Answer Keys
Answer Keys
IELTS Reading Section 1
1 TRUE. Paragraph one, beginning of sentence three—the word ‘bulky’ is key here. It means big and taking up a lot of space.
2 FALSE. Paragraph one, sentence two. The year 1973 is connected to the invention of the device. While it does not directly say whether it was sold in the same year, later it is stated that the first commercially available phone came later, in 1983.
3 TRUE. Paragraph two, first sentence. It is important to understand the verb ‘to pioneer’ here to get the answer right.
4 NOT GIVEN. Sentence 4 in the second paragraph is a trap. It does not say that the USA was the first to have mobile coverage. Instead, it names the Motorola network as the first in that country.
5 NOT GIVEN. No such information is given; the only mention of voice is in relation to its speakerphone.
6 FALSE. Paragraph 3, sentence 4. Nokia was the one to introduce camera technology to the mobile phone world.
7 FALSE. Paragraph three, sentences 4 and 5 state and develop the idea of Nokia’s involvement regarding mobile internet networks.
8, 9 C, E. C – Paragraph 4, sentence 3 says that the model was ‘an instant success’. E – ‘shaping the phones of the future’ in the same paragraphs hints at the impact the company has on the industry.
10 risks. Paragraph 6, sentence 2. Note the plural form – it should be used just like in the text; otherwise, you might not get your points at the IELTS exam even though you got the word right. A word you might want to use is ‘drawbacks’, but it does not collocate well with the verb ‘face’, so it shouldn’t be used here.
11 (the) radiation. Paragraph 6, sentence 2. Another easy way to understand what word to use is through collocation. In this sentence, it is the verb ‘to emit’, which is normally used with things like light, particles, gases, and so on.
12 distracted. Paragraph 6, sentence 3. People get too distracted, and it leads to something unpredictable and possibly terrible.
13 security. The last sentence of paragraph 6 describes cases where personal or other sensitive information leaks can be a security issue.
14 V – Taking a closer look. The paragraph focuses on the properties that the material has. Do not be tricked into picking the heading ‘X – A thousand applications’ because of the word ‘application’ at the end of the paragraph. It is only a minor point, whereas a heading should focus on the main idea of the paragraph.
15 VIII – Through the looking glass of time. An overview of glass evolution throughout human history is given, with various stages of development and various emerging techniques.
16 I – Glass in nature. Natural occurrences of glass are given the most attention in this paragraph. Heading ‘XI – Taking a toll on nature’ doesn’t fit, although some might feel like choosing it if they do not fully understand the meaning of the word ‘toll’.
17 X – A thousand applications. A self-explanatory heading, it lists the ways glass comes in handy in a handful of industries. Heading XII shouldn’t be used here because there is no mention of alternatives to the material. Moreover, the heading is used later. This is why it is always a good idea to consider headings you think you have already found uses for in the test.
18 IX – Taking a toll on nature. The harm and damage that glass leads to are mentioned. Note that ‘XI – not without a fault’ is not optimal here as it only vaguely hints at the fact that there are some problems associated with glass.
19 XII – Irreplaceable – or is it? It makes it much easier to make a choice when you know the word ‘substitute’ – which means to replace something with something else. Heading XI doesn’t fit, although you might feel like choosing it based on the first sentence. However, it only introduces the general idea but does not expand on the problems with the glass. Instead, it offers alternatives to this material.
20 VI – Dim prospects. The phrase of the heading means that the future is not clear, but probably not too good for glass. Phrases like ‘a lot of uncertainty’ and ‘just a taste of things to come’ only serve to support this idea. Glass is likely to have an even smaller presence in the future.
21 YES. The first paragraph tells us how, if asked about life-changing inventions, people are much more likely to name things like the Internet or the wheel. Glass is not something they are likely to mention in such a situation.
22 NOT GIVEN. Nothing of relevance is mentioned. While it is extensively used outside as well as inside, no particular reasons for its popularity in that application are given.
23 NO. Paragraph C says that the invention of glass ‘predates’ iron smelting. This means that it comes before it. Glass had been invented before iron smelting became possible.
24 YES. At least one example of that is given at the end of Paragraph C, where the ancient Romans are said to have used various additives to make stained glass.
25 A. Paragraph D mentions that naturally occurring glass has a few attributes similar to those of man-made examples. It has a much different shape, is difficult to see through, and therefore hardly has any uses. In fact, it is difficult to even know it is glass.
26 A. Paragraph F focuses on the undesirable effects of glass production. Carbon dioxide is the by-product mentioned in the answer. Answer B doesn’t fit; it is not the main concern, as it is implied that sulfuric acid can be safely neutralised. We can’t choose answer C as nothing of the sort is stated in the text.
27 B. Paragraph G says that glass, when broken, creates many dangerous sharp fragments, which is not true for polycarbonate. Answers A and C are not mentioned.
28 C. ‘Taste of things to come’ is a figurative expression that means that we are likely to see more of what is happening now. Answer A shouldn’t be used as the word ‘taste’ is not literal in this context.
29 arboreal. The last sentence of the first paragraph relating to that species. Note that often with table-style questions you will end up going back and forth between paragraphs.
30 100. Sentence one of paragraph two relating to the species. The word ‘group’ hints at the fact that a figure will be needed in the answer.
31 herbivorous. If you do not know the word, then understanding that the context requires an adjective should make it easier for you.
32 tools. The word ‘nuts’ is a good keyword here as it cannot be synonymised and can be easily found in the text.
33 empathy. ‘Towards others’ in the table is a hint that the word used refers to communication between specimens.
34 vocal. Given in the very first sentence of the paragraph, this word hides in plain sight. Note that the adjective ‘vocal’ does not necessarily refer to one’s ability to sing. Instead, it refers to sounds produced by a living thing.
35 locomotion/movement. ‘To facilitate’ is a synonym for ‘help’ and means ‘to make something easier or quicker’.
36 habitat. The last paragraph focuses on the problem of a declining population. Habitat loss is the process of losing territory that an animal considers its home because of various favourable conditions.
37 B. Paragraph Two focuses on the reasons monkeys and humans are believed to be related. Answer C is not as detailed and is therefore not optimal. Answer A is wrong, as the two species are not fully identical genetically.
38 A. Answers B and C are not unique and do not make chimpanzees special compared to other monkey species.
39 A. It is said that such behaviour is uncommon among other animals and points to higher intelligence (Paragraph 7).
40 B. Paragraphs 11 and 12 focus on the roles of both genders in the social structure of howler monkeys.
Vocabulary
The vocabulary below is meant to help you with the more difficult words. If the word isn’t on the list then you are either supposed to know it or it is too specific to be worth learning and you don’t have to know it to answer the question. Symbols in brackets mean part of speech (see bottom of the list). Sentences in italics give examples of usage for some more complex words and phrases.
And remember — you are not given a vocabulary list (or a dictionary) at your real exam.
Section 1
Ill-at-easy (adj) – uncomfortable, nervous. Giving public speeches has been making me ill-at-ease since primary school.
Ubiquitous (adj) – something that can be found anywhere because of its popularity, usefulness or other reason. Street food restaurants are ubiquitous in larger cities nowadays.
Bulky (adj) – heavy, large and difficult to use or move because of that. We decided to leave our bulky furniture in the old flat because of transportation costs.
Sleek (adj) – (here) stylish and fresh-looking.
Cellular (adj) – relating to or connected to cells.
Stringent (adj) – strict and unforgiving. Her parents created a very stringent environment for her where any mistake or fault never went unpunished.
Reception (n) – (here) ability to receive the signal of the network. The reception indoors is very poor in this part of the country.
Pave the way for (phr v) – to make it easier for something or somebody that does the same thing later. The Toyota Prius paved the way for hybrid vehicles all around the globe.
Be credited for something – to give recognition for some achievement. She was justifiably credited for having created the first shopping app.
Immense (adj) – extremely large. The immense contribution of the president to world peace.
Sport (v) – to have something and be proud of it.
Instrumental (adj) – helping in achieving something. A basic understanding of psychology is instrumental in creating a good teacher.
Renowned (adj) – extremely well-known, especially for something good. A renowned poet of his time, he was celebrated for how genuine and down-to-earth his works were.
Redefine (v) – to change something dramatically, often altering the fundamentals.
Small wonder (phr) – it should come as no surprise. With their unmatched speed and strength, it is small wonder that bears have almost no natural threats except poachers.
Disposable income – the amount of money a person has left after all the essential expenditures (such as bills and groceries) are paid for.
Boast (v) – (here – about numbers) to show high levels of something. This class boasts the highest average grade across all schools in the area.
Culprit (n) – a person or a thing that is responsible for some problem. The culprit for the poor drivability of the car turned out to be a deflated front tyre.
Bring about (phr v) – to be a reason for something happening. The economic crisis brought about unemployment and increased immigration to neighbouring countries.
Wrap one’s mind around something (phr v) – to understand something, especially something that is difficult to believe because it seems very unlikely.
Headway (n) – progress. Unfortunately, no headway was achieved by our scientists over the past three years.
Full-fledged (adj) – fully functional or developed. This miniature computer can be used just like a full-fledged desktop PC.
Section 2
Set out to do smth (phr v) – to be determined to do something, to start your attempts at something.
Respondent (n) – in polls and surveys respondents are people answering the questions. The survey had almost two hundred respondents under 20 years old.
Ubiquity (n) – the condition of being present everywhere.
Underdog (n) – a person or a thing that is unappreciated or unknown, especially if it is not justified. Steve was the underdog of his class – neither teachers nor students liked him, despite his clearly prominent academic abilities.
Amorphous (adj) – with a clearly defined structure or form.
Brittle (adj) – easily broken, not strong. Over time, rubber gets hard and eventually turns brittle, falling apart at the slightest touch.
Conduct (v) – (here) to allow something to pass freely, i.e. heat, light or electricity. Copper conducts heat well, and this property makes it perfect for radiators as well as other head-dissipation purposes.
Expand / contract – to become bigger or smaller, respectively. As we breathe in, our lungs expand. When we exhale, they contract.
Predate (v) – if thing A predates thing B , it means that thing A appeared before thing B. Few people know that electric engines predate the more conventional internal combustion ones.
Beads (n) – (here) small, round-shaped decorative objects worn as an ornament or decoration. The famous stories of American colonisers trading glass beads for gold still cause outrage.
Furnace (n) – an enclosed space where fire creates extremely high temperatures with the purpose of melting down ore and other metal-containing objects.
Molten (adj) – turned to liquid through exposure to high temperatures. Molten metal was white-hot and you could feel the heat even several feet away from it.
Artisan (n) – a highly-skilled craftsman such as a glass blower, a blacksmith or an instrument maker.
Uninitiated (adj) – if a person is uninitiated, it means they have no knowledge of the topic.
Translucent (adj) – as described in the text, it means that it lets the light pass, but it is very hard to see objects on the other side of it.
Hallmark (n) – a characteristic quality of something, used positively. High build quality and longevity are hallmarks of German cars.
Indispensable (adj) – vital, can’t be done without. Your help in the negotiation process proved indispensable.
Fossil fuels – oil and gas-based fuels such as petrol, diesel and others. Fossil fuel vehicles are projected to go out of production by the middle of 21st century.
Dispose of (v) – to get rid of something that is no longer needed. Dispose of your waste responsibly to reduce its environmental impact.
Landfill (n) – a designated area where garbage is transported for decomposting.
Shatter (v) – to break into many pieces.
Entail (v) – cause, bring about. Getting a degree in college entails lots of academic work, such as writing term papers and doing research.
Section 3
Makeup (n) – (here) nature. His makeup and upbringing would never allow him to be rude to others, especially people he didn’t know well.
Fossil (n) – underground remains of dead organisms such as animals or even plants that lived a long time ago.
Ancestral (adj) – relating to ancestry, i.e. existing before and having genetic relations. Ancestral ties between humans and monkeys are hard to deny due to abundant scientific evidence.
Species (n) – a class of plants or animals whose genetic similarity allows them to breed with one another. They say that crows are one of the smartest avian species.
Cognitive (adj) – relating to the mind and brain. Cognitive development in kids has been proven to benefit from exposure to foreign languages.
Peers (n) – if somebody is your peer it means they are the same age. The older I grow, the more difficult communication with my peers becomes.
Herbivorous, omnivorous (adj) – with diets consisting of plants or both plants and meat, respectively. Animals that eat meat exclusively are referred to as carnivorous.
Fashion (v) – to create something, especially something simple, using things at hand. I fashioned a meal from the leftover groceries I found in the fridge.
Grooming (n) – the action done to keep or make oneself or somebody else clean. Cats can often be seen grooming themselves, especially if they have nothing better to do at the moment.
Indicative (adj) – usual for or pointing at some quality. A developed writing system is indicative of a high level of development in a civilisation.
Underway (adj) – has already started and is currently in progress. The construction of the new office block is underway and is planned to be finished by late October.
Vocal (adj) – (here) loud.
Prehensile (adj) – used for grasping or gripping something as a way to support or aid.
Offspring (n) – (especially with animals) children or young. The mother’s primary role in the group is to look after the offspring, both her own and others.
Intimidate (v) – to frighten, to make somebody feel scared. Animals prefer to intimidate their opponents instead of going into open confrontation with them.
Howl (v) – to make a loud crying sound.
Arboreal (adj) – living in trees. Arboreal animals choose to come down to the ground only when foraging for food.
Compelling (adj) – convincing or serious. Without compelling arguments, you cannot prove your innocence to the judge.
Facilitate (v) – to make something easier, to help.
Stark (adj) – clear, easily noticeable. The stark contrast between the lifestyles of first- and third-world people.