Band Booster Gaps – IELTS Section-wise Practice Sets – Rare Band 9 Collection

  

IELTS Academic Reading Practice

Passage 1: Sustainable Urban Agriculture

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on the reading passage below.

Sustainable Urban Agriculture

Cities across the globe are experiencing a significant transformation as urban agriculture gains popularity. From rooftop gardens to hydroponic systems in abandoned warehouses, city dwellers are embracing new ways to produce food within densely populated areas. This movement addresses various challenges linked to food security, climate change, and urban sustainability.

Urban farming offers several social, environmental, and economic benefits. By growing food locally, cities can reduce the environmental costs associated with transporting produce over long distances. Additionally, urban agriculture helps to decrease carbon emissions and provides access to fresher and more affordable fruits and vegetables. It also promotes community engagement, as local residents often collaborate to manage community gardens or support local green initiatives.

One of the key innovations in this field is vertical farming. This method involves growing crops in stacked layers, often inside buildings with controlled conditions. Technologies such as LED lighting and hydroponic or aeroponic systems allow plants to grow without soil and with minimal water usage. These innovations make it possible to grow crops year-round regardless of external weather conditions.

Despite these benefits, urban agriculture faces challenges. Limited space, high startup costs, and technical expertise are major barriers. Indoor farming systems require substantial investment in infrastructure, such as lighting, irrigation, and climate control systems. Moreover, urban farmers often need specialized training to manage these complex operations efficiently.

Governments and local organizations are stepping in to support urban agriculture through policies, funding, and educational programs. Many cities have started offering grants, land access, and workshops to promote local food production. As more urban residents take part in growing their own food, the movement continues to grow—reshaping the future of food systems in cities around the world.

Questions 1–13

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1–13 on your answer sheet.

1. Urban agriculture is helping to solve issues related to food security and ________.
2. A common location for urban farming is ________.
3. Urban agriculture makes fruits and vegetables both fresher and more ________.
4. Local farming reduces the need for long-distance ________.
5. Community gardens help encourage ________ among local people.
6. Vertical farming allows crops to grow in ________ inside buildings.
7. LED lighting is used in vertical farming to replace natural ________.
8. Soil is not required when using hydroponic or ________ systems.
9. Indoor farming requires investment in technology like climate control and ________.
10. One major difficulty in urban agriculture is the lack of technical ________.
11. Some city governments offer ________ to help cover initial costs.
12. Educational programs and ________ are provided to train urban farmers.
13. Urban agriculture is contributing to changes in urban ________ systems.

Passage 2: The Rise of Remote Work

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26.

In recent years, the way many people work has been fundamentally modified by the rise of remote work. Fueled by advances in digital technology and shifting expectations around work–life balance, more employers now support staff working from home, or other off‑site locations. This approach allows employees to reduce commuting, which not only lowers stress but also contributes to a decline in urban traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.

Remote work has wide-ranging benefits. It offers staff increased flexibility, allowing them to manage personal responsibilities alongside professional commitments. Employers, too, can benefit from access to a broader talent pool unrestricted by geography. Additionally, companies can reduce costs related to office space and utilities.

However, remote work comes with its own set of challenges. Some employees suffer from social isolation due to reduced in‑person interaction, which can affect mental well‑being and team cohesion. Reliable internet connectivity and suitable workspace are also essential—without them, productivity may decline. Moreover, coordinating across time zones can complicate teamwork and scheduling.

To address these issues, many organizations invest in online collaboration tools, virtual team‑building activities, and remote work policies. They also provide training on managing work–from–home setups effectively. As remote work continues to increase in popularity, it reshapes conventional workplace models and raises questions about the future of traditional offices.

Questions 14–26

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

14. Remote work has been significantly __________ by digital technology.
15. Employees working remotely can avoid __________.
16. Reducing commuting helps decrease __________ and greenhouse gas emissions.
17. Remote work gives employees more __________ to balance personal and professional life.
18. Employers benefit through access to a __________.
19. Remote arrangements help companies save money on __________ and utilities.
20. A downside of remote work is that people may experience __________ due to reduced interaction.
21. This isolation can negatively impact mental __________ and team cohesion.
22. Essential requirements for remote productivity include __________ and workspace.
23. Working across __________ can create challenges for teams.
24. Organizations use online __________ tools to facilitate collaboration.
25. Virtual __________ activities can help maintain team cohesion.
26. Productivity‑supporting guidance often comes through __________ policies.

Passage 3: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly significant role in modern healthcare systems. From early disease detection to treatment recommendations, AI applications are improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data, including imaging scans, electronic health records, and genetic information, to identify patterns imperceptible to the human eye.

In hospitals, AI-powered tools assist radiologists by highlighting potential anomalies on scans, helping detect diseases such as cancer at earlier stages. AI also supports personalized treatment planning, tailoring medications and therapies to an individual’s unique genetic profile. These developments show great promise in enhancing preventive care and reducing misdiagnoses.

Despite its advantages, AI in healthcare faces significant obstacles. One concern is a shortage of high-quality data needed to train reliable systems. Issues around patient privacy and ethical use of sensitive health information also remain pressing. Additionally, the high cost of deploying and maintaining sophisticated AI systems can deter smaller clinics and hospitals.

Efforts to overcome these challenges include using anonymized datasets, establishing strict governance frameworks, and pursuing collaborations between technology developers and healthcare providers. As regulatory bodies catch up, AI is expected to become a more integral and trusted component of healthcare delivery worldwide.

Questions 27–40

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

27. AI is increasingly important in modern healthcare __________.
28. AI improves both diagnostic __________ and patient outcomes.
29. Machine learning algorithms analyze large volumes of __________.
30. These data include imaging scans, health records, and __________.
31. AI can detect patterns not visible to the __________.
32. In hospitals, AI tools help radiologists identify possible __________.
33. One benefit of AI is aiding in the planning of __________ treatment.
34. Treatment can be tailored based on a person's genetic __________.
35. A major limitation is the lack of __________ to train AI systems.
36. Patient __________ and ethical use of health data are critical issues.
37. The __________ of AI systems can prevent adoption by smaller clinics.
38. To mitigate risks, developers use __________ datasets.
39. Strict __________ frameworks help manage ethical AI use.
40. Collaborations between tech firms and healthcare providers support AI’s __________ in healthcare.