IELTS Academic Practice Test 22

Reading Passage 1

The Return of the Beaver

For nearly four centuries, beavers were absent from most of Britain, hunted to extinction for their fur, meat, and a glandular secretion once used in perfumes and medicine. Their disappearance had consequences that were not widely understood until recently: beavers are what ecologists call a 'keystone species', meaning their activities shape entire ecosystems far beyond their own population. Beavers build dams from branches, mud, and stones, creating ponds and wetlands that slow the flow of rivers. This engineering, once seen purely as a nuisance by landowners whose fields occasionally flooded, is now recognised as providing substantial environmental benefits. Beaver wetlands filter pollutants from water, reduce flooding downstream during heavy rains by holding back water upstream, and create habitats that support a remarkable range of other species, from dragonflies to otters to wading birds. Reintroduction trials began cautiously in Scotland in the early 2000s, with beavers released into enclosed, monitored areas to assess their environmental impact before any wider release was considered. Early results were largely positive: water quality improved measurably downstream of beaver dams, and biodiversity within reintroduction sites increased noticeably within just a few years. Not everyone has welcomed the beavers' return, however. Some farmers argue that beaver dams flood valuable agricultural land, and there have been isolated cases of beavers felling trees considered important for other purposes, such as riverside stabilisation. Conservationists counter that the long-term benefits of natural flood management, achieved essentially for free through beaver activity, far outweigh occasional localised inconvenience, and that compensation schemes for affected farmers could resolve most disputes. By 2020, wild, unlicensed beaver populations were confirmed to be breeding successfully in several English rivers, apparently having escaped or been illegally released from captivity. Rather than removing these populations, as had happened with earlier unauthorised releases, authorities granted them legal protection, acknowledging that the beavers had already begun delivering the environmental benefits researchers had predicted. This marked a significant shift in attitude: from viewing beavers as a problem to be managed, towards recognising them as a valuable, largely self-sufficient tool for ecological restoration.

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

1. Why were beavers originally hunted to extinction in Britain?

A) For sport only B) For their fur, meat, and a glandular secretion C) Because they damaged crops D) Because they were considered dangerous

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

2. Ecologists describe beavers as a keystone species.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

3. Landowners have always viewed beaver dams positively.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

4. Beaver wetlands reduce downstream flooding by __________ water upstream.

Answer •••

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

5. Where did reintroduction trials of beavers first take place?

A) England B) Wales C) Scotland D) Northern Ireland

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

6. Beavers used in the early reintroduction trials were released directly into open, unmonitored countryside.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

7. What happened to water quality downstream of beaver dams during the trials?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

8. Some farmers are opposed to the presence of beavers on their land.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

9. What do conservationists suggest could resolve disputes with affected farmers?

Answer •••

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

10. By 2020, what had been confirmed about beaver populations in England?

A) They had been completely removed B) They were breeding successfully in the wild C) They had migrated to Scotland D) They were kept only in zoos

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

11. Authorities removed the unlicensed beaver populations discovered in English rivers.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

12. Attitudes towards beavers have shifted over time.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

13. What term do ecologists use for a species whose activities shape an entire ecosystem?

Answer •••

Reading Passage 2

The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion

The global fashion industry produces an estimated one hundred billion garments annually, a figure that has roughly doubled over the past two decades as clothing has become cheaper and consumption patterns have shifted towards buying more items less frequently worn. This model, commonly termed 'fast fashion', prioritises rapid production cycles and low prices, allowing consumers to purchase trend-driven clothing at a fraction of the cost associated with garments a generation ago. The environmental consequences of this shift are considerable. Textile production is estimated to account for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions, comparable to the combined emissions of international flights and maritime shipping. Cotton cultivation alone consumes vast quantities of water; a single cotton t-shirt can require thousands of litres of water throughout its production process, from irrigation to dyeing. Beyond production, disposal presents an equally pressing problem. Many garments, particularly those made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, do not biodegrade in any meaningful timeframe, and a substantial proportion of discarded clothing ends up in landfill rather than being recycled. Even donated clothing does not always find a second life; charity shops in wealthier countries often receive far more donations than they can sell, exporting surplus items to countries with less regulated waste infrastructure, where they can contribute to environmental damage and undermine local textile industries. Consumer awareness of these issues has grown considerably, driven partly by documentaries and investigative journalism exposing labour conditions in garment factories alongside environmental concerns. Some retailers have responded by introducing clothing recycling schemes or promoting 'slow fashion' lines made from more sustainable materials, though critics argue such initiatives sometimes amount to superficial marketing rather than substantive change, a practice often labelled 'greenwashing'. Meaningful change, researchers suggest, will likely require action at multiple levels simultaneously: stricter regulation of textile production and waste, genuine innovation in sustainable materials and recycling technology, and a broader cultural shift away from viewing clothing as disposable. Whether consumers, accustomed to low prices and constant novelty, are willing to accept higher costs or reduced choice in exchange for environmental benefits remains an open and contested question.

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

14. How has global garment production changed over the past two decades?

A) It has decreased slightly B) It has roughly doubled C) It has stayed the same D) It has tripled

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

15. Textile production's carbon emissions are comparable to those of international flights and shipping combined.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

16. A single cotton t-shirt can require thousands of litres of water from irrigation to __________.

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

17. Synthetic fibres such as polyester biodegrade within a few years.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

18. What do charity shops in wealthier countries do with donations they cannot sell?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

19. Exported surplus clothing can damage local textile industries in the receiving countries.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

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

20. What has driven growing consumer awareness of fast fashion's problems?

A) Government advertising campaigns B) Documentaries and investigative journalism C) Rising clothing prices D) School curricula

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

21. Some retailers have introduced clothing __________ schemes, though critics argue such efforts are sometimes just __________ rather than real change.

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

22. All retailers promoting 'slow fashion' lines are engaged in greenwashing.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

23. Besides stricter regulation and innovation, what broader shift does the passage say is needed?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

24. It is certain that consumers will accept higher prices for more sustainable clothing.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

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

25. According to the passage, what does 'fast fashion' prioritise?

A) Handmade craftsmanship B) Rapid production cycles and low prices C) Limited edition designs D) Locally sourced materials

Reading Passage 3

Artificial Light and the Disappearance of Darkness

Since the widespread adoption of electric lighting in the twentieth century, natural darkness has become an increasingly scarce resource across much of the industrialised world. Satellite imagery reveals that artificial light now blankets vast stretches of Europe, North America, and East Asia, with genuinely dark skies, free from any detectable artificial glow, surviving mainly in remote deserts, polar regions, and a handful of protected reserves. This phenomenon, termed light pollution, has attracted growing scientific attention as researchers uncover its effects on both human health and the natural world. In humans, exposure to artificial light at night, particularly the blue-spectrum light emitted by many LED fixtures and electronic screens, has been linked to disrupted circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock that regulates sleep and numerous other physiological processes. Studies have associated chronic circadian disruption with increased risks of several health conditions, though researchers caution that establishing definitive causal relationships in this area remains challenging given the many confounding lifestyle factors involved. The ecological consequences appear, in some respects, more clearly established. Nocturnal and crepuscular species, those active at night or during twilight, have evolved over millions of years to rely on natural light cues for navigation, hunting, and reproduction. Migratory birds, for instance, frequently become disoriented by bright urban lighting, sometimes colliding with illuminated buildings in significant numbers during migration seasons. Sea turtle hatchlings, which instinctively move towards the brightest horizon, a behaviour that reliably led them towards the sea for millennia, can instead be drawn towards artificially lit coastal roads, with often fatal consequences. Insect populations, too, appear affected, with some research suggesting that artificial lighting disrupts pollination patterns by drawing nocturnal insects away from plants that depend on them. Given the already well-documented global decline in insect populations from other causes, some ecologists argue light pollution deserves considerably more attention as a contributing factor than it currently receives. Encouragingly, unlike many forms of environmental damage, light pollution is immediately and completely reversible: switching off a light source eliminates its effect instantly, with no lingering contamination. This has led several cities to experiment with 'dark sky' initiatives, including reduced street lighting during low-traffic hours and stricter regulations on decorative lighting, though implementation remains inconsistent and often faces resistance from residents concerned about safety and aesthetics.

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

26. Where do genuinely dark skies mainly survive today?

A) In major cities B) In remote deserts, polar regions, and protected reserves C) Only in Europe D) Nowhere on Earth

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

27. Blue-spectrum light has been linked to disrupted circadian rhythms.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

28. Researchers have established definitive causal links between artificial light and specific human diseases.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

29. Migratory birds are often disoriented by bright urban lighting and sometimes collide with __________.

Answer •••

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

30. What natural cue do sea turtle hatchlings instinctively follow towards the sea?

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

31. Artificially lit coastal roads can be fatal for sea turtle hatchlings.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

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

32. How does artificial lighting appear to affect insect populations?

A) It increases their numbers B) It disrupts pollination patterns C) It has no effect D) It only affects insects in deserts

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if the statement contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

33. Light pollution is more difficult to reverse than most other forms of environmental damage.

TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

34. What is immediately eliminated when a light source is switched off?

Answer •••

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

35. Some cities have introduced 'dark sky' initiatives, including reduced street lighting and stricter rules on __________ lighting, although these measures often meet __________ from residents.

Answer •••

Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if the statement contradicts the writer's claims, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.

36. Dark sky initiatives have been adopted consistently in every city that has tried them.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

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

37. What is the term used in the passage for animals active at night or during twilight?

A) Diurnal and seasonal B) Nocturnal and crepuscular C) Migratory and territorial D) Aquatic and terrestrial

Writing Task 1

GermanySouth KoreaUnited StatesBrazil

The chart below shows the percentage of households recycling household waste in four countries between 2000 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. | Country | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Germany | 45 | 62 | 68 | | South Korea | 28 | 55 | 72 | | United States | 22 | 30 | 35 | | Brazil | 8 | 15 | 24 |

Writing Task 2

Some people think that the government should be responsible for reducing environmental damage caused by industries, while others believe that individual consumers hold the primary responsibility through their everyday choices. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.