Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 2 Reading Answers and Explanations

13 min read Academic & General Training

Review all 40 Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 2 Reading answers with explanations. The texts cover Stonehenge, Living with artificial intelligence and An ideal city, with note completion, True/False/Not Given and multiple choice among the principal question types.

Cambridge IELTS 18 | Academic Reading

Academic Test 2 answers with clear explanations

These Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 2 Reading answers explain all 40 questions. Review Stonehenge, Living with artificial intelligence, and An ideal city.

40answers explained
3reading passages
60 minofficial practice time
AcademicAcademic Reading
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Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 2 Reading answer key

Use these cards for quick marking. Read the detailed explanations when an answer needs more review.

1. Stonehenge

Questions 1 to 13
1antlersAlso: deer antlers
2postsAlso: timber posts
3tree trunks
4oxen
5glaciers
6druids
7burial
8calendar
9TRUE
10FALSE
11FALSE
12TRUE
13NOT GIVEN

2. Living with artificial intelligence

Questions 14 to 26
14C
15A
16B
17D
18C
19D
20YES
21NOT GIVEN
22NO
23YES
24C
25A
26E

3. An ideal city

Questions 27 to 40
27NOT GIVEN
28NOT GIVEN
29TRUE
30FALSE
31TRUE
32NOT GIVEN
33FALSE
34transport
35staircases
36engineering
37rule
38Roman
39Paris
40outwards

Passage 1: Stonehenge

This passage describes the long construction history of Stonehenge in southern England. It considers the monument's stones, builders, transport methods and possible purpose.

Review strategySeparate a contradiction from missing information. Use only what the passage or writer states.
1The ditch and henge were dug, possibly using tools made from ____.antlers

Why: The passage uses "antlers." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit. Accepted alternative: deer antlers.

2____ may have been arranged in deep pits inside the circle.posts

Why: The passage uses "posts." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit. Accepted alternative: timber posts.

3Builders used ____ to make sledges and rollers.tree trunks

Why: The passage uses "tree trunks." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

4____ pulled the bluestones on giant baskets.oxen

Why: The passage uses "oxen." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

5Geologists suggest the bluestones were brought from Wales by ____.glaciers

Why: The passage uses "glaciers." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

6A 17th-century theory said the builders were Celtic ____.druids

Why: The passage uses "druids." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

7Many experts agree Stonehenge has been used as a ____ site.burial

Why: The passage uses "burial." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

8In the 1960s, Stonehenge was suggested to work as a kind of ____.calendar

Why: The passage uses "calendar." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

9During the third phase of construction, sandstone slabs were placed in both the outer areas and the middle of the Stonehenge site.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that agrees with this statement. The answer is TRUE.

10There is scientific proof that the bluestones stood in the same spot until approximately 1600 BCE.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement. The answer is FALSE.

11John Aubrey’s claim about Stonehenge was supported by 20th-century findings.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement. The answer is FALSE.

12Objects discovered at Stonehenge seem to indicate that it was constructed by a number of different groups of people.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that agrees with this statement. The answer is TRUE.

13Criticism of Gerald Hawkins’ theory about Stonehenge has come mainly from other astronomers.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not give enough information to confirm or contradict this statement. The answer is NOT GIVEN.

Passage 2: Living with artificial intelligence

This passage considers how powerful artificial intelligence may affect human values. It examines moral decisions, machine control and the need to manage future AI safely.

Review strategySeparate a contradiction from missing information. Use only what the passage or writer states.
14What point does the writer make about AI in the first paragraph?C

Why: Option C says "The future is unlikely to see limitations on the capabilities of AI.." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

15What is the writer doing in the second paragraph?A

Why: Option A says "explaining why machines will be able to outperform humans." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

16Why does the writer mention the story of King Midas?B

Why: Option B says "to illustrate that poorly defined objectives can go wrong." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

17What challenge does the writer refer to in the fourth paragraph?D

Why: Option D says "ensuring AI is more human-friendly than we are ourselves." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

18What does the writer suggest about the future of AI in the fifth paragraph?C

Why: Option C says "Machines will be superior to humans in certain respects.." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

19Which of the following best summarises the writer’s argument in the sixth paragraph?D

Why: Option D says "Human shortcomings will make creating the machines we need more difficult.." This matches the writer's point. The other options do not answer the question correctly.

20Machines with the ability to make moral decisions may prevent us from promoting the interests of our communities.YES

Why: The writer clearly agrees with the idea in this statement. The answer is YES.

21Silicon police would need to exist in large numbers in order to be effective.NOT GIVEN

Why: The writer does not express a clear view on this point. The answer is NOT GIVEN.

22Many people are comfortable with the prospect of their independence being restricted by machines.NO

Why: The writer presents a view that disagrees with this statement. The answer is NO.

23If we want to ensure that machines act in our best interests, we all need to work together.YES

Why: The writer clearly agrees with the idea in this statement. The answer is YES.

24AI currently has a limited role in the way ____ are allocated in the health service.C

Why: The detail matches C, "available resources." The wording in the passage expresses the same idea.

25In certain ____, AI having a bigger role could lead to patient benefits but reduce their control.A

Why: The detail matches A, "medical practitioners." The wording in the passage expresses the same idea.

26Those people would not have their current level of ____.E

Why: The detail matches E, "professional authority." The wording in the passage expresses the same idea.

Passage 3: An ideal city

This passage presents Leonardo da Vinci's plan for an ideal city. It explains how his design responded to disease, transport problems and crowded urban life.

Review strategySeparate a contradiction from missing information. Use only what the passage or writer states.
27People first referred to Leonardo da Vinci as a genius 500 years ago.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not give enough information to confirm or contradict this statement. The answer is NOT GIVEN.

28The current climate crisis is predicted to cause more deaths than the plague.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not give enough information to confirm or contradict this statement. The answer is NOT GIVEN.

29Some of the challenges we face today can be compared to those of earlier times.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that agrees with this statement. The answer is TRUE.

30Leonardo da Vinci’s “ideal city” was constructed in the 15th century.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement. The answer is FALSE.

31Poor town planning is a major contributor to climate change.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that agrees with this statement. The answer is TRUE.

32In Renaissance times, local people fought against the changes to Pienza and Ferrara.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not give enough information to confirm or contradict this statement. The answer is NOT GIVEN.

33Leonardo da Vinci kept a neat, organised record of his designs.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement. The answer is FALSE.

34The Ticino River site was to provide better ____ for trade and a less polluted environment.transport

Why: The passage uses "transport." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

35Features seen in tower blocks today include ____ on the exterior of a building.staircases

Why: The passage uses "staircases." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

36Leonardo’s expertise in ____ was evident in his plans for artificial canals.engineering

Why: The passage uses "engineering." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

37The design of many cities in Italy today follows this ____.rule

Why: The passage uses "rule." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

38Some cities from ____ times have aspects that can also be found in Leonardo’s designs.Roman

Why: The passage uses "Roman." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

39____ is an example of a city redesigned in the 19th century in the way Leonardo had envisaged.Paris

Why: The passage uses "Paris." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

40Building ____ no longer seems to be the best approach.outwards

Why: The passage uses "outwards." This completes the gap and follows the stated word limit.

How to review your answers

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  2. Group mistakes by question type and reading passage.
  3. Find the exact sentence that proves each correct answer.
  4. Retake the test after reviewing your weakest question type.

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