IELTS Recent Mock Tests Volume 2

Published on: 05 Dec 2017
Tests taken: 927,858

Answer Keys:

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Part 1: Question 1 - 10

1 Reception Assistant
2 driving license/driving license
3 heavy lifting
4 meals
5 certificate

6 staff uniform
7 personal information form
8 questionnaire
9 role-play activities
10 video

Part 2: Question 11 - 20

11 temporary visitor
12 allergies
13 current medication
14 registration card
15 C

16 B
17 A
18 B
19 B
20 C

Part 3: Question 21 - 30

21 beeswax
22 avocado pear
23 200 billion
24 25 A,D
26 F

27 D
28 E
29 B
30 B

Part 4: Question 31 - 40

31 Millennium
32 River Thames
33 3.5 million
34 British Airways
35 135 meters/metres

36 tension piles
37 A-Frame
38 Rim
39 Passenger Capsules
40 Boarding Platform

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IELTS reading practice test

You will be allowed 1 hour to complete all 3 sections of the IELTS Academic Reading test.

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11 Jun 2018

Review & Explanations:

Part 1: Questions 1-10

Questions 1-6

Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer

Position	Place	Notes
1	Parkview Hotel	Speak foreign languages Have a valid 2 Include 3
General Assistant	Lakeside Hotel	Pay is low Free 4 Issue a 5
Catering Assistant	Hotel 98	Wear 6 Night shift work Travel outside the city

1 Answer: Reception Assistant

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

Note:

the words which lead you to the answer are underlined.
the word/number you must write for the answer is marked.
words which you might wrongly think could be the answer are in italics.

The keywords concerned in Q1 must be “position” and “Parkview”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun relating to a job
The man mentions that the first job is Reception Assistant at the Parkview Hotel
Therefore, the answer for Q1 must be Reception Assistant

2 Answer: driving license/driving license

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q2 must be “valid”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
The man explains that in this position, you may have to take the guests’ vehicles to the car park, so you will need to have a valid driving license
Therefore, the answer for Q2 must be driving license.

3 Answer: heavy lifting

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q3 must be “include”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun or a V-ing
When talking about the position, the man mentions that i would involve heavy lifting when guests’ luggage arrives or perhaps deliveries come in. Here, you can see involve has similar meaning to include.
Therefore, the answer for Q3 must be heavy lifting.

4 Answer: meals

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q4 must be “General assistant”, “Lakeside” and “free”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
It is described that when working as a general assistant at Lakeside Hotel, although the pay is low, the hotel will provide you with all your meals while you’re working. So, the meals are free
Therefore, the answer for Q4 must be meal

5 Answer: certificate

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q5 must be “issue”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
The man says that the hotel will train and issue you with a certificate
Therefore, the answer for Q5 must be certificate

6 Answer: staff uniform

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q6 must be “Catering Assistant”, “Hotel 98” and “wear”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
When talking about the position Catering Assistant at Hotel 98, the man describes that you’ll need to wear the distinctive staff uniform
Therefore, the answer for Q6 must be staff uniform

Questions 7-10

Complete the flow chart below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

STEP ONE

Complete a 7

STEP TWO

Do a 8 about personal skills

STEP THREE

Participate a training course involving 9

STEP FOUR

Get a 10 about the work

7 Answer: personal information form

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

Q7 - Q10:

You should write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
You keep in mind that it’s a process, from step one to step four, so that it’s easy for you to listen and locate the missing information.

The keywords concerned in Q7 must be “step one” and “complete”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
The man instructs that the first thing, or step one, is fill in (~ complete) a personal information form
Therefore, the answer for Q7 must be personal information form

8 Answer: questionnaire

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q8 must be “step two” and “personal skills”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
It’s inferred that in step two, after the personal information form is handed in, they will give a questionnaire about your skills
Therefore, the answer for Q8 must be questionnaire

9 Answer: role-play activities

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q9 must be “step three” and “training course”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
In the next step, they will provide a course of training in which the important part is role-play activities
Therefore, the answer for Q9 must be role-play activities

10 Answer: video

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q10 must be “step four” and “about the work”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
In the final step, they’ll post you a video about themselves and the work involved.
Therefore, the answer for Q10 must be video

Part 1

Part 2: Questions 11-20

Questions 11-14

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AT THE HEALTH CENTER STANDARD PROCEDURES
Register as a 11 Fill in a medical history form with details of previous illness, 12 surgeries and 13 Complete a 14 with personal information such as name, address and telephone number.

11 Answer: temporary visitor

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q11 must be “foreign nationals” and “register”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
It’s mentioned that if you are foreign nationals, you’ll have to register as a temporary visitor.
Therefore, the answer for Q11 must be temporary visitor.

12 Answer: allergies

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q12 must be “medical history” and “illness”
From the questions, we can assume that the answers must be a noun.
It’s described that in the medical history form, the patient have to give details of illnesses, allergies, operations (~ surgeries) that they had.
Therefore, the answer for Q12 must be allergies

13 Answer: current medication

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q13 must be “surgeries”
From the questions, we can assume that the answers must be a noun for each anwer
It’s described that in the medical history form, the patient have to give full details of current medication
Therefore, the answer for Q13 must be current medication.

14 Answer: registration card

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q14 must be “complete”and “personal information”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
The man says that the patients need to fill in (= complete) a registration card – with personal details such as full name, address and telephone numbers
Therefore, the answer for Q14 must be registration card

Questions 15-20

Circle the correct letter, A, B or C.

The nurse can help you with

A minor operation
B all sorts of remedy.
C a small injury

Answer: C

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q15 must be “nurse”and “”
It’s mentioned in the passage that practice nurse looks after minor injuries (~ small injuries)
Therefore, the answer for Q15 must be C

You don’t have to pay for the chiropodist if

A you have registered at the health center.
B you are in your late’ sixties.
C you have foot trauma.

Answer: B

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q16 must be “don’t have to pay” and “chiropodist”
When talking about chiro product , the man says that you have to pay for the service, unless you’re over 65. In other words, you don’t have to pay for the chiropodist if you’re in your late sixties’
Therefore, the answer for Q16 must be B

In case of emergency

A you can ask for a home visit.
B you must go to the hospital directly.
C you should have an open surgery.

Answer: A

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q17 must be “emergency”
In case of emergency, you can go to the hospital or ask for a home visit.
Therefore, the answer for Q17 must be A

Note: Why don’t we choose option B? It’s because:

From the passage, it’s optional to go to the hospital
Option B: You must go to the hospital directly, which means it’s compulsory and there’s no other choice. So B is not correct.

On Friday afternoons

A you don’t need to wait for a long time.
B you don’t need to make an appointment.
C you ought not to come at a specified time.

Answer: B

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q18 must be “Friday afternoon”
It’s inferred that on Friday afternoons, the patients can come and wait to see the doctor without making appointment. However, it can get them wait for several hours, so it’s better to make an appointment and come at the specified time
Therefore, the answer for Q18 must be B

If you require a repeat prescription

A you have to see the doctor again.
B you need a special form.
C you can get one from the chemist.

Answer: B

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q19 must be “repeat prescription”
It’s mentioned in the passage that the patients will be given a repeat prescription form which allows them to get a further supply without seeing the doctor again, then they can pick up the medication at the chemists
Therefore, the answer for Q19 must be B

In which case you needn’t pay for the prescription

A if you are a student.
B if you are unemployed or very poor.
C if you are pregnant.

Answer: C

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q20 must be “prescription” and “needn’t pay”
From the passage, it’s clearly stated that in some situations, such as pregnancy, the prescription is then free
Therefore, the answer for Q20 must be C

Previous Next

Part 2

Part 3: Questions 21-30

Questions 21-23

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

People domesticate bees for honey and 21
Commercial crops such as almond, cherry, 22 , water melon, cucumber, depend on pollination.
Animal pollination contributes 23 dollars a year to world agriculture.

21 Answer: beeswax

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q21 must be “domesticate” and “honey”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
The professor says that domesticated honeybees have been the production of honey and beeswax
Therefore, the answer for Q21 must be beeswax

22 Answer: avocado pear

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q22 must be “commercial crops” and “pollination”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
When talking about crops of commercial, the professor lists out crops such as almond, cherry, avocado pear, watermelon, cucumber, rely on pollination
Therefore, the answer for Q22 must be avocado pear

23 Answer: 200 billion

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q23 must be “pollination”, “dollars” and “world agriculture”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a number
The professor provides information that the economic value of animal pollination to world agriculture has been estimated to be 200 billion US dollars per year
Therefore, the answer for Q23 must be 200 billion

Questions 24-25

Choose TWO letters, A-D.

According to the professor, what factors have affected pollinator populations?

A Parasites.
B Air pollution.
C Hunting.
D Farm chemicals.

24-25 Answer: A,D

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q24-25 must be “factors” and “pollinator populations”
Alicia points out that parasite killed lots of bees, but it’s not the only factor. The major factor is pesticides, or farm chemicals. Those information are strongly agreed by the professor.
Therefore, the answer for Q24-25 must be A, D, in any order

Questions 26-29

What are the features of each pollinator?

Choose the correct letter, A-F.

26 Monarch butterfly

27 Indian subcontinent butterflies

28 Spectacular tropical butterflies

29 Long-nosed bat.

A	It pollinates four out of live food crops in North America.
B	It has been mistaken for a similar animal.
C	It feeds on the nectar of lavender.
D	It has been affected by environmental alteration.
E	It has been smuggling traded.
F	It returns to the specific site every year.

26 Answer: F

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q26 must be “monarch butterfly”
When talking about monarch butterfly, the professor says that it is the only butterfly that returns to a specific site year after year.
Therefore, the answer for Q26 must be F

27 Answer: D

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q27 must be “Indian subcontinent”
It’s stated that the population of butterflies in Indian subcontinent is dwindling because of environmental changes
Therefore, the answer for Q27 must be D

28 Answer: E

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q28 must be “spectacular tropical butterflies”
It’s mentioned that there is a major trade in the spectacular tropical species for incorporation in ornaments and souvenirs
Therefore, the answer for Q28 must be E

29 Answer: B
Listen from here Locate Explain Report
The keywords concerned in Q29 must be “long-nosed bat”
Long-nosed bats are having a tough time because some desert ranchers mistake them for vampire bats
Therefore, the answer for Q29 must be B

Question 30

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

What can be done to protect pollinators?

A Beekeeping needs to focus on honey production.
B People should use more organic approach of cultivation.
C Scientists should exploit more wild plants.

Answer: B

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q30 must be “protect” and “pollinators”
When talking about the way to protect pollinators, Alicia suggests using pollinator-friendly organic methods of cultivation. This is agreed by the professor.
Therefore, the answer for Q30 must be B

Previous Next

Part 3

Part 4: Questions 31-40

Questions 31-35

Complete the summary below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

THE LONDON EYE

The London Eye, or 31 Wheel is an extremely large passenger-carrying Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the 32 in Central London in the United Kingdom. It attracts 33 people annually. Back in 2000, 34 was the main sponsor. Today, the London Eye is operated by the London Eye Company Limited, a Merlin Entertainments Group Company. Standing at a height of 35 is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over three million people in one year.

31 Answer: Millennium

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keywords concerned in Q31 must be “the London Eye” and “Wheel”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be another name of the London Eye
It’s inferred that the London Eye is also known as the Millennium Wheel. So another name of the London Eye is Millennium Wheel.
Therefore, the answer for Q31 must be Millennium

32 Answer: River Thames

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q32 must be “banks”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be the name of a river
It’s clearly stated that The London Eye stands on South Bank of the River Thames
Therefore, the answer for Q32 must be River Thames

33 Answer: 3.5 million

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q33 must be “attracts”, “people” and “annually”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a number describing the amount of people
From the passage, the London Eye is visited by over 3.5 million people a year.
Therefore, the answer for Q33 must be 3.5 million

34 Answer: British Airways

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q34 must be “2000” and “sponsor”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a noun
Back to 2000, the Eye was sponsored by British Airways
Therefore, the answer for Q34 must be British Airways

35 Answer: 135 meters/metres

Listen from here Explain Report

The keyword concerned in Q35 must be “height”
From the question, we can assume that the answer must be a number describing the height of the London Eye
It’s stated that the London Eye is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world, at 135 metres.
Therefore, the answer for Q35 must be 135 metres

Questions 36-40

Label the diagram below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

36 Answer: tension piles
Listen from here Locate Explain Report
Q36 - Q40:
You should write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
You should look at the map and use the provided information (Spindle, Plinth, Base cap) to locate the missing information.
It’s described that the starting point was, of course, the ground, tension piles were being driven into the ground beside the River Thames
Therefore, the answer for Q36 must be tension piles

37 Answer: A-Frame

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

It can be seen from the map that the object in Q37 looks like the letter A.
After a base cap was installed, two giant blimps pointing up, onto which a frame was attached, like a giant letter. The wheel was supported on huge A-frame legs. Then the spindle was installed, around which the great wheel would turn.
Therefore, the answer for Q37 must be A-frame

38 Answer: Rim

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

The object in Q38 is connected with the spindle
It’s described that the vast rim with spokes like an outsized bicycle wheel which are similar to bicycle spokes, hold the rim tight to the central spindle.
Therefore, the answer for Q38 must be rim

39 Answer: Passenger Capsules

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

It’s mentioned that unlike traditional ferris wheel designs that you might see at a local fairground, the passenger capsules were not suspended under the wheel, they were set within a circular mounting ring attached to the outside surface of the wheel
Therefore, the answer for Q39 must be passenger capsules

40 Answer: Boarding Platform

Listen from here Locate Explain Report

From the map, we can assume that the answer must be something that are on the ground, under the whole thing above.
It’s described that the boarding platform laid down underneath
Therefore, the answer for Q40 must be boarding platform

Part 4

Change Audio Sources

SECTION 1

Agent: Good morning. May I help you?

Student: Oh, good morning. Is this the Student Job Centre?

Agent: Oh, yes.

Student: Urn… I was wondering if perhaps you could tell me a bit about the job, you know, the Hotel Recruitment Program that offers a range of work at the hotels in the area.

Agent: Of course, take a seat, please. I’ll take you through some of what we have on offer.

Student: Thank you so much. Oh, wait a second and I’ll get my pen.

Agent: OK. The first job is Reception Assistant at the Parkview Hotel. The Parkview Hotel has quite an international flavour, so you’ll need to speak at least two foreign languages.

Student: Sure, I can speak fluent French and Spanish, so that’s no problem.

Agent: Good. And many guests, of course, travel by car, and you may have to take their vehicles around to the car park, so you will need to have a valid driving license, and you will not be allowed to do the job if you haven’t.

Student: OK, I got that.

Agent: Right. And they also say that basic computer skills such as word processing would be an advantage, although this isn’t a requirement.

Student: Well, I just got my Computer Skills certificate , so I have no worries about that.

Agent: This is quite a varied job, and in fact I should point out that at certain times of the day it would involve heavy lifting when guests’ luggage arrives or perhaps deliveries come in. Is that OK for you?

Student: Well, it’s hard to say at this moment. But I’ll bear that in mind when deciding whether to apply for this post.

Agent: Sure. Another job is general assistant at the Lakeside Hotel. To be honest, the pay is rather low, but there are compensatory factors, for example, the hotel will provide you with all your meals while you’re working, and they will also train you in all the aspects of the job and then issue you with a certificate , which, of course, could be very valuable to you in the future.

Student: Oh, that sounds great.

Agent: Now… the third job on offer is Catering Assistant at Hotel 98 smart new premises . As you know, this hotel is popular with exclusive travelers and so you’ll need to wear the distinctive staff uniform – which you’re provided with. Don’t consider this job unless you’re fairly flexible about when you work, as the hotel will require you to work nights for this job, and you will need to travel to and from the hotel, as it’s situated just outside the city.

Student: Well. I’m afraid I can’t manage that because of the lectures.

Agent: OK, I get the picture. So, which one will you prefer, Reception Assistant at the Parkview Hotel or General Assistant at the Lakeside Hotel?

Student: Well, I guess I still couldnt make up my mind right now. Can I have a few days to think about and go back to you later?

Agent: That’s no problem. And there are a few things I need to clarify with you.

If you would like to apply for one of these jobs, you will need to follow the recruitment process.

Student: Mum…

Agent: So the first thing you’ll need to do is to fill in one of these – a personal information form. It’s pretty straightforward and should only take you a few minutes. Once you’ve done that and handed it in, we’ll give you a questionnaire about your skills. We then look through the information about you, and pass on our recommendations to the relevant hotel.

Student: Yes, sure.

Agent: You will then proceed to the next step of the process and attend a general course of training. This is designed to be helpful and realistic, so an important part of the course is role-play activities.

Student: That sounds interesting.

Agent: Yes, indeed. And after that, the final step is that you will be contacted by the hotel you’re going to work for, and they’ll post you a video about themselves and the work involved . Watching this will constitute further and specific training for your job.

Student: Oh, yes. I think I’m very clear now. Thank you for helping me.

Agent: It’s a pleasure. Bye.

Student: Bye.

SECTION 2

Good morning, everyone. I’m John Smith, the General practitioner of London Fields Medical Centre, and I’m very glad to give you a brief introduction about our practice and some suggestions about how to see a doctor here.

Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help you with your inquiry , ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician .

OK, right, well the first thing to do is to register. We can only accept new patients who live in our practice catchment area. To register with us you will need 2 proofs of address such as bank statements or tenancy agreements plus 1 form of ID such as passport or drivers’ license.

If you are foreign nationals, then you’ll have to register as a temporary visitor. Then, fill in this form. It’s a medical history form. You have to give details of any illnesses you have had. Then you also need to write down if you’ve got any allergies , OK? This as well as that, we need to know if you’ve had any operations … and last of all, you have to give full details of current medication you may be on. This as well as that, you need to fill in this registration card – this is for your personal details, thats your full name, address and telephone numbers. Okay? And we also need to make an appointment for you to see the doctor for a new patient health check. It’ll just take about 15 minutes, thats all. It’s just a basic checkup really.

OK, then, let me tell you something about the health centre. We have 5 GPs here – general practitioners . We also have a practice nurse who looks after minor injuries . She can also administer some treatments . We also have a chiro product . That’s a foot specialist. She’s private which means you have to pay for the service, unless you’re over 65.

If you want to see a doctor, you have to make an appointment first. Please call our main switchboard number on 0207 9 23 8 100 to book an appointment at either our main practice or one of our branch surgeries. You can also email for an appointment on London Fields medical@NHS.net. Urgent cases are seen on the day. If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP.

If it’s an emergency , you’d better come straight here to the Centre, one of the doctors can usually see you, or you can go to the emergency department at the hospital in town. If you are very sick, you can ask for a home visit as well. On Friday afternoons we have an open surgery which means you can come along and just wait to see a doctor, but you may have to wait for several hours, so it’s much better to make an appointment and come at the specified time.

Usually when you see a doctor you’ll be given a prescription for medicine which you need to take. Or you can choose to go to a pharmacist in a chemist’s shop. If the doctor decides that you will need the medication for a long time, you will be given a repeat prescription form. This allows you to get a further supply without seeing the doctor again. You simply leave the repeat form here a few days before you need it. Then you pick up the medication at the chemists.

Oh, you may wonder how much this all costs? Well, there is no charge for seeing a doctor – you can make an appointment anytime to see one of our doctors and it will not cost you anything for the consultation. However, you need to pay for the prescription and the cost varies with the medicine, but its usually just a few pounds. Nevertheless, in some situations, such as pregnancy, the prescription is then free.

All right, do you have any other questions?

SECTION 3

Professor: Until recently, we knew almost nothing about how important bees are in maintaining natural diversity. Now we know more about them. We know, for example, that bees fall into two categories: wild bees and domesticated honeybees. A main reason for the domestication of bees has always been the production of honey and beeswax. We also know that honeybees are the dominant pollinators. In addition to bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, flies and beetles , as many as 1,500 species of birds and mammals serve as pollinators. Many crops of commercial importance such as almond, cherry, avocado pear, watermelon , cucumber, rely on pollination by insects, and of these insects, bees are by far the most important. Animals and insects provide pollination services for over three-quarters of the staple crop plants and for 80% of all flowering plants in the world. The economic value of animal pollination to world agriculture has been estimated to be 200 billion US dollars per year. Pollination is one of nature’s services to farmers. So think about this: if you eliminated the pollinators, it would take the food right out of our mouths. We biologists never imagined we’d see the day when wild plants or crops suffered from pollinator scarcity. But, unfortunately, that day has come. In fact, farmers in Mexico and the U.S. are suffering the worst pollinator crisis in history. So… what happened? Any ideas? Alicia?

Alicia: Is it…um… because of natural enemies? I read something about a kind of parasite that’s killed lots of bees.

Professor: It’s true. An outbreak of parasitic mites has caused a steep decline in North American populations of honeybees. But parasites aren’t the only factor.

Alicia: What about the pesticides used on farms? All those chemicals must have an effect.

Professor: Most definitely, yes. Pesticides are a major factor. Both wild and domesticated bees are in serious trouble because of pesticides. In California, farm chemicals are killing around 10% of all the honeybee colonies. Agriculture in general is part of the problem. Another example is the monarch butterfly. Millions of monarchs from all over the U.S. and southern Canada fly south every year in late summer. The monarch is the only butterfly that returns to a specific site year after year. Unfortunately, the herbicides used in their milkweed in the Great Plains are taking a toll on monarchs, and fewer of them are reaching their winter grounds in Mexico. In a recent field study at Cornell University in the U.S., it was found that monarch butterfly caterpillars eating com toxic pollen blown on to milkweed plants near com fields had suffered significant adverse effects leading to death of nearly 20% of the caterpillars.

Alicia: Wow, 20%, thats so tragic!

Professor: And it’s more than that. There are over 1,500 species of butterflies in the Indian subcontinent, but their population is dwindling because of environmental changes. Many manmade environmental changes like deforestation, extension of farming and unrestricted urbanization are threatening some species of butterflies to extinction by destruction or disturbance of their larval as well as adult food plants, feeding grounds and shelters. Many of the most spectacular and endangered species have various levels of protection under local legislation. However, there is a major trade in the spectacular tropical species for incorporation in ornaments and souvenirs. The international demand for insects is greater than most people realize.

Alicia: Yes, indeed. I once read an article about another important pollinator – the long-nosed bat. These amazing animals feed on cactus flowers. But they are having a tough time, too. Some desert ranchers mistake them for vampire bats, and they’ve tried to poison them, or dynamite the caves where they roost.

Professor: Yes, we must recognize that pollination is not a free service, and that investment and stewardship are required to protect and sustain it, so what can be done about this situation?

Alicia: Well, wildlife farming, you know, based on sustainable exploiting wild creatures, can help to save endangered species like butterflies and their habitats. Besides, gardeners, orchard growers, farmers and urban dwellers can switch to more pollinator-friendly organic methods of cultivation to reduce wildlife exposures to insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

Professor: That’s rightl Actually, the focus of beekeeping needs to change from conventional honey production to crop pollination.

SECTION 4

The London Eye

Today I want to focus on some of the major sights that attract tourists to cities, and I am going to begin with the London Eye. The London Eye is London’s newest major tourist attraction. It is a huge wheel designed to celebrate the Millennium year 2000, so it’s also known as the Millennium Wheel. It stands at Millennium Pier, on the South Bank of the River Thames, close to the south end of Westminster Bridge, and within an easy walk of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Though it looks like a huge Ferris wheel, the London Eye is no fairground thrill- ride, but a slow and stately way to experience London in a unique way. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year.

The Eye was built between 1998 and 2000. It seems remarkable that a site that has so quickly become a symbol of modem London has been around for such a short time! It took fully seven years from start of the design process to create the Eye. It was intended to stand for only a few years, but it proved to be such a popular attraction that the decision was made to make the wheel a permanent feature of the London landscape. The Eye was referred by British Airways, and for several years after opening it was referred to as the British Airways Millennium Wheel. Today the London Eye is under the ownership of the London Eye Company, a subsidiary of Merlin Entertainments Group Company.

Constructing The Merlin Entertainments London Eye was a massive challenge. It’s the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world, rising high above the London skyline at 135 metres. It was a piece of daring innovation and revolutionary design which combined the best of British design, architecture and engineering with an exceptional team of experts.

So, how is that great wheel held up? How did it get there? The starting point was, of course, the ground, and while parts of the wheel itself were still being constructed in various countries, tension piles were being driven into the ground beside the River Thames. This was the first step, and once these were securely in place, a base cap was installed over them as a kind of lock, with two giant blimps pointing up, onto which a frame was attached , like a giant letter. The wheel was supported on huge A-frame legs, made up of 2,200 tonnes of concrete on 44 concrete piles set 33 meters deep in the earth. All this took many months and incredible effort, but meant that the spindle could be installed, around which the great wheel would turn. The spindle itself was too large to cast as a single piece so instead was produced in eight smaller sections. Now the project really was in business, and the vast rim with spokes like an outsized bicycle wheel could be brought in. 64 spoke cables, which are similar to bicycle spokes, hold the rim tight to the central spindle. And the view was enhanced by the capsule design; unlike traditional ferris wheel designs that you might see at a local fairground, the passenger capsules were not suspended under the wheel, they were set within a circular mounting ring attached to the outside surface of the wheel. What this means in practice is that travelers within the capsule have a full 360 degree panoramic view, unhindered by spokes of wheel struts. And the last thing to be built is the first thing the visitor encounters, the boarding platform laid down underneath. The wheel does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.

IELTS Recent Mock Tests Volume 2

Part 1: Question 1 - 10

Part 2: Question 11 - 20

Part 3: Question 21 - 30

Part 4: Question 31 - 40

Tips for improving your ielts score

IELTS reading practice test

Questions 1-6

Questions 7-10

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Questions 11-14

REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AT THE HEALTH CENTER STANDARD PROCEDURES

Questions 15-20

Questions 21-23

Questions 24-25

Questions 26-29

Question 30

Questions 31-35

THE LONDON EYE

Questions 36-40

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

Comments:

About us

Our mission

IELTS Recent Mock Tests Volume 2

Part 1: Question 1 - 10

Part 2: Question 11 - 20

Part 3: Question 21 - 30

Part 4: Question 31 - 40

Share your score

Tips for improving your ielts score

IELTS reading practice test

Questions 1-6

Questions 7-10

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Questions 11-14

REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AT THE HEALTH CENTER STANDARD PROCEDURES

Questions 15-20

Questions 21-23

Questions 24-25

Questions 26-29

Question 30

Questions 31-35

THE LONDON EYE

Questions 36-40

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

Comments:

About us

Our mission