Cambridge IELTS 8 · Academic · Test 4 · Passage 3
Collecting Ant Specimens — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for Collecting Ant Specimens, Cambridge IELTS 8 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Collecting Ant Specimens answer key at a glance
Questions 27–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with True / False / Not Given (Q27–30), Matching Features (Q31–36), Diagram Labeling (Q37–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 27–30: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
Taxonomic research involves comparing members of one group of ants.
“For taxonomy, or classification, long series, from a single nest, which contain all castes (workers, including majors and minors, and, if present, queens and males) are desirable, to allow the determination of variation within species”
Taxonomy needs long series from a single nest so variation 'within species' can be determined, which is comparing members of one group. TRUE.
New species of ant are frequently identified by taxonomists.
“The taxonomist sometimes overlooks whole species in favour of those groups currently under study, while the ecologist often collects only a limited number of specimens of each species, thus reducing their value for taxonomic investigations”
The passage says taxonomists 'sometimes overlook whole species' but never states how often new species are identified, so frequency is not given.
Range is the key criterion for ecological collections.
“For ecological studies, the most important factor is collecting identifiable samples of as many of the different species present as possible”
'As many of the different species present as possible' makes range — the spread of species — the key criterion, so TRUE.
A single collection of ants can generally be used for both taxonomic and ecological purposes.
“Unfortunately, these methods are not always compatible”
'These methods are not always compatible' contradicts the idea that one collection generally serves both taxonomic and ecological purposes.
Questions 31–36: Matching Features
Strategy: Match the statement to the named person or thing. Names can repeat, so check each option against what that person actually says.
Options for Questions 31–36
- Ahand collecting
- Busing bait
- Csampling ground litter
- Dusing a pitfall trap
It is preferable to take specimens from groups of ants.
“When possible, collections should be made from nests or foraging columns and at least 20 to 25 individuals collected”
Taking 20-25 individuals from nests or foraging columns describes hand collecting, method A, which gathers specimens in groups.
It is particularly effective for wet habitats.
“This method works especially well in rain forests and marshy areas”
Ground-litter sampling works 'especially well in rain forests and marshy areas' — wet habitats — so the method is C.
It is a good method for species which are hard to find.
“Baits can be used to attract and concentrate foragers. This often increases the number of individuals collected and attracts species that are otherwise elusive”
Bait 'attracts species that are otherwise elusive', which is exactly a method suited to species hard to find — option B.
Little time and effort is required.
“One advantage of pitfall traps is that they can be used to collect over a period of time with minimal maintenance and intervention”
Pitfall traps collect 'with minimal maintenance and intervention', matching the low time and effort described in D.
Separate containers are used for individual specimens.
“Individual insects are placed in plastic or glass tubes (1.5-3.0 ml capacity for small ants, 5-8 ml for larger ants) containing 75% to 95% ethanol”
Placing 'individual insects... in plastic or glass tubes' is the separate-container step belonging to hand collecting, option A.
Non-alcoholic preservative should be used.
“The preservative used is usually ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, as alcohol will evaporate quickly and the traps will dry out”
Pitfall traps use glycol rather than alcohol because alcohol 'will evaporate quickly', so the non-alcoholic preservative instruction refers to D.
Questions 37–40: Diagram Labeling
Strategy: Locate the labelled part on the diagram, then find the matching description in the passage. Answers are usually concrete nouns.
“This is most commonly done by placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel, often under some heat. As the leaf litter dries from above, ants (and other animals) move downward and eventually fall out the bottom and are collected in alcohol placed below the funnel”
The diagram's label needs the condition applied above the leaf litter: the funnel is placed 'often under some heat' so the litter dries.
“This is most commonly done by placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel, often under some heat”
The material put on the screen is 'leaf litter', the noun phrase the diagram labels at the top of the funnel.
“This is most commonly done by placing leaf litter on a screen over a large funnel, often under some heat”
The gap names what holds the litter above the funnel: the text places leaf litter 'on a screen over a large funnel'.
“As the leaf litter dries from above, ants (and other animals) move downward and eventually fall out the bottom and are collected in alcohol placed below the funnel”
The container below the funnel holds 'alcohol', where the ants fall and are preserved — the final diagram label.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Collecting Ant Specimens passage come from?
It is Passage 3 of Cambridge IELTS 8 Academic Reading Test 4, and it covers Questions 27–40.
What question types appear in Collecting Ant Specimens?
The passage is tested with True / False / Not Given, Matching Features, Diagram Labeling. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.