Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic Test 3 Reading Answers and Explanations

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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.

Cambridge IELTS 19 | Academic Reading

Academic Test 3 answers with clear explanations

These Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic Test 3 Reading answers explain all 40 questions. Review Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers, The global importance of wetlands, Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?.

40answers explained
3reading passages
60 minofficial practice time
AcademicAcademic Reading
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Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic Test 3 Reading answer key

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

1. Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

Questions 1 to 13
1FALSE
2FALSE
3TRUE
4NOT GIVEN
5TRUE
6NOT GIVEN
7FALSE
8caves
9stone
10bones
11beads
12pottery
13spices

2. The global importance of wetlands

Questions 14 to 26
14G
15A
16H
17B
18carbon
19fires
20biodiversity
21ditches
22subsidence
23A
24C
25D
26B

3. Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?

Questions 27 to 40
27D
28A
29C
30B
31C
32E
33F
34B
35NO
36YES
37NO
38NOT GIVEN
39NOT GIVEN
40YES

Passage 1: Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

This passage describes archaeological evidence from prehistoric island settlements. It examines travel, tools and the lives of early communities.

Question typesTrue / False / Not Given, note completion.
1Archaeological research had taken place on the island of Obi before the arrival of Ceri Shipton and his colleagues.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

2At the Kelo sites, the researchers found the first clam shell axes ever to be discovered in the region.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

3The size of Obi today is less than it was 18,000 years ago.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that supports this statement.

4A change in the climate around 11,700 years ago had a greater impact on Obi than on the surrounding islands.NOT GIVEN

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

5The researchers believe there is a connection between warmer, wetter weather and a change in the material used to make axes.TRUE

Why: The passage gives information that supports this statement.

6Shipton’s team were surprised to find evidence of the Obi islanders’ hunting practices.NOT GIVEN

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

7It is thought that the Kelo shelters were occupied continuously until about 1,000 years ago.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

8Excavations of rock shelters inside ____ near the village of Kelo revealed the following findings.caves

Why: The answer is caves. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

9Axes made out of ____, dating from around 11,700 years ago.stone

Why: The answer is stone. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

10____ of an animal: evidence of what ancient islanders ate.bones

Why: The answer is bones. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

11____ which resembled ones found on other islands.beads

Why: The answer is beads. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

12From 8,000 years ago, Obi islanders had ____ as well as items made out of metal.pottery

Why: The answer is pottery. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

13They probably took part in the production and sale of ____.spices

Why: The answer is spices. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

Passage 2: The global importance of wetlands

This passage explains why wetlands matter across the world. It covers biodiversity, water management, climate protection and threats to wetland habitats.

Question typesmatching information, sentence completion.
14Reference to the need to ensure that inhabitants of wetland regions continue to benefit from them.G

Why: The detail belongs with Paragraph G.

15The proportion of wetlands which have already been lost.A

Why: The detail belongs with Paragraph A.

16Reference to the idea that people are beginning to appreciate the value of wetlands.H

Why: The detail belongs with Paragraph H.

17Mention of the cultural significance of wetlands.B

Why: The detail belongs with Paragraph B.

18Peatlands which have been drained begin to release ____ instead of storing it.carbon

Why: The answer is carbon. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

19Once peatland areas have been cleared, ____ are more likely to occur.fires

Why: The answer is fires. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

20Clearing peatland forests to make way for oil palm plantations destroys the ____ of the local environment.biodiversity

Why: The answer is biodiversity. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

21Water is drained out of peatlands through the ____ which are created by logging companies.ditches

Why: The answer is ditches. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

22Draining peatlands leads to ____: a serious problem which can eventually result in coastal flooding and land loss.subsidence

Why: The answer is subsidence. It completes the detail and follows the stated word limit.

23Communities living in wetland regions must be included in discussions about the future of these areas.A

Why: The detail belongs with Matthew McCartney.

24Official policies towards wetlands vary from one nation to the next.C

Why: The detail belongs with Marcel Silvius.

25People cause harm to wetlands without having any intention to do so.D

Why: The detail belongs with Dave Tickner.

26Initiatives to reverse environmental damage need not be complex.B

Why: The detail belongs with Pieter van Eijk.

Passage 3: Is the era of artificial speech translation upon us?

This passage reviews progress in automatic speech translation. It considers language technology, accuracy and the challenges of natural conversation.

Question typesmultiple choice, matching information, Yes / No / Not Given.
27What does the reader learn about the conversation in the first paragraph?D

Why: Option D is supported by the passage: Aspects of the conversation are challenging for both speakers..

28What assists the electronic translator during lectures at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology?A

Why: Option A is supported by the passage: the repeated content of lectures.

29When referring to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the writer suggests thatC

Why: Option C is supported by the passage: artificial speech translation was not a surprising development..

30What does the writer say about sharing earpieces?B

Why: Option B is supported by the passage: The reluctance to do this is understandable..

31Speech translation methods are developing fast in JapanC

Why: The detail belongs with but they are far from perfect..

32TV interviews that use translation voiceover methods are successfulE

Why: The detail belongs with because translation is immediate..

33Future translation systems should address people appropriatelyF

Why: The detail belongs with and have an awareness of good manners..

34Users may be able to maintain their local customsB

Why: The detail belongs with as systems do not need to conform to standard practices..

35Language translation systems will be seen as very useful throughout the academic and professional worlds.NO

Why: The writer presents a view that disagrees with this statement.

36The overall value of automated translation to family life is yet to be shown.YES

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

37Automated translation could make life more difficult for immigrant families.NO

Why: The writer presents a view that disagrees with this statement.

38Visual aspects of language translation are being considered by scientists.NOT GIVEN

Why: The writer does not express a clear view on this point.

39International scientists have found English easier to translate into other languages than Latin.NOT GIVEN

Why: The writer does not express a clear view on this point.

40As far as language is concerned, there is a difference between people’s social and practical needs.YES

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

How to review your answers

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