These Cambridge IELTS 16 Reading Test 1 answers give you the complete answer key, key words, synonyms and step-by-step explanations for all three passages: Why we need to protect polar bears, The Step Pyramid of Djoser, and The future of work.
How to Use These Cambridge IELTS 16 Reading Test 1 Answers
Try each passage yourself first, then check your responses against the answers below. For every question you get the correct answer, the question key words to scan for, the exact phrase from the passage, and the synonyms that link the question to the text — the paraphrasing skill that IELTS Reading really tests. For more practice, see our other Cambridge IELTS Reading answers, and check the official test format at ielts.org.
Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears — Reading Answers & Explanation
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Why we need to protect polar bears (Passage 1, Questions 1–13).
How to read the synonym bullets: “=” means the question words and the passage words match (a paraphrase); “≠” means the question contradicts the passage (answer FALSE / NO); “—” means the idea is not stated in the passage (NOT GIVEN).
Questions 1–7: Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
1. Answer: FALSE
Key words: polar bears suffer health problems from the fat under their skin
The passage says “humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese … Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences”.
- question says polar bears suffer health problems ≠ passage says they experience no such consequences (opposite → FALSE)
Answer: FALSE.
2. Answer: FALSE
Key words: the study compared different groups of polar bears
The passage says they “compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives … the brown bears”.
- question says different groups of polar bears ≠ passage says polar bears were compared with brown bears (opposite → FALSE)
Answer: FALSE.
3. Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to make this genetic comparison
The passage reports the 2014 study but never says whether they were the first to do it.
- question asks if they were the first researchers — the passage never says this (not stated → NOT GIVEN)
Answer: NOT GIVEN.
4. Answer: TRUE
Key words: polar bears control their ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means
The passage says they had “a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol”.
- control bad cholesterol by genetic means = a gene reduces levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol
Answer: TRUE.
5. Answer: TRUE
Key words: female polar bears survive about six months without food
The passage says the process “results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive”.
- survive six months without food = about six months of fasting
Answer: TRUE.
6. Answer: FALSE
Key words: female bears’ bones were very weak on leaving the den in spring
The passage says when they “emerged from the den with their cubs, there was no evidence of significant loss of bone density”.
- question says bones were very weak ≠ passage says no evidence of significant loss of bone density (opposite → FALSE)
Answer: FALSE.
7. Answer: TRUE
Key words: the bone-density mechanism could be used by people one day
The passage says “if the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit”.
- used by people one day = bedridden humans and astronauts could potentially benefit
Answer: TRUE.
Questions 8–13: Complete the table. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.
8. Answer: violent
Key words: people think bears are unintelligent and …
The passage says bears “seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent”.
- unintelligent and … = perceived as stupid and violent
Answer: violent.
9. Answer: tool
Key words: in Tennoji Zoo, a bear used a branch as a …
The passage says GoGo was “observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The bear used a tree branch …”.
- used a branch as a … = the branch was used as a tool
Answer: tool.
10. Answer: meat
Key words: this allowed him to knock down some …
The passage says he used the branch “to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach”.
- knock down some … = dislodge a piece of meat
Answer: meat.
11. Answer: photographer
Key words: a wild bear reached a platform where a … was located
The passage says a bear ran and jumped onto barrels “in an attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high”.
- reaching a platform where … was = getting to a photographer on the platform
Answer: photographer.
12. Answer: game
Key words: manipulation of objects and activity similar to a …
The passage says Ames “observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game”.
- activity similar to a … = knocking objects over in what appeared to be a game
Answer: game.
13. Answer: frustration
Key words: movements suggesting … when disappointed at hunting
The passage says bears “hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill”.
- disappointed when hunting = seemingly out of frustration after missing a kill
Answer: frustration.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FALSE | 8 | violent |
| 2 | FALSE | 9 | tool |
| 3 | NOT GIVEN | 10 | meat |
| 4 | TRUE | 11 | photographer |
| 5 | TRUE | 12 | game |
| 6 | FALSE | 13 | frustration |
| 7 | TRUE |
Vocabulary (key words to learn)
| Word / phrase | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| adipose tissue | body fat stored under the skin |
| obese | very overweight in an unhealthy way |
| low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) | “bad” cholesterol that can harm the heart |
| osteoporosis | a disease that makes bones weak and easy to break |
| bone remodelling | the natural process of removing old bone and building new bone |
| fasting | going without food for a long time |
| dislodge | to knock or move something out of its place |
| anecdotal (evidence) | based on personal stories, not scientific proof |
The Step Pyramid of Djoser — Reading Answers & Explanation
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage The Step Pyramid of Djoser (Passage 2, Questions 14–26).
Questions 14–20: Choose the correct heading (i–ix) for each paragraph A–G.
14. Paragraph A — Answer: iv (A single certainty among other less definite facts)
Key words: one clear fact amid centuries of debate
Paragraph A says the pyramid form “has been written and argued about for centuries. However, there is no question that … it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect”.
- a single certainty among less definite facts = argued about for centuries, but there is no question that it began with the Step Pyramid
Answer: iv.
15. Paragraph B — Answer: vii (An idea for changing the design of burial structures)
Key words: a new idea for how tombs were built
Paragraph B says that before Djoser tombs “were rectangular monuments”, and Imhotep “conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb … now known as the Step Pyramid”.
- changing the design of burial structures = a new tomb design replacing the old rectangular monuments
Answer: vii.
16. Paragraph C — Answer: ii (A difficult task for those involved)
Key words: the building process was hard
Paragraph C says “much experimentation was involved” and “the weight of the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders”.
- a difficult task = a challenge for the builders needing much experimentation
Answer: ii.
17. Paragraph D — Answer: v (An overview of the external buildings and areas)
Key words: the complex, walls and surroundings
Paragraph D describes “a temple, courtyards, shrines, and living quarters for the priests … surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high … ringed by a trench”.
- external buildings and areas = the temple, courtyards, wall and trench of the complex
Answer: v.
18. Paragraph E — Answer: i (The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself)
Key words: the burial chamber and objects inside
Paragraph E describes the burial chamber and “a large number of stone vessels. Over 40,000 of these vessels … discovered in storerooms off the pyramid’s underground passages”.
- areas and artefacts within the pyramid = the burial chamber and the 40,000 stone vessels inside
Answer: i.
19. Paragraph F — Answer: viii (An incredible experience despite the few remains)
Key words: robbers took most, yet much remained to amaze
Paragraph F says robbers stole the grave goods, but “there was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex … to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it”.
- incredible despite few remains = enough left to astonish and amaze despite the robbery
Answer: viii.
20. Paragraph G — Answer: vi (A pyramid design that others copied)
Key words: a model later builders followed
Paragraph G says it “became the archetype which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow”.
- a design that others copied = the archetype all later pyramid builders followed
Answer: vi.
Questions 21–24: Complete the notes. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.
21. Answer: city
Key words: the complex was as big as an Egyptian … of the past
The passage says “the complex in which it was built was the size of a city in ancient Egypt”.
- as big as an Egyptian … = the size of a city in ancient Egypt
Answer: city.
22. Answer: priests
Key words: accommodation outside the pyramid was occupied by …
The passage says the complex included “living quarters for the priests”.
- accommodation occupied by … = living quarters for the priests
Answer: priests.
23. Answer: trench
Key words: a long … encircled the wall
The passage says “the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 meters long”.
- a long … encircled the wall = the wall was ringed by a trench
Answer: trench.
24. Answer: location
Key words: visitors could not enter unless they knew the … of the real entrance
The passage says a visitor “would have needed to know in advance how to find the location of the true opening in the wall”.
- knew the … of the real entrance = how to find the location of the true opening
Answer: location.
Questions 25–26: Choose TWO letters (A–E). Which TWO points does the writer make about King Djoser?
25 & 26. Answer: B and D (in any order)
B — There is disagreement concerning the length of his reign.
Key words: how long Djoser ruled
The passage says “Djoser is thought to have reigned for 19 years, but some historians and scholars attribute a much longer time for his rule”.
- disagreement about his reign = 19 years, but some attribute a much longer time
D — A few of his possessions were still in his tomb when archaeologists found it.
Key words: what was left in the tomb
The passage says his body and grave goods were stolen, and “all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by the thieves”.
- a few possessions still there = a small number of valuables overlooked by the thieves
Not chosen: C is contradicted — he “had Imhotep’s name carved on it as well”, so he did appreciate Imhotep; A and E are not stated.
Answer: B and D.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | iv | 21 | city |
| 15 | vii | 22 | priests |
| 16 | ii | 23 | trench |
| 17 | v | 24 | location |
| 18 | i | 25 | B |
| 19 | viii | 26 | D |
| 20 | vi |
Note: Q25–26 are two answers in any order (B, D).
Vocabulary (key words to learn)
| Word / phrase | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| monument | a large structure built to remember a person or event |
| tomb | a place where a dead body is buried |
| archetype | an original model that others copy |
| false door / false entrance | a fake door built to trick or mislead people |
| trench | a long, narrow ditch dug in the ground |
| burial chamber | the room where a dead body is placed |
| grave goods | objects buried together with a dead person |
| excavate | to dig carefully to uncover something old |
The Future of Work — Reading Answers & Explanation
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage The future of work (Passage 3, Questions 27–40).
Questions 27–30: Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
27. Answer: B (the extent to which AI will alter the nature of the work that people do)
Key words: what the first paragraph tells us about
The passage says a share of the workforce “will need to switch to a different occupation … and all workers will need to adapt as their occupations evolve alongside increasingly capable machines”.
- how AI will alter the nature of work = occupations evolve and all workers must adapt
Answer: B.
28. Answer: D (It is a key factor driving current developments in the workplace)
Key words: Pachidi’s view of the ‘knowledge economy’
The passage says “the most fundamental changes are happening as a result of the ‘algorithmication’ of jobs that are dependent on data … the so-called knowledge economy”.
- a key factor driving developments = the source of the most fundamental changes
Answer: D.
29. Answer: C (staff making sure that AI produces the results that they want)
Key words: what Pachidi observed at the telecommunications company
The passage says “we are seeing cases where workers feed the algorithm with false data to reach their targets”.
- making sure AI produces the results they want = feeding the algorithm false data to reach their targets
Answer: C.
30. Answer: D (illustrates how changes in the job market can be successfully handled)
Key words: what McGaughey’s recent research shows
The passage says “change can mean redundancies. But social policies can tackle this through retraining and redeployment”.
- changes can be successfully handled = social policies can tackle redundancies through retraining and redeployment
Answer: D.
Questions 31–34: Complete the summary using the list of words A–G.
31. Answer: G (information)
Key words: jobs that rely not on production but on …
The passage says the jobs are “dependent on data rather than on production”.
- rely on … not production = dependent on data (information) rather than production
Answer: G.
32. Answer: E (reliance)
Key words: a growing … on the recommendations made by AI
The passage says workers “become dependent on its instructions”.
- a growing … on AI’s recommendations = becoming dependent on its instructions
Answer: E.
33. Answer: C (intuition)
Key words: staff deterred from using their own …
The passage says “experimentation and human instinct lead to progress and new ideas – are effectively discouraged”.
- their own … = human instinct (intuition) that is discouraged
Answer: C.
34. Answer: F (confidence)
Key words: researchers want to increase users’ … in the technology
The passage says the objective is “to make AI technologies more trustworthy and transparent”.
- increase users’ … in the technology = make AI more trustworthy (build confidence)
Answer: F.
Questions 35–40: Match each statement to the correct person (A Stella Pachidi · B Hamish Low · C Ewan McGaughey). NB You may use any letter more than once.
35. Answer: B (Hamish Low)
Key words: more automation will not lower employment
Low says “the number of jobs will increase: we would expect there to be 150 jobs”, rejecting the idea that jobs are fixed.
- automation will not reduce employment = the number of jobs will increase
Answer: B.
36. Answer: A (Stella Pachidi)
Key words: several reasons why AI appeals to businesses
Pachidi says organisations use algorithms for “‘perfect information’, as well as to reduce costs and enhance productivity”.
- several reasons AI is appealing = perfect information, lower costs and higher productivity
Answer: A.
37. Answer: C (Ewan McGaughey)
Key words: AI’s transformation parallels past cultural shifts
McGaughey says “just as the industrial revolution brought people past subsistence agriculture, and the corporate revolution enabled mass production, a third revolution has been pronounced”.
- parallels with major shifts in previous eras = like the industrial and corporate revolutions
Answer: C.
38. Answer: A (Stella Pachidi)
Key words: be aware of the range of problems AI causes
Pachidi says “we need to make sure we fully understand the dilemmas that this new world raises regarding expertise, occupational boundaries and control”.
- the range of problems AI causes = the dilemmas regarding expertise, boundaries and control
Answer: A.
39. Answer: B (Hamish Low)
Key words: a less conventional career path than in the past
Low says the traditional trajectory “is a thing of the past”, envisaging “a multistage employment life … where multiple jobs and no job happen by choice at different stages”.
- less conventional career path = a multistage employment life replacing the traditional trajectory
Answer: B.
40. Answer: C (Ewan McGaughey)
Key words: authorities should ensure adequately paid work for everyone
McGaughey wants governments to bring in “bold new policies that guarantee full employment, fair incomes”.
- ensure adequately paid work for everyone = policies guaranteeing full employment and fair incomes
Answer: C.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | B | 34 | F (confidence) |
| 28 | D | 35 | B (Low) |
| 29 | C | 36 | A (Pachidi) |
| 30 | D | 37 | C (McGaughey) |
| 31 | G (information) | 38 | A (Pachidi) |
| 32 | E (reliance) | 39 | B (Low) |
| 33 | C (intuition) | 40 | C (McGaughey) |
Vocabulary (key words to learn)
| Word / phrase | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| automation | using machines to do work instead of people |
| algorithm | a set of computer rules for making a choice or solving a problem |
| knowledge economy | an economy based on information and ideas, not making goods |
| intuition / instinct | knowing something naturally, without needing to think it through |
| redundancy | losing a job because the worker is no longer needed |
| retraining / redeployment | learning new skills / moving workers into different roles |
| transparent | easy to see through and understand |
| subsistence agriculture | farming that produces only enough for the farmer’s own family |
Keep Practising
That completes the Cambridge IELTS 16 Reading Test 1 answers for all 40 questions. When you are ready for more, try Cambridge IELTS 16 Reading Test 2 answers next, or browse the full set of Cambridge IELTS Reading answers.
You can also practise with more free IELTS Reading practice tests and build your word bank with the IELTS Reading Vocabulary course at IELTS Quảng Trị.
