This General Training IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 13 Reading Test 2 Section 3 that has a passage titled ‘DINOSAURS AND THE SECRETS THEY STILL HOLD’. This is a targeted post for GT IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the GT 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.

Section 3:

The headline of the passage: DINOSAURS AND THE SECRETS THEY STILL HOLD   

Questions 28-32: Summary completion

[In this kind of questions candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill in the blanks questions. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers for fill in the gaps.]

Title of the summary: The discovery of Tongtianlong

Question 28: This species of dinosaur has only recently been found in an area of China. Scientists believe that it was bird-like in appearance and probably no bigger than a ___________.  

Keywords for this question: this species, only recently been found, an area of China, Scientists believe, was bird-like, probably, no bigger than,

Have a look at the first paragraph as the writer explains here in lines 1-5, “I was recently part of a team of palaeontologists that discovered a new dinosaur. Living in what is now China, the species would have resembled a strange bird. It was about the size of a sheep and covered in feathers, .. .. .. .”

Here, discovered a new dinosaur = This species of dinosaur has only recently been found, the species would have resembled a strange bird = Scientists believe that it was bird-like in appearance, was about the size of a = probably no bigger than a,

So, the answer is: sheep

Questions 29 & 30: It is thought to have eaten 29. ___________ and it used its 30. ___________ to get through their hard exterior.

Keywords for this question: thought to have eaten, used its, get through, hard exterior, 

Again, in the first paragraph, the writer says in lines 5-7, “ . . .. .. . .. It was about the size of a sheep and covered in feathers, with a sharp beak that it probably used to crack open shellfish. . .. . . .. .”

Here, with a sharp beak that it probably used to crack open shellfish means that the animal was thought to have eaten shellfish and used its beak to get through the shellfishes’ hard exterior.

So, the answers are:

29. shellfish
30. beak

Questions 31 & 32: The fossil of Tongtianlong was found surrounded by 31. _________ under the ground where the foundations of a new 32. _________ were being dug.

Keywords for this question: fossil of Tongtianlong, found, surrounded by, under the ground, foundations of, new, were being dug,   

Lines 7-15 of the first paragraph say, “ . .. .. . It was given the formal scientific name Tongtianlong, but we called it ‘Mud Dragon’ because its skeleton was discovered in rock that had hardened from ancient mud. It seems that the creature got trapped in the mud and died. Then its fossil remains were found a few months ago when workmen were excavating a site in order to build a school.”

Here, its skeleton was discovered in = the fossil was found surrounded by, when workmen were excavating a site in order to build a school = where the foundations of a new school were being dug.

So, the answers are:

31. rock
32. school

Questions 33-37: 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 33: What does the writer suggest about finding new dinosaurs?

Keywords for this question: writer suggest, finding, new dinosaurs,

The answer can be found in the second paragraph, in lines 1-9, where the writer talks about the commonness or frequency of finding new dinosaurs, “It is every dinosaur-obsessed child’s dearest wish to discover and name a completely new species. In fact what my colleagues and I did wasn’t that unusual. New dinosaurs are appearing everywhere these days – about 50 each year. And this pace shows no signs of slowing, as different areas continue to open up to fossil hunters and a fresh generation of scientists comes of age. . .. . … .. .”

Here, New dinosaurs are appearing everywhere these days – about 50 each year = It is becoming relatively common to dig one up,

So, the answer is: D (It is becoming relatively common to dig one up.)

Question 34: In the fourth paragraph, what does the writer suggest about palaeontologists?

Keywords for this question: fourth paragraph, writer suggest, palaeontologists,    

In the fourth paragraph, the writer of the article says, “Some discoveries in the 1970s, like the agile and strangely bird-like Deinonychus, proved that dinosaurs were far more dynamic and intelligent than previously thought. Some palaeontologists even proposed that they were warm-blooded creatures like modern birds with a constant high body temperature that they controlled internally, rather than from warming themselves by lying in the sun. A few decades later opinions are still mixed. The problem is that dinosaurs can’t be observed. Palaeontologists must rely on studying fossils. Some results are convincing: we know from studying their bones that dinosaurs had rapid growth rates, just like modern, warm-blooded animals. Other palaeontologists, however, use the same fossils to suggest that dinosaurs were somewhere between cold-blooded reptiles and warm-blooded birds. More studies are needed to provide more clarity.”

Here, the writer suggests that whatever the theories about the description of dinosaurs are, all the theories provided by palaeontologists are based on evidence that can be taken to understand or interpreted in different ways.

Here, opinions are still mixed = the theories are based on evidence of dinosaur fossils that can be interpreted in different ways.

So, the answer is: B (Their theories are based on evidence that can be interpreted in different ways.)

Question 35: When describing the theory of how dinosaurs began to fly, the writer is

Keywords for this question: describing, theory of how dinosaurs began to fly,       

Take a look at lines 17-26 of paragraph no. 5, “. … .. These feathers were probably for display: to attract mates or scare off rivals. They appeared in species such as the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur. Such creatures were too large to fly. Flight may actually have come about by accident when smaller winged dinosaurs began jumping between trees or leaping in the air, and suddenly found that their wings had aerodynamic properties. This is one of the most stimulating new notions about dinosaurs and a fascinating area for further investigation.”

Here, Such creatures were too large to fly. Flight may actually have come about by accident = theory of how dinosaurs began to fly,

This is one of the most stimulating new notions about dinosaurs and a fascinating area for further investigation = the writer feels it is exciting that the different possibilities in future research regarding flight of dinosaurs,

So, the answer is: C (excited by the different possibilities it holds for future research.)

Question 36: One significance of melanosomes is that they

Keywords for this question: one significance, melanosomes,     

We find discussion about melanosomes in paragraph no. 6. Here, take a look at these lines, “ . …. .. If you look at modern bird feathers under a microscope, you can see tiny blobs called melanosomes. These structures contain melanin, one of the main colour-producing pigments in animals. Some are round, others are egg-shaped, etc. And that’s important, because different shapes contain different colour pigments. So if you can identify the shape, you can identify the colour. A few years ago, some palaeontologists realised that you could find melanosomes in particularly well-preserved fossil feathers. They discovered that different dinosaurs had different melanosomes, which meant they had a variety of colours. Dinosaurs, therefore, probably came in a rainbow of colours – yet another thing that links them to modern birds.”

Here, yet another thing that links them to modern birds = provide further evidence of where modern birds evolved from,

So, the answer is: A (provide further evidence of where birds evolved from.)

Question 37: Which of the following best summarises the writer’s point in the final paragraph?

Keywords for this question: best summarises, writer’s point, final paragraph,       

The answer lies in these lines, “ . . .. .  Although palaeontologists still like to argue about what part the asteroid played in the dinosaurs’ extinction, there really isn’t much of a mystery left. The asteroid did it and did it quickly. There are few signs that dinosaurs were struggling before the impact. None survived except a few birds and some small furry mammals. They found themselves in an empty world, and as the planet started to recover, they evolved into new creatures, including the first apes, and so the long journey began to the beginning of humankind.”

Here, the lines suggest that when the asteroid hit the earth, most of the dinosaurs died instantly. The few remaining dinosaurs could not cope with the new and evolved earth’s climate and environment. So, they got extinct eventually.

So, the answer is: D (The effects of the asteroid strike killed most dinosaurs.)

Questions 38 – 40: Matching statements with list of animals

[In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements which are given by or links to animals in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the animal and read around it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same animal in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.]

Question 38: It may have used its feathers to frighten off members of the same species.

Keywords for this question: may have used, feathers, to frighten off, members of the same species,      

Have a close look at paragraph no. 5 where the writer mentions ‘Ornithomimosaur’. Here, in lines 16-19,the writer mentions, “ . … . These feathers were probably for display: to attract mates or scare off rivals. They appeared in species such as the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur. .. . . .”

Here, scare off rivals = frighten off members of the same species,

So, the answer is: D (Ornithomimosaur)

Question 39: This species resembles a large flightless bird that exists today.

Keywords for this question: resembles, a large flightless bird, exists today,

Again, the answer remains in paragraph no. 5 in lines 18-19, “ …. . .. . They appeared in species such as the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur. . ….”

Here, ostrich-like = like an ostrich (a modern, large, flightless bird)

So, the answer is: D (Ornithomimosaur)

Question 40: Finding this species made scientists revise their opinion of the brain power of dinosaurs.

Keywords for this question: finding this species, made scientists revise, opinion, brain power of dinosaurs,   

In paragraph no. 4, take a look at the first few lines, “Some discoveries in the 1970s, like the agile and strangely bird-like Deinonychus, proved that dinosaurs were far more dynamic and intelligent than previously thought. . ….. ..”

Here, inside the shell = in the fake shell,

So, the answer is: C (Deinonychus)

© All the texts with inverted commas used in this post are taken from Cambridge IELTS Series 13 GT Test book

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 13 GT Test 2 Reading section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 13 GT Test 2 Reading section 2