IELTS reading practice test 
PENDING UPLOAD

 Awaiting the Big One

Questions:

1. Multiple Choice Questions:
    1. What is the main concern of Californians regarding earthquakes? a) The possibility of an earthquake as devastating as those in Italy and Japan. b) The unpredictable nature of earthquakes and the lack of warning. c) The potential for significant damage and destruction from a major earthquake. d) The high cost of earthquake insurance.
    2. What evidence suggests that California is prepared for earthquakes? a) The state has experienced many earthquakes in the past. b) Most buildings are designed to withstand major quakes. c) The state has a laissez-faire attitude towards the risk. d) The San Andreas Fault is well-studied by scientists.
    3. What is the primary cause of earthquakes in California? a) The movement of tectonic plates along fault lines. b) The high population density in the state. c) The state's ideal climate and ambiance. d) The construction of buildings on unstable ground.
    4. What is the predicted likelihood of a major earthquake (magnitude 8.3) before 2018? a) 100% b) 75% c) 50% d) 25%
2. True/False/Not Given:
    5. California has experienced more than 15 major earthquakes since 1812.
    6. The 1994 Los Angeles earthquake caused less damage than the 2010 Baja California earthquake.
    7. Scientists can always predict exactly when an earthquake will occur.
    8. The San Andreas fault is the only fault line in California.
3. Matching Information:
Match the following features with the correct description:
Features:
a) Seismographs b) Hayward Fault c) San Andreas Fault d) USGS
Descriptions:
    9. A major fault line running through California.
    10. Instruments used to monitor earthquake activity.
    11. A fault line where the earth's surface visibly shifts.
    12. A scientific organization studying earthquake activity.
4. Short Answer Questions:
    13. What is the average annual displacement of the earth along the Hayward fault?
    14. What was the magnitude of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake?
    15. Name one technique scientists use to potentially predict earthquakes.
    16. What is the approximate interval between major earthquakes along the San Andreas fault?
    17. Give one reason why many people choose to live in earthquake-prone areas of California.
    18. What is the name given to California due to its frequent earthquake activity?
    19. In what city/area did the 1994 earthquake occur?
Answer Key:
    1. c)
    2. b)
    3. a)
    4. c)
    5. False
    6. False
    7. False
    8. Not Given
    9. c)
    10. a)
    11. b)
    12. d)
    13. Two inches per year
    14. 8.25
    15. Foreshocks (or other relevant technique mentioned in text)
    16. 150 years
    17. Prosperity, ideal climate, wonderful ambiance (or similar acceptable answer)
    18. Earthquake Country
    19. Los Angeles
I hope this IELTS reading comprehension test is helpful! Remember that this is just a sample, and the actual IELTS test will have a wider range of question types and a more complex text.

This test paper accompanies the text on  https://linguapress.com/advanced/california-earthquakes.htm © Linguapress.com

Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) for each question.

1. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) for each question.

2 True, false, or not given?

Read the statements below and decide whether each statement is True (T), False (F), or Not Given (0) according to the passage.

Questions 13-16: Matching

Match each of the following features with the correct type of agriculture mentioned in the passage. Some features may be related to more than one type of agriculture.

Type of agriculture	Feature
13. Uses a lot of water	A. Traditional agriculture  or  B. Aeroponics
14. Relies on added nutrients	A. Traditional agriculture  or  B. Aeroponics
15. May cause water pollution	A. Traditional agriculture  or  B. Aeroponics
16. Reduces waste significantly	A. Traditional agriculture  or  B. Aeroponics

4. Short Answer Questions

Write your answers in the box, using no more than three words in each answer: used inteactively, the box will expand to take whatever you write.
1. Multiple Choice Questions:
    1. What is the main concern of Californians regarding earthquakes? a) The possibility of an earthquake as devastating as those in Italy and Japan. b) The unpredictable nature of earthquakes and the lack of warning. c) The potential for significant damage and destruction from a major earthquake. d) The high cost of earthquake insurance.
    2. What evidence suggests that California is prepared for earthquakes? a) The state has experienced many earthquakes in the past. b) Most buildings are designed to withstand major quakes. c) The state has a laissez-faire attitude towards the risk. d) The San Andreas Fault is well-studied by scientists.
    3. What is the primary cause of earthquakes in California? a) The movement of tectonic plates along fault lines. b) The high population density in the state. c) The state's ideal climate and ambiance. d) The construction of buildings on unstable ground.
    4. What is the predicted likelihood of a major earthquake (magnitude 8.3) before 2018? a) 100% b) 75% c) 50% d) 25%
2. True/False/Not Given:
    5. California has experienced more than 15 major earthquakes since 1812.
    6. The 1994 Los Angeles earthquake caused less damage than the 2010 Baja California earthquake.
    7. Scientists can always predict exactly when an earthquake will occur.
    8. The San Andreas fault is the only fault line in California.
3. Matching Information:
Match the following features with the correct description:
Features:
a) Seismographs b) Hayward Fault c) San Andreas Fault d) USGS
Descriptions:
    9. A major fault line running through California.
    10. Instruments used to monitor earthquake activity.
    11. A fault line where the earth's surface visibly shifts.
    12. A scientific organization studying earthquake activity.
4. Short Answer Questions:
    13. What is the average annual displacement of the earth along the Hayward fault?
    14. What was the magnitude of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake?
    15. Name one technique scientists use to potentially predict earthquakes.
    16. What is the approximate interval between major earthquakes along the San Andreas fault?
    17. Give one reason why many people choose to live in earthquake-prone areas of California.
    18. What is the name given to California due to its frequent earthquake activity?
    19. In what city/area did the 1994 earthquake occur?
Answer Key:
    1. c)
    2. b)
    3. a)
    4. c)
    5. False
    6. False
    7. False
    8. Not Given
    9. c)
    10. a)
    11. b)
    12. d)
    13. Two inches per year
    14. 8.25
    15. Foreshocks (or other relevant technique mentioned in text)
    16. 150 years
    17. Prosperity, ideal climate, wonderful ambiance (or similar acceptable answer)
    18. Earthquake Country
    19. Los Angeles
I hope this IELTS reading comprehension test is helpful! Remember that this is just a sample, and the actual IELTS test will have a wider range of question types and a more complex text.

The IELTS reading test:

Note that a full IELTS reading test takes one hour and involves 40 questions, based on three texts. 

Notes for teachers

This reading test  includes a range of question types used in the IELTS reading test, and tests different reading skills notably skimming, scanning, identifying main ideas, and understanding detail.  Since the actual IELTS test lasts one hour and includes 40 questions on three reading texts, this sample reading test should be done in 25 to 30 minutes.
   Classroom technique: The reading test should be done from a cold start, before any text study stage, as in test conditions.
To simulate IELTS test conditions, students should have 25-30 minutes to read the text, and answer the test. The rest of the class time can be spent going through the text, and doing the interactive exercise that goes with it. Do not confuse testing and teaching! Reading pactice tests are not teaching materials, they are testing materials, designed to see how much students can understand when presented with a text to read.


© linguapress.com