Cambridge IELTS 10 · Academic · Test 4 · Passage 1
The Megafires Of California — IELTS Reading Answers
All 13 answers for The Megafires Of California, Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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The Megafires Of California answer key at a glance
Questions 1–13. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this passage tests
This passage is tested with Note Completion (Q1–6), True / False / Not Given (Q7–13). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–6: Note Completion
Strategy: Predict the word class from the note, find the paraphrase of the note's keyword in the passage, then copy the answer exactly within the word limit.
“The wildfires themselves, experts say, are generally hotter, faster, and spread more erratically than in the past.”
The gap needs a verb to go with more erratically; the passage lists fires as hotter, faster and spread more erratically than in the past.
“10 times the size of the average forest fire of 20 years ago.”
The note asks how much larger megafires are; the passage gives 10 times the size of the average forest fire of 20 years ago.
“has had significantly below normal precipitation in many recent years.”
The gap needs a preposition showing the direction of the rainfall figure; the state has had significantly below normal precipitation in recent years.
“halt the natural eradication of underbrush, now the primary fuel for megafires.”
The gap follows primary and names what underbrush provides; the passage calls underbrush the primary fuel for megafires.
“Second is fire seasons that on average are 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago.”
The note's second factor is what is now 78 days longer; the passage says fire seasons are on average 78 days longer than 20 years ago.
“We are increasingly building our homes in fire-prone ecosystems”
The gap names what is increasingly built in fire-prone ecosystems; the passage says we are increasingly building our homes there.
Questions 7–13: 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.
The amount of open space in California has diminished over the last ten years.
“What once was open space is now residential homes providing fuel to make fires burn with greater intensity”
Space that once was open space is now residential homes, so the amount of open space has indeed diminished.
Many experts believe California has made little progress in readying itself to fight fires.
“That said, many experts give California high marks for making progress on preparedness in recent years”
Many experts give California high marks for making progress on preparedness, contradicting the claim that they believe little has been achieved.
Personnel in the past have been criticised for mishandling fire containment.
“Stung in the past by criticism of bungling that allowed fires to spread when they might have been contained, personnel are meeting the peculiar challenges of neighborhood”
Criticism of bungling that let fires spread when they might have been contained confirms past criticism of mishandled containment.
California has replaced a range of firefighting tools.
“State promises to provide more up-to-date engines, planes, and helicopters to fight fires have been fulfilled.”
Up-to-date engines, planes and helicopters replacing older equipment fulfil the claim that a range of firefighting tools has been replaced.
More firefighters have been hired to improve fire-fighting capacity.
“Besides providing money to upgrade the fire engines that must traverse the mammoth state and wind along serpentine canyon roads, the state has invested in better command-and-control facilities as well as in the strategies to run them.”
The passage lists upgraded engines, command-and-control facilities and strategies, but never says additional firefighters were hired.
Citizens and government groups disapprove of the efforts of different states and agencies working together.
“There is a sense among both government officials and residents that the speed, dedication, and coordination of firefighters from several states and jurisdictions are resulting in greater efficiency than in past ‘siege fire’ situations.”
Both government officials and residents see inter-state coordination producing greater efficiency, so they approve rather than disapprove.
Randy Jacobs believes that loss of life from fires will continue at the same levels, despite changes made.
“Notwithstanding all the damage that will continue to be caused by wildfires, we will no longer suffer the loss of life endured in the past because of the fire prevention and firefighting measures that have been put in place,’ he says.”
Jacobs says we will no longer suffer the loss of life endured in the past, so deaths are expected to fall, not stay at the same level.
Learn the question types in this passage
Frequently asked questions
Where does the The Megafires Of California passage come from?
It is Passage 1 of Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 4, and it covers Questions 1–13.
What question types appear in The Megafires Of California?
The passage is tested with Note Completion, True / False / Not Given. 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.