I’m Hiroshi Tanaka, an IELTS Reading expert with nine years of experience analysing Cambridge IELTS passages. Below you’ll find the complete breakdown of Cambridge 20 Reading Test 4, including every passage, question type, answer, and reasoning — designed to help you build logic and confidence for a Band 7 + Reading score.
Passage 1 — Georgia O’Keeffe, a Pioneer of Modern Art
Full Passage & Detailed Explanations: Cambridge 20 Reading Test 4 Passage 1 – Georgia O’Keeffe Answers with Explanations
🔹 Questions 1–6 | True / False / Not Given
1 TRUE
- Keywords: abstract works; early 1910s
- Location: Para 2 (lines 3–6)
- Explanation: She created her first abstract drawings while teaching art.
2 FALSE
- Keywords: Stieglitz; rejected her paintings
- Location: Para 3
- Explanation: He admired and exhibited them — opposite meaning.
3 TRUE
- Keywords: photography; artistic principles
- Location: Para 3–4
- Explanation: Her photographic collaborations with Stieglitz influenced her artistic vision.
4 NOT GIVEN
- Keywords: colour preference; critics
- Location: No comment on others’ opinions about her use of colour.
5 TRUE
- Keywords: flowers; deeper meaning
- Location: Para 5
- Explanation: She said close-up flowers forced viewers to “really see” nature — a symbolic purpose.
6 FALSE
- Keywords: desert landscapes; loneliness
- Location: Para 6–7
- Explanation: She found comfort and inspiration in solitude, not sadness.
🔹 Questions 7–13 | Matching Information
7 C – O’Keeffe inspired other artists.
8 D – Photography affected her composition style.
9 B – She painted New York architecture.
10 F – Moved to New Mexico permanently.
11 E – Paintings had symbolic interpretations.
12 A – Early work displayed in a gallery.
13 G – Travel experiences shaped later themes.
Key Idea: Georgia O’Keeffe’s bold use of colour, abstraction, and natural forms revolutionised modern American art.
Passage 2 — Living with Rising Sea Levels
Full Passage & Detailed Explanations: Cambridge 20 Reading Test 4 Passage 2 – Living with Rising Sea Levels Answers with Explanations
🔹 Questions 14–19 | Matching Headings
14 iv 15 i 16 vi 17 iii 18 v 19 ii
🔹 Questions 20–23 | Multiple Choice
20 C – Floating houses adapt to water levels.
21 B – People relocated after flooding.
22 D – Dams no longer sustainable long-term.
23 A – Combined solutions best approach.
🔹 Questions 24–26 | Summary Completion
24 mangroves – Para D L3–6 (“…mangroves act as natural barriers.”)
25 relocation – Para E L2–4 (“…mass relocation as coastlines shrink.”)
26 innovation – Final para (“…human innovation will determine future survival.”)
Key Idea: Climate adaptation blends natural defences like mangroves, floating homes, and engineering solutions to protect communities from rising seas.
Passage 3 — Livestock Guard Dogs
Full Passage & Detailed Explanations: Cambridge 20 Reading Test 4 Passage 3 – Livestock Guard Dogs Answers with Explanations
🔹 Questions 27–33 | Matching People
27 C – Marker – Modern trial success.
28 B – Green – Studies in Namibia.
29 A – Rigg – Reintroducing wolves.
30 C – Marker – Preventing retaliation killings.
31 A – Rigg – Wolf–dog coexistence issues.
32 B – Green – Cheetah project supported by farmers.
33 C – Marker – Combining education and conservation.
🔹 Questions 34–36 | Sentence Completion
34 2000 – Start of project in Namibia.
35 cheetahs – Protected species by LGDs.
36 fences – Previously used but less effective.
🔹 Questions 37–40 | True / False / Not Given
37 TRUE – LGDs reduce livestock loss (Para 7).
38 NOT GIVEN – No mention of government subsidies.
39 FALSE – Farmers’ attitudes improved (Para 8).
40 TRUE – LGDs prove effective in several countries (Final para).
Key Idea: Livestock guard dogs reduce conflicts between farmers and predators, supporting wildlife conservation and sustainable farming.
New Vocabulary
Abstract – expressing ideas through shape and colour.
Resilience – ability to recover from challenges.
Mangroves – coastal trees protecting against erosion.
Coexistence – living together peacefully.
Innovation – introducing new ideas or methods.
Conservation – protecting natural environments.
More at 👉 IELTS Vocabulary in Context
Tips for Success
- Identify themes and tone early — art, environment, or science.
- Use context clues for tricky vocabulary.
- Focus on Matching People / Headings – common in Tests 3–4.
- For TRUE/FALSE/NG, avoid assumptions; rely on stated facts only.
- Spend ≈ 20 minutes per passage.
FAQ
Q1. What are the themes in Cambridge 20 Test 4?
Art (O’Keeffe), Environment (Rising Sea Levels), and Wildlife Conservation (Guard Dogs).
Q2. Which skills does this test build?
Recognising evidence, tracking names and dates, and interpreting cause–effect logic.
Q3. Which passage is most challenging?
Living with Rising Sea Levels — involves multiple viewpoints and technical data.
Q4. How can I prepare for Band 8 Reading?
Practise summarising main ideas and justify every True/False/NG answer with textual proof.
External References
For official IELTS guidance and preparation resources, visit the British Council, IDP IELTS, and IELTS.org.
Enhance your Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking skills through expert-led programmes at Course Line – IELTS Preparation Courses.
Next Reading Practice
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