Cambridge IELTS Academic 7 Reading Test 2 Answers with Explanation / IELTS Academic Reading: Cambridge 7 Test 2 Answer / Cambridge IELTS 7 Reading Test 2 Answers with Explanation

READING PASSAGE 1

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

Why pagodas don’t fall down

 

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
1	YES	two, Japanese pagodas, collapsed, 1400 years	Paragraph 1, Lines 2-3	"Records show that only two have collapsed during the past 1400 years." The statement matches the information given in the passage. Therefore, the answer is YES.
2	NO	Hanshin earthquake, 1995, destroyed, pagoda, Toji temple	Paragraph 1, Lines 4-7	"The disastrous Hanshin earthquake in 1995 killed 6,400 people. . . . Yet it left the magnificent five-storey pagoda at the Toji temple in nearby Kyoto unscathed, though . . ." The passage states that the Hanshin earthquake did not destroy the pagoda at the Toji temple. Therefore, the answer is NO.
3	NOT GIVEN	other buildings, near, Toji pagoda, built, last 30 years	Not found in the passage	The passage does not provide any information about the construction timeline of other buildings near the Toji pagoda. Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
4	YES	builders, absorb, power, severe weather conditions	Paragraph 4, Lines 4-8	"Because of the typhoons that batter Japan in the summer, Japanese builders learned to extend the eaves of buildings further beyond the walls." The passage suggests that the builders of pagodas in Japan knew how to absorb some of the power produced by severe weather conditions like typhoons. Therefore, the answer is YES.
5	B	easy interior access, top	Paragraph 4, Lines 4-7	"The Chinese built their pagodas in brick or stone, with inner staircases, and used them in later centuries mainly as watchtowers. . . . because the Japanese pagoda did not have any practical use but became more of an art object." The passage states that only Chinese pagodas had easy interior access to the top with inner staircases. Japanese pagodas did not have practical use and lacked staircases. Therefore, the answer is B (only Chinese pagodas).
6	A	tiles, eaves	Paragraph 5, Last Sentence	"For the same reason, the builders of Japanese pagodas seem to have further increased their weight by choosing to cover these extended eaves not with the porcelain tiles of many Chinese pagodas but with much heavier earthenware tiles." The passage mentions that both Chinese and Japanese pagodas use tiles on the eaves, but they differ in material (porcelain for Chinese, earthenware for Japanese). Therefore, the answer is A (both Chinese and Japanese pagodas).
7	B	used, observation post	Paragraph 4, Lines 2-4	"The Chinese built their pagodas. . . . and used them in later centuries as watchtowers." The passage states that only Chinese pagodas were used as watchtowers, not Japanese pagodas. Therefore, the answer is B (only Chinese pagodas).

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
8	C	size of eaves, up to, half the width	Paragraph 5, Lines 1-2	"The roof of a Japanese temple building can be made to overhang the sides of the structure by fifty per cent or more of the building’s overall width." The passage states that the size of eaves (roof-top) in Japanese pagodas can extend up to half the width of the building. This information is not mentioned for Chinese pagodas. Therefore, the answer is C (only Japanese pagodas).
9	A	original, religious, purpose	Paragraph 4, First Sentence	"The multi-storey pagoda came to Japan from China in the sixth century. As in China, they were first introduced with Buddhism and were attached to important temples." The passage states that both Chinese and Japanese pagodas had the original purpose of being associated with Buddhism. Therefore, the answer is A (both Chinese and Japanese pagodas).
10	C	floors, fitting, loosely, over, each other	Paragraph 7, Lines 8-10	"What those early craftsmen had found by trial and error was that under pressure a pagoda’s loose stack of floors could be made to slither to and fro independent of one another." The passage mentions that in Japanese pagodas, the floors fit loosely over each other. This condition is not described for Chinese pagodas. Therefore, the answer is C (only Japanese pagodas).
11	D	Japanese pagoda, shinbashira	Paragraph 6, Lines 3-5	"Is the answer that, like a tall pine tree, the Japanese pagoda – with its massive trunk-like central pillar known as shinbashira – simply flexes and sways during a typhoon or earthquake? . . . the startling thing is that the shinbashira actually carries no load at all. . . . The shinbashira, running up through a hole in the centre of the building, constrained individual storeys from moving too far." The passage states that the shinbashira in Japanese pagodas stops the floors from moving too far. Therefore, the answer is D (stops the floors moving too far).
12	C	Shuzo Ishida, performs, experiments	Paragraph 7, Lines 3-5	"Mr Ishida, known to his students as ‘Professor Pagoda’ because of his passion to understand the pagoda, has built a series of models and tested them on a ‘shake-table’ in his laboratory." The passage mentions that Shuzo Ishida performs experiments to understand the dynamics of pagodas. The passage does not mention any experiments related to ancient mathematics. Therefore, the answer is C (learn about the dynamics of pagodas).
13	C	storeys, Japanese pagoda	Paragraph 7, Lines 8-10	"What those early craftsmen had found by trial and error was that under pressure a pagoda’s loose stack of floors could be made to slither to and fro independent of one another." The passage states that the storeys of Japanese pagodas are fitted loosely on

 

READING PASSAGE 2

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

The True Cost of Food

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
14	E	cost, purifying, domestic water	Paragraph E, Line 3	"£23m for the removal of the bug Cryptosporidium from drinking water by water companies; . . ." In paragraph E, the answer can be found in line 3 where it mentions the cost (£23m) for the removal of the bug Cryptosporidium from drinking water. This cost is associated with purifying domestic water. Therefore, the answer is E.
15	B	stages, development, farming industry	Paragraph B, Line 1	"First mechanisation, then mass use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, then monocultures, then battery rearing of livestock, and now genetic engineering – the onward march of intensive farming has seemed unstoppable in the last half-century, as the yields of produce have soared." In paragraph B, the answer can be found in line 1 where it mentions the stages in the development of the farming industry: mechanisation, mass use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, monocultures, and battery rearing of livestock. Therefore, the answer is B.
16	C	term, describe, hidden costs	Paragraph C, Line 2	"That is mainly because the costs of all this damage are what economists refer to as externalities: they are outside the main transaction ...." In paragraph C, the answer can be found in line 2 where it mentions the term used to describe hidden costs: externalities. Therefore, the answer is C.
17	B	effect, chemicals, water sources	Paragraph B, Line 6	"Natural soil fertility is dropping in many areas because of continuous industrial fertiliser and pesticide use, while the growth of algae is increasing in lakes because of the fertiliser run-off." In paragraph B, the answer can be found in line 6 where it mentions the effect of chemicals on water sources: the growth of algae is increasing. Therefore, the answer is B.
18	YES	several species, wildlife, British countryside, declining	Paragraph B, Lines 4-7	"In Britain, for example, many of our best-loved farmland birds, such as the skylark, the grey partridge, the lapwing and the corn bunting, have vanished from huge stretches of countryside, as have even more wild flowers and insects." In paragraph B, the answer can be found in lines 4-7 where it mentions that several species of wildlife in the British countryside, such as farmland birds, wild flowers, and insects, have vanished. This indicates that these species are declining. Therefore, the statement is YES.
19	NOT GIVEN	taste of food, deteriorated, recent years	N/A	The passage does not provide any information about the taste of food deteriorating in recent years. Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
20	NO	financial costs, environmental damage, widely recognised	Paragraph C, Lines 2-6	"That is mainly because the costs of all this damage ... To many, the costs may not even appear to be financial at all

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
20	NO	financial costs, environmental damage, widely recognised	Paragraph C, Lines 2-6	"That is mainly because the costs of all this damage are what economists refer to as externalities: they are outside the main transaction .... To many, the costs may not even appear to be financial at all, but merely aesthetic - a terrible shame, but nothing to do with money." In paragraph C, the answer can be found in lines 2-6 where it mentions that the costs of environmental damage, referred to as externalities, may not even appear to be financial to many people. This indicates that the financial costs of environmental damage are not widely recognised. Therefore, the statement is NO.
21	YES	one, costs calculated, Professor Pretty, illness, caused by food	Paragraph E, Line 6	"... £169m from food poisoning; ..." In paragraph E, the answer can be found in line 6 where it mentions one of the costs calculated by Professor Pretty: £169m from food poisoning. Food poisoning is an illness caused by food. Therefore, the statement is YES.
22	food bills / food costs	Professor Pretty, concludes, higher than, most people realise, because, make three, types, payment	Paragraph E, Lines 6-11	"Professor Pretty draws a simple but memorable conclusion from all this: our food bills are actually threefold. We are paying for our supposedly cheaper food in three separate ways: once over the counter, secondly through our taxes which provide the enormous subsidies propping up modern intensive farming, and thirdly to clean up the mess that modern farming leaves behind." In paragraph E, the answer can be found in lines 6-11 where it mentions that our food bills are actually threefold. We make three types of payment for our supposedly cheaper food. Therefore, the answer is food bills / food costs.
23	(modern) intensive farming / agriculture	feels, realistic, suggest, Britain, should reduce, reliance on	Paragraph F, Lines 1-4	"Breaking away from industrial agriculture as the solution to hunger may be very hard for some countries, but in Britain, where the immediate need to supply food is less urgent, and the costs and the damage of intensive farming have been clearly seen, it may be more feasible." In paragraph F, the answer can be found in lines 1-4 where it mentions breaking away from industrial agriculture. It suggests that Britain should reduce its reliance on modern intensive farming. Therefore, the answer is (modern) intensive farming / agriculture.
24	organic farming	Although, most farmers, unable to adapt	Paragraph G, Lines 2-3	"Professor Pretty feels that organic farming would be too big a jump in thinking and in practices for many farmers." In paragraph G, the answer can be found in lines 2-3 where it mentions that organic farming would be too big a jump in thinking and practices for many farmers. Therefore, the answer is organic farming.
25	Greener Food Standard	Professor Pretty, wants, government, initiate change, establishing, refers to as	Paragraph G, Lines 4-7	"He is recommending the immediate introduction of a 'Greener Food Standard

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
26	farmers, consumers	feels, would help, change, attitudes, both	Paragraph G, Last lines	"It could go a long way, he says, to shifting consumers as well as farmers towards a more sustainable system of agriculture." In the last lines of paragraph G, it mentions that the recommended change could help in shifting the attitudes of both consumers and farmers towards a more sustainable system of agriculture. Therefore, the answer is (in either order) farmers, consumers.

READING PASSAGE 3

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

Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
27	ii (Identifying the main transport problems)	existing communication situation, integrated	Paragraph B, First and Second paragraphs	"In paragraph no. 1, the existing communication situation of Makete district has been explained which shows the need for an integrated transport system. Then paragraph no. 2 starts with these lines, 'Before solutions could be proposed, the problems had to be understood. Little was known about the transport demands of the rural households, so Phase I, between December 1985 and December 1987, focused on research.' Here, the problems had to be understood = the problems had to be identified. So, the answer is: ii (Identifying the main transport problems)."
28	v (Initial improvements in mobility and transport modes)	primary solutions, possible solutions	Paragraph C, First and Second paragraphs	"Take a look at paragraph no. 1 where the writer states, 'Having determined the main transport needs, possible solutions were identified which might reduce the time and burden. During Phase II, from January to February 1991, a number of approaches were implemented in an effort to improve mobility and access to transport.' Here, possible solutions were identified = initial solutions had been identified. Then, in the following paragraphs, the writer describes the initial improvements that came about. So, the answer is: v (Initial improvements in mobility and transport modes)."
29	x (Co-operation of district officials)	district authorities	Paragraph E, Last lines	"In the last lines of section E the writer says, '..... . . It would have been difficult to respond to the requests of villagers and other rural inhabitants without the support and understanding of district authorities.' Here, district authorities = district officials. This means the project became a success because villagers and other rural inhabitants got support (co-operation) from district officials. So, the answer is: x (Co-operation of district officials)."
30	i (MIRTP as a future model)	rural people, future model	Paragraph F, Second paragraph	"Section F contains two small paragraphs. The first paragraph explains how important this MIRTP has been for the rural people of Makete district of south-western Tanzania. Then, in the last lines of the final paragraph, the author explains, '. . . The experiences from Makete will help in this initiative, and Makete District will act as a reference for future work.' Here, will act as a reference for future work = as a future model. So, the answer is: i (MIRTP as a future model)."
31	NO	MIRTP, five phases	Multiple sections (B, C, D)	"[...] If we skim all the sections of the passages, we can find only three phases in MIRTP. Phase I is mentioned in Section B (line no. 6). Phase II is mentioned in Section C (line no. 2). Phase III is mentioned in Section D (line no. 2). So, the answer is: NO."
32	YES	MIRTP, Makete district, almost inaccessible	Section B, First paragraph	"Take a close look at section B. In the first

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
32	YES	MIRTP, Makete district, almost inaccessible	Section B, First paragraph	"Take a close look at section B. In the first sentence the author states, 'When the project began, Makete District was virtually totally isolated during the rainy season.' Here, virtually totally isolated = almost inaccessible. So, the answer is: YES."
33	NO	Phase I, survey, household expenditure	Section B, Second paragraph	"The reference of the survey in Phase I is given in section B, paragraph no. 2. Here, in lines 3-4, the author mentions, 'The socio-economic survey of more than 400 households in the district indicated that a household in Makete spent, on average, seven hours a day on transporting themselves and their goods. Therefore, the statement is a clear indication that the survey was on the time spent transporting the people of Makete and their goods, not on household expenditure on transport. So, the answer is: NO."
34	YES	survey, one-fifth, 20%, outside the local area	Section B, Second paragraph	"In the last lines of section B paragraph no. 2, the author writes, 'Interesting facts regarding transport were found: 95% was on foot; 80% was within the locality; and 70% was related to the collection of water and firewood and travelling to grinding mills.' Here, 80% was within the locality = 20% was outside the locality. So, the answer is: YES."
35	NOT GIVEN	MIRTP, movement of goods, Makete, country's capital	Multiple sections (B, C)	"At first glance, it may seem that the answer might be in Section C. However, in section C, the author says in the second paragraph, 'However the difference from the conventional approach was that this time consideration was given to local transport needs outside the road network.' The lines show the purpose of the MIRTP which is to make transportation of goods riskless and safer by improving the roads. However, there is no mention of hoping to improve the movement of goods from Makete to the capital of Tanzania, Dodoma. So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN."
36	D (improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides.)	construction, footbridges, steps, handrails	Section C, Third paragraph	"In section C, the author says in paragraph no. 3, 'Most goods were transported along the paths that provide short-cuts up and down the hillsides, but the paths were a real safety risk and made the journey on foot even more arduous. It made sense to improve the paths by building steps, handrails and footbridges.' Therefore, the sentences indicate that by constructing footbridges, steps and handrails, transportation up and down hillsides became easier using the improved paths. So, the answer is: D (improved paths used for transport up and down hillsides)."
37	I (hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient.)	frequent, breakdown, buses and trucks	Section

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location in the Passage	Text Associated with Answer and Explanation
37	I (hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient.)	frequent, breakdown, buses and trucks	Section D, Fourth paragraph	"Have a close look at Section D, paragraph no. 4 where you will find the keywords 'breakdown' and 'buses and trucks'. In lines 1-2, the writer mentions, 'The efforts to improve the efficiency of the existing transport services were not very successful because most of the motorized vehicles in the district broke down and there were no resources to repair them.' Here, 'were not very successful' means the breaking down of vehicles hindered/hampered the attempts to make the prevailing transport services more efficient. So, the answer is: I (hindered attempts to make the existing transport services more efficient)."
38	G (was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand.)	improvement, secondary roads, paths	Section D, Third paragraph	"In section D, in paragraph no. 3, the author says, 'Paths and secondary roads were improved only at the request of communities who were willing to participate in construction and maintenance.' Here, 'willing to participate in construction and maintenance' means 'willing to lend a hand / willing to cooperate.' So, the answer is: G (was done only at the request of local people who were willing to lend a hand)."
39	E (was no longer a problem once the roads had been improved.)	isolation, Makete, for part of the year	Section D, Second paragraph	"In section D, paragraph no. 2, the writer says, 'The road improvements and accompanying maintenance system had helped make the district centre accessible throughout the year.' The lines suggest that road improvements have made it possible to access Makete in particular months of the year. So, it was no problem to go to Makete during the rainy season, thanks to the road improvements. So, the answer is: E (was no longer a problem once the roads had been improved)."
40	B (to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was)	main aim, passage	Throughout the passage	"Having a look at the different sections of the passage for all the questions (27-39), it is clear that the passage talks about Makete Integrated Rural Transport Project or MIRTP. The sections deal with the history behind the projects, the problems related to successfully executing the project, the importance of road improvements for Makete, and the successful implementation and outcomes of the projects. Therefore, the main aim of the passage is to show how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was in changing the lifestyle of the people of Makete. So, the answer is: B (to describe how MIRTP was implemented and how successful it was)."