This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 2 Reading Test 4 Reading Passage 1 titled ‘Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping’. This is a target post for IELTS candidates who have huge problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can help you best to comprehend every Reading answer very easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.
IELTS Cambridge 2 Test 4: AC Reading Module
Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13
The headline of the passage: Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping
Questions 1-3: 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. 1: The research findings report commercial rather than political trends.
Keywords for the question: research findings, report, commercial, than, political trends,
Take a look at paragraph no. 2. The author says here in lines 9-14, “ . .. .. .. The recently published report also predicts that the process will repeat itself with ‘ethical’ concerns, involving issues such as fair trade with the Third World and the social record of businesses.. … .”
Here, The recently published report also predicts that = the research findings report, fair trade with the Third World and the social record of businesses = commercial rather than political trends,
So, the answer is: YES
Question no. 2: Being financially better off has made shoppers more sensitive to buying ‘green’.
Keywords for the question: being financially better off, made, shoppers, more sensitive, buying ‘green’,
At the beginning of paragraph no. 2, the author of the passage says, “ . .. . despite recession and financial pressures, more people than ever want to buy environmentally friendly products and a ‘green wave’ has swept through consumerism. .. .. .”
Here, despite recession and financial pressures = being financially unstable (opposite to ‘better off’), more people than ever want to buy = made shoppers more sensitive, environmentally friendly products = ‘green’ products,
So, these lines completely contradict the statement in the question.
So, the answer is: NO
Question no. 3: The majority of shoppers are prepared to pay more for the benefit of the environment according to the research findings.
Keywords for the question: majority of shoppers, prepared to pay more, benefit of the environment, research findings,
In paragraph no. 3, in lines 1-6, the author says, “Mintel’s survey, based on nearly 1,000 consumers, found that the proportion who look for green products and are prepared to pay more for them has climbed from 53 per cent in 1990 to around 60 per cent in 1994.. .. . .”
Here, climbed from 53 per cent in 1990 to around 60 per cent in 1994 = the majority of shoppers, the proportion who look for green products and are prepared to pay more = prepared to pay more for the benefit of the environment,
So, the answer is: YES
Question no. 4: Consumers’ green shopping habits are influenced by Mintel’s findings.
Keywords for the question: Consumers’ green shopping habits, influenced by, Mintel’s findings,
This passage discusses the research done by Mintel; however, there is NO INFORMATION about consumers’ green shopping habits being influenced by Mintel’s findings.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question no. 5: Mintel have limited their investigation to professional and managerial groups.
Keywords for the question: Mintel, invited, their investigation, professional, managerial groups,
The final lines paragraph no. 3 says, “ .. . .. .. although this percentage is higher among women, managerial and professional groups and those aged 35 to 44.”
These lines clearly suggest that Mintel has NOT limited their investigation to professional and managerial groups only; women and people aged 35 to 44 were also included in the investigation.
So, the answer is: NO
Question no. 6: Mintel undertakes market surveys on an annual basis.
Keywords for the question: Mintel, undertakes, market surveys, annual basis,
This passage contains NO INFORMATION on whether Mintel undertakes market surveys on an annual basis or not.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 7-10: 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 set found as the last question set in most passages so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers for previous questions gives you a good idea about these questions.]
Question no. 7: Politicians may have ‘misjudged the public mood’ because –
Keywords for the question: politicians, may have, ‘misjudged the public mood’, because,
The first paragraph has the answer for this question. Here, the writer says, “Research in Britain has shown that ‘green consumers’ continue to flourish as a significant group amongst shoppers. This suggests that politicians who claim environmentalism is yesterday’s issue may be seriously misjudging the public mood.”
Here, ‘green consumers’ continue to flourish as a significant group amongst shoppers = there is more widespread interest in the environment agenda,
So, the answer is: B (there is more widespread interest in the environment agenda than they anticipated.)
Question no. 8: What is Mintel?
Keywords for the question: what, Mintel,
The very first lines of paragraph no. 2 say, “A report from Mintel, the market research organisation, .. .. .”
Here, market research organisation = business survey organisation,
So, the answer is: B (a business survey organisation)
Question no. 9: A consumer expressing concern for environmental issues without actively supporting such principles is –
Keywords for the question: consumer, expressing concern, environmental issues, without, actively supporting, such principles,
The answer to this question can be found in lines 9-11 of paragraph no. 5, “ . .. . . ‘armchair greens’; they said they care about environmental issues but their concern does not affect their spending habits.”
Here, care about environmental issues = expressing concern for environmental issues, their concern does not affect their spending habits = without actively supporting such principles,
So, the answer is: C (an ‘armchair green’.)
Question 10-13: Completing summary with a 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 letters (not the words) which are given in the box under the questions 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.]
Questions no. 10 & 11: The Mintel report suggests that in future companies will be forced to practise greater 10. ________ in their dealings because of the increased awareness amongst 11. _________ of ethical issues.
Keywords for the question: the Mintel report, in future, companies will be forced, practise, greater, their dealings, because of, increased awareness, amongst, ethical issues,
The answers can be found in paragraphs no. 2 and 3.
First, take a look at the final few lines of paragraph no. 2, “ . .. . .. The recently published report also predicts that the process will repeat itself with ‘ethical’ concerns, involving issues such as fair trade with the Third World and the social record of businesses. Companies will have to be more honest and open in response to this mood.”
Here, The recently published report = The Mintel report, Companies will have to be = in future companies will be forced to practise, more = greater, honest and open = honesty and openness,
Then, in the beginning of paragraph no. 3, the writer also says, “Mintel’s survey, based on nearly 1,000 consumers, … . . .”
So, the answers are:
- honesty and openness
- consumers
Question no. 12: This prediction is supported by the growth in the number of ________ identified in the most recent survey published.
Keywords for the question: this prediction, supported by, growth, number of, identified, most recent survey,
In paragraph no. 6, lines 4-9 state, “. .. . . This figure is the same as in 1990, although the number of ‘armchair ethicals’ has risen from 28 to 35 per cent and only 22 per cent say they are unconcerned now, against 30 per cent in 1990.. .. . .”
Here, risen from 28 to 35 per cent = This prediction is supported by the growth in the number,
So, the answer is: armchair ethicals
Question no. 13: As a consequence, it is felt that companies will have to think more carefully about their ________.
Keywords for the question: as a consequence, felt that, companies, will have to think, more carefully, about their,
Again, in paragraph no. 6, lines 9-13 say, “ .. . . .. Hughes claims that in the twenty-first century, consumers will be encouraged to think more about the entire history of the products and services they buy,
Here, entire history of the products and services they buy = social record,
So, the answer is: social record
Click here for solutions to Cambridge 2 AC Test 4 Reading Passage 2
Click here for solutions to Cambridge 2 AC Test 4 Reading Passage 3
