The Little Ice Age IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation

“The Little Ice Age” is Passage 2 of Cambridge IELTS 8 Academic Reading Test 2. This page gives the answers for Questions 14–26 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: Matching Headings, Summary Completion, Matching Features.

Quick answers: Questions 14–26

Question	Answer
14	ii
15	vii
16	ix
17	iv
18	C
19	B
20	A
21	H
22	G
23	C
24	C
25	A
26	B

Questions 14–17: Matching Headings

Q	Question	Answer	Why
14	Paragraph B	ii	Heading ii best sums up the main idea of this paragraph.
15	Paragraph D	vii	Heading vii best sums up the main idea of this paragraph.
16	Paragraph E	ix	Heading ix best sums up the main idea of this paragraph.
17	Paragraph F	iv	Heading iv best sums up the main idea of this paragraph.

Questions 18–22: Summary Completion

Q	Question	Answer	Why
18	—	C	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
19	—	B	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
20	—	A	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
21	—	H	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.
22	—	G	Use exactly this wording from the passage, within the word limit.

Questions 23–26: Matching Features

Q	Question	Answer	Why
23	Many Europeans started farming abroad.	C	The passage links this point to: C.
24	The cutting down of trees began to affect the climate.	C	The passage links this point to: C.
25	Europeans discovered other lands.	A	The passage links this point to: A.
26	Changes took place in fishing patterns.	B	The passage links this point to: B.

Tips for these question types

• Matching headings: read each paragraph for its main idea, not a single detail, and cross out headings once used.
• Completion tasks: check the word limit and the grammar of the gap before you write the answer exactly as it appears in the passage.
• Matching features: underline the names or terms first, then scan for them 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? The Little Ice Age covers Questions 14–26, which is 13 questions.

Where is this passage from? It is Reading Passage 2 in Cambridge IELTS 8, Academic Test 2.

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 8 Reading Test 2: all passages
Part 1: Sheet Glass Manufacture: The Float Process  |  Part 2: The Little Ice Age (you are here)  |  Part 3: The Meaning and Power of Smell

← Previous: Part 1Next: Part 3 answers →

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