IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test - Set 4
Academic reading practice with 40 questions for passage analysis, vocabulary in context, inference, and detail tracking under IELTS-style timing.
How this practice matches real IELTS use
This site uses objective question types to strengthen skimming, scanning, vocabulary in context, and evidence-based answer selection.
How to use this practice set
1. Attempt seriously
Use realistic timing, avoid random guessing, and finish the set as one focused session.
2. Review by skill gap
Separate vocabulary gaps, concentration errors, weak task strategy, and careless mistakes instead of looking only at score.
3. Repeat with purpose
After review, move to the next related IELTS section or repeat weak-question types until your accuracy becomes stable.
Practice set details
IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test - Set 4: all 40 questions with answers
Try each question first, then open “Show answer” to check the correct option and explanation.
Q1.Passage: 'A recent study on urban farming found that one major advantage is local food supply. However, researchers still warn about high setup cost.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.high setup cost
- B.local food supply
- C.urban farming publicity
- D.longer holidays
Show answer
Correct answer: B. local food supply
The passage directly identifies local food supply as the main advantage.
Q2.In the passage, the word 'sustainable' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delay
- B.ignore
- C.long-term
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: C. long-term
In this context, 'sustainable' is closest in meaning to 'long-term'.
Q3.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 160 participants, and 22% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.150
- B.170
- C.22
- D.160
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 160
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 160 participants.
Q4.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Use urban farming carefully while monitoring high setup cost
- B.Avoid urban farming completely
- C.Focus only on advertising urban farming
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Use urban farming carefully while monitoring high setup cost
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use urban farming while monitoring high setup cost.
Q5.Passage: 'A recent study on sleep research found that one major advantage is memory consolidation. However, researchers still warn about screen exposure.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.screen exposure
- B.sleep research publicity
- C.longer holidays
- D.memory consolidation
Show answer
Correct answer: D. memory consolidation
The passage directly identifies memory consolidation as the main advantage.
Q6.In the passage, the word 'restore' is closest in meaning to:
- A.renew
- B.delay
- C.ignore
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: A. renew
In this context, 'restore' is closest in meaning to 'renew'.
Q7.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 170 participants, and 23% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.160
- B.170
- C.180
- D.23
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 170
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 170 participants.
Q8.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Avoid sleep research completely
- B.Focus only on advertising sleep research
- C.Use sleep research carefully while monitoring screen exposure
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Use sleep research carefully while monitoring screen exposure
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use sleep research while monitoring screen exposure.
Q9.Passage: 'A recent study on museum education found that one major advantage is visual learning. However, researchers still warn about limited context.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.limited context
- B.visual learning
- C.museum education publicity
- D.longer holidays
Show answer
Correct answer: B. visual learning
The passage directly identifies visual learning as the main advantage.
Q10.In the passage, the word 'engage' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delay
- B.ignore
- C.involve
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: C. involve
In this context, 'engage' is closest in meaning to 'involve'.
Q11.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 180 participants, and 24% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.170
- B.190
- C.24
- D.180
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 180
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 180 participants.
Q12.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Use museum education carefully while monitoring limited context
- B.Avoid museum education completely
- C.Focus only on advertising museum education
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Use museum education carefully while monitoring limited context
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use museum education while monitoring limited context.
Q13.Passage: 'A recent study on remote teamwork found that one major advantage is location flexibility. However, researchers still warn about communication gaps.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.communication gaps
- B.remote teamwork publicity
- C.longer holidays
- D.location flexibility
Show answer
Correct answer: D. location flexibility
The passage directly identifies location flexibility as the main advantage.
Q14.In the passage, the word 'collaborative' is closest in meaning to:
- A.cooperative
- B.delay
- C.ignore
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: A. cooperative
In this context, 'collaborative' is closest in meaning to 'cooperative'.
Q15.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 190 participants, and 25% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.180
- B.190
- C.200
- D.25
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 190
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 190 participants.
Q16.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Avoid remote teamwork completely
- B.Focus only on advertising remote teamwork
- C.Use remote teamwork carefully while monitoring communication gaps
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Use remote teamwork carefully while monitoring communication gaps
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use remote teamwork while monitoring communication gaps.
Q17.Passage: 'A recent study on public transport planning found that one major advantage is reduced congestion. However, researchers still warn about funding delays.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.funding delays
- B.reduced congestion
- C.public transport planning publicity
- D.longer holidays
Show answer
Correct answer: B. reduced congestion
The passage directly identifies reduced congestion as the main advantage.
Q18.In the passage, the word 'efficient' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delay
- B.ignore
- C.productive
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: C. productive
In this context, 'efficient' is closest in meaning to 'productive'.
Q19.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 200 participants, and 26% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.190
- B.210
- C.26
- D.200
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 200
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 200 participants.
Q20.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Use public transport planning carefully while monitoring funding delays
- B.Avoid public transport planning completely
- C.Focus only on advertising public transport planning
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Use public transport planning carefully while monitoring funding delays
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use public transport planning while monitoring funding delays.
Q21.Passage: 'A recent study on marine conservation found that one major advantage is biodiversity protection. However, researchers still warn about illegal fishing.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.illegal fishing
- B.marine conservation publicity
- C.longer holidays
- D.biodiversity protection
Show answer
Correct answer: D. biodiversity protection
The passage directly identifies biodiversity protection as the main advantage.
Q22.In the passage, the word 'fragile' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delicate
- B.delay
- C.ignore
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: A. delicate
In this context, 'fragile' is closest in meaning to 'delicate'.
Q23.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 210 participants, and 27% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.200
- B.210
- C.220
- D.27
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 210
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 210 participants.
Q24.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Avoid marine conservation completely
- B.Focus only on advertising marine conservation
- C.Use marine conservation carefully while monitoring illegal fishing
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Use marine conservation carefully while monitoring illegal fishing
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use marine conservation while monitoring illegal fishing.
Q25.Passage: 'A recent study on language immersion found that one major advantage is faster fluency. However, researchers still warn about initial discomfort.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.initial discomfort
- B.faster fluency
- C.language immersion publicity
- D.longer holidays
Show answer
Correct answer: B. faster fluency
The passage directly identifies faster fluency as the main advantage.
Q26.In the passage, the word 'acquire' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delay
- B.ignore
- C.gain
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: C. gain
In this context, 'acquire' is closest in meaning to 'gain'.
Q27.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 220 participants, and 28% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.210
- B.230
- C.28
- D.220
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 220
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 220 participants.
Q28.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Use language immersion carefully while monitoring initial discomfort
- B.Avoid language immersion completely
- C.Focus only on advertising language immersion
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Use language immersion carefully while monitoring initial discomfort
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use language immersion while monitoring initial discomfort.
Q29.Passage: 'A recent study on solar energy use found that one major advantage is lower emissions. However, researchers still warn about weather dependence.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.weather dependence
- B.solar energy use publicity
- C.longer holidays
- D.lower emissions
Show answer
Correct answer: D. lower emissions
The passage directly identifies lower emissions as the main advantage.
Q30.In the passage, the word 'generate' is closest in meaning to:
- A.produce
- B.delay
- C.ignore
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: A. produce
In this context, 'generate' is closest in meaning to 'produce'.
Q31.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 230 participants, and 29% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.220
- B.230
- C.240
- D.29
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 230
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 230 participants.
Q32.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Avoid solar energy use completely
- B.Focus only on advertising solar energy use
- C.Use solar energy use carefully while monitoring weather dependence
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Use solar energy use carefully while monitoring weather dependence
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use solar energy use while monitoring weather dependence.
Q33.Passage: 'A recent study on workplace mentoring found that one major advantage is skill transfer. However, researchers still warn about time pressure.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.time pressure
- B.skill transfer
- C.workplace mentoring publicity
- D.longer holidays
Show answer
Correct answer: B. skill transfer
The passage directly identifies skill transfer as the main advantage.
Q34.In the passage, the word 'guidance' is closest in meaning to:
- A.delay
- B.ignore
- C.support
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: C. support
In this context, 'guidance' is closest in meaning to 'support'.
Q35.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 240 participants, and 30% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.230
- B.250
- C.30
- D.240
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 240
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 240 participants.
Q36.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Use workplace mentoring carefully while monitoring time pressure
- B.Avoid workplace mentoring completely
- C.Focus only on advertising workplace mentoring
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Use workplace mentoring carefully while monitoring time pressure
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use workplace mentoring while monitoring time pressure.
Q37.Passage: 'A recent study on student budgeting found that one major advantage is better control of spending. However, researchers still warn about unplanned purchases.' What is the main benefit mentioned?
- A.unplanned purchases
- B.student budgeting publicity
- C.longer holidays
- D.better control of spending
Show answer
Correct answer: D. better control of spending
The passage directly identifies better control of spending as the main advantage.
Q38.In the passage, the word 'allocate' is closest in meaning to:
- A.distribute
- B.delay
- C.ignore
- D.replace
Show answer
Correct answer: A. distribute
In this context, 'allocate' is closest in meaning to 'distribute'.
Q39.Passage detail: 'The researchers surveyed 250 participants, and 31% reported a positive change after the intervention.' How many participants were surveyed?
- A.240
- B.250
- C.260
- D.31
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 250
The passage clearly says the researchers surveyed 250 participants.
Q40.Based on the passage, what is the writer most likely recommending?
- A.Avoid student budgeting completely
- B.Focus only on advertising student budgeting
- C.Use student budgeting carefully while monitoring unplanned purchases
- D.Ignore any limitations in the research
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Use student budgeting carefully while monitoring unplanned purchases
The passage presents a benefit but also a caution, so the balanced recommendation is to use student budgeting while monitoring unplanned purchases.