I’m Sarah Thompson, an IELTS Reading specialist and environmental journalist. I’ve taught thousands of students how to decode Cambridge Reading passages and understand the science behind climate change topics.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 1 – The Impact of Climate Change on Butterflies in Britain explores how rising temperatures affect the timing, behaviour, and survival of butterfly species. It discusses scientific data on changes in phenology (seasonal activity timing) and reveals how flexible species benefit, while specialists struggle to adapt to new conditions.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 1
🔹 Questions 1–6 | True / False / Not Given
Master this skill with 👉 True / False / Not Given.
1) FALSE
- Keywords: forty years ago, fewer butterflies
- Location: Paragraph 1 (opening)
- Locator: “populations … have declined in Britain over the past 40 years.”
- Explanation: Butterfly numbers have decreased, not increased, so 40 years ago there were more, not fewer → FALSE.
2) TRUE
- Keywords: caterpillars, predators
- Location: Paragraph 1 (mid)
- Locator: “act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals.”
- Explanation: Confirms caterpillars are eaten by several predators → TRUE.
3) FALSE
- Keywords: phenology, definition
- Location: Paragraph 2 (mid)
- Locator: “the timing of such lifecycle events.”
- Explanation: Phenology relates to timing, not location → FALSE.
4) NOT GIVEN
- Keywords: reduced lifespan, spring temperature
- Location: No reference to lifespan shortening.
- Explanation: The text doesn’t discuss shorter lifespans → NOT GIVEN.
5) FALSE
- Keywords: clear reason, adaptation
- Location: Paragraph 3 (mid)
- Locator: “The answer is still unknown.”
- Explanation: Scientists haven’t found a definite reason → FALSE.
6) TRUE
- Keywords: data, amateur butterfly watchers
- Location: Paragraph 4 (opening)
- Locator: “data … submitted by butterfly enthusiasts.”
- Explanation: The research relied on amateur observations → TRUE.
🔹 Questions 7–13 | Notes Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Practise this type with 👉 Note / Table / Flowchart Completion
7) colonies
- Keywords: lives in large ___
- Location: Paragraph 6 (mid)
- Locator: “colonies are up to a hundred strong.”
- Explanation: Small Blue butterflies live in colonies.
8) spring
- Keywords: first appears at start of ___
- Location: Paragraph 6 (mid)
- Locator: “develop into butterflies early in spring.”
- Explanation: They emerge at the start of spring.
9) endangered
- Keywords: more ___ than other species
- Location: Paragraph 7 (mid)
- Locator: “the beautiful High Brown Fritillary … described as Britain’s most endangered butterfly.”
- Explanation: It’s the most endangered species.
10) habitats
- Keywords: caterpillars occupy range of ___
- Location: Paragraph 7 (mid)
- Locator: “found only in coppiced woodland and limestone pavement habitats.”
- Explanation: Caterpillars live in specific habitats.
11) Europe
- Keywords: reproduce twice a year in warm areas of ___
- Location: Paragraph 8 (mid)
- Locator: “in continental Europe, to add a second generation.”
- Explanation: They do this in Europe.
12) southern
- Keywords: found in ___ areas of England
- Location: Paragraph 9 (mid)
- Locator: “The White Admiral of southern England …”
- Explanation: It lives in southern England.
13) diet
- Keywords: possible reason for decline, caterpillar
- Location: Paragraph 9 (end)
- Locator: “because the caterpillar exists solely on a diet of … honeysuckle.”
- Explanation: Its diet may explain the decline.
Practice & Further Resources
Great job completing Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 1 – The Impact of Climate Change on Butterflies in Britain!
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Tips for Success
- In science passages, focus on data and cause–effect links.
- Words like decline, increase, advance, shift often signal key answers.
- For Notes Completion, check singular/plural endings carefully.
- Use context clues — e.g., habitats, colonies, diet — to confirm logical fit.
New Vocabulary
Phenology – study of the timing of seasonal life events. (Scientists track phenology to measure climate impacts.)
Lifecycle – stages in an organism’s development. (Each butterfly completes its lifecycle from egg to adult.)
Habitat – natural environment where a species lives. (The High Brown Fritillary depends on woodland habitats.)
Colony – group of the same species living together. (The Small Blue forms large colonies in grassy areas.)
Endangered – at risk of extinction. (Endangered butterflies need urgent protection.)
Caterpillar – the larval stage of a butterfly or moth. (Caterpillars feed heavily before metamorphosis.)
See more in 👉 IELTS Vocabulary in Context.
FAQ
Q1. What is the main idea of this passage?
It examines how climate change affects butterfly lifecycles and population trends in Britain.
Q2. Why is phenology important in butterfly studies?
It shows how seasonal timing shifts in response to warmer temperatures.
Q3. Which species benefits from multiple generations per year?
The Small Blue and Silver-studded Blue benefit from reproducing twice.
Q4. Which species is most endangered?
The High Brown Fritillary, limited to specific habitats.
External References
For authentic IELTS information and official resources, visit the British Council, IDP IELTS, and IELTS.org — the official IELTS organisations. To enhance your study with structured lessons, explore expert-led IELTS Preparation Courses on Course Line, covering all four modules with real exam strategies.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 1 – The Impact of Climate Change on Butterflies in Britain connects biology and climate science, offering insight into how even small temperature changes reshape ecosystems. For IELTS learners, this passage is ideal for practising scientific vocabulary and understanding data-driven cause–effect reasoning.
Next → Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 2 – Deep-Sea Mining.
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