Cambridge IELTS 2 · Academic · Test 4 · Passage 1
Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping, Cambridge IELTS 2 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping answer key at a glance
Questions 1–13. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Yes / No / Not Given (Q1–6), One Choice (Q7–9), Summary Completion (Q10–13). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–6: Yes / No / Not Given
Strategy: These test the writer's opinions, not facts. Look for evaluative language, and treat 'may' or 'could' as weaker than the question's claim.
The research findings report commercial rather than political trends.
“A report from Mintel, the market research organisation, says that despite recession and financial pressures, more people than ever want to buy environmentally friendly products and a 'green wave' has swept through consumerism, taking in people previously untouched by environmental concerns”
The Mintel report is market research about consumer purchasing of green products, so its findings report commercial rather than political trends.
Being financially better off has made shoppers more sensitive to buying 'green'.
“A report from Mintel, the market research organisation, says that despite recession and financial pressures, more people than ever want to buy environmentally friendly products”
The report says green demand rose despite recession and financial pressures, contradicting the claim that being better off made shoppers more sensitive.
The majority of shoppers are prepared to pay more for the benefit of the environment according to the research findings.
“Mintel's survey, based on nearly 1,000 consumers, found that the proportion who look for green products and are prepared to pay more for them has climbed from 53 per cent in 1990 to around 60 per cent in 1994”
Mintel found the proportion prepared to pay more for green products climbed from 53 to about 60 per cent, a clear majority.
Consumers' green shopping habits are influenced by Mintel's findings.
“A report from Mintel, the market research organisation, says that despite recession and financial pressures, more people than ever want to buy environmentally friendly products and a 'green wave' has swept through consumerism, taking in people previously untouched by environmental concerns”
The passage gives Mintel's findings but never says those findings themselves influence how consumers shop.
Mintel have limited their investigation to professional and managerial groups.
“Between 1990 and 1994 the proportion of consumers claiming to be unaware of or unconcerned about green issues fell from 18 to 10 per cent but the number of green spenders among older people and manual workers has risen substantially”
The text notes green spending among older people and manual workers rose substantially, so the investigation was not limited to professional and managerial groups.
Mintel undertakes market surveys on an annual basis.
“Mintel's survey, based on nearly 1,000 consumers, found that the proportion who look for green products and are prepared to pay more for them has climbed from 53 per cent in 1990 to around 60 per cent in 1994”
The survey compares 1990 and 1994 figures but never states whether Mintel repeats its surveys annually.
Questions 7–9: 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.
Politicians may have 'misjudged the public mood' because
- Athey are pre-occupied with the recession and financial problems.
- Bthere is more widespread interest in the environment agenda than they anticipated.correct
- Cconsumer spending has increased significantly as a result of 'green' pressure.
- Dshoppers are displeased with government policies on a range of issues.
“Research in Britain has shown that 'green consumers' continue to flourish as a significant group amongst shoppers. This suggests that politicians who claim environmentalism is yesterday's issue may be seriously misjudging the public mood”
Politicians who call environmentalism yesterday's issue are seriously misjudging the public mood because green consumers keep flourishing, so interest is wider than anticipated.
What is Mintel?
- Aan environmentalist group
- Ba business survey organisationcorrect
- Can academic research team
- Da political organisation
“A report from Mintel, the market research organisation, says that despite recession and financial pressures, more people than ever want to buy environmentally friendly products and a 'green wave' has swept through consumerism, taking in people previously untouched by environmental concerns”
Mintel is described as the market research organisation producing a report on consumer behaviour, so business survey organisation fits.
A consumer expressing concern for environmental issues without actively supporting such principles is
- Aan 'ethical spender'.
- Ba 'very dark green' spender.
- Can 'armchair green'.correct
- Da 'pale green' spender.
“Another 26 per cent are 'armchair greens'; they said they care about environmental issues but their concern does not affect their spending habits”
Armchair greens care about environmental issues but their concern does not affect their spending habits, exactly the behaviour described.
Questions 10–13: 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.
“Companies will have to be more honest and open in response to this mood”
The summary needs qualities companies must show; the text says firms will have to be more honest and open in response to this mood.
“Hughes claims that in the twenty-first century, consumers will be encouraged to think more about the entire history of the products and services they buy, including the policies of the companies that provide them and that this will require a greater degree of honesty with consumers”
The gap needs who will be encouraged to consider products' full history; the text says consumers will be encouraged to think about it.
“the number of 'armchair ethicals' has risen from 28 to 35 per cent”
The gap needs the rising group; the text says the number of armchair ethicals has risen from 28 to 35 per cent.
“The recently published report also predicts that the process will repeat itself with 'ethical' concerns, involving issues such as fair trade with the Third World and the social record of businesses”
The gap needs what ethical concerns will involve; the text lists fair trade with the Third World and the social record of businesses.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping passage come from?
It is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 2 Academic Reading Test 4, and it covers Questions 1–13.
What question types appear in Green Wave Washes Over Mainstream Shopping?
The passage is tested with Yes / No / Not Given, One Choice, Summary Completion. 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.