IELTS Mock Test 2020 July

Reading Practice Test 1

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2. Use your mobile device to scan the QR code attached

Reading Passage 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on this passage.

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Sleeping on the job
North Americans are not a people of the siesta. There is a tendency to associate afternoon
naps with laziness and non-productivity. Latin Americans and some in European cultures take a
different view. In Mexico and Greece, for example, it is customary in close businesses between
noon and about 4:00 pm - siesta time. Recent studies are showing that if you can take a 15 to
30-minute nap while at work in the afternoon, you’ll be more alert, more energetic, happier
doing what you do, more productive and therefore more likely to get ahead. Napping on the job
is not yet a trend but there is serious talk in academic circles about the merits of ‘power
napping’.

By some estimate, the average American collects an annual 'sleep debt' of 500 hours -
subtracting from an assumed norm of eight hours a night. Two out of three Americans get less
than eight hours of sleep a night during the work week, according to a recent study by the
National Sleep Foundation in Washington. Forty percent say they're so tired that it interferes
with their daily activities. Sleep researcher William Anthony, a professor of psychology at
Boston University, says fatigue is a significant problem in modern society. he says sleepiness is
a leading cause of auto accidents, second only to drunkenness. All that drowsiness costs an
estimated &18 billion annually in lost productivity. 'We have a simple message,' says Professor
Anthony. 'People should be allowed to nap at their breaks. The rationale is a productivity one -
workers are sleepy, and when they're sleepy on the job they’re not productive.'

Some companies are encouraging sleep at work, primarily for safety. The Metropolitan Transit
Authority, which runs the New York subway system and two suburban railroads, is considering
power naps for its train operators and bus drivers. Another railway has started letting its train
operators take nap breaks of up to 45 minutes but only when trains are stopped at designated
spots off the main lines and dispatchers have been notified. Some overseas air carriers permit
airline pilots, when not on duty, to nap in the cockpit. Airlines in the United States have not
accepted this practice yet.

According to the Encyclopedia of Sleep and Dreaming: 'There is a biologically-based tendency

to fall asleep in mid-afternoon just as there is a tendency to fall asleep at night. Moreover, if
sleep the night before is reduced or disturbed for any reason, a nap the subsequent afternoon
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is not only more likely to occur, but it can also relieve sleepiness and increase alertness.’ The
nap zone, documented in numerous studies, is typically between noon and 3:00 pm. Some
people power through this natural slowdown with caffeine or sugar but if employers allowed
naps, the benefits would be improvements in mood and performance, especially in mid-
afternoon. Workers would concentrate better and persevere in tasks longer. Workers
commonly sneak naps even without permission but some companies have begun encouraging
naps as part of their policies on boosting production. One US distributor, is opening a 2,000-
square-foot nap facility that provides beds for up to 20 of its 225 workers at a time. A company
in Japan sets up tents in business offices provides eyeshades and ear plugs and encourages
employees to snooze in the middle of the work day. According to Professor Anthony, 'You're
not going to see napping at traditional types of operations ... but in 21st century-style
operations, this isn’t going to be a perk. It’s going to have more to do with productivity. Smart
employers are understanding that their employees need rest to do their best.’

Some suspect that corporate naptime, like other perks, is just a way to keep people at the office
longer. On the other hand, growing flexibility in hours, for some workers, is allowing nap times
to become more common. With eleven million Americans telecommuting and another forty
million winking out of their bonus full- or part-time, office hours are basically as long as you can
stay awake. One thing is sure: longer commutes, more intense, stressful workday and higher
production demands are taking a toll. So, with Americans sleeping, less and working, longer
hours, some employers are warming up to the idea that a little nap in the middle of the day can
be good for business.

Question 1
Circle the correct answer A-D.

1 According to the passage, which of the following statements is supported by

recent research?

A Napping is an indicator of laziness.

B Two thirds of Americans sleep too much.

C Napping in the workplace is a current trend.

D Short naps at work increase productivity.

Questions 2-6
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in Passage 1?

Write:

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 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

2 The number one cause of car accidents is fatigue.

3 People who nap in the afternoon are lazy.

4 A nap in the middle of the day can improve your mood.

5 People who nap regularly live longer.

6 The majority of Americans sleep at least eight hours a night.

Questions 7-9
Choose one phrase from the list in the box (A-F) to complete each of the following
sentences.

7 Humans are biologically programmed to ...

8 Employees of some progressive companies are encouraged to ...

9 Traditional employers are likely to ...

A drink coffee to stay awake during the afternoon

B have a nap during breaks

C fall asleep when they are bored

D sneak naps without permission

E resist the trend toward napping

F fall asleep in the afternoon

Questions 10-11
Complete the following sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the
passage.

In the transportation, industry napping is a matter of 10

On some airlines, pilots can sleep in the cockpit if 11

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Questions 12-13
Circle the correct answer A-D.

12 According to the writer, in America the workplace is becoming ...

A less flexible.

B more exciting.

C less demanding.

D more stressful.

13 According to the writer, what is the main reason why employers support the
idea of naps at work?

A for health reasons

B to promote safety

C to increase productivity

D to encourage creativity

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Reading Passage 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26 which are based on this passage.

Homeopathy
A. Homeopathy is an alternative system of medicine, founded in the early 19th century by a
German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. Since 1980, homeopathy has experienced a strong
resurgence of interest in North and South America as well as in Europe. Surveys indicate that
more than a third of French physicians have prescribed homeopathic remedies and almost 50
percent of British physicians have referred patients for homeopathic treatment.

B. Hahnemann’s discovery of the principle of homeopathy was accidental. After taking some
quinine, he noticed that he developed malaria-like symptoms. Since malaria patients were
treated with quinine, he speculated that possibly malaria is cured by quinine because it causes
malaria-like symptoms in healthy people. He decided to explore his theory by testing other
substances used as medicine at the time, such as arsenic and belladonna. His tests were
conducted by either taking the substances internally himself or by administering them to
healthy volunteers and then recording all of the symptoms the volunteers experienced. He
continued his experiments on a wide range of natural substances, often toxic. These recorded
results created ‘drug pictures’ which formed the basis for the new system of medicine. The next
step was to give the tested substances to patients suffering from the same group of symptoms
represented by the drug picture recorded. The results were incredible. People were being cured
from diseases that had never been cured before. He condensed his theory into a single Latin
phrase: similia similibus curentur (let likes be cured by likes). This means that a disease can be
cured by a medicine which produces in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those
experienced by the patient.

C. The process of making remedies is very precise. A homeopathic remedy is normally a single
substance. The substances may be made from plants, minerals and even animals, for example
snake venom and cuttlefish ink. To make remedies, the raw material is dissolved in a mixture
that contains approximately 90% alcohol and 10% water. The mixture is left to stand for 2 to 4
weeks, shaken occasionally then strained. The resulting liquid or tincture is then diluted
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according to very specific measures to a factor of 1:100. For example, to produce a remedy
called 1c potency or strength, one drop of the tincture is added to 99 drops of alcohol/water
mixture. To produce a 2c potency, one drop of the 1c mixture is added to 99 drops of
alcohol/water mixture. Between each mixture the remedy is shaken vigorously. Hahnemann
believed that through this process, the energy of the substance was released. Once the remedy
has been diluted beyond a 12c potency, it is unlikely that even a molecule of the original
substance remains. Yet, ironically, the more dilute the remedy, the stronger it is. This makes no
sense in light of present-day science but regardless of what science tells us is impossible, in
practice, the higher the dilution the stronger and more lasting the effect.

D. It is this use of high dilutions that has given rise to controversy. Many conventional doctors
claim that homeopathy functions only as a placebo because the dosage is so small. However,
the clinical experience of homeopathy shows that this tiny dose can be effective: it works on
unconscious people and infants, and it even works on animals. Controlled clinical studies
performed by medical researchers are demonstrating that homeopathy can be an effective
method of treatment for many diseases.

E. The most important part of homeopathic treatment lies in the lengthy interview which the
homeopath conducts with the patient. The idea behind this one to two hour consultation is to
build up a psychological, emotional and physical history of the patient, to discover the
underlying patterns of disease. The homeopath then decides which medicine to prescribe based
on the closest match between the patient’s symptoms and the known symptoms elicited by the
medicine in a healthy body. A single dose is given for the shortest period of time necessary to
stimulate the body’s healing power.

F. How does the concept of homeopathy differ from that of conventional medicine? Very
simply, homeopathy attempts to stimulate the body to recover itself. In-stead of looking upon
the symptoms as something wrong which must be set right, the homeopath sees them as signs
of the way the body is attempting to help itself. Another basic difference between conventional
medical therapy and homeopathy is in the role of medication. In much of conventional therapy
the illness is controlled through regular use of medical substances. If the medication is
withdrawn, the person returns to illness. For example, a person who takes a pill for high blood
pressure every day is not undergoing a cure but is only controlling the symptoms.
Homeopathy’s aim is the cure: ‘The complete restoration of perfect health,’ as Dr. Hahnemann
said.

G. Homeopathy has made significant progress in treating diseases which orthodox medicine
finds difficult. Best at dealing with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, skin conditions,
migraines and respiratory problems linked to allergies, it has also proved highly successful at
treating asthma. But homeopathy is not an appropriate treatment for degenerative diseases
such as emphysema. It cannot treat diseases which destroy tissue, although it can still be
beneficial if used in combination with other treatments. Two of the main advantages of

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homeotherapy are the low cost of the medications and the rarity of adverse reactions. The
medicines are inexpensive, safe, and easy to use, so people can learn to handle many of the
common illnesses for which they currently seek medical help. The resulting savings in costs and
the increase in personal independence represent a significant contribution to health care

Questions 14-19
The reading passage has 7 sections A-G.

Choose the most suitable headings for sections B-G from the list of headings (i-x).

There are more headings than sections so you will not use all of them.

List of Headings

i The future of homeopathy

ii Concerns about homeopathy

iii Comparison with traditional western medicine

iv Dr. S. Hahnemann

v Theoretical and experimental basis

vi Revival of homeopathy

vii Preparation of medicines

viii Debate over effectiveness

ix Advantages and limitations of homeopathy

x Aspects of treatment

Example Answer

Section A vi

14
Section B

15
Section C

16
Section D

17
Section E

18
Section F

19
Section G

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Questions 20-22
Complete the description below.

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

Making a homeopathic remedy

The remedies come from plant, animal and mineral sources.

A single product is mixed with 20 and left to stand for 2-4 weeks.

This mixture is strained to produce a tincture which can be diluted.

1 drop of this tincture is added to 99 drops of alcohol/water.

The mixture is then 21 vigorously.

This produces a remedy with a potency of 1c.

As the remedy becomes more diluted,it gets 22

Questions 23-26
Complete the summary.

Choose your answers from the box below.

Homeopathy differs from conventional medicine in a number of ways. Conventional medicine

views symptoms as an indication of something wrong in the body whereas homeopathy sees
them as signs that the body is attempting to 23 . The uses of medication differ
also. Many types of conventional medication 24 but if the medicine is taken away,
the illness returns. The intention of homeopathy is to bring about a complete cure.
Homeopathic remedies are 25 than conventional medicine and have fewer
26

List of Words/Phrases

cheaper cure heal itself

illness treatments getting better

control symptoms more expensive side effects

stronger healthy patients

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Reading Passage 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based on this passage.

The hemp revival

The hemp plant, one of the world’s oldest industrial resources, is back. The rediscovery of this
renewable resource is making it the fibre of choice for future textiles, personal care products,
building materials, paper and fuel.

Hemp has been grown for paper, textiles, food and medicine throughout human history. The
earliest known woven fabric, made of hemp, dates back to the eighth millennium (8000-7000
BC). The majority of all sails, clothes, tents, rugs, towels, paper, rope, twine, art canvas, paints,
varnishes and lighting oil were made from hemp. Hemp seeds were regularly used as a source
of food and protein for centuries.

Hemp’s drastic decline in use and importance within a matter of fifty years is widely considered
to have been brought about by the timber and petrochemical industries in America. By the mid-
1930s, changes in technology were beginning to impact on the hemp industry. Mechanical
stripping equipment and machines to conserve hemp’s high-cellulose pulp became available
and affordable. Timber and paper holding companies stood to lose billions of dollars if hemp
were to be grown on a large scale. A resurgence of the hemp industry also threatened the
emerging petro-chemical companies which had patented the chemicals for pulp processing.
Newspaper articles began to appear, linking hemp with violent crime. The term used, however,
was ‘marijuana’ to distance it from hemp used for industrial purposes. Because few people
realised that marijuana and hemp came from the same plant species, virtually nobody
suspected that the Marijuana Prohibition of 1938 would destroy the hemp industry.

Supporting the theory that marijuana was banned to destroy the hemp industry, were two
articles written just before the Marijuana Prohibition, claiming that hemp was on the verge of
becoming a super crop. These articles, which appeared in well-respected magazines, praised
the usefulness and potential of hemp. ‘Hemp can be used to produce more than 25,000
products’, and ‘hemp will prove, for both farmer and public, the most profitable and desirable

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crop that can be grown.’ This was the first time that ‘billion dollar’ was used to describe the
value of a crop. Less than one year after these articles were written, the Marijuana Prohibition
took effect. To what extent a conspiracy was involved is still being debated, but the important
thing is that for thousands of years, hemp was used extensively. Then over a short period, it
became illegal in many parts of the world.

Now, however, the focus is on the development of hemp as an industrial resource. Initially, a
distinction needs to be made between the two types of hemp. ‘Cannabis has evolved into two
basic species. Plants grown for fibre and seed are universally called hemp. Cannabis grown for
its drug content is commonly called marijuana or drug cannabis. Drug-type cannabis varies
widely in THC content from approximately 1-2% in unselected strains to 10% in the best
modern varieties.’ (as cited from Watson 1994). Hemp contains virtually none of the active
ingredients of drug-type cannabis (THC). It is not feasible to ‘get high’ on hemp, and most
marijuana produces very low-quality fibre. Hemp should never be confused with marijuana, as
their roles cannot be reversed.

It is evident that hemp is an extraordinary fibre. Both stems and seeds can be utilised. Most
significantly, hemp can be grown without pesticides and herbicides. The plant also has the
ability to suppress weeds and soil-borne diseases. Based on the hemp industries which have
been established overseas, there is a large demand for hemp products and hemp is proving to
be a highly profitable industry. On an annual basis, one acre of hemp will produce as much libre
as 2 to 3 acres of cotton. The fibre is stronger and softer than cotton, lasts twice as long and
will not mildew. Cotton grows only in warm climates and requires more water and more
fertiliser than hemp as well as large quantities of pesticide and herbicide.

Hemp can also be used to produce fibreboard that is stronger and lighter than wood, and is fire
retardant. Unlike paper from wood pulp, hemp paper contains no dioxin, or other toxic residue,
and a single acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper as four acres of trees. The
trees take 20 years to harvest and hemp takes a single season. In warm climates hemp can be
harvested two or even three times a year. On an annual basis, one acre of hemp will produce as
much paper as 2 to 4 acres of trees. From tissue paper to cardboard, all types of paper products
can be produced from hemp. The quality of hemp paper is superior to tree-based paper. Hemp
paper will last hundreds of years without degrading and it can be recycled many more times
than tree-based paper.

Today, industrialised nations around the world are waking up to the enormous potential of
hemp. While some countries, like China and India, have never had laws against hemp
cultivation, others are legalising industrial hemp after many years of lumping it together with
marijuana. The products and fabrics that are emerging from the international hemp industry are
finding strong demand in an eco-aware global community. Hemp is indeed an agricultural crop
for the twenty-first century

Questions 27-31
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Re-order the following letters (A-F) to show the sequence of events according to the
passage.

A Timber and petro-chemical industries threatened

B Articles praise hemp as a potential billion dollar crop

C Widespread cultivation of hemp (Example)

D Prohibition of marijuana

E Newspaper articles link hemp to violent crime

F Development of stripping machines

The first one has been done for you as an example.

27

28

29

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30

31

Questions 32-33
Complete the following using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

Hemp Marijuana

Fibre strong and durable 32

Drug Content 33 up to 10% THC

Questions 34-39
From the information given in the passage, classify the following (34-39) as
characteristic of:

A Hemp

B Wood

C Cotton

34
mildew-resistant

35
dioxin is a by-product of processing

36
can be harvested more than once a year

37
large amounts of fertiliser needed

38
fire-retardant properties

39
requires mild temperature

Question 40
Choose the correct answer A-D.

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40 The main purpose of this article is ...

A to criticise government policy on hemp.

B to show the economic benefits of hemp.

C to compare hemp and .marijuana.

D to promote research into new uses of hemp.

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 Solution:

23 heal itself 24 control symptoms

25 cheaper 26 side effects

27 F 28 A

29 E 30 B

31 D 32 low quality

33 (virtually) no THC 34 A

35 B 36 A

37 C 38 A

39 C 40 B

14 v 15 vii

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 16 viii 17 x

18 iii 19 ix

20 alcohol and water 21 shaken

22 stronger 1 D

2 NO 3 NO

4 YES 5 NOT GIVEN

6 NO 7 F

8 B 9 E

10 safety 11 not on duty

12 D 13 C

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