READING 10

PASSAGE 1
POLLUTING SOUNDS: IN SEARCH OF SILENCE
In a self-imposed solitary confinement, 22-year old Tom Wonnacott, a Princeton graduate
student, spent four days lying in a lightless, sound-proofed isolation chamber. Unable to see
or hear, he also wore thick gloves to restrict his sense of touch. Wonnacott volunteered to
undergo this experience to help US-based psychologists find out what happens to people
isolated from the outside world and deprived of the normal use of their senses. While over a
longer period of time such extremes of silence in conjunction with sensory deprivation are
harmful, there are many today who are in search of quieter areas.
An over-abundance of noise has always been a significant environmental issue for man. In
ancient Rome, rules existed to ensure that the noise emitted from the large iron wheels of
wagons which rolled over the stones on the pavements and caused disruption of sleep and
annoyance was minimised by allowing people to travel only during certain times. The same
rules existed in Medieval Europe. To ensure inhabitants were given the best chance at a
peaceful night’s sleep, in some cities, horse-drawn carriages and horseback riding were not
allowed at night time. However when today’s noise problems arc compared with the noise
pollution problems of the past they are almost incomparable.
An immense number of vehicles of various shapes and sizes are regularly driven around and
through most of the world’s cities and countrysides. Loud, large diesel engines power the
enormous trucks that roll around highways day and night. Aircraft and trains add to the
environmental noise scenario. In industry, machinery emits high noise levels and amusement
parks and pleasure vehicles distract leisure time and relaxation. One hundred years ago,
environmental experts predicted that in the 21st century there would be a shortage of water
and silence. They were correct. Silence is scarce. More and more silence is drowned out by
sound.
A lack of knowledge about the effects of noise pollution on humans in comparison to other
pollutants has been lacking as an area of research. Although it has been generally regarded
that noise pollution is primarily a ‘luxury’ problem – for those developed countries able to
afford the purchase price of large quantities of loud, noisy machinery – it is actually a fact
that due to bad planning and poor construction of buildings, noise exposure is often higher in
developing countries. This means that regardless of the economic status of a particular
country, the effects of noise are just as widespread and the long-term consequences for health
the same. Therefore, practical action plans based upon proper scientific evaluation of
available data on the effects of noise exposure, with the express purpose of limiting and
controlling the exposure of people to environmental noise is a most worthwhile undertaking.
It has been well established that exposure to loud noises for extended periods of time causes
trauma to the inner ear and often results in irreversible hearing loss. When it initially receives
sound, the human ear actually amplifies it by a factor of 20. In 1965, in a remote part of
Ghana, scientists went about studying the impact of ‘insignificant’ exposure to industrial
noise and transportation. In tandem, the Ghanese group was compared with a control group in
industrial USA. A number of startling conclusions were drawn from the experiments. For
example, both locations revealed that aging is an almost insignificant cause of hearing loss.
Instead it was show-n that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise
led to hearing loss. Cardiovascular complaints also emerged from among those with
prolonged exposure to industrial noise above 70 dBA. In fact, over a single eight-hour period,
it was shown that participants experienced a rise in blood pressure thus indicating noise

1
 pollution contributes to human stress levels. If this was not alarming enough, also noted was
an increase in the incidence of heart disease.
The findings from various noise studies had the effect of changing the perspectives of many
of the world’s governments. Whereas noise had been considered a ‘nuisance’ rather than an
environmental problem, laws were made to protect citizens against it. In the United States
and Ghana, federal standards for highway and aircraft noise were introduced. State
governments created noise regulations pertaining to building codes, urban planning and road
construction. In Canada and the EU, noise laws are the domain of local governments.
Activities in those countries deemed mandatory such as the collection of rubbish or some
medical services are the only allowed exceptions to what otherwise are quiet local
neighbourhood zones.
Typically, quiet times in neighbourhoods are between 6am and 10pm with restricted higher
decibel levels after these hours. What happens if these quite times are violated?
Unfortunately, the enforcement of noise laws has proven problematic for many local
governments with enforcement agencies often not following up on noise complaints. For
persistent nuisances, individuals may seek compensation through the local courts and in some
cities, police are authorised to impound such things as stereos and cars. These are extreme
cases; most issues are handled by negotiation between the emitter and the receiver.
Questions 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-7 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. Noise pollution is a relatively new pollution.
2. Experts forecasted that water and noise pollution would be major future problems.
3. Noise pollution seems to be a bigger problem in richer, developed countries.
4. Noises that enter the human ear are actually heard louder than they really are.
5. There is a strong relationship between hearing loss and age.
6. Loud noise exposure studies have caused government changes.
7. In Canada, police monitor the level of noise in local neighbourhoods.
Questions 8 – 9
Choose TWO letters, A-G.
The list of problems below can be caused by exposure to high noise levels.
Which TWO are mentioned by the writer of the text?
A. increased ear sensitivity
B. reduced reaction time
C. increased aging of the body
D. heart disease
E. stomach cancer
F. sleep apnea
G. increased blood pressure

2
 Questions 10 – 13
Classify the following features as applying to
A. people from the USA
B. people from Ghana
C. both people from the USA and Ghana
Write the correct letter A, B or C, in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.
10. individuals participated in a noise study
11. conducted a silence study
12. introduced air traffic regulations
13. the relationship between industrial noise and blood pressure

READING PASSAGE 2
UNEARTHING JÓRVÍK
A. From 1976 to 1981 in what is now known as the city of York in North Yorkshire,
England, an archaeological dig was conducted in and around the street of Coppergate. This
excavation played a most significant part in bringing to life the Viking kingdom of Jorvik.
B. Because most artifacts are made of materials which arc readily destroyed by Ore, coming
across an abundance of them after so many years is indeed a rare thing. The five-year
excavation in and around the street of Coppergate by the York Archaeological Trust,
managed to uncover some breathtakingly well-preserved remains of Jorvik. Due to the
unusual abundance of dense, anoxic wet clay, Jorvik’s mostly timber buildings, pits and
wells, work areas and animal pens were remarkably very much intact.
C. Most commonly, household items from long ago were made of organic material and
therefore tended to decompose completely in oxygen-rich soil. However, the complete lack of
oxygen in the earth meant that decay bacteria was unable to break down the embedded
Viking objects. An oxygen-free organic ‘cocoon’ comprising a mix of plant debris, including
remains of plants, wood chips, twigs, straw used for bedding and thatch used in building,
created an environment which enabled archaeologists to uncover an abundance of relics left
over from a period dating back to the 10th century. Excavations of up to nine meters
comprising numerous layers of deposits uncovered a number of household articles such as
pottery and eating utensils as well as items made of wood and leather – all remarkably well-
preserved. Many beautifully-decorated combs were among the most common items found at
Coppergate. Combs at various stages of production, from sawn off-cuts of antler to the
finished product, were all uncovered at the site.
D. The unusual number of combs found in the area indicated to archaeologists that there had
been significant head lice infestations during the period. Head lice continue to be a menace in
many parts of the world today and. excavations in the area revealed that such was the case for
the residents of Jorvik. Though probably not too harmful to their health, also uncovered in the
stomachs of many of the residents were parasitic worms, some of them up to a third of a
metre long. Given the close proximity of household waste (food scraps, shells, bones) to
houses, archaeologists deduced that sanitation in the area was generally poor. This poor
sanitation would have impacted upon life expectancy with records indicating that most people
did not live beyond the age of 50.
E. Archaeologists are concerned with studying the environment of a past civilisation and, like
a detective, try to reconstruct a picture of what life in a particular area must have been like.
Remains from the city of Jorvik told archaeologists a story about life in the Viking kingdom.
A cap made of silk which was uncovered indicated a connection with the Byzantine Empire
and beyond. Coins bearing inscriptions from the Uzbekistan city of Samarkand and a cowrie

3
 shell indicated contact with the Persian Gulf or Red Sea tus showing how far some of the
inhabitants must have traveled. Also uncovered side-by-side were Christian and pagan
objects probably indicating that Christians were probably not in power at the time.
F. It was clear from the wide range of everyday items uncovered that under the Vikings,
Jorvik excelled as an important manufacturing center. The name ‘Coppergate’ means ‘the
street of cup-makers’ in the old Norse language and further illustrated the manufacturing
nature of the area as hundreds of wooden cores – the waste or off-cuts from wooden bowls
and cups – were found in the area. This evidence points to a well-developed wood-working
industry with the mass production of household wooden items. Another excavated area
uncovered yet another manufacturing industry: metal work. Iron objects such as tools and
knives for everyday purposes as well as moulds for making various types of jewellry were all
uncovered. Shoemakers and repairers also were in significant number. Belts, straps, pouches,
knife sheaths and piles of leather off-cuts all evidenced a thriving leather-craft trade. Balls of
beeswax used to lubricate the needles as they passed through the leather were all tell-tail
signs of a flourishing industry. Textile making materials such as needles and spindles to hold
material were also uncovered.
G. Re-created from the excavation of just four Viking-Age house plots, the small Jorvik
Viking Centre which was opened in April 1984 reminds tourists and visitors of life long ago.
Using innovative interpretive methods, the York Archaeological Trust has recreated a model
of what they believe the city of Jorvik would have been like. Mid 10th century single-storey
homes with upright posts supporting thatched roofs, open fireplaces and simple earthen floors
have all been constructed.
Questions 14 -15
Choose TWO letters, A-F.
Write the correct letters in boxes 14-15 on your answer sheet.
The list below gives some factors which may explain why the artifacts at Jorvik were so well
preserved.
Which TWO reasons are mentioned by the writer of the passage?
A. the complete absence of fires
B. the clay
C. the lack of oxygen in the soil
D. the organic composition of the artifacts
E. the abundance of decay bacteria
F. the combination of plants, wood chips and twigs in the area
Questions 16 -21
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer?
In boxes 16-21 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the information in the passage
NO if the statement contradicts the information in the passage
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about the statement in the passage

16. The archaeological findings in Jorvik are unusual.

4
Questions 22-26
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G in boxes 22-26 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
22 examples of the types of industries in Jorvik
23 a reference to the material used in mid-10th century bedding in Jorvik
24 a reference to the number of Viking homes uncovered in Jorvik
25 a simple job definition
26 an example of an annoying type of insect

READING PASSAGE 3
It is no small intellectual task that a child learns a language. In order to begin to
communicate, a young child must first gain an understanding of the internal structure of a
system that, in reality, contains tens of thousands of units, all generated from a small set of
basic building blocks. In the case of English, these basic building blocks’ are the alphabet and
the units’ are words. Although initially, a child may be able to grasp and manipulate the basic
letters of a language to form an infinite number of units’, he or she must progress to another
higher form of comprehension – the understanding that only a subset of those combinations is
correct – what are actual meaningful words. Somehow, a young child must become familiar
with the structure of a particular language system such that he or she can use it to
communicate with others.
Given the complexity of the process of language acquisition, the question of how infants
learn to speak in their native language so rapidly is an interesting one. Among linguists, the
answer to this question has been researched and debated for decades. Some researchers think
that the answer to the question – if indeed there is one – may unlock a secret to faster
language acquisition amongst older people. Over the years, experiments where researchers
have devised an artificial language that contained certain aspects of natural language
structure have been tried. The artificial language was presented to the infants one ‘piece’ or
‘sample’ at a time. Once they became familiar with one piece of the language, another piece
from the same artificial language was introduced. Once the infant appeared comfortable with
this process, a piece of real or bona fide language was introduced. The researchers then
measured such things as surprise and interest shown in the new language samples to
determine whether or not the infant related to them as being completely new or as being more
of what had been previously learned. The infant’s reactions to the new stimuli helped
linguists to determine what mechanisms underpin the first stages of language acquisition.
Experiments like this have uncovered some astonishing facts namely the rate at which an
infant, even as young as 7 or 8 months, can take on the new’ information. Some infants
demonstrated the ability to process the new information after as little as 3 minutes of
exposure. Their young minds were able to structure the linguistic input into relevant and
ultimately meaningful units of information.
Much of a child’s future social and intellectual development hinges upon their ability to
acquire language. For this reason, language acquisition is one of the key milestones in early
childhood development. Many child development experts encourage parents to start talking to
their infant from the day of their birth. Some researchers maintain that the best way for a
child to learn is to simply hear language as those around them talk. Repetition of structures
seems to be a logical and academically defensible method of child language acquisition.
Quite a large body of research has shown that optimal language development occurs when the
same stories are read over and over again to young children. In one experiment, a mother
5
exposed her son to only one book for nearly two years. The results were that the child spoke
much earlier than his other siblings and was able to recite 90% of the text on each page by the
age of two. Other studies have revealed that a knowledge of nursery rhymes among three-
year-olds has been a significant predictor of later reading skill.
These examples of language learning, processing and producing, represent just a few of the
many developments between birth and the eventual linguistic maturity that most children
naturally attain. It is during this early period that children discover the raw materials in the
sounds of their language, learn how they are assembled into longer strings, and then used in
meaningful contexts. These processes unfold simultaneously, requiring children to organise
the code of communication that surrounds them. Even though each layer is complex, young
children readily solve the linguistic puzzles they encounter.
Regardless of the methods employed, the acquisition of a language is not an automatic
process but rather one that occurs as a result of a process of learning. If a child does not take
on a new language, then isolation and withdrawal often accompany learning difficulties and
poor academic performance.
Questions 27 – 31
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
27. According to the writer, an ‘internal language structure’
A. consists only of the alphabet.
B. is the starting point for communication.
C. comprises an infinite number of words.
D. is another term for linguistic comprehension.
28. The writer states that understanding a language occurs
A. once the learner understands the ‘basic building blocks’.
B. once the learner grasps the ‘units’ of a language.
C. once the alphabet is learned.
D. naturally, as soon as a child is old enough.
29. An ‘artificial language’
A. is a new form of communication amongst young children.
B. was used as a contrast with real language.
C. was devised slowly, over a considerable period of time.
D. is a mixture of real and artificial words.
30. According to the writer, infant surprise and interest
A. indicated infant intelligence.
B. was greater amongst infants exposed to a bona fide language.
C. revealed how language is initially learned.
D. were die most dependable indicators of gauging infant reaction to new stimuli.
31. What greatly surprised researchers of infant language acquisition was
A. how readily participants demonstrated an ability to learn new languages.
B. how quickly the infants learned to verbally communicate.
C. how young the participants in the experiment were.
D. how quickly some infants learned new information.

6
 Questions 32 – 35
Complete the summary.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet.
If a child does not 32………………………in early childhood, he or she will be greatly
restricted in both the ability to interact with others and academic growth and development. To
teach infants language, some researchers recommend that they 33………………..………….
it, while others feel that 34…………….………….is the most effective way for them to learn.
Regardless of which method of language acquisition is used, most children reach
35…………..………………as they grow and develop.
Questions 36 – 40
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer?
In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the information in the passage
NO if the statement contradicts the information in the passage
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about the statement in the passage
36 Understanding how children learn language may help adults learn language.
37 The reactions of infants to artificial languages were quite similar.
38 Learning about, organising and then using sounds occurs regularly among children.
39 Language learning ability impacts upon writing ability.
Question 40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, D or E.
Write your answer in box 40 on your answer sheet.
What is the best title for Reading Passage 3?
A. Clues for adult language learning.
B. Language acquisition in infants and young children.
C. Measuring speaking ability amongst infants.
D. Acquiring language: The key to future learning.
E. Experiments in infant language acquisition
ANSWER KEY FOR IELTS READING PRACTICE TEST
1. F
Paragraph 2 states: ‘An over-abundance of noise has always been a significant environmental
issue for man.’
2. F
Paragraph 3 states that water shortage would be the problem, not pollution: ‘One hundred
years ago, environmental experts predicted that in the 21st century there would be a shortage
of water and silence.’
3. F
Paragraph 4: ‘…regardless of the economic status of a particular country, the effects of noise
are just as widespread and the long-term consequences for health the same.’
4. T
In the 5th paragraph it states: ‘When it initially receives sound, the human ear actually
amplifies (increases) it by a factor of 20.’
5. F

7
 The 5th paragraph states, ‘For example, it was shown that aging is an almost insignificant
cause of hearing loss. ‘In other words, age has no influence or bearing upon how well an
individual hears.
6. T
Paragraph 6: ‘The findings from various noise studies had the effect of changing the
perspectives of many of the world’s governments. Whereas noise had been considered a
‘nuisance’ rather than an environmental problem, laws were made to protect citizens against
it.’
7. NG
There is nothing in the passage about this!
8. D
Paragraph 5: ‘…also noted was an increase in the incidence of heart disease.’
9. C
Paragraph 5: ‘In fact, over a single eight hour period, it was shown that participants
experienced a rise in blood pressure thus indicating noise pollution contributes to human
stress levels.’
10. C
Paragraph 5: ‘In tandem, the Ghanese group were compared with a control group in industrial
USA. ‘ In other words, both groups participated together.
11. A
Paragraph 1: ‘…22-year old Tom Wonnacott, a Princeton graduate student, spent four days
lying in a lightless, sound-proofed isolation chamber. Unable to see or hear…Wonnacott
volunteered…to help US-based psychologists find out what happens to people…in such
extremes of silence’
12. C
Paragraph 6: In the United States and Ghana, federal standards for highway and aircraft noise
were introduced. ‘
13. C
Paragraph 5: ‘For example, both locations revealed…In fact, over a single eight- hour period,
it was shown that participants (i.e. the same participants referenced earlier in the paragraph)
experienced a rise in blood pressure…’
14. B, B & C (Answers in any order)
The answers are in paragraphs which state: ‘Due to the unusual abundance of dense, anoxic
wet clay, Jorvik’s mostly timber buildings, pits and wells, work areas…were all incredibly
well preserved. ‘And ‘…the complete lack of oxygen in the earth meant that decay bacteria
was unable to break down the embedded Viking objects. ‘
15. C
16. Y
Paragraph B states: ‘Because most artifacts are made of materials which are readily destroyed
by fire, coming across an abundance of them after so many years is indeed a rare thing’ and
‘…the York Archaeological Trust, managed to uncover some breathtakingly well-preserved
remains of Jorvik.’
17. Y
Paragraph D states: ‘The unusual number of combs found in the area indicated to
archaeologists that there had been significant head lice infestations during the period.’
18. Y

8
 Paragraph D states: ‘Given the close proximity of household waste…to houses we can
deduce that sanitation was generally poor. This would have impacted upon life
expectancy…most people did not live beyond the age of 50. ‘
19. NG
There is nothing in the passage about this!
20. N
Paragraph E states: ‘Coins bearing inscriptions from…Samarkand…showed how far some of
the inhabitants must have traveled.’
21. Y
Paragraph F states: ‘The name ‘Coppergate’ means ‘the street of cup-makers’ in the old
Norse language (with)…hundreds of wooden cores – the waste or off-cuts from wooden
bowls and cups – were found in the area.’
22. F
Although the manufacture of combs is mentioned in paragraph C, it is only one industry.
Paragraph F lists industries – wood-working (cup-manufacturing), jewellery, metal-work and
leather-craft.
23. C
In paragraph C it is written: ‘…straw used for bedding and thatch used in building…’
24. G
Paragraph G states: ‘Re-created from the excavation of just tour Viking-Age house plots…’
25. E
Paragraph E states: ‘Archaeologists are concerned with studying the environment of a past
civilisation and, like a detective, try to reconstruct a picture of what life in a particular area
must have been like.’
26. D
Paragraph D states: ‘Head lice continue to be a menace in many parts of the world today and,
excavations in the area revealed that such was the case for the residents of Jorvik.’
27. B
The answer is in the 1st paragraph. The internal language structure is listed as being the first
step in learning a language
A is not correct because the text clearly states that the internal structure contains the alphabet
and words. C is the opposite of what is written in the text – only a subset of those (alphabet)
combinations is correct (i. e. not an infinite number of words). D is not in the text at all.
28. B
The answer is in the 1st paragraph – ‘unit’ are (meaningful) ‘words’
A & C are not suitable because the text states that the ‘basic building blocks’ are the alphabet
and a leaner must ‘progress to a higher form of comprehension… understanding…what a
meaningful words’. Regarding D the text does not indicate this at all.
29. B
The answer is in the 2nd paragraph (“Once the infant appeared comfortable…a piece of real
or bona fide language was introduced…to determine infant (ration)”
A & C are not suitable as the text does not say anything about this. The passage says artificial
language contained certain aspects of natural language structure ( not words) so D is not
correct.
30. C
The answer is in the 2nd paragraph.

9
 A & B are not even mentioned in the text. D is wrong because surprise and interest are given
only as examples (‘such things as…’) so clearly, there were other indicators of reaction to
new stimuli.
31. D
The answer is in the 2nd paragraph.
A & B are wrong because although the text says infants learned quickly, it does not say that
they learned ‘languages’ or ‘communicated verbally’. C is not mentioned anywhere in the
passage.
32. acquire language OR learn language
The answer is found the 1st sentence of paragraph 3.
33. hear
The answer is found in the 4th sentence of paragraph 3.
34. repetition (of structures)
The answer is found in the 5th sentence of paragraph 3.
35. linguistic maturity
The answer is found in the 1st sentence of paragraph 4
36. Yes
Paragraph 2 states: “Some researchers think that the answer to the question…may unlock a
secret to faster language acquisition amongst older people”.
37. NG
There is nothing in the passage about this!
38. Yes
Paragraph 4 states: ‘…during this early period…children discover the raw materials in the
sounds of their language, learn how they are assembled into longer strings, and then used in
meaningful contexts. ‘
39. NG
There is nothing in the passage about this!
40. B
The answer cannot be A because although information about this is mentioned in paragraph 2
it is only a small part of the overall passage.
Although much of the passage is about infants learning to speak, it cannot be C because
acquiring language does not mean only speaking. In paragraph 3, reading is also mentioned,
‘The same research showed that knowledge of nursery rhymes among three-year-olds was a
significant predictor of later reading skill. ‘
D is also wrong. Although the passage discusses that acquiring language is a key to future
learning in the final paragraph, it is not the main topic discussed throughout.
Even though the 2nd paragraph contains quite a lot of information on infant language
acquisition experiments, E is also wrong as the rest of the passage does not focus on
experimentation.

10