【IELTS-Reading & Writing-13】IELTS-Simon-Writing-Task1-Academic-part-5 Tables (雅思寫作-Simon-學術類寫作任務1-第五部分錶格)

【閱讀 Reading 】 結構: 3篇文章，40題，60分鐘。 學術組：學術文章；培訓組：廣告、指南等。 題型：選擇、配對、填空、判斷（T/F/NG）、標題配對。 高分技巧: 快速掃讀（skimming）找主旨。 精讀（scanning）定位答案。 管理時間，每篇20分鐘。 注意同義詞與改述。 先易後難，跳過卡題。 Structure: 3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes. Academic: Scholarly articles; General Training: Ads, guides. Question types: Multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, T/F/NG, heading matching. High-Score Tips: Skim for main ideas. Scan for specific answers. Manage time: 20 minutes per passage. Note synonyms and paraphrasing. Skip tough questions, tackle easier ones first.

【寫作 (Writing)】 結構: 2任務，60分鐘。 Task 1（20分鐘，150字）：圖表/流程描述（學術組）或書信（培訓組）。 Task 2（40分鐘，250字）：議論文/問題解決。 高分技巧: Task 1：清晰描述趨勢/比較數據；書信注意語氣。 Task 2：明確論點，結構清晰（引言、主體、結論）。 使用多樣句型與高級詞彙。 留5分鐘檢查語法與拼寫。 練習常見題型（如原因、解決方案）。 Structure: 2 tasks, 60 minutes. Task 1 (20 minutes, 150 words): Charts/process (Academic) or letter (General Training). Task 2 (40 minutes, 250 words): Essay (argument/problem-solution). High-Score Tips: Task 1: Clearly describe trends/compare data; use appropriate tone for letters. Task 2: Clear thesis, structured (intro, body, conclusion). Use varied sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. Reserve 5 minutes to check grammar/spelling. Practice common topics (causes, solutions). Assessment of your ability to understand and interpret written English in academic and general contexts. Our IELTS reading sample questions will help you understand the types of questions asked in the IELTS Academic Reading module. Exercises have a given time limit every time you practice. Topic: The growth of bike sharing schemes around the world Reading > Academic > P9 > The growth of bike sharing schemes around the world IELTS Reading Practice Lessons (Academic) Types of Reading Question: Paragraph Headings Strategies to answer the questions Quickly read through the paragraph headings so you can see what they say.
Then look at the first paragraph.
Often, only the topic sentence needs to be read carefully because the main idea and answer are there - you may be able to just skim the rest.
Sometimes, however, the answer is not in the topic sentence, and the whole paragraph needs to be read more carefully.
If a match is not immediately obvious, move on to the next one.
If you are unsure between two answers at first, put them both in. You may be able to eliminate one answer later if it fits another paragraph better.
If at the end you are still stuck between two answers for a question, pick the one that fits best. Things to beware of There are always more choices of paragraph headings on the list than paragraphs, so be careful when matching them.
Watch out for synonyms - often words in the paragraphs and paragraph headings will not be the same; they will be synonyms.
Having a noun from a heading that is in the paragraph does not guarantee they match - you still need to read it carefully to check. Exercise Yoruba Town Types of Settlements The Yoruba people of Nigeria classify their towns in two ways. Permanent towns with their own governments are called “ilu”, whereas temporary settlements, set up to support work in the country, are “aba”. Although ilu tend to be larger than aba, the distinction is not one of size; some aba are large, while declining ilu can be small, but of purpose. There is no “typical” Yoruba town, but some features are common to most towns.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

B. In the 19th century, most towns were heavily fortifie,d and the foundations of these walls are sometimes visible. Collecting tolls to enter and exit through the walls was a major source of revenue for the old town rulers, as were market fees. The markets were generally located centrally and in small towns, while in large towns, there were permanent stands made of corrugated iron or concrete. The market was usually next to the local ruler’s palace.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

C. The palaces were often very large. In the 1930s, the area of Oyo’s palace covered 17 acres and consisted of a series of courtyards surrounded by private and public rooms. After colonisation, many of the palaces were completely or partially demolished. Often, the rulers built two-storey houses for themselves using some of the palace grounds for government buildings.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

D. The town is divided into different sections. In some towns, these are regular, extending out from the centre of the town like spokes on a wheel, while in others, where space is limited, they are more random. The different areas are further divided into compounds called “ile”. These vary in size considerably from single dwellings to up to thirty houses. They tend to be larger in the North. Large areas are devoted to government administrative buildings. Newer developments, such as industrial or commercial areas or apartment housing for civil servants, tend to be built on the edge of the town.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

E. Houses are rectangular and either have a courtyard in the center or the rooms come off a central corridor. Most social life occurs in the courtyard. They are usually built of hardened mud and have roofs of corrugated iron or, in the countryside, thatch. Buildings of this material are easy to alter, either by knocking down rooms or adding new ones. And can be improved by coating the walls with cement. Richer people often build their houses of concrete blocks and, if they can afford to, build two storey houses. Within compounds there can be quite a mixture of building types. Younger well-educated people may have well furnished houses while their older relatives live in mud-walled buildings and sleep on mats on the floor.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

F. The builder or the most senior man gets a room either near the entrance or, in a two storied house, next to the balcony. He usually has more than one room. Junior men get a room each and there are separate rooms for teenage boys and girls to sleep in. Younger children sleep with their mothers. Any empty room are used as storage, let out or, if they face the street, used as shops.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings

G. Amenities vary. In some towns most of the population uses communal water taps and only the rich have piped water, in others piped water is more normal. Some areas have toilets, but bucket toilets are common with waste being collected by a “night soil man”. Access to water and electricity are key political issues.

- Town facilities - Colonisation - Urban divisions - Architectural home styles - Historical foundations - Domestic arrangements - City defences - The residences of the rulers - Government buildings Multiple Choice & Scanning Strategies to answer the questions 1. Look through the questions first 2. Underline key words from the question 3. Then scan the text for those key words that you have underlined 4. The answer should be found close to that word 5. The answers will be found in the text in the same order as the questions Beware! There will be synonyms used in the reading - the words in the IELTS multiple choice questions may not be the same as in the text Practice Exercise Identify the keyword in the question first of all. Then scan the text to find it. When you have done this, read the sentences around this keyword and see what information best matches the three choices you have. Qu 1: What is dry farming? Preserving nitrates and moisture. Ploughing the land again and again. Cultivating fallow land.

Australian Agricultural Innovations:1850 – 1900 During this period, there was a widespread expansion of agriculture in Australia. The selection system was begun, whereby small sections of land were parcelled out by lot. Particularly in New South Wales, this led to conflicts between smallholders and the emerging squatter class, whose abuse of the system often allowed them to take vast tracts of fertile land.
There were also many positive advances in farming technology as the farmers adapted agricultural methods to the harsh Australian conditions. One of the most important was “dry farming”. This was the discovery that repeated ploughing of fallow, unproductive land could preserve nitrates and moisture, allowing the land to eventually be cultivated. This, along with the extension of the railways, allowed the development of what are now great inland wheat lands. Practice Exercise: Answer To answer this question, highlight the word dry farming. You should then have been able to scan the two paragraphs to quickly find this word.
Reading the information around it more carefully would the give you the answer: Cultivating means to improve and prepare (land) by ploughing or fertilizing, for raising crops.
So the answer was "the ploughing of fallow land...to eventually be cultivated." Full Practice - IELTS Multiple Choice Australian Agricultural Innovations:1850 – 1900 During this period, there was a widespread expansion of agriculture in Australia. The selection system was begun, whereby small sections of land were parcelled out by lot. Particularly in New South Wales, this led to conflicts between smallholders and the emerging squatter class, whose abuse of the system often allowed them to take vast tracts of fertile land. There were also many positive advances in farming technology as the farmers adapted agricultural methods to the harsh Australian conditions. One of the most important was “dry farming”. This was the discovery that repeated ploughing of fallow, unproductive land could preserve nitrates and moisture, allowing the land to eventually be cultivated. This, along with the extension of the railways, allowed the development of what are now great inland wheat lands. The inland areas of Australia are less fertile than most other wheat-producing countries, and yields per acre are lower. This slowed their development, but also led to the development of several labour-saving devices. In 1843, John Ridley, a South Australian farmer, invented “the stripper”, a basic harvesting machine. By the 1860s, its use was widespread. H. V. McKay, then only nineteen, modified the machine so that it was a complete harvester: cutting, collecting and sorting. McKay developed this early innovation into a large harvester manufacturing industry centred near Melbourne and exporting worldwide. Robert Bowyer Smith invented the “stump jump plough”, which allowed a farmer to plough land which still had tree stumps on it. It did this by replacing the traditional plough shear with a set of wheels that could go over stumps, if necessary. The developments in farm machinery were supported by scientific research. During the late 19th century, South Australian wheat yields were going down. An agricultural scientist at the colony’s agricultural college, John Custance, found that this was due to a lack of phosphates and advised the use of soluble superphosphate fertiliser. The implementation of this scheme revitalised the industry. From early days, it had been obvious that English and European sheep breeds had to be adapted to Australian conditions, but only near the end of the century was the same applied to crops. Prior to this, English and South African strains had been used, with varying degrees of success. William Farrer, from Cambridge University, was the first to develop new wheat varieties that were better able to withstand dry Australian conditions. By 1914, Australia was no longer thought of as a land suitable only for sheep, but as a wheat-growing nation.
422 words Questions 1-5 1. What is dry farming? Preserving nitrates and moisture. Ploughing the land again and again. Cultivating fallow land. 2. What did H. V. McKay do? Export the stripper. Improve the stripper. Cut, collect and sort wheat. 3. What did the 'stump jump plough' innovation allow farmers to do? Cut through tree stumps. Change the wheels for a traditional plough. Allow farmers to cultivate land that hadn’t been fully cleared. 4. What did John Custance recommend? Improving wheat yields. Revitalising the industry. Fertilising the soil.
5. Why was William Farrer’s wheat better? It was drought-resistant. It wasn’t from England or South Africa. It was drier for Australian conditions. True, False, Not Given Tips Firstly, you will be presented with a list of facts. You then have to look at the text in order to decide if the facts are true, false, or not given. If the fact you are given is clearly in the reading, it is True If the reading says the opposite of the fact you've been given it is False If it is not true or false, it is Not Given Strategies to answer the questions The questions follow the order of the text.
Read the question carefully to make sure you fully understand what it is saying.
Scan the text to find where the answer is using keywords from the question
When you find where the answer is, read the text carefully to identify if you think it is T, F or NG.
The questions will probably use synonyms rather than the words in the text.
Look out for controlling words such as “only”, “all’, “never”, etc. For example, if the fact in the question says 'some' and the fact in the text says 'all', then it is F.
Do not spend a long time looking for the answer to one question; it is probably NG if you cannot find it.
Make sure you use the correct code; 'Yes', 'No', 'No Information' is sometimes used (these questions are slightly different and you look for opinions rather than facts). Example: Look at this statement, taken from the first sentence in the reading below: Chiles originate in South America and have been eaten for at least 9,500 years. Here are some example IELTS True False Not Given statements with answers: Chiles come from South America - T true People began eating Chiles in the last few centuries - F false South Americans were the first people to start eating Chiles - NG Not Given
Number one is clearly true. Notice the use of the synonym 'come from' used instead of 'originates'. It is common to use different words.
Two is clearly false as it was 9,500 years ago, not a few 100 years ago.

Three is not in the text. Be careful about making assumptions, then thinking it is true. It is quite probable that South Americans began eating chilli first, as they originated there; however, you can't be sure of that, and the text does not tell you that. Exercise Chilies Chillies originate in South America and have been eaten for at least 9,500 years. Organised cultivation began around 5,400 BC. Christopher Columbus was the first European to encounter chillies when he landed on the island of Hispaniola in 1492. He thought it was a type of pepper and called it the “red pepper”, a name still used today. After their introduction to Europe, they were an immediate sensation and were quickly incorporated into the diet. From there they spread to Africa, India and East Asia. The reason for the chilli’s “hotness” lies in a chemical called Capsaicin. Capsaicin causes temporary irritation to the trigeminal cells, which are the pain receptors in the mouth, nose and throat. After the pain messages are transmitted to the brain, endorphins, natural pain killers, are released, and these not only kill the pain but give the chilli eater a short-lived natural high. Other side effects include: an increased heart rate, a runny nose and increased salivation and sweating, which can have a cooling effect in hot climates. The reason for the presence of Capsaisin is thought to be to deter animals from eating the fruit. Only mammals feel the burning effects; birds feel nothing. As birds are a better method of distributing the seeds, which pass intact through their guts, Capsaisin would seem to be a result of natural selection.
The smaller chillies tend to be the hottest. This may reflect the fact that they tend to grow closer to the ground and are therefore more vulnerable to animals. The heat of a chilli is measured on the Scoville scale. The hottest types, such as the Habenero and the Scotch Bonnet, rate between 100,000 and 300,000, the world famous Tabasco sauceÒ rates at 15,000 to 30,000, about the same as the Thai prik khee nu, while the popular Jalapeno is between 5,000 and 15,000. Powdered chilli is 500 to 1,000, and the mild capsicins and paprikas can range between 100 and 0. 325 wds Questions 1-5 Do the following statements agree with the information in the text? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information given in the text, choose FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or choose NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
1. Chillies became popular as soon as they were brought into Europe. True False Not Given
2. Capsaisin causes significant damage to the mouth. True False Not Given
3. Chillies can be part of a bird's diet. True False Not Given
4. All large chillies grow high off the ground. True False Not Given
5. People breed chillies for their heat. True False Not Given Matching Paragraph Headings Sentence Completion Multiple Choice / Skimming and Scanning Differences between 'False' and 'Not Given' Short Answer Questions and True/False/Not Given Summary Completion (selecting words from a list) Mastering 'Not Given' Questions Yes, No, Not Given (Identifying Writer's Opinion) Matching Features
Reading Improvement Skills: Guessing meaning from context IELTS Reading Strategies Referencing in IELTS Reading Skimming and Scanning Techniques Paraphrasing Activity Tests
Practice Test 1 Section 1 Happiness? Let’s Redefine It Hello, Happiness? Let’s Redefine It Ask a group of 100 individuals what would elevate their happiness, and a significant portion would likely point to winning the lottery. Yet research shows that within just a year, most lottery winners revert to their previous levels of contentment. While wealth has practical benefits, accumulating more of it does not equate to greater joy. Multiple studies by psychologists and sociologists affirm that although people might accumulate more material possessions over time, their overall well-being remains largely unchanged. The same holds true for nations—wealthier countries are not consistently happier than poorer ones. Once essential needs like food and shelter are fulfilled, additional wealth has minimal effect. So why do people relentlessly pursue riches? According to researchers, it’s often due to social comparison. Whether it’s envy, competitiveness, or simply trying to stay ahead of peers, people constantly measure their success against others. That new $25,000 car may seem satisfying—until the neighbor arrives with a $40,000 vehicle. This cycle keeps repeating. While money may spark action, it does not build a lasting foundation for happiness. Questions Questions 1-6 Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Many people think winning the would make them significantly happier. Wealth has little impact on happiness once basic are fulfilled. People often compare themselves to others because of feelings like Reasons for the development of food deserts Strong relationships are the best indicator of personal happiness. In the workplace, job satisfaction increases when workers are given more . According to experts, people should learn to feel with what they already have. If financial gain isn’t the answer, what is? A worldwide survey across 44 countries found that family life remains the greatest source of satisfaction. Married individuals live, on average, three years longer and enjoy better mental and physical health than both single people and those living together outside of marriage. Being part of a family boosts happiness, and spending time with family members strengthens it further. Strong connections within families, workplaces, communities, and religious groups are reliable indicators of how happy someone feels. In fact, the strength of one’s social ties is the most accurate predictor of subjective well-being. Questions Questions 1-6 Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Many people think winning the would make them significantly happier. Wealth has little impact on happiness once basic are fulfilled. People often compare themselves to others because of feelings like Reasons for the development of food deserts Strong relationships are the best indicator of personal happiness. In the workplace, job satisfaction increases when workers are given more . According to experts, people should learn to feel with what they already have. Friendship is another key ingredient. In one study, having a close friend was estimated to provide the same emotional benefit as receiving $50,000. This finding supports the notion that social isolation often leads to depression. Employment also plays a vital role. Happiness tends to be associated with job characteristics such as independence, mutual trust between workers and employers, fair treatment, and opportunities to contribute to decision-making. Generally, professionals and managers—who usually have greater control over their work—report higher job satisfaction. Power imbalances in the workplace lead to less autonomy for some and a higher risk for those in control. Questions Questions 1-6 Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Many people think winning the would make them significantly happier. Wealth has little impact on happiness once basic are fulfilled. People often compare themselves to others because of feelings like Reasons for the development of food deserts Strong relationships are the best indicator of personal happiness. In the workplace, job satisfaction increases when workers are given more . According to experts, people should learn to feel with what they already have. Beyond the workplace, having control over life decisions is equally important. People tend to be happier when good things happen—like getting promoted or getting married—and when they avoid misfortunes such as losing a job or getting injured. These events signal how much influence people feel they have over achieving their goals. On a broader level, citizens feel happier when their governments reflect individual choices and values. Political freedom and the belief in one’s ability to influence governance are strongly tied to higher life satisfaction. Moreover, studies have linked chronic unhappiness to poor health. Many of the world’s least happy people reside in underdeveloped regions, where life expectancy is also declining. A society that allows personal freedom and self-determination is more likely to have happier citizens. In contrast, those who feel trapped or powerless tend to believe they are victims of fate. Happy individuals are typically more confident, resilient, and open to new experiences. But does happiness itself promote good health and longevity? A famous longitudinal study involving nuns suggests it does. Handwritten autobiographies composed when the nuns were in their twenties were analyzed for emotional content. Those who expressed more positivity lived, on average, a decade longer than those who were less expressive. This supports the idea that a positive emotional outlook contributes to a longer, healthier life. So how does one cultivate happiness? Experts advise embracing the phrase, “Be content with what you have.” Acknowledging the positives in life helps shift focus away from worry and dissatisfaction. Worrying is a mental habit rooted in ancient survival instincts—once useful in anticipating threats, now more harmful than helpful. Most concerns never materialize, and worrying about them reduces present-day enjoyment. Similarly, obsessing over past failures or regrets diminishes well-being. Questions Questions 1-6 Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Many people think winning the would make them significantly happier. Wealth has little impact on happiness once basic are fulfilled. People often compare themselves to others because of feelings like Reasons for the development of food deserts Strong relationships are the best indicator of personal happiness. In the workplace, job satisfaction increases when workers are given more . According to experts, people should learn to feel with what they already have. Questions 7-13 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage ? In boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet, 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 People who win the lottery often maintain a higher level of happiness for many years.a. Trueb. Falsec. Not Given Married couples tend to live longer and enjoy better health than unmarried individuals.a. True b. False c. Not Given Power imbalances in workplaces lead to better control for employees.a. True b. False c. Not Given People are generally happier when they feel they can influence government decisions.a. True b. False c. Not Given Chronic unhappiness may be linked to a person’s physical health.a. True b. False c. Not Given Worrying often helps people prepare for future threats effectively.a. True b. False c. Not Given Starting your own business after losing your job can lead to long-term happiness.a. True b. False c. Not Given Experts recommend building strong, loving relationships and making time for meaningful social interactions. Spend more time with your family and close friends, and don’t let work consume all your energy. If necessary, consider leaving a job voluntarily to start your own venture—but avoid getting fired, as job loss can have a longer-lasting negative effect on well-being than even the loss of a spouse. Use your leisure time to join clubs, engage in community service, or participate in religious activities. And if none of that works, perhaps cast your vote for a party like the one led by the King of Bhutan—where the ultimate national goal is not economic growth, but happiness itself. Questions Questions 1-6 Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Many people think winning the would make them significantly happier. Wealth has little impact on happiness once basic are fulfilled. People often compare themselves to others because of feelings like Reasons for the development of food deserts Strong relationships are the best indicator of personal happiness. In the workplace, job satisfaction increases when workers are given more . According to experts, people should learn to feel with what they already have.
Questions 7-13 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage ? In boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet, 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
People who win the lottery often maintain a higher level of happiness for many years.
a. True
b. False
c. Not Given
Married couples tend to live longer and enjoy better health than unmarried individuals.
a. True b. False c. Not Given
Power imbalances in workplaces lead to better control for employees.
a. True b. False c. Not Given
People are generally happier when they feel they can influence government decisions.
a. True b. False c. Not Given
Chronic unhappiness may be linked to a person’s physical health.
a. True b. False c. Not Given
Worrying often helps people prepare for future threats effectively.
a. True b. False c. Not Given
Starting your own business after losing your job can lead to long-term happiness.
a. True b. False c. Not Given Section 2 Climate Change: Could Hydrogen Vehicles Be the Solution? Putting the Brakes on Climate Change: Could Hydrogen Vehicles Be the Solution? A At first glance, protecting rainforests and coral reefs might seem unrelated to the emissions from urban traffic, but in reality, they are closely intertwined. Scientific consensus now indicates that accelerated climate change—driven heavily by human activity—is already reshaping and disturbing a wide range of natural ecosystems. Vehicle pollution contributes significantly to this ongoing environmental crisis. B According to projections by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global average temperature could climb by as much as 6°C by the end of the 21st century. Such an increase would trigger severe consequences, including large-scale forest loss and mass coral bleaching events. Very few species are expected to escape the resulting shifts in temperature, precipitation, and sea level. In order to mitigate such catastrophic outcomes, global emissions of greenhouse gases—especially carbon dioxide—must be drastically reduced. This will require not only curbing deforestation but, more critically, transitioning away from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. C
Several low-carbon energy technologies have already emerged. Wind and solar energy are gaining traction, yet the transportation sector remains a major concern. Electric vehicles offer a partial solution, but their limited range and lengthy charging times present drawbacks. The most promising innovation is hydrogen fuel-cell technology—an idea conceived in the 1800s but largely ignored during the combustion engine boom. Today, automakers such as Ford are developing prototype vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. These cars function like traditional ones but promise improved acceleration and a smoother ride. Ford’s engineers even believe future models will be nearly silent. D How do these fuel cells work—and are there limitations? Essentially, hydrogen is fed into a fuel tank, which then generates electricity. The only by-product from the exhaust is water. Functionally similar to batteries, fuel cells differ in that they don't deplete over time. As long as both hydrogen and oxygen are continuously supplied, the electricity generation remains constant. Some cells rely on methane or methanol, but hydrogen remains the most viable long-term option. Moreover, the use of fuel cells isn’t confined to cars—they range in size from portable devices to power stations. These systems require no moving components, no oil, and only a steady hydrogen supply. The core challenge now lies in sourcing that hydrogen sustainably. E One potential source is water, but extracting hydrogen from it requires electricity. If that electricity is generated by fossil-fuel-powered stations, the environmental benefits of fuel-cell vehicles are nullified. Although wind and solar energy are clean, their current output isn’t sufficient to produce hydrogen economically for mass transport use. A more immediate source is natural gas. By breaking methane apart, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are obtained. However, carbon dioxide must then be handled responsibly. One solution is geological sequestration—reinjecting the CO₂ into subterranean oil and gas reservoirs. Companies like Norway’s Statoil are experimenting with this method to reduce atmospheric emissions. F With extreme weather events becoming increasingly frequent—many attributed to global warming—the urgency of deploying fuel-cell vehicles is undeniable. Some progress is already visible: fuel-cell-powered buses operate in parts of the United States, and German courier services are preparing to integrate hydrogen vans. These early adopters—mostly centralized fleets—reveal a major logistical hurdle: hydrogen infrastructure. Currently, refueling stations are scarce, making fleet vehicles based at central depots an ideal starting point. G Fuel-cell research is now a priority across the global automotive industry. If adopted widely, this technology holds significant promise for curbing climate change. Nevertheless, continued investment is essential—not only for industry advancement but also for the long-term survival of global ecosystems and biodiversity Word Questions Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet. Urban traffic pollution plays a major role in damaging natural 1. Limiting the use of 2 is more critical than slowing deforestation. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are known for their fast acceleration and 3 operation. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells release only 4 from their exhaust. A sustainable hydrogen source is 5, though it requires large energy input. The lack of sufficient 6 is a major challenge for widespread hydrogen vehicle use. Section 3 What is the secret of a long life? This year, the number of retired pensioners in the UK exceeded the number of those under 18 years old for the first time in history. That's remarkable in its own right, but the real 'population explosion' has been among the oldest of the old — the centenarians. In fact, this imbalance is the fastest-growing demographic in much of the developed world. In the UK, the number of centenarians has increased by 60 per cent since the early 20th century. And their ranks are set to swell even further, thanks to the ageing baby-boomer generation: by 2030, there will be about a million worldwide. These trends raise social, ethical and economic dilemmas. Are medical advances artificially prolonging life, with hide regard for the quality of that life? If growing numbers of elderly people become dependent on state or familial support, society faces skyrocketing costs and commitments. Yet researchers who study the oldest old have made a surprising discovery that presents a less pessimistic view of the future than many anticipate. It is becoming clear that people who break through the 90-plus barrier represent a physical elite. Far from gaining a longer burden of disability, their extra years tend to be healthy ones. And supercentenarians, people aged 110 or over, are even better examples of ageing well. The average supercentenarian had freely gone about their daily life up until the age of 105 or so, some five to ten years longer even than centenarians. One of the most comprehensive studies comes from Denmark. In 1998, Kare Christensen, at the University of Southern Denmark, contacted every single one of 3600 people born in 1905 who were still alive. Assessing their health over the subsequent decade, he found that the proportion of people who managed to remain independent throughout was constantly around one-third of the total. Each individual risked becoming more infirm, but the unhealthiest ones passed away at earlier ages, leaving the strongest behind. In 2005, only 166 of the people in Christensen's sample were still alive, but one-third of those were still entirely self-sufficient. Christensen's optimistic findings are echoed in studies all over the world. In the MC, Carol Brayne at the University of Cambridge studied 958 people aged over 90, and found that only one-quarter of them were living in accommodation specifically catering for the needs of older people. Research in China reveals that centenarians and nonagenarians spend fewer days ill and in bed than younger elderly groups. Of course, people can live independently without being entirely healthy, and it is true that most centenarians suffer from some kind of ailment. These range from osteoarthritis to simple loneliness. Not all the oldest old survive by delaying illness or disability, though. Many soldier through it. Jessica Even of Ohio State University examined the medical histories of over 400 centenarians. She found that those who achieve extreme longevity tend to fall into three categories. About 40 per cent were 'delayers', who avoided chronic diseases until after the age of 80. Another 40 per cent were 'survivors', who suffered from chronic diseases before the age of 80 but lived longer to tell the tale. The final 20 per cent were 'escapers', who reached their century with no sign of the most common chronic diseases. Intriguingly, one-third of male centenarians were in this category, compared with only 15 per cent of women. In fact, the two sexes fare very differently when it comes to longevity. There are far more female centenarians, but the reasons for this are unclear. Certainly, women tend to lead healthier lifestyles and experience fewer serious accidents. They also go to their doctor more. Men are more prone to risky behaviour and chronic illness, so it must be genetics which allows some men to reach extreme old age. Evidence of this comes from longevity hotspots. The Japanese island of Okinawa is the frontrunner. At 58 centenarians per 100,000 people, it has the world's highest proportion in this age group, with Sardinia and Iceland not too far behind. All three are relatively isolated island communities, which leads to less genetic variation amongst inhabitants. In these places, the result has been a predisposition towards a longer life. Of course, members of such communities usually share a particular environment, too, but this alone cannot explain longevity. Gerontologists have emphasised the importance of regular exercise, so anyone aiming to reach a century should not underestimate this. They have also found that the influence on lifespan of social factors such as wealth fades as we age. By comparing 10,000 pairs of Scandinavian twins, Christensen found that genes are key, but that they only start exerting a strong influence on our lifespan after the age of 60. Before then, those who are both identical and non­identical have largely independent chances of reaching a given age. Longevity genes have also been found in abundance in other organisms, including over 70 in particular worms. Unfortunately, it's a different story in humans. While many genes have been suggested to affect lifespan, very few have been consistently verified in multiple populations. Note: ’’Centenarian”: someone who is 100 years or older. ” Baby - boomer“: someone born just after the Second World War, a time which saw a rapid increase in birth rate. “Nonagenarian”: someone who is between 90 and 99 years old. “Gerontologist”: a medical professional who specialises in ageing and the problems of aged Persons. Answers Questions 8-13 Answer the questions below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
8. What name has Jessica Evert given to the category of centenarians who become 100 without suffering serious disease? 8 9. What factor is most likely to contribute to longevity in men? 9 10. Which place has the largest proportion of centenarians in the world? 10 11. According to gerontologists, what should people avoid neglecting if they wish to reach old age? 11 12. What social influence on longevity decreases as people get older? 12 13. In which species, apart from humans, have longevity genes been reliably identified? Full Answers Section 1: 1: lottery 2: needs 3: envy 4: social 5: control 6: content 7: FALSE 8: TRUE 9: FALSE 10: TRUE 11: TRUE 12: FALSE 13: NOT GIVEN Section 2: 1: ecosystems 2: fossil 3: silent 4: water 5: water 6: infrastructure 7: TRUE 8:FALSE 9: NOT GIVEN 10: FALSE 11: TRUE 12: NOT GIVEN 13: TRUE Section 3: 1: NOT GIVEN 2: NOT GIVEN 3: TRUE 4: FALSE 5: FALSE 6: FALSE 7: NOT GIVEN 8: escapers 9: genetics 10: Okinawa 11: exercise 12: wealth 13: Worms
Online Reading Practice Tests Ref Links The IELTS Reading Test IELTS Reading The map below is of the town of Garlsdon and shows two possible sites for a new supermarket. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Example Answer The first potential location (S1) is outside the town itself and is sited just off the main road to the town of Hindon, lying 12 kilometres to the north-west. This site is in the countryside and so would be able to accommodate a lot of car parking. This would make it accessible to shoppers from both Hindon and Garlsdon who could travel by car. Since, it is also close to the railway line linking the two towns to Cransdon (25 km to the south-east), a potentially large number of shoppers would also be able to travel by train. In contrast, the suggested location, S2, is right in the town centre, which would be good for residents. Theoretically, the store could be accessed by road or rail from the surrounding towns, including Bransdon, but as the central area is a no-traffic zone, cars would be unable to park and access would be difficult. Overall, neither site is appropriate for all the towns, but for customers in Cransdon, Hindon and Garlsdon, the out-of-town site (S1) would probably offer more advantages. The diagram below shows the plan of a library in 2001 and 2009. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Example Answer The given diagram compares the map of the ground floor of a library in 2001 and 2009. It can be clearly seen that a lot of changes took place in the ground floor over a period of eight years. In 2001, the self-help and history section occupied the whole left wall, but in 2009 fiction, kitchen, economics and law sections were also added. The fiction section on the back wall of the ground floor, was replaced by the children?s books in front of which the children?s area was made. On the right wall the newspapers and periodicals area was there in 2001. However, in 2009, films and DVDs were placed in front of which computers were placed. The eight smaller tables in 2001 were removed and in place of these four bigger tables were placed. No changes were made to the entrance, the librarian?s desk and the stairs. The librarian?s desk was right after the entrance and the stairs were in the front right corner in both the years. Overall, a lot of additions can be seen in the ground floor of the library over a period of eight years. The diagrams below show how an office building looks at present and the plan for its future development. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Example Answer The given layouts depict the current and proposed plans of an office building. It is manifest from the graph that radical changes have been planned for the future office building. Presently, there are two grass areas located on the west and east of the building, with a wash room and a reception towards the lower left part of the eastern grass land. Four offices are there on the south between the western grass area and the reception. Opposite these offices towards the north, a kitchen, a canteen and a stock room can be seen. Enormous changes have been planned for the future office building. The western grassland will be converted into an outdoor activity area, whereas the eastern one will be modified into a coffee counter at the north and a meeting area in the south. The reception and the entrance are also intended to be relocated to the mid of the two office rooms on the south. The kitchen and the canteen on the north are planned to be replaced by two office rooms. The stock room will retain its place. Overall, it is clear that the office building is planned to be totally renovated in the future. The picture below shows the plan of a new town. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below. Example Answer The given map shows the plan of a new town. A cursory glance at the layout is enough to make it clear that the town is planned to be well connected and provide all facilities to people. It has been planned that the centre of the town will have some bus stands and parking lots. Four roads will emerge from the centre and lead to north, south, west and southeast. A ring road is also planned to go around the town. The housing areas are planned towards the inside and outside of the ring road. Four recreational areas are planned towards the south and one towards the east. Two industrial areas have also been planned, one on the southeast and one towards the northwest. These would provide job opportunities to people. Overall, the town is well designed as the transport facilities seem to provide good connectivity and the recreational centres would be there for entertainment. The industries in the suburbs would provide employment to people. Accademic Reading Writing Task 1 Writing Task 2 https://ieltstutorials.online/sample-questions/cue-card https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-speaking-samples.html
50 Recent IELTS Speaking Topics for Parts 2 and 3 for IELTS 2025
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IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors - Speaking Assessment Criteria What is the IELTS Speaking test? Four Skills 33 interview questions for students (with sample answers) Interviewers usually ask these questions for students to learn about their basic knowledge and abilities. They also ask these questions to get a better understanding of your interests, attitude, and personality. Some common general questions include: Can you tell us about yourself? How did you learn about our organization/ university? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses, and how do you overcome them? Why did you choose your school? What motivates you? How do you believe you can contribute to our growth? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Can you tell us why you think you're the best fit for this role? Do you have any questions for us?
Experience and Background The interviewer may ask questions about your background and experience to understand your responsibilities in previous roles and how you handled them. They also ask these questions to envision you in the role and determine whether you fit their company culture. Below are examples of these questions: Tell us something about your field of study. Which academic accomplishment are you most proud of? Do you have prior experience in this role? Do you have any academic goals you hope to achieve before you graduate? What are they? What skills and experience do you hope to gain in this job? Do you have plans to further your education? Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? What are they? What do you wish you knew before choosing this career path? What steps have you taken for your professional growth and development? Do you think your education helped to prepare you for this role? In what way?
In-depth Questions Interviewers ask in-depth questions to get detailed information about your behaviour or abilities. These questions usually relate directly to the role and give the interviewer an idea of how well you'd perform. Examples of in-depth questions include: Can you give an example of a time you applied your leadership skills at work? How do you work under pressure? How do you handle stress? Do you prefer working alone or with a team? Why? Tell us about a time you exceeded your expectations. Have you ever missed a deadline? Why and what was the result? Describe how you organise your schedule and prioritise your tasks. Have you ever managed multiple tasks simultaneously? How did you handle them? How do you manage two projects that are due at the same time? How do you intend to make an impact in this role?
Discussion Questions (Tests) (1) What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘test’? (2) Do you get nervous when you take tests? (3) Are there any kinds of tests that you love? (4) Do you follow any special routines before you take a test? (5) What test has made you most nervous? (6) What do you think about while you wait for the result of a test? (7) Have you ever cheated on a test? (8) Have you ever taken an IQ test? (9) Do you think testing is useful or a waste of time? (10) Do you think your test scores reflect your true ability and intelligence? (11) Do you like taking tests? (12) Are you good at taking tests? (13) What was the last English test that you took like? (14) Have you ever had a blood test? (15) Would you be more nervous before your driving test, a blood test or an English test? (16) What’s the best way to prepare for a test? (17) What medical tests have you had? (18) What was the worst test you ever took? (19) Are there too many tests in school? (20) How do you feel when you fail a test?