IELTS PRACTICE
TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN
COMPLETING THE SENTENCE
A presentation by BRIDGE SCHOOL
TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
TIPS
If you find all synonyms:
1. Read the title and make a guess TRUE
2. Read 2 questions
3. Circle key words If you find at least one opposite of the key
4. Read the text word or a different word:
5. Highlight the sentence/sentences FALSE
containing all key words/ideas
6. Check each key word If you don’t find at least one key word:
NOT GIVEN
READING PASSAGE
PARAGRAPH A
1
The Sahel zone lies between the Sahara desert and the fertile Savannah's of northern Nigeria and southern
Identify the given statements
Sudan. The word Sahel comes from Arabic and means marginal or transitional, and this is a good description
whether they are True, False or
of these semi-arid lands, which occupy much of the West African countries of Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and
Not Given.
Chad.
PARAGRAPH B 1. The Sahara has spread slowly
northwards into the Sahel region.
Unfortunately, over the last century the Sahara desert has steadily crept southwards eating into once 2. Just over 70 per cent of the dry
productive Sahel lands. United Nations surveys show that over 70 per cent of the dry land in agricultural use land in agricultural use in Africa
in Africa has deteriorated over the last 30 years. Droughts have become more prolonged and more severe, has deteriorated over the last 30
the most recent lasting over twenty years in parts of the Sahel region. The same process of desertification is years.
taking place across southern Africa as the Kalahari desert advances into Botswana and parts of South 3. Desertification is taking place
Africa. faster in southern Africa than in
the Sahel.
PARAGRAPH C
4. The advance of the desert is
One of the major causes of this desert advance is poor agricultural land use, driven by the pressures of not the result of poor agricultural
increasing population, Overgrazing - keeping too many farm animals on the land - means that grasses and land use.
other plants cannot recover, and scarce water supplies are exhausted, Overcultivation - trying to grow too 5. The loss of tree cover is a minor
many crops on poor land - results in the soil becoming even less fertile and drier, and beginning to break up. cause of desertification
Soil erosion follows, and the land turns into desert. 6. If there is a loss of tree cover,
the deterioration in the soil is
PARAGRAPH D
halted.
7. Tree conversation is more
Another cause of desertification is loss of tree cover. Trees are cut down for use as fuel and to clear land for
effective than sustainable
agricultural use. Tree roots help to bind the soil together, to conserve moisture, and to provide a habitat for
agricultural land use inreducing
other plants and animals. When trees are cut down, the soil begins to dry and loosen, wind and rain erosion
the consequences of lack of rain.
increase, other plant species die, and eventually the fertile topsoil may be almost entirely lost, leaving only
bare rock and dust.
COMPLETING THE SENTENCE
1. Read one question
2. Circle key words
3. Guess a possible word (adjective, noun,
verb, adverb, number)
4. Analyse grammar (articles,
prepositions, singular/plural)
5. Read the text
6. Highlight the sentence/sentences
containing all key words (Be careful with
pronouns such as he, she, it, they, this,
that, those)
7. Read in detail
PARAGRAPH A
2
The Sahel zone lies between the Sahara desert and the fertile Savannah's of northern Nigeria and southern
Read sentences 1-6 taken from a
Sudan. The word Sahel comes from Arabic and means marginal or transitional, and this is a good description
sentence completion task. Decide
of these semi-arid lands, which occupy much of the West African countries of Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and
where the missing words are
Chad.
adjectives or nouns.
PARAGRAPH B
1. The climate of the Sahel is
Unfortunately, over the last century the Sahara desert has steadily crept southwards eating into once described as _______________.
productive Sahel lands. United Nations surveys show that over 70 per cent of the dry land in agricultural use 2. In some areas of the Sahel,
in Africa has deteriorated over the last 30 years. Droughts have become more prolonged and more severe, there has been no raingall for
the most recent lasting over twenty years in parts of the Sahel region. The same process of desertification is more than _______________.
taking place across southern Africa as the Kalahari desert advances into Botswana and parts of South 3. Desertification is caused by
Africa. overgrazing, but this in turn is
PARAGRAPH C
due to the pressure from
_______________.
One of the major causes of this desert advance is poor agricultural land use, driven by the pressures of 4. When trees are cut down, the
increasing population, Overgrazing - keeping too many farm animals on the land - means that grasses and soil is affected, which leads to the
other plants cannot recover, and scarce water supplies are exhausted, Overcultivation - trying to grow too death of the surrounding
many crops on poor land - results in the soil becoming even less fertile and drier, and beginning to break up. _______________.
Soil erosion follows, and the land turns into desert. 5. The consequences of the loss of
topsoil cannot be reversed, but
PARAGRAPH D
they are _______________.
6. Looking after trees reduces the
Another cause of desertification is loss of tree cover. Trees are cut down for use as fuel and to clear land for
consequences of a lack of
agricultural use. Tree roots help to bind the soil together, to conserve moisture, and to provide a habitat for
_______________.
other plants and animals. When trees are cut down, the soil begins to dry and loosen, wind and rain erosion
increase, other plant species die, and eventually the fertile topsoil may be almost entirely lost, leaving only
bare rock and dust.
IMPROVE YOUR IELTS WORD SKILLS
Complete the sentences with a word from the box.
consequence a) Technology has had a huge _______________ on our lives.
b) The area has undergone many _______________ in recent
factor years.
c) Planting trees can have a knock-on _______________ on
change the economy of arid areas.
d) Deforestation can have unforeseen _______________ for
result the ecology of a region.
e) It is sometimes difficult to discover the exact
impact _______________ of a problem.
f) To achieve the best _______________ it is important to
effect initiate change at a local level.
g) The main contributing _______________ to success in any
cause organization is a happy workforce.
h) The climate has played a major _______________ in this
region's economic history.
IMPROVE YOUR IELTS WORD SKILLS
Complete the sentences with a phrase from the box.
gradual development a) Government intervention has had …………….. for regional
growth.
limited impact b) Shock tactics can bring about …………….. in people's
behaviour.
far-reaching consequences c) …………….. is much more acceptable than rapid change.
d) The introduction of new fanning practices has had a
dramatic changes …………….. on people's lives.
e) To achieve the most …………….. the countries involved
favourable outcome need to negotiate.
f) The …………….. in this particular case is not easy to find.
underlying cause g) The huge sums invested had only a …………….. on the
neighborhood.
profound effect
