Getting Started with Backyard Birdwatching: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 10 questionsGeneral Trainingeasy
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About this passage
The passage opens: “Birdwatching is a hobby that almost anyone can enjoy, and you do not need to travel to a distant nature reserve to begin. A garden, a balcony or even a window overlooking a street can become a window into the lives of wild birds.”
- Passage length: about 473 words
- Questions: 10
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Short Answer
“Getting Started with Backyard Birdwatching” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
Getting Started with Backyard Birdwatching answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information.
- 1
You must travel to a nature reserve to begin birdwatching.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 1 “…you do not need to travel to a distant nature reserve to begin.”
- 2
Offering a variety of foods attracts a wider range of bird species.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “…offering a variety, such as seeds, nuts and pieces of fat, will bring a wider range of species.”
- 3
Dirty feeders can spread disease among birds.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “It is important to keep feeders clean, because dirty feeders can spread disease among the birds that gather there.”
- 4
Birds in cities sing more loudly than birds in the countryside.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that birds in cities sing more loudly than those in the countryside, but the passage does not confirm or deny this, as it does not discuss differences in bird song between urban and rural areas.
- 5
Expensive equipment is essential for anyone who wants to start watching birds.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “You do not need expensive equipment to start watching.”
- 6
Some birdwatchers send the results of garden bird counts to researchers.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “…counting the birds in their gardens on a chosen day and sending the results to researchers who study wildlife populations.”
Questions 7–10: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
- 7
What is the easiest way to attract birds, according to the passage?(max 3 words)
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Answer: food (also accepted: offer them food / to offer them food)
Why: The answer “food” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 2 “The easiest way to attract birds is to offer them food.”
- 8
Besides drinking, birds use water to keep what part of themselves clean?(max 2 words)
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Answer: their feathers (also accepted: feathers)
Why: The answer “their feathers” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “Birds need water both for drinking and for keeping their feathers clean”
- 9
What piece of equipment helps you see distant birds clearly?(max 3 words)
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Answer: binoculars (also accepted: a pair of binoculars)
Why: The answer “binoculars” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “A pair of binoculars is helpful for seeing distant birds clearly”
- 10
Along with stillness, what quality is described as a birdwatcher's greatest tool?(max 1 word)
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Answer: patience
Why: The answer “patience” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 1-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “Patience and stillness are a birdwatcher's greatest tools.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 10 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (General Training) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 10 / 10 | 9.0 |
| 9 / 10 | 7.5 |
| 8 / 10 | 6.5 |
| 7 / 10 | 5.5 |
| 6 / 10 | 5.0 |
| 5 / 10 | 4.5 |
| 4 / 10 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 10 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 10 | 2.5 |
| 1 / 10 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 10 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
True / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “Getting Started with Backyard Birdwatching” under exam conditions
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