IELTS Reading #80: Alfred Wegener: science, exploration and the theory of continental drift

Questions 1–4: Yes/No/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer?
Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
Write NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
Write NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

1. Wegener’s ideas about continental drift were widely disputed while he was alive.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

2. The idea that the continents remained fixed in place was defended in a number of respected scientific publications.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

3. Wegener relied on a limited range of scientific fields to support his theory of continental drift.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

4. The similarities between Wegener’s theory of continental drift and modern-day plate tectonics are enormous.

YES NO NOT GIVEN

Questions 5–10: Summary Completion

Complete the summary below.
Drag words from the box into the blanks.
Write your answers in boxes 5–10.

Word Box:

modest fame vast range record-breaking achievement research methods select group professional interests scientific debate hazardous exploration biographer’s perspective narrow investigation

Wegener’s life and work

One of the remarkable things about Wegener from a (5) is that although he proposed a theory of continental drift, he was not a geologist. His (6) were limited to atmospheric physics. However, at the time he proposed his theory of continental drift in 1912, he was already a person of (7) . Six years previously, there had been his (8) of 52 hours in a hot-air balloon, followed by his well-publicised but (9) of Greenland’s coast. With the publication of his textbook on thermodynamics, he had also come to the attention of a (10) of German scientists.

Questions 11–14: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

11. What is Mott T Greene doing in the fifth paragraph?

A) describing what motivated him to write the book B) explaining why it is desirable to read the whole book C) suggesting why Wegener pursued so many different careers D) indicating what aspects of Wegener’s life interested him most

12. What is said about Wegener in the sixth paragraph?

A) He was not a particularly ambitious person. B) He kept a record of all his scientific observations. C) He did not adopt many of the scientific practices of the time. D) He enjoyed discussing new discoveries with other scientists.

13. What does Greene say about some other famous scientists?

A) Their published works had a greater impact than Wegener’s did. B) They had fewer doubts about their scientific ideas than Wegener did. C) Their scientific ideas were more controversial than Wegener’s. D) They are easier subjects to write about than Wegener.

14. What is Greene’s main point in the final paragraph?

A) It is not enough in life to have good intentions. B) People need to plan carefully if they want to succeed. C) People have little control over many aspects of their lives. D) It is important that people ensure they have the freedom to act.

IELTS Reading Practice Test: Alfred Wegener: science, exploration and the theory of continental drift

Reading Passage Content Summary

Question Types Included

Test Information

Reading Passage Content

Questions 1–4: Yes/No/Not Given

Questions 5–10: Summary Completion

Word Box:

Wegener’s life and work

Questions 11–14: Multiple Choice

Reading Passage Content

Questions 1–4: Yes/No/Not Given

Questions 5–10: Summary Completion

Word Box:

Wegener’s life and work

Questions 11–14: Multiple Choice