Reading 2026-10 Test 8 — IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test with Answers

About this set: compiled and lightly cleaned up from real test material that test-takers recalled. IELTS draws from a global question pool, so this material circulates worldwide. To give you a complete, sittable test, material reported around the same period is assembled together — so a set may combine content from several exam dates, not one single sitting. Any audio is a recreation for practice. Organized for study convenience. Based on test-taker recalls — not official IELTS material.

Reading Passage 1: Keeping Healthy At Work

(A) Being a responsible employer in New Zealand used to require a fairly short checklist: a regular salary or wages, a safe working environment, and that was about it. But these days, the checklist is growing, and companies are increasingly expected to play a much greater role in the health and wellbeing of their employees. Definitions of workplace wellness or wellbeing vary, but the World Health Organisation's definition extends the employer's responsibilities beyond safety concerns and into the wider workplace environment. Today, this means things like the boss making sure their staff aren't bored or feeling undervalued, and company trying to minimise the pressure and tensions that are experienced in the workplace. It could also involve providing 'wellness programmes' that consider all these factors and help staff to lead healthier lifestyles.

(B) This approach has found some support among employers in New Zealand. The organisation Business NZ conducted research in 2013 that found that 9 out of 10 businesses believed employee wellbeing and contentment was either desirable or a priority. It was also found that 61% of New Zealand companies with more than 100 employees now have a wellness programme. Others may join in since the Health and Safety at Work Act came into being. The emphasis of the law is still on preventing physical injury at work, but a spokesperson says that a significant focus is now also the need for employers to take an active role in the wider health and wellbeing of staff.

(C) Kelly Davis Martin is the director of Achieve Wellness, which helps companies set up wellness programmes. She says the increase in companies looking to set up programmes is positive, but she would like to see a lot more being done. ‘We need to make sure these programmes are worthwhile and contribute to real change,’ she says. This is supported by data from the Productivity Commission, which shows that New Zealanders work as hard as employees in other western countries, but produce less. This means that they need to work smarter, not harder, and wellness programmes might help with that.

(D) Insurance provider Accident Compensation Corporation is one New Zealand organisation that has recently set up a wellness programme. The first initiative involves the 2,000 staff taking part in a special challenge, where teams compete with each other to see who can walk the furthest in a week. A spokesperson says there is no single reason behind the programme, except that it is an essential part of keeping staff healthy. Phone company 2degrees Mobile also began its first wellness programme recently. Manager Sarah Friis says the company was looking to increase staff engagement and show employees they were of value. The company has close to 800 employees, and its programme was established by eight volunteers from around the business. A range of initiatives were included in the programme, such as sports events and team challenges, and vaccinations were offered against things like influenza for which there was no charge. This year 2degrees has taken professional advice, but Friis says their programme is still internally run because this is vital to keeping the energy going and getting feedback on what is working and what needs to changed. It now has an online facility which allows employees to keep up to date with all the latest advice on health and wellness. Two years in, Friis says one of the obvious benefits is a sense of greater unity, which she believes has been achieved by all staff eating a healthy lunch as a group every now and again. A more measurable benefit was shown in the 2degrees staff survey, which the company conducts every year, showing that more staff now recognise that 2degrees cares about the wellness of its employees.

(E) One further New Zealand company that is developing its wellness programme is Sovereign Insurance. CEO Symon Brewis-Weston says that when he started at the company, the existing programme was satisfactory, with a number of employees using the opportunity to receive counselling. But he wanted more people to become involved and decided to include activities that created more staff interest. So the new scheme offers financial contributions for employee sports’ teams and discounts on the likes of dental treatment. The company also has quarterly wellbeing challenges, including one where staff cut down on sugar and got tips on ways to reduce their daily intake. About 50% of staff took part, says Brewis-Weston.

(F) Interestingly, however, some research from the USA, where wellness programmes have been in place much longer, suggests that the initiatives are not always as impressive as you might think. One study suggests that participants lost an average of less than half a kilogram a year, and that there were no significant reductions in the costs involved when it is necessary for employees to go to hospital for care. Meanwhile, the US book Surviving Workplace Wellness suggests that done badly, the programmes waste money and upset staff who feel they are made to take too many unnecessary tests. Given these findings, New Zealand companies will have to work hard to make sure their own wellness programmes achieve more success.

Questions 1–5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

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. New Zealand has a better workplace safety record than many other countries.
- A. TRUE
- B. FALSE
- C. NOT GIVEN
2. According to the World Health Organisation, companies today should be responsible for reducing workers’ stress.
3. Business NZ research showed that most companies want their employees to feel positive about their work.
4. Kelly Davis Martin thinks companies today are doing enough to promote workers’ wellness.
5. Productivity Commission data shows New Zealanders should be working more hours.

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.

Wellness programmes in companies

Accident Compensation Corporation

a weekly competition to compare the distances that staff (6) ________

2degree Mobile

set up a programme using staff members who were volunteers

staff take part in sports events and are given free (7) ________

employees get advice online and sometimes have (8) ________ together

an annual (9) ________ suggests employees support the programme

Sovereign Insurance

in the old programme, some staff had (10) ________

the new programme offers fitness opportunities and (11) ________ care at reduced cost

staff have received advice on how to consume less (12) ________

Programmes in the USA

spending on hospital treatment has not fallen by much

some staff do not like the number of (13) ________ involved in programmes

Reading Passage 2: Dark Chocolate's Health-Giving Benefits

A Dark chocolate is gaining a reputation as a heart-healthy food, and research suggests that there might be some substance behind those claims. Ginger Hultin, owner of Champagne Nutrition in Seattle and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says, "Cocoa contains antioxidants in addition to magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron. Plus, studies have shown that there could be some benefit to consuming chocolate or cocoa for the cardiovascular system, including potentially lowering blood pressure."

B Dark chocolate's health benefits come from its cocoa – specifically its cocoa flavanols. Flavanols are a type of polyphenol, and polyphenols are one group of phytochemicals. Many fruits and vegetables contain flavanols, but they are especially rich in tea, wine, and cocoa. During digestion, cocoa is broken down into smaller chemical compounds. Some research suggests that these compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may help protect against cardiovascular disease, which affects both the heart and brain. For example, research has found that even two weeks of eating dark chocolate or other flavanol-rich cocoa products is better than a placebo for lowering blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.

C Not all chocolate is created equal, however. Milk chocolate and white chocolate undergo more processing and contain far less cocoa solids, meaning they have fewer flavanols. Additionally, dairy products added to milk chocolate may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants. To obtain meaningful health benefits, consumers should look for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content. Even then, the exact flavanol content is rarely listed on packaging, as manufacturers have no legal obligation to provide this information. Some specialist brands now produce high-flavanol chocolate, but these products tend to be significantly more expensive than regular dark chocolate.

D The quantity of chocolate needed to produce health benefits has been a matter of debate. Several studies have suggested that consuming 20 to 30 grams of dark chocolate per day – roughly two to three small squares – is associated with the greatest cardiovascular benefits. Consuming more than this amount may add extra calories, sugar, and saturated fat without providing additional protective effects. One large observational study involving over 20,000 participants found that those who ate modest amounts of dark chocolate had a 12% lower risk of developing heart disease compared to non-consumers. However, the same study noted that people who ate chocolate daily also tended to have higher overall calorie intakes and were more likely to be sedentary, suggesting that correlation does not necessarily equal causation.

E Researchers have also investigated dark chocolate's potential effects on cognitive function and mood. A small randomised trial conducted in Italy gave healthy adults either high-flavanol chocolate or low-flavanol chocolate for five days. Those receiving high-flavanol chocolate performed better on visual memory tests and reported feeling less mental fatigue. Similarly, a study from Australia found that regular consumption of dark chocolate was associated with lower odds of clinical depression, though the authors cautioned that people with depression might simply turn to chocolate as a form of self-comfort. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

F Despite the promising evidence, experts urge caution against overconsumption. Dark chocolate remains a calorie-dense food, typically containing around 600 calories per 100 grams. Excessive intake can contribute to weight gain, which in turn raises the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease – the very conditions that moderate consumption may help prevent. Furthermore, some dark chocolate products contain high levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, which accumulate in the body over time and can damage the kidneys and nervous system. Consumer advocacy groups have called for stricter regulation and mandatory testing of heavy metal levels in cocoa products.

G In conclusion, while dark chocolate cannot be considered a medicine, incorporating a small amount into a balanced diet appears to offer genuine health benefits, particularly for cardiovascular health. The key is moderation, attention to cocoa percentage, and awareness of potential contaminants. As Ginger Hultin notes, "Dark chocolate is not a magic bullet, but it can be a pleasant and potentially beneficial part of an overall healthy eating pattern."

Questions 14–18

Reading Passage 2 has seven sections, A–G.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A–G, in boxes 14–18 on your answer sheet.

14
The problem of heavy metal contamination in some dark chocolate products
15
A recommendation to choose chocolate with at least 70% cocoa
16
The effect of flavanols on blood pressure within a short period
17
Potential benefits of dark chocolate on memory and tiredness
18
The finding that dark chocolate eaters may have other lifestyle habits affecting their health

Questions 19–22

Complete the sentences below.

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

Write your answers in boxes 19–22 on your answer sheet.

19
Dark chocolate contains minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, and ________.
20
During digestion, cocoa is broken down into smaller ________.
21
Adding dairy products to chocolate may reduce the ________ of antioxidants by the body.
22
One observational study found that moderate dark chocolate consumption was linked to a 12% lower risk of ________.

Questions 23–26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?

In boxes 23–26 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

23
White chocolate contains more flavanols than milk chocolate.
- A. TRUE
- B. FALSE
- C. NOT GIVEN
24
Manufacturers are legally required to list flavanol content on chocolate packaging.
25
The Italian study on cognitive function used both high-flavanol and low-flavanol chocolate.
26
Experts recommend eating at least 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for maximum heart protection.

Reading Passage 3: Life on Mars?

Terraforming may sound like something out of science fiction, but some believe it is possible to turn that fiction into fact.

(A) As plans are slowly being drawn up for the first manned mission to Mars, many space-travel sceptics are asking one vital question: why go there? Mars is a barren, desolate planet, and with its thin atmosphere and bitterly cold climate, it would appear to be completely unsuitable for human life. Above all, it is a very distant place, and getting there would be an enormous challenge. However, the planet might just hold the key to long-term human survival. With the Earth's population currently at more than seven billion and climbing, we may eventually be forced to look elsewhere in the solar system for somewhere to live. It is just possible that, contrary to photographic evidence, Mars may be more promising than it appears.

(B) Today, Mars is a viciously cold, dry place. However, it does have some things in common with our own planet. For example, it has a daily rotation rate of 24 hours 37 minutes, compared with 23 hours 56 minutes on Earth. It also has an axial tilt of 24 degrees, which is just half a degree more than Earth's, and a gravitational pull one third of Earth's. Furthermore, it holds many of the elements that are required to support life, including carbon and oxygen (in the form of carbon dioxide), nitrogen, and frozen water at its polar ice caps. In fact, if you were to travel back in time several billion years, you would notice some remarkable parallels between the atmosphere on Earth then and Mars today. Back then, Earth was also a lifeless planet; until photosynthetic bacteria developed and began to produce enough oxygen to allow for the development of animal and plant life, our atmosphere also consisted entirely of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

(C) It comes as no surprise to learn, therefore, that some scientists believe the same process which turned Earth's atmosphere from mostly carbon dioxide into breathable air could be repeated on Mars, but by using technology rather than by letting nature and evolution take its natural course. Terraforming, as this process is known, would initially create a greenhouse effect that would heat the planet, which in turn would create other conditions necessary to provide a suitable living environment for plants and animals. However, it would be a highly challenging undertaking, and the process of terraforming the entire planet into an Earth-like habitat could still take many thousands of years.

(D) Three terraforming methods have been suggested, with the first already under development, albeit for a different purpose. At present, the American space agency NASA is working on a system that will use large mirrors to capture the Sun's radiation. This radiation will be used to propel spacecraft through space, removing the need for heavy and expensive rocket fuel. With a few changes, it might be possible to use similar mirrors to reflect the Sun's radiation and heat the surface of Mars. Aimed at the planet from a distance of two hundred thousand miles, these enormous mirrors would raise the surface temperature by a few degrees. If they were concentrated on the polar ice caps, they would provide enough heat to melt the polar ice caps and release the carbon dioxide that is believed to be trapped there. Gradually, as the temperature rose, greenhouse gases would be released, and this would create a form of Martian global warming, the first stage in making the planet sustainable for life.

(E) The second method would be to set up greenhouse-gas 'factories' in order to raise the temperature of the planet. It is generally accepted that greenhouse gases produced by heavy industry are raising the Earth's temperature. Therefore, by building hundreds of greenhouse-gas-emitting factories on Mars, a similar effect could be achieved. Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases would be pumped into the Martian atmosphere. The same factories would then produce oxygen by mimicking the natural process of plant photosynthesis: they would inhale the carbon dioxide they produce, and then emit oxygen. The process could be accelerated by 'sowing the planet's surface with photosynthetic bacteria', which would increase the rate at which oxygen is produced. Eventually, there would be enough oxygen on the planet for humans to breathe using only special apparatus similar to that used by mountain climbers.

(F) The third, and by far the most extreme, method has been proposed by space scientists Robert Zubrin and Christopher McKay. They believe that it would be possible to produce greenhouse gases and water by firing large, ammonia-bearing asteroids at the planet. Each asteroid would weigh about ten billion tons, and would be powered by huge rocket engines which would move it towards Mars at over 10,000 miles per hour. At this speed, it would take each asteroid about ten years to reach its destination. The energy produced by one asteroid slamming into Mars's surface, say Zubrin and McKay, would raise the temperature of the planet by three degrees Celsius and melt about one thousand billion tons of ice at the polar caps. They believe it would take many of these asteroids, and at least fifty years, in order to create a temperate climate and enough water to cover a quarter of the planet's surface.

(G) Terraforming Mars, if it is ever attempted, will be neither cheap nor easy. And it certainly won't be quick: although optimists like Zubrin and McKay say it could be achieved in five or six decades, the reality is that terraforming is more likely to take hundreds or even thousands of years. Furthermore, it will stretch human ingenuity to its limits, and will require levels of will and commitment that have rarely been seen before. The challenge of developing a habitable environment and bringing life to the cold, dry world of Mars is fraught with challenges, but it might just be one that saves the human race.

Questions 27–31

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 27–31 on your answer sheet, write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

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

27. Pictures of Mars suggest it might make a good place for people to settle.
- A. YES
- B. NO
- C. NOT GIVEN
28. Modern Mars and ancient Earth looked remarkably similar.
29. One method of terraforming could involve adapting technology that is already under development.
30. Greenhouse-gas factories would provide enough oxygen for people to breathe without special equipment.
31. Terraforming Mars would be an extreme test of human skill and intelligence.

Questions 32–35

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

Write the correct letter in boxes 32–35 on your answer sheet.

32. Which one of these factors suggests that Mars might be a good place for people to settle?
- A. It is not too far from Earth.
- B. It has no other life forms living there.
- C. It has a cool, dry climate.
- D. It has some similarities with Earth.
33. The first step in terraforming Mars would be to
- A. make the planet warmer.
- B. create a breathable atmosphere.
- C. find a suitable source of water.
- D. create a habitat for living organisms.
34. Special factories on Mars could be used to
- A. control the level of greenhouse gases.
- B. absorb excess levels of carbon dioxide.
- C. produce oxygen in a manner similar to plants.
- D. help grow essential bacteria.
35. What is the writer's main purpose in the passage?
- A. To explain why we need to terraform Mars.
- B. To illustrate the three processes required to terraform a planet like Mars.
- C. To consider how and why Mars might be terraformed.
- D. To demonstrate how straightforward it would be to terraform a planet.

Questions 36–40

Complete the summary using the list of words, A–I, below.

Write the correct letter, A–I, in boxes 36–40 on your answer sheet.

One method of terraforming Mars would be to (36) ________ asteroids at the planet.

Rockets attached to an enormous asteroid would propel it towards Mars, taking ten years to (37) ________ the enormous distances required.

The asteroid would (38) ________ the planet with incredible force and (39) ________ enough energy to (40) ________ the planet's temperature.

The result would be a temperate climate and lots of water from melting ice caps.

A cover

B create

C hit

D increase

E land

F drive

G power

H rise

I shoot

Answer sheet

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Show answer key

1. C
The passage does not compare New Zealand's workplace safety record to other countries, so the answer is NOT GIVEN.
2. A
The passage says the World Health Organisation's definition includes making sure staff aren't bored or feeling undervalued and minimising pressure and tensions, which means companies should reduce workers’ stress, so the answer is TRUE.
3. A
The passage states that 9 out of 10 businesses believed employee wellbeing and contentment was either desirable or a priority, showing most companies want their employees to feel positive about their work, so the answer is TRUE.
4. B
Kelly Davis Martin says more needs to be done and that programmes should contribute to real change, so she does not think companies are doing enough, making the answer FALSE.
5. B
The passage says New Zealanders work as hard as others but produce less, so they need to work smarter, not harder, meaning they should not work more hours, so the answer is FALSE.
6. furthest
7. vaccinations
8. lunch
9. survey
10. counselling
11. discounts
12. sugar
13. tests
14. F
15. C
16. B
17. E
18. D
19. iron
20. chemical compounds
21. absorption
22. heart disease
23. C
The passage says milk chocolate and white chocolate contain far less cocoa solids and flavanols, but does not compare the two directly, so the answer is NOT GIVEN.
24. B
The passage says manufacturers have no legal obligation to provide flavanol content information, so the answer is FALSE.
25. A
The passage says a trial gave adults either high-flavanol or low-flavanol chocolate, so both types were used, making the answer TRUE.
26. B
The passage says 20 to 30 grams per day is associated with the greatest benefits and warns against excessive intake, so 100 grams is not recommended, making the answer FALSE.
27. B
The passage says Mars is a barren, desolate planet and photographic evidence suggests it is not promising, so the answer is NO.
28. C
The passage says if you were to travel back in time, you would notice some remarkable parallels, but does not say they looked remarkably similar, so the answer is NOT GIVEN.
29. A
The passage says the first method is already under development for a different purpose and could be adapted, so the answer is YES.
30. B
The passage says eventually there would be enough oxygen for humans to breathe using only special apparatus, so not without equipment, making the answer NO.
31. A
The passage says terraforming will stretch human ingenuity to its limits, which means it would be an extreme test of skill and intelligence, so the answer is YES.
32. D
The passage says Mars has some things in common with Earth, so the answer is D: it has some similarities with Earth. The other options are not supported.
33. A
The passage says the first stage in making the planet sustainable is to create Martian global warming, which means making the planet warmer, so the answer is A.
34. C
The passage says factories would produce oxygen by mimicking plant photosynthesis, so the answer is C: produce oxygen in a manner similar to plants.
35. C
The passage discusses both how and why Mars might be terraformed, so the answer is C. The other options are too narrow or incorrect.
36. I
37. A
38. C
39. B
40. D

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Reading Passage 1: Keeping Healthy At Work

Reading Passage 2: Dark Chocolate's Health-Giving Benefits

Reading Passage 3: Life on Mars?

Answer sheet

Answer key