Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Reading Test 3 Answers with Explanation / IELTS Reading: Archaeologists discover evidence , The global importance of wetlands, Is the era of artificial speech translation?

READING PASSAGE 1

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

Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

Number of Question	Question	Keywords of the Question	Answer	Location with Line Number in the Paragraph	Explanation
1	Archaeological research had taken place on the island of Obi before the arrival of Ceri Shipton and his colleagues.	archaeological research, Obi, before, Ceri Shipton	FALSE	Paragraph 1, Line 2	The passage does not mention any prior archaeological research on Obi before Shipton and his team arrived.
2	At the Kelo sites, the researchers found the first clam shell axes ever to be discovered in the region.	Kelo sites, clam shell axes, first discovered	FALSE	Paragraph 4, Line 4	The passage mentions that similar clam shell axes were found elsewhere, including on the nearby island of Gebe, before they were found on Obi.
3	The size of Obi today is less than it was 18,000 years ago.	size of Obi, today, less, 18,000 years ago	TRUE	Paragraph 6, Line 1	The text clearly states that Obi was much larger 18,000 years ago, covering what is now the separate island of Bisa and several small islands.
4	A change in the climate around 11,700 years ago had a greater impact on Obi than on the surrounding islands.	climate change, 11,700 years ago, impact on Obi	NOT GIVEN	Not explicitly mentioned	The text does not compare the impact of climate change on Obi versus surrounding islands, so this information is not given.
5	The researchers believe there is a connection between warmer, wetter weather and a change in the material used to make axes.	connection, climate change, axes material	TRUE	Paragraph 7, Line 1	The researchers link the change to stone axes appearing around 11,700 years ago, as a response to warmer and wetter conditions.
6	Shipton’s team were surprised to find evidence of the Obi islanders’ hunting practices.	Shipton’s team, surprised, hunting practices	NOT GIVEN	Not explicitly mentioned	There is no mention of Shipton’s team being surprised by evidence of the islanders’ hunting practices.
7	It is thought that the Kelo shelters were occupied continuously until about 1,000 years ago.	Kelo shelters, occupied continuously, 1,000 years ago	FALSE	Paragraph 9, Line 1	The passage states that the Kelo shelters were abandoned about 8,000 years ago and re-occupied around 1,000 years ago, implying they were not continuously occupied.
8	Complete the notes below: Excavations of rock shelters inside __________ near the village of Kelo revealed:	Excavations, rock shelters, near Kelo	caves	Paragraph 4, Line 1	The excavations took place in caves near the village of Kelo.
9	Axes made out of __________, dating from around 11,700 years ago.	Axes, material, 11,700 years ago	stone	Paragraph 7, Line 2	The axes were made from stone, as opposed to clam shells, around 11,700 years ago.
10	__________ of an animal: evidence of what ancient islanders ate.	Evidence, animal, ancient islanders’ diet	bones	Paragraph 8, Line 1	The bones of the Rothschild’s cuscus were found, providing evidence of what the islanders ate.
11	Evidence of travel between islands: – __________: a material that is not found naturally on Obi.	Evidence, travel, material, not found on Obi	obsidian	Paragraph 8, Line 2	Obsidian, a volcanic glass, was found, which must have been brought over from another island, as there is no known source on Obi.
12	It is thought that from 8,000 years ago, Obi islanders: – may have switched from hunting to fishing. – had __________ as well as items made out of metal.	Obi islanders, 8,000 years ago, pottery, metal items	pottery	Paragraph 9, Line 3	From 8,000 years ago, Obi islanders had pottery as well as items made from metal.
13	It is thought that from 8,000 years ago, Obi islanders: – probably took part in the production and sale of __________.	Obi islanders, 8,000 years ago, production, sale, __________	spices	Paragraph 9, Line 5	The final phase of occupation likely involved the trade in spices, according to the passage.

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 .

The global importance of wetlands

Number of Question	Question	Keywords of the question	Answer	Location with Line Number in the paragraph	Explanation
14	Reference to the need to ensure that inhabitants of wetland regions continue to benefit from them	inhabitants, benefit, wetland regions	G	Paragraph G, Line 7-10	The passage discusses that local people should be involved in wetland planning and decision-making, ensuring they benefit from wetlands.
15	The proportion of wetlands which have already been lost	proportion, wetlands, lost	A	Paragraph A, Line 2-3	The passage states that half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1990.
16	Reference to the idea that people are beginning to appreciate the value of wetlands	value, appreciation, wetlands	H	Paragraph H, Line 4-6	McCartney mentions that awareness of the importance of wetlands is growing, even if degradation continues.
17	Mention of the cultural significance of wetlands	cultural significance, wetlands	B	Paragraph B, Line 1-2	The passage notes wetlands' cultural, historical, and religious value to many communities.
18	Peatlands which have been drained begin to release ………… instead of storing it	peatlands, drained, release, instead	carbon	Paragraph D, Line 4	Drained peatlands become net carbon emitters instead of storing carbon, according to Silvius.
19	Once peatland areas have been cleared, ………… are more likely to occur	cleared, peatland, more likely, occur	fires	Paragraph E, Line 5-6	Silvius explains that peatland clearance increases the risk of forest fires.
20	Clearing peatland forests to make way for oil palm plantations destroys the ………… of the local environment	clearing, peatland, oil palm, destroys	biodiversity	Paragraph D, Line 6	Silvius mentions that clearing peatland forests destroys biodiversity.
21	Water is drained out of peatlands through the ………… which are created by logging companies	water, drained, peatlands, created	ditches	Paragraph E, Line 2	The passage describes how logging companies create ditches to drain peatlands for cultivation.
22	Draining peatlands leads to ………… : a serious problem which can eventually result in coastal flooding and land loss	draining, peatlands, serious problem	subsidence	Paragraph E, Line 7-8	Silvius explains that draining peatlands causes subsidence, which leads to coastal flooding and land loss.
23	Communities living in wetland regions must be included in discussions about the future of these areas	wetland regions, communities, included	A	Paragraph G, Line 7-10	McCartney emphasizes the need for local people to be involved in wetland planning.
24	Official policies towards wetlands vary from one nation to the next	policies, wetlands, vary, nations	C	Paragraph H, Line 1-3	Silvius points out that different governments have different priorities regarding wetland restoration.
25	People cause harm to wetlands without having any intention to do so	harm, wetlands, intention	D	Paragraph F, Line 4-6	Tickner mentions that people usually don’t intentionally harm wetlands, but do so while making a living.
26	Initiatives to reserve environmental damage need to be complex	initiatives, environmental damage, complex	B	Paragraph C, Line 6-7	Van Eijk suggests that restoring wetland forests may not be about money, but involves more comprehensive projects.

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 .

Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?

Number of Question	Question	Keywords of the Question	Answer	Location with Line Number in the Paragraph	Explanation
27	What does the reader learn about the conversation in the first paragraph?	conversation, first paragraph, challenging	D	Paragraph 1, Lines 4–8	The writer describes difficulties in understanding due to noise, distance, and poor connection, showing challenges for both speakers.
28	What assists the electronic translator during lectures at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology?	electronic translator, lectures, assists	A	Paragraph 3, Lines 2–5	The repeated content of lectures makes translation easier, as lecturers say similar things each year.
29	When referring to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests that	Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, artificial speech translation, surprising	C	Paragraph 4, Lines 5–7	The writer compares the Babel fish to past technological dreams that have now become reality, implying that artificial speech translation was an expected development.
30	What does the writer say about sharing earpieces?	sharing, earpieces, writer says	B	Paragraph 6, Lines 3–6	The CEO of Waverly Labs states that people feel uncomfortable sharing earpieces, and the writer notes that this was expected.
31	Speech translation methods are developing fast in Japan	speech translation, Japan, developing fast	C	Paragraph 7, Lines 1–3	The writer highlights Japan’s progress in voice translation but states that systems are still far from perfect.
32	TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successful	TV interviews, translation, successful	E	Paragraph 7, Lines 4–6	The writer suggests that simultaneous translation is effective, just like TV interviews where a translator’s voice plays over the speaker’s.
33	Future translation systems should address people appropriately	future translation, address people, appropriately	F	Paragraph 8, Lines 1–4	The passage discusses the need for systems to recognize social norms and proper forms of address.
34	Users may be able to maintain their local customs	users, maintain, local customs	B	Paragraph 8, Lines 5–7	The passage suggests that etiquette-sensitive translation could help preserve cultural traditions.
35	Language translation systems will be seen as very useful throughout the academic and professional worlds.	language translation, useful, academic and professional	NO	Paragraph 5, Lines 3–5	The passage states that professionals are less patient with translation delays, implying limitations in usefulness.
36	The overall value of automated translation to family life is yet to be shown.	automated translation, family life, value	YES	Paragraph 9, Lines 2–4	The passage says it is uncertain whether translation will help family relationships, meaning the value is unproven.
37	Automated translation could make life more difficult for immigrant families.	automated translation, difficult, immigrant families	NO	Paragraph 9, Lines 4–6	The passage suggests translation could help immigrant families, especially in bridging language gaps between generations.
38	Visual aspects of language translation are being considered by scientists.	visual aspects, translation, scientists	NOT GIVEN	N/A	The passage does not mention research into visual elements of translation.
39	International scientists have found English easier to translate into other languages than Latin.	scientists, English, easier, Latin	NOT GIVEN	N/A	The passage states that scientists use English as a lingua franca but does not compare translation difficulty with Latin.
40	As far as language is concerned, there is a difference between people’s social and practical needs.	language, difference, social vs practical needs	YES	Paragraph 10, Lines 4–6	The passage states that while translation reduces the need for a common language, the social value of sharing one will persist.