Book 17 IELTS Academic Reading Test 1 |

READING PASSAGE 1 : Questions 1-13

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

The London underground railway

The problem

– The 1. of London increased rapidly between 1800 and 1850

– The streets were full of horse-drawn vehicles

The proposed solution

– Charles Pearson, a solicitor, suggested building an underground railway

– Building the railway would make it possible to move people to better housing in the 2.

– A number of 3. agreed with Pearson’s idea

– The company initially had problems getting the 4. needed for the project

– Negative articles about the project appeared in the 5.

The construction

– The chosen route did not require many buildings to be pulled down

– The ‘cut and cover’ method was used to construct the tunnels

– With the completion of the brick arch, the tunnel was covered with 6.

Questions 7-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

7. Other countries had built underground railways before the Metropolitan line opened.

True False NG

8. More people than predicted travelled on the Metropolitan line on the first day.

True False NG

9. The use of ventilation shafts failed to prevent pollution in the tunnels.

True False NG

10. A different approach from the ‘cut and cover’ technique was required in London’s central area.

True False NG

11. The windows on City & South London trains were at eye level.

True False NG

12. The City & South London Railway was a financial success.

True False NG

13. Trains on the ‘Tuppenny Tube’ nearly always ran on time.

True False NG

READING PASSAGE 2 : Questions 14-26

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

14. A mention of negative attitudes towards stadium building projects

A B C D E F G

15. figures demonstrating the environmental benefits of a certain stadium

A B C D E F G

16. Examples of the wide range of facilities available at some new stadiums

A B C D E F G

17. Reference to the disadvantages of the stadiums built during a certain era

A B C D E F G

Questions 18-22

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 18-22 on your answer sheet.

Roman amphitheatres

The Roman stadium of Europe have proved very versatile. The amphitheatre of Arles, for example, was converted first into a 18. , then into a residential area and finally into an arena where spectators could watch 19. Meanwhile, the arena in Verona, one of the oldest Roman amphitheatres, is famous today as a venue where 20. is performed. The site of Lucca’s amphitheatre has also been used for many purposes over the centuries, including the storage of 22. It is now a market square with 22. and homes incorporated into the remains of the Roman amphitheatre.

Questions 23-24

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24 on your answer sheet.

When comparing twentieth-century stadiums to ancient amphitheatres in Section D, Which TWO negative features does the writer mention?

A They are less imaginatively designed

B They are less spacious

C They are in less convenient locations

D They are less versatile

E They are made of less durable materials

Questions 25-26 Choose TWO letters, A-E. Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet. Which TWO advantages of modern stadium design does the writer mention?

A offering improved amenities for the enjoyment of sports events

B bringing community life back into the city environment

C facilitating research into solar and wind energy solutions

D enabling local residents to reduce their consumption of electricity

E providing a suitable site for the installation of renewable power generators

READING PASSAGE 3 : Questions 27-40

Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-J, below.

Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.

A military innovation F decisive victory

B large reward G political debate

C widespread conspiracy H strategic alliance

D relative safety I popular solution

E new government J religious conviction

The story behind the hunt for Charles II

Charles II’s father was executed by the Parliamentarian forces in 1649. Charles II then formed a 27. with the Scots, and in order to become King of Scots, he abandoned an important 28. that was held by his father and had contributed to his father’s death. The opposing sides then met outside Worcester in 1651. The battle led to a 29. for the Parliamentarians and Charles had to flee for his life. A 30. was offered for Charles’s capture, but after six weeks spent in hiding, he eventually managed to reach the 31. of continental Europe.

Questions 32-35

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage
In boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet, write

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 say what the writer thinks about this

32. Charles chose Pepys for the task because he considered him to be trustworthy.

Yes No NG

33. Charles’s personal recollection of the escape lacked sufficient detail.

Yes No NG

34. Charles indicated to Pepys that he had planned his escape before the battle.

Yes No NG

35. The inclusion of Charles’s account is a positive aspect of the book.

Yes No NG

Questions 36-40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.

36. What is the reviewer’s main purpose in the first paragraph?

A. to describe what happened during the Battle of Worcester

B. to give an account of the circumstances leading to Charles II’s escape

C. to provide details of the Parliamentarians’ political views

D. to compare Charles II’s beliefs with those of his father

37. Why does the reviewer include examples of the fugitives’ behaviour in the third paragraph?

A. to explain how close Charles II came to losing his life

B. to suggest that Charles II’s supporters were badly prepared

C. to illustrate how the events of the six weeks are brought to life

D. to argue that certain aspects are not as well known as they should be

38. What point does the reviewer make about Charles II in the fourth paragraph?

A. He chose to celebrate what was essentially a defeat.

B. He misunderstood the motives of his opponents.

C. He aimed to restore people’s faith in the monarchy.

D. He was driven by a desire to be popular.

39. What does the reviewer say about Charles Spencer in the fifth paragraph?

A. His decision to write the book comes as a surprise.

B. He takes an unbiased approach to the subject matter.

C. His descriptions of events would be better if they included more detail.

D. He chooses language that is suitable for a twenty-first-century audience.

40. When the reviewer says the book ‘doesn’t quite hit the mark’, she is making the point that

A. it overlooks the impact of events on ordinary people.

B. it lacks an analysis of prevalent views on monarchy.

C. it omits any references to the deceit practised by Charles II during his time in hiding.

D. it fails to address whether Charles II’s experiences had a lasting influence on him.

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