The Cloud Messenger Reading Questions and Answers

The Cloud Messenger Reading Questions and Answers

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published March 2025. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:

  • IELTS reading Matching Headings
  • IELTS reading Diagram completion
  • IELTS reading Matching Information

Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section.

IELTS Reading Passage – The Cloud Messenger

The Cloud Messenger

Luke Howard had been speaking for nearly an hour, during which time his audience had found itself in a state of gradually mounting excitement. By the time that he reached the concluding words of his address, the Plough Court laboratory was in an uproar. Everyone in the audience had recognized the importance of what they had just heard, and all were in a mood to have it confirmed aloud by their friends and neighbours in the room. Over the course of the past hour, they had been introduced not only to new explanations of the formation and lifespan of clouds, but also to a poetic new terminology: ‘Cirrus’, ‘Stratus’, ‘Cumulus’, ‘Nimbus’, and the other names, too, the names of intermediate compounds and modified forms, whose differences were based on altitude, air temperature and the shaping powers of upward radiation. There was much that needed to be taken on board.

Clouds, as everyone in the room would already have known, were staging posts in the rise and fall of water as it made its way on endless compensating journeys between the earth and the fruitful sky. Yet the nature of the means of their exact construction remained a mystery to most observers who, on the whole, were still in thrall to the vesicular or ‘bubble’ theory that had dominated meteorological thinking for the better part of a century. The earlier speculations, in all their strangeness, had mostly been forgotten or were treated as historical curiosities to be glanced at, derided and then abandoned. Howard, however, was adamant that clouds were formed from actual solid drops of water and ice, condensed from their vaporous forms by the fall in temperature which they encountered as they ascended through the rapidly cooling lower atmosphere. Balloon pioneers during the 1780s had continued just how cold it could get up in the realm of the clouds: the temperature fell some 6.5″C for every thousand meters they ascended. By the time the middle of a major cumulus cloud had been reached, the temperature would have dropped to below freezing, while the oxygen concentration of the air would be starting to thin choir dangerously. That was what the balloonists meant by ‘dizzy heights’.

Howard was not, of course, the first to insist that clouds were best understood as entities with physical properties of their own, obeying the same essential laws which governed the rest of the natural world (with one or two interesting anomalies: water, after all, is a very strange material). It had long been accepted by many of the more scientifically minded that clouds, despite their distance and their seeming intangibility, should be studied and apprehended like any other objects in creation.

There was more, however, and better. Luke Howard also claimed that there was a fixed and constant number of basic cloud types, and this number was not (as the audience might have anticipated) in the hundreds or the thousands, like the teeming clouds themselves, with each as individual as a thumbprint. Had this been the case, it would render them both unclassifiable and unaccountable; just so many stains upon the sky. Howard’s claim, on the contrary, was that there were just three basic families of cloud, into which every one of the thousands of ambiguous forms could be categorized with certainty. The clouds obeyed a system and, once recognized in outline, their basic forms would be ‘as distinguishable from each other as a tree from a hill, or the latter from a lake’, for each displayed the simplest possible visual characteristics.

The names which Howard devised or they were designed to convey a descriptive sense of each cloud type’s outward characteristics (a practice derived from the usual procedures of natural history classification) and were taken from the Latin, for ease of adoption by the learned of different nations’: Cirrus (from the Latin for fibre or hair), Cumulus (from the Latin for heap or pile) and Stratus (from the Latin for layer or sheet). Clouds were thus divided into tendrils, heaps and layers: the three formations at the heart of their design. Howard then went on to name four other cloud types, all of which were either modifications or aggregates of the three major families of formation. Clouds continually unite, pass into one another and disperse, but always in recognizable stages. The rain cloud Nimbus, for example (from the Latin for cloud), was, according to Howard, a rainy combination of all three types, although Nimbus was reclassified as nimbostratus by meteorologists in 1932, by which time the science of rain had developed beyond all recognition.

The modification of clouds was a major new idea, and what struck the audience most vividly about it was its elegant and powerful fittingness. All of what they had just heard seemed so clear and so self-evident. Some must have wondered how it was that no one – not even in antiquity – had named or graded the clouds before, or if they had, why their efforts had left no trace in the language. How could it be that the task had been waiting for Howard, who had succeeded in wringing a kind of exactitude from out of the vaporous clouds? Their forms, though shapeless and unresolved, had, at last, it seemed, been securely grasped. Howard had given a set of names to a radical fluidity and impermanence that seemed every bit as magical, to that first audience, as the Eskimo’s fabled vocabulary of snow.

Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!

Recommended Questions:

Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer

Questions

Questions 27-32

You need to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings bellow.

Write the correct number i-x in the boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet.

The lists of headings are as follows

i. An easily understood system
ii. Doubts dismissed
iii. Not a totally unconventional view
iv. Theories compared
v. A momentous occasion
vi. A controversial use of terminology
vii. Initial confusion
viii. Previous beliefs replaced
ix. More straightforward than expected
x. An obvious thing to do

Ready to conquer Matching Headings questions? Click here to learn essential tips and techniques for matching headings accurately to paragraphs or sections in the IELTS Reading section.

Questions 33-36

Write your answers in boxes 33-36 on your sheet.

Ready to tackle Diagram Label Completion tasks with confidence? Click here to access our comprehensive guide and learn how to accurately label parts or components of diagrams in the IELTS Reading section.

Questions 37-40

Reading Passage has 3 has six paragraphs.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.

NB: You may use any letter more than once.

37. An example of modification made to work done by Howard.
38. A comparison between Howard’s work and another classification system.
39. A reference to the fact that Howard presented a very large amount of information.
40. An assumption is that the audience asked themselves a question.

Master the art of matching information and boost your score in the IELTS Reading section. Click here to access our step-by-step guide on handling Matching Information questions effectively.

Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!

Recommended Questions:

Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer

Answers for The Cloud Messenger

27. Answer: E
28. Answer: H
29. Answer: C
30. Answer: I
31. Answer: A
32. Answer: J
33. Answer: DIZZY HEIGHTS
34. Answer: MAJOR CUMULUS CLOUD
35. Answer: OXYGEN
36. Answer: 6.5° CELSIUS, 1000 METERS
37. Answer: E 
38. Answer: F
39. Answer: A
40. Answer: F

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We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

Electroreception Reading Ielts Answers and Questions

Electroreception Reading Ielts Answers and Questions

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published March 2025. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:

  • IELTS Reading Diagram Labelling
  • IELTS Reading Summary Completion
  • IELTS Reading Locating Information

Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section.

IELTS Reading Passage – Electroreception

ELECTRORECEPTION

In sea water, it is difficult to discern anything other than a murky, blurry green colour. Even the sounds are muddled and hard to make out. How do fish make it look so simple in environments where people would be lost without specialised equipment? The biological phenomena of electroreception, perception, and response to electrical impulses, are largely responsible for this. As water is an effective conductor of electricity, this capacity is exclusive to aquatic and amphibian animals.

There are two forms of electroreception. Although the neural systems of all animals (including humans) produce electric impulses as they are disgorged by the nervous system, certain animals can detect the presence of other species through a process called passive electroreception.

However, certain species can go far further. Active electroreception is animals with organs that can provide distinct electric signals when needed. These are useful not just for finding things in the water, but also as mating signals and territorial displays. Electroreceptors that are actively processing information may identify the distinction between the varied resistances that an electrical current encounters. This can aid in determining whether or not an unidentified animal is a potential meal, a threat, or something to be avoided. The range of active electroreception is around one body length, which is generally just enough for a host to avoid danger or make a killing strike.

The extraordinary use of active electroreception, known as the Jamming Avoidance Response mechanism, has been discovered amongst individuals of some species of weakly electric fish. When two such electric fish encounter one another in the ocean while communicating on the same frequency, each fish will alter the frequency of its discharge to communicate on a different frequency. Doing so protects their electroreception faculties from getting obstructed. Long before citizens’ band radio listeners were required to shout “Get off my frequency!” At least one of the species had developed a form of method for doing so for a quick and peaceful solution to this sort of conflict with incompetent beginners clogging the airwaves.Electroreception can play a significant part in animal defences. Rays are one example of this. Ray embryos grow in egg casings that are anchored to the seafloor. The embryos maintain continual movement of their tails in order to pump water and allow them to breathe through the egg’s shell.However, if a predatory fish is nearby, the embryo’s electroreceptors cause it to stop moving (and so stop sending electric currents) until the fish has gone on. Because many different kinds of marine animals pass by, the embryo has adapted to respond solely to signals that are typical of the respiratory motions of prospective predators like sharks.

Due to sharks, many people fear swimming in the water. This fear is well-founded in certain ways, as humans lack electroreceptive defence systems. Sharks, on the other hand, hunt with incredible accuracy. Moreover, two thirds of a shark’s brain is fully devoted to its olfactory organs, allowing them to first locate its prey based on its scent. As the shark approaches its victim, it tunes into electrical impulses that enable a perfect strike; this sensitivity is so acute that the shark attacks blindly by closing its eyes for defence.

Typically, human beings are attacked unintentionally. Since sharks cannot tell from electroreception if a food will satisfy their preferences, they typically “try before they buy,” taking one or two bites and then evaluating the results (our sinewy muscle is inferior to that of plumper, softer prey such as seals). Salt in the blood increases the strength of the electric field, creating the ideal conditions for a feeding frenzy, which is extremely likely after a human has begun to bleed. In regions where shark attacks on people are prevalent, scientists are studying techniques to develop electroreceptors that might disorient sharks and deter them from swimming shores.

There is still much we do not understand about how electroreception works. Despite the fact that researchers have seen the effects of electroreception on hunting, defence, and communication systems, the precise cerebral mechanisms that store and interpret this information remain unknown. Additionally, scientists are investigating the significance of electroreception in navigation. Salt water and magnetic fields from the Earth’s core may combine to generate electrical currents that sharks employ for migratory reasons, according to certain theories.

Electroreception Reading Questions

Questions 1-3

Label the diagram. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

  1. The shark’s __________ inform the juvenile ray of its existence.
  2. To breathe, the embryo moves its __________.
  3. When a predator is nearby, the embryo ceases transmitting ____________.

Ready to tackle Diagram Label Completion tasks with confidence? Click here to access our comprehensive guide and learn how to accurately label parts or components of diagrams in the IELTS Reading section.

Questions 4-7

Complete the following summary. Write NO MORE THAN THREE words per response from the passage.

A shark is a very efficient predator. Firstly, it uses its 4 __________ to smell its prey. When the shark is close enough to attack, it employs 5 _________ to guide it toward a precise attack. Within the final few feet, the shark rolls its eyes and retracts inside its head. Humans are not popular food sources for most sharks due to their 6 __________ Nevertheless, once a shark has bitten a human, a repeat attack is highly possible as salt from the blood intensifies the intensity of the 7 __________.

Questions 8-13

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter from A–H, in boxes 8–13 on your answer sheet.

8.  A description of how some fish can avoid disrupting each other’s electric signals

9.  The term for the capacity which enables an animal to pick up but not send out electrical signals

10. How electroreception might help creatures find their way over long distances

11. A possible use for electroreception that will benefit humans

12. Why only creatures that live in or near water have electroreceptive abilities

13. How electroreception can be used to help fish reproduce

Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!

Recommended Questions:

Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer

Electroreception Reading Answers

1.  Respiratory motions

2.  Tail

3.  Electric currents

4.  Olfactory organs

5. Electrical impulses

6. Sinewy muscle

7. Electric field

8. D

9. B

10. H 

11. G

12. A

13. C 

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Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Stainless Steel Reading Answers

⚡ TL;DR

Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.

Originally published April 2023. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-14, which are based on the Reading Passage below.

Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Uses

A In any ordinary kitchen, there are numerous items made from stainless steel, including cutlery, utensils, and appliances. ‘Inox’ or ‘18/10’ may be stamped on the base of a good stainless steel pot: ‘Inox’ is short for the French inoxydable; while 18 refers to the percentage of chromium in the stainless steel, and 10 to its nickel content.

B In hospitals, laboratories and factories, stainless steel is used for many instruments and pieces of equipment because it can easily be sterilised, and it remains relatively bacteria-free, thus improving hygiene. Since it is mostly rust-free, stainless steel also does not need painting, so proves cost-effective.

C As a decorative element, stainless steel has been incorporated into skyscrapers, like the Chrysler Building in New York, and the Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, the latter considered one of the most stunning contemporary structures in China. Bridges, monuments, and sculptures are often stainless steel; and, cars, trains, and aircraft contain stainless steel parts.

Recent alloys

D As most pure metals serve little practical purpose, they are often combined or alloyed. Some examples of ancient alloys are bronze (copper + tin) and brass (copper + zinc). Carbon steel (iron + carbon), first made in small quantities in China in the sixth century AD, was produced industrially only in mid-nineteenth-century Europe. Stainless steel, which retains the strength of carbon steel with some added benefits, consists of iron, carbon, chromium, and nickel, and may contain trace elements. Stainless steel is a new invention – Austenitic stainless steel was patented by German engineers in 1912, the same year that Americans created ferritic stainless steel, while Martensitic stainless steel was patented as late as 1919.

Properties

E The name, stainless steel, is misleading since, where there is very little oxygen or a great amount of salt, the alloy will, indeed, stain. In addition, stainless steel parts should not be joined together with stainless steel nuts or bolts as friction damages the elements; another alloy, like bronze, or pure aluminium or titanium must be used.

F In general, stainless steel does not deteriorate as ordinary carbon steel does, which rusts in air and water. Rust is a layer of iron oxide that forms when oxygen reacts with the iron in carbon steel. Because iron oxide molecules are larger than those of iron alone, they wear down the steel, causing it to flake and eventually snap. Stainless steel, however, contains between 13-26% chromium, and, with exposure to oxygen, forms chromium oxide, which has molecules the same size as the iron ones beneath, meaning they bond strongly to form an invisible film that prevents oxygen or water from penetrating.

As a result, the surface of stainless steel neither rusts nor corrodes. Furthermore, if scratched, the protective chromium-oxide layer of stainless steel repairs itself in a process known as passivation, which also occurs with aluminium, titanium, and zinc.

Varieties

G There are over 150 grades of stainless steel with various properties, each distinguished by its crystalline structure. Austenitic stainless steel, comprising 70% of global production, is barely magnetic, but ferritic and Martensitic stainless steel function as magnets because they contain more nickel or manganese. Ferritic stainless steel – soft and slightly corrosive – is cheap to produce, and has many applications, while Martensitic stainless steel, with more carbon than the other types, is incredibly strong, so it is used in fighter jet bodies but is also the costliest to produce.

Recyclability

H Stainless steel can be recycled completely, and these days, the average stainless steel object comprises around 60% of recycled material.

Cutting-edge application

I In the last few years, 3D printers have become widespread, and stainless steel infused with bronze is the hardest material that a 3D printer can currently use.

J In 3D printing, an inkjet head deposits alternate layers of stainless steel powder and organic binder into a build box. After each layer of binder is spread, overhead heaters dry the object before another layer of powder is added. Upon completion of printing, the whole object, still in its build box, is sintered in an oven, which means the object is heated to just below the melting point, so the binder evaporates. Next, the porous object is placed in a furnace so that molten bronze can replace the binder. To finish, the object is blasted with tiny beads that smooth the surface.

Appraisal

K In less than a century, stainless steel has become essential due to its relatively cheap production cost, its durability, and its renewability. Used in the new manufacturing process of 3D printing, its future looks bright.

Questions 1-4

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

Write the correct letter in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

1 A stainless steel pot with “18/10” stamped on it contains

A 18% carbon and 10% iron.

B 18%ironand 10% carbon.

C 18% chromium and 10% nickel.

D 18% nickel and 10% chromium.

2 Hospitals and laboratories use stainless steel equipment because it

A is easy to clean.

B is inexpensive.

C is not disturbed by magnets.

D withstands high temperatures.

3 Stainless steel has been used in some famous buildings for its

A durability.

B beauty.

C modernity.

D reflective quality.

4 The first type of stainless steel was patented in

A China in 1912.

B Germany in 1912.

C the UK in 1919.

D the US in 1919.

Questions 5-11

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

In boxes 5-11 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.

5 Stainless steel does not stain.

6 Carbon steel rusts as its surface molecules are smaller than those of iron oxide.

7 Passivation is unique to stainless steel.

8 Austenitic stainless steel is the most commonly produced type.

9 These days, Martensitic stainless steel is mainly produced in China.

10 Currently, the recycling of stainless steel takes place in many countries.

11 Close to two-thirds of a stainless steel object is made up of recycled metal.

Questions 12-14

Label the diagrams below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 12-14 on your answer sheet.

3D printing using stainless steel and bronze

Answer Key

Question No.AnswerQuestion No.Answer
1.C8.True
2.A9.Not Given
3.B10.Not Given
4.B11.True
5.False12.melting point
6.True13.furnace
7.False14.tiny beads
Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Diagrams

⚡ TL;DR

Step-by-step guide to answering this type of IELTS Writing Task 1 question. Covers structure, key language, and band-scoring criteria.

Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

 IELTS listening diagrams

In this post, we will look at diagrams in the listening test.

In the IELTS Listening test, you may see questions that ask you to label a diagram or process. The diagram may be a dissection of a machine or the different parts of a process. 

When you listen to the speaker talk through the diagram or process, they will describe it in a logical way and explain everything clearly. You must follow the speaker and not think about your own knowledge of the subject. 

TIP >> Listen out for the sequence of events – first, second, next, after that, finally.

TIP >> Be aware of paraphrasing during this part of the test.


Diagram Question

The question below shows a diagram with some parts labelled. The recording would talk you through the parts and their position. You would match up the answers to the correct part. 

Question

Write the correct number, 1-5, next to Questions A-E.

Diagram Question

Labelling Mechanical Parts

A question may ask you to label the parts of a machine or device.

Questions 1-5

Write the correct letter, A-F, next to questions 1-5 below. 

Tachometer Drive Parts

Labelling Mechanical Parts

Grammar 

When you describe a process, you would use adverbs and prepositions of movement.

Prepositions used with the verb to be can be used to state the location of something. 

For example;

  • The electrical cable is underneath the floor.
  • The water pipe is above the water tank.

Prepositions that show movement are sometimes combined with verbs other than to be.

For example;

  • The water was pumped out of the tank.
  • The wires were moved to another wall.

Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of movement are used to show movement to or from a place.

For example;

to, through, across

When you use the word to it can show movement to a specific destination.

  • The pipe is going to reach the end of the house.
  • The pipe goes to the air conditioning unit.

Through is used to show movement from one side of a confined space to the other.

  • The cable went through the interior isolation.
  • The water pipe passes through the exterior of the house.

The word across is used to show movement from one side to another.

  • To reach the outside line, the pipe was passed across the roof. 
  • To get to the outside patio the cable went across the room.

More prepositions of movement >>

along – the inside of……

around – the edge of……

away from – the tracks

back to – the machine

down – the side of…..

into – the heating element

off – the side of the wall

out of – the box

over – the table

past – the pipe

round – the side of the machine

towards – the area beneath the table

under – the fan

up – the main cable line

The words at and in can be used to show the purpose of movement, for example;

  • The long thin cable is at the bottom of the wall. 
  • The ceiling fan is moving slowly in the other room.

Sequence

The words below can help you to connect the stages of the process you are writing about.

Sequencing helps you as the listener to understand the information clearly. This will also help you in Academic Writing Task 1 – Process.

Sequence

Process

A question may ask you to label the stages of a process.

TIP >> Study the process before you listen to the recording and read the list of options.

Process

REVIEW AND STRATEGY

TIP >> The plans, maps and diagrams questions do not follow the order that you hear the information in the recording. Therefore it is important that you read the questions and familiarise yourself with the diagram or process you are looking at before you start listening. 

TIP >> Study the diagram or process and see where things are before listening to the recording. Marks can be lost if you do not do this and read the questions properly.

TIP >> Listen carefully for information but be wary of distractors. 

TIP >> Make notes on the paper and draw lines etc. This may help you to locate information.


We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.

Stainless Steel Reading Answers

Flowcharts, Notes, Tables, Summaries And Diagrams

⚡ TL;DR

Step-by-step guide to answering this type of IELTS Writing Task 1 question. Covers structure, key language, and band-scoring criteria.

Originally published June 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.

In this post, we will look at flowcharts, notes, tables, summaries and diagrams. It is very important that you will be able to >>

Understand information in flowcharts, diagrams and tables. These are used to give specific information for a fast analysis. In the test, you may have a table that you have to fill in, after finding the required information in an article. 

Summaries and notes, a summary is a short review of something, you will often see this when looking for information about a book or movie, they will give you a short summary of what it is about. Notes can be in bullet form, with groups of words or single words, linked to a subject heading. 


Read The Questions / Instructions

Before you start to read the information presented to you, first you must read the questions/instructions and think about the amount and type of information you can enter. If your answer does not follow the instructions given, then it will be marked as incorrect.

For example, you may be asked to;

  • Write no more than one word for each answer
  • Write no more than one word and/or a number for each answer
  • Write no more than two words for each answer
  • Write no more than three words for each answer

Finding Words In The Text

When reading information in a text you will be looking for specific information, that you can write onto a diagram, table or flowchart. This means you will use words that are in the text, paying close attention to the spelling. It is ok to copy words straight from the text, other forms of the word will be marked incorrect. 


Notes

The paragraph below is from The World Health Organisation (WHO) website.

Read through the questions and skim read the text, can you answer the questions?

Dementia is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature – in which there is deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from normal ageing. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not affected. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation.

  • Dementia is a ……………….. which is usually continuous and gradual. 
  • It can affect many cognitive functions, including ………………………………, …………………., or ………………….
  • According to the notes, dementia sufferers …………………… is not damaged.
  • Dementia can affect the ability to remember, awareness, direction and ………………

Answers >> Are at the bottom of the page. 


Flowcharts

A flowchart is a graphic that shows the events of a process, normally in sequence. In the IELTS test, the flowchart questions are similar to the notes questions, but with arrows to tell you the sequence. When you read through the given text, the information presented may not be in the order of the flowchart.

The paragraph below is from The World Health Organisation (WHO) website.

Take a look at the information below and see if you can find the one-word answers that are missing…..

Climate change

Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate. In the last 130 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.85oC. Each of the last 3 decades has been successively warmer than any preceding decade since 18501. Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting and precipitation patterns are changing. Extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent.

Answers >> Are at the bottom of the page. 


Diagrams

There are different types of diagrams that you may see, including labelling a plan, or a design. The other types could be something from the natural world or a technical drawing. You may also see a diagram, for example, to read a text about the human body and then label parts of the body, using one-word (or more) answers from the text. 

You may have a diagram that requires labelling from a selection of words in a box, try to understand what is happening in the diagram and where those words would fit. On the other hand, you may have a diagram that relates to a text you have to read and locate information relating to the diagram. Make sure you check how many words you need to write in the spaces, as writing too many will lose marks. Start with the most obvious and move on, if you are finding information in a text, read through quickly and don’t waste time trying to read the whole text and understand it. 

Image Source

Answers >> Are at the bottom of the page. 


Tables

The information you will see in a table can be looked at quickly, by looking at the headings and the information in each row. The tables present information, for example, a timetable, exam results or in this case below, IELTS band scores. 

Look at the table above, and see if you can answer the following questions >>

  • What do you need to score in listening to get a band score of 7? 
  • What do you need to score in Academic reading to get a band score of 8?
  • What do you need to score in General Reading for a band score of 6?

Answers >> Are at the bottom of the page. 


Summaries

A summary is a brief explanation of the main points on a topic. You will use and see many summaries all of the time, from reading what a movie is about or a book, you summarise the story or events. When you see a summary of the reading test, quickly highlight or underline the keywords and think about paraphrasing. 

The paragraph below is from The World Health Organisation (WHO) website.

Read the summary below >>

Asthma is a major non-communicable disease characterised by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. Symptoms may occur several times in a day or week in affected individuals, and for some people become worse during physical activity or at night. During an asthma attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swells, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air into and out of the lungs. Recurrent asthma symptoms frequently cause sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels and school and work absenteeism. Asthma has a relatively low fatality rate compared to other chronic diseases.

  • Choose one word only for each answer.
  • The severity of Asthma varies in each person, some may have many …………. and others few.
  • Due to physical activities or in the evening, many sufferers say that they become…………….
  • When an attack happens, the air that flows into the lungs is restricted, with the ……………. becoming smaller.
  • Asthma does not cause many deaths in comparison to other ……………….. illnesses. 

Answers >> Are at the bottom of the page.


REVIEW AND STRATEGY

The flowcharts, notes, tables, summaries and diagrams are common in the IELTS Reading Test, therefore you should practice and develop a strategy for answering. 

TIP >> Read the instructions before you start reading the text. Make sure you understand the question.

TIP >> Study the diagram/flowchart and see how many words you need to write. For summaries, notes and tables, skim read and get the main idea.

TIP >> Highlight any keywords or labels you can see, then match them up if you see anything that stands out to you.

TIP >> Choose your answers carefully, be attentive to synonyms and paraphrasing and check your spelling.


 Answers From All Exercises >>

Notes Answers >>

  • syndrome
  • deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation.
  • consciousness
  • comprehension

Flowchart Answers >>

  • carbon dioxide
  • decades
  • extreme

Diagram Answers >>

  • 7. Spinal Nerve
  • 8. Spinal Cord
  • 9. Vertebra
  • 10. Spinal Cord

Table Answers >>

  • 33-35
  • 36-37
  • 26-30

Summary Answers >>

  • symptoms
  • worse
  • airways
  • chronic

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