Reading Sample 1

In this first reading example you have:

 Matching headings to paragraphs

 True, False, or Not Given

Air Rage
(A) The first recorded case of an airline passenger turning seriously violent during a
flight, a phenomenon now widely known as “air rage”, happened in 1947 on a flight from
Havana to Miami. A drunk man assaulted another passenger and bit a flight attendant.
However, the man escaped punishment because it was not then clear under whose
legal control a crime committed on plane was, the country where the plane was
registered or the country where the crime was committed. In 1963, at the Tokyo
convention, it was decided that the laws of the country where the plane is registered
take precedence.

(B) The frequency of air rage has expanded out of proportion to the growth of air travel.
Until recently few statistics were gathered about air rage, but those that have been
indicate that passengers are increasingly likely to cause trouble or engage in violent
acts. For example, in 1998 there were 266 air rage incidents out of approximately four
million passengers, a 400% increase from 1995. In the same period American Airlines
showed a 200% rise. Air travel is predicted to rise by 5% internationally by 2010 leading
to increased airport congestion. This, coupled with the flying public’s increased
aggression, means that air rage may become a major issue in coming years.

(C) Aside from discomfort and disruption, air rage poses some very real dangers to
flying. The most extreme of these is when out of control passengers enter the cockpit.
This has actually happened on a number of occasions, the worst of which have resulted
in the death and injury of pilots or the intruder taking control of the plane, almost
resulting in crashes. In addition, berserk passengers sometimes attempt to open the
emergency doors while in flight, putting the whole aircraft in danger. These are extreme
examples and cases of air rage more commonly result in physical assaults on fellow
passengers and crew such as throwing objects, punching, stabbing or scalding with hot
coffee.

(D) The causes of air rage are not known for certain, but it is generally thought that
factors include: passenger behavior and personality, the physical environment and
changes in society. A recent study has identified the issues that start the incidents to be
as follows.
 Alcohol 25%
Seating 16%
Smoking 10%
Carry on luggage 9%
Flight attendants 8%
Food 5%

(E) One of the major causes seems to be the passenger’s behavior or their personality.
Fear of flying and the feeling of powerlessness associated with flying can lead to
irritable or aggressive passengers. Also, alcohol consumed on a plane pressurized to
8000ft affects the drinker more quickly and the effects are stronger. Many people do not
take account of this and drinking may increase any negative reaction to the flying
environment they have, which, combined with the lowering of their inhibitions, may
cause air rage. Smoking withdrawal, which some liken in severity to opiate withdrawal,
is another major cause of air rage incidents. Passengers caught smoking in the toilets
occasionally assault flight attendants and have been known to start fires. When conflicts
occur in these conditions, they can escalate into major incidents if the passenger has a
violent personality or a fear of flying and because of the enclosed nature of a plane
offers no option of retreat as would be natural in a “fight or flight” reaction.

(F) Some people feel that the physical environment of a plane can lead to air rage.
Seats on most airlines have become smaller in recent years as airlines try to increase
profits. This leads to uncomfortable and irritated passengers. Also, space for carry on
luggage is often very small. Because up to 8% of checked in luggage is lost,
misdirected or stolen, passengers have been trying to fit larger carry on items into these
small storage areas and this can lead to disputes that can escalate into air rage. Airlines
could also be to blame by raising passengers’ expectations too high with their marketing
and advertising. Many air rage incidents start when disappointed passengers demand to
be reseated. Finally, there is some evidence to show that low oxygen levels can raise
aggression level and make people feel more desperate. Airlines have lowered oxygen
levels to save money. Now the level of oxygen in the air that the pilots breathe is ten
times higher than in cabin class.

(G) Another reason that has been suggested is that society is getting ruder and less
patient. The increased congestion at airports, longer queues and increased delays have
only added to this. In addition, some air rage incidents have been linked to the
demanding nature of high achieving business people, who do not like people telling
them what to do and resent the power that the cabin staff have over them. For them, a
flight attendant is a waiter or waitress who should do what the passenger wants.

(H) The strongest calls for action to control air rage have come from pilots and aircrew.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation argues that there are too many
loopholes that let people escape punishment and that the penalties are too light. They
want to notify all passengers of the penalties for air rage before taking off, rather than
 after the passenger begins to cause serious problems, when it may be too late. The
Civil Aviation Organisation has been organizing international cooperation and penalties
have increased in recent years. The most severe punishment so far has been a 51
month jail sentence, a fine to pay for the jet fuel used and 200 hours community service
for a man who attempted to enter the cockpit and to open the emergency door of a
domestic US flight.

(I) Various other measures are being used to control air rage. Air crew are getting
training on how to calm passengers and how to predict where incidents might result
in air rage and take action to prevent this. Other measures include, strengthening doors
to stop people entering the cockpit, training crew in the use of plastic restraints to tie
down unruly passengers and having pilots divert their planes if passengers cause
problems. Banning passengers who are guilty of air rage from flying has also been tried
to a lesser extent

IELTS Reading Sample: Questions 1 – 8

The IELTS reading sample passage has nine paragraphs A – I.

From the list below choose the most suitable headings for B – I.

Write the appropriate number (i – xiv) beside in boxes 1 – 8 on your answer sheet.

NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you do not have to use them all.

List of headings

i. A decline in the tolerance of passengers.

ii. Disproportionate growth.
iii. Pilots and aircrew cooperate.
iv. Additional action.
v. Smaller seats are the norm.
vi. Laying the blame with the airlines
vii. Origins.
viii. A major threat to travel.
ix. Demands for change.
x. Business people fly more.
xi. New research pinpoints the causes.
xii. The pace of life.
xiii. Passenger at the root of the problems.
xiv. Personal experience.
Example:

Paragraph A Answer: vii

1. Paragraph B
2. Paragraph C
3. Paragraph D
4. Paragraph E
5. Paragraph F
6. Paragraph G
7. Paragraph H
8. Paragraph I

IELTS Reading Sample: Questions 9 – 14

Do the following statements agree with the information in the IELTS reading
sample text? Mark them as follows.

TRUE - if the statement agrees with the information in the text.

FALSE - if the statement does not agree with the information in the text.
NOT GIVEN - if there is no information on this in the text.

9. In the first case of air rage, one of the reasons the man was not punished was
because the plane was not registered.

10. The statistics on air rage were collected by private monitoring groups.

11. The second most common catalyst for incidents is problems with seating.

12. The environment in a plane makes disagreements more likely to become serious
problems.

13. Airlines have been encouraging passengers to bring more items onboard as carry-
on luggage.

14. There have been no attempts to ban passengers with a history of air rage.
IELTS Reading Sample Answers:
1. Paragraph B______ii
2. Paragraph C______viii
3. Paragraph D______xi
4. Paragraph E______xiii
5. Paragraph F______vi
6. Paragraph G______i
7. Paragraph H______ix
8. Paragraph I______iv

9. In the first case of air rage, one of the reasons the man was not punished was
because the plane was not registered. F (Para. A: The plane was registered, but it
was not clear where is was registered)

10. The statistics on air rage were collected by private monitoring groups. NG (Para. B:
It doesn't say who collected them)

11. The second most common catalyst for incidents is problems with seating. T (Para.
D: This is given in the table)

12. The environment in a plane makes disagreements more likely to become serious
problems.T (Para F: The 'physical environment' makes things worse)

13. Airlines have been encouraging passengers to bring more items onboard as carry-
on luggage. NG (It doesn't mention this)

14. There have been no attempts to ban passengers with a history of air rage. F (Para.
I: They have tried to ban passengers who have been involved in air rage before)
IELTS Sample Reading 2
In this IELTS sample reading you have:

 multiple choice questions

 summary completion
 matching statements

Wind Power
The power of the wind has been used for centuries to directly drive various machines to
perform such tasks as grinding wheat or pumping water. Recently, however, the wind
has joined other natural forces such as water and steam as a viable method of
generating electricity.

Traditional means of electricity generation using coal or oil-fueled plants have two major
drawbacks; they pollute the environment and the fuels they use are inefficient and non-
renewable. In response to growing environmental awareness there have been calls for
a greener alternative. Nuclear power, while more efficient and less polluting, is seen by
many people as unacceptable, because of the danger of accidents such as those that
happened at Chernobyl or Three Mile Island. Wind power, however, is clean, renewable
and, with modern advances, surprisingly efficient.

In the 1970s Britain was in the forefront of research into wind power. The interest in
wind diminished in the 1980s due to cheap North Sea oil, a strong pro-nuclear lobby
and pricing structures that made it uneconomical to set up wind farms. Britain, the
windiest country in Europe, had to wait until 1991 for its first wind farm. Located at
Delabole in Cornwall, the farm was originally the idea of locals who opposed the
construction of a nuclear power plant nearby and decided to set up a private company
to generate power for the area using the wind. They had to fight opposition from local
government and other local residents, who thought the turbines would be noisy and
might interfere with television signals, but eventually, after showing local officials
working wind farms in Denmark, they won and now there are 10 huge white wind
turbines on the Delabole hills.

It is in Germany and Denmark that the greatest advances in wind power have come.
Germany alone produces half of the wind generated electricity in Europe. Every year
Germany adds 400 Megawatts (Mw) of capacity. In 2000 alone capacity expanded by
1669 Mw. Denmark now produces 30% of its electricity from wind power and this is
predicted to rise to 50% by 2010. Both countries have encouraged this growth by “fixed
feed tariffs” which guarantee a good price for private wind power operators.

Britain is catching up and the government has set a target 10% of all electricity to come
from renewable sources by 2010, half of this to be from wind power. The 900 wind
turbines in operation generate 400Mw of electricity and to meet the target roughly
400Mw will need to be added each year. With the advances in technology this is
technically possible. Each turbine can now produce 400 Kilowatts (KW) compared to
only 70 KW at the start of the 1980s. It will, however, need help from the government.
This is being done by offering financial support and giving private power companies
targets to meet.

Because many people feel wind farms spoil the view and, also, because the wind is
stronger at sea, many wind farms are now being built offshore. They are usually built a
few kilometres off the coast in shallow water. The construction and maintenance costs
are higher, but electricity output is higher. The first in Britain was built in 2000 at Blyth,
north of Newcastle, and was the largest in the world until May 2001, when a 20 turbine
farm was opened at Middelgruden off Copenhagen. There are plans to construct up to
18 more in the UK by 2010. Together they will produce 800 Mw of electricity annually.

The use of wind power is far less advanced in the USA. Only 5% of America’s power
comes from the wind, although it is estimated that this could be increased to as high as
12% with no changes to the power grid. However, there is an increased interest in wind
power. There are plans to build a huge offshore wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod on
the North East seaboard. The farm will take up over 25 square miles, have 170 turbines
and produce 420Mw at a cost of $600m. If constructed, it will be the world’s second
biggest wind farm, after the 520Mw farm planned in Ireland.

IELTS Sample Reading: Questions 1 – 2

Choose the best answer to the questions below.

1. People do not like coal and oil powered power production because …

A. it damages the environment.

B. it is wasteful.
C. they cannot be replaced once consumed.
D. all of the above.
2. Wind power …

A. has only been used recently.

B. promotes environmental awareness.
C. cleans the environment.
D. is not wasteful.
IELTS Sample Reading: Questions 3 – 7
Complete the following summary of the third paragraph from the IELTS sample reading
using ONE OR TWO WORDS from the reading texts.

British Wind Power

While there was a great deal of interest in wind power in the 1970s,
it (3) _______________ in the 1980s. This was mainly due to intense support
for (4) _______________ power and little help in making wind power affordable. So,
even though Britain has some of the best winds in Europe, the first wind farm was only
built in 1991. The farm at Delabole came out of opposition by (5) _______________ to
a nuclear power plant. Initially, they were opposed by local officials due to fears about
noise and possible obstruction to (6) ________________ . This opposition was
eventually overcome only after they were shown successful examples
from (7) _______________.

IELTS Sample Reading: Questions 8 – 13

Match the country below or mark none to the statements taken from the IELTS sample
reading.

Note: Some countries may not be used and countries can be used more than once.

BR_____ Britain
G______ Germany
D______ Denmark
US_____The United States
IRE_____Ireland
N______ None of the countries

8. Plans to produce 5% of its power using wind power.

9. Produces 50% of its power from wind.
10. Produces very little of its power using wind.
11. Will have the world’s largest wind farm.
12. Used to have the world's biggest off-shore wind farm.
13. Is the biggest producer of wind power in Europe
IELTS Sample Reading Answers:

1. D

2. D

3. diminished

4. nuclear

5. locals

6. television signals

7. Danish Farm / Denmark

8. BR

(Para. 5: It has a target of 10%, of which half - 5% - will be wind power)

9. N

(Para. 4: Although Denmark is predicted to produce 50% wind power, none of the
countries currently do. Don't put "G" - Germany produces 50% of the wind power in
Europe, but we are not given the percentage in Germany itself)
10. US

(Para. 7: It is much less advanced in the USA, with only 5% from wind)
11. IRE

(Para. 7: Ireland will have the largest, then the US)

12. BR

(Para. 6: It had the largest until the one at Middelgruden surpassed it)
13. G

(Para. 3: "Germany alone produces half of the wind generated electricity in Europe")
IELTS Reading Example 3
This IELTS reading example focuses on the following IELTS reading question types:

 Multiple Choice
 Sentence Completion
 Cause and Effect table completion

The Container Trade

The shipping container is one of the mainstays of international trade. The globalised
modern economy depends on the rapid and efficient movement of goods that
containerisation allows. In many ways it was the advent of the container that allowed
this globalised economy to develop.

Invented during World War two as an efficient method of moving equipment to the front
lines, there are now at any one time up to 15 million containers being used to transport
goods on land and sea or waiting to be filled at factories and ports. They are vital in the
supply chain and have allowed the added efficiency of "just in time" inventory
management, where companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock or parts, but
rely on the ability to quickly order what they want from their suppliers. It is estimated that
since the 1980s the ratio of inventory to GDP in American business' has fallen from 25%
to 15%. Altogether total business inventory in the US is estimated at $1.5 trillion, without
"just in time" management methods this might be as much as $2.5 trillion.

This means that companies rely more and more on the prompt delivery of parts from
their suppliers to fulfill orders. This is particularly true of industries such as computer
manufacture, which no longer make all the parts of the products that bear their names,
but instead out source, often to suppliers half way around the world. American computer
manufacturers are, for example, increasingly dependent on Asian microchip
manufacturers in countries such as Taiwan and Thailand. An example of the kind of
problems any disruption to the supply chain causes came after the September 11
attacks in the US when the Canadian border was shut for just two days causing chaos
in the Detroit car industry, which relies on a regular flow of parts from Canada.

There are three main flows of sea borne cargo: trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic and Europe-
Far East. The trans-Pacific route is by far the largest flow. At 11 million TEU ("twenty
foot equivalent units") a year, it is almost twice the volume of Europe-Far East trade and
three times the size of trans-Atlantic traffic. During the 1990s, during America's boom
years, the trade of all the routes grew enormously and this led to more and larger ships
being built. The container fleet grew by 12% in 2001. Until then, a container ship
commonly carried 600 TEU, during the 1990s ships were being build that could carry up
to 8000 TEU. However after the 1990s there was a dramatic fall off in trade. Trans-
Pacific trade, for example, fell to 50% of its 1990s high.

This down turn is being handled by the shipping alliances which manage the global
trade. These large organizations are responsible for maintaining the fleets and seeing
that the flow of goods is uninterrupted. This is a job that governments feel that the
regular and reliable flow of trade is so important that in many cases the shipping
alliances are exempt from anti-trust and monopoly laws. Their response has been to cut
services, rest some of the older ships and share the burden amongst themselves.

At first, containers reduced theft as it was more difficult for casual thieves to get into the
containers. However, criminal gangs soon saw the potential for taking whole containers.
This became a profitable crime as the average value of a container grew to $500,000 by
the 1980s. Criminals also benefited from the convenience of containers when using
them to transport drugs, illegal immigrants or other illegal goods. Measures to combat
this, including stronger locks and preference schemes for shippers who have anti-theft
programmes, have had some success, but crime is a constant menace to the container
trade.

Increasingly, the huge number of containers and their self-contained and enclosed
nature has been raising worries about their possible use by terrorists. In fact, possible
terrorists have already been found hiding in containers. This is particularly worrying
considering that only 2% of containers are inspected. Containers are also extremely
difficult to track and monitor. This is because they pass through so many countries and
jurisdictions and because they can travel on both land and sea. Each transaction
involving a container can involve as many as 25 different parties and generate between
30 and 40 documents. For a ship carrying 600 TEU this would result in approximately
4000 documents. The sheer scale of the information involved makes tracking containers
a daunting task. Screening them to determine the contents is another solution that
would take a great deal of effort because of the large numbers of containers.
Additionally, it might cause delays in delivery that would disrupt international trade and
industry out of proportion to the good the searches do.

For the foreseeable future, there would seem to be no alternative to containers and their
use is bound to grow. They are one of the cornerstones of global trade, but many yet
cause problems their inventors never envisaged.

840 words

IELTS Reading Example: Questions 1 – 6

Choose the best TWO alternatives to complete the sentences.
Questions 1 and 2

Circle TWO letters A – E.

The invention of containers…
A resulted from the efficient movement of goods.
B led to more global trade.
C was initially for military purposes.
D came just in time for many managers.
E relied on the ability to receive orders quickly.
Questions 3 and 4

Circle TWO letters A – E.

Containers are important because they…
A prevent the need for companies to hold large amounts of stock.
B increase the amount of business inventory.
C make trade between countries on different sides of the world easier.
D regularly supply manufactures in Canada.
E reduce the amount of out sourcing needed by companies.
Questions 5 and 6

Circle TWO letters A – E.

The Trans-Pacific trade route…
A has nearly double the amount of trade as that of the Europe-Far East trade route.
B had its container fleet increase by 12%.
C sparked the boom years of the 1990s.
D usually carried around 600 TEU.
E has witnessed a substantial decrease in container trade.

IELTS Reading Example: Questions 7 – 10

Complete the table below.

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the reading passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

CAUSE EFFECT

a sharp fall in container trade shipping alliances…(7) …old ships

originally difficult to get into containers A drop in… (8) …

vast numbers of containers, which are relatively Concerns over… (9) …

secure

Containers must pass through many countries Containers are… (10) …

and involve a vast amount of paperwork.
 IELTS Reading Example: Questions 11 – 12
Complete the sentences below using words taken from the reading passage.

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS fore each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 11 – 12 on your answer sheet.

11. The benefits of searching containers would be outweighed by the negative impacts
on worldwide trade and industry due to the …………………………

12. The inventors must never have imagined that containers would …………………..

IELTS Reading Example - ANSWERS

1. B - led to more global trade.

The globalised modern economy depends on the rapid and efficient movement of
goods that containerisation allows. In many ways it was the advent of the container
that allowed this globalised economy to develop.
2. C - was initially for military purposes.

Invented during World War two as an efficient method of moving equipment to the
front lines
"front lines" = a military line formed by the most advanced tactical combat units
3. A - prevent the need for companies to hold large amounts of stock.

companies no longer keep large warehouses of stock or parts

4. C - make trade between countries on different sides of the world easier.

This means that companies rely more and more on the prompt delivery of parts from
their suppliers to fulfill orders. This is particularly true of industries such as computer
manufacture, which no longer make all the parts of the products that bear their
names, but instead out source, often to suppliers half way around the world.
5. A - has nearly double the amount of trade as that of the Europe-Far East trade route..
At 11 million TEU...a year, it is almost twice the volume of Europe-Far East
trade and three times the size of trans-Atlantic traffic..
6. E - has witnessed a substantial decrease in container trade.

However after the 1990s there was a dramatic fall off in trade. Trans-Pacific trade,
for example, fell to 50% of its 1990s high.
(It's not B, C or D, as they refer to all the routes, not just the Trans-Pacific)

7. rest some

Their response has been to cut services, rest some of the older ships and share the
burden amongst themselves.
8. theft

At first, containers reduced theft as it was more difficult for casual thieves to get into
the containers.
9. use by terrorists

Increasingly, the huge number of containers and their self-contained and enclosed
nature has been raising worries about their possible use by terrorists.
10. difficult to track

Containers are also extremely difficult to track and monitor. This is because they
pass through so many countries and jurisdictions and because they can travel on both
land and sea.
11. delays in delivery

Additionally, it might cause delays in delivery that would disrupt international trade
and industry out of proportion to the good the searches do.
12. cause problems

They are one of the cornerstones of global trade, but many yet cause problems their
inventors never envisaged.
IELTS Reading Passages - Sample 4
Practicing with these IELTS reading passages will help you to improve your reading
skills for IELTS and speed up your reading.

This reading passage will provide you practice with the following:

 Short Sentence Completion

 Yes, No, Not Given

Australia and the Great War, 1914 – 1918

Australia’s role in the First World War, or the Great War as it was known until 1939, is
central to the development of modern Australia’s vision of itself in the world. In many
ways it has served to create what is in some ways a second founding of the nation in
the Gallipoli campaign and on the battlefields of France and Belgium. The influence of
the war experience in the First, and Second, World War is evident in the way in which
ANZAC day is, perhaps even more than Australia day, the country’s national day.

When the war broke out in 1914, it was a certainty that, because of longstanding
economic, family and defense ties, Australia, along with New Zealand, would stand
alongside Britain. The then Prime Minister Andrew Fisher was quick to pledge the
country’s support to “the last man, the last shilling”. This was no idle promise and
Australia paid a high price for their loyalty to their colonizers. From a pre-war population
of 5m, 417,000 enlisted in the armed forces, of which 324,000 served abroad. By the
end of the war, Australia had lost 60,000 dead and 155,000 men had been wounded.
The economic price was also high. The national debt, which had stood at ₤6m in 1914,
was £325m by the end of the war.

It is possible that the first shot of the war was fired in Australia, when a shot was fired
across the bow of the German merchant ship Pfalz as it tried to escape from Port Arthur
only a few hour after the declaration of war. In late 1914 the light cruiser HMAS Sydney
sank the German warship Emden off the west coast of the country. Also early in the
war, Australian troops captured the German radio transmitters in Rabaul and Nauru and
conquered all of German New Guinea.

At first the Australian forces were intended only to defend Australia, but in 1915 the
Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) departed for Europe. Their first stop was
Egypt and it was because they were so close that they were chosen to take part in the
campaign to capture the Gallipoli peninsula, the key to shipping into the Black Sea, from
the Turks. The plan was for British, French and Anzac forces to land on the peninsular
at night at weak points in the Turkish defense. However, strong winds blew the troops
off course to better defended spots and in the advantage was lost. What followed was
months of bitter fighting in which 20,000 British and 7,000 ANZAC soldiers were killed
and which ended in a successful withdrawal, but no gain for the Allies. It was at this
moment of history that Australia was propelled on to the world stage. From this moment
onward Australia began to think of itself as a country in its own right; as being separate
to Britain and no longer a colony.
Most of the ANZAC force was sent to Europe, but the Australian Light Horse remained
to fight Turkish forces in Palestine and Syria. They defended the Suez Canal and
advanced through Palestine and Syria. They also took part in what was one of the
world’s last great cavalry charges at Beersheba.

The main ANZAC force arrived in Europe in 1916. The ANZAC experience was similar
to that of the other participants in the war; a high death toll and little gain to be shown
for it. Australian forces were present at all the major battles of the war and sustained
some terrible casualties. For example, in 24 hours near Pozieres the 5th Division
suffered 5,000 casualties. At the battle of Bullecort, of the 3,000 men who advanced,
2339 were killed, wounded or captured.

By 1917 most of the officers were not professional soldiers. The most prominent
example was General Sir John Monash, who was an engineer by training. He
commanded the allied forces at the battle of Hamel so well that the general staff
published the battle reports as a model. In August 1918, he commanded 200,000 troops
on what way called “Ludendorff’s black day”, a turning point in the war. Monash was
probably Australia’s greatest military figure.

Unlike in other armies in the war, the Australian soldiers were all volunteers. They were
also more individualistic and showed less respect for the rulebook than other soldiers.
The relationship between ranks was more democratic and officer had to win the respect
of their troops. All in all, they paid a high price for fighting in the war. Of the 324,000
soldiers who served overseas in the war 215,000 were killed or wounded. This was the
highest proportion of any of the countries in the war and was probably due to the
Australians fighting qualities, which meant that they were often used on the frontline of
the fighting.

At home, the war had a significant effect on the economy. Negative effects included the
end of British investment, the closure of many shipping lanes and the stockpiling of
Australia’s main export, wool. However, the isolation that resulted from the war meant
that Australia had to make some things that had previously been imported. This led to
the development of new industries. In addition, the BHP smelting company, which is
now a major Australian company, saw a great increase in demand for iron and steel.
The needs of the war were stimulus for the beginning of full industrialization in Australia.

At the signing of the treaty of Versailles, which marked the end of the war, Australia
signed as a separate country. This reflected the fact that, at the cost of 60,000 dead,
Australia had finally emerged from the shadow of Britain. The Great War was, perhaps,
the beginning of modern Australian history.

961 words
IELTS Reading Passages: Questions 1 – 7

Complete the sentences below (1 – 7) with words taken from the passage.

Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Write your numbers in boxes 1 – 7 on your answer sheet.

1. According to the passage Australia’s view of itself is directly related to its involvement in the
………………………………………
2. Soon after the war had begun, Australia’s Prime Minister offered the
……………………………………….
3. Australia had an early involvement in the war and it is even possible that they were
responsible for the …………………………………..
4. When combating the Turkish defense, the British, French and Anzac forces ended up
attacking stronger points than they had originally intended because
of…………………………………
5. The outcome of the bitter fight with the Turks was significant for Australia because it
enabled them to take their place on the …………………………………
6. John Monash commanded the battle of Hamel so well that reports of the battle were
published in order to be used ……………………………………
7. The Great War marked the beginning of modern Australia. They had emerged as a
separate country and would no longer have to live under
the……………………………………………

IELTS Reading Passages: Questions 8 – 12

Classify the following statements as representing

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to know what the writer thinks

about this

Write the appropriate letters in boxes 8 – 12 on your answer sheet.

8. Australia’s national debt increased greatly as a result of the Great War.

9. Australia made a great contribution to the successful outcome of the First World War.
10. The British forces suffered a greater number of casualties than the Anzac forces during the
months of fighting with the Turkish.
11. Overall, the British had a higher proportion of soldiers killed or injured than Australia.
12. Australian soldiers were never disrespectful to their superiors.
IELTS Reading Passages - ANSWERS
1. First World War / Great War
2. country’s support
3. first shot
4. strong winds
5. world stage
6. as a model
7. shadow of Britain
8. Yes
9. Not Given
10. Yes
11. No
12. No
IELTS Reading Passage - Sample 5
Objectives: to practice answering multiple-choice and short answer questions

In this IELTS reading passage, you practice:

 Multiple-Choice
 Short Answers

Indian Marriages
Marriage is one of the oldest human institutions and this is as true in Indian culture as
anywhere else. In India marriage, called “Kanyadana" or “donating a virgin”, is thought
of as the greatest sacrifice that a father can make and for the groom as an obligation to
perpetuate his bloodline. Many people believe that a marriage is still binding after death.

In early times girls were thought to be ready for marriage after puberty and later even
children could be married. Divorce and remarriage were not always possible. By
Medieval times Marriage was compulsory for girls, who very often married between the
ages of eight and nine. Among those able to afford it, polygamy was common and rulers
would often have one wife from their own region and other minor wives from other
areas. Now, divorce and remarriage is possible and non-Muslim Indian men can only
have one wife.

Although are many regional variations, some features of the Indian wedding ceremony
are similar throughout the country. In general weddings are very complicated events
and involve long negotiations about dowry payments prior to the event. After this has
been decided a day is chosen by asking an astrologer to find a lucky day. Preparations
begin early because a marriage is not only one of the highlights a person’s life, but a
large and complex social gathering to organize.

The night before, the bride, her friends and female relatives gather together for a party
called a “mehendi”, where they paint each other’s hands and feet with Henna and dance
and listen to music. Her guests often give the bride advice about married life and tease
her about her future husband. Weddings are traditionally held at the bride’s home or in a
temple, but parks, hotels and marriage halls are becoming increasingly popular. On the
day a wedding altar or “mandapa” is built and covered in flowers. All of the wedding
ceremony will be held in the altar.

The clothing a couple wear on their wedding day varies between regions and ethnic
groups. Women most commonly wear a sari. The bride wears a lot of jewelry as this
symbolizes the prosperity she will bring to her new family. In the South wearing flowers
is common. The groom wears traditional costume or a suit. Turbans are also popular
headgear.
The ceremony begins with a mixture of tumeric, sandlewood paste and oils being
applied to the couples face and arms. In the past this was done to the whole body, but
now it is only symbolic, with only a little being rubbed on. Then they are showered in
flowers. After this they perform the rituals that will make them man and wife. First they
garland each other and then take seven symbolic steps together representing seven
gifts and seven promises.

Finally they say the vows and then they are legally married. The bride’s father or
guardian takes her hands and puts them in her husband’s giving her to him. Now she is
no longer a member of her father’s family, but a member of her husband’s. They then
touch the feet of their elders for luck.

After the wedding ceremony, the couple go to the groom’s house. The bride should be
careful to enter the house right foot first for luck. In the evening and late into the night
the families and their guests celebrate with dancing, music and food.

568 words

IELTS Reading Passage - Questions:

Circle the correct answers A – D.

1. In India weddings are …

A a duty for the man to continue his family.

B thought to end at death.
C a duty for the father.
D seen asa benefit for the father.

2. Divorce and remarriage …

A are only possible for non-Muslims.

B were sometimes not possible in the past.
C have always been possible.
D have only become possible in modern times.

3. Indian weddings …

A are straightforward and brief.

B are thought to be lucky
C are intricate and time consuming.
D involve only the immediate family.

Complete the statements below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

4. The evening prior to the wedding, the wife-to-be is given recommendations about
____________________.

5. The wedding ceremony is conducted in a special ____________________.

6. The gold and jewels the bride wears represent ____________________ .

7. These days, the materials applied to the face and arms at the start of the ceremony are just
____________________..

8. After the wedding, the bride has left ____________________ and belongs to her
husband’s.

9. It is important that the new bride goes into the new house with her
_____________________.
IELTS Reading Passage - Answers

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. married life
5. (wedding) alter / mandapa
6. prosperity
7. symbolic
8. her father's family
9. right foot first
Sample 6
IELTS Reading Diagram Completion
Objectives: to practice answering sentence completion, diagram completion, and
multiple-choice

El Nino
The weather phenomenon called El Nino was first recorded in the 1500s when
fishermen in South America noticed that near Christmas some years the water was
noticeably warmer than others. They named this El Nino, or the infant, as it happened
near the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Only in recent years has there been any serious investigations into the causes and
results of El Nino. The 1997 – 1998 El Nino was the first to be studied extensively.
Scientists from France, Japan, Korea and Taiwan combined the various readings they
had from satellite and surface measurements of wind speeds and water temperatures to
make the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Array. This combined information allowed them
to see the overall patterns of an El Nino and helped them predict when one was
starting.

Weather pattern rely heavily on the operation of the “planetary heat engine”. Essentially,
this means that because the sun is closest to the equator the seawater in that region is
the warmest. The warm water evaporates and forms clouds, which move toward the
poles powered by their heat. These atmospheric loops, which move heat from the
tropics to the poles, are called “connective cells”. Without this process the equatorial
regions would be hotter than they are and the north and south would be much colder.

The wind in the central Pacific tends to blow from the east. This pushes water from
South America towards Australia and Indonesia. As a result, sea levels have been
found to be up to 60 centimetres higher in the west. The water that is pushed westward
from the South American coast is replaced by colder water, which has a high nutrient
level that consequently attracts fish. This makes the waters off Peru and Ecuador good
fishing grounds.

An El Nino happens when the winds weaken and sea levels drop. The warmer water
moves east and less water evaporates to form clouds. The results of this are twofold.
The warmer water in the east reduces the number of fish and the lack of rain causes
droughts. This can cause problems such as the forest fires that have plagued Indonesia
and Australia in recent years. Additionally, El Nino is thought to be one of the causes of
hurricanes that have devastated Central and North West America.

As the population has increased the effects of changing weather have had a greater
impact. People are living in places, often in areas more likely to be affected by adverse
weather, than they ever did before and in increased densities. This means that natural
disasters affect more people. Natural resources are being used closer to their limits, so
small changes in their availability can cause disruption. For example, in the past, South
American fishermen could make a profit even during an EL Nino, but modern industrial
fishing needs larger fish stocks to be profitable.

Knowing when an El Nino is developing allows people to make plans to lessen its
negative effects. The system of buoys and satellites monitoring the Pacific allows
scientists to predict the start of the 12 to 18 month El Nino cycle. As a result people can
prepare. For example, in North East Brazil during the 1987 El Nino, farmers only got
15% of their normal grain harvest, but in 1992, when the government advised them to
plant fast maturing plants, they got 82%.

The question of whether El Nino has been strengthened by global warming is

unanswered. The National Centre for Atmospheric research believes that El Nino could
be responsible for the increased temperatures in North America by changing the jet
stream. Global warming may not be the direct cause. However, global warming may
cause the local warming changes that cause El Nino and change atmospheric
circulation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that global
warming may increase El Nino effects by increasing temperatures and increasing water
evaporation over land leading to floods.

El Nino is only one factor in the complex inter-relations that cause weather patterns, but
it appears to be a major factor. By monitoring the phenomenon, we can limit its effects
and avoid disasters and droughts.

687 words

Reading Passage Questions

Questions 1 – 2
Complete each of the following statements with words or phrases taken from the text.

Use NO MORE THAN FOUR WORDS.

1. The first extensive study of the El Nino phenomenon took place from _______________.
2. The system used to track variations in weather conditions is called _______________.

Questions 3 – 6
Label the diagram showing the “Planetary Heat engine.”

USE NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS

Questions 7 – 9
Which THREE of the following are effects of El Nino?

A There are more clouds.

B The level of the sea goes down.
C There is a lack of rain.
D Fewer fish for fishermen to catch.
E There are plagues in Australia and Indonesia.
F There are more strong storms.

Questions 10 – 12
Choose the appropriate answer to each question.

10. Why is El Nino more noticeable now than in previous times?

A There are small changes in natural resources.

B Industrial fishing.
C People are now living in more dangerous areas than those of the past.
D South American fishermen cannot make a profit during an El Nino.
11. What is the benefit of monitoring the weather in the Pacific?

A Scientists can prevent El Ninos.

B The length of an El Nino is reduced by six months.
C Farmers will harvest more grain.
D Provisions can be taken in advance against the El Nino.
12. In what way is there a definite link between El Nino and global warming?

A It increases Northern American temperatures by affecting the jet stream.

B By inducing local warming changes.
C Increasing rain and causing floods.
D None of the above.
 ___________________________________________________

Answers

1. 1997 – 1998
2. Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Array
3. evaporates
4. the poles
5. pushes
6. colder water / nutrient level
7. C
8. D
9. F (7-9 can be in any order)
10. C
11. D
12. D