I’m Chen Wei, an IELTS Reading specialist with eight years’ experience decoding academic passages. My focus is explaining Cambridge IELTS texts clearly and showing learners how to identify paraphrases, locate evidence, and think like examiners.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 3 Passage 2 – The Global Importance of Wetlands examines how wetlands sustain biodiversity, protect against climate change, and support millions of people. It also explains the threats from deforestation, peatland drainage and pollution, and presents experts’ views on balancing conservation with human needs.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 3 Passage 2
🔹 Questions 14–17 | Matching Information
Learn this strategy 👉 Matching Information
14) G – reference to the need to ensure that inhabitants of wetland regions continue to benefit from them
- Keywords: income, local people, involved in planning
- Location: Paragraph G (mid–end)
- Locator: “people … will only protect wetlands if they value and profit from them.”
- Explanation: Shows the need for local participation and benefits.
15) A – the proportion of wetlands which have already been lost
- Keywords: half disappeared, since 1990
- Location: Paragraph A (mid)
- Locator: “half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1990.”
- Explanation: States exact proportion lost → A.
16) H – reference to the idea that people are beginning to appreciate the value of wetlands
- Keywords: awareness, importance growing
- Location: Paragraph H (end)
- Locator: “Awareness of the importance of wetlands is growing.”
- Explanation: Shows attitudes improving → H.
17) B – mention of the cultural significance of wetlands
- Keywords: religious, historical, archaeological value
- Location: Paragraph B (early)
- Locator: “they are of considerable religious, historical and archaeological value to many communities.”
- Explanation: Describes wetlands’ cultural importance → B.
🔹 Questions 18–22 | Sentence Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Improve your skills with 👉 Sentence Completion
18) carbon
- Keywords: peatlands, release instead of store
- Location: Paragraph D (mid)
- Locator: “become net carbon emitters instead of active carbon stores.”
- Explanation: Drained peatlands emit carbon.
19) fires
- Keywords: clearance, risk increases
- Location: Paragraph D (end)
- Locator: “increases the risk of forest fires.”
- Explanation: Peatland clearance leads to fires.
20) biodiversity
- Keywords: loss of value from forest clearance
- Location: Paragraph D (end)
- Locator: “peatland forests with extremely high biodiversity value being lost.”
- Explanation: Clearing destroys the area’s biodiversity.
21) ditches
- Keywords: drain water out, logging companies
- Location: Paragraph E (opening)
- Locator: “They dig ditches … used to drain water out of the peatlands.”
- Explanation: Water is removed through ditches.
22) subsidence
- Keywords: draining leads to land sinking
- Location: Paragraph E (mid)
- Locator: “the remainder of the solid matter in the peat starts to move downwards, in a process known as subsidence.”
- Explanation: Drainage causes subsidence and land loss.
🔹 Questions 23–26 | Matching Experts (A–D)
Sharpen this skill with 👉 Matching Features
23) A – Matthew McCartney
- Keywords: communities must be included
- Location: Paragraph G (end)
- Locator: “local people are involved in wetland planning and decision making.”
- Explanation: McCartney emphasises local participation.
24) C – Marcel Silvius
- Keywords: policies vary by nation
- Location: Paragraph H (start)
- Locator: “Different governments have different attitudes.”
- Explanation: Silvius notes national policy differences.
25) D – Dave Tickner
- Keywords: people cause harm unintentionally
- Location: Paragraph F (end)
- Locator: “effects simply come from people trying to make a living.”
- Explanation: Tickner says damage is often unintentional.
26) B – Pieter van Eijk
- Keywords: initiatives don’t need to be complex or costly
- Location: Paragraph C (end)
- Locator: “Implementing climate change projects isn’t so much about money.”
- Explanation: van Eijk suggests simple, practical solutions.
Practice & Further Resources
You’ve completed Cambridge 19 Reading Test 3 Passage 2 – The Global Importance of Wetlands!
Strengthen your reading logic with our:
Tips for Success
- For Matching Experts, focus on verbs like says, believes, argues.
- Scientific texts often paraphrase — read meaning, not words.
- Watch for cause–effect phrases: leads to, results in, because of.
- In Sentence Completion, ensure the blank fits grammatically.
New Vocabulary
Wetland – land saturated with water supporting unique life. (Wetlands protect coasts from flooding.)
Peatland – wetland with organic soil made of partially decayed plants. (Drained peatlands emit carbon.)
Subsidence – gradual sinking of land. (Subsidence can cause coastal flooding.)
Biodiversity – variety of life in an ecosystem. (Logging reduces biodiversity in tropical forests.)
Mitigate – to lessen impact or severity. (Wetlands help mitigate climate change.)
Sustainability – use of resources so they last long term. (Local involvement ensures wetland sustainability.)
For more terms, visit 👉 IELTS Vocabulary in Context.
FAQ
Q1. Why are wetlands important for humans and climate?
They store carbon, protect coasts, and support millions of livelihoods.
Q2. What causes the greatest damage to peatlands?
Draining for agriculture and logging ditches that release carbon and cause subsidence.
Q3. Why should local people be involved in wetland protection?
Because they’ll only safeguard areas that provide them with value and income.
Q4. Are governments acting to protect wetlands?
Some are investing in restoration, while others still ignore the problem.
External References
For official IELTS updates and practice resources, visit the British Council, IDP IELTS, and IELTS.org — the three organisations that administer the exam worldwide. To enhance your skills with structured training, explore expert-led IELTS Preparation Courses on Course Line, covering Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge 19 Reading Test 3 Passage 2 – The Global Importance of Wetlands highlights how natural ecosystems protect our planet and communities. Understanding scientific terms and following logic through paragraphs will help you answer IELTS Reading questions accurately and efficiently. Next → Cambridge 19 Reading Test 3 Passage 3 – Is the Era of Artificial Speech Translation Upon Us?
One Response