This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 5 Reading Passage 1 which is titled ‘Trees in trouble’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding 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.

Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS, Test 5: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: Trees in trouble

Questions 1-7: List of headings

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph which will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question no. 1: Paragraph A

The answer can be found in different lines of paragraph A.

Have a look at these lines,

“ . . ..  they sustain countless other species. . .. .. ..”

“ . . … They provide shelter for many animals, .. .. .”

“ . . . .. that sustain much of the animal life in the forest.”

Here, other species, many animals, the animal life in the forest = wildlife,  

sustain & provide shelter = benefit,

So, the answer is: vi (How wildlife benefits from big trees)

Question no. 2: Paragraph B

In lines 3-5 of paragraph B, the writer says, “ . . . .. To achieve giant stature, a tree needs three things: the right place to establish its seedling, good growing conditions and lots of time with low adult mortality . . .. . . .”

Here, To achieve giant stature = to grow to significant heights,

three things = three factors,

So, the answer is: x (Factors that enable trees to grow to significant heights)

Question no. 3: Paragraph C

In paragraph C the writer gives details of two plants that cause harm to big trees.  

First, in lines 2-3, the writer says, “In southern India, for instance, an aggressive non-native shrub, Lantana camara, is invading the floor of many forests. .. .. .”

Also, in lines 5-7, the writer says, “ . .. .. . Across much of northern Australia, gamba grass from Africa is overrunning native savannah woodlands. .. .. .”

Here, Lantana camara & gamba grass = other plants,

invading the floor of many forests & overrunning native savannah woodlands = can cause harm,

So, the answer is: ii (How other plants can cause harm)   

Question no. 4: Paragraph D

The first three lines of paragraph D say, “Without the right growing conditions trees cannot get really big, and there is some evidence to suggest tree growth could slow in a warmer world, particularly in environments that are already warm. . . .. . . .”  

Here, tree growth could slow in a warmer world = higher temperatures slow the rate of tree growth,  

Then, in the following lines of the paragraph, the writer explains how warmer temperature contribute to the slow growth rate of tree.

So, the answer is: ix (How higher temperatures slow the rate of tree growth)  

Question no. 5: Paragraph E

In paragraph E, the writer explains the Clarks’ hypothesis and explains, “ … .. . . tropical forests would shrink over time. The largest, oldest trees would progressively die off and tend not to be replaced. According to the Clarks, this might trigger a destabilisation of the climate; as older trees die, forests would release some of their stored carbon into the atmosphere, prompting a vicious cycle of further warming, forest shrinkage and carbon emissions.”

Here, The largest, oldest trees would progressively die off = big tree loss,

this might trigger a destabilisation of the climate = impact . . . . . on the wider environment,

So, the answer is: iv (Impact of big tree loss on the wider environment)

Question no. 6: Paragraph F

First, take a look at lines 2-3 of paragraph F, “ .. . .. . . Across much of the planet, forests of slow-growing ancient trees have been cleared for human use. .. .. … . ”

Here, forests of slow-growing ancient trees have been cleared = deforestation,

Then, have a look at lines 3-4, “ .. .. . .. . In western North America, most have been replaced by monocultures of fast-growing conifers. .. .. . .”

Here, monocultures of fast-growing conifers = isolated trees,

Now, let’s have a look at lines 6-8, “ .. . .. . . . In the Amazon, my colleagues and I found the mortality rate for the biggest trees had tripled in small patches of rainforest surrounded by pasture land. .. . . .. .”

Here, the mortality rate for the biggest trees had tripled in small patches of rainforest surrounded by pasture land = how deforestation harms isolated trees,

So, the answer is: i (How deforestation harms isolated trees)

Question no. 7: Paragraph G

Paragraph G begins with this line, “Particular enemies to large trees are insects and disease. .. . . ..  .”

Here, Particular enemies to large trees = risks,

insects and disease = pests and infection,

Then, in the following lines, the writer explains how pests and infection or diseases are causing harm to big trees.  

So, the answer is: vii (Risk from pests and infection)

Questions 8-13: Completing sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write a maximum of two 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.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question no. 8: The biggest trees in the world can be found in ___________.

Keywords for the question: biggest trees, the world, can be found in,

In paragraph B, in lines 1-2 the writer mentions, “ Only a small number of tree species have the genetic capacity to grow really big. The mightiest are native to North America, . .. .. . .”

Here, The mightiest = the biggest trees,

are native to = can be found in,

So, the answer is: North America

Question no. 9: Some trees in northern Australia die because of __________ made worse by gamba grass.

Keywords for the question: Some trees, Northern Australia, die, because, made worse by, gamba grass,   

In lines 5-8 of paragraph C, the writer says, “ .. .. . . Across much of northern Australia, gamba grass from Africa is overrunning native savannah woodlands. The grass grows up to four metres tall and burns fiercely, creating super-hot fires that cause catastrophic tree mortality.”

Here, cause catastrophic tree mortality = die, creating = made worse,

So, the answer is: (super-hot) fires

Question no. 10: The Clarks believe that the release of __________ from dead trees could lead to the death of more trees.

Keywords for the question: The Clarks, believe, release of, dead trees, could lead to, death of more trees,   

The answer is in paragraph E, where the belief of the Clarks is explained. Take a look at these lines, “ . . .. . . According to the Clarks, this might trigger a destabilisation of the climate; as older trees die, forests would release some of their stored carbon into the atmosphere, prompting a vicious cycle of further warming, forest shrinkage and carbon emissions.”   

Here, According to the Clarks = The Clarks believe,   

as older trees die, forests would release = the release of  . . . . .. from dead trees,

prompting a vicious cycle of further warming, forest shrinkage and carbon emissions = could lead to the death of more trees,

So, the answer is: (stored) carbon     

Question no. 11: Strong ____________ are capable of damaging tall trees in the Amazon.

Keywords for the question: Strong, capable of damaging, tall trees, the Amazon,     

In lines 6-11 of paragraph F, the author of the text mentions, “ . . . In the Amazon, my colleagues and I found the mortality rate for the biggest trees had tripled in small patches of rainforest surrounded by pasture land. This happens for two reasons. First, as they grow taller, big trees become thicker and less flexible: when winds blow across the surrounding cleared land, there is nothing to stop their acceleration. When they hit the trees, the impact can snap them in half. . . .. . ..”

Here, the mortality rate for the biggest trees had tripled = big trees are dying more quickly,

there is nothing to stop their acceleration = wind is very strong,

When they hit the trees, the impact can snap them in half = when winds hit trees, they can damage the trees completely,

So, the answer is: winds     

Question no. 12: ____________ has a worse impact on tall trees than smaller ones.

Keywords for the question: has, worse impact, tall trees, than, smaller ones,   

In paragraph F, the writer describes in lines 11-14 , “ .. . .. . .. . Second, rainforest fragments dry out when surrounded by dry, hot pastures and the resulting drought can have devastating consequences: one four-year study has shown that death rates will double for smaller trees but will increase 4.5 times for bigger trees.” 

Here, can have devastating consequences = has a worse impact,

death rates will double for smaller trees but will increase 4.5 times for bigger trees = worse impact on tall trees than smaller ones,

So, the answer is: Drought     

Question no. 13: In western Northern America, a species of ___________ has destroyed many trees.

Keywords for the question: western Northern America, a species, has destroyed, many trees,  

In the final paragraph (Paragraph G), the writer explains in the beginning, “Particular enemies to large trees are insects and disease. Across vast areas of western North America, increasingly mild winters are causing massive outbreaks of bark beetles. These tiny creatures can kill entire forests as they tunnel their way through the inside of trees. .. . . .. .”

Here, bark beetles = a species of beetle, 

kill entire forests = destroyed many trees,

So, the answer is: beetle

© All the texts with inverted commas used in this post are taken from Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 5

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Academic Test 5 Reading passage 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Academic Test 5 Reading passage 3