This General Training IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 6 Reading Test B Section 3 that has a passage entitled ‘PTEROSAURS’. This is a targeted post for GT IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the GT module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 6 Test B: GT Reading Module

Section 3: 28-40

The headline of the passage: PTEROSAURS   

Questions 28-34: Identifying information

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 28: similarities between pterosaurs and mechanical flight

Keywords for this question: similarities, pterosaurs, mechanical flight,

Have a close look at the last half of section J where the writer talks about the similarities between pterosaurs and flights by sailplanes (mechanical flights), “ . .. . . During the flight, sailplane pilots routinely search for places where heat rises from the sun-baked earth, creating hot air currents called thermals. Undoubtedly, Quetzalcoatlus would have used thermals as well, . .. . .”

Here, as well = also,  

So, the answer is: J

Question 29: the identification of the type of creature a pterosaur actually was

Keywords for this question: identification, type of creature, pterosaur, actually was,   

In section D, have a close look at lines 4-9, “ . . . .. . It was not until 1791 that the great French anatomist Georges Cuvier deduced that the animal was, in fact, a flying reptile, whose fourth finger supported a wing. He named the fossil Pterodactylus, combining the Greek words for wing and finger. . .. .. .”

Here, a flying reptile = the type of creature,  

So, the answer is: D

Question 30: conflicting theories about how pterosaurs came to fly

Keywords for this question: conflicting theory, how, pterosaurs, came to fly,   

In paragraph F, we find the mention of two conflicting theories about how pterosaurs learnt to fly. The first half of the section discusses what most researchers believed while the last half of the section discusses another theory. Also, take a look at this line in the very beginning of the section, “But how pterosaurs learnt to fly remains a matter for disagreement.” And this line from the middle of the section, “ . .. . Meanwhile, the competing argument holds that  . . .. “

Here, a matter for disagreement & the competing argument indicates to conflicting theories.

So, the answer is: F

Question 31: the cause of the widespread destruction of animal life on our planet

Keywords for this question: cause, widespread destruction, animal life, our planet,   

Section K describes the massive and destructive calamity hat hit the earth t wipe out different species forever, “ .. . . At the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago, a meteorite or comet slammed into the Earth. That calamity – and other events – wiped out roughly three-quarters of all species, including all pterosaurs and dinosaurs.  . .. ..”

Here, wiped out = destroyed,

So, the answer is: K

Question 32: the fact that pterosaurs once existed all over the world

Keywords for this question: fact, pterosaurs, once existed, all over the world,   

Section A explains the time when Pterosaurs existed all over the world, “ . … Pterosaurs stand out as one of nature’s great success stories. They first appeared during the Triassic period, 215 million years ago, and thrived for 150 million years before becoming extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period. Uncontested in the air, pterosaurs colonised all continents and evolved into a vast array of shapes and sizes.”

Here, colonised all continents = existed all over the world,

So, the answer is: A

Question 33: the first clear proof that pterosaurs could fly

Keywords for this question: first, clear proof, pterosaurs, could fly,   

In section E, take a close look at lines 3-8, “ . . .. Unlike earlier fossils, this new find near the Bavarian town of Solnhofen contained delicate wing impressions, establishing definitely that the extinct reptile was capable of flight.”

Here, establishing definitely = first clear proof, capable of flight = could fly,

So, the answer is: E

Question 34: concrete evidence that pterosaurs hunted their food from the air

Keywords for this question: concrete evidence, pterosaurs, hunted, food, from the air,   

The answer is in section G in the last half where the author says, “ .. . .. but there is evidence that they were skilful fliers, capable of catching fish over open water. Proof of this has been found in the fossil of a Eudimorphodon, a 215-million-year-old pterosaur found near Bergamo, Italy. Under a microscope, several fish scales can be seen in the abdomen of the specimen -the remains of the pterosaur’s last meal.”

Here, over open water = from the air,

So, the answer is: G

Questions 35-38: Matching statements with list of people

[In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements which are given by or links to people in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person and read around it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.]

Question 35: He refers to the difficulty of determining how pterosaurs evolved without further evidence.

Keywords for this question: difficulty, determining, how pterosaurs evolved, without, further evidence,     

Take a look at the first few lines of section G, “‘It’s very difficult to say how pterosaurs changed over time because the earliest fossils we have are of pterosaurs whose fourth finger has already transformed into a wing,’ says Fabio Dalla Vecchia, an Italian researcher. . .. .”

Here, how pterosaurs changed = how pterosaurs evolved, because the earliest fossils we have are of pterosaurs whose fourth finger has already transformed into a wing = further evidence needed,

So, the answer is: C (Fabio dalla Vecchia)

Question 36: He failed to interpret the evidence before him.

Keywords for this question: failed to interpret, evidence, before him,     

The answer lies at the beginning of section D, “Cosimo Alessandro Collini, the first natural historian to study the fossil and describe it, was unable to classify it. .. . .”

Here, was unable to classify = failed to interpret,

So, the answer is: A (Cosimo Alessandro Collini)

Question 37: He gave an appropriate name to the first pterosaur that was discovered.

Keywords for this question: gave, an appropriate name, first pterosaur. .. .discovered,     

Take a look at section D in lines 4-10, “. . .. It was not until 1791 that the great French anatomist Georges Cuvier deduced that the animal was, in fact, a flying reptile, whose fourth finger supported a wing. He named the fossil Pterodactylus, combining the Greek words for wing and finger. …”

Here, He named the fossil Pterodactylus = he gave an appropriate name to the first pterosaur that was discovered,

So, the answer is: B (Georges Cuvier)

Question 38: He mentions the ability of pterosaurs to take advantage of their environment.

Keywords for this question: mentions, ability of pterosaurs, take advantage, environment,    

In section I the writer says in lines 2-6, “ . .. .. ‘Unlike smaller pterosaurs, it could use natural currents to stay in the air without having to move its wings continuously,’ said Paul MacCready, an aeronautical engineer. ,. .. . .”

Here, it could use natural currents = take advantage of their environment,

So, the answer is: D (Paul MacCready)   

Questions 39 and 40: Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER:

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write a maximum of three words and/or a number to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question 39: So far, evidence of a total of ____________ pterosaurs has been discovered. 

Keywords for this question: so far, evidence, total of, pterosaurs, discovered,  

In Section E, the writer states in the middle, “ . . Even though over a thousand pterosaur specimens are known today, .”

Here, specimens = evidence, today = so far, known = discovered,

So, the answer is: (over) a thousand

Question 40: The wings of Quetzalcoatlus measured more than ____________ across. 

Keywords for this question: wings of Quetzalcoatlus, measured, more than, across,

In paragraph H we find the description of wings of Quetzalcoatlus in the last few lines, “ . .. . This pterosaur had wings over 11 metres wide, making it the largest flying animal ever known.”

Here, over = more than, wide = across,   

So, the answer is: 11 metres/meters

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 GT Test B Reading Section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 GT Test B Reading section 2