Reading 2026-07 Test 14 — IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test with Answers

Về bộ đề này: tổng hợp và chỉnh sửa nhẹ từ các đề thật mà thí sinh recall lại. IELTS lấy đề từ ngân hàng câu hỏi toàn cầu, nên tài liệu này được lưu hành rộng rãi. Để bạn có một đề hoàn chỉnh, các phần được báo cáo cùng thời điểm sẽ được ghép lại — vì vậy một bộ có thể gồm nội dung từ nhiều ngày thi, không chỉ một buổi. Audio nếu có cũng là bản tái hiện để luyện tập. Sắp xếp thuận tiện cho việc học. Dựa trên ký ức thí sinh — không phải tài liệu chính thức của IELTS.

Reading Passage 1: Why Good Ideas Fail

As part of a marketing course, two marketing experts comment on a hypothetical case study involving TF, a fiction retail giant specializing in home furnishing. The experts give concrete solutions and advice to assist students.

Hypothetical case study:

TF became a retail success in the 1970s when it succeeded in spotting homeware trends and meeting the needs of its then trendy young customers. However, by 2004, the TF stores were failing and a rethink was clearly necessary. Tibal Fisher, TF's founder and CEO, decided to change its focus under the new brand name of TF's Nextstage. His aim was to recapture the now ageing customers that had given him his early success and target consumers aged 60+ with devices and gadgets specifically designed to assist them with the problems associated with ageing: mobile phones with screens that were easy to read; kitchen gadgets with comfortable grips; electronic devices that were easy to set and adjust. TF’s market research proved to be very positive, showing strong consumer support for the products.

In 2007, the stores were remodelled at a cost of US $40 million and the new brand was launched. Each store was made more comfortable and featured a coffee shop to help increase traffic - Tibal had predicted that if they could get customers into the stores then the products would sell themselves. However, by 2009 it was clear that the idea was a failure and the stores consistently remained empty. Customers complained that the new stores felt like a senior center and reminded them that they were growing old.

Feedback from expert

Expert 1: Donna Sturgess, global head of innovation, GlaxoSmithKline

The TF team's customer research efforts are a classic case of missing the subconscious associations at work in consumers' minds. Tibal and his executives looked only at surface attitudes. Since those attitudes make up a relatively small part of the total consumer response, the executives are clueless about the reason for the poor sales. It's critical for companies to understand that every customer relates to a brand emotionally, and it’s those emotions that trigger - or block - purchases.

That's why we’ve focused on using emotional strategies behind branding for a number of years now. A great example is Alli (pronounced 'ally'), a drug to aid weight loss. The product deals with a highly emotional issue, so in marketing it, we faced the same challenge that the new TF stores are facing: the very thought of buying the product reminds customers that they have problems they feel negatively. In the case of TF’s Nextstage, the problems are age and infirmity. In the case of Alli, the problems are excessive weight and all consequences. There's always a risk that consumers' negative feelings will discourage them from starting or staying on a diet. So, after extensive market research, we took a number of steps to inject emotions into the whole process of using the product.

First we came up with a name that sounds like a helpful partner. We also aimed to make the container both beautiful and functional — something that didn’t just hold pills but could later be used to store diet guides and recipes. Traditional market research is unlikely to uncover ideas like this, so we use a wide variety of techniques. Even simple techniques such as one-on-one interviews, or ethnographical observation that involves going into people's houses to examine their behaviour, can provide valuable data.

Expert 2: Alex Lee, president of OXO International, maker of OXO Good Grips household products

This retailer can get back on track by remembering a principle that applies to consumers in general and those aged 60+ in particular: they’re attracted by brands they associate with the type of people they’d like to be - not the type they really are. That's why marketing campaigns for surf gear feature surfers, not the city dwellers who will wear the products while doing their shopping.

I was reminded of this principle a few years ago when we wanted to find out how far we could apply our design philosophy of making things easier to use in order to move from our core business, kitchen tools, into other products. We conducted what are known as focus groups, where participants were asked to look at photos of people and pick those they perceived to be users and nonusers of our products. Consistently they picked people who looked fit as the sort who would use our products, and people who look old and boring as the sort who wouldn't. Yet the participants, all owners of our products, looked a lot more like the latter than the former.

Although the needs of elderly users and those with deteriorating vision or dexterity are very much taken into consideration when we develop new designs, we try to offer that appeal to 20- and 30-year-olds. We believe that referring to these products as helping tools would serve only to harm the brand in our customers' eyes. That's why our philosophy of universal design, which involves creating products that are comfortably useable by the largest possible range of people, is never explicitly stated as part of our marketing position.

We’ve found that market research does not need to be very sophisticated. For instance, we have conducted simple surveys in the lobby of our building offering free products in exchange for people's opinions. Some may call this unscientific but we have uncovered great insights this way. Sometimes the most important signals come from an executive's own instincts. In Tibal Fisher's case, this could have told him what his surveys and focus groups didn't: 60-plus-year-olds won't support a business that expects them to act their age.

1
The TF Nextstage stores planned to sell products to make life easier for older people.
2
TF’s market research indicated that people liked the products.
3
It cost more than expected to remodel the TF stores.
4
The TF Nextstage coffee shops sold their own brand of food and drink.
5
TF Nextstage customers liked the atmosphere in the new stores.
6
TF team limited their research to attitudes that occur at a _______ level in customers' minds.
7
Product: Alli. Use: help people achieve _______.
8
Marketing aim: help customers see the product a positive way by: Giving the product a _______ that seems helpful and supportive.
9
Giving the product a reusable _______.
10
Good information can come from interviews or studying the _______ of consumers in the home.
11
We organised _______ to find out what images customers associate with our products.
12
Market research: Can be basic, e.g., by doing _______.
13
Company executives should follow their _______.

Reading Passage 2: Introduction to a Book about the Assessment of Carbon Footprints

A As this book is about ways of measuring the carbon footprint of particular things, I should start by making it clear what I mean. I am using the word 'carbon' as shorthand for all the different global-warming greenhouse gases, and I am using the word 'footprint' as a metaphor for the total impact that something has. So I am using the phrase 'carbon footprint' as shorthand to mean the full climate-change impact of something. That something could be anything – an activity, an item, a lifestyle, a company, a country, or even the whole world.

B Measuring carbon footprints is a long way from being an exact process, whatever anyone claims, or whatever numbers you might see written on the side of products in some shops. All my numbers are best estimates and nothing more, even though I have reached them as carefully as I can.

C I have used a variety of different methods and sources. I have drawn on a range of data sets and models taken from publicly available reports of life-cycle studies. I have also used studies carried out for businesses across different industries by my own company, Small World Consulting, using models that we are developing all the time. Often I have arrived at numbers by a couple of different routes, to check that the results agree with each other. Occasionally, it has been more a case of putting my finger in the air and guessing, but when that has been the case I have tried to make it clear.

D The publicly available data sets I have used were arrived at by two main methods. The first of these, process-based life-cycle analysis, is the most common approach to carbon footprint calculations. It is often referred to as 'bottom-up' because you start off identifying, one by one, all the processes that have had to happen in order for, say, a product to be created. Then you add up the emissions from each process, and that is the footprint of the product. It may sound simple, but it is not at all. It is back-breaking work, and since the number of processes you really need to include is always infinite, the job is never quite complete, so you end up with an underestimate. In fact, the omissions from the calculation are often shocking: they can be fifty per cent or more. To make matters worse, these problems are commonly overlooked, even in the development of government-backed and government-funded guidelines, such as the UK's PAS 2050 standard. But for all the problems, process-based life-cycle analysis is still an essential source of detailed information that can't be gathered any other way.

E The other method is environmental input-output analysis. This is a neat alternative to process-based life-cycle analysis. It is not as popular, perhaps because it is a bit less easy to understand, but it is at least as robust as anything else in the dim world of measuring carbon footprints. It is sometimes called a 'top-down' approach because it begins by looking at the whole economy. It uses macroeconomic modelling to understand the way in which the activities of one industry trigger activities and emissions in every other industry. Input-output analysis' key 'trick' is a piece of ingenious maths (for which a man called Wassily Leontief got a Nobel Prize) that succeeds in capturing the endless ripple effects in a way that is one hundred per cent complete. It has the further advantage that if you know how much something costs, you can get an instant crude estimate of its carbon footprint. It is like a magic trick. And just like all the best magic it is also a bit too good to be true – in many cases the results can be ridiculously general and of little value.

F Input-output analysis is nevertheless a powerful tool, both because it does not omit things, and because once a specific model has been built it is often easy to use, the basic technique well established. The specific model I have used is one that was developed at Small World Consulting in collaboration with Lancaster University in the UK, and draws mainly on data obtained from government sources. It was based on a 2007 picture of the UK economy. It deals with all the greenhouse gases, and employs a weighting factor for gases emitted at a high altitude, which have a greater impact than ground-level emissions. A key weakness, which I sometimes adjust for, is that it treats imported products as though they had the same carbon intensity as products from within the UK, whereas in reality they are usually more carbon-intensive.

G Most of the time I have used a combination of life-cycle analysis and input-output analysis to get my numbers. At its best, life-cycle analysis can be more precise, but input-output analysis is often able to get at information that life-cycle analysis is unable to reach. Putting the two methods together is sometimes called a hybrid approach, and the result is a bit like looking through both a microscope and a telescope at the same time. They each show you different things, and between them, if the lenses are clean, you end up with a passable understanding of whatever it is you are looking at. *life-cycle: the stages of a product's life from beginning to end (i.e. from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling).

14
reference to an award-winning formula
15
an acknowledgement of the general shortcomings of carbon footprint calculations
16
mention of a working partnership
17
reference to the demanding nature of one way of calculating carbon footprints
18
the advantage of combining two different methods
19
a comparison between goods from home and abroad
20
20-21. The list below describes some of the possible features of process-based life-cycle analysis. Which TWO of these features are mentioned by the writer of the passage?
- A. It is more complicated than it sounds.
- B. It usually produces exaggerated results.
- C. It is a frequently used procedure.
- D. Its faults are widely recognised.
- E. It was first developed in the UK.
21
22-23. The list below describes some of the possible features of environmental input-output analysis. Which TWO of these features are mentioned by the writer of the passage?
- A. It is often the basis of national guidelines.
- B. Its starting point is the manufacturing process.
- C. It is comprehensive in scope.
- D. It is a relatively new method of calculation.
- E. It can use prices to get approximate carbon footprints.
22
24-26. Complete the summary. Write ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer. Small World Consulting has collaborated with a UK University to develop a version of the environmental input-output model of analysis, using data provided by the 24 _______ about the UK economy in 2007. This model is able to take into account the altitude at which greenhouse gases are produced. A significant 25 _______ is that it does not distinguish between 26 _______ of different origin, but the writer occasionally makes allowances for that.

Reading Passage 3: Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art

As an eighteen-year-old living in the small Australian island state of Tasmania, moving to the 'mainland' could not happen soon enough. Now, ten years later, I look forward to going home. This is probably because I've grown up, but also perhaps because the cultural landscape of Tasmania has matured. The latest addition to Tasmania's cultural scene is David Walsh's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), a museum that has established Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, on the global art circuit.

This building is an example of how art and architecture can have an instant impact on the social and cultural reputation of a place. Andrew Bain of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "In a virtual blink, Hobart's cultural landscape has been transformed, with art, wine, fine food and stylish accommodation becoming integral features of the city.... If Hobart's makeover has an origin, it's the opening of MONA— the Museum of Old and New Art." MONA is said to have been solely instrumental in the reinvention of Hobart as a cultural hub.

MONA made the national press and international blogs before it opened. After that, Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania's chief executive, Luke Martin, claimed that MONA was proving so popular it was underpinning the tourism industry in Tasmania. However, MONA's effect on Hobart has broader ramifications for Tasmania's tourism industry. As reported in Hobart's local paper, The Mercury, there is concern about how long people are staying in Tasmania. Rather than spending a week in the state and hiring a car to experience the beauty of the Tasmanian landscape, people are making short stays in Hobart only to visit the gallery. The next challenge for the state is how to entice holiday makers to stay longer, and to venture further afield. Tasmania is more than a one-hit wonder.

According to Martin, possibilities for packaging up MONA with visits to other galleries around Tasmania are being investigated. Although not directly related to these investigations, the 1891 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery at Royal Park in Launceston is currently being restored to its original condition. It is hoped that a coordinated cultural tourism strategy will encourage longer stays and wider exploration.

Nevertheless, the success of MONA is undeniable. Visitor numbers have consistently exceeded projections, and its unique approach—blending ancient artifacts with contemporary works in a labyrinthine, subterranean setting—has drawn praise and curiosity worldwide. Walsh's vision was not merely to create a gallery, but to provoke thought and conversation, a goal that seems to resonate powerfully with both locals and international tourists. The museum's effect extends beyond tourism, fostering local pride and stimulating economic activity in once-quiet suburbs of Hobart. Some argue, however, that this rapid cultural shift risks overshadowing Tasmania's other historical and natural attractions.

23
27. The writer changed her mind about spending time in Tasmania.
24
28. Andrew Bain believes that the effect MONA had on Hobart was immediate.
25
29. Other factors have contributed as much as MONA to Hobart's transformation.
26
30. MONA's popularity has helped support the whole tourism industry in Tasmania.
27
31. Most tourists now spend a week in Tasmania to explore beyond Hobart.
28
32. The Queen Victoria Museum's restoration is part of the official strategy to package MONA with other galleries.
29
33. a reference to the distinctive architectural layout of MONA
30
34. the suggestion that MONA's impact might have a negative side
31
35. the writer's personal reason for her changed attitude toward Hobart
32
36. a plan to combine visits to MONA with other cultural sites
33
37. figures showing that MONA has attracted more people than expected
34
38. Complete the summary: visitors are making only ______ stays mainly to see the museum instead of touring Tasmania's ______. Officials are now looking at ways to encourage tourists to extend their visits and explore more widely. Despite these concerns, MONA's achievement is clear, having boosted local ______ and generated economic growth in Hobart's suburbs. (38)
35
39. Complete the summary: visitors are making only short stays mainly to see the museum instead of touring Tasmania's ______. (39)
36
40. Complete the summary: Despite these concerns, MONA's achievement is clear, having boosted local ______ and generated economic growth in Hobart's suburbs. (40)

Phiếu trả lời

Điền đáp án khi làm bài — kiểm tra kết quả ngay lập tức và lưu cục bộ, mọi câu sai sẽ vào nhật ký lỗi cùng bài học khắc phục.

Lưu trên thiết bị này — không cần tài khoản. Đăng nhập ở trang tiến trình nếu muốn đồng bộ sang nơi khác.

Hiện đáp án

1. TRUE
This is TRUE because the passage says the stores planned to sell products 'to make life easier for older people.'
2. TRUE
This is TRUE as the passage states market research showed people 'liked the products.'
3. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN because there is no information about the cost of remodeling the stores.
4. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN because the passage does not mention what brand of food and drink the coffee shops sold.
5. FALSE
This is FALSE as the passage says customers 'did not like the atmosphere in the new stores.'
6. surface
The answer is 'surface' because the passage says the team limited their research to attitudes at a 'surface level.'
7. weight loss
The answer is 'weight loss' because the passage says Alli is used to 'help people achieve weight loss.'
8. name
The answer is 'name' because the passage says the marketing aim was to give the product a 'name' that seems helpful and supportive.
9. container
The answer is 'container' because the passage says they gave the product a reusable 'container.'
10. behavior
The answer is 'behavior' because the passage says good information can come from studying the 'behavior' of consumers in the home.
11. focus groups
The answer is 'focus groups' because the passage says they organized 'focus groups' to find out what images customers associate with their products.
12. surveys
The answer is 'surveys' because the passage says market research can be basic, for example, by doing 'surveys.'
13. instincts
The answer is 'instincts' because the passage says company executives should follow their 'instincts.'
14. E
The answer is E because this section refers to an 'award-winning formula.'
15. B
The answer is B because this part acknowledges the general shortcomings of carbon footprint calculations.
16. F
The answer is F because it mentions a 'working partnership.'
17. D
The answer is D because it refers to the demanding nature of one way of calculating carbon footprints.
18. G
The answer is G because it talks about the advantage of combining two different methods.
19. F
The answer is F because it compares goods from home and abroad.
20. A / C
A is correct because the passage says process-based life-cycle analysis is 'more complicated than it sounds.' C is correct because it says this method is 'frequently used.' B is wrong because the passage does not say the results are exaggerated.
21. C / E
C is correct because the passage says environmental input-output analysis is 'comprehensive in scope.' E is correct because it says this method can use prices to get approximate carbon footprints. A is wrong because it does not mention national guidelines.
22. government / weakness / products
The answers are 'government,' 'weakness,' and 'products' because the passage says the model uses data from the government, a significant weakness is it does not distinguish between products of different origin.
23. YES
YES is correct because the passage says the writer changed her mind about spending time in Tasmania.
24. YES
YES is correct because Andrew Bain believes MONA's effect on Hobart was 'immediate.'
25. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN because the passage does not say if other factors contributed as much as MONA.
26. YES
YES is correct because the passage says MONA's popularity has helped the whole tourism industry in Tasmania.
27. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN because the passage does not say most tourists now spend a week in Tasmania.
28. NO
NO is correct because the passage says the Queen Victoria Museum's restoration is not part of the official strategy to package MONA with other galleries.
29. E
E is correct because this section refers to the distinctive architectural layout of MONA.
30. E
E is correct because it suggests that MONA's impact might have a negative side.
31. A
A is correct because it gives the writer's personal reason for her changed attitude toward Hobart.
32. D
D is correct because it mentions a plan to combine visits to MONA with other cultural sites.
33. E
E is correct because it gives figures showing that MONA has attracted more people than expected.
34. short
The answer is 'short' because the summary says visitors are making only 'short' stays.
35. attractions
The answer is 'attractions' because the summary says visitors are mainly seeing the museum instead of touring Tasmania's 'attractions.'
36. pride
The answer is 'pride' because the summary says MONA has boosted local 'pride' and generated economic growth.

Muốn trải nghiệm thi có tính giờ đầy đủ? Hãy thử bài thi thử toàn phần miễn phí — câu hỏi thật do thí sinh nhớ lại, trên giao diện thi thật.

Bắt đầu thi thử →

Reading Passage 1: Why Good Ideas Fail

Reading Passage 2: Introduction to a Book about the Assessment of Carbon Footprints

Reading Passage 3: Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art

Phiếu trả lời

Đáp án