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IELTS® General Reading Practice 24

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This reading practice simulates one part of the IELTS Academic Reading test. You should spend about twenty minutes on it. Read the passage and answer questions 28-40.

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When was the last time you yawned? If you are finding it hard to remember, consider yourself just the same as every other person living in Australia! Not paying attention to the frequency of yawning is understandable, as it is one of the earliest reactions that is instinctively learned. It is made...
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Questions 28-34
Complete each sentence with the correct ending A-J from the box below.

Write the correct letter A-J in boxes 28-34 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

  1. chemical responses in the brain
  2. temperature levels in the body
  3. over five chemicals in the brain
  4. natural responses to hunger or emotions
  5. ways to fund research on yawning
  6. animals reacting to potential death
  7. predators feeling tired
  8. levels of importance to the topic of yawning
  9. overt levels of strength or control
  10. people increase their levels of alertness

28. Chemically speaking, the act of yawning could be comparable with

29. A “contagious” yawn theory involves

30. One popular theory posits that yawning can help

31. Neurosurgeons would believe that yawning triggers

32. Scientists disagree on

33. Yawning could be a way to control

34. Yawning can occur without

The answer is D. The question asks "Chemically speaking, the act of yawning could be comparable with _______." In the passage, it is stated: “Consequently, it is believed that chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, could possibly cause yawning. If proven to be true, this would mean that yawning is similar to natural triggers, such as hunger or happiness.” This clearly links yawning to "natural responses to hunger or emotions," which is option (D). This is from the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
Consequently, it is believed that chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, could possibly cause yawning. If proven to be true, this would mean that yawning is similar to natural triggers, such as hunger or happiness.

The answer is F. The question asks about “A ‘contagious’ yawn theory involves _______.” The passage states: “A perfect example of this is the ‘contagious’ yawn theory, dating back to animals centuries ago. In short, an animal would instinctively yawn in order to alert other members of the herd to a possible predator.” Thus, it relates to animals reacting to potential death, which is (F). This is in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
A perfect example of this is the ‘contagious’ yawn theory, dating back to animals centuries ago. In short, an animal would instinctively yawn in order to alert other members of the herd to a possible predator.

The answer is J. The question asks about “One popular theory posits that yawning can help _______.” The text states: “The most well-known theory is that yawning helps people increase their levels of alertness.” 'Popular' and 'well-known' are synonymous, making (J) the correct match. This is found in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
The most well-known theory is that yawning helps people increase their levels of alertness.

The answer is A. The question concerns neuroscientists' view: "Neurosurgeons would believe that yawning triggers _______." The passage explains: "On a different note, the study of neuroscience, in particular, posits that yawning is just another way to precipitate a chemical response in the brain," making (A) the correct answer. This is from the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
On a different note, the study of neuroscience, in particular, posits that yawning is just another way to precipitate a chemical response in the brain.

The answer is H. The question asks about disagreement: “Scientists disagree on _______.” The reading notes: “One reason for this is because most scientists do not believe that yawning is worthy of additional research, since it is thought of as a rudimentary function.” This shows disagreement about the importance or value of the topic, matching (H). This is in the second paragraph.

Associated Text:
One reason for this is because most scientists do not believe that yawning is worthy of additional research, since it is thought of as a rudimentary function.

The answer is B. The question asks: “Yawning could be a way to control _______.” The passage states: “...yawning is nothing more than a type of temperature regulator of the body, similar to the air conditioner dials in one's car. In other words, a yawning reaction is triggered when one feels overheated, which acts as a ‘cool-down method’ for the body.” This indicates it controls temperature levels in the body, corresponding to (B). This is in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
...other scientists believe that yawning is nothing more than a type of temperature regulator of the body, similar to the air conditioner dials in one's car. In other words, a yawning reaction is triggered when one feels overheated, which acts as a ‘cool-down method’ for the body.

The answer is I. The question: “Yawning can occur without _______.” The relevant passage states: “...yawning is considered to be one of the most basic functions our body can complete without much warning or strength.” Thus, it can occur without overt levels of strength or control—option (I). This is in the first paragraph.

Associated Text:
...yawning is considered to be one of the most basic functions our body can complete without much warning or strength.

Questions 35-40
Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in 35-40 on your answer sheet.

Those who do not believe yawning is worthy of research believe that findings will not have much on the scientific community.

One popular regarding yawning ties it to levels of alertness.

Studying animals has led to the theory that yawning is a act, first used when responding to predators.

Neuroscience posits that yawning is a way to a chemical response.

Yawning may be comparable to stimulations, such as sadness or bodily reactions.

The study of yawning is as interesting as it is , since scientists cannot agree on how to proceed with research.

The answer is impact. The question asks what those who do not believe yawning is worthy of research think findings will not have much of on the scientific community. The passage says: “As such, those who are against researching this phenomenon believe that it will have little to no impact on the scientific communities.” This is in the second paragraph.

Associated Text:
As such, those who are against researching this phenomenon believe that it will have little to no impact on the scientific communities.

The answer is theory. The question asks for a word related to ‘one popular _____ regarding yawning ties it to levels of alertness.’ The passage says: “The most well-known theory is that yawning helps people increase their levels of alertness.” This is in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
The most well-known theory is that yawning helps people increase their levels of alertness.

The answer is contagious. The question mentions a theory about animals—‘a _____ act, first used when responding to predators.’ The passage states: “A perfect example of this is the ‘contagious’ yawn theory, dating back to animals centuries ago.” This is from the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
A perfect example of this is the ‘contagious’ yawn theory, dating back to animals centuries ago.

The answer is precipitate. The question is about neuroscience positing that yawning is a way to _____ a chemical response. The passage directly says: “On a different note, the study of neuroscience, in particular, posits that yawning is just another way to precipitate a chemical response in the brain.” This is in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
On a different note, the study of neuroscience, in particular, posits that yawning is just another way to precipitate a chemical response in the brain.

The answer is natural. The sentence is: 'Yawning may be comparable to _____ stimulations, such as sadness or bodily reactions.' The passage says: “If proven to be true, this would mean that yawning is similar to natural triggers, such as hunger or happiness.” This is in the third paragraph.

Associated Text:
If proven to be true, this would mean that yawning is similar to natural triggers, such as hunger or happiness.

The answer is divisive. The question is about the field of yawning research being as interesting as it is _____, since scientists cannot agree. The passage says: “Not only is yawning an interesting topic in the field of science, but it is equally a divisive topic as well.” This is in the final paragraph.

Associated Text:
Not only is yawning an interesting topic in the field of science, but it is equally a divisive topic as well.

Answer Sheet
1
N/A
2
N/A
3
N/A
4
N/A
5
N/A
6
N/A
7
N/A
8
N/A
9
N/A
10
N/A
11
N/A
12
N/A
13
N/A
14
N/A
15
N/A
16
N/A
17
N/A
18
N/A
19
N/A
20
N/A
21
N/A
22
N/A
23
N/A
24
N/A
25
N/A
26
N/A
27
N/A
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
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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