This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 5 Reading Test 1 Reading Passage 3 entitled ‘The Truth about the Environment’. This is an aimed post for IELTS candidates who have great problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer quite easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 5 Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40

The headline of the passage: The Truth about the Environment  

Questions 27-32: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN:

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts with the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

TIPS: For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 27: Environmentalists take a pessimistic view of the world for a number of reasons.

Keywords for the question: Environmentalists, pessimistic view, world, for, a number of reasons,

The answer can be found in the first paragraph, “For many environmentalists, the world seems to be getting worse. They have developed a hit-list of our main fears: that natural resources are running out; that the population is ever growing, leaving less and less to eat; that species are becoming extinct in vast numbers, and that the planet’s air and water are becoming ever more polluted.”

Here, the world seems to be getting worse = pessimistic view, main fears = a number of reasons,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 28: Data on the Earth’s natural resources has only been collected since 1972.

Keywords for the question: data, Earth’s natural resources, only, been collected, since 1972,

In the second paragraph, the writer says in the beginning, “But a quick look at the facts shows a different picture. First, energy and other natural resources have become more abundant, not less so, since the book The Limits to Growth’ was published in 1972 by a group of scientists. … .”

The lines suggest that a book was published in 1972. However, there is no information about when the data on the Earth’s natural resources were collected.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 29: The number of starving people in the world has increased in recent years.

Keywords for the question: number of starving people, world, increased, recent years,

In the second paragraph, the writer says in lines 3-5, “ … . Second, more food is now produced per head of the world’s population than at any time in history. Fewer people are starving. . .. . .” 

Here, Fewer people are starving = the number of starving people …. has decreased in recent years,

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 30: Extinct species are being replaced by new species.

Keywords for the question: extinct species, being replaced, new species,

Lines 4-6 in paragraph no. 2 says, “ .. . Third, although species are indeed becoming extinct, only about 0.7% of them are expected to disappear in the next 50 years, not 25-50%, as has so often been predicted.. . .. .”

Here, the writer confesses that species are becoming extinct. However, we find no information about their replacement with new species.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 31: Some pollution problems have been correctly linked to industrialisation.

Keywords for the question: some pollution problems, correctly linked, industrialisation,

Lines 4-6 in paragraph no. 2 says, 7-9, “ . .. . And finally, most forms of environmental pollution either appear to have been exaggerated, or are transient – associated with the early phases of industrialisation and therefore best cured not by restricting economic growth, but by accelerating it. .. .. .”

Here, most forms of environmental pollution = Some pollution problems, correctly linked = transient – associated, the early phases of industrialisation = industrialisation,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 32: It would be best to attempt to slow down economic growth.

Keywords for the question: best to attempt, slow down, economic growth,

In paragraph no. 5, take a look at the first few lines, “. .. . . Secondly, environmental groups need to be noticed by the mass media. They also need to keep the money rolling in.  .. .. .”

Here, keep the money rolling in = continue economic growth as it is,

So, the answer is: NO

Questions 33-37: Multiple choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 33: What aspect of scientific research does the writer express concern about in paragraph 4?

Keywords for the question: aspect, scientific research, concern about, paragraph 4,  

The answer can be found in paragraph 4, “One is the lopsidedness built into scientific research. Scientific funding goes mainly to areas with many problems. That may be wise policy, but it will also create an impression that many more potential problems exist than is the case.”

Here, lopsidedness = leaning on one side (selection of areas of research)

So, the answer is: C (the selection of areas to research)

Question no. 34: The writer quotes from the Worldwide Fund for Nature to illustrate how –

Keywords for the question: writer, quotes, Worldwide Fund for Nature, illustrate, how,    

The writer says in paragraph no. 5, “ . .. .  In 1997, for example, the World Wide Fund for Nature issued a press release entitled: ‘Two thirds of the world’s forests lost forever’. The truth turns out to be nearer 20%.”

Here, Two thirds of the world’s forests = 66.66% of the world’s forests,

This means the World Wide Fund for Nature exaggerates or overstresses their claims.

So, the answer is: D (environmental groups can exaggerate their claims.)

Question no. 35: What is the writer’s main point about lobby groups in paragraph 6?

Keywords for the question: writer’s main point, lobby groups, paragraph 6,

The writer says in paragraph no. 6, “. .. .. A trade organisation arguing for, say, weaker pollution controls is instantly seen as self-interested. Yet a green organisation opposing such a weakening is seen as altruistic, even if an impartial view of the controls in question might suggest they are doing more harm than good.”

Here, the writer points out that some organisations get more criticism compared to some other.

So, the answer is: C (Some receive more criticism than others.)

Question no. 36: The writer suggests that newspapers print items that are intended to –

Keywords for the question: newspapers, print, items, intended to,    

The answer can be found at the beginning of paragraph no. 7. The writer says here, “A third source of confusion is the attitude of the media. People are clearly more curious about bad news than good. Newspapers and broadcasters are there to provide what the public wants. .. ..”

Here, to provide = to print items, what the public wants = meet their readers’ expectations,

So, the answer is: B (meet their readers’ expectations.)

Question no. 37: What does the writer say about America’s waste problem?

Keywords for the question: America’s waste problem,   

The answer is found in paragraph no. 8 where the writer says, “ .. . People worry that the endless rise in the amount of stuff everyone throws away will cause the world to run out of places to dispose of waste. Yet, even if America’s trash output continues to rise as it has done in the past, and even if the American population doubles by 2100, all the rubbish America produces through the entire 21st century will still take up only one-12,000th of the area of the entire United States.”

Here, the writer suggests that the trash problem in America is not as serious as it has been told.  

So, the answer is: B (It is not as important as we have been led to believe.)

Questions 38-40: Completing summary with list of words

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with a list of words taken from the passage. Candidates must write the correct letter (not the words) as the answers. Keywords and synonyms are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Question no. 38 & 39: The writer admits that global warming is a 38. __________ challenge, but says that it will not have a catastrophic impact on our future, if we deal with it in the 39. _______ way.

Keywords for the question: recent years, have been obliged to give up, lifestyle, but, continue to, depend mainly on, for food and clothes,    

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 2 in lines 10-13. The writer says here, “. . .. One form of pollution – the release of greenhouse gases that causes global warming – does appear to be a phenomenon that is going to extend well into our future, but its total impact is unlikely to pose a devastating problem. A bigger problem may well turn out to be an inappropriate response to it.”

Here, a phenomenon that is going to extend well into our future = long-term phenomenon,

A bigger problem may well turn out to be an inappropriate response to it = it will not have a catastrophic impact on our future, if we deal with it in the right way.

So, the answers are:

38. E (long-term)
39. D (right)

Question no. 40: If we try to reduce the levels of greenhouse gases, he believes that it would only have a minimal impact on rising temperatures. He feels it would be better to spend money on the more ___________ health problem of providing the world’s population with clean drinking water.

Keywords for the question: produce, particularly expensive,   

In paragraph no. 11 the author says, “ . .. . Yet the cost of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, for the United States alone, will be higher than the cost of solving the world’s single, most pressing health problem: providing universal access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Such measures would avoid 2 million deaths every year, and prevent half a billion people from becoming seriously ill.”

Here, reducing carbon dioxide emissions = reduce the levels of greenhouse gases, single most pressing health problem = urgent health problem, universal access to clean drinking water and sanitation = providing the world’s population with clean drinking water,

So, the answer is: I (urgent)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 5 AC Test 1 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 5 AC Test 1 Reading Passage 2