IELTS READING

WHAT IS IN
THE TEST?
HOW DO WE
PREPARE?

Prepared by Ha Xuan Thu

IELTS READING

Time allowed: 60 minutes (including transfer time)

Number of
sections: 3 passages
Number of
questions: 40

Each correct answer receives 1 mark.

Marking: Your final score is given as a band score
from 19 in whole or half bands
IELTS READING

Time allowed: 60 minutes (including transfer time)

Number of
sections: 3 passages
Number of
questions: 40

Each correct answer receives 1 mark.

Marking: Your final score is given as a band score
from 19 in whole or half bands
IELTS READING QUESTION TYPES

1. Multiple choice
2. Identifying information (T/F/NG); identifying the
writers views, claims (Y/N/NG)
3. Matching information
4. Matching headings
5. Matching features
6. Matching sentence endings
7. Sentence completion
8. Summary/note/table/chart completion
9. Diagram labeling
10. Short answers
IELTS READING
IELTS Reading
5
UNIT 1
The Problem of Fire
Ironed Out
 Before you do the test
What is the passage about?
Title: Problem of Fire Ironed Out
First there are two main problems with
fossil fuel burns: greenhouse effect (CO2)
+ acid rain (NOX)
Last the real need for Cabonex invention
in plants that burn coal and less refined
oils.
What types of question?
Question 1-7 Match headings
Question 8-16 fill in the summary
MATCHING THE HEADING

Task description
You will be given a list of headings. The
task is to find the most suitable heading for
each of the paragraphs.
There will be more headings than
paragraphs.
To complete this task well, you will need to
be able to identify each paragraphs main
focus.
MATCHING THE HEADING
How to do?
Skills
Step 1: Read the instructions carefully.
Also note which paragraphs you need to
look at
Step 2: Familiarise yourself with the
list of paragraph headings by skimming
through them quickly.
Step 3: Read through the paragraph.
Concentrate on the main idea of the
paragraph and try not to be distracted
by details or by unfamiliar vocabulary.
Step 4: Choose the heading from the
list which best sums up the main point
of the paragraph you have just read.
MATCHING THE HEADING
How to do?
TIPS
DO NOT read the whole passage
DO NOT read word by word
Look for the topic sentence in
the first or last sentence.
Mark the used headings
If you cant choose between two
headings, go on to the next
paragraph you can come back
to that question later.
Vocabulary
HEADINGS
- Particle (n) : phn t
- Harmful # harmless (adj)
- Ideal (adj) : l tng
- Alternative (n) : s la chn, khc
- Emission (n) : s ta ra, thot ra
- Side effect (n): tc dng ph
- Efficiency (n) : s hiu qu
efficient (adj) : hiu qu
Vocabulary
Paragraph A
- Fossil fuel (n): nhin liu ha thch
- Soot (n): mui than, b hng
- Additive (n): cht ph gia
- Drastically (adv): mnh m
What is Paragraph A about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph B
- Refine (v): lc, tinh luyn
- Combustion (n): s chy
What is Paragraph B about?
Questions 1-7
1. Paragraph B
...reacts with oxygen to produce carbon
dioxide...
...Small, unburnt particles of fuels always
escape...
These particles contain cancer-causing
chemicals...
(i) Where the harmful particles come
from
Vocabulary
Paragraph C
- Chamber (n): bung, phng
- Efficiency (n): hiu qu
- Snag (n): kh khn, tr ngi t xut
What is Paragraph C about?
Questions 1-7
2. Paragraph C
There is a standard fix for this... But there
is a snag.
...in this case producing the nitrogen
oxides that help cause acid rain...
...emissions of soot and smog go down
but NOX emissions go up...
(xi) The side-effect of one solution
Vocabulary
Paragraph D
- Alleviate (v): gim bt
- Molecule (n): phn t
- Bind/bound/bound (v): gn vo
- Dissolve (v): ha tan, phn hy
What is Paragraph D about?
Questions 1-7
3. Paragraph D
...The molecule acts as a carrier for the
iron, letting it dissolve in... When
sprayed into a flame.. Carbonex makes
it burn more efficiently...
(xii) Increase engine efficiency how it
works
Vocabulary
Paragraph E
- Deposit (v): t
- Volatile (a): d bay hi
- Exodus (n): s di c, ri i
- Disintegrate (v): tan r, phn hy
What is Paragraph E about?
Questions 1-7
4. Paragraph E
...It seems to work at two points during
burning...
...Carbonex appears to speed up the
exodus...
...Carbonex also seems to lower the
temperature at which these
compounds burn...
(vii) It is a two-way process
Vocabulary
Paragraph F
- Substance (n): cht
- Dose (n): liu lng
What is Paragraph F about?
Questions 1-7
5. Paragraph F
...Iron was picked for Carbonex because
it is non-toxic and very effective even
in small doses.
(viii) Iron is the best
Vocabulary
Paragraph G
- Yield (n): nng sut, sn lng
- Coarse (a): th
- Virtually (adv): tht s, gn nh
- Maintenance (n): bo tr
What is Paragraph G about?
Questions 1-7
6. Paragraph G
...it reduced emissions of particles from
diesel engines...
...When tested in a light-fuel-oil industrial
burner...
(iv) Carbonex works with more than
one fossil fuel
Vocabulary
Paragraph H
- Plant (n): nh my
- Furnace (n): l nung, bung t
- Satanic (a): xu xa, t hi
What is Paragraph H about?
Questions 1-7
7. Paragraph H
...The real need for his invention...is in
plants...
...Farewell to those dark satanic mills.
(iii) Carbonex is ideal for factories
SUMMARY COMPLETION

Task description
You will be given a
summary with blanks.
Find the suitable
words (in the passage
or in the given box) to
fill in the summary.
SUMMARY COMPLETION
How to do?
Skills
Step 1: Read the instructions
carefully.
WHY?
Step 2: Read the summary and
identify which information is needed
(what type? Meaning?)
Step 3: Underline the key words,
look for the key words in the
passage.
Step 4: Read around the key words.
Step 4: Choose the correct words to
fill in the gap.
Questions 8-12
When fossil fuels burn, they produce
elements that pollute the air, worsen
the greenhouse acid raineffect, and cause
(8)......................
Paragraph A:unfortunately, they give
off plenty of other things...smog and
soot,...greenhouse effect and ...that
help to make acid rain.
Questions 8-12
To alleviate the problemincompl of
ete
(9)...................... combustion which
NOX particles and
produces
(10)......................
Paragraph C:
To reduce the problem of incomplete
burning...
...in this case producing the nitrogen
oxides (NOX)...
Questions 8-12
...a Canadian scientist invented
Carbonex which is blended before
with the
fuel (11)...................... it burns.
Paragraph D:
The molecule acts as a carrier for the
iron, letting it dissolve in organic
liquids like oil and petrol. When
sprayed into a flame at...
Blend = trn, ha vo
Questions 8-12
...The iron atoms, carried by hydrocar
bon
(12)......................... molecules which
are the base of Carbonex...
Paragraph D:
The active ingredient is a
hydrocarbon molecule to which an
iron atom is bound.
Questions 8-12
...The statistics show that it works better
withindustria
(13)................... burners than with
lvehicle
(14)................... engines.
Paragraph G: The researchers found
that it reduced emissions of particles
from diesel engines by 43%...When
tested in a light-fuel-oil industrial
burner... by 67%...
Questions 8-12
...Not only does Carbonex reduce
emission
particle and NOX (15)..................., and
s
increase energy output,inside
it also helps to
make the (16).................. of engine
cleaner,...
Paragraph G:
it reduced NOX emissions by 25%.
In addition to reducing NOX...
Carbonex cut the amount of soot left
behind in combustion chambers,
and so...
 Reading Passage 2
The Order of Innovation
 Before you do the test
What is the first and last paragraph
about?
First the most liable indicator for
scientific revolution is birth order.
Last the former (later-borns) are
outnumbered.
What types of question?
Question 17-20 matching feature
Question 8-16 Yes/ No / Not given
Vocabulary
Paragraph 1
- sibling(n): brother/sister
- radical (adj): cp tin
- precede (v): dn trc
What is Paragraph 1 about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph 2
- subsidize (v): tr cp
- grant (n): khon tr cp
What is Paragraph 2 about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph 3
- prominent (adj): ng ch
What is Paragraph 3 about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph 4
- Male-dominated (adj): nam gii chim a
s
- Refute (v): bc b
- What is Paragraph 4 about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph 5
- Common-sensical (adj): t
- Norm (n): d bay hi

What is Paragraph 5 about?

Vocabulary
Paragraph 6
- Acolyte (n): thy cm nn
- Flock (n): t tp, tm li

What is Paragraph 6 about?

Vocabulary
Paragraph 7
- Heretical (n): nng sut, sn lng
- Churchmen (a): th
- Psychoanalysis (n): tht s, gn nh
What is Paragraph 7 about?
Vocabulary
Paragraph 8
- Conundrum (n): nh my
- Outnumbered (a): l nung, bung t
What is Paragraph 8 about?
MATCHING FEATURE

Underline the items

in the passage: first-
borns and later-borns
Scan for the key
words in the
questions.
Read around the
keywords, find the
correct answer
Questions 17-20
17. Try new puzzles
Paragraph 6: ...solving clever puzzles
something first-borns are good at
First-borns tackle officially sanctioned
puzzles while
First-borns
Questions 17-20
18. Challenge the rules
Paragraph 4: ...willingness to challenge
established opinions. Those least
likely to accept new theories were first-
borns with younger siblings. The most
radical were younger sons with at least
one older brother..
later-borns
Questions 17-20
19. Support Roman Catholic Church
Paragraph 8: conflict between first-
born supporting Rome and later-born
Protestants
First-borns
Questions 17-20
20. Accept new ideas
Paragraph 4: ...willingness to challenge
established opinions. Those least
likely to accept new theories were first-
borns with younger siblings The most
radical were younger sons with at least
one older brother..
later-borns
Questions 21-26
21. A boy who has elder sisters only
is more likely to accept new ideas
than a boy who has elder
brothers.
Paragraph 4:
... willingness to challenge established
opinions. Those least likely to accept new
theories were first-borns with younger
siblings. They were followed by only
children, next come later-born eldest sons
(those with one ore more older sisters)
and later-born only son. The most radical
Questions 21-26
22. Birth Orders are very important
in determining peoples
intelligence.
NOT GIVEN
Questions 21-26
23. Sigmund Freud, a first-born, is a
very good example of Sulloways
conclusion.
Paragraph 7:
But Sigmund Freud, , proved too
complicated to categorize
according to birth order.

NO
Questions 21-26
24. Later-borns tend to be more
patient than first-borns
NOT GIVEN
Questions 21-26
25. Many of the major scientific
breakthroughs were brought about
by later-borns.
Paragraph 1:
...most of the major innovators in science
over the last 400 years, preceded in birth
by at least one other sibling.
Paragraph 2:
...23 of the 28 revolutions were led by
later-borns.
YES
Questions 21-26
26. Scientific rebels are born, not
made.
NOT GIVEN
Questions 27-30
27. Satellite Aircom
Paragraph 15 a cooperative owned by
airlines, has combined with Teleglobe,
France Telecom and OTC of Australia
to create Satellite Aircom...
C. a company jointly set up by
several companies
Questions 27-30
28. Inmarsat
Paragraph 9: ...The International
Maritime Satellite Organization
( Inmarsat) approved the initial
satcom system for commercial service
last November ...
D. a regulating body
Questions 27-30
29. Qantas
Paragraph 2:
...Air Canada, Qantas of Australia,
United Airlines f the US and Japan
Airlines .
A. an airline
Questions 27-30
30. OTC
Paragraph 15: the Societe
Internationale de Telecommunication
Aeronautique, a cooperative owned by
airlines, has combined with Teleglobe,
France Telecom and OTC of Australia
to create Satellite Aircom...
B. a telephone company in a
particular country
Questions 31-33
31. Which paragraph mentions
problem A?
P5
Questions 31-33
32. Which paragraph indicates it is
difficult to solve problem B?
P6
Questions 31-33
33. Which paragraph mentions how
to solve problem D?
P8
Questions 34-39
34. Improve flight efficiency
35. Improve navigation
36. Satellite system
(communication)
37. Ground stations
38. Atlantic Ocean (West)
39. US $ 500,000
 THE END
Thanks for your attention!