Cambridge IELTS 20 Test 1 Reading Answers & Explanations

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 20 | Academic Reading

Academic Test 1 answers with clear explanations

These Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Test 1 Reading answers explain all 40 questions. Review The kākāpō, British elm restoration and research into stress and judgement.

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40answers explained

3reading passages

60 minofficial practice time

AcademicAcademic Reading

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Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Test 1 Reading answer key

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1. The kākāpō

Questions 1 to 13

1FALSE

2FALSE

3FALSE

4NOT GIVEN

5TRUE

6TRUE

7bulbsAlso: bulb

8soil

9feathersAlso: feather

10deer

111980

12funding

13stakeholdersAlso: stakeholder

2. Reintroducing elms to Britain

Questions 14 to 26

14C

15G

16B

17E

18C

19B

20A

21B

22C

23A

24oak

25flooring

26keel

3. How stress affects our judgement

Questions 27 to 40

27C

28A

29D

30C

31B

32G

33F

34E

35D

36YES

37NOT GIVEN

38NO

39YES

40YES

Passage 1: The kākāpō

Passage 1 examines the kākāpō, its distinctive behaviour and efforts to protect the species. The questions focus on facts, changes and key conservation details.

Question types: True, False, Not Given, Note completion.

Review strategySeparate direct contradictions from details the passage never states. For notes, copy only the permitted number of words.

1There are other parrots that share the kākāpō's inability to fly.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

2Adult kākāpō produce chicks every year.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

3Adult male kākāpō bring food back to nesting females.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

4The Polynesian rat was a greater threat to the kākāpō than Polynesian settlers.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not provide this specific information.

5Kākāpō were transferred from Rakiura Island to other locations because they were at risk from feral cats.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

6One Recovery Plan initiative that helped increase the kākāpō population size was caring for struggling young birds.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

7The kākāpō's diet consists of fern fronds, various parts of a tree and ____.bulbs

Why: The passage uses "bulbs" to complete this answer accurately.

Also accepted: bulb.

8Kākāpō nests are created in ____ where eggs are laid.soil

Why: The passage uses "soil" to complete this answer accurately.

9The ____ of the kākāpō were used to make clothes.feathers

Why: The passage uses "feathers" to complete this answer accurately.

Also accepted: feather.

10European colonisers introduced ____ which ate the kākāpō's food sources.deer

Why: The passage uses "deer" to complete this answer accurately.

11A definite sighting of female kākāpō on Rakiura Island was reported in the year ____.1980

Why: The passage uses "1980" to complete this answer accurately.

12The Recovery Plan included an increase in ____.funding

Why: The passage uses "funding" to complete this answer accurately.

13A current goal of the Recovery Plan is to maintain the involvement of ____ in kākāpō protection.stakeholders

Why: The passage uses "stakeholders" to complete this answer accurately.

Also accepted: stakeholder.

Passage 2: Reintroducing elms to Britain

Passage 2 explores attempts to restore elm trees across Britain. It covers disease resistance, research projects, materials and groups involved in reintroduction.

Question types: Matching features, Note completion.

Review strategyTrack each named project or group carefully. Use nearby wording to complete the notes accurately.

14Reference to the research problems that arise from there being only a few surviving large elmsC

Why: The passage links this detail to Section C.

15Details of a difference of opinion about the value of reintroducing elms to BritainG

Why: The passage links this detail to Section G.

16Reference to how Dutch elm disease was brought into BritainB

Why: The passage links this detail to Section B.

17A description of the conditions that have enabled a location in Britain to escape Dutch elm diseaseE

Why: The passage links this detail to Section E.

18Reference to the stage at which young elms become vulnerable to Dutch elm diseaseC

Why: The passage links this detail to Section C.

19If a tree gets infected with Dutch elm disease, the damage rapidly becomes visible.B

Why: The passage links this detail to Karen Russell.

20It may be better to wait and see if the mature elms that have survived continue to flourish.A

Why: The passage links this detail to Matt Elliot.

21There must be an explanation for the survival of some mature elms.B

Why: The passage links this detail to Karen Russell.

22We need to be aware that insects carrying Dutch elm disease are not very far away.C

Why: The passage links this detail to Peter Bourne.

23You understand the effect Dutch elm disease has had when you see evidence of how prominent the tree once was.A

Why: The passage links this detail to Matt Elliot.

24For hundreds of years, the only tree that was more popular in Britain than elm was ____.oak

Why: The passage uses "oak" to complete this answer accurately.

25In the 18th century, elm wood was grown to provide wood for boxes and ____.flooring

Why: The passage uses "flooring" to complete this answer accurately.

26Due to its strength, elm was often used for mining equipment and the Cutty Sark's ____.keel

Why: The passage uses "keel" to complete this answer accurately.

Passage 3: How stress affects our judgement

Passage 3 explains how stress can influence judgement and decision-making. It reviews research findings, risk, uncertainty and different responses to pressure.

Question types: Multiple choice, Matching features, Yes, No, Not Given.

Review strategyCheck why each option is right or wrong. Distinguish the writer's stated view from information that is missing.

27In the first paragraph, the writer introduces the topic of the text byC

Why: Option C is the only choice supported by the passage.

28What point does the writer make about firefighters in the second paragraph?A

Why: Option A is the only choice supported by the passage.

29What is the writer doing in the fourth paragraph?D

Why: Option D is the only choice supported by the passage.

30In the seventh paragraph, the writer describes a mechanism in the brain whichC

Why: Option C is the only choice supported by the passage.

31At times when they were relaxed, the firefighters usuallyB

Why: The passage links this detail to took relatively little notice of bad news..

32The researchers noted that when the firefighters were stressed, theyG

Why: The passage links this detail to thought it more likely that they would experience something bad..

33When the firefighters were told good news, they alwaysF

Why: The passage links this detail to behaved in a similar manner, regardless of the circumstances..

34The students' cortisol levels and heart rates were affected when the researchersE

Why: The passage links this detail to put them in a stressful situation..

35In both experiments, negative information was processed better when the subjectsD

Why: The passage links this detail to were feeling under stress..

36The tone of the content we post on social media tends to reflect the nature of the posts in our feeds.YES

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

37Phones have a greater impact on our stress levels than other electronic media devices.NOT GIVEN

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

38The more we read about a stressful public event on social media, the less able we are to take in the information.NO

Why: The writer presents a view that contradicts this statement.

39Stress created by social media posts can lead us to take unnecessary precautions.YES

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

40Our tendency to be affected by other people's moods can be used in a positive way.YES

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

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Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Test 1 Reading Answers and Explanations

Academic Test 1 answers with clear explanations

Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Test 1 Reading answer key

1. The kākāpō

2. Reintroducing elms to Britain

3. How stress affects our judgement

Passage 1: The kākāpō

Passage 2: Reintroducing elms to Britain

Passage 3: How stress affects our judgement

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