Beat IELTS Reading Practice Test 15.1-AC

Questions 1-4

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-8.

The nutmeg tree and fruit

● the leaves of the tree are 1 Fill in the blank 1 of 4 in shape

● the 2 Fill in the blank 2 of 4 surrounds the fruit and breaks open when the fruit is ripe

● the 3 Fill in the blank 3 of 4 is used to produce the spice nutmeg

● the covering known as the aril is used to produce 4 Fill in the blank 4 of 4

● the tree has yellow flowers and fruit

Questions 5-7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 5-7, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

5 In the Middle Ages, most Europeans knew where nutmeg was grown.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

6 The VOC was the world’s first major trading company.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

7 Following the Treaty of Breda, the Dutch had control of all the islands where nutmeg grew.

TRUE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

FALSE

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

NOT GIVEN

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 8-13

Complete the table below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 8-13.

Middle Ages

Nutmeg was brought to Europe by the 8 Fill in the blank 1 of 6

16th century

European nations took control of the nutmeg trade

17th century

Demand for nutmeg grew, as it was believed to be effective against the disease known as the 9 Fill in the blank 2 of 6

The Dutch

– took control of the Banda Islands

– restricted nutmeg production to a few areas

– put 10 Fill in the blank 3 of 6 on nutmeg to avoid it being cultivated outside the islands

– finally obtained the island of 11 Fill in the blank 4 of 6 from the British

Late 18th century

1770 – nutmeg plants were secretly taken to 12 Fill in the blank 5 of 6

1778 – half the Banda Islands’ nutmeg plantations were destroyed by a 13 Fill in the blank 6 of 6

Questions 14-18

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-18.

14 reference to the amount of time when a car is not in use Fill in the blank 1 of 5

15 mention of several advantages of driverless vehicles for individual road-users Fill in the blank 2 of 5

16 reference to the opportunity of choosing the most appropriate vehicle for each trip Fill in the blank 3 of 5

17 an estimate of how long it will take to overcome a number of problems Fill in the blank 4 of 5

18 a suggestion that the use of driverless cars may have no effect on the number of vehicles manufactured Fill in the blank 5 of 5

Questions 19-22

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 19-22.

The impact of driverless cars

Figures from the Transport Research Laboratory indicate that most motor accidents are partly due to 19 Fill in the blank 1 of 4 , so the introduction of driverless vehicles will result in greater safety. In addition to the direct benefits of automation, it may bring other advantages. For example, schemes for 20 Fill in the blank 2 of 4 will be more workable, especially in towns and cities, resulting in fewer cars on the road.

According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, there could be a 43 percent drop in 21 Fill in the blank 3 of 4 of cars. However, this would mean that the yearly 22 Fill in the blank 4 of 4 of each car would, on average, be twice as high as it currently is. this would lead to a higher turnover of vehicles, and therefore no reduction in automotive manufacturing.

Questions 23 and 24

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24.

Which TWO benefits of automated vehicles does the writer mention?

A. Car travellers could enjoy considerable cost savings.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. It would be easier to find parking spaces in urban areas.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. Travellers could spend journeys doing something other than driving.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. People who find driving physically difficult could travel independently.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

E. A reduction in the number of cars would mean a reduction in pollution.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 25 and 26

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26.

Which TWO challenges to automated vehicle development does the writer mention?

A. making sure the general public has confidence in automated vehicles

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. managing the pace of transition from conventional to automated vehicles

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. deciding how to compensate professional drivers who become redundant

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. setting up the infrastructure to make roads suitable for automated vehicles

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

E. getting automated vehicles to adapt to various different driving conditions

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 27-32

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 27-32.

27 The writer refers to visitors to New York to illustrate the point that

A. exploration is an intrinsic element of being human.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. most people are enthusiastic about exploring.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. exploration can lead to surprising results.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. most people find exploration daunting.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

28 According to the second paragraph, what is the writer’s view of explorers?

A. Their discoveries have brought both benefits and disadvantages.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. Their main value is in teaching others.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. They act on an urge that is common to everyone.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. They tend to be more attracted to certain professions than to others.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

29 The writer refers to a description of Egdon Heath to suggest that

A. Hardy was writing about his own experience of exploration.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. Hardy was mistaken about the nature of exploration.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. Hardy’s aim was to investigate people’s emotional states.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. Hardy’s aim was to show the attraction of isolation.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

30 In the fourth paragraph, the writer refers to ‘a golden age’ to suggest that

A. the amount of useful information produced by exploration has decreased.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. fewer people are interested in exploring than in the 19th century.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. recent developments have made exploration less exciting.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. we are wrong to think that exploration is no longer necessary.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

31 In the sixth paragraph, when discussing the definition of exploration, the writer argues that

A. people tend to relate exploration to their own professional interests.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. certain people are likely to misunderstand the nature of exploration.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. the generally accepted definition has changed over time.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. historians and scientists have more valid definitions than the general public.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

32 In the last paragraph, the writer explains that he is interested in

A. how someone’s personality is reflected in their choice of places to visit.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

B. the human ability to cast new light on places that may be familiar.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

C. how travel writing has evolved to meet changing demands.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

D. the feelings that writers develop about the places that they explore.

Correct Incorrect Correct answer

Questions 33-37

Look at the following statements (Questions 33-37) and the list of explorers below.

Match each statement with the correct explorer, A-E.

Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 33-37.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of Explorers

A Peter Fleming

B Ran Fiennes

C Chris Bonington

D Robin Hanbury-Tenison

E Wilfred Thesiger

33 He referred to the relevance of the form of transport used. Fill in the blank 1 of 5

34 He described feelings on coming back home after a long journey. Fill in the blank 2 of 5

35 He worked for the benefit of specific groups of people. Fill in the blank 3 of 5

36 He did not consider learning about oneself an essential part of exploration. Fill in the blank 4 of 5

37 He defined exploration as being both unique and of value to others. Fill in the blank 5 of 5

Questions 38-40

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 38-40.

The writer’s own bias

The writer has experience of a large number of 38 Fill in the blank 1 of 3 , and was the first stranger that certain previously 39 Fill in the blank 2 of 3 people had encountered. He believes there is no need for further exploration of Earth’s 40 Fill in the blank 3 of 3 , except to answer specific questions such as how buffalo eat.

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