IELTs – Reading – Test 4
IELTS Reading – Test 4 (Passages 1–3)
Practice all 3 passages on one page. Use Check Answers in each passage for feedback.
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Reading Passage 1 (Questions 1–13)
Passage: The History of Glass. Questions 1–8 (Notes completion, ONE WORD ONLY), 9–13 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN).
Reading Passage 1
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Questions 1–13
Questions 1–8 (ONE WORD ONLY)
Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
• Early humans used a material called
to make the sharp point of their
• 400 BC: the
made of stone were covered in a coating of man-made glass.
• First century BC: glass was coloured because of the
in the metal.
• Until 476 AD: Only the
knew how to make glass.
• 17th century: George Ravenscroft developed a process using
to avoid the occurrence of
in blown glass.
• Mid-19th century: British glass production developed after changes to
concessions.
Questions 9–13 (TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN)
Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 1?
9. In 1887, M. Ashley had the fastest bottle-producing machine that existed at the time.
10. Michael Owens was hired by a large US company to design a fully-automated bottle manufacturing machine for them.
11. Nowadays, most glass is produced by large international manufacturers.
12. Concern for the environment is leading to an increased demand for glass containers.
13. It is more expensive to produce recycled glass than to manufacture new products.
Reading Passage 2 (Questions 14–26)
Passage: Bring back the big cats. Questions 14–18 (Multiple choice A–D), 19–22 (Summary completion A–F), 23–26 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN).
Reading Passage 2
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Questions 14–26
Questions 14–18 (Multiple choice)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
14. What did the 2006 discovery of the animal bone reveal about the lynx?
15. What point does the writer make about large predators in the third paragraph?
16. What does the writer suggest about British conservation in paragraph 4?
17. Protecting large areas of the sea from commercial fishing would result in
18. According to the author, what distinguishes rewilding from other environmental campaigns?
Questions 19–22 (Complete the summary)
Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases A–F below.
A trees • B endangered species • C hillsides •
D wild animals • E humans • F farm animals
Reintroducing the lynx to Britain
There would be many advantages to reintroducing the lynx to Britain. While there is no evidence that the lynx has ever put
in danger, it would reduce the numbers of certain
whose populations have increased enormously in recent decades.
It would present only a minimal threat to
provided these were kept away from lynx habitats.
Furthermore, the reintroduction programme would also link efficiently with initiatives to return nature
to certain areas of the country.
Questions 23–26 (YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
23. Britain could become the first European country to reintroduce the lynx.
24. The large growth in the European lynx population since 1970 has exceeded conservationists’ expectations.
25. Changes in agricultural practices have extended the habitat of the lynx in Europe.
26. It has become apparent that species reintroduction has commercial advantages.
Reading Passage 3 (Questions 27–40)
Passage: UK companies need more effective boards of directors. Questions 27–33 (Matching headings i–viii), 34–37 (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN), 38–40 (ONE WORD ONLY).
Reading Passage 3
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Questions 27–40
Questions 27–33 (Matching headings)
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
List of Headings
i Disputes over financial arrangements regarding senior managers
ii The impact on companies of being subjected to close examination
iii The possible need for fundamental change in every area of business
iv Many external bodies being held responsible for problems
v The failing number of board members with broad enough experience
vi A risk that not all directors take part in solving major problems
vii Boards not looking far enough ahead
viii A proposal to change the way the board operates
i Disputes over financial arrangements regarding senior managers
ii The impact on companies of being subjected to close examination
iii The possible need for fundamental change in every area of business
iv Many external bodies being held responsible for problems
v The failing number of board members with broad enough experience
vi A risk that not all directors take part in solving major problems
vii Boards not looking far enough ahead
viii A proposal to change the way the board operates
27. Paragraph A
28. Paragraph B
29. Paragraph C
30. Paragraph D
31. Paragraph E
32. Paragraph F
33. Paragraph G
Questions 34–37 (YES / NO / NOT GIVEN)
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
34. Close scrutiny of the behaviour of boards has increased since the economic downturn.
35. Banks have been mismanaged to a greater extent than other businesses.
36. Board meetings normally continue for as long as necessary to debate matters in full.
37. Using a committee structure would ensure that board members are fully informed about all significant issues.
Questions 38–40 (ONE WORD ONLY)
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
38. Before 2008, non-executive directors were at a disadvantage because of their lack of
.
39. Boards tend to place too much emphasis on
considerations that are only of short-term relevance.
40. On certain matters, such as pay, the board may have to accept the views of
.