Two thirds of British butterfly species have declined in 40 years. A study using 20 years of amateur records shows that species able to breed several times a year gain from emerging earlier, while single-generation specialists like the High Brown Fritillary may be harmed. There is hope for some if warmer summers let them add a second generation.
TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN (1-6) covers the first four paragraphs. The notes (7-13) are grouped by species, and the species appear in the passage in the same order as the notes: Small Blue, High Brown Fritillary, Silver-studded Blue, White Admiral.
TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
Questions 1-6
How to attack this block: Watch the definitions. Phenology is about when something happens in the year, not where, so the location statement is FALSE. The study says the reason for the change is still unknown, which makes 'there is a clear reason' FALSE, not NOT GIVEN.
Question 1
Answer: FALSEParagraph 1, first sentence
Were there fewer butterflies in Britain 40 years ago than there are now?
populations of around two thirds of butterfly species have declined in Britain over the past 40 years
Question says → Passage says
Forty years agoover the past 40 years
fewer… than at presenthave declined
Why: If populations have declined over the last 40 years, there were more butterflies then, not fewer. The statement reverses the direction, so FALSE.
The trap: 'Two thirds of species' might make you think the passage doesn't cover all butterflies, so you can't judge. But a decline in most species clearly contradicts there being fewer back then.
Question 2
Answer: TRUEParagraph 1, third sentence
Do several kinds of animal eat caterpillars?
consume vast quantities of plant material, and in turn act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals
Question says → Passage says
are eaten byact as prey for
a number of different predatorsbirds as well as bats and other small mammals
Why: 'Prey' means animals that are hunted and eaten. Caterpillars are prey for birds, bats and other small mammals, which is several different predators. TRUE.
The trap: The sentence starts with caterpillars eating plants, so a quick reader might think the statement is about what caterpillars eat. Read on to 'in turn act as prey'.
Question 3
Answer: FALSEParagraph 2, last sentence
Does 'phenology' describe a creature changing where a lifecycle event happens?
Scientists refer to the timing of such lifecycle events as 'phenology'
Question says → Passage says
'Phenology' is a term used to describeScientists refer to… as 'phenology'
the location of a lifecycle eventthe timing of such lifecycle events
Why: Phenology is about timing, when in the year something happens, not location. The statement swaps 'when' for 'where', so it contradicts the definition.
The trap: The study later tracks how far north species moved, which is about location. But that's a separate measure, not what 'phenology' means.
Question 4
Answer: NOT GIVENParagraph 3, second sentence
Do some butterflies live shorter lives because springs are warmer?
as the average spring temperature has increased by roughly 0.5 °C over the past 20 years, species have advanced by between three days and a week on average
Question says → Passage says
spring temperature increasesthe average spring temperature has increased by roughly 0.5 °C
Why: Warmer springs have made species emerge three days to a week earlier. That's about timing. How long a butterfly lives is never mentioned, so the lifespan claim can't be checked.
The trap: 'Advanced by between three days and a week' sounds like a change in length of life, but it means they appear earlier. Don't confuse timing with lifespan.
Question 5
Answer: FALSEParagraph 3, end
Is it clear why butterflies are adapting to climate change?
Is this a sign that butterflies are well equipped to cope with climate change, and readily adjust to new temperatures? Or are these populations under stress… The answer is still unknown
Question says → Passage says
There is a clear reasonThe answer is still unknown
the adaptationsreadily adjust to new temperatures
Why: The writer asks two possible explanations, coping well or being dragged along under stress, and then says the answer is still unknown. 'Unknown' contradicts 'clear', so FALSE.
The trap: You might choose NOT GIVEN because two possible reasons are offered. But the passage directly states the answer isn't known, which is a clear contradiction of 'there is a clear reason'.
Question 6
Answer: TRUEParagraph 4, first sentence
Did the study's data come from amateur butterfly watchers?
data from millions of records that had been submitted by butterfly enthusiasts - people who spend their free time observing the activities of different species
Question says → Passage says
amateur butterfly watchersbutterfly enthusiasts - people who spend their free time observing
The data used in the study was taken fromthe researchers pulled together data from millions of records
Why: People who watch butterflies in their free time are amateurs, not professionals. The researchers' data came from their records, so TRUE.
The trap: 'Amateur' isn't in the passage, so some people go for NOT GIVEN. 'Spend their free time' is the definition of an amateur.
Note completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Questions 7-13
How to attack this block: Find the species name first, then read around it. Several answers are hidden in descriptions: the Small Blue's colonies, the Fritillary described as the most endangered, the Silver-studded Blue already breeding twice in continental Europe, and the White Admiral's southern range and honeysuckle-only diet.
Question 7
Answer: coloniesParagraph 6
What does the Small Blue live in?
the dainty Small Blue, whose colonies are up to a hundred strong
Question says → Passage says
The Small Blue lives inthe dainty Small Blue, whose colonies
Why: The Small Blue lives in groups called colonies, of up to a hundred. The gap after 'lives in' needs a plural noun: 'colonies'.
The trap: Habitats like 'woodland' are mentioned for the High Brown Fritillary in the next paragraph, not the Small Blue. Keep the s on 'colonies'.
Question 8
Answer: springParagraph 6, last sentence
When in the year does the Small Blue first appear?
some develop into butterflies early in spring
Question says → Passage says
first appearsdevelop into butterflies
at the start ofearly in
Why: 'Early in spring' = 'at the start of spring'. The gap is the season: 'spring'.
The trap: 'Summer' and 'autumn' are in the same sentence, but they're when the later generations breed, not when the first butterflies appear.
Question 9
Answer: endangeredParagraph 7, middle
What is the High Brown Fritillary seen as being more of than other species?
The beautiful High Brown Fritillary, often described as Britain's most endangered butterfly
Question says → Passage says
is considered to beoften described as
more ___ than other speciesBritain's most
Why: 'Most endangered' means more endangered than any other, and 'often described as' = 'considered to be'. The gap needs an adjective: 'endangered'.
The trap: 'Beautiful' is also in the phrase, but the passage doesn't say it's considered more beautiful than others. 'Most' goes with 'endangered'.
Question 10
Answer: habitatParagraph 7
Also accepted: habitats
What do the Fritillary's caterpillars occupy only a narrow range of?
the species in this group that specialise in very specific habitat types, often related to the caterpillar's preferred diet… It is found only in coppiced woodland and limestone pavement habitats
Question says → Passage says
a limited range ofvery specific / found only in
its caterpillars occupyrelated to the caterpillar's preferred diet
Why: The Fritillary belongs to the group that specialises in very specific habitat types and is found only in two habitats. 'Only' and 'very specific' give you 'limited range'. Both 'habitat' and 'habitats' are accepted.
The trap: 'Woodland' fits the gap grammatically, but it's only one of the two habitats. 'Diet' is also near the caterpillar, but you can't occupy a range of diets; it's the answer to 13 instead.
Question 11
Answer: EuropeParagraph 8
Where can species like the Silver-studded Blue already breed twice a year when it's warm?
Many of Britain's single-generation species show the capacity, in continental Europe, to add a second generation in years that are sufficiently warm.
Question says → Passage says
already able to reproduce twice a yearshow the capacity… to add a second generation
in warm areas ofin continental Europe… sufficiently warm
Why: These species can already add a second generation in continental Europe when it's warm enough. The Silver-studded Blue is given as an example of such a species. The gap needs a place name: 'Europe'.
The trap: 'UK' appears in the next sentence, but that's where it 'might be able to' switch in the future, not where it already does. 'Continental' is an adjective and doesn't work after 'areas of'.
Question 12
Answer: southernParagraph 9, second sentence
Which part of England is the White Admiral found in?
The White Admiral of southern England, a much sought-after butterfly
Question says → Passage says
is found in ___ areas of Englandof southern England
Why: 'Of southern England' tells you where it lives. The gap needs an adjective before 'areas', and 'southern' fits.
The trap: 'South' is a noun and doesn't fit 'south areas'. Copy the passage's adjective form.
Question 13
Answer: dietParagraph 9, last two sentences
Apart from climate change, what about the caterpillar may explain the decline?
This may be because the caterpillar exists solely on a diet of a plant called honeysuckle. But it is also likely to be due to climate change.
Question says → Passage says
possible reasons for declineThis may be because / is also likely to be due to
the ___ of the caterpillarthe caterpillar exists solely on a diet
Why: The two reasons given are the caterpillar's narrow diet (only honeysuckle) and climate change. The note has climate change already, so the gap is 'diet'.
The trap: 'Honeysuckle' is the plant itself. 'The honeysuckle of the caterpillar' doesn't make sense; the reason is what it eats, its diet.
The answer is 'Europe'. The passage says 'continental Europe', but the note already asks for a place, and only one word fits the gap.
Words from this passage worth keeping
knock-on effects(Paragraph 1)
indirect results that follow from something
halt(Paragraph 1)
stop
well equipped(Paragraph 3)
having what is needed to deal with something
abundance(Paragraph 4)
how many there are
emergence(Paragraph 5)
the act of appearing or coming out
dainty(Paragraph 6)
small and delicate
downfall(Paragraph 7)
a fall from a strong position; decline
sought-after(Paragraph 9)
wanted by many people
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The full Cambridge 19 Test 4 reading paper: all three passages, 60 minutes, marked the second you finish with a review of every answer. Already done it? Take it again and see if the same traps still get you.
Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 4, Reading Passage 1. The passage and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full text, or sit the test on Langujet.
The rest of Cambridge 19 Test 4
Passage 1 · Questions 1-13 · You're hereThe impact of climate change on butterflies in Britain
