Reading 2026-05 Test 4 — IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test with Answers

Rebuilt from test-taker recalls — not official IELTS material. Audio and passages are recreations for practice.

Reading Passage 1 — The Dunedin Study

The Dunedin Study is one of the world's longest-running and most influential longitudinal research projects, tracking the lives of a single group of people from birth into adulthood. It began in the early 1970s in Dunedin, a small city on the South Island of New Zealand, and has continued for more than five decades. Over this period, the study has provided valuable insights into human health, behaviour and development across the entire lifespan.

The study originally enrolled 1,037 babies born at Queen Mary Hospital in Dunedin between April 1972 and March 1973. These children were first assessed at the age of three, and the research team has continued to assess them at regular intervals ever since – at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26, 32, 38, and most recently at age 45. Remarkably, the study has retained more than 90% of the original participants, an extraordinary achievement in longitudinal research. Many participants now travel back to Dunedin from around the world for each assessment phase, demonstrating their commitment to the project.

The scope of the Dunedin Study is exceptionally broad. Researchers have collected data on virtually every aspect of human life: physical health, mental health, personality, cognitive abilities, family relationships, education, employment, and social behaviour. Participants have undergone physical examinations, dental checks, lung function tests, and brain scans. They have completed questionnaires about their life satisfaction, relationships, and experiences. They have provided blood samples for genetic analysis. This wealth of data has made the study a unique resource for understanding how early life experiences shape later outcomes.

One of the most famous findings from the Dunedin Study concerns the development of self-control. Researchers found that children with low self-control at age three were more likely to experience health problems, financial difficulties, and criminal behaviour as adults. This finding held true even after accounting for differences in intelligence and social background. It suggested that teaching self-control skills in early childhood could have lifelong benefits. Another important discovery related to ageing: the study showed that biological ageing begins earlier than previously thought, with signs of decline detectable in some people as young as 26.

The study has also made major contributions to understanding mental illness. By following the same individuals over time, researchers could distinguish between temporary difficulties and persistent problems. They identified that most people who experience mental health problems do so at some point in their lives, but that the minority with persistent problems account for a disproportionate share of the burden on health services. This finding has influenced mental health policy in New Zealand and elsewhere.

In the realm of genetics, the Dunedin Study has been at the forefront of research into gene-environment interactions. By combining genetic data with detailed life histories, researchers have shown that genetic predispositions often only lead to problems in combination with environmental stressors. For example, individuals with a particular variant of a gene involved in serotonin transport were more likely to become depressed, but only if they had experienced stressful life events. This helped resolve the long-standing debate about whether depression is "genetic" or "environmental" – it is both.

The study's influence extends far beyond New Zealand. Its findings have been published in leading scientific journals and have informed policy in areas such as child welfare, education, criminal justice, and health care. Governments and international organisations have drawn on its results to design interventions aimed at improving life outcomes for vulnerable children. The study has also trained generations of researchers who have gone on to lead similar projects in other countries.

As the original participants enter their fifties, the Dunedin Study is entering a new phase. Researchers are now focusing on ageing and the transition to later life. They are studying how the experiences of midlife – work stress, relationships, health behaviours – influence health and well-being in old age. They are also beginning to study the children of the original participants, creating a third generation of data that will allow even deeper insights into how traits and conditions are passed down through families.

The success of the Dunedin Study rests on several factors: the stability of the research team, the commitment of the participants, and the vision of its founders. It stands as a testament to the value of long-term investment in research and to the power of following a single group of people through the twists and turns of their lives.

Questions 1–6: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? 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
Many participants travel back to Dunedin for each assessment phase.
2
The study originally enrolled more than 2,000 babies born in Dunedin.
3
The study has retained less than 50% of the original participants.
4
Researchers found that self-control at age three predicts adult outcomes.
5
The study showed that biological ageing begins after age 40.
6
The study's findings have influenced policy in several countries.

Questions 7–10: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 7–10 on your answer sheet.

7
Participants have undergone physical examinations, dental checks, and __________ scans.
8
Children with low __________ at age three were more likely to have problems as adults.
9
The study helped resolve the debate about whether depression is genetic or __________.
10
Researchers are now beginning to study the __________ of the original participants.

Questions 11–13: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D. Write your answers in boxes 11–13 on your answer sheet.

11
How many participants were originally enrolled in the Dunedin Study?
- A. 1,037
- B. 2,000
- C. 500
- D. 45
12
What did the study find about mental health problems?
- A. Most people never experience mental health problems.
- B. Only a small number of people experience any mental health problems.
- C. A minority with persistent problems account for most of the burden on health services.
- D. Mental health problems are usually temporary and resolve without treatment.
13
What factor has contributed to the success of the Dunedin Study?
- A. Large government funding
- B. The stability of the research team
- C. The diversity of the original participants
- D. International media attention

Reading Passage 2 — IQ Scores: How they are changing and what the changes signify

A Studies from numerous countries suggest that IQ scores have been rising fast since at least the 1950s - enough to mean that someone with an IQ classed as average at that time could be labelled as having low intelligence today. However, psychologists disagree about what the upward trend in scores really means. Some researchers argue that people are not getting more intelligent overall, but just getting better at a particular sort of problem solving. Others say they have found echoes of rising IQ scores in 'real world' measures of intelligence. To confuse things still more, there are hints that the trend may be about to grind to a halt.

B James Flynn, a professor of political science, first showed that IQ scores were rising in the mid-1980s, and became famous after others dubbed the pattern he had observed the 'Flynn effect'. In a landmark paper he made detailed comparisons across fourteen countries of trends in the results of tests that measure reasoning power. Overall, these showed a real growth in scores of up to 25 points in a generation. To find out more, Flynn went on to look at scores for each type of reasoning that IQ tests set out to measure, such as verbal, numerical and visuo-spatial. This last test category usually includes 'Raven's matrices' - sequential patterns with one piece missing. The candidate has to choose, from a set of alternatives, which shape to put in the empty space. When Flynn took a closer look at the scores, the pattern was clear. The strongest gains in almost every case were on Raven's matrices and similar tests, while verbal and arithmetical scores showed more modest rises. Since presenting his original paper, Flynn has looked at data from further countries and found the same upward trend, with the same skills responsible for most of the increase.

C Flynn feels that his eponymous effect is meaningful, but does not interpret it as evidence that people are becoming cleverer. Our grandparents were not retarded and we are not geniuses, he says. More likely we have simply developed the skills and habits of mind that make us better at solving abstract problems, and - just as importantly - we take such problems seriously. Flynn believes that demands of visuo spatial abilities have grown because of TV, computers and cars, and also that in societies where intelligence has become something people focus on excessively abstract problem-solving skills develop faster than other skills.

D Others have different views about what might account for the increase in IQ scores. John Rust of the University of London suggests that it is not just an increase in visuo spatial activities that is pushing up IQ scores. He believes that there are several factors, including the fact that, in more complex societies, people have to think harder to find solutions to problems they face. He also points out that if just one mind grasps a new concept, such as Einstein and the theory of relativity, it may then be easier for society in general to think in a more complex way. Others, such as experimental psychologist Robert Howard, argue that overall Intelligence really has risen, helped by better nutrition, smaller families, wider access to education and other environmental changes.

E Howard's latest research has sent him on a different line of enquiry. Controversially, he now believes that the rise in IQ scores might have peaked in industrialised countries. To support this view, he cites data from Denmark. The Danish military still summons virtually all young men before a draft board to identify who is suitable to do military service. Since 1957, all 17-year-olds there have taken exactly the same qualifying IQ tests - including ones similar to Raven's matrices. Candidates must also be able to answer verbal questions such as 'Sun is to day as Moon is to?', and number-series questions such as '2, 3, 5, 8, ?'. Results in these tests have been carefully analysed by Thomas Teasdale, a neuropsychologist. He found that during the 1960s and '70s, scores showed gains on a scale similar to those of other countries, but by the 1990s the rate of improvement had slowed right down to about one IQ point over the decade. Furthermore, the scores were improving only on the visuo-spatial questions; verbal and numerical performance was flattening out. Most intriguingly, however, scores from 1999 onwards show an overall downturn. One explanation might be that there is some absolute ceiling to people's abilities to perform these tasks, no matter how much the prevailing culture encourages them. However, as Teasdale points out, if such a ceiling had been reached, the test results should show scores pushing against it rather than actually falling.

F Flynn is keeping a close eye on the findings, but is not jumping to conclusions until data from other countries is available. However, he does wonder whether the conditions leading to dramatic Improvements in mental ability disappear as societies become more prosperous. He points out that in human history, prosperity often led to decadence, and argues that the case of ancient Rome can be viewed as an illustration of this.

Questions 14–18: Matching — People and Statements

Look at the following statements (Questions 14-18) and the list of people below. Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.

A. James Flynn

B. John Rust

C. Robert Howard

D. Thomas Teasdale

14
Modern technology has influenced some aspects of human intelligence.
15
IQ scores may not have attained their natural limit.
16
Improved diet has a positive effect on mental powers.
17
Exceptional individuals can have an impact on collective intelligence.
18
As societies become more sophisticated the need for problem-solving skills increases.

Questions 19–22: Paragraph Matching

Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 19-22 on your answer sheet.

19
an account of a selection procedure involving a particular group of people.
20
a description of one component of a visuo-spatial test.
21
an overview of the different interpretations of IQ score trends.
22
an example of the negative effect affluence may have on IQ trends.

Questions 23–26: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

James Flynn

During the 23.............., James Flynn conducted research showing that IQ scores were increasing. Flynn then analysed specific kinds of reasoning ability separately. He found that tests called 24.............., which measured visuo-spatial skills, accounted for the biggest score increases, whereas scores in numerical and 25 ............ components rose less steeply. Results from research in other 26................., which Flynn has examined more recently, are consistent with his earlier findings.

23
During the 23.............., James Flynn conducted research showing that IQ scores were increasing.
24
He found that tests called 24.............., which measured visuo-spatial skills, accounted for the biggest score increases,
25
whereas scores in numerical and 25 ............ components rose less steeply.
26
Results from research in other 26................., which Flynn has examined more recently, are consistent with his earlier findings.

Reading Passage 3 — Asian space: return of an Asian invention

A. Planet Earth is today circled by scores of satellites, orbiting like tiny moons after being sent aloft by rockets to perform a variety of useful tasks. Their story began long ago but rocket technology has progressed considerably since the days when bamboo poles filled with gunpowder were first used in China as fireworks around 500 BC, and since the Sung dynasty when rockets were first used to repel invaders at the battle of Kaifeng (Kai-fung-fu) in AD 1232. In Asia in recent years there has been a dramatic growth in space activities both in the utilisation of space-based services and the production of satellites and launchers. This rapid expansion has led many analysts to predict that Asia will become an important provider of services in space.

B. Worldwide there have been dramatic developments in space technology, and these have been eagerly embraced by Asian nations, which have found them to be especially adaptable for their particular problems. Asia, and Southeast Asia in particular, experiences recurrent large-scale environmental problems including storms and flooding, forest fires, and crop failures. The space application that has attracted the most attention in this region, therefore, is remote sensing. Remote sensing satellites, equipped with instruments to take photographs of the ground using different wavelengths, provide essential information about natural ground cover and planted crops, and this information facilitates work in environmental management, disaster prevention, and sustainable planning.

C. Imaginative and innovative applications of satellites are constantly being explored, with potentially revolutionary effects. To take a specific example, small antennas no more than 40 cm across and 15 cm high are embedded in slabs of stone, which are themselves embedded in the earth. Every 15 seconds a global positioning system measures the distance between each antenna and a satellite. The data is transferred to one of 200 monitoring stations around the world and provide a constant flow of information invaluable for the prediction of earthquakes. Asian nations have also eagerly embraced satellite technology in the field of health and telemedicine: patients in remote rural communities can be diagnosed and carers can be advised on medical treatment. Such things as pictures of the patient, pulse rate temperature, blood pressure and blood oxygen can be monitored and transmitted to doctors thousands of kilometres away for reliable diagnosis and advice. There have also been beneficial advances in distance education programs, and agricultural planning and production have improved.

D. Access to the benefits of satellites was not always as straightforward as it might seem today. For decades, Japan has been the dominant space power in Asia. To achieve its pre-eminence, however, Japan had to face serious time-consuming technological challenges and high risks through many trials. This experimentation was problematic at first because Japan based its satellite manufacturing on traditional and very expensive Western military technological practices.

E. In more recent times, fundamental changes in satellites have dramatically reduced costs. ‘Small satellites’ have given Asian countries a way to develop low-cost satellite technology and rapidly establish a space capability of their own. The new entrants in the industry are able to shorten the time for trials by as much as a decade or more. Small satellites, which have opened the space age to developing countries, are classified in three groups: nano satellites have a mass less than 10 kg, micro satellites range from 10 to 100 kg and mini satellites are between 100 and 500 kg. Such is the appeal of small satellites that low-cost launcher rockets are being developed exclusively for mini satellites. The saving is even greater for nano and micro satellites, which can be launched as secondary passengers, hitching a ride on large launchers with pay-load to spare. Small satellites allow individual countries to select more convenient orbits for their own particular purposes. A low polar orbit is good for mapping. As the earth rotates from west to east, the satellite orbits north and south allowing it repeatedly to photograph any chosen parts of the Earth’s surface.

F. Space technology in Asia has been facilitated by the competitive commercial sector and its production of low-cost mini satellites. The globalisation of industrial and financial markets has improved avenues for transferring technological innovation, and the availability of ready-made commercial technology may well result in a highly competitive Asian satellite industry. The laws of physics are the same all over the world, and the principles of electronics and mechanics know no political or cultural boundaries. However, engineering practice and management practice are not so readily transferable but are influenced by education, culture and history. These practices have an effect on costs, lead times, product designs and, eventually, international sales. Nevertheless, it can be expected that the acquisition of technical expertise, combined with the world-renowned Japanese manufacturing and management techniques, will soon produce world-class satellites at reduced costs.

Questions 27–32: Heading Matching

Reading Passage 3 has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet. List of Headings i. Asian need for new space technology ii. Independence through the greater adaptability of satellites iii. Ancient inventions linked to the future iv. An early start but slow initial progress v. Non-technical factors affecting Asia's entry to the space age vi. Application of rocket technology to warfare vii. New and wide-ranging uses of space technology viii. The difficulty of identifying types of satellites

27
Paragraph A
28
Paragraph B
29
Paragraph C
30
Paragraph D
31
Paragraph E
32
Paragraph F

Questions 33–36: Sentence Completion (Matching Endings)

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below. Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 33-36 on your answer sheet.

A. they are seeking plants with medicinal value

B. they can take pictures of any area required

C. They depend on what has happened in the past

D. they do not take up a lot of space aboard rockets

E. they have locations that are difficult to reach

F. they help students with their studies

G. they suffer from such things as forest fires

33
Southeast Asian countries wish to photograph vegetation from above because
34
Asian countries are interested in advances in medical treatment using satellite technology because
35
Satellites in polar orbits are useful for mapping because
36
Management practices are not universally adaptable because

Questions 37–40: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 37-40 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

37
In 500 BC rockets were used in battle in China.
38
The distance between satellites and antennas on Earth can be used to detect movement in the Earth’s crust.
39
Distance education has increased literacy levels in Asia.
40
Commercial competition prevents technological innovation spreading.

Answer sheet

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1. TRUE
This is TRUE because the passage says, 'Many participants now travel back to Dunedin from around the world for each assessment phase, demonstrating their commitment to the project.'
2. FALSE
This is FALSE because the passage states, 'The study originally enrolled 1,037 babies,' which is less than 2,000.
3. FALSE
This is FALSE because the passage says, 'the study has retained more than 90% of the original participants,' which is much more than 50%.
4. TRUE
This is TRUE because the passage explains, 'Researchers found that children with low self-control at age three were more likely to experience health problems, financial difficulties, and criminal behaviour as adults.'
5. FALSE
This is FALSE because the passage says, 'the study showed that biological ageing begins earlier than previously thought, with signs of decline detectable in some people as young as 26,' not after age 40.
6. TRUE
This is TRUE because the passage says, 'Its findings have been published in leading scientific journals and have informed policy in areas such as child welfare, education, criminal justice, and health care.'
7. brain
The correct word is 'brain' because the passage lists, 'Participants have undergone physical examinations, dental checks, lung function tests, and brain scans.'
8. self-control
The correct word is 'self-control' because the passage says, 'children with low self-control at age three were more likely to experience health problems, financial difficulties, and criminal behaviour as adults.'
9. environmental
The correct word is 'environmental' because the passage says, 'This helped resolve the long-standing debate about whether depression is "genetic" or "environmental" – it is both.'
10. children
The correct word is 'children' because the passage says, 'They are also beginning to study the children of the original participants.'
11. A
A is correct because the passage says, 'The study originally enrolled 1,037 babies.' The other options do not match this number.
12. C
C is correct because the passage says, 'the minority with persistent problems account for a disproportionate share of the burden on health services.' Option A is wrong because the passage says most people experience mental health problems at some point.
13. B
B is correct because the passage lists 'the stability of the research team' as a key factor in the study's success. The other options are not mentioned as reasons for success.
14. A
This is TRUE because the passage mentions, 'Flynn believes that demands of visuo spatial abilities have grown because of TV, computers and cars,' showing modern technology's influence.
15. D
This is TRUE because the passage discusses that if a natural limit had been reached, 'the test results should show scores pushing against it rather than actually falling,' suggesting the limit may not have been reached.
16. C
This is TRUE because the passage says, 'overall Intelligence really has risen, helped by better nutrition, smaller families, wider access to education and other environmental changes.'
17. B
This is TRUE because the passage says, 'if just one mind grasps a new concept, such as Einstein and the theory of relativity, it may then be easier for society in general to think in a more complex way.'
18. B
This is TRUE because the passage says, 'in more complex societies, people have to think harder to find solutions to problems they face.'
19. E
E is correct because paragraph E describes the Danish military's selection procedure, where 'all 17-year-olds there have taken exactly the same qualifying IQ tests.'
20. B
B is correct because paragraph B describes 'Raven's matrices' as 'sequential patterns with one piece missing,' which is a visuo-spatial test component.
21. A
A is correct because paragraph A discusses different interpretations of rising IQ scores, mentioning disagreement among psychologists about what the trend means.
22. F
F is correct because paragraph F gives an example of ancient Rome, where prosperity led to decadence, as a possible negative effect of affluence on IQ trends.
23. mid-1980s
The correct answer is 'mid-1980s' because the passage says, 'James Flynn, a professor of political science, first showed that IQ scores were rising in the mid-1980s.'
24. Raven's matrices
The correct answer is 'Raven's matrices' because the passage says, 'the strongest gains in almost every case were on Raven's matrices and similar tests.'
25. verbal
The correct answer is 'verbal' because the passage says, 'verbal and arithmetical scores showed more modest rises.'
26. countries
The correct answer is 'countries' because the passage says, 'Flynn has looked at data from further countries and found the same upward trend.'
27. iii
The correct heading is iii because paragraph A gives a historical background to Asian space activities, mentioning the origins of rocket technology in China.
28. i
The correct heading is i because paragraph B discusses how Asian countries use satellites to address environmental problems.
29. vii
The correct heading is vii because paragraph C describes innovative uses of satellites, such as earthquake prediction and telemedicine.
30. iv
The correct heading is iv because paragraph D explains Japan's early challenges in developing space technology.
31. ii
The correct heading is ii because paragraph E discusses how small satellites have reduced costs and allowed more countries to join the space industry.
32. v
The correct heading is v because paragraph F talks about the impact of management and engineering practices on satellite production and international sales.
33. G
G is correct because the passage says remote sensing satellites provide 'essential information about natural ground cover and planted crops,' which helps with environmental management.
34. E
E is correct because the passage says satellite technology allows 'patients in remote rural communities' to be diagnosed and treated by doctors far away.
35. B
B is correct because the passage says, 'A low polar orbit is good for mapping. As the earth rotates... the satellite orbits north and south allowing it repeatedly to photograph any chosen parts of the Earth’s surface.'
36. C
C is correct because the passage says, 'engineering practice and management practice are not so readily transferable but are influenced by education, culture and history.'
37. FALSE
This is FALSE because the passage says rockets were used as fireworks in 500 BC, but not in battle until the Sung dynasty in AD 1232.
38. TRUE
This is TRUE because the passage describes how measuring the distance between antennas and satellites provides information 'invaluable for the prediction of earthquakes,' which involves detecting movement in the Earth's crust.
39. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage mentions advances in distance education but does not say anything about increased literacy levels.
40. FALSE
This is FALSE because the passage says, 'The globalisation of industrial and financial markets has improved avenues for transferring technological innovation,' so competition does not prevent innovation from spreading.

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