IELTS Pro BD

READING TEST 35
Reading Passage 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below

An important language development

Cuneiform, the world’s first known system of handwriting, originated some 6.000 years ago in Summer
in what is now southern Iraq. It was most often inscribed on palmsized, rectangular clay tablets measuring
several centimetres across, although occasionally, larger tablets or cylinders were used. Clay was an
excellent medium for writing. Other surfaces which have been employed - for example, parchment,
papyrus and paper - are not long - lasting and are easily destroyed by fire and water. But clay has proved
to be resistant to those particular kinds of damage.

The word ‘cuneiform’ actually refers to the marks or signs inscribed in the clay. The original cuneiform
signs consisted of a series of lines - triangular, vertical, diagonal and horizontal. Sumerian writers would
impress these lines into the wet clay with a stylus - a long, thin, pointed instrument which looked
somewhat like a pen. Oddly, the signs were often almost too small to see with the naked eye. Cuneiform
signs were used for the writing of at least a dozen languages. This is similar to how the Latin alphabet is
used today for writing English, French, Spanish and German for example.

Before the development of cuneiform, tokens were used by the Sumerians to record certain information.
For example, they might take small stones and use them as tokens or representations of something else,
like a goat. A number of tokens, then, might mean a herd of goat. These tokens might then be placed in a
cloth container and provided to a buyer as a receipt for a transaction, perhaps five tokens for five animals.
It was not that different from what we do today when we buy some bread and the clerk gives us back a
piece of paper with numbers on it to confirm the exchange.

By the 4th century BCE, the Sumerians had adapted this system to a form of writing. They began putting
tokens in a container resembling an envelope, and now made of clay instead of cloth. They then stamped
the outside to indicate the number and type of tokens inside. A person could then ‘read’ what was
stamped on the container and know what was inside.

Gradually, Sumerians developed symbols for words. When first developed, each symbol looked like the
concrete thing it represented. For example, an image which resembled the drawing of a sheep meant just
that. Then another level of abstraction was introduced when symbols were developed for intangible ideas
such as ‘female’ of ‘hot’ or ‘God’. Cuneiform, in other words, evolved from a way used primarily to
track and store information into a way to represent the world symbolically. Over the centuries, the marks
became ever more abstract, finally evolving into signs that looked nothing like what they referred to, just
as the letters ‘h-o-u-s-e’ have no visual connection to the place we live in. At this last stage in the
evolution of cuneiform, the signs took the form of tringles, which became common cuneiform signs.
As the marks became more abstract, the system became more efficient because there were fewer marks a
‘reader’ needed to learn. But cuneiform also became more complex because society itself was becoming
more complex, so there were more ideas and concepts that needed to be expressed. However, most
linguists and historians agree cuneiform developed primarily as a tool for accounting. Of the cuneiform
tablets that have been discovered, excavated and translated, about 75 percent contain this type of practical
information, rather than artistic or imaginative work.

Cuneiform writing was used for thousands of years, but it eventually ceased to be used in everyday life. In
fact, it died out and remained unintelligible for almost 2.000 years. In the late 19 th century, a British army

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

officer, Henry Rawlinson, discovered cuneiform inscriptions which had been carved in the surface of
rocks in the Behistun mountains in what is present-day Iran. Rawlinson made impressions of the marks on
large pieces of paper, as he balanced dangerously on the surrounding rocks.

Rawlinson took his copies home to Britain and studied them for years to determine what each line stood
for, and what each group of symbols meant. He found that in the writing on those particular rocks every
word was repeated three times in three languages: Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian. Since the
meanings in these languages were already known to linguists, he could thus translate the cuneiform.
Eventually, he fully decoded the cuneiform marks and he discovered that they described the life of
Darius, a king of the Persian Empire in the 5th century BCE.

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. Cuneiform tablets were produced in different shapes and sizes.

2. When Sumerian writers marked on the clay tablets, the tablets were dry
3. Cuneiform was often difficult to read because of its size.
4. A number of languages adopted cuneiform.
5. Cuneiform signs, can be found in some modern alphabets.

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,
The development and translation of cuneiform
Before cuneiform

• tokens, for example, 6……. were often used

• the first tokens were kept in containers made of 7………
• tokens were used as a 8……… to give when selling something
By 4th century BCE
• tokens were put in a container that looked like a clay 9………….

Complex, abstract symbols developed

• at first, signs looked like what they indicated, e.g. 10………
then signs became more abstract
• eventually, cuneiform signs shaped like 11……… were developed
• according to experts, cuneiform was mainly used for 12………….

19th-century translation of cuneiform inscriptions by Henry Rawlinson

• Rawlinson found cuneiform inscriptions in the Behistun mountains
• Rawlinson copied inscriptions onto 13…………
Rawlinson realised that each word of the inscriptions appeared in different languages
• When translated, Rawlinson found the writings were about a 5th-century BCE king.

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

Reading Passage 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below

Bovids
A
The family of mammals called bovids belongs to the Artiodactyl class, which also includes giraffes.
Bovids are a highly diverse group consisting of 137 species, some of which are man’s most important
domestic animals.
B
Bovids are well represented in most parts of Eurasia and Southeast Asian islands, but they are by far the
most numerous and diverse in the latter Some species of bovid are solitary, but others live in large groups
with complex social structures. Although bovids have adapted to a wide range of habitats, from arctic
tundra to deep tropical forest, the majority of species favour open grassland, scrub or desert. This
diversity of habitat is also matched by great diversity in size and form: at one extreme is the royal
antelope of West Africa, which stands a mere 25 cm at the shoulder; at the other, the massively built
bison of North America and Europe, growing to a shoulder height of 2.2m.
C
Despite differences in size and appearance, bovids are united by the possession of certain common
features. All species are ruminants, which means that they retain undigested food in their stomachs, and
regurgitate it as necessary. Bovids are almost exclusively herbivorous: plant-eating “incisors: front teeth
herbivorous”.
D
Typically their teeth are highly modified for browsing and grazing: grass or foliage is cropped with the
upper lip and lower incisors** (the upper incisors are usually absent), and then ground down by the cheek
teeth. As well as having cloven, or split, hooves, the males of ail bovid species and the females of most
carry horns. Bovid horns have bony cores covered in a sheath of horny material that is constantly renewed
from within; they are unbranched and never shed. They vary in shape and size: the relatively simple horns
of a large Indian buffalo may measure around 4 m from tip to tip along the outer curve, while the various
gazelles have horns with a variety of elegant curves.
E
Five groups, or sub-families, may be distinguished: Bovinae, Antelope, Caprinae, Cephalophinae and
Antilocapridae. The sub-family Bovinae comprises most of the larger bovids, including the African
bongo, and nilgae, eland, bison and cattle. Unlike most other bovids they are all non-territorial. The
ancestors of the various species of domestic cattle banteng, gaur, yak and water buffalo are generally rare
and endangered in the wild, while the auroch (the ancestor of the domestic cattle of Europe) is extinct.
F
The term ‘antelope is not a very precise zoological name – it is used to loosely describe a number of
bovids that have followed different lines of development. Antelopes are typically long-legged, fast-
running species, often with long horns that may be laid along the back when the animal is in full flight.
There are two main sub-groups of antelope: Hippotraginae, which includes the oryx and the addax, and
Antilopinae, which generally contains slighter and more graceful animals such as gazelle and the
springbok. Antelopes are mainly grassland species, but many have adapted to flooded grasslands: pukus,
waterbucks and lechwes are all good at swimming, usually feeding in deep water, while the sitatunga has
long, splayed hooves that enable it to walk freely on swampy ground.
G
The sub-family Caprinae includes the sheep and the goat, together with various relatives such as the goral
and the tahr. Most are woolly or have long hair. Several species, such as wild goats, chamois and ibex, are
agile cliff – and mountain-dwellers. Tolerance of extreme conditions is most marked in this group:

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

Barbary and bighorn sheep have adapted to arid deserts, while Rocky Mountain sheep survive high up in
mountains and musk oxen in arctic tundra.
H
The duiker of Africa belongs to the Cephalophinae sub-family. It is generally small and solitary, often
living in thick forest. Although mainly feeding on grass and leaves, some duikers – unlike most other
bovids – are believed to eat insects and feed on dead animal carcasses, and even to kill small animals.
I
The pronghorn is the sole survivor of a New World sub-family of herbivorous ruminants, the
Antilocapridae in North America. It is similar in appearance and habits to the Old World antelope.
Although greatly reduced in numbers since the arrival of Europeans, and the subsequent enclosure of
grasslands, the pronghorn is still found in considerable numbers throughout North America, from
Washington State to Mexico. When alarmed by the approach of wolves or other predators, hairs on the
pronghorn’s rump stand erect, so showing and emphasizing the white patch there. At this signal, the
whole herd gallops off at speed of over 60 km per hour.

Questions 14-16
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

14. In which region is the biggest range of bovids to be found?

A Africa
B Eurasia
C North America
D South-east Asia
15. Most bovids have a preference for living in
A isolation
B small groups
C tropical forest
D wide open spaces
16. Which of the following features do all bovids have in common?
A Their horns are shot
B They have upper incisors
C They store food in the body
D Their hooves are undivided

Questions 17-21
Look at the following characteristics (Questions 4-8) and the list of sub-families below.
Match each characteristic with the correct sub-family, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 4-8 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once

List of sub-families
A Antelope
B Bovinae
C Caprinae
D Cephalophinae

17 can endure very harsh environments

18. includes the ox and the cow
19. may supplement its diet with meat

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

20. can usually move a speed

21. does not defend a particular area of land

Questions 22-26
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

22. What is the smallest species of Bovid called?

23. Which species of Bovinae hos now died out?
24. What facilitates the movement of the sitatunga over wetland?
25. What sort of terrain do barbary sheep live in?
26. What is the only living member of the Antilocapridae sub-family?

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

Reading Passage 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below

Global Warming in New Zealand

A
New Zealand is expected to warm by about 3°C over the next century. The northern polar regions will be
more than 6°C warmer, while the large continents – also the largest centres of population – will be 4°C or
warmer. In contrast, the Southern Ocean, which surrounds New Zealand, may warm by only 2°C. The sea
will act as an air conditioner and in this aspect, New Zealand’s location is comparatively fortunate.
B
Any predictions are complicated by the variability of New Zealand’s climate. The annual temperature can
fluctuate as much as 1°C above or below the long-term average. The early summer of 2006-7, for
instance, was notably cool, thanks in part to the iceberg that drifted up the east coast. A few months later,
warm water from the Tasman Sea helped make May 2007 unusually hot. These variables will continue
unaffected so that, although the general pattern will be for rising temperatures, the warming trend may not
be uniform.
C
The Ocean to the south of New Zealand will have one important effect. As the world warms, the great
bank of west winds that circle Antarctica will become stronger. This has already been observed, and its
impact on New Zealand is likely to be profound, stronger, more frequent west winds will bring increased,
sometimes catastrophic rainfall to the west coast of the country and create drier conditions in some
eastern regions that are already drought-prone. At the same time, the general warming will spread south.
D
Furthermore, in the drier regions, the average moisture deficit – that is, the difference between the amount
of water in soils available to plants and the amount plants need for optimum growth – will increase. Soils
could go into moisture deficit earlier in the growing season and the deficits could last longer into autumn
that at present. What we think of today as a medium-severity drought could be an almost annual
occurrence by the end of the century. One direct consequence of warmer – and shorter – winters will be a
reduction in snow cover. The permanent snow line in the mountains will rise, while snow cover below
this will be shorter-lived. The amount of snow that falls may actually increase, however, even in some
northern centres, owing to the intensification of precipitation, Ski-field base station may eventually have
to be moved upwards to be within reach of the new snow line but there could still be plenty of the white
stuff up there.
E
There will also be a marked impact on New Zealand’s glaciers. Over the last 100 years, the glaciers have
been reduced by 35%, although since 1978 increase snowfall has offset the effect of warming. The latest
studies conducted by the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric. Research (NIWA), however,
suggest that by the end of the century, warming over the Southern Alps could be significantly greater than
over the rest of the country.
F
Sea levels around New Zealand have risen by 25cm since the middle of the 9th century and by 7 cm since
1990. Predictions for the coming years cover a wide range, however, partly because of unknown rises
resulting from the melting of the ice in the Arctic, Greenland and Antarctica. In addition, sea level at any
given time is affected by many different factors, one of which is called storm surge. When a Coincides
with a high tide along low lying coastal areas, this bulge raises the tide higher than normal, creating.
Surge not unlike a slow-motion tsunami. Not only does a rise in sea level increase the potential for his
sort damage, but it also has less immediate impacts. The one potentially grave outcome is that
groundwater systems may become contaminated with saltwater, spoiling them for the irrigation of
farmland, which in turn could diminish crop harvests. Similarly, over time, estuaries may be enlarged by

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

erosion as tidal influences reach further upstream, altering the contours of whole shorelines and initiating
further unforeseen consequences.
G
The impacts these changes will have on New Zealand are difficult to generalize. Human systems are
better able to adapt to change than natural ecosystems because humans can see a problem coming and
plan a response. Farmers and horticulturalists have made considerable advances, replacing crops they
grow to better suit the new conditions. However, plant breeders will need to show considerable ingenuity
if they can overcome the acute water shortages that are forecast.
H
For natural ecosystems the rate of change is crucial. If it is low, the plants and animals and fish will be
able to ‘keep up’; if it is high, only the most adaptable species-those that can survive in the widest range
of ecological niches-are likely to survive. Species adapted to only a narrow range of conditions or food
sources will find adaptation much more difficult. Take tuatara, for instance. Their sex is determined by
the temperature at which the eggs are incubated in warm (currently above 22 °C) condition become
predominately male – and now males already outnumber females by nearly two to one in some island
refuges. In the mountains, as the permanent snow line moves upwards, the tolerance zones of some alpine
plants and animals may simply disappear. It should also be remembered that global warming is just that –
a global phenomenon. ‘New Zealand’s own greenhouse emissions are tiny – around 0.5% of the global
total. Even if New Zealanders were to achieve the government’s target of carbon neutrality, this would
have no discernable impact on global climate change.
I
The changes that global warming is going to bring to New Zealand during the 21st century are going to be
significant, but where the country is likely to be most vulnerable is with respect to climate change
elsewhere. New Zealand may warm more slowly than most places, but if its major export markets
undergo damaging change, the economic impact will be severe.

Questions 27-32
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 27-32on your answer sheet.

27. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. The air condition in New Zealand will maintain a high quality because of the ocean
B The Southern Ocean will remain at a constant strength
C The continents will warm more than the point
D New Zealand will not warm as much as other countries in the next century because it is surrounded by
sea.

28. What does the writer say about New Zealand’s variable weather?
A Temperature changes of 1°C will not be seem important in future
B Variable weather will continue, unchanged by global warming
C There was an unusually small amount of variation in 2006-2007
D Summer temperatures will vary but winter ones will be consistent

29. What is the predicted impact of conditions in the ocean to the south of New Zealand?
A New Zealand will be more affected by floods and droughts
B Antarctica will not be adversely affected by warming.
C The band of west winds will move further to the south.
D The usual west wind will no longer be reliable

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

30. The writer mentions ‘moisture deficit’ to show?

A The droughts will be shorter but more severe
B How the growing season will become longer.
C How growing conditions will deteriorate
D That farmers should alter the make-up of soils

31. What are the implications of global warming for New Zealand’s
A Skiing may move to lower the altitude in future.
B The ski season will be later in the year than at present.
C The northern ski field will have to move to the south
D Warming may provide more snow for some ski locations

32. The writer refers to NIWA’s latest studies in the 3rd paragraph to show
A how a particular place could be affected by warming
B that the warming trend has been intensifying since 1978
C that freezing levels will rise throughout the century
D how the growth of glaciers is likely to cause damage

Questions 33-35
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 33-35on your answer sheet.

A agriculture production B tropical waters C tidal waves D polar regions

E global warming F coastal land G high tides

Rising sea levels

The extent of future sea level rises around New Zealand is uncertain and may be determined in
the 33……... Another variable is sudden rises in sea level caused by bad weather. Higher sea levels can
lead to reduced 34………. and result in changes to the shape of 35………..

Questions 36-40
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 36-40on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement is true
NO if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

36. The natural world is less responsive to challenges than humans.

37. The agricultural sector is being too conservative and resistant to innovation.
38. The global warming is slow; it will affect different regions in different ways.
39. The tuatara is vulnerable to changes in climate conditions.
40. New Zealand must reduce carbon emission if global warming is to be slowed.

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

WRITING TASK
WRITING TASK 1:
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
. The number of visitors in the UK and their average spending from 2003 to 2008

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

WRITING TASK 2

People are living longer. Some people think that it causes big problems. Others, however, think that the
aging population has many advantages for business, government, and society in general.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

TADK 1

The table gives information about the number of people who visited the UK from 2003 to 2008,
as well as the average duration of their stay and the amount of money they spent there.

Overall, the figures for all statistics grew over the time period, except for the average duration of
stay which declined slightly.

In 2003, the UK received approximately 24.7 million visitors who spent around £11.9 billion.
The number of visitors continued to rise each year until peaking at approximately 32.8 million in
2007 and dropping slightly to approximately 31.9 million in 2008. The amount of money spent
also rose most years, peaking at £16.3 billion in 2008.

The average duration that visitors stayed in 2003 was 8.2 nights, while they spent an average of
£475 per visit. The average number of nights per visit rose slightly until 2006, before declining
to an average of 7.7 nights in 2007 and 2008. The average amount of money spent per visit
tended to fluctuate each year but peaked in 2008 at £511.

TASK 2

People today have longer lifespans compared to the past, and this change has sparked debate among
people. A group of individuals argue that a growing elderly population causes serious economic and
social challenges, whereas others believe that it provides opportunities for authorities, markets, and
communities. I strongly agree with the latter opinion.

On the one hand, some people justifiably argue that increased life expectancy leads to excessive pressure
on healthcare systems and the economy. The elderly generally suffer from more health issues, such as
cardiovascular disease or dementia, which require long-term treatment and constant medical care. For
example, in countries like India, healthcare expenditure has risen rapidly due to the growing number of
old individuals. Additionally, governments have to spend more money on pensions for retired people,
creating financial problems. As a model, in such countries, pension costs are a significant part of the
budget, causing limited investment in other pivotal sectors such as education and infrastructure.

On the other hand, another group of people claims that an aging population can offer economic and social
benefits. They argue that older people often possess valuable experience and knowledge, which have
positive effects on businesses and the economy. For instance, some retired professionals work as part-
time mentors or professors, helping governments prevent spending extra costs. They also insist that
elderly people contribute to social cooperation by participating in volunteer work and supporting their
families by taking care of their grandchildren. These contributions can reduce childcare costs and
strengthen family bonds.

In conclusion, from my perspective, although there are some economic concerns associated with longer
lifespans, the advantages are more significant. Older adults bring wisdom and experience that can benefit
both the economy and families. Moreover, their contributions to society through mentoring and
volunteering should be considered.

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793

IELTS Pro BD

Test 35
Reading Answers

1.TRUE 21. B
2. FALSE 22. (the) royal antelope
3. TRUE 23. (the) auroch
4. TRUE 24. long, splayed hooves
5. NOT GIVEN 25. arid deserts
6. stones 26. (the) pronghorn
7. cloth 27 D
8. receipt 28 B
9. envelope 29 A
10. sheep 30 C
11. triangles 31 D
12. accounting 32 A
13. paper 33 D
14. D 34 A
15. D 35 F
16. C 36 YES
17. C 37 NOT GIVEN
18. B 38 NOT GIVEN
19. D 39 YES
20. A 40 NO

If you score

1-17 18-26 27-40

you are highly unlikely to you may get an acceptable score you are likely to get an
get an acceptable score under under examination conditions but acceptable score under
examination conditions and we we recommend that you think examination conditions but
recommend that you spend a lot about having more practice or remember that different
of time improving your English lessons before you take IELTS institutions will find
before you take IELTS different scores acceptable

IELTS Pro BD WhatsApp-01848361793