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Table         of        Contents

1. Describe an outdoor sport you would like to do.

2. Describe a film that made you laugh.

3. Describe a place in your country or part of your country that you would like to recommend to visitors/travelers..

4. Describe a sports event you would like to watch.

5. Describe a person's house/apartment that you think is very good.

6. Describe a time when you forgot/missed an appointment..

7. Describe a person who you think wears unusual clothes

8. Describe your favorite place in your house where you can relax

9. Describe a popular place for sports (e.g. a stadium) that you’ve been to...

10. Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste (e.g. in a park, on the beach, etc.)

11. Describe a city you have been to and would like to visit again...

12. Describe an argument two of yours friends had...

13. Describe a person from a different cultural background with whom you enjoy spending time.

14. Describe a website you often visit.

15. Describe a sports competition you watched...

16. Describe your first day at school that you remember.

17. Describe a website that sells second-hand items

18. Describe a program you like to watch..

19. Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting..

20. Describe a person you have met who you want to work/study with.

21. Describe a problem you had while shopping online or in a store..

22. Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded in..

23. Describe a time when you needed to search for information.

24. Describe a time when someone gave you something that you really wanted..

25. Describe a famous person you would like to meet.

26. Describe an intelligent person you know..

27. Describe an article on health you read in a magazine or on the Internet...

28. Describe a beautiful sky you enjoyed seeing..

29. Describe a time when you made a plan to do an activity with a lot of people..

30. Describe a photo you took that you are proud of.

31. Describe an object that you think is beautiful..

32. Describe something you had to share with others..

33. Describe an advertisement which introduced a product you have seen..

34. Describe a friend from your childhood.

35. Describe an impressive English lesson you had and enjoyed.

36. Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting.

37. Describe a skill that you can teach other people.

38. Describe a time you saw children behave badly in public..

39. Describe a person who persuaded you to do something......

40. Describe a person who likes to grow plants..

41. Describe a time when you received money as a gift......

42. Describe an unusual but interesting building you would like to visit...

43. Describe a person who shows his/her feelings very openly...

44. Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something....

45. Describe a shop/store you often visit...

46. Describe a goal you set that you tried your best to achieve.......

47. Describe an impressive talk/conversation you had that you remember well........

48. Describe a place you visited and enjoyed in the countryside..........

49. Describe a photo that you enjoy looking at......

50. Describe a place where you saw animals....

51. Describe an unforgettable experience that you had.........

52. Describe something you bought that you really wanted to return..........

53. Describe a kind of foreign food you like and you have had.......

54. Describe a place with a lot of trees that you would like to visit (e.g. a forest, oasis)...

55. Describe a live performance you enjoyed watching...............

56. Describe a person who helps to protect the environment.

57. Describe a sport that you really like....

58. Describe a TV series you like.............

59. Describe a plan that you had to change recently.....

60. Describe a water sport you would like to try in the future.......

61. Describe a time you enjoyed a free day off work or school.........

62. Describe a noisy place you have been to.......

63. Describe a disagreement you had with someone...................

64. Describe a person you disliked at first but ended up being friends with.... 1..

65. Describe a friend of yours who is well dressed and is good at dressing up...........

66. Describe an important thing you learned (not at school or college).............

67. Describe a foreign country you would like to visit in the future.........

68. Describe a rule that is important in your school or at work.....

69. Describe an area/subject of science (biology, robotics, etc.) that you are interested in and would like to learn more about...

70. Describe a time you made a promise to someone......

71. Describe a line(or a few words) that you remember from a poem or song.....

72. Describe an important decision that you made........

73. Describe a time when you helped a child.......

74. Describe something you received for free....

75. Describe a person who contributes to the society.....

76. Describe an energetic person that you know...........

77. Describe a job that is useful to the society....

78. Describe a place you have been to and would like to recommend others to live there (not your hometown)...

79. Describe a time that something changed your life in good ways...

80. Describe a countryside area that you have been to...

81. Describe an invention that is useful in your daily life..

82. Describe a difficult decision that you made and had a good result....

83. Describe a time when someone asked for your opinion.

84. Describe a time you used your cellphone/smartphone to do something important

85. Describe a way/change that helps you save a lot of time.....

86. Describe a friend you like to talk with.......

87. Describe a time when you were stuck in a traffic jam....

88. Describe a quiet place you like to go........

89. Describe something that surprised you and made you happy......

90. Describe a family member who you want to work with in the future..

91. Describe a job that one of your grandparents did.........

92. Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy...

93. Describe an occasion that you lost something in public.........

94. Describe a special day out that cost you little money/didn't cost you much....

95. Describe a contest/competition you would like to participate in...

96. Describe something you do that can help you concentrate on work/study...

97. Describe a traditional product in your country...

98. Describe an invention that has changed the world in a positive way....

99. Describe a time you were very busy...

100. Describe a popular/well-known person in your country.......

101. Describe an occasion when someone gave you positive advice or suggestions about ..

your work/study.....

102. Describe an interesting neighbor......

103. Describe an important event you celebrated............

104. Describe an ambition that you haven't achieved.....

105. Describe a time when you organized a happy event successfully......................

106. Describe a skill that you learned from older people......

107. Describe a long walk you ever had.........

108. Describe something that you can't live without (not a computer/phone).....

109. Describe a person you only met once recently and want to know more about.....

110. Describe a course that impressed you a lot...

111. Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired........

112. Describe someone you really like to spend time with.......

113. Describe a special cake you received from others.

114. Describe an interesting song.

115. Describe an interesting discussion you had with your friend.

116. Describe a thing you did to learn another language

117. Describe a person who you follow on social media....

118. Describe a rule you dislike and would like to change in the future

119. Describe an item of clothing that someone gave you.

120. Describe a city that you think is very interesting/famous..

121. Describe a time you visited a new place..

122. Describe a story someone told you and you remember.

123. Describe a gift you would like to buy for your friend.........

124. Describe a toy you liked in your childhood...

125. Describe an important river/lake in your country.

126. Describe an old person you know who has had an interesting life.....

127. Describe a time when you received good service in a shop/store...

128. Describe a positive change that you have made recently in your daily routine

You should say:.

129. Describe a person you know who has chosen a career in the medical field (e.g. a doctor, a nurse)...

130. Describe a person who likes to read a lot....

131. Describe a time when you lost an important and valuable item......

132. Describe a time when you answered a phone call from someone you didn’t know in a public place.

133. Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country 

134. Describe a party that you enjoyed.

135. Describe a movie you watched recently

136. Describe an occasion when you helped a family member/relative with something..

137. Describe a person who likes to make things by hand (e.g. toys, furniture).

138. Describe a time that you showed something new to others

139. Describe an online video in which you learned something new.

140. Describe a person who has strong opinions.

141. Describe a prize you have received recently (e.g. money, something valuable, a medal) 

142. Describe a crowded place you have visited

143. . Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult

144. Describe an ideal and perfect place where you would like to stay (e.g. a house, an apartment)..
145. Describe an old friend you had lost touch with and got in contact with again

146. Describe something you did in your study/work that has made you feel confident.

147. Describe a picture/photograph of you that you like.

148. Describe something that you did with someone/a group of people..

149. Describe someone (a famous person) that is a role model for young people .

150. Describe a time when missed or were late for an important meeting/event


PASSWORD: DESIREDBAND7

The Tuatara of New Zealand | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE | PAST EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE WITH ANSWERS | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGES 2025 |

 Reading Practice

The Tuatara of New Zealand

Tuatara are lizard-like reptiles, found only in New Zealand. They are representative of ancient life forms Tuatara are the only living representatives of an ancient lineage of reptiles called Sphenodontia, which is over 250 million years old. Because tuatara still look like fossils of reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs, they are often called living fossils. Now just two species of tuatara survive, and only in New Zealand. One is the Brothers Island tuatara which, until recent re-introductions to sanctuaries (safe places for wildlife), only survived on North Brother Island. The other species is the common tuatara, which survives on many other offshore islands. Although the tuatara species appear similar, they have genetic differences. Tuatara bones have been found in many parts of New Zealand. Where dated, they are usually a few hundred to 5,000 years old. It is not known whether these bones are from the two living species or other species that are now extinct.

Many anatomical features distinguish tuatara from other living reptiles - for example, they have a defining pattern of openings in the skull and a unique type of haemoglobin in the blood, and males have no external reproductive organ. Adults are between 30 and 75 centimetres long, and weigh between 250 and 1.200 grams. Males are larger than females, and have more developed spines in the crest along the neck, back and tail.

The male tuatara courts the female by approaching her with a proud walk. Tuatara mate in late summer, and the female usually lays 6-10 eggs the following spring, in a shallow nest at ground level. She may guard the nest for a few nights, then return to her burrow underground. The eggs incubate for about a year, so hatchlings emerge about the time that eggs are being laid the following season. Evidence indicates the gender of tuatara hatchlings is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. It is said that it is more likely for warmer eggs to produce male tuatara, and cooler eggs to produce females. The hatchlings receive no parental care and need to find their own food.

Tuatara live for a relatively long time, reaching reproductive maturity at about 15 years, and may breed for many decades. Their maximum lifespan is not known for certain, but many tuatara have reached 80 years still looking vigorous and healthy. Tuatara live in underground burrows and are more active at night, but will come out during the day to bask in the sun. Both sexes are territorial, and males aggressively defend their territory by posing and fighting if necessary. Teeth are their main weapons, and a bite can cause serious injury. Tuatara are carnivorous, eating invertebrates, lizards and the baby seabirds with which they often share burrows.

Tuatara were once widespread and abundant on the New Zealand mainland, but when Polynesian settlers arrived in New Zealand, in about 1250-1300 AD, they brought with them Pacific rats which killed tuatara. By the time of European settlement, in the 1840s, tuatara were almost extinct on the New Zealand mainland. Some islands provided temporary havens, but soon these too began to be invaded by rats and other mammalian predators.

Gradually tuatara became restricted to 32 nearshore islands. Many of these islands were tiny, some as small as only one hectare. A few, such as the Poor Knights common tuatara lives on islands off the north-eastern coast of New Zealand, and on some islands in Cook Strait. The Brothers Island tuatara survived only on the of the Brothers Island tuatara have been created on Titi Island in the Marlborough Sounds, and on Somes Island in Wellington Harbour.

Tuatara can live in remarkably dense populations. Most tuatara islands have 50- 100 tuatara per square hectare - so an island of only 10 hectares may have a population of hundreds. Larger islands with many seabirds and invertebrates, which tuatara eat, may have greater densities. The largest population is on Stephens Island, where there are estimated to be as many as 2,500 per hectare in some places, and a total of at least 30,000. The total number of tuatara on all the islands is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000.

Legal protection, was granted to tuatara and the islands they occupied in 1895, but the reptiles continued to decline. Since then, active conservation management has reversed the decline, and new populations have become established on predator- free islands. In the mid-1980s the New Zealand Wildlife Service and its successor, the Department of Conservation, developed ways to eradicate rats from islands. Rats have now gone from almost all of the tuatara islands, making them safe for many threatened native species. In addition, the collection by conservationists of eggs for incubation in captivity, breeding in captivity, and moving tuatara to ratislands off the Northland coast, or Stephens Island in Cook Strait, were never invaded by rats, and had few of the other mammals that threaten native animals. The tiny, 4 hectare North Brother Island, in Cook Strait. However, two new populations free islands, have increased the number of islands that are inhabited by tuatara to 37. Many new tuatara populations are planned for islands and mainland reserves that have been freed of predators.

Questions 1 - 6

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

In boxes 1-6 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

1..................... The two living species of tuatara look alike

2..................... Many of the tuatara bones that have been found are millions of years old.

3..................... The tails of male tuatara are a different colour from the tails of female

tuatara.

4..................... The female tuatara lays eggs in a burrow.

5..................... There are higher numbers of female hatchlings than males.

6..................... Once they have hatched, young tuatara have to look after themselves.

Questions 7 -13

Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A

NUMBER from the passage for each answer

Write your answers in boxes 7-13 on your answer sheet.

The tuatara

Lifespan

-maximum lifespan unknown

-many live to at least 7..................... years old

Behaviour

-attack other creatures with their 8.....................

-eat young 9..................... that live in the same burrows, invertebrates and reptiles

Population

-abundant until rats were introduced by 10..................... people

-by the 1840s, hardly any tuatara found on the 11.....................

-islands off the north-eastern coast and in Cook Strait now home to the

12..................... tuatara

-Brothers Island tuatara found on North Brother Island

-density of tuatara on Stephens Island is up to 13..................... tuatara for every hectare

Protection of the species

-tuatara population dropped until rats eradicated from islands

-eggs were gathered by the Department of Conservation

Solution:

1. TRUE 8. tech

2. FALSE 9. Seabirds

3. NOT GIVEN 10. Polynesian

4. FALSE 11. Mainland

5. NOT GIVEN 12. common

6. TRUE 13. 2500

7. 80

PASSWORD: 8MAY2025

Tourism | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE | PAST EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE WITH ANSWERS | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGES 2025 |

 Reading Practice

Tourism

A

Tourism, holidaymaking and travel are these days more significant social phenomena than most commentators have considered. On the face of it there could not be a more trivial subject for a book. indeed since social scientists have had considerable difficulty explaining weightier topics, such as politics, it might be thought that they would have great difficulties in accounting for more trivial phenomena such as holidaymaking. However, there are interesting parallels with the study of deviance. This investigation of bizarre and idiosyncratic social practices which happen to be defined as deviant societies but not necessarily in others. The assumption is that the investigation of deviance can reveal interesting and significant aspects of normal societies. It could be said that a similar analysis can tourism.

B

Tourism is a leisure activity which presupposes its opposite, namely regulated and organised work. manifestation of how work and leisure are organised as separate and regulated spheres of social modern societies. Indeed acting as a tourist is one of the defining characteristics of being ‘modern’ popular concept of tourism is that it is organised within particular places and occurs for regularised time. Tourist relationships arise from a movement of people to, and their stay in, various destinations. necessarily involves some movement, that is the journey, and a period of stay in a new place or journey and the stay’ are by definition outside the normal places of residence and work and are of and temporary nature and there is a clear intention to return ‘home’ within a relatively short period C A substantial proportion of the population of modern societies engages in such tourist practices new forms of provision have developed in order to cope with the mass character of the gazes of tourists opposed to the individual character of travel. Places are chosen to be visited and be gazed upon there is an anticipation especially through daydreaming and fantasy of intense pleasures, either scale or involving different senses from those customarily encountered. Such anticipation is constructed sustained through a variety of non-tourist practices such as films, TV literature, magazines records which construct and reinforce this daydreaming.

D

Tourists tend to visit features of landscape and townscape which separate them off from everyday Such aspects are viewed because they are taken to be in some sense out of the ordinary. The viewing these tourist sights often involves different forms of social patterning with a much greater sensitivity elements of landscape or townscape than is normally found in everyday life. People linger over these a way that they would not normally do in their home environment and the vision is objectified or captured through photographs postcards films and so on which enable the memory to be endlessly reproduced recaptured.

E

One of the earliest dissertations on the subject of tourism is Boorstins analysis of the pseudo event where he argues that contemporary. Americans cannot experience reality directly but thrive on pseudo Isolated from the host environment and the local people the mass tourist travels in guided groups pleasure in inauthentic contrived attractions gullibly enjoying the pseudo events and disregarding world outside. Over time the images generated of different tourist sights come to constitute a closed system of illusions which provide the tourist with the basis for selecting and evaluating Access  places to visit. Such visits are made says Boorstin, within the environmental bubble of the familiar style hotel which insulates the tourist from the strangeness of the host environment.

F

To service the burgeoning tourist industry, an array of professionals has developed who attempt ever-new objects for the tourist to look at. These objects or places are located in a complex and hierarchy. This depends upon the interplay between, on the one hand, competition between interests in the provision of such objects and, on the other hand changing class, gender, and generational of taste within the potential population of visitors. It has been said that to be a tourist is one of the characteristics of the modern experience. Not to go away is like not possessing a car or a nice house. is a marker of status in modern societies and is also thought to be necessary for good health. The professional, therefore, is to cater for the needs and tastes of the tourists in accordance with their overall expectations.

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage has 6 paragraphs (A-F).

Choose the most suitable heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the appropriate numbers (i-ix) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet Paragraph D has

been done for you as an example.

NB There are more headings than paragraphs so you will not use all of them.

You may use any heading more than once.

1..................... Paragraph A

2..................... Paragraph B

3..................... Paragraph C

Example

Paragraph D Answer: ix

4..................... Paragraph E

5..................... Paragraph F

List of Headings

i. The politics of tourism

ii. The cost of tourism

iii. Justifying the study of tourism

iv. Tourism contrasted with travel

v. The essence of modern tourism

vi. Tourism versus leisure

vii. The artificiality of modern tourism

viii. The role of modern tour guides

ix. Creating an alternative to the everyday experience

Questions 6-10

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage? In

boxes 6-10 write

YES if the statement agrees with the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the writer

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

Example

People who can’t afford to travel watch films and TV. Answer: NOT GIVEN

6..................... Tourism is a trivial subject.

7..................... An analysis of deviance can act as a model for the analysis of tourism.

8..................... Tourists usually choose to travel overseas.

9..................... Tourists focus more on places they visit than those at home.

10..................... Tour operators try to cheat tourists.

Questions 11-14

Chose one phrase (A-H) from the list of phrases to complete each key point below. Write

the appropriate letters (A-H) in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.

The information in the completed sentences should be an accurate summary of points

made by the writer.

NB There are more phrases A-H than sentences so you will not use them all. You

may use any phrase more than once.

11 Our concept of tourism arises from 11.....................

12 The media can be used to enhance 12.....................

13 People view tourist landscapes in a different way from 13.....................

14 Group tours encourage participants to look at 14.....................

List of Phrases

A

local people and their environment.
E

the individual character of travel.

B

the expectations of tourists.

F
places seen in everyday life.

C

the phenomen a of holiday making.

G

photographs which recapture our holidays.

D

the distinction we make

H

sights designed specially between work and leisure. for tourists.

Solution:

1. iii 8. NOT GIVEN

2. v 9. YES

3. iv 10. NOT GIVEN

4. vii 11. D

5. viii 12. B

6. NO 13. F

7. YES 14. H

PASSWORD: 8MAY2025

In order to learn about the way people live around the world, it is better to watch films and video records than read written documents. To what extent do you agree or disagree? | IELTS WRITING TASK 2 | REAL EXAM IELTS WRITING TASK 2 |

📝 Question:

In order to learn about the way people live around the world, it is better to watch films and video records than read written documents.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

---

✅ Introduction (Paraphrasing + Thesis Statement)

It is often argued that watching films and video recordings is a more effective way to understand how people live in different cultures compared to reading written documents. While visual media certainly offers a more immersive and engaging experience, I believe that both sources are valuable and should be used in combination to gain a deeper understanding of global lifestyles.

---

Starting off with the benefits of visual media, one major advantage is that it provides real-life imagery and audio, which allows viewers to observe facial expressions, daily routines, clothing, food, and social interactions in a way that written texts cannot. For instance, travel documentaries or cultural vlogs offer first-hand visuals of traditional ceremonies, urban life, or rural settings, giving a realistic portrayal of people's day-to-day lives. Moreover, video content can be more engaging, especially for younger generations who prefer audio-visual learning over reading lengthy documents.

Despite the immersive nature of video, written documents offer depth and context that films often lack. Books, articles, and reports usually include historical background, sociological analysis, and expert interpretation, which help readers understand not just what people do, but why they do it. For example, anthropological studies or historical journals can explain the origins of certain cultural traditions or social structures that may not be visually obvious. Therefore, written materials play a crucial role in providing detailed insight and critical understanding of different lifestyles.

In conclusion, although watching films and video records is an effective and engaging way to observe the lifestyle of people around the world, I believe written documents still hold equal importance due to their depth and analytical content. A combination of both approaches is ideal for gaining a comprehensive understanding of global cultures.

---

📚 High-Band Vocabulary & Collocations

Word / Phrase	Usage / Purpose
Visual media	Refers to video and film content
Immersive experience	Fully engaging or involving the viewer
First-hand visuals	Direct and authentic video representation
Audio-visual learning	Learning through sight and sound
Historical background	Information related to past context
Cultural traditions	Practices passed down through generations
Expert interpretation	Opinions from scholars or professionals
Comprehensive understanding	Complete or thorough knowledge

---

Cork | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE | PAST EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGE WITH ANSWERS | REAL EXAM IELTS READING PASSAGES 2025 |

 Reading Practice

Cork

Cork - the thick bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber) - is a remarkable material. It is
tough, elastic, buoyant, and fire-resistant, and suitable for a wide range of purposes. It has
also been used for millennia: the ancient Egyptians sealed then sarcophagi (stone coffins)
with cork, while the ancient Greeks and Romans used it for anything from beehives to
sandals.

And the cork oak itself is an extraordinary tree. Its bark grows up to 20 cm in thickness,
insulating the tree like a coat wrapped around the trunk and branches and keeping the
inside at a constant 20°C all year round. Developed most probably as a defence against
forest fires, the bark of the cork oak has a particular cellular structure - with about 40 million
cells per cubic centimetre - that technology has never succeeded in replicating. The cells are filled with air, which is why cork is so buoyant. It also has an elasticity that means you
can squash it and watch it spring back to its original size and shape when you release the pressure.

Cork oaks grow in a number of Mediterranean countries, including Portugal, Spain, Italy,
Greece and Morocco. They flourish in warm, sunny climates where there is a minimum of
400 millimetres of rain per year, and no more than 800 millimetres. Like grape vines, the
trees thrive in poor soil, putting down deep root in search of moisture and nutrients.

Southern Portugal’s Alentejo region meets all of these requirements, which explains why,
by the early 20th century, this region had become the world’s largest producer of cork, and
why today it accounts for roughly half of all cork production around the world.
Most cork forests are family-owned. Many of these family businesses, and indeed many of
the trees themselves, are around 200 years old. Cork production is, above all, an exercise
in patience. From the planting of a cork sapling to the first harvest takes 25 years, and a
gap of approximately a decade must separate harvests from an individual tree. And for top quality
cork, it’s necessary to wait a further 15 or 20 years. You even have to wait for the
right kind of summer’s day to harvest cork. If the bark is stripped on a day when it’s too cold
- or when the air is damp - the tree will be damaged.

Cork harvesting is a very specialised profession. No mechanical means of stripping cork
bark has been invented, so the job is done by teams of highly skilled workers. First, they
make vertical cuts down the bark using small sharp axes, then lever it away in pieces as
large as they can manage. The most skilful cork- strippers prise away a semi-circular husk
that runs the length of the trunk from just above ground level to the first branches. It is then dried on the ground for about four months, before being taken to factories, where it is boiled to kill any insects that might remain in the cork. Over 60% of cork then goes on to be made into traditional bottle stoppers, with most of the remainder being used in the construction trade, Corkboard and cork tiles are ideal for thermal and acoustic insulation, while granules of cork are used in the manufacture of concrete.

Recent years have seen the end of the virtual monopoly of cork as the material for bottle stoppers, due to concerns about the effect it may have on the contents of the bottle. This is caused by a chemical compound called 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), which forms through the interaction of plant phenols, chlorine and mould. The tiniest concentrations - as little as three or four parts to a trillion - can spoil the taste of the product contained in the bottle. The result has been a gradual yet steady move first towards plastic stoppers and, more recently, to aluminium screw caps. These substitutes are cheaper to manufacture and, in the case of screw caps, more convenient for the user.

The classic cork stopper does have several advantages, however. Firstly, its traditional image is more in keeping with that of the type of high quality goods with which it has long been associated. Secondly - and very importantly - cork is a sustainable product that can be recycled without difficulty. Moreover, cork forests are a resource which support local biodiversity, and prevent desertification in the regions where they are planted. So, given the current concerns about environmental issues, the future of this ancient material once again looks promising.

Questions 1-5

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

In boxes 1-5 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

1..................... The cork oak has the thickest bark of any living tree.

2..................... Scientists have developed a synthetic cork with the same cellular structure

as natural cork.

3..................... Individual cork oak trees must be left for 25 years between the first and

second harvest.

4..................... Cork bark should be stripped in dry atmospheric conditions.

5..................... The only way to remove the bark from cork oak trees is by hand.

Questions 6-13

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 6-13 on your answer sheet.

Comparison of aluminium screw caps and cork bottle

stoppers

Advantages of aluminium screw caps

•do not affect the 6..................... of the bottle contents

•are 7..................... to produce

•are 8..................... to use

Advantages of cork bottle stoppers

• suit the 9..................... of quality products

• made from a 10..................... material

• easily 11.....................

• cork forests aid 12.....................

• cork forests stop 13..................... happening

Solution:

1. NOT GIVEN 8. convenient

2. FALSE 9. image

3. FALSE 10. sustainable

4. TRUE 11. recycled

5. TRUE 12. biodiversity

6. taste 13. desertification

7. cheaper


PASSWORD: 8MAY2025