IELTS Academic Reading Test 2 Passage 1: The Invention of the Telegraph

Passage 1: The Invention of the Telegraph

(Easier – factual/scientific)

The invention of the telegraph in the 19th century marked the beginning of instant long-distance communication. Before the telegraph, messages could only travel as fast as horses, ships, or trains could carry them. This limited the speed of trade, diplomacy, and personal correspondence.

In 1837, Samuel Morse and his colleagues developed an electrical telegraph system in the United States. Morse also created a code of dots and dashes, known as Morse Code, which allowed words to be transmitted as sequences of signals. By the 1850s, telegraph lines connected major American cities, and soon after, the first transatlantic cable linked Europe and North America.

The telegraph transformed business and government. Stock markets could react immediately to events, newspapers reported international news faster than ever, and military leaders issued orders across continents. Yet, by the early 20th century, the telephone began to replace the telegraph, offering voice communication instead of coded signals.

Today, the telegraph is largely obsolete, but its legacy endures. It paved the way for later technologies, from telephones to the internet, and remains a symbol of the communication revolution.

Questions 1–13

Questions 1–5: True/False/Not Given

1.      Before the telegraph, messages could travel quickly across long distances.

2.      Morse invented a special system of signals called Morse Code.

3.      The first transatlantic cable connected America to Asia.

4.      The telegraph was used in military communication.

5.      The internet directly replaced the telegraph in the 19th century.

Questions 6–9: Matching Headings
Headings:
i. From horses to wires
ii. Morse’s contribution
iii. Telegraph’s decline
iv. The lasting legacy

6.      Paragraph 1 ___

7.      Paragraph 2 ___

8.      Paragraph 3 ___

9.      Paragraph 4 ___

Questions 10–13: Sentence Completion
10. Morse created a system of __________.
11. By the 1850s, telegraph lines linked major __________.
12. Newspapers benefited by reporting __________ more quickly.
13. The telephone replaced the telegraph because it allowed __________.

Passage 2: Urban Green Spaces

(Moderate – discursive/environmental)

In modern cities, green spaces such as parks, gardens, and urban forests play an essential role in improving quality of life. They provide not only recreational areas but also environmental benefits, such as reducing air pollution and moderating city temperatures.

Research has shown that people living near green spaces experience lower stress levels and improved mental health. Children who grow up with access to natural environments tend to have better cognitive development and stronger immune systems. Furthermore, urban greenery supports biodiversity by offering habitats for birds, insects, and small mammals.

However, as cities expand, green spaces often shrink. Urban planners face the challenge of balancing the demand for housing and infrastructure with the need for parks and natural areas. Some cities, like Singapore, have pioneered vertical gardens and rooftop greenery to integrate nature into dense urban landscapes.

Ultimately, the presence of green spaces is not merely an aesthetic choice but a necessity for sustainable urban living. Future cities must prioritize green infrastructure to ensure both human well-being and ecological health.

Questions 14–26

Questions 14–18: Multiple Choice
14. Green spaces help reduce:
a) Noise pollution only
b) Air pollution and temperature extremes
c) Traffic congestion
d) Housing shortages

15. Children with access to nature often show:
a) Weaker immune systems
b) Poorer memory
c) Better development
d) Lower intelligence

16. Urban biodiversity benefits from:
a) Green spaces
b) High-rise apartments
c) Cars and buses
d) Concrete roads

17. A challenge for city planners is:
a) Rising sea levels
b) Balancing housing and greenery
c) Reducing shopping malls
d) Eliminating public parks

18. Singapore is famous for:
a) Banning all tall buildings
b) Creating rooftop greenery
c) Cutting down urban forests
d) Removing insects

Questions 19–23: True/False/Not Given
19. Living near green spaces can lower stress.
20. Children in cities always suffer from poor immune systems.
21. Cities are getting larger, leading to fewer green areas.
22. Vertical gardens are only found in Europe.
23. Green spaces are important for sustainable urban living.

Questions 24–26: Short Answer
24. What do green spaces provide besides recreation?
25. Which animals benefit from urban greenery?
26. What type of infrastructure should future cities prioritize?

Passage 3: The Psychology of Decision-Making

(Hard – abstract/argumentative)

Humans make countless decisions daily, ranging from trivial choices, such as what to eat for breakfast, to life-changing decisions, such as selecting a career. Psychologists have long studied how people make choices and why they sometimes make irrational ones.

One influential theory is "bounded rationality," proposed by Herbert Simon. It suggests that individuals aim for satisfactory rather than perfect solutions because of limited time, knowledge, and mental capacity. Instead of analyzing every option, people use heuristics, or mental shortcuts, to simplify decision-making.

While heuristics are useful, they can also lead to cognitive biases. For example, the "confirmation bias" makes people favor information that supports their existing beliefs. Similarly, the "availability heuristic" causes people to overestimate the likelihood of events that come easily to mind, such as plane crashes.

Recent neuroscience has revealed the role of emotions in decision-making. While once considered obstacles, emotions are now seen as essential. They help prioritize options and motivate action. Patients with brain damage affecting emotional centers often struggle to make even simple decisions.

Ultimately, decision-making is a complex blend of rational analysis, emotional influence, and social context. Understanding this process can help individuals and organizations make wiser choices in an increasingly complex world.

Questions 27–40

Questions 27–32: Matching Headings
Headings:
i. Emotions in decision-making
ii. Simple vs. life-changing choices
iii. Herbert Simon’s theory
iv. Cognitive biases
v. Role of heuristics
vi. Decision-making in organizations

27. Paragraph 1 ___

28. Paragraph 2 ___

29. Paragraph 3 ___

30. Paragraph 4 ___

31. Paragraph 5 ___

Questions 33–36: Multiple Choice
33. Bounded rationality suggests people seek:
a) Perfect solutions
b) Satisfactory solutions
c) Random answers
d) Expert advice

34. Mental shortcuts used in decision-making are called:
a) Biases
b) Options
c) Heuristics
d) Habits

35. Confirmation bias makes people:
a) Reject their own ideas
b) Seek supporting evidence
c) Forget information quickly
d) Overestimate rare events

36. Patients with emotional brain damage struggle because:
a) They cannot store memories
b) They lack motivation for decisions
c) They forget all rational choices
d) They prefer irrational solutions

Questions 37–40: Sentence Completion
37. Heuristics are mental __________.
38. The availability heuristic makes people misjudge the likelihood of __________.
39. Emotions help individuals __________ options.
40. Decision-making combines rationality, emotion, and __________ context.

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Answer Key

Passage 1

1.      False | 2. True | 3. False | 4. True | 5. False

2.      i | 7. ii | 8. iii | 9. iv

3.      dots and dashes (Morse Code) | 11. American cities | 12. international news | 13. voice communication

Passage 2
14. b | 15. c | 16. a | 17. b | 18. b
19. True | 20. False | 21. True | 22. False | 23. True
24. Environmental benefits | 25. Birds, insects, small mammals | 26. Green infrastructure

Passage 3
27. ii | 28. iii | 29. iv | 30. i | 31. vi
33. b | 34. c | 35. b | 36. b
37. shortcuts | 38. rare/remembered events (e.g., plane crashes) | 39. prioritize | 40. social