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IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 16

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This reading practice simulates one part of the IELTS General Reading test. You should spend about twenty minutes on it. Read the passage and answer questions 1-12.

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A The human body is made up of millions of cells, which are the little building blocks of life. Each cell contains many functional subunits (organelles) that enable its proper functioning. Cells are protected from the external environment by a cell membrane. While the structure and function of organ...
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Questions 1-6
The reading passage has six paragraphs labelled A-F.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. An example of how proteins convey information inside a cell

2. A reference to how a specific area of study is sometimes passed over

3. An account of how particular molecules work at preventing hardening

4. description of how cells remain nourished

5. An explanation of how the outer layer of a cell prevents the ingress of other substances

6. An outline describing how molecules move

The answer is E. The correct paragraph is E because it discusses how proteins, specifically receptor proteins, convey information inside a cell. The text states: "Such binding causes changes in the shapes of proteins which transmit signals to messenger molecules within cells," showing that this paragraph contains an example of how proteins transmit information from the external environment into the cell.

Associated Text:
Such binding causes changes in the shapes of proteins which transmit signals to messenger molecules within cells.

The answer is A. Paragraph A contains a reference to how the study of cell membranes is sometimes passed over. This is evident in the sentence: "While the structure and function of organelles are extensively covered in various biology courses, the importance of the study of cell membranes is often overlooked." This means the subject of cell membranes is not always given the attention it deserves in study courses.

Associated Text:
While the structure and function of organelles are extensively covered in various biology courses, the importance of the study of cell membranes is often overlooked.

The answer is F. Paragraph F describes how cholesterol molecules prevent the hardening (solidification) of cell membranes. The text mentions, "at low temperatures, it slows down solidification by disrupting the regular packing of phospholipids," making it clear that this paragraph explains how certain molecules (cholesterol) help keep membranes from becoming too rigid.

Associated Text:
at low temperatures, it slows down solidification by disrupting the regular packing of phospholipids.

The answer is D. Paragraph D details how cells remain nourished by explaining how membrane transport proteins move nutrients into the cell, sometimes against a higher concentration, using energy. It states: "They may also need to move nutrients against a higher concentration of particles, which requires additional energy ... the cell can gather nutrients in higher concentrations than there are in the natural environment."

Associated Text:
They may also need to move nutrients against a higher concentration of particles, which requires additional energy. To maintain the health of a cell, it is vital to maintain the balance of particles, known as concentration gradients, as well as to be able to occasionally move materials against them. Thanks to membrane barriers and transport proteins, the cell can gather nutrients in higher concentrations than there are in the natural environment and, conversely, dispose of waste products.

The answer is B. In paragraph B, there is an explanation of how the cell membrane, made mainly of phospholipids, acts as a barrier to protect the cell’s interior from external substances. The passage notes, "Most importantly they serve as barriers, protecting the cell’s interior from the environment outside," and further describes how the membrane’s structure prevents dissolution in water, highlighting its barrier function.

Associated Text:
Most importantly they serve as barriers, protecting the cell’s interior from the environment outside. Because cells always exist in watery environments, their membranes should be structured not to dissolve in water. This function carried out by special chemical molecules, known as phospholipids.

The answer is C. Paragraph C outlines how different molecules move through the cell membrane, describing which types of molecules can pass through the lipid bilayer and which cannot. It explains, "Small hydrophobic molecules and gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide cross membranes rapidly. Small molecules, such as water and ethanol, can also pass through membranes, but they do so more slowly. On the other hand, cell membranes restrict diffusion of highly charged molecules" and so on.

Associated Text:
Small hydrophobic molecules and gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide cross membranes rapidly. Small molecules, such as water and ethanol, can also pass through membranes, but they do so more slowly. On the other hand, cell membranes restrict diffusion of highly charged molecules, such as ions, and large molecules, such as sugars and amino acids. The passage of these molecules relies on specific transport proteins within the cell membrane.

Questions 7-10
Complete the sentences below.

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

Write your answers in 7-10 on your answer sheet.

The tails of phospholipids are known as .

Proteins assist in making the membrane .

Some proteins like hormones are responsible for the propagation of signals within cells.

proteins choose carefully which molecules they want to attach themselves to.

The answer is hydrophobic. In paragraph B, the passage says, "Phospholipid tails are called hydrophobic, which means 'water fearing,' and heads called 'hydrophilic,' meaning 'water loving.'" This identifies the correct term used to describe the tails of phospholipids.

Associated Text:
Phospholipid tails are called hydrophobic, which means “water fearing”, and heads called “hydrophilic”, meaning “water loving.”

The answer is semi-permeable. Paragraph C explains the function of proteins in the membrane: "They make the membrane semi-permeable, which means that some molecules can cross the lipid bilayer, while others cannot." This makes it clear that proteins help to make the membrane semi-permeable.

Associated Text:
They make the membrane semi-permeable, which means that some molecules can cross the lipid bilayer, while others cannot.

The answer is proteins. In paragraph E, the passage discusses how large molecules such as hormones or immune mediators bind to receptor proteins in the cell membrane: "large molecules such as hormones or immune mediators, bind to the receptor proteins on the cell membrane." Thus, proteins are responsible for receiving these signals.

Associated Text:
large molecules such as hormones or immune mediators, bind to the receptor proteins on the cell membrane.

The answer is Receptor. Paragraph E states: "Like transport proteins, receptor proteins are specific and selective when binding to molecules." This clarifies that it is receptor proteins that are selective in what they attach to.

Associated Text:
Like transport proteins, receptor proteins are specific and selective when binding to molecules.

Questions 11-12
Choose two letters A-E.

Write your answers in boxes 11-12 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following are correct according to the passage?
  1. Transport proteins keep the phospholipids from coming into contact and solidifying.
  2. The head end of phospholipid is attracted to water molecules
  3. Proteins of a cell membrane are arranged in a double layer called the lipid bilayer.
  4. The hydrophilic phosphate tails are arranged so that they are near water.
  5. The barrier function of cell membranes is supported by a bilayer of phospholipids

11

12

The answer is B. Option (B): "The head end of phospholipid is attracted to water molecules" is correct because paragraph B discusses how phospholipid heads have an affinity for water (hydrophilic), quoting: "heads that have an affinity for water." This correctly describes the orientation and property of the phospholipid head.

Associated Text:
Phospholipids have tails made up of 2 molecules of fat that ‘avoid’ water, and heads that have an affinity for water.

The answer is E. Option (E): "The barrier function of cell membranes is supported by a bilayer of phospholipids" is correct as paragraph B states: "When phospholipids are added to water, they self-assemble into double-layered structures... This phospholipid bilayer can be thought of similarly to a sandwich...," supporting that the bilayer creates the barrier described.

Associated Text:
When phospholipids are added to water, they self-assemble into double-layered structures, shielding their hydrophobic portions from water and exposing their hydrophilic portions to the environment. This phospholipid bilayer can be thought of similarly to a sandwich, where phospholipid heads are bread rolls and tails are the sandwich filling.

Answer Sheet
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
N/A
14
N/A
15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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21
N/A
22
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23
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24
N/A
25
N/A
26
N/A
27
N/A
28
N/A
29
N/A
30
N/A
31
N/A
32
N/A
33
N/A
34
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35
N/A
36
N/A
37
N/A
38
N/A
39
N/A
40
N/A
Score Summary
0 / 1
Multiple Choice
Matching Sentence Endings
Note Completion
Table Completion
Flow Chart Completion
Summary Completion
Multiple Selection
Short Answer
Matching Headings
Matching Features
Matching Information
Identifying Information
Identifying Viewer Claims
Sentence Completion
Diagram Labelling
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Tips to improve your reading speed
To get a high score on the IELTS reading section, you need to have a fast reading speed. To have a fast reading speed, you need to improve your vocabulary and practice dissecting sentences. One strategy to dissect a sentence is to look for the subject and verb of the sentence. Finding the subject and verb will help you better understand the main idea of said sentence. Keep in mind, a common feature of a IELTS reading passage is to join strings of ideas to form long compound sentences. This produces large chunks that students have a hard time absorbing. Do not get overwhelmed by its length, just look for the subject and verb, the rest of the ideas will flow.

Keep in mind, having a slow reading speed makes skimming or scanning a reading passage more difficult. The process of quickly skimming through a reading passage for specific keywords or main ideas is a requirement for you to employ successful reading strategies to improve your IELTS reading score. In other words, skimming and scanning are critical skills to ensure you complete all questions in the allotted time frame.
IELTS Reading Strategies
Once you can read and comprehend a passage with a rate of, at least, 220 words per minute, you'll be ready to start implementing our strategies. All too often, students spend too much time reading the passages and not enough time answering the questions. Here is a step by step guide for tackling the reading section.

  1. Step 1: Read questions first

    One of the most common mistakes that candidates make when approaching the reading exam is reading every single word of the passages. Although you can practice for the exam by reading for pleasure, "reading blindly" (reading without any sense of what the questions will ask) will not do you any favors in the exam. Instead, it will hurt your chances for effectively managing your time and getting the best score.

    The main reason to read the questions first is because the type of question may determine what you read in the passage or how you read it. For example, some question types will call for the "skimming" technique, while others may call for the "scanning" technique.

    It is important to answer a set of questions that are of the same question type. You'll need to determine which question type you want to tackle first. A good strategy would be to start with the easier question type and move on to more difficult question types later. The Easiest question types are the ones where you spend less time reading. For example, the Matching Heading question type is an easier one because you only need to find the heading that best describes the main idea of a paragraph. An example of a difficult question type would be Identifying Information. For this question type, you'll need to read each paragraph to find out if each statement is TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN according to the passage.

    Here is a table that lists the difficulty levels for each question type. Use this table as a reference when choosing which question type you want to tackle first.

    Difficulty level Question Type
    Easy Sentence Completion
    Short answer
    Medium Matching Features
    Multiple choice
    Matching Headings
    Summary, Table, Flow-Chart Completion
    Difficult Matching Sentence Endings
    Matching Information
    Identifying Information (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN)
    Identifying Viewer's claims (YES/NO/NOT GIVEN)

  2. Step 2: Read for an objective

    After you've read the questions for the passage, you will be able to read for an objective. What does this mean? For example, if you come across a question that includes the year "1896", you can make a note of when this year comes up in the text, using it to answer the question later on. There are two reading techniques that will help you stay on track with reading for an objective. The first one, skimming, is best defined as reading fast in order to get the "gist", or general idea, or a passage. With this technique, you are not stopping for any unfamiliar words or looking for specific details. The second technique, scanning, is best defined as reading for specific information. With this technique, you are not reading for the overall gist, but rather, specific information. Notice how each of these techniques has a specific objective in mind. This will help you find information more quickly.

  3. Step 3: Take notes

    As you're reading for an objective, you should also be making notes on the margins of the passage, placing stars next to key information, or underlining things that you believe will help you answer the various questions. This will make it easier for you to check back when you are asked certain things in the questions. Choose whichever note-taking system is right for you - just make sure you do it!

  4. Step 4: Answer wisely

    After you've read the questions, read the passage, and have taken any appropriate notes, you you should have located the part of the text where you where you need to read carefully. Then just read carefully and think critically to determine the correct answer.

IELTS Reading Question Types

The IELTS reading test contains many different question types:

Matching HeadingsIELTS Reading Lesson: Matching Headings
Matching InformationIELTS Reading Lesson: Matching Information
Matching FeaturesIELTS Reading Lesson: Matching Features
Summary CompletionIELTS Reading Lesson: Summary Completion
Identifying InformationIELTS Reading Lesson: Identifying Information
Identifying Writer's claimsIELTS Reading Lesson: Identifying Writer's claims
Multiple ChoiceIELTS Reading Lesson: Multiple Choice
Short AnswerIELTS Reading Lesson: Short Answer
Match Sentence EndingIELTS Reading Lesson: Match Sentence Ending
Sentence CompletionIELTS Reading Lesson: Sentence Completion
Table CompletionIELTS Reading Lesson: Table Completion
 
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