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TEST 25 READING IELTS 5 Practice Tests, Academic Set 5

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READING

READING PASSAGE 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1 - 13, which are based on Reading Passage 1

below.

The Wolf in Europe

Wolves once existed throughout much of Europe. However, conflicts with humans and fears

originating from religious beliefs, myths and folklore influenced human attitudes towards wolves and,

as a result, they have been persecuted for hundreds of years. The wolf has created the most

controversy of any predator in Europe, as it occupies conflicting places in people’s imaginations, being

simultaneously loved and hated. On one hand, it is held up as a symbol of wilderness, while for others,

wolves symbolise waste and wanton destruction. As a result, wolf conservation is almost always a

difficult matter.

Originally, the wolf was one of the world’s most widely distributed large mammals. It has become

extinct in much of Western Europe, in Mexico and much of the USA, and their present distribution is

more restricted; wolves occur primarily but not exclusively in remote areas. Their original worldwide

range has been reduced by about one-third by deliberate persecution due to attacks on livestock and

fear of attacks on humans. Since about 1970, legal protection, land-use changes and rural human

population shifts to cities have arrested wolf population declines and fostered natural recolonisation in

parts of its range and reintroduction. Continued threats include competition with humans for livestock

and game species, exaggerated concern by the public regarding the threat and danger of wolves, and

fragmentation of habitat, with resulting areas becoming too small for populations with enduring

viability.

Historically, wolves have been heavily persecuted in Europe for millennia, and were exterminated from

most of northern and western Europe in the last two centuries, probably reaching their minimum in

the 1940’s to 1960’s. Since then, many populations have begun to recover and expand their range, for

example in Spain and Italy. Furthermore, in the last twenty years, the species has been recovering

naturally and reappearing in areas from which they had become extinct, for example in France,

northern Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany and Switzerland. This recovery has revealed their

remarkable ecological adaptability, enabling them to survive in extremely diverse environments.

Wolves can basically survive anywhere they can find a source of food, and this can be of various forms,

from wild animals, to livestock, to garbage. The only limiting factor seems to be human persecution. As

a result, the conservation of wolves is less of an ecological issue and more a social issue, strictly linked

to the diverse cultural and socio-economic conditions of the areas they inhabit. This makes

international legislation extremely hard to enforce in highly diverse European countries. This is a

particularly sensitive issue when it comes to the conservation and management of wolf populations

that are transboundary in nature, occupying territories belonging to different countries, and thus

requiring international collaboration. In addition, the present distribution of wolves around Europe is

extremely uneven and densities vary greatly from country to country. The situation is made even more

difficult by the lack of population data across different countries.

IELTS 5 Practice Tests, Academic Set 5 TEST 25 READING

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Human acceptance of wolves is a major problem in many areas, especially in areas where wolves have

returned after an absence and it is important to not underestimate these conflicts, or to believe that

they are only linked to livestock. Understanding the reasons why acceptance varies so much between

countries could be important for finding solutions. As a result of humans’ attitude to wolves, human-

caused mortality, either through hunter harvest, official lethal control, or poaching, is the main limiting

factor for wolf populations. There are several countries where wolf management is clearly

unsustainable due to over-harvest and even state sanctioned bounty programs within Europe. On the

other hand, properly regulated wolf harvest and control appears to be compatible with wolf

conservation in many countries. In many cases, it may be a prerequisite for public acceptance by

allowing countries to keep wolf populations at a level that is socially acceptable. Countries within

Europe have used many different legal mechanisms to maintain management flexibility with respect to

being able to kill wolves, using exceptions, derogations or various interpretations of convention

definitions.

Poaching is a widespread problem in many countries with very diverse socio-economic backgrounds

and it occurs because of the aforementioned fears, but also for pure sport. There is a clear need for

effective education and law enforcement throughout wolf range. The sometimes chronic lack of

control over poaching greatly reduces management flexibility through legal means, because of the

need to account for this uncertainty.

Another issue facing wolves in Europe is a lack of natural prey. Population sizes of the wolf’s usual

prey, such as large grazing mammals (i.e. deer, wild boar and wild goat) have undergone a remarkable

reduction over the last decades due to overhunting, habitat loss (usually deforestation) and

fragmentation, and grazing competition between domestic and wild herbivores. It has been proved

that there is a strong correlation between prey and carnivore abundance – approximately 10 000

kilograms of prey supports about 90 kilograms of large carnivore biomass, regardless of species. When

sufficient prey is unavailable, large carnivore populations will decline, possibly becoming locally extinct.

In the case of the wolf in Europe, this problem can be compounded by wolf conflicts with livestock,

which increase as the wolves search for alternative food sources. Similarly, when wolves are forced to

range more widely in search of prey, they may face greater exposure to human-related threats,

including mortality on roads and direct persecution in regions with high human population densities.


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Questions 1 – 5

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1 - 5 on your answer sheet.

1 Due to conflicting superstitious, religious and individual beliefs, the wolf has become an

animal that provokes a lot of ____________.

2 While some people see the wolf as representing the ____________, others have a more

negative viewpoint.

3 Current wolf populations are usually located in ____________.

4 The move of humans to live in ____________ has helped wolf populations recover.

5 The break up of areas where wolves live has decreased the long-term ____________ of these

habitats.

Questions 6 – 8

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.


6 What kind of problem has the preservation of wolves been identified as?

7 What is needed between countries in order to solve cross-border issues regarding wolf

preservation?

8 What scheme has been put into practice by various countries that allows allow the public

to be rewarded for killing wolves?


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Questions 9 – 13

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

Write the correct letter in boxes 9 - 13 on your answer sheet.

9 Some countries manage wolf populations by

A appointing special rangers responsible for their management.

B allowing their free range and breeding.

C applying European law in a flexible manner.

D setting up breeding programs in captivity.

10 The issue of wolf poaching

A is being investigated by the European Union.

B can possibly be solved through education.

C is getting less significant as wolf numbers grow.

D is now illegal through all countries of Europe.

11 The main reason for the reduction of places for wolf prey to live is

A the removal of natural woodland.

B the change in climate in eastern Europe.

C the use of land for more hunting.

D the increase in the use of agricultural pesticides.

12 There is a clear relationship between

A the numbers of wolves in Europe and the numbers of attacks by wolves on

livestock.

B the amount of prey available and the amount of wolves in a habitat.

C the numbers of wolves in a habitat and the numbers of livestock there.

D the amount of grazing land and the wolf attacks on livestock.

13 A lack of natural prey can

A mean that some wolves will turn to cannibalism.

B lead to fewer cubs being born because of malnutrition.

C force groups of wolves to break up to reduce food competition.

D mean wolves come more into contact with humans.


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READING PASSAGE 2


below.

Community Water Treatment

Having inexpensive and safe drinking water is a goal common to all countries. Nevertheless, 1.1 to 1.8

billion people globally lack access to safe water. It has been predicted that two-thirds of the world’s

inhabitants could live in water-stressed conditions by 2025, and this will be exacerbated by the

demands of the increasing numbers of people needing water, increasing numbers of bigger towns,

and climate change.

Without improved sanitation and sustainable supplies of water of sufficient quantity and quality, many

countries will suffer from increased poverty and disease, food and energy insecurity and economic

dislocations. These problems have the potential to undermine economic development, exacerbate

migration pressures, increase civil unrest, reduce trade and export opportunities, and prevent countries

from advancing policies and programs. Safe water is fundamental to solving challenges to human

health, economic development, and peace and security. Water problems are unfortunately difficult to

solve and the needy and weak, in particular women and girls, can be the most difficult to improve the

lot of in many societies.

Drinking water supplies are safest in the developed world. However, even the safest drinking water

sources can suffer adulteration, causing sickness and disease from waterborne germs and require

appropriate treatment to remove disease-causing agents. Public drinking water systems use various

methods of treatment to provide safe drinking water for their communities. Today, the most common

steps in water treatment used by community water systems are uniform in most developed countries.

Coagulation and flocculation are the first two steps in water treatment. Positively-charged chemicals

are added to the water and these neutralise the negative charge of dirt and other dissolved particles in

the water. When this occurs, the particles bind with the chemicals and form larger particles, called floc.

During the next step, floc settles to the bottom of the water supply, due to its weight. This process

involves the settling of other solids and is called sedimentation. Once the solids have settled to the

bottom, the clear water on top will go through to the next stage to go through filters of varying pore

sixes and different compositions, such as sand, gravel, and charcoal, and pore sizes, in order to remove

dissolved particles, such as dust, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. After the water has been

filtered, disinfection is performed to kill any remaining parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The water is

then stored until it is piped to homes and businesses.

Water may be treated differently in different communities depending on the quality of the water

entering the treatment plant. Typically, surface water requires more treatment and filtration than

ground water, because lakes, rivers, and streams hold more earth and pollutants and are more likely to

be contaminated.


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Even though most countries set standards for public drinking water, many people use a home water

treatment. Household water treatment systems are composed of two categories: point-of-use and

point-of-entry. Point-of-entry systems are typically installed after the water meter and treat most of

the water entering a residence. Point-of-use systems are systems that treat water in batches and

deliver water to a tap, such as a kitchen or bathroom sink or an auxiliary faucet mounted next to a tap.

The most common types of household water treatment systems might consist of four components.

The first is a filtration system, which is a device that removes impurities from water by means of a

physical barrier, chemical, and/or biological process. The second is a water softener, which is a device

that reduces the hardness of the water. A water softener typically uses sodium or potassium ions to

replace calcium and magnesium ions. The third is a distillation system, which executes a process in

which impure water is boiled and the steam is collected and condensed in a separate container,

leaving many of the solid contaminants behind. The fourth is disinfection, which is a physical or

chemical process in which pathogenic microorganisms are deactivated or killed. Examples of chemical

disinfectants are chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and ozone. Examples of physical disinfectants include

ultraviolet light, electronic radiation, and heat.

Another treatment that public water is subjected to is fluoridation. For example, people in the United

States have benefited for 70 years from drinking water with fluoride, leading to better dental health.

Drinking fluoridated water keeps teeth strong and reduces tooth decay by about 25 per cent in

children and adults. By preventing cavities, community water fluoridation has been shown to save

money for families and for the US health care system. Oral health in the United States is much better

today than it was many years ago; however, cavities are still one of the most common chronic diseases

of childhood. Community water fluoridation is the most cost-effective way to deliver fluoride to people

of all ages, education levels, and income levels who live in a community. Most water has some fluoride,

but usually not enough to prevent cavities, but community water systems can add the right amount of

fluoride to the local drinking water to prevent them. This has led to community water fluoridation

being regarded as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. Some bottled

waters do not have fluoride put in as an ingredient, and some do. Fluoride can occur naturally in

source waters used for bottling or be added, but most bottled waters contain fluoride at levels that are

less than optimal for good oral health.


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Questions 14 – 18

Complete the summary using the words in the box below.


The Importance of Clean Water

As access to clean and (14) _______________ water is not always going to be possible,

66% of the world could suffer water stress by 2025. This is worsened by a growing

population, increased (15) _______________ and global warming.

If better (16) _______________ and provision of quality water is not possible, various

negative social and security effects will be felt by different countries. The worst

affected will be the poor and (17) _______________. Females are particularly affected. In

spite of the developed world’s water sources, (18) _______________ can still occur and

treatment is required.

drought hygiene consumption

pipes reservoirs affordable affluent

contamination urbanisation vulnerable


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Questions 19 – 21

Label the diagram below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 19 - 21 on your answer sheet

Community Water Treatment System

.


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Questions 22 - 26

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer of the text?

In boxes 22 - 26 on your answer sheet write:

YES if the statement agrees with the writer’s views

NO if the statement doesn’t agree with the writer’s views

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

22 Surface water contains more sediment than ground water.

23 Domestic filtration can remove both chemical and biological contamination.

24 Water treatments that use condensation are too complex for domestic systems.

25 The cost of water softeners in the US are subsidised by the relevant state.

26 Bottled water does not contain added fluoride.


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READING PASSAGE 3


below

Beauty Pageants

Paragraph A

Choosing symbolic kings and queens for May Day and other festivities is an ancient custom in Europe,

in which beautiful young women symbolise their nation’s virtues and other abstract qualities. Beauty

pageants have also long been part of American popular culture. The Miss America Pageant is the most

well-known and it was started in 1921 as a ‘bathing beauty’ contest to entice summer holidaymakers

to stay in town past Labor Day. Local newsman Herb Test created history by offering to title the girl

who won ‘Miss America.’ Out of the eight competitors for the title, Margaret Gorman, who represented

the nation’s capital as Miss Washington D.C., was declared the beauty queen, winning the first-ever

Miss America title. For several years afterward, the contest was dogged by controversies. First, the

contest came under criticism of corruption and bias. Then, 15-year-old Marian Bergeron won the

crown. When her age was discovered, she was disqualified, but the crown had already been stolen

from her hotel.

Paragraph B

In 1935, the pageant was revived by producer Lenora Slaughter. By this time, the nation was in the grip

of Hollywood fever. Pageant-winners were often offered Hollywood screen tests, and film producers

from Hollywood started scouring these contests for potential stars of the silver screen. Some women

actually did make it to the screen that way, including Dorothy Lamour, who went on to co-star in

several successful movies. It was only in 1938 that a skills component became mandatory for the

pageant. Slaughter also decided to offer a college scholarship to the winner, the then significant sum

of $5,000. In 1948, history was made again when Slaughter announced that henceforth the winners

would be crowned in evening gowns only.

Paragraph C

As times changed, though, so have beauty pageants. Today, this annual U.S. national competition, as

well as state and local pageants, claim to showcase the talent, intellect, and beauty of modern women.

The pageants provide popular entertainment for those at the competitions and, through the broadcast

media, to those watching at home. Funds for sponsoring the pageants and providing the prizes are

traditionally drawn from individuals, small businesses, corporations, civic groups, foundations, and

universities. Commercial sponsors reap favourable promotion opportunities, leading to increased

product visibility and market share. Prizes include the coveted crown, and may also include trophies,

vacations, clothes, jewelry, savings bonds, and cash. Besides prizes, the winner has the opportunity to

pursue her career and community service goals, as well as the obligation to represent the pageant

sponsors’ commercial interests.


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Paragraph D

Beauty contests have various advantages for the contestants. Firstly, in order to compete and be

successful in the beauty pageant world, contestants have to have a pretty significant amount of self-

discipline. They have to train so that they are perfect on stage, keep a strict diet and workout regime in

place, and put in the work to make themselves look their best. This quality is a skill that can help

participants in many different aspects of life, especially if they begin competing at a young age.

Secondly, contestants have to be well-rounded people in order to succeed in the pageant world. It

isn’t all about looking pretty and wearing fancy clothes. They also have to be prepared to answer

insightful questions and be able to handle themselves under pressure. These are skills that are needed

to be successful, not only in the pageant world, but in real life as well. Thirdly, although some beauty

pageants are just about winning the contest, others have some real advantages to participating. Many

pageants offer cash rewards for the winner, and pageants for younger girls often give out college

scholarships. This is an advantage, because it helps these young people to begin to prepare for their

future, and gets them in the mindset of self-improvement. Finally, the pageant world is an

interconnected community of parents, participants, and trainers. When people compete in many

pageants, they begin to develop bonds with the people that they are competing with on a regular

basis. These are friendships that will likely last for a long time.

Paragraph E

The disadvantages of beauty contests are wide-ranging. Firstly, beauty pageants are for the beautiful.

This is harmful to young girls and even adults who feel they cannot compete. The strong focus on

physical appearance can cause competing girls to form obsessions, and a loss gives the feeling that

they were not pretty enough to win. In addition, beauty pageants also tacitly approve of the ideology

for both men and women that women should only be evaluated by their personal appearance.

Secondly, the winners of the big name pageants of the past all have one thing in common: they are

thin. This simple fact creates a norm for girls who compete in pageants to live up to. The result is a

group of competing young girls within which eating disorders and depression run rampant. Eating

disorders are extremely unhealthy, and can cause irreversible damage to girls’ bodies. The resulting

depression can naturally lead to severe problems as well. Finally, exploitation is a common word heard

with regards to beauty pageants. In child pageants, which are rapidly growing in popularity around the

world, the children are taken advantage of because they often have no say as to whether or not they

compete.

Paragraph F

Pageant organisers would counter the above arguments by maintaining that the contests offer

substantial benefits to the contestants and sponsors and provide a forum to showcase community

customs and traditions. The organisers claim that pageants can therefore promote the growth and

development of the community, which substantially benefits the said community as a whole. Pageants

also offer a recreational outlet for participants and community members.


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Questions 27 – 32

The text on the previous pages has 6 paragraphs A - F.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write your answers in boxes 27 –32 on your answer sheet.

27 The movie industry has used beauty pageants to look for new talent.

28 Beauty pageants can allow economic development in local communities.

29 One early beauty pageant was started to raise money from increased tourism.

30 Some children have little choice of whether to compete or not in beauty pageants.

31 Competing in beauty pageants can sometimes help with university fee payments.

32 Business sponsorship of beauty pageants can create valuable publicity for the businesses.

Questions 33 – 40

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.


Beauty Pageants – Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages (33) ____________ is an essential quality for beauty pageant contestants. It can

help them in various parts of preparation for the shows and in their future

lives, particularly if the contestants start young.

Success in pageants requires balanced individuals in order to deal with the

different parts of the shows and the related (34) ____________.

There are attractive financial rewards for success in beauty pageants. These

can help contestants with education, other life challenges and promote the

attitude of (35) ____________.

(36) ____________ of friendship made with fellow contestants and other

individuals from the pageant community can last a lifetime.

Disadvantages Beauty pageants make people who do not win or who do not compete feel

inadequate in terms of beauty, so that they can develop (37) ____________.

Pageants endorse the (38) ____________ that people should be judged by

their looks.

The (39) ____________ of thinness that is generated can lead to eating

disorders and depression.

Beauty pageants have also been accused of (40) ____________.

TEST 25 WRITING IELTS 5 Practice Tests, Academic Set 5

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WRITING

WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The images below illustrate the process of generating electricity at a wood

chip-burning power plant.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and

make comparisons where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words.

Wood Chip-burning Power Plant - Electricity Generation Process