(Gap Fill / Summary): Skimming for information, detailed understanding of text sections, and paraphrasing original wording.
Questions 9–15 (Matching Items to Descriptions): Scanning for specific targets, recognizing key characteristics, and matching conceptual meanings.
Part 1: Summary Completion (Questions 1–8)
Question 1: They tried to … burning logs or charcoal…
Answer: preserve
Explanation: Early humans kept slow-burning logs or embers alive because they could not make fire at will.
Question 2: … logs or charcoal … that they could create fire themselves.
Answer: without
Explanation: They stored the fire without knowing how to produce flame independently.
Question 3: It is suspected that the first man-made flames were produced by…
Answer: chance (or secondary invention)
Explanation: The text notes it was probably an accidental secondary invention during tool-making.
Question 4: The very first fire-lighting methods involved the creation of … by, for example…
Answer: sparks
Explanation: Paleolithic tool-makers discovered that chipping flints produced sparks.
Question 5: … rapidly … a wooden stick in a round hole.
Answer: rotating
Explanation: European peasants would insert a wooden drill and rotate it briskly between their palms.
Question 6: The use of … or persistent chipping was also widespread…
Answer: percussion
Explanation: Percussion methods involve striking materials (like quartz against iron pyrites) to create fire.
Question 7: … among other peoples such as the Chinese and …
Answer: Eskimos
Explanation: The text explicitly mentions the Eskimos in Arctic North America using pyrites.
Question 8: European practice of this method continued until the 1850s … the discovery of phosphorus some years earlier.
Answer: despite
Explanation: Traditional methods continued despite the earlier discovery of chemical alternatives.
Section 2: Matching Notes to Match Types (Questions 9–15)
Question 9: Made using a less poisonous type of phosphorus.
Answer: F (Lundstrom’s safety match)
Explanation: Lundstrom used non-toxic red (amorphous) phosphorus painted on the striking surface.
Question 10: Identical to a previous type of match.
Answer: D (Lucifers)
Explanation: Samuel Jones copied Walker’s unpatented formula and marketed them as Lucifers.
Question 11: Caused a deadly illness.
Answer: E (the first strike-anywhere match)
Explanation: Using white phosphorus caused necrosis, a disease that eats away jaw-bones.
Question 12: First to look like modern matches.
Answer: C (Congreves)
Explanation: John Walker borrowed formulas to make splints coated with sulphur, which were the first resembling modern types.
Question 13: First matches used for advertising.
Answer: G (book matches)
Explanation: A brewery had the novel idea of advertising its product in match books starting in 1896.
Question 14: Relied on an airtight glass container.
Answer: A (the Ethereal Match)
Explanation: It consisted of a sealed glass tube containing a twist of paper tipped with phosphorus.
Question 15: Borrowed formula from a rocket-maker.
Answer: C (Congreves)
Explanation: John Walker borrowed his formula from a military rocket-maker called Congreve.
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 16-28 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Zoo conservation programmes
One of London Zoo’s recent advertisements caused me some irritation, so patently did it distort reality. Headlined “Without zoos you might as well tell these animals to get stuffed”, it was bordered with illustrations of several endangered species and went on to extol the myth that without zoos like London Zoo these animals “will almost certainly disappear forever”. With the zoo world’s rather mediocre record on conservation, one might be forgiven for being slightly sceptical about such an advertisement.
Zoos were originally created as places of entertainment, and their suggested involvement with conservation didn’t seriously arise until about 30 years ago, when the Zoological Society of London held the first formal international meeting on the subject.
Eight years later, a series of world conferences took place, entitled “The Breeding of Endangered Species”, and from this point onwards conservation became the zoo community’s buzzword. This commitment has now been clearly defined in The World Zoo Conservation Strategy (WZCS, September 1993), which although an important and welcome document does seem to be based on an unrealistic optimism about the nature of the zoo industry.
The WZCS estimates that there are about 10,000 zoos in the world, of which around 1,000 represent a core of quality collections capable of participating in co-ordinated conservation programmes.
This is probably the document’s first failing, as I believe that 10,000 is a serious underestimate of the total number of places masquerading as zoological establishments. Of course it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective, I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.
The second flaw in the reasoning of the WZCS document is the naive faith it places in its 1,000 core zoos. One would assume that the calibre of these institutions would have been carefully examined, but it appears that the criterion for inclusion on this select list might merely be that the zoo is a member of a zoo federation or association.
This might be a good starting point, working on the premise that members must meet certain standards, but again the facts don’t support the theory. The greatly respected American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) has had extremely dubious members, and in the UK the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland has occasionally had members that have been roundly censured in the national press.
These include Robin Hill Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight, which many considered the most notorious collection of animals in the country. This establishment, which for years was protected by the Isle’s local council (which viewed it as a tourist amenity), was finally closed down following a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
As it was always a collection of dubious repute, one is obliged to reflect upon the standards that the Zoo Federation sets when granting membership. The situation is even worse in developing countries where little money is available for redevelopment and it is hard to see a way of incorporating collections into the overall scheme of the WZCS.
Even assuming that the WZCS’s 1,000 core zoos are all of a high standard complete with scientific staff and research facilities, trained and dedicated keepers, accommodation that permits normal or natural behaviour, and a policy of co-operating fully with one another — what might be the potential for conservation?
Colin Tudge, author of Last Animals at the Zoo (Oxford University Press, 1992), argues that “if the world’s zoos worked together in co-operative breeding programmes, then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land vertebrates”.
This seems an extremely optimistic proposition from a man who must be aware of the failings and weaknesses of the zoo industry — the man who, when a member of the council of London Zoo, had to persuade the zoo to devote more of its activities to conservation. Moreover, where are the facts to support such optimism?
Today approximately 16 species might be said to have been “saved” by captive breeding programmes, although a number of these can hardly be looked upon as resounding successes.
Beyond that, about a further 20 species are being seriously considered for zoo conservation programmes. Given that the international conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, this is pretty slow progress, and a long way off Tudge’s target of 2,000.
Practice Test 1
Example Answer
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 16-22 write
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
16 London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest.
17 Zoos made an insignificant contribution to conservation up until 30 years ago.
18 The WZCS document is not known in Eastern Europe.
19 Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.
20 No-one knew how the animals were being treated at Robin Hill Adventure Park.
21 Colin Tudge was dissatisfied with the treatment of animals at London Zoo.
22 The number of successful zoo conservation programmes is unsatisfactory.
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 23-25 on your answer sheet.
23 What were the objectives of the WZCS document?
A to improve the calibre of zoos world-wide
B to identify zoos suitable for conservation practice
C to provide funds for zoos in underdeveloped countries
D to list the endangered species of the world
24 Why does the writer refer to Robin Hill Adventure Park? A: to support the Isle of the Wight local council. B : to criticise the 1981 zoo licensing Act. Number C: to illustrate the vacancy in the WZCS document. O: exemplify the standard in the AAZFPA zoos. 25 What word best describes the writer’s response to Colin Tudges’ prediction on captive
breeding programmes?
A disbelieving
B impartial
C prejudiced
D accepting (Questions 26–28 )The writer mentions a number oj factors H hich lead him to doubt the value of the WZCS
document Which THREE of the following factors are mentioned? Write your answers (A-F)
in boxes 26-28 on your answer sheet.
Reading
List of Factors
A the number of unregistered zoos in the world
B the lack of money in developing countries
C the actions of the Isle of Wight local council
D the failure of the WZCS to examine the standards of
the “core zoos”
E the unrealistic aim of the WZCS in view of the
number of species “saved” to date
F the policies of WZCS zoo managers
Solutions of Practice Test 2 with Explanation
Part 1: True / False / Not Given (Questions 16–22)
Question 16: London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The writer states that the advertisement “distort[ed] reality” and “extol[led] the myth” that animals would disappear without zoos, showing they consider the ad misleading or dishonest.
Question 17: Zoos made an insignificant contribution to conservation up until 30 years ago.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The passage notes that zoos were originally for entertainment, and their involvement with conservation only began seriously about 30 years ago.
Question 18: The WZCS document is not known in Eastern Europe.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: While the writer mentions finding fresh zoos in Eastern Europe weekly, the text never discusses whether the WZCS document is known or unknown there.
Question 19: Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.
Answer: NO
Explanation: The writer points out a major flaw, stating that “it appears that the criterion for inclusion on this select list might merely be that the zoo is a member of a zoo federation,” rather than being carefully examined.
Question 20: No-one knew how the animals were being treated at Robin Hill Adventure Park.
Answer: NO
Explanation: The park was protected by the local council for years and was eventually closed down following a damning report by a veterinary inspector, indicating that authorities and inspectors were aware of the situation.
Question 21: Colin Tudge was dissatisfied with the treatment of animals at London Zoo.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The text mentions Colin Tudge as a former member of the council of London Zoo who had to persuade the zoo to focus more on conservation, but it does not state he was dissatisfied specifically with their treatment of animals.
Question 22: The number of successful zoo conservation programmes is unsatisfactory.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The writer describes the progress as “pretty slow” (only about 16 species saved in 30 years), which falls far short of targets and implies dissatisfaction.
Part 2: Multiple Choice Questions (Questions 23–25)
Question 23: What were the objectives of the WZCS document?
Answer: B (to identify zoos suitable for conservation practice)
Explanation: The document outlines a core of quality collections (about 1,000 zoos out of 10,000) capable of participating in co-ordinated conservation programmes.
Question 24: Why does the writer refer to Robin Hill Adventure Park?
Answer: C (to illustrate the vacancy / flaw in the WZCS document — Note: ‘vacancy/flaw’ refers to the loose membership criteria of core zoos)
Explanation: It is used as an example to show that zoo federations have included notorious collections, proving that membership does not guarantee high standards.
Question 25: What word best describes the writer’s response to Colin Tudge’s prediction on captive breeding programmes?
Answer: A (disbelieving)
Explanation: The writer questions Tudge’s optimism, asking “where are the facts to support such optimism?” given the slow progress achieved so far.
Section 3: Selecting Factors (Questions 26–28)
Choose THREE factors mentioned by the writer that lead him to doubt the value of the WZCS document.
Answer 1: A (the number of unregistered zoos in the world)
Explanation: The writer points out that 10,000 is a serious underestimate and that thousands of other places masquerade as zoos.
Answer 2: D (the failure of the WZCS to examine the standards of the “core zoos”)
Explanation: The writer criticizes the naive faith placed in the 1,000 core zoos whose inclusion relies merely on federation membership rather than strict inspection.
Answer 3: E (the unrealistic aim of the WZCS in view of the number of species “saved” to date)
Explanation: The writer highlights that only about 16 species have been saved in 30 years, making the grand targets extremely unrealistic and slow.
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 29-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
ARCHITECTURE
Reaching for the Sky
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A building reflects the scientific and technological achievements of the age as well as the ideas and aspirations of the designer and client. The appearance of individual buildings, however, is often controversial.
The use of an architectural style cannot be said to start or finish on a specific date. Neither is it possible to say exactly what characterises a particular movement. But the origins of what is now generally known as modern architecture can be traced back to the social and technological changes of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Instead of using timber, stone and traditional building techniques, architects began to explore ways of creating buildings by using the latest technology and materials such as steel, glass and concrete strengthened steel bars, known as reinforced concrete. Technological advances also helped bring about the decline of rural industries and an increase in urban populations as people moved to the towns to work in the new factories. Such rapid and uncontrolled growth helped to turn parts of cities into slums.
By the 1920s architects throughout Europe were reacting against the conditions created by industrialisation. A new style of architecture emerged to reflect more idealistic notions for the future. It was made possible by new materials and construction techniques and was known as Modernism.
By the 1930s many buildings emerging from this movement were designed in the International Style. This was largely characterised by the bold use of new materials and simple, geometric forms, often with white walls supported by stilt-like pillars. These were stripped of unnecessary decoration that would detract from their primary purpose — to be used or lived in.
Walter Gropius, Charles Jeanneret (better known as Le Corbusier) and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe were among the most influential of the many architects who contributed to the development of Modernism in the first half of the century. But the economic depression of the 1930s and the second world war (1939–45) prevented their ideas from being widely realised until the economic conditions improved and war-torn cities had to be rebuilt. By the 1950s, the International Style had developed into a universal approach to building, which standardised the appearance of new buildings in cities across the world.
Unfortunately, this Modernist interest in geometric simplicity and function became exploited for profit. The rediscovery of quick-and-easy-to-handle reinforced concrete and an improved ability to prefabricate building sections meant that builders could meet the budgets of commissioning authorities and handle a renewed demand for development quickly and cheaply. But this led to many badly designed buildings, which discredited the original aims of Modernism.
Influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas on town planning, every large British city built multi-storey housing estates in the 1960s. Mass-produced, low-cost high-rises seemed to offer a solution to the problem of housing a growing inner-city population. But far from meeting human needs, the new estates often proved to be windswept deserts lacking essential social facilities and services. Many of these buildings were poorly designed and constructed and have since been demolished.
By the 1970s, a new respect for the place of buildings within the existing townscape arose. Preserving historic buildings or keeping only their facades (or fronts) grew common. Architects also began to make more use of building styles and materials that were traditional to the area. The architectural style usually referred to as High Tech was also emerging. It celebrated scientific and engineering achievements by openly parading the sophisticated techniques used in construction. Such buildings are commonly made of metal and glass; examples are Stansted airport and the Lloyd’s building in London.
Disillusionment at the failure of many of the poor imitations of Modernist architecture led to interest in various styles and ideas from the past and present. By the 1980s the coexistence of different styles of architecture in the same building became known as Post Modern. Other architects looked back to the classical tradition. The trend in architecture now favours smaller scale building design that reflects a growing public awareness of environmental issues such as energy efficiency. Like the Modernists, people today recognise that a well designed environment improves the quality of life but is not necessarily achieved by adopting one well defined style of architecture.
Twentieth century architecture will mainly be remembered for its tall buildings. They have been made possible by the development of light steel frames and safe passenger lifts. They originated in the US over a century ago to help meet the demand for more economical use of land. As construction techniques improved, the skyscraper became a reality.
Ruth Coleman
Questions 29-35
Complete the table below using information from Reading Passage 3. Write NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 29-35 on your answer
sheet.
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| PERIOD | STYLE OF PERIOD | BUILDING MATERIALS | CHARACTERISTICS |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| Before 18th century | Example / traditional | … (29) … | |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1920s | introduction of … (30) … | steel, glass and concrete | exploration of latest technology |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1930s – 1950s | … (31) … | | geometric forms |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1960s | decline of Modernism | pre-fabricated sections | … (32) … |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1970s | end of Modernist era | traditional materials | … (33) … of historic buildings|
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1970s | beginning of … (34) … era | metal and glass | sophisticated techniques paraded |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
| 1980s | Post-Modernism | | … (35) … |
+———————+——————————-+—————————+———————————–+
Questions (36-40)
Reading Passage 3 describes a number of cause and effect relationships. Match each Cause
(36-40) in List A, with its Effect (A-H) in List B.
Write your answers (A-H) in boxes 36 40 on your answer sheet.
NB There are more effects in List B than you will need, so you will not use all of them. You
may use any effect more than once if you wish.
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| LIST A | CAUSES | LIST B | EFFECTS |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| 36 | A rapid movement of people from rural areas to cities is triggered by | A | The quality of life is improved. |
| | technological advance. | | |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| 37 | Buildings become simple and functional. | B | Architecture reflects the age. |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| 38 | An economic depression and the second world war hit Europe. | C | A number of these have been knocked down. |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| 39 | Multi-storey housing estates are built according to contemporary ideas on town | D | Light steel frames and lifts are developed. |
| | planning. | | |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| 40 | Less land must be used for building. | E | Historical buildings are preserved. |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| | | F | All decoration is removed. |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| | | G | Parts of cities become slums. |
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
| | | H | Modernist ideas cannot be put into practice until the second half of the 20th century.|
+———+———————————————————————————+———+—————————————————————————————-+
Reading Passage 3: Architecture
Solutions of Practice Test 2 with Explanation
Questions 29-35: Completing a Table
Question 29 What building materials were used before the 18th century?
Answer: Timber and stone
Explanation: Prior to the 18th century, construction relied on organic, local materials rather than modern manufactured elements.
Question 30 What style of period was introduced in the 1920s alongside steel, glass, and concrete?
Answer: Modernism
Explanation: The 1920s saw architects reacting against industrialisation by introducing modern design concepts.
Question 31 What style dominated from the 1930s to the 1950s?
Answer: International style
Explanation: Buildings from this period were largely characterized by geometric forms and new materials.
Question 32 What characteristics defined the decline of Modernism in the 1960s?
Answer: badly designed buildings / low-cost high-rises
Explanation: The push for quick and cheap development using pre-fabricated sections resulted in poorly structured mass housing.
Question 33 What action regarding historic buildings marked the end of the Modernist era in the 1970s?
Answer: preservation
Explanation: The 1970s brought a new respect for townscapes, leading to the preservation of historic buildings and facades.
Question 34 What era began in the 1970s that paraded sophisticated techniques using metal and glass?
Answer: high tech
Explanation: High tech architecture celebrated engineering by openly showcasing complex structural techniques.
Question 35 What characteristics defined Post-Modernism in the 1980s?
Answer: coexistence of different styles
Explanation: Post-Modernism featured the mixing and coexistence of various architectural styles within the same building.
Questions 36-40: Matching Causes to Effects
Question 36 A rapid movement of people from rural areas to cities is triggered by technological advance.
Answer: G
Location in text: “Such rapid and uncontrolled growth helped to turn parts of cities into slums.”
Explanation: Unchecked urban migration led to overcrowded and deteriorated residential districts.
Question 37 Buildings become simple and functional.
Answer: F
Location in text: “These were stripped of unnecessary decoration that would detract from their primary purpose — to be used or lived in.”
Explanation: Focus shifted entirely to utility, resulting in the removal of non-essential decorative features.
Question 38 An economic depression and the second world war hit Europe.
Answer: H
Location in text: “But the economic depression prevented their ideas from being widely realised until the economic conditions improved …”
Explanation: Global financial crises and wartime conditions delayed the widespread implementation of modernist ideas.
Question 39 Multi-storey housing estates are built according to contemporary ideas on town planning.
Answer: C
Location in text: “Many of these buildings … have since been demolished.”
Explanation: Poorly performing inner-city high-rises failed to meet human needs and were subsequently torn down.
Question 40 Less land must be used for building.
Answer: D
Location in text: “They originated in the US … to help meet the demand for more economical use of land.”
Explanation: The need for space efficiency led to the development of light steel frames and high-speed passenger lifts for skyscrapers.
