I’m Jonathan Mitchell, an IELTS Reading specialist with over a decade of experience explaining complex scientific and social passages. Here’s a full breakdown of Cambridge 19 Test 4 to help you build logic, timing, and accuracy for a Band 7 + score.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 explores three major themes — climate and ecology, environmental technology, and human psychology. This guide includes complete answers, keywords, locations, and explanations for every question across the three passages.
Passage 1 – The Impact of Climate Change on Butterflies in Britain
👉 Read individually at Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 1
🔹 Questions 1–6 | True / False / Not Given
1 FALSE – Butterfly numbers have declined, so 40 years ago there were more.
2 TRUE – Caterpillars are eaten by birds, bats, and mammals.
3 FALSE – Phenology = timing of life events, not location.
4 NOT GIVEN – No mention of lifespan change.
5 FALSE – Reason for adaptation unknown.
6 TRUE – Data came from amateur observers.
🔹 Questions 7–13 | Notes Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
7 colonies – Lives in large groups.
8 spring – First appears early spring.
9 endangered – Most threatened species.
10 habitats – Restricted to specific woodlands.
11 Europe – Can reproduce twice in continental Europe.
12 southern – Found in southern England.
13 diet – Honeysuckle diet linked to decline.
Key Idea: Flexible species benefit from warmer climates; specialised ones struggle.
Passage 2 – Deep-Sea Mining
👉 Read in detail at Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 2
🔹 Questions 14–17 | Matching Information
14 C – Need for battery metals (electric cars).
15 F – Oceans cover 70 % of Earth.
16 E – Hydrothermal vents formed by magma and seawater.
17 D – No global mining rules yet.
🔹 Questions 18–23 | Matching People
18 D – Mike Johnston – Supports moving from land to sea resources.
19 B – Hunter, Aguon & Singh – Communities ignored.
20 A – Mat Upton – Medicines more valuable than minerals.
21 E – Verena Tunnicliffe – Mining = worst impact on marine life.
22 B – More known about space than deep sea.
23 C – Jon Copley – No mining on hydrothermal vents.
🔹 Questions 24–26 | Summary Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
24 waste – Companies claim minimal waste.
25 machinery – Adapted from land equipment.
26 caution – Environmental groups urge caution.
Key Idea: The ocean floor contains valuable resources but also unknown risks to marine ecosystems.
Passage 3 – The Unselfish Gene
👉 Read separately at Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 3
🔹 Questions 27–30 | Multiple Choice
27 C – Describes a common belief about human nature.
28 C – Book matched individualistic ethos of its time.
29 B – Prehistoric resources were plentiful.
30 A – Selfishness is a recent development.
🔹 Questions 31–35 | Summary Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
31 egalitarianism – Equal status and rights.
32 status – Prevent status differences.
33 hunting – Credit for hunting shared.
34 domineering – Overbearing people ostracised.
35 autonomy – Women had freedom of choice.
🔹 Questions 36–40 | Yes / No / Not Given
36 NOT GIVEN – No timeline dispute mentioned.
37 NO – Aggression was a disadvantage.
38 YES – Cooperation is innate.
39 NOT GIVEN – No modern culture comparison.
40 NO – Animal studies did find a link with violence.
Key Idea: Humans were originally cooperative; selfishness evolved with agriculture and hierarchy.
New Vocabulary
Phenology – timing of seasonal events in nature.
Subsidence – sinking of ground level.
Obsidian – volcanic glass used for tools.
Hydrothermal vent – deep-sea mineral outlet.
Egalitarianism – belief in equality of status.
Autonomy – freedom to make one’s own choices.
More at 👉 IELTS Vocabulary in Context
Tips for Success
- In scientific texts, follow cause → effect logic.
- In opinion texts, underline verbs like believes, suggests, argues.
- Check grammar for ONE WORD ONLY answers.
- Spend ≈ 20 minutes per passage to balance time.
- Always read titles — they reveal the topic’s focus area.
FAQ
Q1. What are the main themes in Cambridge 19 Test 4?
Ecology (butterflies), environment (deep-sea mining), and evolution (human cooperation).
Q2. Which skills does this test measure?
Scanning for facts, matching views, and interpreting scientific evidence.
Q3. Which passage is most difficult?
Passage 3 – “The Unselfish Gene,” because it requires inference and argument tracking.
Q4. How to practise for Band 8 Reading?
Time yourself, track keywords by paragraph, and review why each wrong option is wrong.
External References
For authentic IELTS guidance and official resources, visit the British Council, IDP IELTS, and IELTS.org. For expert-led courses covering all modules, join Course Line and strengthen your Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills.
Next Reading Practice
Continue your Cambridge series with the next test → 👉 Cambridge 20 Reading Test 1 Passage 1 – The Kākāpō Answers with Explanations Discover New Zealand’s rare flightless parrot and build your environmental reading skills for Band 7 – 9.
