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 3 Academic Reading Answers with Clear Explanations
Review all 40 Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading Test 3 answers. Find the supporting passage evidence, understand misleading options and check the word limits before your next timed attempt.
Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 3 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: The thylacine
Questions 1 to 13Passage 2: Palm oil
Questions 14 to 26Passage 3: Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers
Questions 27 to 40Passage 1: The thylacine
Questions 1-13. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
1The thylacine ate an entirely ____ diet.carnivorous
Where to Look: Passage 1, feeding habits
Why: The thylacine is described as exclusively carnivorous. Exclusively corresponds to entirely, and carnivorous supplies the adjective describing its diet.
2It probably depended mainly on ____ when hunting.scent
Where to Look: Passage 1, pursuing prey
Why: The animal probably relied on scent more than its other senses during long chases. The passage contrasts endurance and smell with fast running.
3Its young spent the first months of life inside their mother’s ____.pouch
Where to Look: Passage 1, newborn development
Why: Newborns entered their mother's pouch and remained there for up to three months. Caves and logs were shelters used after they were old enough to leave the pouch.
4The last evidence in mainland Australia is a 3,100-year-old ____.fossil
Where to Look: Passage 1, mainland evidence
Why: A carbon-dated fossil from Murray Cave is around 3,100 years old. The gap asks for the physical evidence, not the cave where it was found.
5A reduction in ____ and available sources of food were partly responsible for its decline in Tasmania.habitat
Where to Look: Passage 1, causes of decline
Why: The passage lists habitat loss alongside disappearing prey and other pressures. Available sources of food paraphrases prey, leaving habitat as the separate missing factor.
6Significant numbers of thylacines were killed by humans from the 1830s onwards.TRUE
Where to Look: Passage 1, decline from the 1830s
Why: Sheep farmers and bounty hunters pursued a sustained shooting campaign from the 1830s. The text says this played a major role in the decline, supporting substantial human killing.
7Several thylacines were born in zoos during the late 1800s.FALSE
Where to Look: Passage 1, breeding in captivity
Why: The passage records only one successful captive-breeding attempt, at Melbourne Zoo in 1899. It contrasts that isolated success with the large numbers kept in zoos, rather than describing repeated zoo births.
8John Gould’s prediction about the thylacine surprised some biologists.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 1, Gould's prediction
Why: Gould predicted extinction, but the passage does not report how biologists reacted to his prediction. A later lack of concern does not establish surprise at the earlier statement.
9In the early 1900s, many scientists became worried about the possible extinction of the thylacine.FALSE
Where to Look: Passage 1, scientific concern
Why: The passage describes little concern among scientists and identifies Flynn as a notable exception. This conflicts with the claim that many scientists were worried.
10T. T. Flynn’s proposal to rehome captive thylacines on an island proved to be impractical.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 1, Flynn's 1914 proposal
Why: Flynn suggested capturing animals and moving them to an island. No result or assessment of practicality is supplied, so it cannot be concluded that the proposal proved impractical.
11There were still reasonable numbers of thylacines in existence when a piece of legislation protecting the species during their breeding season was passed.FALSE
Where to Look: Passage 1, 1929 protection
Why: The December-only protection was adopted when the species was already on the edge of extinction. That contradicts the claim that reasonable numbers still remained.
12From 1930 to 1936, the only known living thylacines were all in captivity.TRUE
Where to Look: Passage 1, final known animals
Why: The last known wild animal was killed in 1930, leaving captive specimens. The last known captive individual died in 1936, supporting the statement for that interval.
13Attempts to find living thylacines are now rarely made.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 1, later searches
Why: Many expeditions and searches are mentioned, but their present frequency is not given. Failure to find definitive evidence does not show that searches are now rare.
Passage 2: Palm oil
Questions 14-26. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
14examples of a range of potential environmental advantages of oil palm tree cultivationF
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section F
Why: Section F discusses high oil yield per hectare and possible carbon-storage advantages compared with certain alternative crops. These are conditional environmental benefits, not an endorsement of rainforest clearance.
15description of an organisation which controls the environmental impact of palm oil productionG
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section G
Why: The RSPO is described together with certification standards, forest-clearing restrictions and carbon assessments. This is the organisation overseeing the environmental conditions of certified production.
16examples of the widespread global use of palm oilA
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section A
Why: Soap, sandwiches and biscuits illustrate palm oil's presence in everyday products. The opening also identifies it as the most consumed vegetable oil worldwide.
17reference to a particular species which could benefit the ecosystem of oil palm plantationsH
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section H
Why: The bird's nest fern is proposed as a way to support other species within plantations. The research concerns improving the plantation ecosystem rather than increasing oil yields alone.
18figures illustrating the rapid expansion of the palm oil industryB
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section B
Why: The section compares land area and production volumes across time, including growth from six to seventeen million hectares. These figures illustrate expansion of the industry.
19an economic justification for not opposing the palm oil industryE
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section E
Why: Millions of low-income people depend on palm oil for their livelihoods. This economic argument complicates calls for a boycott, even though environmental concerns remain.
20examples of creatures badly affected by the establishment of oil palm plantationsC
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section C
Why: Orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers are among the animals harmed by plantation expansion. These examples concern habitat destruction and declining wildlife populations.
21Which TWO statements are made about the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?B + C (Either Order)
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section G, transparency
Why: The RSPO requires transparency from certified producers. Being open and honest about practices paraphrases transparency, supporting B. The second required choice is C.
22Which TWO statements are made about the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?B + C (Either Order)
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section G, development of standards
Why: Agreement on certification standards developed gradually over roughly a decade. This supports C, taking several years. Enter B and C in either order for Questions 21-22.
23One advantage of palm oil for manufacturers is that it stays ____ even when not refrigerated.solid
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section A
Why: Palm oil remains solid at room temperature, which helps make it useful in long-lasting packaged foods. Not refrigerated refers to those room-temperature conditions.
24The ____ is the best known of the animals suffering habitat loss as a result of the spread of oil palm plantations.Sumatran orangutan / orangutan / orang-utan
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section C
Why: The Sumatran orangutan is identified as the best-known affected species. The full two-word name fits the limit. Shorter orangutan and the listed hyphenated spelling are also accepted by the live test.
25As one of its criteria for the certification of sustainable palm oil, the RSPO insists that growers check ____ on a routine basis.carbon stocks
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section G
Why: Regular assessment of carbon stocks is an RSPO requirement. On a routine basis paraphrases regularly. Both words are needed to identify what is assessed.
26Ellwood and his researchers are looking into whether the bird’s nest fern could restore ____ in areas where oil palm trees are grown.biodiversity
Where to Look: Passage 2, Section H
Why: Ellwood proposes that reintroducing the fern could help plantations recover biodiversity. The many organisms listed afterwards illustrate that diversity, rather than proving the research has already succeeded.
Passage 3: Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers
Questions 27-40. Use the evidence locations below to return to the relevant text and review each answer.
27What point does Shester make about Barr’s book in the first paragraph?D - It covers a range of factors that affected the development of New York.
Where to Look: Passage 3, first main paragraph
Why: The book combines geology, history, economics and data to explain New York's development. This range of influences supports D. The research-paper material is associated particularly with the second part.
28How does Shester respond to the information in the book about tenements?B - She indicates a potential problem with Barr’s analysis.
Where to Look: Passage 3, discussion of tenements
Why: Shester questions why clearing tenements would deter construction if more expensive foundations did not. She highlights a potential inconsistency that she wants Barr to explain further.
29What does Shester say about chapter six of the book?C - It is too specialised for most readers.
Where to Look: Passage 3, chapter six
Why: The regression analysis is less technical than the original paper but still more specialised than a general audience may prefer. The criticism concerns accessibility, not conflicting or outdated data.
30What does Shester suggest about the chapters focusing on the 1920s building boom?D - Some parts will have limited appeal to certain people.
Where to Look: Passage 3, chapters eight and nine
Why: Lengthy economic theory may distract readers interested chiefly in New York, although students of urban economics may benefit. This means some material has limited appeal for particular readers.
31What impresses Shester the most about the chapter on land values?C - the nature of the research into the topic
Where to Look: Passage 3, chapter ten
Why: Shester explicitly praises the data work underlying estimates of land values. What impresses her is the research effort and method, not merely the span of years covered.
32The description in the first chapter of how New York probably looked from the air in the early 1600s lacks interest.NO
Where to Look: Passage 3, chapter one's aerial account
Why: Shester calls the imagined aerial view fascinating. That directly contradicts the statement that it lacks interest, giving NO.
33Chapters two and three prepare the reader well for material yet to come.YES
Where to Look: Passage 3, chapters two and three
Why: The reviewer says these chapters establish the basis for the later economic analysis. Preparing readers for material to come paraphrases that positive assessment.
34The biggest problem for many nineteenth-century New York immigrant neighbourhoods was a lack of amenities.NOT GIVEN
Where to Look: Passage 3, immigrant neighbourhoods
Why: Barr analyses locations in relation to available amenities, but no biggest problem is identified. Mentioning amenities does not prove their absence was the leading difficulty.
35In the nineteenth century, New York’s immigrant neighbourhoods tended to concentrate around the harbour.NO
Where to Look: Passage 3, location of immigrant enclaves
Why: The enclaves are placed on low-value land between waterfront industries and wealthy neighbourhoods near Central Park. The waterfront itself is associated with industry, not described as the concentration of immigrant neighbourhoods.
36Barr indicates how the lack of bedrock close to the surface does not explain why skyscrapers are absent from ____.H - specific areas
Where to Look: Passage 3, bedrock myth
Why: The myth concerns the gap between Downtown and Midtown. Specific areas, H, expresses these locations where skyscrapers were absent, rather than development plans or guidelines.
37Although the cost of foundations increases when bedrock is deep below the surface, this cannot be regarded as ____.D - excessive expense
Where to Look: Passage 3, foundation costs
Why: Deeper bedrock raised foundation costs, but Barr says they were not prohibitively high. Excessive expense, D, matches the level of cost he rejects.
38He points out that this cost is especially small when compared to ____.I - total expenditure
Where to Look: Passage 3, comparison of costs
Why: Foundation expenses were small relative to the overall cost of a skyscraper. Total expenditure, I, supplies the broader amount used for comparison.
39Barr describes not only how ____ are made possible by the use of caissons.B - deep excavations
Where to Look: Passage 3, caisson construction
Why: Caissons allow workers to dig considerable distances down to bedrock, often below water. Deep excavations, B, names the work this method makes possible.
40He also discusses their ____.F - associated risks
Where to Look: Passage 3, dangers of caissons
Why: Barr explains both how caissons work and the dangers involved. Associated risks, F, paraphrases those dangers rather than a set of construction guidelines.
Using This Reading Answer Key
Is This the Academic or General Training Test?
This page covers Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading Test 3. 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.