This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 3 Reading Test 2 Reading Passage 1 titled ‘A Remarkable Beetle’. 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 3 Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: A Remarkable Beetle

Questions 1-5: 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: Bush flies are easier to control than buffalo flies.

Keywords for the question: Bush flies, easier, control, than, buffalo flies,

We can see the mention of bush flies and buffalo files in paragraph no. 2 in the last lines, “ . .. and avoiding the soft cattle dung in which bush flies and buffalo flies breed.”

However, there is NO comparison on the control of these two kinds of flies.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 2: Four thousand species of dung beetle were initially brought to Australia by the CSIRO.

Keywords for the question: Four thousand species, dung beetle, initially brought, to Australia, by, CSIRO,  

In the second paragraph, the writer says, “More than 4,000 species of these remarkable creatures have evolved and adapted to the world’s different climates and the dung of its many animals. .. ..”

Here, the author says that there are over 4000 species of dung beetles in the world.

Then, in paragraph no. 3, in lines 6-8, the author of the text says, “ . . ..  Between 1968 and 1982, the CSIRO imported insects from about 50 different species of dung beetle, from Asia, Europe and Africa, aiming to match them to different climatic zones in Australia. …  ..”

Here, imported = brought to,

This means only 50 species of dung beetles were imported to Australia by the CSIRO, not 4000 species.

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 3: Dung beetles were brought to Australia by the CSIRO over a fourteen-year period.

Keywords for the question: Dung beetles, brought to Australia, by, CSIRO, over, fourteen-year period,  

In paragraph no. 3, take a look at lines 6-8 again, “ . . . .. Between 1968 and 1982, the CSIRO imported insects from about 50 different species of dung beetle, from Asia, Europe and Africa, aiming to match them to different climatic zones in Australia. …  ..”

Here, between 1968 and 1982 = fourteen-year period,  

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 4: At least twenty-six of the introduced species have become established in Australia.

Keywords for the question: at least, twenty-six,  introduced species, become established, Australia,

Take a look at the last few lines of paragraph no. 3, “ . .. . Of the 26 species that are known to have become successfully integrated into the local environment, only one, an African species released in northern Australia, has reached its natural boundary.”

Here, have become successfully integrated into the local environment = have become established in Australia,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 5: The dung beetles cause an immediate improvement to the quality of a cow pasture.

Keywords for the question: dung beetles, cause, immediate improvement, quality, cow pasture,  

First, have a close look at lines 1-2 n paragraph no. 4, “Introducing dung beetles into a pasture is a simple process: approximately 1,500 beetles are released, a handful at a time, into fresh cow pats in the cow pasture. .. . .”

Then, take a look at the final lines of the same paragraph, “ . .. .. In time they multiply and within three or four years the benefits to the pasture are obvious.”

Here, within three or four years the benefits to the pasture are obvious = pasture takes long time to improve,

So, the answer is: NO

Questions 6-8: Labeling a diagram

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to label a diagram by choosing types from a box using the information in 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.]

Question no. 6:

Keywords for the question: 10-20 cm below cow-pat surface, 

Take a look at lines 7-8 in paragraph no. 5, “ . .. .. South African beetles dig narrow tunnels of approximately 20 cm below the surface of the pat. .. … .”

Here, approximately 20 cm below the surface of the pat = 10-20 cm below cow-pat surface, (matches with the scale in the picture).

So, the answer is: South African

Question no. 7:

Keywords for the question: 30 cm below cow-pat surface, 

Again, in paragraph no. 5, take a look at lines 3-5 of paragraph no. 5, “ .. . . Some large species originating from France excavate tunnels to a depth of approximately 30 cm below the dung pat. . . ..”

Here, approximately 30 cm below the dung pat = 30 cm below cow-pat surface, (matches with the scale in the picture).

So, the answer is: French

Question no. 8:

Keywords for the question: 0-10 cm below cow-pat surface,  

Again, the answer can be found in paragraph no. 5. Look at line no. 6, “ . .. ..  The shallowest tunnels belong to a much smaller Spanish species .. .. .”

Here, The shallowest tunnels = 0-10 cm below cow-pat surface, (matches with the scale in the picture).

So, the answer is: Spanish

Questions 9-13: Completing table with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER

[In this type of question candidates need to fill in the gaps in a table with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question no. 9:

Keywords for the question: Spanish, 1.25 cm, preferred climate,  

Lines 3-4 of paragraph no. 6 give us the answer to this question, “ . . . ..  the large French species (2.5 cms long) is matched with smaller (half this size), temperate-climate Spanish species.. .. . .” 

Here, half this size = 1.25cm, temperate-climate = preferred climate,

So, the answer is: temperate

Question no. 10:

Keywords for the question: Spanish, start of active period,

In paragraph no. 6 of the text, the writer says in lines 4-7, “ … … . The former are slow to recover from the winter cold and produce only one or two generations of offspring from late spring until autumn. The latter, which multiply rapidly in early spring, produce two to five generations annually.”

In the previous lines, the writer provides information about French species in the beginning of paragraph no. 6, and then we find information about Spanish species.

Now, in lines 4-7, the former indicates French species (according to English grammar), and the latter indicates Spanish species.  

Therefore, The latter = Spanish species, multiply = active period of giving birth,

So, the answer is: early spring

Question no. 11:

Keywords for the question: Spanish, Number of generations per year,

Take a look at lines 6-7 of paragraph no. 6 where the writer says, “ . ..  The latter, which multiply rapidly in early spring, produce two to five generations annually.”  . . .”

Here, produce = give birth to generations, annually = per year,

So, the answer is: 2-5 / two to five

Question no. 12:

Keywords for the question: South-African ball roller, preferred climate,

In paragraph no. 6, the author mentions in line no. 7, “ .. . .. The South African ball-rolling species, being a subtropical beetle,

So, the answer is: sub-tropical

Question no. 13:  

Keywords for the question: South-African ball roller, Complementary species,

In paragraph no. 6, look at lines 7-9, “ .. .. .. The South African ball-rolling species, being a subtropical beetle, prefers the climate of northern and coastal New South Wales where it commonly works with the South African tunnelling species.. .. . .”

Here, it commonly works with = complementary species,

So, the answer is: (South African) tunneling

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 3 Test 2 Reading passage 2 

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 3 Test 2 Reading passage 3