This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 15 Reading Test 4 Reading Passage 2 which is titled ‘Silbo Gomero – the whistle ‘language’ of the Canary Islands’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC 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 15 Test 4: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2: Questions 14-26

The headline of the passage: Silbo Gomero – the whistle ‘language’ of the Canary Islands

Questions 14-19: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

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

Question no. 14: La Gomera is the most mountainous of all the Canary Islands.

Keywords for the question: La Gomera, most mountainous, all the Canary Islands,

In the first paragraph, the author of the text says in the beginning, “La Gomera is one of the Canary Islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. This small volcanic island is mountainous, with steep rocky slopes and deep, wooded ravines, rising to 1,487 metres at its highest peak. .. .”

Here, we find the word mountainous; however, there is no comparison with other islands.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 15: Silbo is only appropriate for short and simple messages.

Keywords for the question: Silbo, only appropriate, short, simple messages,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 5. Here, take a look at lines 4-5, “ .. .. ‘In daily life they use whistles to communicate short commands, but any Spanish sentence could be whistled.’.. .. .”  

Here, the lines suggest that Silbo is not only appropriate for short messages but also for long Spanish sentences.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 16: In the brain-activity study, silbadores and non-whistlers produced different results.

 Keywords for the question: brain-activity study, silbadores and non-whistlers, produced, different results,

The answer can be found in lines 2-7 of paragraph no. 6, where the results of the experiments on brain-activity in silbadores and non-whistlers have been shown.

Here, the author says, “ . . . Results showed the left temporal lobe of the brain, which is usually associated with spoken language, was engaged during the processing of Silbo. . . .. . . . . When the experiments were repeated with non-whistlers, however, activation was observed in all areas of the brain.”  

Here, the lines suggest that results were different for silbadores and non-whistlers.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions no. 17: The Spanish introduced Silbo to the islands in the 15th Century.

Keywords for the question: The Spanish, introduced Silbo, 15th Century,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 8. In the first few lines, the writer says, “Carreiras says the origins of Silbo Gomero remain obscure, but that indigenous Canary Islanders, who were of North African origin, already had a whistled language when Spain conquered the volcanic islands on the 15^th Century. .. . .”

Here, these lines suggest that when the Spanish arrived in the Canary Islands to conquer, a whistled language had already been used by the islanders.

This means the Spanish did not introduce Silbo to the islands.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 18: There is precise data available regarding all of the whistle languages in existence today.

Keywords for the question: precise data, available, all of the whistle languages, in existence, today,  

In paragraph no. 8, lines 5-6 say, “ . .. There are thought to be as many as 70 whistled languages still in use, though only 12 have been described and studied scientifically. .. ..”

Here, only 12 have been described and studied scientifically = precise data available regarding 12 whistled languages, not all whistled languages,  

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 19: The children of Gomera now learn Silbo.

Keywords for the question: children of Gomera, now learn, Silbo,

In paragraph no. 9 (the final paragraph) the writer says in line no. 4, “ . .. .  Since 1999, Silbo Gomero has been taught in all of the island’s elementary schools. . . .”

Here, been taught in all of the island’s elementary schools = children of Gomera now learn this language,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 20-26: Completing notes

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete different notes with ONE WORD ONLY from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

The title of the summary: Silbo Gomero

Question no. 20:

• high- and low-frequency tones represent different sounds in Spanish __________

Keywords for the question: produced, high- and low-frequency tones, different sounds, Spanish,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4 in lines 1-2, “Silbo is a substitute for Spanish, with individual words recoded into whistles which have high- and low-frequency tones. … ..”  

Here, recoded into whistles = represented into different sounds,   

So, the answer is: words

Question no. 21:

• pitch of whistle is controlled using silbador’s ___________

Keywords for the question: produced, pitch of whistle, controlled, using, silbador’s,    

In paragraph no. 4, lines 2-3 say, “ . .. A whistler – or silbador – puts a finger in his or her mouth to increase the whistle’s pitch, .. .. .”  

Here, to increase the whistle’s pitch = pitch of whistle is controlled, puts = using,

So, the answer is: finger

Question no. 22:

• ________ is changed with a cupped hand

Keywords for the question: produced, changed with, cupped hand,    

Again, in paragraph no. 4, line no. 3 say, “.. . . while the other hand can be cupped to adjust the direction of the sound. . … .”

Here, the other hand can be cupped = a cupped hand, the process is speeded up = can expand suddenly,

So, the answer is: direction

Question no. 23:

• in everyday use for the transmission of brief ___________

Keywords for the question: everyday use, transmission, brief,   

In paragraph no. 5, line no. 4 says, “ . .. ‘In daily life they use whistles to communicate short commands, . .. .”

Here, In daily life they use = in everyday use, to communicate = for the transmission, short = brief,

So, the answer is: commands

Question no. 24:

• can relay essential information quickly, e.g. to inform people about ________

Keywords for the question: can relay, essential information, quickly, inform people about,  

Again, in paragraph no. 5, lines 5-6 say, “ . .. Siblo has proved particularly useful when fires have occurred on the island and rapid communication across large areas has been vital.”

Here, rapid communication across large areas has been vital = can relay essential information quickly,  

So, the answer is: fires

Question no. 25:

• future under threat because of new ________

Keywords for the question: future, under threat, because, new,    

In the final paragraph of the passage, in lines 1-3, the author says, “But with modern communication technology now widely available, researchers say whistled languages like Silbo are threatened with extinction. .. . “  

Here, threatened with extinction = future of languages like Silbo under threat, modern = new,

So, the answer is: technology

Question no. 26:

• Canaries’ authorities hoping to receive a UNESCO ________ to help preserve it

Keywords for the question: Canaries’ authorities, hoping to receive, UNESCO, help preserve,

In lines 5-7 of the final paragraph, the author of the passage says, “ … . In addition, locals are seeking assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). ‘The local authorities are trying to get an award from the organization to declare [Silbo Gomero] as something that should be preserved for humanity,’ Carreiras adds.”  

Here, The local authorities = Canaries’ authorities, trying to get = hoping to receive, the organization = UNESCO,

So, the answer is: award

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 Test 4 Reading Passage 1 

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 Test 4 Reading Passage 3