All answers on this page include the question number, correct answer and a brief explanation of where to find it in the passage or audio. Use these alongside the original Cambridge IELTS books for the best practice experience.
Test 4 Academic Reading Answers with Clear Explanations
Review all 40 Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic Reading Test 4 answers. Find the supporting passage evidence, understand misleading options and check the word limits before your next timed attempt.
Cambridge IELTS 16 Test 4 Academic Reading Answer Key
Use the key for quick marking, then read the explanations below. A slash separates accepted alternative forms. Where two letters are required, enter both letters across the two question numbers, in either order.
Passage 1: Roman tunnels
Questions 1 to 13Passage 2: Changes in reading habits
Questions 14 to 26Passage 3: Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence
Questions 27 to 40Passage 1: Roman tunnels
Questions 1-13. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
1____ to direct the tunnellingposts
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 3
Why: The passage states that in the early first millennium BCE, they introduced the qanat method of tunnel construction, which consisted of placing posts over a hill in a straight line, to ensure that the.... The wording and grammar of the gap require posts; it also fits the printed word limit.
2Water runs into a ____ used by local people.canal
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 3
Why: The passage states that once the tunnel was completed, it allowed water to flow from the top of a hillside down towards a canal, which supplied water for human use. The wording and grammar of the gap require canal; it also fits the printed word limit.
3Vertical shafts to remove earth and for ____.ventilation
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 3
Why: The passage states that the excavated soil was taken up to the surface using the shafts, which also provided ventilation during the work. The wording and grammar of the gap require ventilation; it also fits the printed word limit.
4____ made of wood or stone.lid
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 4
Why: The key idea in the passage is the shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them and were covered with a wooden or stone lid. This matches lid, while the other choices do not express the same point.
5____ attached to the plumb line.weight
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 4
Why: The passage states that to ensure that the shafts were vertical, Romans hung a plumb line from a rod placed across the top of each shaft and made sure that the weight at the.... The wording and grammar of the gap require weight; it also fits the printed word limit.
6Handholds and footholds used for ____.climbing
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 4
Why: The passage states that the shafts were equipped with handholds and footholds to help those climbing in and out of them and were covered with a wooden or stone lid. The wording and grammar of the gap require climbing; it also fits the printed word limit.
7The counter-excavation method completely replaced the qanat method in the 6th century BCE.FALSE
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 5
Why: The passage explains that by the 6th century BCE, a second method of tunnel construction appeared called the counter-excavation method, in which the tunnel was constructed from both ends. That conflicts with the statement rather than merely omitting information, so the answer is FALSE.
8Only experienced builders were employed to construct a tunnel using the counter-excavation method.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 5
Why: The passage discusses the related point - by the 6th century BCE, a second method of tunnel construction appeared called the counter-excavation method, in which the tunnel was constructed from both ends - but it does not provide the specific comparison or fact in the statement. The answer is therefore NOT GIVEN.
9The information about a problem that occurred during the construction of the Saldae aqueduct system was found in an ancient book.FALSE
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 5
Why: The passage explains that an inscription written on the side of a 428-meter tunnel, built by the Romans as part of the Saldae aqueduct system in modern-day Algeria, describes how the two teams of.... That conflicts with the statement rather than merely omitting information, so the answer is FALSE.
10The mistake made by the builders of the Saldae aqueduct system was that the two parts of the tunnel failed to meet.TRUE
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 5
Why: The passage explains that an inscription written on the side of a 428-meter tunnel, built by the Romans as part of the Saldae aqueduct system in modern-day Algeria, describes how the two teams of.... This directly agrees with the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
11What type of mineral were the Dolaucothi mines in Wales built to extract?gold
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 6
Why: The passage states that traces of such tunnels used to mine gold can still be found at the Dolaucothi mines in Wales. The wording and grammar of the gap require gold; it also fits the printed word limit.
12In addition to the patron, whose name might be carved onto a tunnel?architect / the architect / architect’s name / the architect’s name
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 7
Why: The passage states that most tunnels had inscriptions showing the names of patrons who ordered construction and sometimes the name of the architect. The wording and grammar of the gap require architect / the architect / architect’s name / the architect’s name; it also fits the printed word limit.
13What part of Seleuceia Pieria was the Çevlik tunnel built to protect?harbor / harbour / the harbor / the harbour
Where to Look: Passage 1, paragraph 7
Why: The passage states that for example, the 1.4-kilometer Çevlik tunnel in Turkey, built to divert the floodwater threatening the harbor of the ancient city of Seleuceia Pieria, had inscriptions on the entrance, still visible.... The wording and grammar of the gap require harbor / harbour / the harbor / the harbour; it also fits the printed word limit.
Passage 2: Changes in reading habits
Questions 14-26. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
14What is the writer’s main point in the first paragraph?A - Our use of technology is having a hidden effect on us.
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 9
Why: The key idea in the passage is many readers now use a pattern when reading in which they sample the first line and then word-spot through the rest of the text. This matches Our use of technology is having a hidden effect on us., while the other choices do not express the same point.
15What main point does Sherry Turkle make about innovation?B - We should pay attention to what might be lost when innovation occurs.
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 5
Why: The key idea in the passage is this is not a simple, binary issue of print versus digital reading and technological innovation. This matches We should pay attention to what might be lost when innovation occurs., while the other choices do not express the same point.
16What point is the writer making in the fourth paragraph?D - Some brain circuits adjust to whatever is required of them.
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 11
Why: The key idea in the passage is it is a very hopeful principle when applied to critical thought in the reading brain because it implies choice. This matches Some brain circuits adjust to whatever is required of them., while the other choices do not express the same point.
17According to Mark Edmundson, the attitude of college studentsB - has influenced what they select to read.
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 7
Why: The key idea in the passage is english literature scholar and teacher Mark Edmundson describes how many college students actively avoid the classic literature of the 19th and 20th centuries in favour of something simpler as they.... This matches has influenced what they select to read., while the other choices do not express the same point.
18There have been many studies on digital screen use, showing some ____ trends.D - worrying
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 8
Why: The key idea in the passage is multiple studies show that digital screen use may be causing a variety of troubling downstream effects on reading comprehension in older high school and college students. This matches worrying, while the other choices do not express the same point.
19Her team then used a question-and-answer technique to find out how ____ each group’s understanding of the plot was.H - thorough
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 8
Why: The key idea in the passage is mangen’s group asked subjects questions about a short story whose plot had universal student appeal; half of the students read the story on a tablet, the other half in paperback. This matches thorough, while the other choices do not express the same point.
20The findings showed a clear pattern in the responses, with those who read screens finding the order of information ____ to recall.F - hard
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 8
Why: The key idea in the passage is results indicated that students who read on print were superior in their comprehension to screen-reading peers, particularly in their ability to sequence detail and reconstruct the plot in chronological order. This matches hard, while the other choices do not express the same point.
21Studies by Ziming Liu show that students are tending to read ____ words and phrases in a text to save time.B - isolated
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 9
Why: The key idea in the passage is ziming Liu from San Jose State University has conducted a series of studies which indicate that the “new norm” in reading is skimming, involving word-spotting and browsing through the text. This matches isolated, while the other choices do not express the same point.
22This approach gives the reader a superficial understanding of the ____ content of material, leaving no time for thought.C - emotional
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 9
Why: The key idea in the passage is in other words, we don’t have time to grasp complexity, to understand another’s feelings, to perceive beauty, and to create thoughts of the reader’s own. This matches emotional, while the other choices do not express the same point.
23The medium we use to read can affect our choice of reading content.YES
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 8
Why: The passage explains that multiple studies show that digital screen use may be causing a variety of troubling downstream effects on reading comprehension in older high school and college students. This directly agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
24Some age groups are more likely to lose their complex reading skills than others.NO
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 11
Why: The passage explains that there’s an old rule in neuroscience that does not alter with age: use it or lose it. That conflicts with the statement rather than merely omitting information, so the answer is NO.
25False information has become more widespread in today’s digital era.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 6
Why: The passage discusses the related point - we know from research that the reading circuit is not given to human beings through a genetic blueprint like vision or language; it needs an environment to develop - but it does not provide the specific comparison or fact in the statement. The answer is therefore NOT GIVEN.
26We still have opportunities to rectify the problems that technology is presenting.YES
Where to Look: Passage 2, paragraph 11
Why: The passage explains that we possess both the science and the technology to identify and redress the changes in how we read before they become entrenched. This directly agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Passage 3: Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence
Questions 27-40. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
27Section Aiii - The superiority of AI projections over those made by humans
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 4
Why: The key idea in the passage is machine learning is not foolproof, in part because the humans who design it aren’t. This matches The superiority of AI projections over those made by humans, while the other choices do not express the same point.
28Section Bvi - Widespread distrust of an AI innovation
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 5
Why: The key idea in the passage is feelings about AI run deep. This matches Widespread distrust of an AI innovation, while the other choices do not express the same point.
29Section Cii - Reasons why we have more faith in human judgement than in AI
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 2
Why: The key idea in the passage is to do that, we need to understand why people are so reluctant to trust AI in the first place. This matches Reasons why we have more faith in human judgement than in AI, while the other choices do not express the same point.
30Section Di - An increasing divergence of attitudes towards AI
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 1
Why: The key idea in the passage is attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence A. This matches An increasing divergence of attitudes towards AI, while the other choices do not express the same point.
31Section Evii - Encouraging openness about how AI functions
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 6
Why: The key idea in the passage is fortunately, we already have some ideas about how to improve trust in AI. This matches Encouraging openness about how AI functions, while the other choices do not express the same point.
32Section Fv - The advantages of involving users in AI processes
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 5
Why: The key idea in the passage is more pertinently, refusing to accept the advantages offered by AI could place a large group of people at a serious disadvantage. This matches The advantages of involving users in AI processes, while the other choices do not express the same point.
33What is the writer doing in Section A?C - highlighting the existence of a problem
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 4
Why: The key idea in the passage is this helps create a psychological feeling of safety. This matches highlighting the existence of a problem, while the other choices do not express the same point.
34According to Section C, why might some people be reluctant to accept AI?B - Its complexity makes them feel that they are at a disadvantage.
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 5
Why: The key idea in the passage is more pertinently, refusing to accept the advantages offered by AI could place a large group of people at a serious disadvantage. This matches Its complexity makes them feel that they are at a disadvantage., while the other choices do not express the same point.
35What does the writer say about the media in Section C of the text?A - It leads the public to be mistrustful of AI.
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 6
Why: The key idea in the passage is several high-profile social media companies and online marketplaces already release transparency reports about government requests and surveillance disclosures. This matches It leads the public to be mistrustful of AI., while the other choices do not express the same point.
36Subjective depictions of AI in sci-fi films make people change their opinions about automation.NO
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 5
Why: The passage explains that in a recent experiment, people from a range of backgrounds were given various sci-fi films about AI to watch and then asked questions about automation in everyday life. That conflicts with the statement rather than merely omitting information, so the answer is NO.
37Portrayals of AI in media and entertainment are likely to become more positive.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 5
Why: The passage discusses the related point - in a recent experiment, people from a range of backgrounds were given various sci-fi films about AI to watch and then asked questions about automation in everyday life - but it does not provide the specific comparison or fact in the statement. The answer is therefore NOT GIVEN.
38Rejection of the possibilities of AI may have a negative effect on many people’s lives.YES
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 4
Why: The passage explains that many people are also simply not familiar with many instances of AI actually working, because it often happens in the background. This directly agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
39Familiarity with AI has very little impact on people’s attitudes to the technology.NO
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 6
Why: The passage explains that simply having previous experience with AI can significantly improve people’s opinions about the technology, as was found in the study mentioned above. That conflicts with the statement rather than merely omitting information, so the answer is NO.
40AI applications which users are able to modify are more likely to gain consumer approval.YES
Where to Look: Passage 3, paragraph 7
Why: The passage explains that for example, one study showed that when people were allowed the freedom to slightly modify an algorithm, they felt more satisfied with its decisions, more likely to believe it was.... This directly agrees with the statement, so the answer is YES.
Using This Reading Answer Key
Is This the Academic or General Training Test?
This page covers Cambridge IELTS 16 Academic Reading Test 4. Academic and GT Reading use different texts and answer keys, so check the track before marking.
How Should I Review a Wrong Answer?
Return to the evidence location and compare the exact meaning, not just matching words. Check spelling and word limits. For NOT GIVEN, identify the information the text does not supply.
How Do I Estimate My Band?
Count one mark for each correct answer, then consult the Reading Band Score Guide. Academic and GT use different raw-score conversions, and an estimate is not an official IELTS result.
What to Do After Marking
Group your errors by misunderstanding, distractors, spelling and instructions. Review the difficult section, then try another complete test to check whether your accuracy improves.