CAE Reading 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In CAE Reading, a text about urban planning states that a controversial building project 'divided opinion along predictable lines.' What does this phrase imply?
- The debate was unexpected and unprecedented
- People's positions reflected their pre-existing values or interests (Correct answer)
- Most people agreed after careful consideration
- The division was caused by misinformation
Correct answer: People's positions reflected their pre-existing values or interests
'Along predictable lines' implies that the disagreement fell into familiar patterns determined by existing interests, values, or affiliations.
Question 2: A CAE gapped text task has a paragraph beginning: 'Nor was this an isolated incident.' What does the use of 'Nor' at the start suggest about what precedes this paragraph?
- The preceding paragraph described a positive event
- The preceding paragraph described a negative event or problem (Correct answer)
- The preceding paragraph introduced a new topic unrelated to incidents
- The preceding paragraph concluded the text's argument
Correct answer: The preceding paragraph described a negative event or problem
'Nor' is used to add a further negative element, indicating the preceding paragraph described something negative that this sentence reinforces.
Question 3: In a CAE Part 5 text, the author writes that a famous explorer's journals reveal 'a mind in constant dialogue with itself.' What does this most likely mean?
- The explorer spoke to companions during the journey
- The explorer frequently experienced auditory hallucinations
- The explorer engaged in deep self-reflection and internal debate (Correct answer)
- The explorer maintained detailed correspondence with colleagues
Correct answer: The explorer engaged in deep self-reflection and internal debate
'A mind in dialogue with itself' is a figurative expression for intense introspection and self-questioning, not literal speech.
Question 4: A CAE question asks about the writer's purpose in paragraph 4 of a text on education reform. The paragraph lists several statistics followed by 'these figures speak for themselves.' What is the writer implying?
- The statistics are unreliable and need further explanation
- The statistics are so clear they require no additional commentary (Correct answer)
- The writer is uncertain how to interpret the data
- The statistics were collected by an independent body
Correct answer: The statistics are so clear they require no additional commentary
'Speak for themselves' means the data is self-evident and compelling without needing further elaboration from the writer.
Question 5: In a CAE cross-text task, Writer A describes a new economic policy as 'bold,' while Writer B calls the same policy 'reckless.' What is the key difference in their views?
- Writer A supports the policy; Writer B is indifferent to it
- Both writers support the policy but for different reasons
- Writer A views the risk positively; Writer B views it negatively (Correct answer)
- Writer B supports the policy but Writer A is opposed
Correct answer: Writer A views the risk positively; Writer B views it negatively
Both 'bold' and 'reckless' acknowledge risk-taking, but 'bold' frames it positively as courageous while 'reckless' frames it negatively as irresponsible.
Question 6: A CAE Reading passage about media states: 'Headlines are designed to hook, not to inform.' What is the author's underlying argument?
- Headlines accurately summarize article content
- Media companies prioritize audience engagement over accuracy or depth (Correct answer)
- Readers prefer detailed headlines to brief ones
- The writing of headlines requires little journalistic skill
Correct answer: Media companies prioritize audience engagement over accuracy or depth
The author is criticizing the prioritization of sensationalism and click-bait ('hook') over genuine informational value in modern media.
Question 7: In CAE Reading Part 5, a question asks you to identify what a pronoun refers to. The sentence reads: 'Scientists welcomed the breakthrough, though they urged caution.' What does 'they' refer to?
- The breakthrough
- The scientists (Correct answer)
- Other researchers not mentioned in the sentence
- Policymakers who responded to the discovery
Correct answer: The scientists
In this sentence, 'they' is a personal pronoun referring back to the most recently mentioned noun phrase that can logically perform the action—'scientists.'
CAE Reading 5
In CAE Reading, a text about urban planning states that a controversial building project 'divided opinion along predictable lines.' What does this phrase imply?