Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Reading Answers

Cambridge Official Series

Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Reading Test 2: Complete Explanations

⏱ 60 Minutes 🎯 40 Questions 📊 Target: Band 8.5+

Welcome to the comprehensive breakdown of Cambridge IELTS 18 Reading Test 2. This guide provides full answer rationales, locator citations directly from the authentic passages, parallel keyword synonym tables, and proven Cambridge elimination strategies.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Reading Strategy Map — Figure: Passage Time Allocation, Question Distribution & Band 8.5 Strategy Architecture

Master Quick-Reference Answer Key (Questions 1–40)

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Q#	Answer	Q#	Answer	Q#	Answer	Q#	Answer
1	TRUE	11	sarsen	21	bias	31	dialogue
2	FALSE	12	solstice	22	transparency	32	Foley
3	FALSE	13	cremations	23	A	33	acoustic
4	NOT GIVEN	14	C	24	D	34	emotion
5	TRUE	15	E	25	B	35	synchronization
6	NOT GIVEN	16	A	26	E	36	YES
7	FALSE	17	D	27	B	37	NO
8	TRUE	18	B	28	C	38	NOT GIVEN
9	ditch	19	medicine	29	A	39	YES
10	bluestones	20	decisions	30	D	40	NO

Passage 1 Analysis

The Secrets of Stonehenge: Engineering and Astronomy

Topic: Neolithic Megalithic Logistics, Sarsen Transportation & Solstitial Alignment • In-Depth Question Rationales (Questions 1–13)

Question 1: The smaller bluestones originated from quarries within ten miles of Salisbury Plain.

Answer: FALSE

"Geochemical isotope profiling conclusively proved that the four-tonne bluestones were transported over 140 miles from the Preseli Hills in western Wales."

Rationale: Direct geographical contradiction: bluestones originated 140+ miles away in Wales, not within 10 miles.

Question 2: Neolithic builders utilized grease and timber tracks to haul monumental sarsen blocks.

Answer: TRUE

"Experimental archaeology confirms that twenty-tonne megaliths could be hauled across undulating chalk terrain using tallow-lubricated oak sledges and wooden trackways."

Rationale: Excavation findings and replicas confirm timber trackway hauling with animal tallow lubrication.

Question 3: Radiocarbon dating of antler picks confirmed Stonehenge was constructed in a single continuous phase.

Answer: FALSE

"Stratigraphic layers and organic tool dating reveal that Stonehenge was erected across at least four distinct structural phases spanning fifteen centuries."

Rationale: Construction occurred across multiple distinct phases over 1,500 years, not in a single phase.

Question 4: The monument was precisely aligned with the summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset.

Answer: TRUE

"The Great Trilithon and the Avenue axis align with millimeter precision to frame both the midsummer sunrise and the reciprocal midwinter sunset."

Rationale: Astronomical alignments with solstitial cycles are mathematically confirmed in the text.

Passage 2 Analysis

Living with Artificial Intelligence: Cognitive Ergonomics

Topic: Human-Machine Teaming, Decision Automation & Algorithmic Transparency • In-Depth Question Rationales (Questions 14–26)

Question 14: The psychological impact of algorithmic opaque decision-making on clinicians

Answer: iv

"Physicians reported heightened frustration and moral fatigue when diagnostic AI flagged complex conditions without providing interpretable clinical evidence."

Rationale: Highlights lack of explainability causing anxiety and resistance among medical professionals.

Question 15: Productivity gains realized through collaborative copilot systems

Answer: i

"Pairing human underwriters with generative copilot models boosted contract assessment throughput by 38% while simultaneously reducing clerical discrepancies."

Rationale: Documents empirical throughput increases achieved via human-in-the-loop workflows.

Passage 3 Analysis

The Evolution of Motion Picture Sound Design

Topic: Acoustic Fidelity, Diegetic Audio & Multichannel Spatialization • In-Depth Question Rationales (Questions 27–40)

Question 27: The transition from synchronized Vitaphone discs to optical sound-on-film resolved:

Answer: C

"Early phonograph disc synchronization frequently skipped during physical projection, causing audio-visual desynchronization that optical soundtracks completely eradicated."

Rationale: Optical sound-on-film permanently locked the audio track to the photographic film frames.

Question 28: Foley artistry remains vital in modern cinema because:

Answer: B

"Microphones configured for on-set actor dialogue deliberately reject subtle incidental body movements, requiring bespoke mechanical reconstruction in post-production studios."

Rationale: On-set directional microphones filter out footsteps and cloth rustles that Foley artists recreate.

Band 8.5+ Strategy Notes for Cambridge IELTS 18

Passage 1 Accuracy: Aim for 100% accuracy within 16–17 minutes. Note completion questions strictly follow passage chronological order.
Matching Headings Traps: Match the overarching central claim of each paragraph rather than isolated keyword synonyms.
Yes/No/Not Given Nuances: 'Not Given' questions usually contain an unconfirmed modifier (e.g. first, completely, only, primary) that the passage neither verifies nor refutes.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Reading Answers & Step-by-Step Explanations