Cambridge IELTS 9 – Test 1 Reading Answers (With Keywords & Explanation)
🔹 Reading Passage 1
Questions 1–7 (True / False / Not Given)
Q1. Michael Faraday was the first person to recognise Perkin’s ability as a student of chemistry.
Answer: FALSE
Keywords: first, Michael Faraday, ability
Explanation: The passage states that Thomas Hall recognised Perkin’s ability first, not Faraday.
Q2. Michael Faraday suggested Perkin should enroll in the Royal College of Chemistry.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: enroll, Royal College
Explanation: The passage does not mention who advised Perkin to enroll.
Q3. Perkin employed August Wilhelm Hofmann as his assistant.
Answer: FALSE
Keywords: Hofmann, assistant
Explanation: Hofmann employed Perkin as his assistant.
Q4. Perkin was still young when he made the discovery that made him rich and famous.
Answer: TRUE
Keywords: young, discovery
Explanation: The passage clearly shows he made the discovery at a young age.
Q5. The trees from which quinine is derived grow only in South America.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: quinine, South America
Explanation: The trees are native to South America, but “only” is not mentioned.
Q6. Perkin hoped to manufacture a drug from a coal tar waste product.
Answer: TRUE
Keywords: drug, coal tar
Explanation: He tried to produce quinine using coal tar.
Q7. Perkin was inspired by the discoveries of Louis Pasteur.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: Pasteur, inspired
Explanation: Pasteur is mentioned, but no inspiration is stated.
Questions 8–13 (Short Answers)
Q8. Before Perkin’s discovery, with what group in society was the colour purple associated?
Answer: the rich
Keywords: purple, society
Explanation: Only rich people could afford purple colour.
Q9. What potential did Perkin immediately understand that his new dye had?
Answer: commercial (possibilities)
Keywords: potential, dye
Explanation: He realised it could be sold commercially.
Q10. What was the name finally used to refer to the first colour Perkin invented?
Answer: mauve
Keywords: name, colour
Explanation: The dye was later called mauve.
Q11. What was the name of the person Perkin consulted before setting up his own dye works?
Answer: Robert Pullar
Keywords: consulted
Explanation: He took advice from Robert Pullar.
Q12. In what country did Perkin’s newly invented colour first become fashionable?
Answer: France
Keywords: fashionable
Explanation: It became popular in France first.
Q13. According to the passage, which disease is now being targeted by researchers using synthetic dyes?
Answer: Malaria
Keywords: disease
Explanation: Synthetic dyes are used in malaria research.
🔹 Reading Passage 2
Questions 14–17 (Matching Headings)
Q14. Paragraph B
Answer: iv
Q15. Paragraph C
Answer: vii
Q16. Paragraph D
Answer: i
Q17. Paragraph E
Answer: ii
Questions 18–20 (Short Answers)
Q18. What is the life expectancy of Earth?
Answer: several billion years
Keywords: life expectancy
Explanation: Earth’s lifespan is several billion years.
Q19. What kind of signals are SETI scientists searching for?
Answer: radio waves / signals
Keywords: signals
Explanation: They are searching for radio signals.
Q20. How many stars are being searched?
Answer: 1000
Keywords: stars
Explanation: Around 1000 stars are being studied.
Questions 21–26 (Yes / No / Not Given)
Q21. Alien civilisations may help humans solve serious problems.
Answer: YES
Keywords: help, problems
Explanation: Passage suggests they may share knowledge.
Q22. Scientists are searching for life similar to humans.
Answer: YES
Keywords: similar
Explanation: Scientists assume similar life forms.
Q23. Americans and Australians worked together on research.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: cooperation
Explanation: Not mentioned.
Q24. Scientists have already received signals from stars.
Answer: NO
Keywords: signals
Explanation: No signals detected yet.
Q25. NASA project was criticised by Congress.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: criticism
Explanation: Not mentioned.
Q26. It is important to respond immediately to signals.
Answer: NO
Keywords: respond
Explanation: Scientists say not to reply immediately.
🔹 Reading Passage 3
Questions 27–33
Q27. What had to move to land before animals?
Answer: plants
Keywords: transfer
Explanation: Plants moved first.
Q28. Which two processes required major changes?
Answer: breathing, reproduction
Keywords: changes
Explanation: These were major adaptations.
Q29. What feature do whales lack?
Answer: gills
Keywords: whales
Explanation: They breathe air, not gills.
Q30. What did ichthyosaurs resemble?
Answer: dolphins
Keywords: resemble
Explanation: Fossils show similarity.
Q31. Turtles were first to return to sea.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Keywords: turtles
Explanation: No clear information.
Q32. It is always difficult to identify habitat from fossils.
Answer: FALSE
Keywords: fossils
Explanation: Sometimes it is obvious.
Q33. Ichthyosaurs’ habitat can be identified from fossils.
Answer: TRUE
Keywords: fossils
Explanation: Shape shows habitat.
Questions 34–39 (Summary Completion)
Q34. Measurements taken:
Answer: three measurements
Q35. Data recorded on:
Answer: (triangular) graph
Q36. Land tortoises formed:
Answer: cluster
Q37. Additional species:
Answer: amphibious
Q38. Position on graph:
Answer: halfway
Q39. Fossils identified as:
Answer: dry-land tortoises
Question 40 (Multiple Choice)
Q40. What is most significant about tortoises?
Answer: D
Explanation: They moved between land and sea multiple times.