Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Reading Test 4: answers explained

Explanation for each answer

Passage 1 · Q1–13 Green roofs

1. Question 1

   Matching information

   Question

   mention of several challenges to be overcome before a green roof can be installed

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   Other considerations include installing drainage paths, meeting health and safety requirements and perhaps allowing access for the public, as well as planning restrictions and disruption from regular activities in and around the buildings during installation.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a mention of challenges in installing green roofs. The correct answer is Section D. Section D corresponds to the fourth paragraph of the passage. The third sentence of this paragraph lists several considerations (challenges or potential issues) that need to be addressed before installation, including 'installing drainage paths, meeting health and safety requirements and perhaps allowing access for the public, as well as planning restrictions and disruption from regular activities'. This directly addresses the challenges mentioned in the question.

2. Question 2

   Matching information

   Question

   reference to a city where green roofs have been promoted for many years

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   Toronto, Canada, has policies dating from the 1990s, encouraging the development of urban farms on rooftops.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a reference to a city where green roofs have been promoted for many years. The correct answer is Section C. Section C corresponds to the third paragraph. The third sentence of this paragraph states: 'Toronto, Canada, has policies dating from the 1990s, encouraging the development of urban farms on rooftops'. Policies dating from the 1990s indicate a long period of promotion for green roofs in Toronto.

3. Question 3

   Matching information

   Question

   a belief that existing green roofs should be used as a model for new ones

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   The success stories need to be studied and replicated elsewhere, to make green, blue, brown and food-producing roofs the norm in cities around the world.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a belief that existing green roofs should serve as models for new ones. The correct answer is Section E. Section E corresponds to the fifth paragraph. The final sentence of this paragraph states: 'The success stories need to be studied and replicated elsewhere, to make green, blue, brown and food-producing roofs the norm in cities around the world.' 'Success stories' refers to existing examples, and 'replicated elsewhere' implies using them as models for new developments.

4. Question 4

   Matching information

   Question

   examples of how green roofs can work in combination with other green urban initiatives

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   Ongoing research is showcasing how green roofs in cities can integrate with ‘living walls’: environmentally friendly walls which are partially or completely covered with greenery, including a growing medium, such as soil or water.

   Explanation

   The question asks for examples of green roofs working in combination with other green urban initiatives. The correct answer is Section B. Section B corresponds to the second paragraph. The first sentence mentions how green roofs 'can integrate with 'living walls''. The second sentence provides another example: green roofs 'can be integrated with drainage systems on the ground, such as street trees'. Both 'living walls' and 'street trees' are examples of other green urban initiatives that can work in combination with green roofs.

5. Question 5

   Matching information

   Question

   the need to make a persuasive argument for the financial benefits of green roofs

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   To convince investors and developers that installing green roofs is worthwhile, economic arguments are still the most important.

   Explanation

   The question asks about the need to make a persuasive argument regarding the financial benefits of green roofs. The correct answer is Section D. Section D corresponds to the fourth paragraph. The fourth sentence states: 'To convince investors and developers that installing green roofs is worthwhile, economic arguments are still the most important.' This explicitly mentions the need for economic (financial) arguments to persuade people, implying the need for a persuasive argument about the benefits. The following sentence introduces the term 'natural capital' which is used to explain the 'economic value' of nature, further supporting the focus on financial benefits.

6. Question 6

   Summary completion

   Question

   These include lessening the likelihood that floods will occur, reducing how much money is spent on ______ and creating environments that are suitable for wildlife.

   Answer

   energy

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   Among the benefits are saving on energy costs, mitigating the risk of floods, making habitats for urban wildlife, tackling air pollution and even growing food.

   Explanation

   The question asks about advantages of green roofs, specifically what they can reduce the money spent on. The passage, in the third sentence of the first paragraph (Section A), lists benefits including 'saving on energy costs'. This directly corresponds to reducing the amount of money spent on energy. The answer 'energy' is a single word and fits grammatically into the blank.

7. Question 7

   Summary completion

   Question

   In many cases, they can also be used for producing ______

   Answer

   food

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   Among the benefits are saving on energy costs, mitigating the risk of floods, making habitats for urban wildlife, tackling air pollution and even growing food.

   Explanation

   The question asks what green roofs can be used for producing. The passage, in the third sentence of the first paragraph (Section A), lists benefits including 'growing food'. This directly matches the concept of producing food. The answer 'food' is a single word and fits grammatically.

8. Question 8

   Summary completion

   Question

   For example, the medical profession recommends ______ as an activity to help people cope with mental health issues.

   Answer

   gardening

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   Doctors are increasingly prescribing time spent gardening outdoors for patients dealing with anxiety and depression.

   Explanation

   The question asks what activity the medical profession recommends for mental health issues. The passage, in the fourth sentence of the second paragraph (Section B), states: 'Doctors are increasingly prescribing time spent gardening outdoors for patients dealing with anxiety and depression.' 'Prescribing' by 'doctors' is equivalent to the 'medical profession recommends', and the activity is 'gardening'. The answer 'gardening' is a single word.

9. Question 9

   Summary completion

   Question

   Studies have also shown that the availability of green spaces can prevent physical problems such as ______

   Answer

   obesity

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   And research has found that access to even the most basic green spaces can provide a better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.

   Explanation

   The question asks what physical problem green spaces can help prevent. The passage, in the final sentence of the second paragraph (Section B), states: 'And research has found that access to even the most basic green spaces can provide a better quality of life for dementia sufferers and help people avoid obesity.' 'Help people avoid obesity' means it can prevent this physical problem. The answer 'obesity' is a single word.

10. Question 10

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO advantages of using newer buildings for green roofs are mentioned in Paragraph C of the passage?

    Answer

    C

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    And it’s much easier to do this in newer buildings, which can typically hold greater weight, than to retro-fit old ones.

    Explanation

    The question asks for two advantages of using newer buildings for green roofs mentioned in Paragraph C. This explanation is for option C: 'greater water-storage capacity'. Paragraph C mentions that newer buildings 'can typically hold greater weight' (sixth sentence). The seventh sentence adds that a stronger roof allows for 'deeper' soil. Deeper soil facilitated by the structural strength of newer buildings allows for more water to be held, implying greater water-storage capacity.

11. Question 11

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO advantages of using newer buildings for green roofs are mentioned in Paragraph C of the passage?

    Answer

    D

    Location

    Paragraph C

    Sentence in the passage

    Having a stronger roof also makes it easier to grow a greater variety of plants, since the soil can be deeper.

    Explanation

    Newer buildings can carry more weight, so the roof can take deeper soil, and the writer says this lets growers raise a greater variety of plants. That is option D. Option C is tempting because water matters, but the passage speaks of keeping water at roof height, not of a bigger storage capacity.

12. Question 12

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO aims of new variations on the concept of green roofs are mentioned in Paragraph E of the passage?

    Answer

    A

    Location

    Paragraph E

    Sentence in the passage

    There are also combinations of green roofs with solar panels, and ‘brown roofs’ which are wilder in nature and maximise biodiversity.

    Explanation

    The question asks for two aims of new variations on green roofs mentioned in Paragraph E. This explanation is for option A: 'to provide habitats for a wide range of species'. Paragraph E mentions 'brown roofs' as a variation, described as 'wilder in nature and maximise biodiversity' (fourth sentence). Maximising biodiversity directly relates to providing habitats for a wide range of species.

13. Question 13

    Multiple choice (several answers)

    Question

    Which TWO aims of new variations on the concept of green roofs are mentioned in Paragraph E of the passage?

    Answer

    D

    Location

    Paragraph E

    Sentence in the passage

    There are also combinations of green roofs with solar panels, and ‘brown roofs’ which are wilder in nature and maximise biodiversity.

    Explanation

    The question asks for two aims of new variations on green roofs mentioned in Paragraph E. This explanation is for option D: 'to generate power from a sustainable source'. Paragraph E mentions 'combinations of green roofs with solar panels' as a variation (fourth sentence). Solar panels are used to generate power, and solar power is a sustainable source. Combining them with green roofs implies an aim of adding power generation.

Passage 2 · Q14–26 The growth mindset

1. Question 14

   Multiple choice

   Question

   What can we learn from the first paragraph?

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   Then, in the early 20th century, progressive thinkers revolted against the notion that inherent ability is destiny.

   Explanation

   The opening passage gives a timeline: the fixed view of intelligence was held by 19th-century scientists, and from the early 20th century progressive thinkers rejected it. So we learn when ideas began to change, option B. Reasons for the shift are barely given, and the origin of innate intelligence is not traced.

2. Question 15

   Multiple choice

   Question

   The second paragraph describes how schools encourage students to

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   A major focus of the growth mindset in schools is coaxing students away from seeing failure as an indication of their ability, and towards seeing it as a chance to improve that ability.

   Explanation

   The second paragraph describes how the growth mindset is applied in schools. The third sentence states, 'A major focus of the growth mindset in schools is coaxing students away from seeing failure as an indication of their ability, and towards seeing it as a chance to improve that ability.' By encouraging students to see failure as an opportunity to improve their ability rather than a sign of fixed limitations, schools are implicitly encouraging them to believe in their capacity to develop and ultimately succeed.

3. Question 16

   Multiple choice

   Question

   In the third paragraph, the writer suggests that students with a fixed mindset

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   This group had inferred that success or failure is due to innate ability, and this ‘fixed mindset’ had led them to fear of failure and lack of effort.

   Explanation

   The third paragraph describes an experiment by Carol Dweck. It discusses two groups, one developing a 'growth mindset' and the other a 'fixed mindset'. The paragraph explicitly states about the 'fixed mindset' group: 'This group had inferred that success or failure is due to innate ability, and this 'fixed mindset' had led them to fear of failure and lack of effort' (sixth sentence). It also mentions that this group 'took on only those tasks that would not risk their sense of worth' (fifth sentence). This combination of 'fear of failure' and avoiding tasks that might challenge their perceived 'innate ability' directly suggests they are afraid to try things beyond their perceived limitations.

4. Question 17

   Matching features

   Question

   The methodology behind the growth mindset studies was not strict enough.

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   The statistician Andrew Gelman claims that ‘their research designs have enough degrees of freedom that they could take their data to support just about any theory at all’.

   Explanation

   The task is to match the statement about methodology not being strict enough to the correct person. The second sentence of the fifth paragraph states: 'The statistician Andrew Gelman claims that 'their research designs have enough degrees of freedom that they could take their data to support just about any theory at all'.' Gelman's assertion that the research designs had such flexibility ('enough degrees of freedom') that they could support almost any theory is a direct criticism of the rigor and strictness of the methodology. Therefore, Andrew Gelman (Option C) is the correct match for this statement.

5. Question 18

   Matching features

   Question

   The idea of the growth mindset has been incorrectly interpreted.

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 6

   Sentence in the passage

   In fact, she argues that her work has been misunderstood and misapplied in a range of ways.

   Explanation

   The statement suggests the growth mindset idea has been misinterpreted. The second sentence of the sixth paragraph states that Carol Dweck 'argues that her work has been misunderstood and misapplied in a range of ways'. The following sentence provides a specific example: she is concerned that her theories are being 'misappropriated' and 'conflated with the self-esteem movement', clarifying that 'It's not just a vehicle for making children feel good'. This directly supports the idea that Dweck herself feels her work has been incorrectly interpreted or applied. Therefore, Carol Dweck (Option B) is the correct match.

6. Question 19

   Matching features

   Question

   Intellectual ability is an unchangeable feature of each individual.

   Answer

   A

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   Psychologist Alfred Binet, the developer of the first intelligence tests, was one of many 19th-century scientists who held that earlier view and sought to quantify cognitive ability.

   Explanation

   Binet, who created the first intelligence tests, is named among the scientists who held the older belief that intelligence is innate and fixed, and who tried to measure it. That fits an unchangeable ability. Dweck is the opposite: her growth mindset says intelligence can be developed through effort.

7. Question 20

   Matching features

   Question

   The growth mindset should be promoted without students being aware of it.

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 7

   Sentence in the passage

   Growth mindset supporters David Yeager and Gregory Walton claim that interventions should be delivered in a subtle way to maximise their effectiveness.

   Explanation

   The statement suggests a subtle or non-obvious promotion of the growth mindset. The third sentence of the seventh paragraph introduces David Yeager and Gregory Walton and states they 'claim that interventions should be delivered in a subtle way to maximise their effectiveness'. The following sentence elaborates that making the intervention too obvious (perceiving it as needing help) could be detrimental. Delivering interventions 'in a subtle way' aligns with the idea of promoting the growth mindset without students being fully aware of the explicit intention behind it. Therefore, David Yeager and Gregory Walton (Option E) are the correct match.

8. Question 21

   Matching features

   Question

   The growth mindset is not simply about boosting students’ morale.

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 6

   Sentence in the passage

   She has also expressed concerns that her theories are being misappropriated in schools by being conflated with the self-esteem movement: ‘For me the growth mindset is a tool for learning and improvement.

   Explanation

   The statement differentiates the growth mindset from simply improving how students feel about themselves. In the sixth paragraph, Carol Dweck expresses concern that her theories are being 'conflated with the self-esteem movement'. She then clarifies her view: 'For me the growth mindset is a tool for learning and improvement. It's not just a vehicle for making children feel good.' This quote directly states that the growth mindset is not merely about boosting morale ('making children feel good') but about genuine learning and improvement. Therefore, Carol Dweck (Option B) is the correct match.

9. Question 22

   Matching features

   Question

   Research shows that the growth mindset has no effect on academic achievement.

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Passage 2, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   Professor of Psychology Timothy Bates, who has been trying to replicate Dweck’s work, is finding that the results are repeatedly null.

   Explanation

   Bates has been trying to repeat Dweck's experiments and keeps getting results showing no effect: children with a growth mindset do no better with failure and earn no better grades, before or after his intervention. That is research finding no effect on achievement. Gelman, the other critic, attacks how the original studies were designed rather than reporting that nothing changes, so he is not the match.

10. Question 23

    Yes / No / Not Given

    Question

    Dweck has handled criticisms of her work in an admirable way.

    Answer

    YES

    Location

    Passage 2, paragraph 6

    Sentence in the passage

    Much of this criticism is not lost on Dweck, and she deserves great credit for responding to it and adapting her work accordingly.

    Explanation

    The statement suggests Dweck's response to criticism is admirable. The first sentence of the sixth paragraph explicitly states about Dweck: 'Much of this criticism is not lost on Dweck, and she deserves great credit for responding to it and adapting her work accordingly.' The phrase 'she deserves great credit' is a positive appraisal of her response, which supports the idea that her handling of criticism is viewed as admirable by the writer. Therefore, the answer is YES.

11. Question 24

    Yes / No / Not Given

    Question

    Students’ self-perception is a more effective driver of self-confidence than actual achievement is.

    Answer

    NO

    Location

    Passage 2, paragraph 8

    Sentence in the passage

    There is a strong correlation between self-perception and achievement, but there is evidence to suggest that the actual effect of achievement on self-perception is stronger than the other way round.

    Explanation

    The statement claims that self-perception is a *more* effective driver of self-confidence than actual achievement. The second sentence of the eighth paragraph states: 'there is evidence to suggest that the actual effect of achievement on self-perception is stronger than the other way round.' 'The other way round' refers to the effect of self-perception on achievement. This sentence directly contradicts the statement by claiming the effect of *achievement* on self-perception is *stronger* than the effect of self-perception on achievement. The third sentence provides an example supporting this, suggesting that a genuine achievement ('successfully deliver a good speech') is more motivating than vague notions of 'motivation' (which could be linked to self-perception). Therefore, the answer is NO.

12. Question 25

    Yes / No / Not Given

    Question

    Recent evidence about growth mindset interventions has attracted unfair coverage in the media.

    Answer

    NOT GIVEN

    Location

    Passage 2, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    Recent evidence would suggest that growth mindset interventions are not the elixir of student learning that its proponents claim it to be.

    Explanation

    Doubts about growth mindset interventions are set out by the writer in terms of lab results versus classroom results, and nothing in that account refers to newspapers, television or any other coverage. Whether the recent evidence has been reported unfairly is not touched on at all, so the writer's opinion on media treatment cannot be known: NOT GIVEN.

13. Question 26

    Yes / No / Not Given

    Question

    Deliberate attempts to encourage students to strive for high achievement may have a negative effect.

    Answer

    YES

    Location

    Passage 2, paragraph 7

    Sentence in the passage

    They say that if adolescents perceive a teacher’s intervention as conveying that they are in need of help, this could undo its intended effects.

    Explanation

    The statement suggests that direct attempts to encourage high achievement could be negative. The fourth sentence of the seventh paragraph, citing Yeager and Walton, states that if students perceive an intervention as meaning 'they are in need of help, this could undo its intended effects'. Undoing the intended positive effects of an intervention suggests a negative outcome. Furthermore, the final sentence of the ninth paragraph states: 'Paradoxically, however, that aspiration is not well served by direct interventions that try to instil it.' 'That aspiration' refers to having 'faith in the capacity to change' (mentioned in the previous sentence), which is closely linked to striving for improvement and achievement. Stating that this aspiration is 'not well served by direct interventions' means these deliberate attempts (direct interventions) may hinder rather than help, which aligns with the idea of having a negative effect. Therefore, the answer is YES.

Passage 3 · Q27–40 Alfred Wegener: science, exploration and the theory of continental drift

1. Question 27

   Yes / No / Not Given

   Question

   Wegener’s ideas about continental drift were widely disputed while he was alive.

   Answer

   YES

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   His book on the subject, The Origin of Continents and Oceans, went through four editions and was the focus of an international controversy in his lifetime and for some years after his death.

   Explanation

   A heated international dispute surrounded Wegener's book in his own lifetime and kept going for some years after he died. 'Widely disputed' is another way of saying 'the focus of an international controversy', and the time frame 'while he was alive' matches 'in his lifetime'. The writer states this plainly, so the claim is supported.

2. Question 28

   Yes / No / Not Given

   Question

   The idea that the continents remained fixed in place was defended in a number of respected scientific publications.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   Wegener’s basic idea was that many mysteries about the Earth’s history could be solved if one supposed that the continents moved laterally, rather than supposing that they remained fixed in place.

   Explanation

   The belief that continents stay put appears only as the alternative that Wegener's idea replaced, not as something argued for in journals. The writer never says where defenders of a fixed arrangement published, or whether those publications were respected. With no mention of any such articles, the statement is NOT GIVEN.

3. Question 29

   Yes / No / Not Given

   Question

   Wegener relied on a limited range of scientific fields to support his theory of continental drift.

   Answer

   NO

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   Wegener showed in great detail how such continental movements were plausible and how they worked, using evidence from a large number of sciences including geology, geophysics, paleontology, and climatology.

   Explanation

   Wegener drew on a wide spread of disciplines, among them geology, geophysics, palaeontology and climatology, and showed in great detail how continental movement worked. A narrow base of fields is therefore the reverse of the writer's account. 'A large number of sciences' directly contradicts 'a limited range', so the answer is NO.

4. Question 30

   Yes / No / Not Given

   Question

   The similarities between Wegener’s theory of continental drift and modern-day plate tectonics are enormous.

   Answer

   NO

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   Plate tectonics is in many respects quite different from Wegener’s proposal, in the same way that modern evolutionary theory is very different from the ideas Charles Darwin proposed in the 1850s about biological evolution.

   Explanation

   Plate tectonics is called a descendant of Wegener's proposal, but the writer is careful to say that in many respects it is quite different, comparing this with how modern evolutionary theory differs from Darwin's ideas. Describing the similarities as enormous overstates the link; the stress falls on difference, so the statement contradicts the writer.

5. Question 31

   Summary completion

   Question

   One of the remarkable things about Wegener from a ______ is that although he proposed a theory of continental drift, he was not a geologist.

   Answer

   I

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   When I started writing about Wegener’s life and work, one of the most intriguing things about him for me was that, although he came up with a theory on continental drift, he was not a geologist.

   Explanation

   The sentence mentions something remarkable about Wegener, specifically that he proposed a theory of continental drift despite not being a geologist. The first sentence of the fourth paragraph begins, 'When I started writing about Wegener's life and work, one of the most intriguing things about him for me was that...'. The entire passage is written from the perspective of a biographer (Mott T Greene is credited as the author). The phrase 'from a biographer's perspective' (Option I) fits the context of discussing what is 'remarkable' or 'intriguing' to someone writing about Wegener's life, especially the detail about his background not aligning perfectly with his most famous theory.

6. Question 32

   Summary completion

   Question

   His ______ were limited to atmospheric physics.

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   He trained as an astronomer and pursued a career in atmospheric physics.

   Explanation

   The gap follows 'His' and needs something that can be limited to one field. Wegener trained as an astronomer but built his career in atmospheric physics, so it is his working interests that were narrow. 'Professional interests' fits 'pursued a career in'. 'Narrow investigation' is a poor choice because it names a type of study, not something a person has.

7. Question 33

   Summary completion

   Question

   However, at the time he proposed his theory of continental drift in 1912, he was already a person of ______ Six years previously, there had been his … of 52 hours in a hot-air balloon, followed by his well-publicised but … of Greenland’s coast.

   Answer

   A

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   He had also made a name for himself amongst a small circle of meteorologists and atmospheric physicists in Germany as the author of a textbook, Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere (1911), and of a number of interesting scientific papers.

   Explanation

   By 1912 Wegener was no unknown, yet the passage limits his reputation to a small circle of meteorologists and atmospheric physicists. Being known to some but not widely is modest fame. Option B, 'vast range', describes breadth and does not fit 'a person of', and the summary's 'already' signals that he had a degree of recognition before proposing the theory.

8. Question 34

   Summary completion

   Question

   However, at the time he proposed his theory of continental drift in 1912, he was already a person of … Six years previously, there had been his ______ of 52 hours in a hot-air balloon, followed by his well-publicised but … of Greenland’s coast.

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   In 1906 he had set a world record (with his brother Kurt) for time aloft in a hot-air balloon: 52 hours.

   Explanation

   In 1906 Wegener and his brother stayed aloft in a hot-air balloon for 52 hours, which was a world record. A record is a type of achievement, and the phrase 'record-breaking' sums it up. 'Hazardous exploration' is held for the Greenland trip, which the text calls extremely dangerous, so the balloon flight cannot take it.

9. Question 35

   Summary completion

   Question

   However, at the time he proposed his theory of continental drift in 1912, he was already a person of … Six years previously, there had been his … of 52 hours in a hot-air balloon, followed by his well-publicised but ______ of Greenland’s coast.

   Answer

   H

   Location

   Passage 3, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   Between 1906 and 1908 he had taken part in a highly publicized and extremely dangerous expedition to the coast of northeast Greenland.

   Explanation

   Greenland's northeast coast was the destination of a trip that was highly publicised and extremely dangerous. The summary already says 'well-publicised but', so the missing phrase must supply the contrasting idea of risk, and 'hazardous exploration' covers both the danger and the expedition. Nothing else in the list suggests travel or peril.

10. Question 36

    Summary completion

    Question

    With the publication of his textbook on thermodynamics, he had also come to the attention of a ______ of German scientists.

    Answer

    E

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 4

    Sentence in the passage

    He had also made a name for himself amongst a small circle of meteorologists and atmospheric physicists in Germany as the author of a textbook, Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere (1911), and of a number of interesting scientific papers.

    Explanation

    His thermodynamics textbook and papers earned notice from only a small circle of meteorologists and atmospheric physicists in Germany. A small, particular group is a select group. 'Of German scientists' needs a noun that goes with 'a', and 'select group' keeps the idea of a small number, whereas 'vast range' would suggest a wide audience.

11. Question 37

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What is Mott T Greene doing in the fifth paragraph?

    Answer

    B

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 6

    Sentence in the passage

    My own feeling, however, is that the parts do not make as much sense on their own as do all of his activities taken together.

    Explanation

    Greene argues that the pieces of Wegener's life only make full sense together and urges readers to follow it as he lived it, with its interruptions and changes of mind. That is a case for reading the entire book, which is option B. D is a trap: he points readers interested in one aspect to the back-of-book listing, but he does not say which parts interest him most.

12. Question 38

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What is said about Wegener in the sixth paragraph?

    Answer

    A

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 7

    Sentence in the passage

    He was not active (with a few exceptions) in scientific societies, and did not seek to find influence or advance his ideas through professional contacts and politics, spending most of his time at home in his study reading and writing, or in the field collecting observations.

    Explanation

    Wegener is described as someone who stayed out of scientific societies and made no effort to push his ideas through contacts and politics, preferring to read and write at home or collect observations in the field. Little drive for influence suggests he was not especially ambitious. B is wrong, as he kept no notebooks or diaries, and publishing only results was simply standard practice.

13. Question 39

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What does Greene say about some other famous scientists?

    Answer

    D

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 8

    Sentence in the passage

    Some famous scientists, such as Newton, Darwin, and Einstein, left mountains of written material behind, hundreds of notebooks and letters numbering in the tens of thousands.

    Explanation

    Famous scientists such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein left mountains of notebooks and letters, and Greene adds that the more material is left behind, the better a biographer's chance of an accurate picture. From that, they are easier to write about than Wegener, who left little. Nothing is said about their ideas being more controversial or having greater impact.

14. Question 40

    Multiple choice

    Question

    What is Greene’s main point in the final paragraph?

    Answer

    C

    Location

    Passage 3, paragraph 9

    Sentence in the passage

    We plan, think, and act, often with apparent freedom, but most of the time our lives ‘happen to us’, and we only retrospectively turn this happenstance into a coherent narrative of fulfilled intentions.

    Explanation

    The question asks for Greene's main point in the final paragraph. The second sentence of the paragraph is key: 'We plan, think, and act, often with apparent freedom, but most of the time our lives 'happen to us', and we only retrospectively turn this happenstance into a coherent narrative of fulfilled intentions.' This directly expresses the idea that despite our intentions and plans, much of what happens in our lives is outside our direct control ('happen to us'). The third sentence explicitly states the book tells the story of both what Wegener planned and what 'happened to him', reinforcing this idea. This aligns perfectly with option C.