Number of questions: 40
This test contains examples of all IELTS Reading question types across four passages.
You should spend about 15 minutes on Questions 1-10, which are based on the passage below.
A Urban farming, once considered a fringe movement practiced by a handful of enthusiasts, has rapidly transformed into a significant component of modern city planning worldwide. The concept involves growing food within urban environments, utilizing spaces such as rooftops, vacant lots, balconies, and even underground facilities. This agricultural renaissance in cities is driven by multiple factors, including concerns about food security, environmental sustainability, and the desire for fresh, locally-sourced produce.
B The historical roots of urban agriculture stretch back centuries. During World War II, "Victory Gardens" became commonplace in cities across North America and Europe, with citizens growing vegetables to supplement rationed food supplies. In the United States alone, these gardens produced an estimated 40% of the fresh vegetables consumed during the war years. However, the post-war economic boom and expansion of suburban supermarkets led to a decline in urban food production, as convenience and cheap transportation made rural agriculture the dominant model.
C The modern urban farming movement began gaining momentum in the 1990s, initially driven by community activists in low-income neighborhoods seeking access to fresh produce. These early projects were often small-scale community gardens, but they laid the groundwork for more ambitious initiatives. Today, urban farms range from modest neighborhood plots to sophisticated commercial operations utilizing advanced technologies such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming systems.
D One of the most compelling arguments for urban farming relates to food miles – the distance food travels from farm to plate. The average meal in developed countries travels approximately 1,500 miles before reaching consumers. This transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and requires substantial energy inputs. Urban farms, by contrast, can deliver produce within hours of harvest, dramatically reducing transportation-related environmental impacts while also ensuring superior freshness and nutritional value.
E Critics of urban farming point to several limitations. Land in cities is expensive, making large-scale production economically challenging. Urban soils may contain contaminants from industrial activities, requiring costly remediation or the use of raised beds with imported soil. Additionally, the controlled environments required for year-round production consume significant energy, potentially offsetting environmental benefits. Some agricultural experts argue that rural farming, with its economies of scale, remains more efficient for staple crop production.
F Despite these challenges, cities worldwide are increasingly incorporating urban agriculture into their development strategies. Singapore, with limited land area and a goal of producing 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030, has become a global leader in vertical farming technology. In Detroit, urban farms have transformed thousands of vacant lots left behind by industrial decline into productive green spaces. Paris has mandated that new buildings include green roofs or solar panels, many of which incorporate food production.
G The social benefits of urban farming extend beyond food production. Community gardens have been shown to reduce crime rates, improve mental health, and strengthen neighborhood bonds. They provide educational opportunities for children who might otherwise have no connection to where their food comes from. For elderly residents, gardening offers physical activity and social interaction. These intangible benefits are difficult to quantify but represent a significant contribution to urban quality of life.
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
List of Headings
i. Economic and practical obstacles
ii. Modern definitions and driving forces
iii. Government initiatives around the world
iv. The environmental case for local food
v. Historical precedents and subsequent decline
vi. Grassroots origins of the current movement
vii. Benefits beyond nutrition
viii. The future of agricultural technology
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
You should spend about 15 minutes on Questions 11-23, which are based on the passage below.
Sleep has long been one of the greatest mysteries of human biology. For centuries, it was viewed simply as a passive state of unconsciousness, a period when the body essentially shut down. Modern neuroscience has revealed this understanding to be profoundly mistaken. Far from being passive, sleep is an extraordinarily active process during which the brain performs essential maintenance functions that cannot occur during waking hours.
The sleep cycle consists of distinct stages that repeat approximately every 90 minutes throughout the night. The first stage is a transitional period lasting only a few minutes, during which brain waves begin to slow from their daytime patterns. Stage two represents light sleep, characterized by brief bursts of electrical activity called sleep spindles. Stages three and four constitute deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, during which the brain produces the large, slow delta waves that give this phase its name. Finally, there is REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, paradoxically the stage when brain activity most closely resembles waking consciousness, and when most vivid dreaming occurs.
Recent research has illuminated several crucial functions of sleep. One of the most significant discoveries involves the glymphatic system, a waste-clearance pathway in the brain that operates primarily during deep sleep. During waking hours, cellular activity produces metabolic waste products, including beta-amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease. The glymphatic system flushes these toxins from the brain using cerebrospinal fluid, but this process is approximately 60% more efficient during sleep, when brain cells shrink to create larger channels for fluid flow.
Memory consolidation represents another vital sleep function. Information acquired during the day is initially stored in the hippocampus, a small region deep within the brain. During sleep, particularly during deep sleep phases, this information is gradually transferred to the neocortex for long-term storage. Studies have demonstrated that individuals who sleep after learning new material retain significantly more information than those who remain awake for equivalent periods. This process appears to involve the replay of neural patterns associated with learned experiences.
The consequences of sleep deprivation extend far beyond simple fatigue. After just 24 hours without sleep, cognitive function deteriorates to levels comparable to legal intoxication. Chronic sleep restriction has been linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and compromised immune function. Perhaps most alarmingly, long-term sleep deprivation is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. The Centers for Disease Control has declared insufficient sleep a public health epidemic, estimating that one-third of adults regularly fail to achieve the recommended seven to nine hours per night.
Individual sleep needs vary considerably based on genetics, age, and health status. While the average adult requires seven to nine hours, some people function optimally on as little as six hours, while others need ten or more. Importantly, the widespread belief in "catching up" on missed sleep during weekends has been challenged by recent research. Studies suggest that the cognitive deficits accumulated during a week of restricted sleep cannot be fully reversed by extended weekend sleeping. This finding has significant implications for shift workers, medical professionals, and others whose schedules regularly disrupt normal sleep patterns.
Dr. Matthew Walker, a prominent sleep researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, has argued that society's relationship with sleep requires fundamental reconsideration. Modern lifestyles, with their emphasis on productivity and constant connectivity, have systematically devalued sleep. Electric lighting, screen-based devices emitting blue light, and the availability of stimulants like caffeine have all contributed to shortened and disrupted sleep. Walker contends that sleep should be regarded not as a luxury or indulgence but as a biological necessity equivalent in importance to nutrition and exercise.
Technological innovations are beginning to influence sleep research and treatment. Wearable devices can now track sleep stages with reasonable accuracy, providing individuals with data about their nightly rest. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has emerged as the first-line treatment for chronic sleep difficulties, proving more effective than medication in the long term and without side effects. Some researchers are exploring the possibility of enhancing specific sleep stages through gentle auditory or electrical stimulation, potentially improving memory consolidation or deep sleep quality.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer?
YES if the statement agrees with 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
You should spend about 15 minutes on Questions 24-33, which are based on the passage below.
A The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources represents one of the most significant economic transformations in human history. While environmental concerns initially drove interest in alternatives to coal, oil, and natural gas, the economic case for renewables has become increasingly compelling. In many regions, solar and wind power have achieved grid parity – the point at which they can generate electricity at costs equal to or below conventional sources – fundamentally altering the calculus of energy investment.
B The cost trajectory of solar photovoltaic technology exemplifies this transformation. In 1976, the cost of solar panels was approximately $100 per watt of generating capacity. By 2020, this figure had fallen to around $0.20 per watt – a 99.8% reduction. This dramatic decline follows a pattern known as Swanson's Law, which observes that solar panel prices fall by approximately 20% for every doubling of cumulative global manufacturing capacity. Similar, though less dramatic, cost reductions have occurred in wind turbine technology and battery storage systems.
C The employment implications of the energy transition have become increasingly significant. The renewable energy sector now employs more workers globally than the fossil fuel industry. In the United States alone, solar installation has become one of the fastest-growing occupations, with employment projected to increase by 63% over the coming decade. However, this growth is not uniformly distributed. Regions historically dependent on coal mining face significant challenges as those jobs disappear, requiring substantial investment in workforce retraining and economic diversification.
D Energy storage remains the most critical technical and economic challenge facing renewable deployment. Solar and wind resources are inherently intermittent – the sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow. Grid stability requires matching electricity supply to demand in real time, a challenge that becomes more complex as variable renewable sources constitute larger shares of the energy mix. Battery technology, particularly lithium-ion systems, has improved substantially but remains expensive for grid-scale applications.
E Alternative storage solutions are under active development. Pumped hydroelectric storage, which involves pumping water uphill to reservoirs during periods of excess generation and releasing it through turbines when power is needed, remains the most widely deployed grid storage technology. Compressed air energy storage, thermal storage systems, and hydrogen production represent emerging alternatives. Some analysts argue that a diverse portfolio of storage technologies, rather than a single dominant solution, will ultimately prove necessary.
F Government policy plays a crucial role in shaping the pace and direction of the energy transition. Feed-in tariffs, which guarantee renewable generators fixed prices for their electricity, helped launch the German solar industry and have been widely adopted internationally. Tax credits, renewable portfolio standards requiring utilities to source specified percentages from clean sources, and carbon pricing mechanisms all influence investment decisions. Critics argue that such interventions distort markets, while proponents contend they correct for the failure of conventional energy prices to reflect environmental costs.
G The geopolitical implications of renewable energy may prove as significant as its economic and environmental effects. Unlike fossil fuels, which are concentrated in specific geographic regions, sunlight and wind are available everywhere. Nations currently dependent on energy imports could achieve greater self-sufficiency through renewable development. Conversely, countries whose economies rely heavily on oil and gas exports face the prospect of declining revenues and reduced international influence as the world transitions away from their primary products.
H Looking ahead, most projections suggest that renewables will dominate new electricity generation capacity for the foreseeable future. The International Energy Agency anticipates that solar power alone will account for more new generation capacity than all other sources combined through 2030. However, the speed of transition varies dramatically by region, with developing nations often facing greater challenges in financing clean energy infrastructure despite their vulnerability to climate impacts.
The passage has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-H.
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
The Challenge of Energy Storage
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are described as 29 because they cannot generate power continuously. The electricity grid requires supply and demand to be balanced in 30 . While 31 batteries have improved significantly, they are still costly for large applications. The most common form of storage currently in use is 32 storage. According to some experts, a 33 of storage technologies will be required rather than relying on one solution.
You should spend about 15 minutes on Questions 34-40, which are based on the passage below.
The emergence of psychology as a distinct scientific discipline in the late nineteenth century brought together diverse thinkers whose approaches would shape the field for generations. Four figures stand out for their foundational contributions: Wilhelm Wundt, William James, Sigmund Freud, and B.F. Skinner. While their methods and conclusions differed dramatically, each fundamentally influenced how we understand the human mind.
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) is widely regarded as the founder of experimental psychology. In 1879, he established the first formal psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany. Wundt's approach, known as structuralism, aimed to identify the basic elements of consciousness through careful introspection under controlled conditions. He trained subjects to report their sensations and perceptions systematically while exposed to various stimuli. Though his specific methods have been largely abandoned, Wundt established the principle that mental processes could be studied scientifically, using rigorous experimental protocols.
William James (1842-1910), working at Harvard University, developed a contrasting approach known as functionalism. Rather than analyzing the structure of consciousness, James focused on its purpose – how mental processes help organisms adapt to their environments. His landmark 1890 textbook, "The Principles of Psychology," remains influential today. James introduced concepts such as the "stream of consciousness," emphasizing that mental life is continuous rather than composed of discrete elements. He was also among the first to explore the relationship between emotion and bodily responses, arguing that physical sensations precede and shape emotional experiences.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed psychoanalytic theory in Vienna, proposing that unconscious drives and conflicts fundamentally shape human behavior. Freud believed that early childhood experiences, particularly those involving sexuality and aggression, create patterns that persist into adulthood, often outside conscious awareness. His therapeutic method involved free association – encouraging patients to verbalize whatever came to mind – to reveal hidden psychological dynamics. While many of Freud's specific claims have been criticized or rejected, his emphasis on unconscious processes and the importance of early development remain influential in both clinical practice and broader cultural understanding of the mind.
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) represented a radical departure from these earlier approaches. Working primarily at Harvard, Skinner argued that psychology should focus exclusively on observable behavior rather than internal mental states. His approach, known as behaviorism, emphasized that behavior is shaped by its consequences – actions followed by rewards tend to be repeated, while those followed by punishment tend to diminish. Skinner conducted extensive laboratory research with animals, demonstrating how complex behaviors could be built through systematic reinforcement. He controversially extended these principles to human society, arguing that environments could be designed to shape desirable behaviors without relying on notions of free will or consciousness.
The legacy of these four pioneers continues to shape contemporary psychology. Modern neuroscience has vindicated some aspects of each approach while challenging others. Brain imaging techniques have confirmed the existence of unconscious processing, supporting aspects of Freudian theory. Research on learning and conditioning builds on Skinner's behavioral foundations. Meanwhile, cognitive psychology – which emerged partly in reaction to behaviorism's limitations – continues the tradition of investigating mental processes that James championed, albeit with more sophisticated methods than Wundt's introspection.
Match each statement with the correct psychologist, A-D.
A. Wilhelm Wundt B. William James C. Sigmund Freud D. B.F. Skinner
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Passage 1: --/10
Passage 2: --/13
Passage 3: --/10
Passage 4: --/7