IELTS Reading Practice Test with Sample Answers

Ideally, you should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 based on the Reading Passage below.
 

The Coconut Palm
 

1. For thousands of years, the coconut has been integral to the lives of Polynesian and Asian peoples. On the other hand, In the West, coconuts have always been exotic and unusual, sometimes rare. In the late 13th century, the Italian merchant traveller Marco Polo apparently saw coconuts in South Asia. During the mid-14th century, in the travel writings of Sir John Mandeville, there is mention of ‘great Notes of India’ (great Nuts of India). Images of tropical beaches with palm trees are clichés in the West today to sell holidays, chocolate bars, fizzy drinks, and even romance. 
    
2. We conceive coconuts as brown cannonballs that, when opened, provide sweet white flesh. But we see none of the plants from which they come and only part of the fruit. The coconut palm has a slender, smooth, grey trunk that grows up to 30 metres tall. The trunk is an important source of timber for constructing houses and is mainly used to replace endangered trees from the furniture construction industry. The trunk, each of which may be up to 6 metres long, is surmounted by a rosette of leaves. They have hard veins in their centres, which are used as brushes in many parts of the world after the green part of the leaf has been stripped away. At the top of the trunk, immature coconut flowers are tightly clustered together among the leaves. The stems of the flowers are tapped to produce a drink from their sap, and it can also be reduced by boiling to make a type of sugar that can be used for cooking.
    
3. Coconut palms produce as many as 70 fruits per year, almost a kilogram each. The wall of the fruit has 3 layers - an outer waterproof layer, a fibrous middle layer, and an inner hard layer. The middle layer produces coconut fibre, ‘coir’, which has many uses and is particularly important in making ropes. The woody shell, the innermost layer with its 3 prominent ‘eyes’, surrounds the seed. Charcoal is an important product obtained from the shell, used in many industries and as cooking fuel in the houses. The shells are broken in half and are used as bowls in many parts of Asia.
    
4. There are nutrients (endosperm) inside the shell that are needed by the developing seed. The endosperm is a sweetish liquid, coconut water, that provides the hormones which encourage other plants to grow more rapidly and produce higher yields and is also enjoyed as a drink. As the fruit matures, the coconut water gradually solidifies to form the brilliant white, fat-rich, edible flesh or meat. Dried coconut flesh, ‘copra’, is made into coconut milk and coconut oil widely used in cooking in different parts of the world. It is also used in cosmetics. As Alfred Nobel introduced the world to his nitroglycerine-based invention: dynamite, Glycerine, a derivative of coconut fat, gained strategic importance in a different sphere. 
    
5. Their structure makes coconuts great maritime voyagers and coastal colonisers of the plant world. These large and energy-rich fruits can float in water and tolerate salt but cannot remain feasible indefinitely. After about 110 days at sea, studies say that they are no longer able to germinate. With little more than sand to grow on desert island shores, coconut seeds are able to germinate when exposed to the tropical sun. The embryo is protected by the air pocket inside the seed that is created when the endosperm solidifies. The fibrous fruit wall that helped it to float during the voyage stores moisture, and as it starts to grow it can be taken up by the roots of the coconut seedling. 
    
6. Regarding the origins of the coconut, there have been centuries of academic debate. Before the voyages of the European explorers Vasco da Gama and Columbus, there were no coconut palms in West Africa, the Caribbean or the east coast of the Americans in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. 16th-century trade and human migration patterns reveal that Arab traders and European sailors might be the people who have been the reason why coconuts were found in Africa and then to the east coast of America across the Atlantic. Discussions went on for centuries about the origin of coconuts discovered along the west coast of America by 16th-century sailors. 2 diametrically opposed origins have been proposed. One that they came from Asia, and second, that they were native to America. Both have problems. There is a large degree of coconut diversity in Asia and evidence of human use for thousands of years. There are close coconut relatives in America, but there is no evidence that coconuts are native. These have led to the intriguing suggestion that coconuts originated on coral islands in the Pacific and were dispersed from there.

Questions 1-5 

1. The coconut was an important part of the lives of Polynesian and Asian peoples.

2. Coconut palms produce as many as 70 fruits per year.

3. Coconuts cannot germinate after 110 days at sea. 

4. The coconut palm can grow up to 30 metres in length.

5. Coconuts are not native to America

Answers for Questions 1-5

Reference 

From Paragraph A: For thousands of years, the coconut has been integral to the lives of Polynesian and Asian peoples. 
 

Explanation

In the first paragraph, the discussion of the origin of coconuts is presented. The coconuts were considered exotic and almost rare in the West, but it is stated that they have always been an integral part of the lives of Polynesians and Asians.
 

Reference 

From Paragraph C: Coconut palms produce as many as 70 fruits per year, almost a kilogram each. The wall of the fruit has 3 layers - an outer waterproof layer, a fibrous middle layer, and an inner hard layer. 
 

Explanation

Paragraph C covers various parts of the coconut palm and enumerates coconut uses, noting that these palms can yield up to 70 fruits annually.

Reference

From Paragraph E: After about 110 days at sea, studies say that they are no longer able to germinate. With little more than sand to grow on desert island shores, coconut seeds are able to germinate when exposed to the tropical sun. 
 

Explanation 

In Paragraph E, it is explained that coconuts can float in water and tolerate salt but cannot remain viable indefinitely. It is mentioned that coconuts stop germinating in about 110 days at sea.
 

Reference

From Paragraph B: The coconut palm has a slender, smooth, grey trunk that grows up to 30 metres tall. 

Explanation

Paragraph B explains the nature of coconut and coconut palms. It is stated that coconut palms are slender and smooth and contain a long grey trunk that grows up to 30 metres. The uses of this trunk are further elaborated in the paragraph. 
 

Reference 

From Paragraph F: There are close coconut relatives in America, but there is no evidence that coconuts are native.
 

Explanation

As seen in paragraph F, two theories were proposed about the origin of coconuts, one suggesting that they were native to America. However, it is further elaborated in the paragraph that despite coconuts being closely related to America, there is not enough evidence to prove that they are native to the country

Questions 6-9

The history of coconuts dates back to thousands of years. In the late 6________ the Italian merchant traveller Marco Polo apparently saw coconuts in South Asia. Coconuts are brown cannonballs that, when opened, provide sweet 7________. The wall of the fruit has 3 layers - an outer 8________, a fibrous middle layer, and an inner hard layer. Before the voyages of the European explorers Vasco da Gama and 9________ there were no coconut palms in West Africa, the Caribbean or the east coast of the Americans in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. There have been centuries of academic debate about the origins of the coconut. 

Answers for Questions 6-9 

Reference
 

From Paragraph A: In the late 13th century, the Italian merchant traveller Marco Polo saw coconuts in South Asia.
 

Explanation
 

The lines from Paragraph A define a historic moment when the Italian Merchant traveller Marco Polo discovered coconuts in South Asia. This event occurred in the 13th century.
 

Reference
 

From Paragraph B: We conceive coconuts as brown cannonballs that, when opened, provide sweet white flesh.
 

Explanation
 

In Paragraph B, the coconut is described as a brown cannonball. It is stated that the inside of the coconut has sweet 'white flesh,' which is the missing word in the given summary.

Reference
 

From Paragraph C: The wall of the fruit has 3 layers - an outer waterproof layer, a fibrous middle layer, and an inner hard layer. 

Explanation
 

The 3 layers of coconuts are mentioned in Paragraph C, with the first layer being referred to as the ‘waterproof layer.’ This layer is said to make the coconuts resistant to external moisture. 
 

Reference
 

From Paragraph F: Before the voyages of the European explorers Vasco da Gama and Columbus, there were no coconut palms in West Africa, the Caribbean or the east coast of the Americans in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. 
 

Explanation
 

While discussing the origin of coconuts in West Africa, the Caribbean, or the east coast of America, two prominent European explorers, Vasco da Gama and Columbus, are mentioned in the passage. Out of the two, Columbus is missing in the given summary. 

Questions 10-14

10. Who mentioned ‘Great Notes of India’ in his book?

11. How long will the trunk grow?

12. What is the charcoal obtained from the shell used as?

13. Where does the developing seed get its nutrients from?

14. Which part of the world uses coconut shells as bowls?

Answers for Questions 10-14

Reference

From Paragraph A: During the mid-14th century, in the travel writings of Sir John Mandeville, there is mention of ‘great Notes of India’ (great Nuts of India).
 

Explanation
 

While discussing the origin of coconuts from Asia, two travellers, Marco Polo and Sir John Mandeville, are mentioned in Paragraph A. Among the two, Sir John Mandeville is noted to have mentioned the 'Great Notes of India' (Great Nuts of India) in his travel writings.

Reference
 

From Paragraph B: The trunk, each of which may be up to 6 metres long, is surmounted by a rosette of leaves. 

Explanation
 

As per Paragraph B, it is mentioned that the trunk of a coconut tree can grow up to 6 metres long and is covered with a rosette of leaves. 

Reference
 

From Paragraph C: Charcoal is an important product obtained from the shell, used in many industries and as cooking fuel in houses. 
 

Explanation

Paragraph C overviews how different parts of coconut can be used for multiple purposes. It states that Charcoal, a main product obtained from coconut shells, is often used as cooking fuel at home.

Reference

Paragraph D: The developing seed needs nutrients (endosperm) inside the shell. The endosperm is a sweetish liquid, coconut water, that provides the hormones which encourage other plants to grow more rapidly and produce higher yields and is also enjoyed as a drink.

Explanation

Paragraph D clearly shows that seeds get their nutrients from the Endosperm. The Endosperm is the sweet liquid inside the shell, which is also referred to as coconut water. The paragraph states that the Endosperm contains hormones that can help the plant grow, making it a refreshing drink.

Reference
 

From paragraph C: Charcoal is an important product obtained from the shell, used in many industries and as cooking fuel in the houses. The shells are broken in half and are used as bowls in many parts of Asia.
 

Explanation
 

Paragraph C lists the uses of coconut, including how its shell (the Endosperm) is used for various purposes. It mentions that coconut is broken in half in many parts of Asia and used as a bowl. 

Ideally, you should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 based on the Reading Passage below.

A Bad Image Not Justified

Paragraph 1: Children's rhyme as ‘Flies are a nuisance, wasps are a pest…’ In fact, they are recognized everywhere by the local council environmental health departments. Having a wasp nest near your home is a cause for concern. But all living things have a role in life, the flies function for a useful purpose, they support removing waste products and feeding on other animals in the food chain.

Paragraph 2: And wasps? For most of us, they do not have any recovery features. Because of being stabbed, the majority of people hate them and question their freedom to live. As John Crompton indicates in 'The Hunting Wasp' we typically overreact while seeing the insects but they are more scared of us and want to run away from us. However, their sting is at least a disturbance factor, and, in the case of allergic patients, is a serious health risk, but wasps do not attack without fair logic. Very frequently, we accidentally bother them, paying a painful cost.
 

Paragraph 3: The issue is that two or three species give a bad name to others. Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica, standard and German wasps are inspired by our diet and can ruin a trip by challenging each of our ice cream, sandwich bites, and a drink. Barbecues are another typical battleground because wasps like to suck juices from the meat. They often go to trash cans and other dirty places, and so they can lead to a health hazard, albeit not as much as flies. Another evil of theirs, often unnoticed, is that they like to feed their cubs the meat of the bee when they eat it. Beekeepers hate them because their experiments severely disrupt the natural course of bees. Yet, this is not a full view and it is essential to adjust the balance in favor of our black and yellow colors, although of course the negative!

Paragraph 4: Together with bees and ants, wasps form an insect lineage called Hymenoptera, and they are split into two major types, solitary and social. The former do not have to worry about us here because they have no issue with us. They live alone or in small groups, and their larvae use their delicate sticks only to freeze prey to swallow them alive and fresh. They can also be used in natural pest control activities. They are called social wasps because they form large colonies of infertile female 'workers' ruled by a single queen. In Britain, in addition to the species mentioned above, there are wood, Norwegian, Saxon, red, and cuckoo wasps and also hornets, which rarely come into contact with us.
 

Paragraph 5: Of course, there is also the Tolikovesbula medium or the intermediate wasp. Since Kent first established itself in 1985, it has spread rapidly across the country, blaming the tabloids every year for the 'French killer wasp' or 'Euro Wasp', blaming global warming for the Superbug attack! In fact, it's bigger than our native wasps, and its sting is very powerful, but no matter what you read on paper it is not aggressive. There will be no trouble if it is left as it is. The main thing is that the stick of all social wasps is defensive and they can be used against anyone or object that is deemed a danger to themselves or their nest. Everything in that unpleasant cocktail they pay for is a secret recipe that scientists still need to analyze.

Paragraph 6: The life cycle of social wasps starts on a hot day in April, when the queens wake up and choose a place for their nest, usually on the ground, in a tree, or on the Attic floor and in the area under the roof. The structure is made of wood chewed with saliva, which creates a gray paper material. The queen forms a dozen or more hexagonal cells and lays the first of thirty thousand eggs. The chicks hatch and feed until they are young. When the new adults or fantasies appear after eight weeks, the queen continues to lay eggs, while her infertile daughters form an expanding nest and feed on the new larvae. The males and females hatch in August and are larger and brighter in color than the working ‘species’. For males with slightly longer antennae, there is no odor, which can be seen mating with young queens in the fall and sucking nectar from the last budding plant in the UK, the ivy. As the weather cools and the flowers fade, both men and survivors die. The old queen is also destroyed, along with the last remaining unnoticed groups. Although the colonies are known to last a long time in temperate climates, heavy rains in November destroy the nest. Feeding well to construct up their fat reserves during the extended hard winter to come, the impregnated queens look for suitable shelter for sleeping, i.e. below the folds of the bar.

Paragraph 7: We need to ask those who eradicate wasps what the globe would be like without them. Quite simply, there will be very few flowers and very few fruits, and there will be many flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs because they pollinate the former and prefer the latter to baby food. Although these services come at a small cost, we should be grateful for them. 
 

Paragraph 8: If we leave the wasps alone they will not hurt us. Just as we treat bees with caution and respect, we must also treat wasps. They are attractive creatures, they really have the right to be a part of our ecosystem and besides being attractive, they actually benefit in more ways than one.

Questions 1-5 

1. What is the impact of wasp sting

2. What species caused all the species to get a bad name?

3. Who is hated by the people?

4. What purpose do flies function?

Answers with Explanations for Questions (1-4) 

Reference

From Paragraph 2: However, their sting is at least a disturbance factor and, in the case of allergic patients, is a severe health risk, but wasps do not attack without fair logic.

Explanation
 

The impact of wasp stings is described in paragraph 2. It states that while wasp stings are a mere disturbance for most people, they may escalate to being a serious health risk for those with allergies. 

Reference

From Paragraph 3: The issue is that two or three species give a bad name to others. Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica, standard and German wasps, are inspired by our diet and can ruin a trip by challenging each of our ice cream, sandwich bites, and a drink. 

Explanation
 

As per the reference, it is noted that Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica, also known as standard and German wasps, are the species that caused all others to get a bad name. The passage further mentions that these two species have a bad reputation because of their aggressive behaviour around food.

Reference

From Paragraph 2: Because of being stabbed, most people hate them and question their freedom to live. John Crompton indicates in 'The Hunting Wasp' that we typically overreact while seeing the insects, but they are more scared of us and want to run away from us.

Explanation
 

Paragraph 2 describes that people fear wasp stings, making them hate wasps and question their freedom to live. The paragraph continues to explain that wasps are terrified of humans more than humans are of them. 
 

Reference
 

From Paragraph 1: All living things have a role in life. The flies function for a useful purpose, they support removing waste products and feeding on other animals in the food chain.
 

Explanation

The passage explains that all living things, even the flies, have a purpose in life. It states that the flies are rather useful, as they help remove waste products and contribute to the food chain. 

Question (5 - 8)

Answers for Questions (5-8) 

Reference
 

From Paragraph 3: Barbecues are another typical battleground because wasps like to suck juices from the meat. 

Explanation
 

The paragraph explains that Standard and German wasps have a bad reputation because of their nature towards foods such as Ice cream and Sandwiches. It further states that these wasps especially love to suck juices from meat during barbecues. 

Reference
 

From Paragraph 4: Together with bees and ants, wasps form an insect lineage called Hymenoptera, and they are split into two major types: solitary and social. 

Explanation

The passage mentions that wasps, bees, and ants belong to the Hymenoptera lineage. It further elaborates that there are two major types of wasps within this lineage: solitary and social wasps.
 

Reference
 

From paragraph 4: They live alone or in small groups, and their larvae use their delicate sticks only to freeze prey to swallow them alive and fresh. They can also be used in natural pest control activities.
 

Explanation
 

The passage indicates that among the solitary and social wasps, the solitary wasps are great for natural pest control activities. These wasps use their larvae-stricken sticks to freeze the prey and swallow them alive. 

Reference

From Paragraph 5: Since Kent first established itself in 1985, it has spread rapidly across the country, blaming the tabloids every year for the 'French killer wasp' or 'Euro Wasp', blaming global warming for the Superbug attack!

Explanation 

Paragraph 8 mentions that Kent was first established in 1985 and rapidly spread nationwide. The passage also explains that, often, tabloids were blamed for 'French killer wasp' or 'Euro Wasp.’
 

Question (9 - 13)

• Stick of all social wasps is 9 ____________ and they can be used against anyone or object.
• The life cycle of social wasps starts on a hot day in 10 __________
• The queen forms a dozen or more 11 __________ cells and lays the first of 12 _____________ eggs.
• The males and females hatch in August and are larger and brighter in color than the working 13 _____________.

Answers with Explanations for Questions (9 - 13)

Reference
 

From Paragraph 5: The main thing is that the stick of all social wasps is defensive and they can be used against anyone or object that is deemed a danger to themselves or their nest.

Explanation

It states clearly in paragraph 5 that social wasps have highly defensive sticks. The sticks protect themselves against anything that seems dangerous to them or their nest. 

Reference 

From Paragraph 6: The life cycle of social wasps starts on a hot day in April, when the queens wake up and choose a place for their nest, usually on the ground, in a tree, or on the Attic floor and in the area under the roof. 

Explanation

The passage indicates that the life cycle of social wasps starts when queens wake up and find a place for their nest. This process is marked as the beginning of the life cycle of wasps, which usually takes place on a hot day in April.

Reference
 

From Paragraph 6: The queen forms a dozen or more hexagonal cells and lays the first of thirty thousand eggs. 
 

Explanation
 

Paragraph 6 details how the queen wasp lays eggs and provides insights into how many eggs are usually laid. According to the reference, the missing words are hexagonal cells and thirty thousand eggs.

Reference

From Paragraph 6: When the new adults or fantasies appear after eight weeks, the queen continues to lay eggs while her infertile daughters form an expanding nest and feed on the new larvae. The males and females hatch in August and are larger and brighter in color than the working species. 

Explanation
 

The paragraph details what happens once the queen has laid eggs. It refers to the infertile daughter bees as the ‘working species.’ The paragraph describes that the working species continue to build the nest and feed the larvae, while the male and female eggs hatch much later.

Discover exciting and informative sample IELTS reading answers

The IELTS Reading section fundamentally remains the same. However, the format for IELTS General and Academic tests is slightly different. 

Below are some tried and tested Reading Tips and Tricks for IELTS.

IELTS Reading Tips for Preparation  

• Familiarise yourself with the test pattern: IELTS Academic and IELTS General have two different test patterns. Take time to understand the format, the question types, and the number of questions included. 
• Improve your Vocabulary: Build your vocabulary by reading newspapers, blogs, magazines, and books. This will help you understand the passages faster, and with time and practice, you will build the ability to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. 
• Manage Time: Practice the reading section on a timer. Simulating the exam atmosphere when practising will help you complete the exam better in real-time. 
• Work on your reading speed: Reading speed drastically increases as you practice. Reading books, newspapers, and articles is a great way to improve your skimming and scanning skills. 
• Take Mock Tests: Mock tests are a great way to determine your strengths and weaknesses. A good approach would be to take one mock test a week till your exam day. 

IELTS Reading Tips for Exam Day

• Skim through the text: Skimming differs from reading. Since you will be on a time limit, you may not be able to read every sentence of the passage. The best approach here is to skim or selectively read the text and identify keywords. 
• Scan for Keywords: The best way to find answers to IELTS Reading questions is to read the questions, identify the keywords, and then scan the passage to find that keyword. 
• Read instructions carefully: Take a minute to read the instructions. The reading section usually has a word limit. For example, you may be asked to write the answer in no more than two words. Crossing this word limit is not usually appreciated. 
• Don’t spend too long on a single question: If you don’t know the answer to a question, take a guess and move on to the next. You can revisit it if you have the time. But try not to leave it blank or spend too long answering it. 
• Recheck your answers: Make sure you take some time to check your answers. It’s best to check and review your answers as you may find mistakes you have overlooked quickly.