Cork IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation

“Cork” is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 1. This page gives the answers for Questions 1–13 with a short explanation of why each answer is right, so you can check your work and learn from every mistake. The question types are: True / False / Not Given, Note Completion.

Quick answers: Questions 1–13

Question	Answer
1	NOT GIVEN
2	FALSE
3	FALSE
4	TRUE
5	TRUE
6	taste
7	cheaper
8	convenient
9	image
10	sustainable
11	recycled
12	biodiversity
13	desertification

Questions 1–5: True / False / Not Given

Q	Question	Answer	Why
1	The cork oak has the thickest bark of any living tree.	NOT GIVEN	The passage gives no clear information to confirm or reject this statement.
2	Scientists have developed a synthetic cork with the same cellular structures as natural cork.	FALSE	The passage contradicts this statement.
3	Individual cork oak trees must be left for 25 years between the first and second harvest.	FALSE	The passage contradicts this statement.
4	Cork bark should be stripped in dry atmospheric conditions.	TRUE	The passage agrees with this statement.
5	The only way to remove the bark from cork oak trees is by hand.	TRUE	The passage agrees with this statement.

Questions 6–13: Note Completion

Q	Question	Answer	Why
6	—	taste	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
7	—	cheaper	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
8	—	convenient	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
9	—	image	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
10	—	sustainable	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
11	—	recycled	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
12	—	biodiversity	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
13	—	desertification	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.

Tips for these question types

• True / False / Not Given: TRUE means the passage says the same thing, FALSE means it says the opposite, and NOT GIVEN means it does not say. Never use your own knowledge.
• Completion tasks: check the word limit and the grammar of the gap before you write the answer exactly as it appears in the passage.
• Review every mistake. Find the exact sentence in the passage that proves the answer so you can spot the same trap next time.

FAQ

How many questions does this passage have? Cork covers Questions 1–13, which is 13 questions.

Where is this passage from? It is Reading Passage 1 in Cambridge IELTS 12, Academic Test 1.

How should I use these answers? Attempt the passage under timed conditions first, then check your answers here and read the reason for every mistake.

Cambridge IELTS 12 Reading Test 1: all passages
Part 1: Cork (you are here)  |  Part 2: Collecting as a Hobby  |  Part 3: What’s the Purpose of Gaining Knowledge?

Next: Part 2 answers →

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