ielts_trainer_2_academic_six_practice_tests

29 B: We are told that Wohlleben initially took care of
trees ‘purely for industrial reasons’: he had to make
sure they were growing properly so they could be
sold and used for manufacturing: ‘The straighter
they were, the more high-quality logs could be
sawn.’ But later he came to ‘appreciate trees for
more than just their commercial worth’. Like the
tourists who visited the forest, he started to see
how ‘bent, crooked’ trees might be more interesting
than straight ones.
Distraction A We are told that Wohlleben was
employed as a state forester, but we don’t know
whether or not he thought this job would pay well;
C The phrase ‘gives some of the credit’ tells us
that Wohlleben listened to the visitors’ comments
and appreciated them; D Wohlleben must have
used certain techniques to keep the trees growing
straight, but we aren’t told what these were or
whether he introduced any new ones.
30 B: ‘More than anything else, it was this encounter
[= seeing/investigating the tree stump] that
prompted him to look further into [= study/
research] the hidden behaviour of trees.’
Distraction A The reviewer only provides an
explanation about the way that trees and plants
normally grow [= ‘This was chlorophyll . . .’].
Wohlleben discovers that the tree stump is still
growing in the normal way – even though this isn’t
clear on the surface of the stump; C the phrase ‘to
highlight a lack of formal scientific training’ would
suggest that the reviewer is critical of Wohlleben –
but Wohlleben obviously knows enough to
recognise the natural process occurring within the
tree; D An anecdote is a short or interesting story
about a real event or person – but the reviewer
doesn’t suggest these are necessary to make the
book interesting.
31 NO: ‘Sceptical’ means ‘doubts that something
is true’. But the reviewer explains that ‘Simard’s
findings [= the results of her research] made
complete sense to Wohlleben’ [= he understood and
agreed with them].
32 YES: ‘Discussions with them [= Aachen University
researchers] reinforced his beliefs [= confirmed his
theories] about the way trees thrived.’
33 NOT giVEN: We are told that Wohlleben managed
to persuade local villagers that machinery should
be banned and that pesticides should no longer be
used. However, the reviewer does not comment on
whether this was the right decision or not.
34 NOT giVEN: The reviewer states that Wohlleben’s
use of humour and straightforward narrative
have been successfully translated into different
languages. However, he does not mention anything
about whether the translators themselves should
receive praise and attention for this.
35 YES: ‘Critics of Wohlleben point out that proper
academic studies [= serious/reliable research]
need to be done to prove all his claims are factually
accurate. This seems a fair point [= a good idea/a
reasonable suggestion].’
36 NO: ‘Will it [= the book] transform the way we
produce timber for the manufacturing industry?
As large corporations tend to focus on immediate
profits, they are hardly likely to [= there is little
chance they will] adopt the longer-term practices
that Wohlleben recommends.’
37 E: ‘But Wohlleben claims this spacing [= keeping
trees apart from each other] prevents vital root
interaction, and so lowers resistance to drought
[= dry periods]. Older, established trees . . . draw
up moisture through their deep roots and provide
this to juvenile trees [= young trees] growing below
them. Without this assistance, they could die.’
38 F: ‘For instance, when pines [= a type of tree]
require more nitrogen, the fungi growing at their
base release a poison into the soil. This poison kills
many minute organisms, which release nitrogen
[= a gas that provides the nutrients the tree needs]
as they die, and this is absorbed by the trees’ roots.’
39 A: ‘When giraffes begin feeding on an acacia’s
leaves, the tree emits ethylene gas [= sends out
a gas that other acacias can detect] as a warning
to neighbouring acacias. These [= the trees] then
pump tannins into their leaves – substances toxic to
giraffes [= by doing this, the acacia avoids harm].’
40 B: ‘. . . if branches are broken off or the trunk is hit
with an axe [= the tree is damaged], a tree will emit
electrical signals from the site of the wound.’
Writing TASk 1
Sample answer
The graph shows a clear difference in the pattern of
public transport use in 2016 between people living in
large cities and other citizens, in the country in question.
The gap between the two is particularly noticeable
for younger and middle-age groups, with the highest
difference for 31–45 year olds: 66% of city dwellers used
public transport compared with just 15% of people
living outside large urban centres. For children the
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