Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

CAMBRIDGE IELTS 7 – TEST 1 – PASSAGE 1
LET‟S GO BATS 

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MAKING EVERY DROP COUNT 
QUESTIONS 14-20 CHOOSE THE CORRECT HEADING 
14. PARAGRAPH A 
Reading the first sentence, ” The history of human civilisation is entwined with the history of the ways 
we have learned to manipulate water resources”, we could anticipate that the writer is going to talk 

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about how water is supplied. Skimming through the next sentences, we see words like ” water was 
brought…”, “the Roman Empire”, “supplied occupants of Rome”. Therefore, the most suitable 
heading for this paragraph should be xi: a description of ancient water supplies. 
+ ancient: belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past corresponding to the 
Roman Empire, occupants of Rome, history 
+ description: corresponds to ” the way” 
+ water supplies corresponds to ” manipulate water resources “, supplied occupants” manipulate : to 
control or use something in a skilful way 
=> ANSWER: xi a description of ancient water supplies. 
Example: Paragraph B 
In the first sentence the writer says : ” During the industrial revolution and population explosion of the 
19th and 20th centuries, the demand for water rose dramatically.” Then he continues: 
“Unprecedented construction of tens of ….brought great benefits to hundreds of millions of 
people”. Here we should focus on the bold words to realise that the main content of the text is that the 
increasing demand of water has been met. Looking back at the heading list, the most suitable heading 
should be iii, How a global challenge was met. It can be inferred that “global challenge” here 
corresponds to “the demand for water rose dramatically” 
=> ANSWER: iii how a global challenge was met. 
15. PARAGRAPH C 
The main points in this paragraph relate to dangers to health as the result of a lack of clean water. The 
writer says : “…more than one billion people lack access to clean drinking water; some two and a half 
billion do not have adequate sanitation services. Preventable water-related diseases kill an estimated 
10,000 to 20,000 children every day…‟ Therefore, the most suitable heading should be vii:The 
relevance to health 
=> ANSWER: vii the relevance to health 
16. PARAGRAPH D 
In the first sentence, the writer states: ” The consequences of our water policies extend beyond 
jeopardising human health.”From the bold words, we can infer that the writer is going to talk about 
negative results/effects of water policies, not simply in terms of the effects of these policies on human 
health. Looking back at the list, the possible heading should be either v, „Environmental effects‟or i, 
„Scientists‟call for a revision of policy‟. Looking more closely at the text, we see ” …more than 
20% of all freshwater fish species are now threatened or endangered because dams and water 
withdrawals have destroyed the free-flowing river ecosystems where they thrive. Certain irrigation 
practices degrade soil quality…” So the heading is v, Enviromental effects 
+ effects=consequences 
=> ANSWER: v Environmental effects 
17. PARAGRAPH E 
In the first sentence, the writer says: ” At the outset of the new millennium, however, the way resource 
planners think about water is beginning to change” . In the text we see that in the following sentences, 
the writer indicates ” some water experts are now demanding that…”, “This shift in 
philosophy…” From the bold words we can calculate that the text mainly discusses the demand by 
water experts to change something related to water policy. Therefore, the most suitable heading should 
be i, Scientists‟ call for a revision of policy 
+ call=demanding 
Scientists corresponds to resource planners, water experts 

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Revision corresponds to this shift in philosophy, change 
=> ANSWER: i Scientists‟ call for a revision of policy 
18. PARAGRAPH F 
In the first sentence, the writer says : ” Fortunately- and unexpectedly- the demand for water is not 
rising as rapidly as some predicted”. So we can infer that the text is possibly going to talk about a 
downward trend in water demand. In the text, we see words like “slowed” , “demand has actually 
fallen.” Therefore, the most suitable heading should be ix, A surprising downward trend in demand for 
water 
+ surprising=unexpectedly 
=> ANSWER: ix A surprising downward trend in demand for water 
19. PARAGRAPH G 
In the first sentence, the writer poses a question in response to the final sentence in paragraph F 
[demand for water has fallen in some parts of the world]. ” What explains this remarkable turn of 
events ?” , indicating that he is going to talk about the cause for the downward trend in water 
demand. He then discusses two factors: people now use water more efficiently and “…communities 
are now re-thinking their priorities for water use. Therefore the most suitable heading should be ii, An 
explanation for reduced water use 
=> ANSWER: ii An explanation for reduced water use 
20. PARAGRAPH H 
In the first sentence, the writer says :” On the other hand, aqueducts and other kinds of infrustructure 
will still have to be built, particularly in developing countries where basic human needs have not been 
met. But such projects must be built to higher specifications and with more accountability to local 
people and their environment than in the past”. In these ways, the new projects should have higher 
standards in order to protect local people and their environment. Therefore the most suitable heading 
should be x, The need to raise standards. Must be corresponds to the need Built to higher specifications 
corresponds to raise standards 
=> ANSWER: x The need to raise standards 
QUESTIONS 21-26 YES, NO, NOT GIVEN 
21. WATER USE PER PERSON IS HIGHER IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD 
THAN IT WAS IN ANCIENT ROME 
Keywords : Water use per person, higher, industrial world, Ancient Rome 
In paragraph A, the last sentence, the writer says: ” At the height of the Roman Empire,…, supplied 
the occupants of Rome with as much water per person as is provided in many parts of the industrial 
world today.” Thus, people in ancient Rome used as much water as people in the industrial 
world now. 
=> ANSWER: NO 
22. FEEDING INCREASING POPULATIONS IS POSSIBLE DUE 
PRIMARILY TO IMPROVED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. 
Keywords: Feeding, populations, irrigation systems 
In paragraph B, the writer explains: ” Food production has kept pace with soaring populations mainly 
because of the expansion of artificial irrigation systems that make possible the growth of 40% of the 

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world‟s food.” This means that food production still manages to supply the increasing population 
because irrigation systems help in the production of more food. 
+ increasing = soaring 
+ due primarily to= mainly because of 
+improved irrigation systems = expansion of artificial irrigation systems 
=> ANSWER: YES 
23. MODERN WATER SYSTEMS IMITATE THOSE OF THE ANCIENT 
GREEKS AND ROMANS 
Keywords: Modern, imitate, ancient Greeks and Romans 
From these key words, it can be inferred that description of water systems could only be found in 
paragraph C. However, we are only told that “…half of the world‟s population still suffers, with 
water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans”. Whether these modern 
water systems copy those of ancient Greece and Rome is not stated. 
=> ANSWER: NOT GIVEN 
24. INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IS INCREASING THE OVERALL DEMAND 
FOR WATER 
Keywords: Industrial, increasing, demand for water 
In paragraph F , the writer argues: ” Although population, industrial output and economic 
productivity have continued to soar in developed nations, the rate at which people withdraw water 
from aquifers, rivers and lakes has slowed.” This means that that industrial growth is not increasing the 
demand for water. In fact, the demand has slowed. “And in a few parts of the world, demand has 
fallen”. 
+ increasing corresponds to continued to soar 
+ demand for water corresponds to the rate at which people withdraw water from… 
=> ANSWER: NO 
25. MODERN TECHNOLOGIES HAVE LED TO A REDUCTION IN 
DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION 
Keywords: modern technologies, reduction, domestic water consumption 
In paragraph G, the writer says : ” But since 1980, the amount of water consumed per person has 
actually decreased, thanks to a range of new technologies that help to conserve water in homes and 
industry.” 
+ water consumption = the amount of water consumed 
+ reduction corresponds to decrease 
+ new technologies = modern technologies 
+ domestic=in homes 
=> ANSWER: YES 
26. IN THE FUTURE, GOVERNMENTS SHOULD MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP 
OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURES. 
Keywords: future, government, ownership, water infrastructures 
Information relating to government and water infrastructures can only be found in paragraphs H and E. 
In paragraph E, the writer just states: “Some water experts are now demanding that existing 
infrastructure be used in smarter ways rather than building new facilities.” There is nothing about 
ownership. In paragraph H: “…dams, aqueducts and other kinds of infrastructure will still have to be 

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built….”, but again there is nothing related to ownership. Therefore, there is no information indicating 
whether governments should maintain ownership of water infrastructures or not. 
=> ANSWER: NOT GIVEN