Beat IELTS Reading Practice Test 13.2-AC

Questions 1-9
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-9.

The Early History of Cinnamon

Biblical times:

added to 1 Fill in the blank 1 of 9

used to show 2 Fill in the blank 2 of 9 between people

Ancient Rome:

used for its sweet smell at 3 Fill in the blank 3 of 9

Middle Ages:

added to food, especially meat

was an indication of a person’s 4 Fill in the blank 4 of 9

known as a treatment for 5 Fill in the blank 5 of 9 and other health problems

grown in 6 Fill in the blank 6 of 9

merchants used 7 Fill in the blank 7 of 9 to bring it to the Mediterranean

arrived in the Mediterranean at 8 Fill in the blank 8 of 9

traders took it to 9 Fill in the blank 9 of 9 and sold it to destinations around Europe.

Questions 10-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? Choose

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

10 The Portuguese had control over the cinnamon trade in Ceylon throughout the 16th century.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

11 The Dutch took over the cinnamon trade from the Portuguese as soon as they arrived in Ceylon.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

12 The trees planted by the Dutch produced larger quantities of cinnamon than the wild trees.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

13 The spice trade maintained its economic importance during the 19th century.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 14-17
Reading Passage 2 has six section, A-F.

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 14-17.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

14 reference to research showing the beneficial effects of oxytocin on people Fill in the blank 1 of 4

15 reasons why the effects of oxytocin are complex Fill in the blank 2 of 4

16 mention of a period in which oxytocin attracted little scientific attention Fill in the blank 3 of 4

17 reference to people ignoring certain aspects of their research data Fill in the blank 4 of 4

Questions 18-20
Look at the following research findings (Questions 18-20) and the list of researchers below.

Match each research finding with the correct researcher, A-F. Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 18-20.

List of Researchers

A Markus Heinrichs
B Simone Shamay-Tsoory
C Jennifer Bartz
D Carolyn DeClerck
E Carsten De Dreu
F Sue Carter

18 People are more trusting when affected by oxytocin. Fill in the blank 1 of 3

19 Oxytocin increases people’s feelings of jealousy. Fill in the blank 2 of 3

20 The effect of oxytocin varies from one type of person to another. Fill in the blank 3 of 3

Questions 21-26
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 21-26.

Oxytocin research

The earliest findings about oxytocin and bonding came from research involving 21 Fill in the blank 1 of 6 . It was also discovered that humans produce oxytocin during 22 Fill in the blank 2 of 6 An experiment in 2005, in which participants were given either oxytocin or a 23 Fill in the blank 3 of 6 , reinforced the belief that the hormone had a positive effect.

However, later research suggests that this is not always the case. A study at the University of Haifa where participants took part in a 24 Fill in the blank 4 of 6 revealed the negative emotions which oxytocin can trigger. A study at the University of Antwerp showed people’s lack of willingness to help 25 Fill in the blank 5 of 6 while under the influence of oxytocin. Meanwhile, research at the University of Amsterdam revealed that people who have been given oxytocin consider 26 Fill in the blank 6 of 6 that are familiar to them in their own country to have more positive associations than those from other cultures.

Questions 27-31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27 In the first paragraph, the writer says that most managers

A. fail to spot the key consumer trends of the moment.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. make the mistake of focusing only on the principal consumer trends.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. misinterpret market research data relating to current consumer trends.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. are unaware of the significant impact that trends have on consumers’ lives.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

28 According to the third paragraph, Coach was anxious to

A. follow what some of its competitors were doing.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. maintain its prices throughout its range.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. safeguard its reputation as a manufacturer of luxury goods.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. modify the entire look of its brand to suit the economic climate.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

29 What point is made about Tesco’s Greener Living programme?

A. It did not require Tesco to modify its core business activities.

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B. It succeeded in attracting a more eco-conscious slientele.

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C. Its main aim was to raise consumers’ awareness of environmental issues.

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D. It was not the first time that Tesco had implemented such an initiative.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

30 What does the writer suggest about Nike’s strategy?

A. It was an extremely risky strategy at the time.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. It was a strategy that only a major company could afford to follow.

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C. It was the type of strategy that would not have been possible in the past.

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D. It was the kind of strategy which might appear to have few obvious benefits.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

31 What was original about the ME2?

A. It contained technology that had been developed for the sports industry.

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B. It appealed to young people who were keen to improve their physical fitness.

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C. It took advantage of a current trend for video games with colourful 3D graphic.

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D. It was a handheld game that addressed people’s concerns about unhealthy lifestyles.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 32-37
Look at the following statements (Questions 32-37) and the list of companies below.

Match each statement with the correct company, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 32-37.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of companies

A Coach B Tesco
C Nike D iToys

32 It turned the notion that its products could have harmful effects to its own advantage. Fill in the blank 1 of 6

33 It extended its offering by collaborating with another manufacturer. Fill in the blank 2 of 6

34 It implemented an incentive scheme to demonstrate its corporate social responsibility. Fill in the blank 3 of 6

35 It discovered that customers had a positive attitude towards dealing with difficult circumstances. Fill in the blank 4 of 6

36 It responded to a growing lifestyle trend in an unrelated product sector. Fill in the blank 5 of 6

37 It successfully avoided having to charge its customers less for its core products. Fill in the blank 6 of 6

Questions 38-40
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A, B, C or D below.

Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 38-40.

A employ a combination of strategies to maintain your consumer base.

B identify the most appropriate innovation strategy to use.

C emphasise your brand’s traditional values with the counteract-and-affirm strategy.

D use the combine-and-transcend strategy to integrate the two worlds.

38 If there are any trend-related changes impacting on your category, you should Fill in the blank 1 of 3

39 If a current trend highlights a negative aspect of your category, you should Fill in the blank 2 of 3

40 If the consumers’ new focus has an increasing lack of connection with your offering you should Fill in the blank 3 of 3

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