This IELTS Academic Reading post focuses on all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 10 Reading Test 3 Passage 2 which is entitled ‘Autumn Leaves’. This is a solution post for candidates who have big difficulties in finding Reading Answers. This post can guide you perfectly to understand every Reading answer easily. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I hope this post can help you in this respect.

CAMBRIDGE IELTS 10
Reading Passage 2:

The headline of the passage: Autumn Leaves

Questions 14-18 (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. For this passage, first answer question 4- 13. After finishing with these questions, come to question 1-3. 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 14: a description of the substance responsible for the red colouration of leaves.

Keywords for this question: substance, responsible, red colouration, leaves

For this question we need to find the clue (the substance) which causes the leaves to turn red. Take a look at the first lines of paragraph C. The writer says, “The source of the red is widely known: it is created by anthocyanins, water-soulable plant pigments reflecting the red to blue range of the visible spectrum.”

This means the substance which is responsible for red colouration of leaves is anthocyanins.

So, the answer is: C

Question 15: the reason why trees drop their leaves in the autumn.

Keywords for this question: reason, trees drop, leaves, autumn

In paragraph B lines 3-7 say, “As  fall  approaches  in  the  northern  hemisphere,  the amount  of  solar  energy  available  declines  considerably.  For  many  trees – evergreen  conifers  being  an exception – the  best  strategy is  to  abandon  photosynthesis  until  the  spring.  So  rather  than  maintaining the  now  redundant  leaves  throughout  the  winter,  the  tree  saves  its  precious  resources  and  discards them.”

So, the lines suggest that many trees like the conifers cannot create photosynthesis due to the lack of solar energy. So, they stop their photosynthesis until spring. The tree drops the leaves to save its precious energy.

Here, discards = drops

So, the answer is: B

Question 16: some evidence to confirm a theory about the purpose of the red leaves

Keywords for this question: evidence, confirm, theory, purpose, red leaves.

In paragraph H the writer starts by saying, “Even if you had never suspected that this is what was going on when leaves turn red, there are clues out there.” The lines suggest that there are some clues or evidences which can confirm the purpose of red leaves. Then, in the following lines the writer shows three evidences to confirm the theory.

So, the answer is: H

Question 17: an explanation of the function of chlorophyll

Keywords for this question: function, chlorophyll

In  paragraph  B,  the  author  says in the very first lines, “Summer  leaves  are  green  because  they  are  full  of chlorophyll,  the  molecule  that  captures  sunlight  and  converts  that  energy  into  new  building materials for the tree.”

So, this line explains what chlorophyll does.

So, the answer is: B

Question 18: a suggestion that the red colouration in leaves could serve as a warning signal

Keywords for this question: red colouration, could serve as, warning signal

In paragraph E the first lines talk about a suggestion, “It  has also  been proposed that trees may produce vivid red colours to  convince herbivorous  insects  that they are healthy  and  robust  and would be easily able to  mount chemical defenses against infestation.”

So, this proposal means that the red colouration works as a warning sign for herbivorous insects and protect the trees from those insects.

So, the answer is: E

Questions 19-22 (Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS):

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to write no more than three words 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/words.]

Question 19: The most vividly coloured red leaves are found on the side of the tree facing the _________.

Keywords for this question: most vividly coloured red leaves, found, side, facing

In paragraph H lines 2-3, the writer says,“One is straightforward: on many trees, the leaves that are the reddest are those on the side of the tree which gets most sun.”

Here, the leaves that are the reddest = most vividly coloured red leaves, get = faces

So, the answer is: sun

Question 20: The __________ surfaces of leaves contain the most red pigment.

Keywords for this question: surface, contains, most red pigment

Take a look at lines 3-4 in paragraph H, where the writer says, “Not only that, but the red is brighter on the upper side of the leaf.” Here, the lines mean that the red colour/ pigment is found most (the red is brighter) on the upper side (surface).

So, the answer is: upper

Question 21: Red leaves are most abundant when daytime weather conditions are ________ and sunny.

Keywords for this question: most abundant, daytime weather, sunny

Again, in paragraph H, the writer mentions in lines 4-5, “It has also been recognised for decades that the best conditions for intense red colours are dry, sunny days and . . … . .  ” The lines suggest that ‘intense red colour’ (Red leaves are most abundant) when the daytime weather is dry and sunny.

So, the answer is: dry

Question 22: The intensity of the red colour of leaves increases as you go further __________.

Keywords for this question: intensity of red colour, increases, go further

In paragraph H lines 7-8, the writer says, “And finally, trees such as maples usually get much redder the more north you travel in the northern hemisphere.”

Here, the lines mean if you travel further north, you will see much redder leaves / the intensity of red colour will increase.

So, the answer is: north

Questions 23-25: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 23: It is likely that the red pigments help to protect the leaf from freezing temperatures.

Keywords for this answer: red pigments, protect, freezing temperatures

In paragraph D, the writer talks about the possibility of the defense mechanism of red pigments in the very first sentence, “Some theories about anthocyanins have argued that they might act as a chemical defense against attacks by insects or fungi, or that they might attract fruit-eating birds or increase a leaf’s tolerance to freezing.”

The statement suggests that red pigment actually increases the leaf’s tolerance to freezing, not protecting the leaf from freezing temperature.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 24: The ‘light screen’ hypothesis would initially seem to contradict what is known about chlorophyll.

Keywords for this answer: light screen hypothesis, seem to contradict, about chlorophyll

In paragraph F, the author mentions in lines 1-3, “Perhaps the most plausible suggestion as to why leaves would go to the trouble of making anthocyanins when they’re busy packing up for the winter is the theory known as the ‘light screen’ hypothesis. It sounds paradoxical, … …”

Here, paradoxical = seems to contradict

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 25: Leaves which turn colours other than red are more likely to be damaged by sunlight.

Keywords for this answer: turn colours other than red, more likely, damaged, sunlight

In paragraph I we find the writer’s confused tone over the issue of colouration of leaves by some trees and not by others. “…. .. is why some trees resort to producing red pigments while others don’t bother, and simply reveal their orange or yellow hues. Do these trees have other means at their disposal to prevent overexposure to light in autumn? …  .. ..”

There is no clue or clear decision regarding this.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 26: Multiple choice question

For which of the following questions does the writer offer an explanation?

A why conifers remain green in winter

B how leaves turn orange and yellow in autumn

C how herbivorous insects choose which trees to lay their eggs in

D why anthocyanins are restricted to certain trees

In paragraph B we find a clear explanation about how leaves turn orange and yellow in autumn. The writer concludes the paragraph by saying, “.. ..This unmasking explains the autumn colours of yellow and orange. .. . . .. . …”

So, the answer is: B

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 10 Test 3 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 10 Test 3 Reading Passage 3