Cambridge IELTS 13 · General Training · Test 2 · Section 3
Dinosaurs And The Secrets They Still Hold — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Dinosaurs And The Secrets They Still Hold, Cambridge IELTS 13 General Training Reading Test 2 Section 3, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Dinosaurs And The Secrets They Still Hold answer key at a glance
Questions 28–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with Summary Completion (Q28–32), One Choice (Q33–37), Matching Features (Q38–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 28–32: Summary Completion
Strategy: Read the summary as a paragraph first to establish the logic, then locate the missing idea in the passage. With a lettered list, confirm the grammar fits.
“It was about the size of a sheep and covered in feathers”
The dinosaur 'was about the size of a sheep', so the comparison noun sheep completes the gap.
“with a sharp beak that it probably used to crack open shellfish”
Its beak was 'probably used to crack open shellfish', the plural noun naming its food.
“with a sharp beak that it probably used to crack open shellfish”
'With a sharp beak' supplies the noun beak, the body part used for cracking shells.
“its skeleton was discovered in rock that had hardened from ancient mud”
The skeleton 'was discovered in rock that had hardened from ancient mud', so rock fits.
“Then its fossil remains were found a few months ago when workmen were excavating a site in order to build a school”
Fossils were found when workmen were excavating 'in order to build a school', the noun school.
Questions 33–37: One Choice
Strategy: Read the question stem and predict the answer before looking at the options. Wrong options often repeat passage words while the correct one paraphrases them.
What does the writer suggest about finding new dinosaurs?
- AMany scientists dream of being able to do so one day.
- BIt is probable that most have now been discovered.
- CPeople are running out of places to look for them.
- DIt is becoming relatively common to dig one up.correct
“In fact what my colleagues and I did wasn't that unusual. New dinosaurs are appearing everywhere these days – about 50 each year”
D: 'New dinosaurs are appearing everywhere these days – about 50 each year', so digging one up has become fairly common.
In the fourth paragraph, what does the writer suggest about palaeontologists?
- AThey should study the fossilised bones of dinosaurs more closely.
- BTheir theories are based on evidence that can be interpreted in different ways.correct
- CIt is impossible to have any confidence in the proposals they have made.
- DIt is worrying that they still cannot agree about dinosaurs’ body temperature.
“The problem is that dinosaurs can't be observed. Palaeontologists must rely on studying fossils. Some results are convincing: we know from studying their bones that dinosaurs had rapid growth rates, just like modern, warm-blooded animals.”
B: 'Other palaeontologists ... use the same fossils to suggest' a different body temperature, so evidence is open to interpretation.
When describing the theory of how dinosaurs began to fly, the writer is
- Aamused that their flight probably came about by chance.
- Bsurprised by the reason for the initial development of feathers.
- Cexcited by the different possibilities it holds for future research.correct
- Dconfused that feathers were also present on some creatures’ legs.
“Flight may actually have come about by accident when smaller winged dinosaurs began jumping between trees or leaping in the air, and suddenly found that their wings had aerodynamic properties. This is one of the most stimulating new notions about dinosaurs and a fascinating area for further investigation”
C: the idea is 'one of the most stimulating new notions' and 'a fascinating area for further investigation', showing excitement about research.
One significance of melanosomes is that they
- Aprovide further evidence of where birds evolved from.correct
- Bare only found in certain parts of the world.
- Ccan be clearly seen in most fossilised feathers.
- Dare only found in certain birds and dinosaurs.
“A few years ago, some palaeontologists realised that you could find melanosomes in particularly well-preserved fossil feathers. They discovered that different dinosaurs had different melanosomes, which meant they had a variety of colours.”
A: melanosome colours are 'yet another thing that links them to modern birds', supporting bird ancestry.
Which of the following best summarises the writer’s point in the final paragraph?
- AScientists are right to continue questioning the effects of the asteroid strike.
- BLarge flightless dinosaurs may have existed after the asteroid hit.
- CThe dinosaurs were already declining before the asteroid hit.
- DThe effects of the asteroid strike killed most dinosaurs.correct
“The asteroid did it and did it quickly”
D: the writer concludes 'The asteroid did it and did it quickly', meaning the strike's effects wiped out most dinosaurs.
Questions 38–40: 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.
It may have used its feathers to frighten off members of the same species.
“These feathers were probably for display: to attract mates or scare off rivals. They appeared in species such as the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur”
D: feathers were 'for display: to attract mates or scare off rivals', and appeared in the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur.
This species resembles a large flightless bird that exists today.
“These feathers were probably for display: to attract mates or scare off rivals. They appeared in species such as the ostrich-like Ornithomimosaur”
D: the Ornithomimosaur is described as 'ostrich-like', and the ostrich is a large flightless bird alive today.
Finding this species made scientists revise their opinion of the brain power of dinosaurs.
“Some discoveries in the 1970s, like the agile and strangely bird-like Deinonychus, proved that dinosaurs were far more dynamic and intelligent than previously thought”
C: Deinonychus 'proved that dinosaurs were far more dynamic and intelligent than previously thought', revising views of their brain power.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Dinosaurs And The Secrets They Still Hold passage come from?
It is Section 3 of Cambridge IELTS 13 General Training Reading Test 2, and it covers Questions 28–40.
What question types appear in Dinosaurs And The Secrets They Still Hold?
The section is tested with Summary Completion, One Choice, Matching Features. 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.