IELTS Reading Practice Materials (10 sets), Part 1 2019 Updated Edition (IELTS Reading Books by Liza Simon)_nodrm

IELTS READING PRACTICE MATERIALS (PART: I) WITH ANSWER KEY LIZA SIMON

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PREFACE This book is specifically designed for Amazon free kindle-reading app, which is supported on any device( smartphones, laptops, computers, ebook readers, etc) on any platforms (windows, android, apple ios, etc). Therefore, you can read this book on multiple devices you own. How this book is different from other books available in the market? Unlike paper books and other e books, you don’t have to scroll or turn pages back and forth while answering questions. One-touch navigation links (with one single touch you will execute the intended action) are available between each questions and their respective texts/paragraphs, and vice versa. This will save you a lot of time, and makes your answering quicker. Apart from this, one-touch reference links are available for every word in this book (including any words from paragraphs, questions, instructions, or even these words, which you are reading right now). There are mainly five types of reference links are available in this book. They are: 1. Dictionary:– in-built dictionaries are available for referring any word you touch and hold. This feature helps you save a lot of time by: a. You don’t have to search through a paper bind dictionary to find the meaning of the word. b. You don’t have to check out a word list under the heading ‘vocabulary’ to improve your vocabulary. While reading this book you can learn the meaning of words that you don’t know, by just a single touch and hold over the unknown word that you find. c. There is an in-built Oxford English dictionary available for your reference, which shows the meaning in a pop up dialogue box. If you prefer detailed meaning or the meaning of phrases related to the word, then you can easily choose full definition in the pop-up box for further details and pronunciation. d. In-built English – Native languages dictionaries are also available, if you desire to know more about the word in your mother tongue. This will increase levels of understanding the word in detail and helpful to remember quickly later. 2. Wikipedia:– in-built Wikipedia reference is available for referring any word you touch and hold. This feature helps you save a lot of time by: a. You don’t have to manually browse internet to find the Wikipedia reference of the word. b. You can read Wikipedia reference without closing or minimizing the kindle app in which you are reading the book. c. Wikipedia reference of the word you selected is available in both pop-up dialog box and in detail as you choose. d. This helps in the better understanding of technical and technological terms. 3. Translation:– in-built quick translation to selected native language is available for referring any word you touch and hold.

4. Web-search:– helps you search about the word in your browser for an extended research. 5. In book search:– helps you find the selected word appearing in the book itself in other locations. In addition to above-mentioned features, this book is totally customizable in kindle reading app. You can adjust the text size, font style, spacing and margins. You can also change color theme(background color) from white(default) to black (for reading during night) or sepia (if you like background of real paper bind book) or green (for vision(eye) –friendly reading). These options can be accessed by clicking ‘Aa’ button on the top tool bar that appear on every page. This book is fully supported in Amazon free kindle reading app; so, use only kindle reading app to enjoy all the mentioned features. NB: This book is not compatible on any other reading apps.

CONTENTS EASE OF ACCESS 3R ANSWERING METHOD IELTS READING TEST - I Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - II Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - III Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - IV Reading Passage 1 ReadingPassage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - V Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 lELTS READING TEST - VI Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3

IELTS READING TEST - VII ReadingPassage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - VIII Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - IX Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 IELTS READING TEST - X Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 2 Reading Passage 3 ANSWER KEY.

3R ANSWERING METHOD STEP 1. FLASH READING Flash reading refers to high-speed reading of the whole reading passage in few minutes, without thinking anything in your head (not even trying to guess meaning of the unfamiliar words/phrases). It helps to provide a vague idea about the matters that are discussed in the reading passage. It also forms a clear map in mind showing the order of statements as they appear in the passage, which eases locating the extract/paragraph referred in questions while answering. STEP 2. FOCUSED READING After finishing flash reading, start answering the questions. Find a quick fix on location of the extract/paragraph referred in the questions and read the extract/paragraph quickly (strictly not more than twice, if it is a paragraph and not more than thrice if it is a short extract) with complete focus. Eliminate all the irrelevant and impossible options from the multiple choices. Write the answer you had found only if you are sure enough. If the answer is confusing (if you find more than one possible answer for the question), write the answer you think to have more possibility to be correct on your answer sheet, along noting the question and two or three other possible answer for later reference. This will avoid wastage of time due to fixating over confusing questions. If the question is so tough that you fail to find a proper answer to it, then leave it blank and note the question number for later reference. Focused reading helps to answer all easy question in the reading test correctly, instead of losing marks on them in the last minute rush. STEP 3. THOROUGH READING After finishing all the questions in the test, you can start answering the tough questions by reading thoroughly the referred extract/paragraph by reading. Thorough reading refers to slow reading with maximum concentration to find all possible meanings between the lines, so that you arrive at a possible answer. Don’t read more than twice.

After finishing tough questions, start answering questions with confusing answers in the same manner. If you follow these three steps you can spend time wisely, while attending a reading test. Avoid wasting time by going after tips for reading, when you are not getting desired results. There are only two things that can improve your IELTS reading band score: 1. Efficient management of time. 2. Practicing more and more reading sample tests. WORK HARD, SCORE MORE!

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IELTS READING TEST - I

IELTS READING TEST - I Reading Passage 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below. Questions 1-5 Reading Passage 1 below has 5 paragraphs (A—E). Which paragraph focuses on the information below? Write the appropriate letters (A-E) in Boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet. NB: Write only ONE letter for each answer. 1. The way parameters in the mind help people to be creative Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 2. The need to learn rules in order to break them. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 3. How habits restrict us and limit creativity Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 4. How to train the mind to be creative Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 5. How the mind is trapped by the desire for order Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” The creation myth A. It is a myth that creative people are born with their talents: gifts from God or nature. Creative genius is, in fact, latent within many of us, without our realising. But how far do we need to travel to find the path to creativity? For many people, a long way. In our everyday lives, we have to perform many acts out-of habit lo survive, like opening the door, shaving, getting dressed, walking to work, and so on.If this, were not the case, we would, in all probability, become mentally hinged. So strongly ingrained are our habits, though this varies from person to person, that, sometimes, when a conscious effort is made to be creative, automatic response takes over. We may try, for example, to walk to work following a different route, but end up on our usual path. By then it is too late to go back and change our minds. Another day, perhaps. The same applies to all other areas of our lives. When we are solving problems, for example, we may seek different answers, but, often as not, find ourselves walking along the same well-

trodden paths. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 B. So, for many people, their actions and behaviour are set in immovable blocks, their minds clogged with the cholesterol of habitual actions, preventing them from operating freely, and thereby stifling creation. Unfortunately, mankind’s very struggle for survival has become a tyranny – the obsessive desire to give order to the world is a case in point. Witness people’s attitude to time, social customs and the panoply of rules and regulations by which the human mind is now circumscribed. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 C. The groundwork for keeping creative ability in check begins at school. School, later university and then work teach us to regulate our lives, imposing a continuous process of restrictions, which is increasing exponentially with the advancement of technology. Is it surprising then that creative ability appears to be so rare? It is trapped in the prison that we have erected. Yet, even here in this hostile environment, the foundations for creativity are being laid; because setting off on the creative path is also partly about using rules and regulations. Such limitations are needed so that once they are learnt, they can be broken. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 D. The truly creative mind is often seen as totally free and unfettered. But a better image is of a mind, which can be free when it wants, and one that recognises that rules and regulations are parameters, or barriers, to be raised and dropped again at will. An example of how the human mind can be trained to be creative might help here. People’s minds are just like tense muscles that need to be freed up and the potential unlocked. One strategy is to erect artificial barriers of hurdles in solving a problem. As a form of stimulation, the participants in the task can be forbidden to use particular solutions or to follow certain lines of thought to solve a problem. In this way they are obliged to explore unfamiliar territory, which may lead to some startling discoveries. Unfortunately, the difficulty in this exercise, and with creation itself, is convincing people that creation is possible, shrouded as it is in so much myth and legend. There is also an element of fear involved, however subliminal, as deviating from the safety of one’s

own thought patterns is very much akin to madness. But, open Pandora‘s box, and a whole new world unfolds before your very eyes. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 E. Lifting barriers into place also plays a major part in helping the mind to control ideas rather than letting them collide at random. Parameters act as containers for ideas, and thus help the mind to fix on them. When the mind is thinking laterally, and two ideas from different areas of the brain come or are brought together, they form a new idea, just like atoms floating around and then farming a molecule. Once the idea has been formed, it needs to be contained or it will fly away, so fleeting is its passage. The mind needs to hold it in place for a time so that it can recognise it or call on it again. And then the parameters can act as channels along which the ideas can flow, developing and expanding. When the mind has brought the idea to fruition by thinking it through to its final conclusion, the parameters can be brought down and the idea is allowed to float off and come in contact with other ideas. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Questions 6-10 Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in Boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet. 6. According to the writer, creative people A. are usually born with their talents B. are born with their talents holds creativity in check improves creativity C enhances creativity C. are not born with their talents D. are geniuses D is a tyranny Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 7. According to the writer, creativity is.... A. a gift from God or nature B. an automatic response C. Difficult for many people to achieve D. a well-trodden path Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 8. According to the writer, ......... A. the human race’s fight to live is becoming a tyranny

B. the human brain is blocked with cholesterol C. the human race is now circumscribed by talents D. the human race’s fight to survive stifles creative ability Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 9. Advancing technology..... A. Holds creativity in check B. Improves creativity C. enhances creativity D. Is a tyranny Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 10. According to the author, creativity......... A. is common B. is increasingly common C. is becoming rarer and rarer D. is a rare commodity Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Questions 11 - 15 Do the statements below agree with the information in Reading Passage 1? In boxes 11-15, write: TRUE if the statement agrees with the information in the passage FALSE if the statement contradicts the information in the passage NOT GIVEN if there is no information about the statement in the passage 11. Rules and regulations are examples of parameters. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 12. The truly creative mind is associated with the need for free speech and a totally free society. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 13. One problem with creativity is that people think it is impossible. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 14. The act of creation is linked to madness. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 15. Parameters help the mind by holding ideas and helping them to develop.

Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 1” Reading Passage 2 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 16-30, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below, LOCKED DOORS, OPEN ACCESS A. The word, “security”, has both positive and negative connotations. Most of us would say that we crave security for all its positive virtues, both physical and psychological – it s evocation of the safety of home, of undying love, or of freedom from need. More negatively, the word nowadays conjures up images of that huge industry which has developed to protect individuals and property from invasion by “outsiders”, ostensibly malicious and intent on theft or wilful damage. Increasingly, because they are situated in urban areas of escalating crime, those buildings which used to allow free access to employees and other users (buildings such as offices, schools, colleges or hospitals) now do not. Entry areas which in another age were called “Reception” are now manned by security staff. Receptionists, whose task it was to receive visitors and to make them welcome before passing them on to the person they had come to see, have been replaced by those whose task it is to bar entry to the unauthorized, the unwanted or the plain unappealing. Questions 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 B. Inside, these buildings are divided into “secure zones” which often have all the trappings of combination locks and burglar alarms. These devices bar entry to the uninitiated, hinder circulation, and create parameters of time and space for user access. Within the spaces created by these zones, individual rooms are themselves under lock and key, which is a particular problem when it means that working space becomes compartmentalized. To combat the consequent difficulty of access to people at a physical level, we have now developed technological access. Computers sit on every desk and are linked to one another, and in many cases to an external universe of other computers, so that messages can be passed to and fro. Here too security plays a part, since we must not be allowed access to messages destined for others. And so the password was invented. Now

correspondence between individuals goes from desk to desk and cannot be accessed by colleagues. Library catalogues can be searched from one’s desk. Papers can be delivered to, and received from, other people at the press of a button. Questions 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 C. And yet it seems that, just as work is isolating individuals more and more, organizations are recognizing the advantages of “teamwork”; perhaps in order to encourage employees to talk to one another again. Yet, how can groups work in teams if the possibilities for communication are reduced? How can they work together if e-mail providing a convenient electronic shield behind which the binning of public and private can be exploited by the less scrupulous? If voice-mail walls up messages behind a password? If I can’t leave a message on my colleagues desk because his office is locked? Team-work conceals the fact that another kind of security, “job security”, is almost always not on offer. Just as organizations now recognize three kinds of physical resources: those they buy, those they lease long-term and those they rent short-term-so it is with their human resources. Some employees have permanent contracts, some have short- term contracts, and some are regarded simply as casual labour. Questions 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 D. Telecommunication systems offer us the direct line, which means that individuals can be contacted without the caller having to talk to anyone else. Voice-mail and the answer-phone mean that individuals can communicate without ever actually talking to one another. If we are unfortunate enough to contact an organization with a sophisticated touch- tone dialling system, we can buy things and pay for them without ever speaking to a human being. To combat this closing in on ourselves we have the Internet, which opens out communication channels more widely than anyone could possibly want or need. An individual’s electronic presence on the internet is known as the “Home Page”»suggesting the safety and security of an electronic hearth. An“; elaborate system of 3- dimensional graphics distinguishes this very 2-dimensional medium of “web sites”. The nomenclature itself creates the illusion of a geographical entity that the person sitting before the computer is travelling, when in fact the “site” is coming to him. “Addresses” of one kind or another move to

the individual, rather than the individual moving between them, now that location is no longer geographical. Questions 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 E. An example of this is the mobile phone. I am now not available either at home or at work, but wherever I take my mobile phone. Yet, even now, we cannot escape the security of wanting to ‘locate’ the person at the other end. It is no coincidence almost everyone we see answering or initiating a mobile phone-call in public begins by saying where he or she is. Questions 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Questions 16-19 Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in Boxes 16-19 on your answer sheets. 16. According to the author, one thing we long for is...... A. the safety of the home B. Security C. open access D. positive virtues Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 17. Access to many buildings...... A. is unauthorised B. is becoming more difficult C. is a cause of crime in many urban areas D. used to be called ‘Reception’ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 18. Buildings used to permit access to any users,............. A. but now they do not B. and still do now C. especially offices and schools D. especially in urban areas Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 19. Secure zones........... A. don’t allow access to the user B. compartmentalise the user C. are often like traps D. are not accessible to everybody

Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Questions 20-27 Complete the text below, which is a summary. Choose your answers from the Word List below and write them in Boxes 20-27 on your answer sheet. There are more Words and phrases than spaces, so you will not be able to use them all. You may use any word or phrase more than once. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” The problem of physical access to buildings has now been.............20..............by technology. Messages sent between .............21........... , with passwords not allowing .............22................. to read someone else’s messages. But, while individuals are becoming increasingly............23...........socially by the way they do their job, at the same time more value is being put on..............24............. However, e-mail and voice-mail have led to a ...................25............... opportunities for person-to-person communication. And the fact that job-security is generally not available nowadays is hidden by the very concept of ...........26.......... Human resources are now regarded in ..............27.............. physical ones. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Word List 1.just the same way as 9.computers 2.computer 10.overcame 3.cut-off 11.decrease in 4.reducing of 12.combat 5.isolating 13.similar 6.team-work 14.other people 7.developed 15.no different from 8.physical 16.solved Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Questions 28-30 Complete the sentences below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answers. Write your answers in Boxes 28 - 30 on your answer sheet.

28. The writer does not like ................................ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 29. An individual’s Home Page indicates their ................................ on the Internet. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” 30. Devices like mobile phones mean that location is ............................ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 2” Reading Passage 3 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 31-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below. National Cuisine and Tourism A. To an extent, agriculture dictates that every country should have a set of specific foods which are native to that country. They may even be unique. However, even allowing for the power of agricultural science, advances in food distribution and changes in food economics to alter the ethnocentric properties of food, it is still possible for a country ‘to be famous for’ particular food even if it is widely available elsewhere. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 The degree to which cuisine is embedded in national culture Within the sociology of food literature two themes suggest that food is linked to social culture. The first relates food and eating to social relationships, (Finkelstein, Vissor, Wood), and the second establishes food as a reflection of the distribution of power within social structures, (Mennell). However, establishing a role for food in personal relationships and social structures is not a sufficient argument to place food at the centre of national culture. To do that it is necessary to prove a degree of embeddedness. It would be appropriate at this point to consider the nature of culture. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 B. The distinction made by Pierce between it behavioural contingency and a cultural contingency is crucial to our understanding of culture. Whilst a

piece of behaviour may take place very often, involve a network of people and be reproducible by other networks who do not know each other, the meaning of the behaviour does not go beyond the activity itself. A cultural practice, however, contains and represents ‘meta contingencies’ that is, behavioural practices that have a social meaning greater than the activity itself and which, by their nature reinforce the culture which houses them. Celebrating birthdays is a cultural practice not because everybody does it but because it has a religious meaning. Contrast this with the practice in Britain of celebrating ‘Guy Fawkes Night’. It is essentially an excuse for a good time but if fireworks were banned, the occasion would gradually die away altogether or end up as a cult to California. A smaller scale example might be more useful. In the British context, compare drinking in pubs with eating fish and chips. Both are common practices, yet the former reflects something of the social fabric of the country, particularly family, gender, class and age relationships whilst the latter is just a national habit. In other words, a constant, well populated pattern of behaviour is not necessarily cultural. However, it is also clear that a cultural practice needs behavioural reinforcement. Social culture is not immortal. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 C. Finkelstein argues that ‘dining out’ is simply ‘action which supports a surface life’. For him it is the word ‘out’ that disconnects food from culture. This view of culture food places the ‘home’ as the cultural centre. Continental European eating habits may contradict this notion by their general acceptance of eating out as part: of family life. Following the principle that culture needs behavioural reinforcement, if everyone ‘eats’ out’ on a regular basis, irrespective of social and economic differentiation, then this might constitute behavioural support for cuisine being part of social culture. That aside, the significance of a behavioural practice being embedded in culture is that it naturally maintains an approved and accepted way of life and therefore has a tendency to resist change. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 D. The thrust of the argument is that countries differ in the degree to which their food and eating habits have a social and cultural meaning beyond the behaviour itself. This argument, however, could be interpreted to imply that the country with the greatest proportion of meals taken outside the

home would be the one in which the national cuisine is more embedded in social culture. This is a difficult position to maintain because it would bring America, with its fast-food culture to the fore. The fast-food culture of America raises the issue of whether there are qualitative criteria for the concept of cuisine. The key issue is not the extent of the common behaviour but whether or not it has a function in maintaining social cohesion and is appreciated and valued through social norms. French cuisine and ‘going down the pub’ are strange bedfellows but bedfellows nevertheless. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 E. How homogenous is national cuisine? Like language, cuisine is not a static entity and whilst it’s fundamental character is unlikely to change in the short run it may evolve in different directions. Just as in a language there are dialects so in a cuisine there are variations. The two principal sources of diversity are the physical geography of the country and its social diversity. The geographical dimensions work through agriculture to particularise and to limit locally produced ingredients. Ethnic diversity in the population works through the role of cuisine in social identity to create ethnically distinct cuisines which may not converge into a national cuisine. This raises the question of how far a national cuisine is related to national borders. To an ethnic group their cuisine is national. The greater the division of a society into classes, castes and status groups with their attendant ethnocentric properties, of which cuisine is a part, then the greater will be the diversity of the cuisines. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 F. However, there is a case for convergence. Both these principal sources of diversity are, to an extent, influenced by the strength of their boundaries and the willingness of society to erode them. It is a question of isolation and integration. Efficient transport and the application of chemistry can alter agricultural boundaries to make a wider range of foods available to a cuisine. Similarly, political and social integration can erode ethnic boundaries However, all these arguments mean nothing if the cuisine is not embedded in social culture. Riley argues that when a cuisine is not embedded in social culture it is susceptible to novelty and invasion by

other cuisines. Questions 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Questions 31-36 Choose one phrase (A-K) from the List of phrases to complete each Key point below. Write the appropriate letters (A—K) in Boxes 31-36 on your answer sheet. The information in the completed sentences should be an accurate summary of the points made by the writer. NB: There are more phrases (A-K) than sentences, so you will not need to use them all. You may use each phrase once only. Key points 31. The native foods of a country......... Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 32. The ethnocentric properties of food............. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 33. Celebrating birthdays.................. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 34. Cultural practice................ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 35. Drinking in pubs in Britain.................... Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 36. The link between language and cuisine............... Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” List of phrases A. is a behavioural practice, not a cultural practice B. are unique C. varies D. is that both are diverse E. is a reflection of the social fabric F. is a cultural practice G. can be changed by economic and distribution factors H. is fundamental I. are not as common as behaviour J. needs to be reinforced by behaviour K. are, to a certain extent, dictated by agriculture

Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 37-40 Use the information in the text to match the Authors (A—D) with the Findings (37-40) below. Write the appropriate letters (A-D) in Boxes 37- 40 on your answer sheet. Authors A. Finkelstein B. Pierce C. Mennell D. Riley Findings 37. There is a difference between behaviour and cultural practice. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 38. The connection between social culture and food must be strong if national cuisine is to survive intact. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 39. Distribution of power in society is reflected in food. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 40. The link between culture and eating outside the home is not strong. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 3” Answer Key “IELTS READING TEST - I”

IELTS READING TEST - II

IELTS READING TEST - II Reading Passage 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage I below. AMBERGRIS A. The name ambergris is derived from the Spanish ‘ambar gris,’ ambar meaning amber and gris meaning grey, thus the name signifies grey amber. The use of ambergris in Europe is now entirely confined to perfumery—as a material of perfumery. Its high price varies from $15 to $25 an ounce, though it formerly occupied on inconsiderable place in medicine. Ambergris was also decorated and worn as jewellery, particularly during the Renaissance. It occupies a very important place in the perfumery of the East, and there it is also used in pharmacy, and as a flavouring material in cookery. Amber, however, is quite a different substance from ambergris and this discrepancy l has puzzled some people. Amber is the fossilized resin from trees that was quite familiar to Europeans long before the discovery of the New World, and prized for jewellery. Although considered a gem, amber is a hard, transparent, wholly organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees. In the dense forests of the Middle Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, between 10 and 100 million years ago, these resin-bearing trees fell and were carried by rivers to coastal regions. There, the trees and their resins became covered with sediment, and over millions of years the resin hardened into amber. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 B. Ambergris and amber are related by the fact that both wash up on beaches. Ambergris is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour, with the shades being variegated like marble. It possesses a peculiar sweet, earthy odour not unlike isopropyl alcohol. It is now known to be a morbid secretion formed in the intestines of the sperm whale, found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Being a very lightweight material, ambergris is found floating upon the sea, on the sea-coast, or in the sand near the sea-coast. It is met with in the Atlantic Ocean, on the coasts of Brazil and Madagascar; also on the coast of Africa, of the East Indies. China, Japan, and the Moluoca Islands; but most of the ambergris which is brought to England comes from the Bahama Islands. It is also sometimes

found in the abdomen of whales, always in lumps in various shapes and sizes, weighing from 1/2 oz. to 100 or more lb. A piece which the Dutch East India Company bought from the King of Tydore weighed 182 lb. An American fisherman from Antigua found, inside a whale, about 52 leagues south- east from the Windward Islands, a piece of ambergris which weighed about 130 lb, and sold for 500 sterling. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 C. Like many other substances regarding the origin of which there existed some obscurity or mystery, ambergris in former times possessed a value, and had properties attributed to it, more on account of the source from which it was drawn than from its inherent qualities. Many ridiculous hypotheses were started to account for its origin, and among others it was conjectured to be the solidified foam of the sea, a fungous growth in the ocean similar to the fungi which form on trees. The true source and character of ambergris was first satisfactorily established by Dr. Swediaur in a communication to the Royal Society. It was found by Dr. Swediaur that ambergris very frequently contained the horny mandibles or beaks of the squid, on which the sperm whales are known to feed. That observation, in connection with the fact of ambergris being frequently taken from the intestines of the sperm whale, sufficiently proved that the substance is produced by the whale’s intestine as a means of facilitating the passage of undigested hard, sharp beaks of squid that the whale has eaten. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 D. It was further observed that the whales in which ambergris was found were either dead or much wasted and evidently in a sickly condition. From this it was inferred that ambergris is in some way connected with a morbid condition of the sperm whale. Often expelled by vomiting, ambergris floats in chunks on the water and is of a deep grey colour, soft consistence, and an offensive, disagreeable smell. Following months to years of photo- degradation and oxidation in the ocean, this precursor gradually hardens, developing a dark grey or black colour, a crusty and waxy texture, and a peculiar odour that is at once sweet, earthy, marine, and animalist. Its smell has been described by many as a vastly richer and smoother version of isopropanol without its stinging harshness. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

E. In that condition its specific gravity ranges from 0.780 to 0. 926. It melts at a temperature of about 145F into a fatty yellow resin-like liquid. It is soluble in ether, volatile and fixed oils, but only feebly acted on by acids. By digesting in hot alcohol, a peculiar substance termed ambrein is obtained. In chemical constitution ambrein very closely resembles cholesterin, a principle found abundantly in biliary calculi. It is therefore more than probable that ambergris, from the position in which it is found and its chemical constitution, is a biliary concretion analogous to what is formed in other mammals. The industries founded on ambergris resulted in the slaughter of sperm whales almost to extinction. Sperm whales were killed in two massive hunts, the Moby Dick whalers who worked mainly between 1740-1880, and the modern whalers whose operations peaked in 1964, when 29,255 were killed. Most recent estimates suggest a global population of about 360,000 animals down from about 1,100,000 before whaling. In the 20th century, 90% of ambergris was derived in the processing of killing sperm whales. To this day, ambergris is still the most expensive product in the whole body of sperm whale. Depending on its quality, raw ambergris fetches approximately 20 USD per gram. In the United States, possession of any part of an endangered species- including ambergris that has washed ashore—is a violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1978. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 F. Historically, the primary commercial use of ambergris has been in fragrance chemistry. However, it is difficult to get a consistent and reliable supply of high quality ambergris. Due to demand for ambergris and its high price, replacement compounds have been sought out by the fragrance industry and chemically synthesized. The most important of these is Ambrox, which has taken its place as the most widely used amber odorant in perfume manufacture. Procedures for the microbial production of Ambrox have also been devised. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Questions 1 -5 Classify the following statements as applying to A – Ambergris only B – Amber only

C – Both amber and ambergris D – Neither amber nor ambergris 1. very costly Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 2. used in medicine Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 3. used as currency Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 4. wash up on beaches Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 5. could be seen through Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 6 -9 Complete the summary of how ambergris forms. Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” According to Dr. Swediaur, ambergris is produced by the whale’s ............6................ to help the sperm whale digest ...............7.............. of squid. Often by ...............8........... , the sick sperm whale expels ambergris. Ambergris then floats on the sea. When exposed in the air, ambergris ...............9............... gradually. And it has washed ashore finally. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 10- 13 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? In boxes 10-13 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 the passage. 10. Ambergris is now used in perfumery and medicine in Europe. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 11. In the 20th century most ambergris was obtained in the process of killing sperm whales. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.”

12. In the US, it is illegal for a person to collect ambergris even though it has washed on the beach. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 13. As a substitute for ambergris, Ambrox boasts the same properties as ambergris. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 1” Reading Passage 2 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below. Questions 14- 18 Reading Passage 2 has 9 paragraphs A-I. From the list of headings below choose the 5 most suitable headings for paragraphs A, B, E, G and H. Write the appropriate numbers (i—x). NB: There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them all. List of Headings i. Seasonal Economies ii. Illness can change the age structure iii. Two factors in wealth brought by a famous economist iv. Temperate represents wealthy v. Post World War II performance vi. The moderate climate leads to more innovation vii. Political institutions affect economies viii. Physical geography and climate count ix. Revamping Aid Programs x. Free-market economy the key 14. Paragraph A Paragraph “A.” 15. Paragraph B Paragraph “B.” 16. Paragraph E Paragraph “E.”

17. Paragraph G Paragraph “G.” 18. Paragraph H Paragraph “H.” Climate and Country Wealth A. Why are some countries stupendously rich and others horrendously poor? Social ‘theorists have been captivated by this question since the late 18th century, when Scottish economist Adam Smith argued in his magisterial work – ‘The Wealth of Nations’ that the best prescription for prosperity is a free-market economy in which the government allows businesses substantial freedom to pursue profits. Smith, however, made a second notable hypothesis; that the physical geography of a region can influence its economic performance. He contended that the economies of coastal regions, with their easy access to sea trade, usually outperform the economies of inland areas. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 B. Coastal regions and those near navigable waterways are indeed far richer and more densely settled than interior regions, just as Smith predicted. Moreover, an area’s climate can also affect its economic development. Nations in tropical climate zones generally lace higher rates of infectious disease and lower agricultural productivity (especially for staple foods) than do nations in temperate zones. Similar burdens apply to the desert zones. The very poorest regions in the world are those saddled with both handicaps; distance from sea trade and a tropical or desert ecology. The basic lessons of geography are worth repeating, because most economists have ignored them. In the past decade the vast majority of papers on economic development have neglected even the most obvious geographical realities. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 C. The best single indicator of prosperity is gross national product (GNP) per capita- the total value of a country’s economic output, divided by its population. A map showing the world distribution of GNP per capita immediately reveals the vast gap between rich and poor nations. The great majority of the poorest countries lie in the geographical tropics. In

contrast, most of the richest countries lie in the temperate zones. Among the 28 economies categorized as high income by the World Bank, only Hong Kong, Singapore and part of Taiwan are ‘in the tropical zone, representing a mere 2 percent of the combined population of the high- income regions. Almost all the temperate-zone countries have either high- income economies (as in the cases of North America, Western Europe, Korea and Japan) or middle-income economies (as in the cases of Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and China). In addition, there is a strong temperate-tropical divide within countries that straddle both types of climates. Most of Brazil, for example, lays within the tropical zone, but the richest part of the nation—the southernmost states—is in the temperate zone. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 D. There are two major ways in which a region’s climate affects economic development. First, it affects the prevalence of disease. Many kinds of infectious diseases are endemic to the in tropical and subtropical zones. This tends to be true of diseases in which the pathogen spends part of its life cycle outside the human host; for instance, malaria (carried by mosquitoes) and helminthic infections (caused by parasitic worms). Although epidemics of malaria have occurred sporadically as far north as Boston in the past century, the disease has never gained a lasting foothold in the temperate zones, because the cold winters naturally control the mosquito- based transmission of the disease. Winter could thus be considered the world’s most effective public health intervention. It is much more difficult to control malaria in tropical regions, where transmission takes place year-round and affects a large part of the population. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 E. According to the World Health Organization, 300 million to 500 million new cases of malaria occur every year, almost entirely concentrated in the tropics. Widespread illness and early deaths obviously hold back a nation’s economic performance by significantly reducing worker productivity. But there are also long-term effects that may be amplified over time through various social feedbacks. A high incidence of disease can alter the age structure of a country’s population. Societies with high levels of child mortality tend to have high levels of fertility; mothers bear many children

to guarantee that at least some will survive to adulthood. Young children will therefore constitute a large proportion of that country’s population. With so many children, poor families cannot invest much ‘in each child’s education. High fertility ‘also constrains the role of women in society, because child rearing takes up so much of their adult lives. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 F. Moreover, temperature affects agricultural , productivity. Of the major food grains— wheat, maize and rice—wheat grows only in temperate climates, and maize and rice crops are generally more productive in temperate and subtropical climates than in tropical zones. On average, a hectare of land in the tropics yields 2.3 metric tons of maize, whereas a hectare in the temperate zone yields 6.4 tons. Farming in tropical rainforest environments is hampered by the fragility of the soil; high temperatures mineralize the organic materials, and the intense rainfall teaches them out of the soil, in tropical environments that have wet and dry seasons—such as the African savannah-farmers must contend with the rapid loss of soil moisture resulting from high temperatures, the great variability of precipitation, and the ever present risk of drought. Moreover, tropical environments tare plagued with diverse infestations of pests and parasites that can devastate both crops and livestock. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 G. Moderate advantages or disadvantages in geography can lead to big differences in l long-term economic performance. Favourable agricultural or health conditions may boost per capita income in temperate-zone nations and hence increase the size of their economies. The resulting inventions further raise economic output, spurring yet more inventive activity. The moderate geographical advantage is thus amplified through innovation. In contrast, the low food output per farm women in tropical regions tends to diminish the size of cities. With a smaller proportion of the population in urban areas, the rate of technological advance is usually slower. The tropical regions therefore remain more rural than the temperate regions, with most of their economic activity concentrated in low- technology agriculture rather than in high- technology manufacturing and services. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

H. Geographical factors, however, are only part of the story. Social and economic institutions are critical to long-term economic performance. It is particularly instructive to compare the post World War II performance of socialist and free-market economies in neighbouring countries that share the same geographical characteristics; North and South Korea, East and West Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria, and Estonia and Finland. In each case we find that free- market institutions vastly outperformed their counterparts. If these findings are true, the policy implications are significant. Aid programs for developing countries will have to be revamped to specifically address the problems imposed by climate and geography. In particular, new strategies have to be formulated that would help nations in tropical zones raise their agricultural productivity and reduce the prevalence of diseases such as malaria. Questions 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Questions 19-23 Match together the following sentence halves. Write the appropriate letter A—M in boxes 19-23 on your answer sheet. A. because pathogen of diseases spends part of its life cycle outside the human host. B. because high fertility affects a woman’s role in society by focusing on her responsibilities for child rearing. C. because mothers bear many children to assure that some will survive to adulthood. D. because high levels of child mortality tends to baffle mothers’ investments. E. because low food output results in diminished city sizes, thus decreasing the rate of technological advance. F. because they straddle both types of climates. G. because malaria is carried by mosquitoes and helminthic infections is caused by parasitic worms. H. because they lie in the temperate zone. I. because intense rainfall and high temperature leach the organic material from the soil. J. because tropical environments are plagued with diverse infestations of pests and parasites that can devastate livestock. K. because temperate zones are more likely to boost individual incomes.

L. because winters control the mosquito-based transmission of the disease. M. because people living in the moderate climate are more willing to try new technology. 19. The southernmost states of Brazil are the riches part of the nation Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 20. Many kinds of infectious diseases are less prevalent in the temperate zones Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 21. In a tropical country with a high incidence of disease, poor families cannot afford each child’ s education. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 22. The agricultural productivity is considerably low in tropical rainforest environments Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 23. The tropical regions remain more rural than the temperate regions . Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” Questions 24 -26 Complete the sentence below (Questions 24-26) with words taken from Reading Passage 2. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each blank. Write your answers in boxes 24 -26 on your answer sheet. 24. Name three regions that are in the tropic zone but wealthy. ........................, .............................. and ............................. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 25. Name two major ways in which a region’s climate affects economic development. ...................... and ................................ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” 26. In the cases of Estonia and Finland, which country economically performed better after World War Two? ................................... Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” “G.” “H.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 2”

Reading Passage 3 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based Reading Passage 3 below. RFID A. What is RFID An emerging technology could usurp the ubiquitous bar code‘s quarter- century of quiet domination. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, which consist of silicon chips and an antenna that can transmit data to a wireless receiver, could one day be used to track everything from soda cans to cereal boxes. Unlike bar codes, which need to be scanned manually and read individually (you have to actually see a bar code in order to read it), radio ID tags do not require line-of-sight for reading. Within the field of a wireless reading device, it is possible to automatically read hundreds of tags a second. This is the basis of the next 50 years of computing,” said Kevin Ashton executive director of MIT ‘s Auto-ID Center. “The impact will be staggering.” Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 B. How It Works An RFID system may consist of several components, tags/transponders, tag readers. antenna, and interface. in a typical RFID system, individual objects are equipped with a small, inexpensive tag. The tag contains a transponder with a digital memory chip that is given a unique electronic product code. The interrogator, an antenna packaged with a transceiver and decoder, emits a signal activating the RFID tag so it can read and write data to it. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the reader’s activation signal. The reader decodes the data encoded in the tag’s integrated circuit (silicon chip) and the data is passed to the host computer. The application software on the host processes the data, and may perform various filtering operations to reduce the numerous often redundant reads of the same tag to a smaller and more useful data set. Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 C. Passive and Active Tags Transmitting in the kilohertz, megahertz and gigahertz ranges, tags may battery-powered or derive their power from the RF waves coming from the

reader. “Passive” tags have no power source but use the electromagnetic waves from the reader to energize the chip and transmit back, or backscatter, their data. Passive tags can cost less than a quarter and be read up to approximately 10 feet from the reader’s antenna. “Active” tags have a battery that can transmit up to 300 feet indoors and more than a thousand feet outdoors. Used for tracking trailers in yards and containers on the loading dock, active tags cost several dollars and may periodically transmit a signal for readers to pick up or may lie dormant until they sense the reader’s signal. Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 D. Reusable Vs. One-Time RFID tags for applications such as highway toll collection and container tracking are in continuous use for several years. Like regular electronic components, the tags are adhered to rigid substrates and packaged in plastic enclosures. In contrast, tags on shipping cartons are used for a much short time and are then destroyed. Disposable tags are adhered to printed, flexible labels pasted onto the carton, and these “smart labels” contain an RFID chip and antenna on the back. A thermal printer/encoder prints alphanumeric and bar code data on the labels while encoding the chip at the same time. Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 E. Originated in the 1940s, when the U. S. government used transponders to distinguish friendly aircraft from enemy aircraft, RFID systems now can tell how many beers you had while watching an NBA match, what library books you’ve checked out from the public library, and where and when you purchased your Michelin tires. In the near future, they may be used to prescription drugs and embedded into patients to tell doctors about their medical conditions. The Department of Defence is using RFID to track supplies and troops, and the State Department is planning to implant RFlD chips into new and renewed passports. More than a dozen retail companies have gone public with plans to use RFID in their operations. “There’s a general acknowledgment that this technology is here to stay. It’s not just a science experiment,” said Christine Overby, senior analyst at Forrester Research. Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

F. Next Technology Wave RFID technology has existed for decades, but retailer and government dates are pushing it forward. If it can overcome substantial technical and social challenges, it has the potential to transform business and sow the seed f the next technology wave. MlT’s Auto-ID Center is developing ways to use the tags in consumer product packages with blue chip companies such as Procter &Gamble, Wal-Mart, Gillette, Unilever, Target, Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Retailing behemoths such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot are investing heavily in Auto-lD’s technology to improve supply- chain efficiency and track products from the warehouse to the consumer’s doorstep. “The supply chain today is a black box.” Ashton said. “There is very little accurate data about where thing what they are, and how much there is.” “This technology won’t just improve the supply chain—it will revolutionize it in ways we are only just beginning to understand,” Ashton said. “Computers are basically blind today. The technology we are developing will enable them to see, for the first time ever’. Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 RFID and the Internet The success of RFID in the mass market ultimately depends upon tying technology to an open standard network like the Internet, according to researchers. Companies will also be able to use smart tags to connect everyday objects to the Internet, potentially saving billions of dollars in lost, stolen or wasted products. For example, a smart-shelf could tell when a carton of milk r a box of medicine has expired, alerting a store to restock in real time. This type of system could prevent out-of-stock merchandise and reduce obsolete or out-of-date products. “The Internet is absolutely crucial for all this,” Ashton said. “The Internet enables us to put all the data on the network, not the tag, and that makes tags cheaper, better, faster Questions 27-29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Questions 27-29 The diagram below shows how RFID works. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 27-29 on your answer sheet.

Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 30-33 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 30-33 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 the passage. 30. The RFID tags and their predecessor are essentially tracking devices. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 31. Although RFID tags communicate a variety of information, this information requires processing and analysis, thus making the computer indispensable. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 32. The RFID gained its early funding sources in the Department of Defence. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 33. More than six retail companies have gone public with RFID tags. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 34-36 Choose the appropriate letters A-—D and write them in boxes 34-36 on your answer sheet. 34. The greatest difference between bar codes and RFID is A. price. B. transmission technology C. commercial use.

D. size. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 35. In what areas have the tags already been implemented? A. Supermarkets and grocers. B. Passports and ID cards. C. Medicines and prescriptions. D. Highway toll collection. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 36. The term “black box” in the current supply chain refers to a unit that A. stores information. B. scrambles information. C. organizes information. D. produces information. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Questions 37-40 Complete the sentences below with words taken from the reading passage. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet. 37. The RDIF technology is now in a position to ______________________ 25 years of old technology. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 38. Transponders were used to ______________________ incoming and outgoing aircraft in military applications. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 39. The general consensus at Forrester Research is that this technology is _________________ Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” 40. Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart, Gillette, Unilever, and Target are large multi-national corporations known as ______________________ companies. Paragraph “A.” “B.” “C.” “D.” “E.” “F.” Answer Key “Reading Passage 3” Answer Key

“IELTS READING TEST - II”

IELTS READING TEST - III

IELTS READING TEST - III Reading Passage 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1. The Causes of Poverty A. Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world‘s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. Less than one per cent of what the world spends every year on weapons could put every child in school. All over the world, disparities between rich and poor, even in the wealthiest of nations is rising sharply. Fewer people are becoming increasingly successful and wealthy while a disproportionately larger population is also becoming even poorer. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 B. There are many issues involved when looking at global poverty and inequality. It is not simply enough (or correct) to say that the poor are poor due to their own (or their government’s) bad governance and management. In fact, you could quite easily conclude that the poor countries are poor because the rich countries are rich and have the power to enforce unequal trade agreements that favour their interests more than the poorer nations. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 C. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank prescribed structural adjustment policies mean that nations that are lent money get it on condition that they cut social expenditure (which is vital for economic growth and development) in order to repay the loans. Many are tied to opening up their economies and being primarily commodity exporters, which, for poorer nations leads to a spiralling race to the bottom as each nation must compete against others to provide lower standards, reduced wages and cheaper re- sources to corporations and richer nations. This further increases poverty and dependency for most people. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

D. People are hungry not because of lack of availability of food, or overpopulation, but because they are too poor to afford the food. Politics and economic conditions that have led to poverty and dependency around the world would not be alleviated if food production is further increased and provided to more people. Even non-emergency food aid, which seems a noble cause, is destructive, as it under sells local farmers and can ultimately affect the entire economy of a poor nation. If the poorer nations are not given the means to produce their own food, if they are not allowed to use the tools of production for themselves, then poverty and dependency will continue. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 E. The United Nations is one of the largest bodies involved in development issues around the world. However, it has many political issues and problems to contend with. But, despite this, it is also performing some much needed tasks around the world, through its many satellite organizations and entities, providing a means to realize the Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately though, it is not perfect and is negatively affected by the politics of powerful nations that wish to further their own interests. What does an ever- increasing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) mean? NGOs are non- profit organizations which fill the gap where governments will not, or cannot function. In the past however, some NGOs from the wealthy nations have received a bad reputation in some developing nations because of things like arrogance, imposition of their views, being a foreign policy arm or tool of the original country and so on. Even in recent years some of these criticisms still hold. However, recently some new and old NGOs alike, have started to become more participatory and grassroots-oriented to help empower the people they are trying to help, to help themselves. This is in general a positive turn. Yet, the fact that there are so many NGOs popping up everywhere perhaps points to failures of international systems of politics, economics, market rights. Questions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 F. While the world is globalizing and the mainstream media in the developed nations point out that the world economy is booming (or, in periods of