The Evolution Of Language, Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive, Psychometrics Reading Answers

Zuhana

8 min read

Updated On Feb 10, 2023

Reading Passage 1
The Evolution Of Language
Reading Passage 2
Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive
Reading Passage 3
Psychometrics
Answers

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The IELTS Reading passage, The Evolution Of Language, along with the other two Academic passages – Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive and Psychometrics makes this a complete Reading practice test.

You will have 60 minutes to complete the whole test, which consists of 40 questions in total.

Here are the question types in this reading test

Reading Passage 1 (The Evolution Of Language)

Matching headings
Yes/No or Not Given
Summary completion

Reading Passage 2 (Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive)

Matching information
Matching features
True or False / Not Given

Reading Passage 3 ( Psychometrics )

Matching information
True or False / Not Given
Multiple Choice Questions

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Check the answer key with explanations of The Evolution Of Language and unlock the answers to other passages by signing up.

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Reading Passage 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on the Reading Passage below. Find the practice test with The Evolution Of Language PDF here.

The Evolution Of Language

Questions 1-4

Reading Passage 1 has six paragraphs A-F.

Write the correct number i-viii in boxes next to 1-4 on your answer sheet.

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B, C, E and F from the list of headings below.

List of Headings

i. Historical acceptance of change

ii. The Generation Gap

iii. Influences on speech

iv. Ancient writing in Asia

v. Cultural evolution and its impact on language

vi. Slang expected in the future

vii. Questioning logic

viii. The lifespan of vocabulary

Example: Paragraph A; Answer: v

1 Paragraph B

2 Paragraph C

Example: Paragraph D; Answer: i

3 Paragraph E

4 Paragraph F

Questions 5-10

Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?

Write:

YES, if the statement reflects the claims of the writer

NO, if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN, if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Write the correct answer YES, NO or NOT GIVEN in boxes 5-10 on your answer sheet.

5 If language were static, it would negatively affect our ability to incorporate other cultures into our own way of life.

6 The language we grow up knowing and that we adopt through new experiences have equal effects on the way we speak.

7 English used in Britain has changed more than American English over recent years.

8 Some older variations of language are more expressive than more modern forms.

9 All modern adaptations of language are suitable for mainstream use.

10 All word usage has changed over time due to misunderstandings of meaning.

Questions 11-13

Complete the summary of paragraphs E and F with the list of words A-H below.

Write the correct letter A-H in the blank spaces next to 11-13 on your answer sheet.

Some grammar rules such as avoiding 11 ____________ are deeply entrenched in history and were created by academics who wished to perfect the English language. It is likely, however, since they do not impact on the 12 ______________ of the sentence that such rules are likely to be 13 ______________ in the future. In the same way, many contemporary words in common usage today are likely to become defunct.

A Slang

B Split infinitives

C Grammatically incorrect

D Meaning

E Recognition

F Disregarded

G Misinterpreted

H Confusion

Also check :

Reading Passage 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on the Reading Passage below. Find the practice test with the Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive PDF here.

Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive

Questions 14-18

Reading Passage 2 has eight sections A-H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct answer A-H in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

14 Why the use of bio-control insects may be less successful than the first time.

15 The implications of reducing commitment to control of plant populations.

16 The problems of water hyacinth cause other species of plants and animals.

17 How human activity has contributed to the problem.

18 Reasons water hyacinth is found in many parts of the world.

Questions 19-23

Classify the following features as characteristics of

A Water hyacinth

B Water lettuce

C Both water hyacinth and water lettuce

D Neither water hyacinth nor water lettuce

Write the correct letter A, B, C or D in boxes 19-23 on your answer sheet.

19 has aesthetically pleasing purple flowers.

20 does not thrive well in colder temperatures.

21 has leaves which are on average 2-3 inches in diameter.

22 is commonly found in water.

23 produces flowers made up of more than one colour.

Questions 24-26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in reading passage 2?

In boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet write:

TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this

24 The presence of dense water hyacinth populations can encourage the development of certain harmful forms of life.

25 The current problem of dominance of water hyacinth on Lake Kyoga is less serious than in the 1980s and early 1990s.

26 Sewage and waste created by farming have had more of an impact on the return of the water hyacinth population in Uganda than nitrogen-rich air.

Reading Passage 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on the Reading Passage below. Find the practice test with the Psychometrics PDF here.

Psychometrics

Questions 27-31

Reading Passage 3 has eight paragraphs A-H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-H in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.

NB. You may use any letter more than once.

27 Physiological evidence from Gardner that his intelligence theories are sound.

28 Aims of intelligence testing.

29 Initial failure in successful measurement.

30 How high-level social skills are linked and classified as interpersonal intelligence.

31 Differences in opinions on what constitutes talent or intelligence.

Questions 32-37

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 32-37 on your answer sheet write

TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN, if there is no information about this

32 Early studies into intelligence were misguided and have had no impact on today’s methods.

33 Research into IQ is designed to determine the level of intelligence an individual is born with.

34 Howard Gardner has confirmed 9 different types of intelligence.

35 Spatial intelligence has been linked to creativity.

36 An individual may demonstrate high levels of intelligence in contradictory areas.

37 Those demonstrating intrapersonal intelligence always make bad managers.

Questions 38-40

Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.

Write your answers next to 38-40 on your answer sheet.

38 Some believe that IQ tests do not correctly estimate an individual’s intelligence because

A the tests are based on physical and physiological benchmarks.

B some people may perform badly on the day of the test.

C while people may have weaknesses in one area they may have strengths in others.

D the tests do not accurately assess the person’s ability to reason, think and solve problems.

39 The intelligence, as classified by Gardner, relating to an ability to memorize items seen is

A linguistic intelligence.

B logico-Mathematica! intelligence.

C spatial intelligence.

D bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

40 The harshest criticism of Gardner’s theory has been focussed on

A interpersonal intelligence.

B intrapersonal intelligence.

C musical intelligence.

D naturalistic intelligence.

Answers

The Evolution Of Language Reading Answers (Passage 1)

1	iii. Paragraph B refers to a region, age, education and other factors that influence the way we speak. Therefore, the best answer is ‘influences on speech’.
2	ii. Paragraph C refers to differences in speech and attitudes of different age groups. Therefore, the best answer is ‘Generation Gap’.
3	vii. Paragraph E questions how important or logical rules certain rules of grammar are (such as not splitting infinitives). Therefore, the best answer is ‘Questioning logic’.
4	viii. Paragraph F refers to language such as ‘to beef’ (now outdated) and ‘guy’(now part of mainstream speech). The paragraph also says that words are often modified…by different generations’. Therefore, the best answer is ‘Lifespan of vocabulary’.
5	YES. Foreign food used as an example.
6	NOT GIVEN. Both affect but does not specify which has more influence or whether they are equal.
7	NOT GIVEN. No confirmation is given, just that UK English has been influenced by American media.
8	NOT GIVEN. Paragraph C only gives examples of where modern language can be more expressive.
9	NO. The writer says texting language not suitable for mainstream use.
10	NO. The whole text talks about different reasons for language changing, stating that this has happened for many reasons, not just misunderstandings.
11	B. split infinitives Paragraph E ‘Scholars wanted to make English more like Latin’.
12	D. Meaning Paragraph E where meaning is not affected language often changes.
13	F. disregarded Paragraph E another way of saying abandoned.

Water Hyacinth: Beautiful Yet Destructive Reading Answers (Passage 2)

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14	H. An extended period of drought and while the water hyacinth is capable of living and reproducing both in lakes and surrounding dry land, its predator, the snout beetle can only survive on water.’
15	E. ‘reproduces very quickly’
16	D. Water hyacinth populations can prevent adequate amounts of sunlight and oxygen reaching the water: as a result, significant numbers of fish may die, other species of plant growing below water level are compromised and the ecosystem of the immediate area can, therefore, become unbalanced.
17	C. Sewage, agricultural waste, smoke from fires, etc..
18	A. Native to South America but in North America and many regions due to beauty.
19	A. Water lettuce does not have the same flowers.
20	B. Water lettuce less tolerant of cooler climates.
21	D. Water hyacinth has left up to 6 inches. Water lettuce has larger leaves. Therefore neither of them has leaves 2-3 inches.
22	C. Another aquatic floating plant.
23	A. Paragraph B W hyacinth has purple and yellow flowers. Water lettuce does not have the same flowers.
24	TRUE. ‘ encourages the growth of deadly bacteria’.
25	NOT GIVEN. The text-only gives details for Lake Victoria.
26	TRUE. ‘main contributing factors.’

Psychometrics Reading Answers (Passage 3)

27	G. Separate parts of the brain control different intelligence.
28	C. Combination of nature and nurture.
29	B. Physical and physiological testing.
30	F. Interpersonal Intelligence relates to an individual’s ability to communicate and empathize with others.
31	C. Doubts raised about musical intelligence (being, in fact, a hobby).
32	FALSE. ‘..were to influence the work of future researchers.’
33	FALSE. ‘… not intended to measure genetic intelligence separate from environmental influence.’
34	FALSE. ‘Existential intelligence still under investigation.’
35	TRUE. ‘…such individuals excel in artistic subjects.’
36	TRUE. ‘Individuals may perform equally well in diverse areas.’
37	NOT GIVEN. They may be better suited to other areas but does not say they always make bad managers.
38	C. Paragraph D ‘…may excel in different areas.’
39	C. ‘…strong visual memory.’
40	D. ‘…dismissed completely.’