IELTS Academic Reading Practice Tests

Reading Passage 1 — Questions 1-7 (True / False / Not Given)

Reading Passage 1 below has the title 'Honeybees and the Mathematics of Navigation'. Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information.

1. Although its outward journey wanders, a forager bee tends to fly back to the colony along a comparatively straight path. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
2. Karl von Frisch earned international scientific recognition for decoding how the insects communicate. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
3. A single performance of the dance conveys to nest-mates both where a feeding site lies and how far away it is. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
4. When the sun is concealed behind cloud, bees are incapable of working out where it is. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
5. It was von Frisch himself who devised the tunnel study into optic flow. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
6. Crossing smooth, open water, a bee underestimates how far it has travelled compared with covering the same span above a visually busy field. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given
7. Aircraft guided by optic flow have now overtaken those relying on traditional sensing equipment in number. (A) True (B) False (C) Not Given

Reading Passage 1 — Questions 8-13 (Sentence completion)

Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from Reading Passage 1 for each answer.

1. 8. The figure-of-eight routine is carried out on the upright ___ inside the colony.
2. 9. To establish a bearing, bees interpret the arrangement of ___ light overhead.
3. 10. Bees consult an internal ___ to correct for the sun's shifting position through the day.
4. 11. Distance is judged from how fast the surrounding view rushes past, a cue termed ___ .
5. 12. Scientists note that the bee's method prioritises dependability over ___ .
6. 13. The insect's approach has been borrowed by designers of lightweight ___ .

Reading Passage 2 — Questions 14-19 (Matching headings)

Reading Passage 2 is 'The Rise of the Urban Park'. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A-F from the list of headings (i-viii). There are more headings than paragraphs, so some headings will not be used. No heading may be used more than once.

1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph E
6. Paragraph F

Reading Passage 2 — Questions 20-23 (Yes / No / Not Given)

Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer of Reading Passage 2? Choose YES, NO or NOT GIVEN.

1. The writer believes the public park is a far older institution than people generally assume. (A) Yes (B) No (C) Not Given
2. According to the writer, reformers prized open ground chiefly for its visual appeal. (A) Yes (B) No (C) Not Given
3. The writer implies that Olmsted deliberately hid the technical work underlying his designs. (A) Yes (B) No (C) Not Given
4. The writer states that Birkenhead Park surpassed Central Park in attractiveness. (A) Yes (B) No (C) Not Given

Reading Passage 2 — Questions 24-26 (Multiple choice)

Choose the correct letter A, B or C.

1. Why did some critics object to the new parks? (A) They thought the rules were too relaxed. (B) They felt the parks mainly helped the better-off. (C) They believed disease would spread in them.
2. What does the writer say modern research has demonstrated? (A) That parks are too expensive to maintain. (B) That the Victorians were wrong about parks. (C) That green space genuinely improves health.
3. What is the writer's overall view of the urban park's future? (A) It matters as much as ever. (B) Its purpose is now outdated. (C) It will be replaced by digital alternatives.

Reading Passage 3 — Questions 27-31 (Multiple choice)

Reading Passage 3 is 'Why Working from Home Is Harder Than It Looks'. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. What did many workers assume remote working would be at first? (A) that it would feel purely freeing (B) that it would reduce their pay (C) that productivity would fall (D) that it would be temporary
2. According to the passage, what happened to the hours many remote staff put in? (A) they fell sharply (B) they tended to increase (C) they stayed exactly the same (D) they became impossible to measure
3. Why does the writer regard the journey to work as valuable? (A) It saved money. (B) It was a chance to do extra work. (C) It gave the mind time to switch between roles. (D) It improved physical fitness.
4. What does the writer say about casual, unplanned workplace exchanges? (A) It is easily replaced by video calls. (B) It is recorded in formal documents. (C) It mainly wastes time. (D) They are a key origin of fresh ideas.
5. Which group found remote work hardest? (A) newer employees (B) senior managers (C) part-time staff (D) employees who disliked commuting

Reading Passage 3 — Questions 32-37 (Summary completion)

Complete the summary below using words from the box. There are more words than gaps.

Reading Passage 3 — Questions 38-40 (Short-answer questions)

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Reading Passage 3 for each answer.

1. 38. According to psychologists, what did travelling to work supply that eased the shift between roles?
2. 39. Which emotion was felt most acutely by employees who had only recently joined?
3. 40. According to researchers, what must be actively built into flexible working instead of merely announced?