When Evolution Runs Backwards IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation

“When Evolution Runs Backwards” is Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 4. This page gives the answers for Questions 27–40 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: One Choice, Matching Sentence Endings, Yes / No / Not Given.

Quick answers: Questions 27–40

Question	Answer
27	C
28	D
29	C
30	B
31	A
32	F
33	G
34	A
35	B
36	D
37	NOT GIVEN
38	YES
39	NO
40	YES

Questions 27–31: One Choice

Q	Question	Answer	Why
27	—	C	Option C is the one the passage supports.
28	—	D	Option D is the one the passage supports.
29	—	C	Option C is the one the passage supports.
30	—	B	Option B is the one the passage supports.
31	—	A	Option A is the one the passage supports.

Questions 32–36: Matching Sentence Endings

Q	Question	Answer	Why
32	For a long time biologists rejected	F	The passage links this point to: F.
33	Opposing views on evolutionary throwbacks are represented by	G	The passage links this point to: G.
34	Examples of evolutionary throwbacks have led to	A	The passage links this point to: A.
35	The shark and killer whale are mentioned to exemplify	B	The passage links this point to: B.
36	One explanation for the findings of Wagner’s research is	D	The passage links this point to: D.

Questions 37–40: Yes / No / Not Given

Q	Question	Answer	Why
37	Wagner was the first person to do research on South American lizards.	NOT GIVEN	The passage gives no clear information to confirm or reject this statement.
38	Wagner believes that Bachia lizards with toes had toeless ancestors.	YES	The passage agrees with this statement.
39	The temporary occurrence of long-lost traits in embryos is rare.	NO	The passage contradicts this statement.
40	Evolutionary throwbacks might be caused by developmental problems in the womb.	YES	The passage agrees with this statement.

Tips for these question types

• Multiple choice: eliminate options that are only partly right, and watch for words like only, always and never.
• Matching features: underline the names or terms first, then scan for them in the passage.
• Yes / No / Not Given: these test the writer's opinion or claim. YES agrees with the writer, NO contradicts the writer, NOT GIVEN means the writer does not say.
• 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? When Evolution Runs Backwards covers Questions 27–40, which is 14 questions.

Where is this passage from? It is Reading Passage 3 in Cambridge IELTS 10, Academic Test 4.

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 10 Reading Test 4: all passages
Part 1: The Megafires of California  |  Part 2: Second Nature  |  Part 3: When Evolution Runs Backwards (you are here)

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