IELTS 6 September 2025 Real exam Reading Passages with answers for Practice:
Passage 1 — The Doughnut: From Oily Cakes to Global Icon
A
The ancestor of the modern doughnut appears in many culinary traditions: small rounds of fried dough sweetened with honey or fruit were common in medieval Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In colonial North America the Dutch settlers brought olykoek — literally “oily cake” — a fried ball of dough often mixed with dried fruit. These early fried treats could be dense in the middle and were frequently filled (with apple, prune or the like) to counteract the problem of uncooked centres.
B
The familiar ring shape that now dominates doughnut culture is frequently attributed to Hanson Crockett Gregory, an American seafarer. According to later accounts, in 1847 Gregory punched a hole in a round of fried dough while aboard a ship so that the center would cook through more reliably; whether this anecdote is strictly historical is debated, yet the technique did address a real culinary issue. The hole increased the surface area and ensured even frying — a simple innovation with outsized impact.
C
Industrialisation transformed the doughnut from a domestic indulgence to a mass-market commodity. In the early twentieth century mechanised production appeared: inventors devised machines that could roll, cut, fry and glaze dough in large batches. Adolph Levitt is often credited with creating one of the earliest automated machines in the 1920s, allowing bakeries to produce standardised doughnuts quickly and cheaply. The mechanisation both lowered costs and standardised shapes and textures, which in turn fuelled demand and the opening of specialised doughnut shops.
D
Cultural diffusion and commercial branding then shaped the doughnut’s modern identity. In North America, the expansion of transport networks and changing work patterns — notably shift work in factories and the rise of early-morning commuters — created a market for quick, portable breakfast foods. The post-war era witnessed the growth of chains and franchises that packaged the doughnut as an emblem of convenience and comfort. This commercialisation prompted regional innovations (from filled doughnuts to glazed varieties) and, in recent decades, a global diaspora of styles.
E
Yet the doughnut’s story is not simply one of sweet success. Health critics have long targeted fried sweets for their high sugar and fat content, linking frequent consumption to problems such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, production has sometimes involved precarious labour practices in low-cost facilities. At the same time, artisan movements have reclaimed the doughnut as a site of gastronomic creativity: chefs experiment with novel fillings, alternate flours and plant-based frying media, while boutique shops market provenance, small-batch frying and seasonal glazes.
F
Today the doughnut occupies multiple symbolic roles: a nostalgic comfort, an item of mass convenience, and a canvas for culinary innovation. It sits comfortably at the intersection of home tradition and industrial modernity — a food whose simple construction belies a rich history of adaptation to technology, economy and taste.
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QUESTIONS 1–5: Matching Headings
Match each paragraph (A–F) with the most suitable heading from the list below. Write the correct letter (i–vii) in boxes 1–5.
List of Headings
i. Industrialisation and mass production
ii. Culinary critique: health and labour concerns
iii. Folk origins and early recipes
iv. The ring-hole innovation and its inventor
v. Globalisation, commerce and chains
vi. Contemporary artisan revival
vii. The doughnut as cultural symbol
1. Paragraph A → ___
2. Paragraph B → ___
3. Paragraph C → ___
4. Paragraph D → ___
5. Paragraph E → ___
QUESTIONS 6–8: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
6. The olykoek was always a ring shape.
7. Hanson Gregory certainly invented the ring doughnut in 1847.
8. Automating doughnut production contributed to standardisation of the product.
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QUESTIONS 9–11: SENTENCE COMPLETION
Complete the sentences below. Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
9. The hole in the doughnut helped ensure the ________ of the fried product.
10. Mechanised doughnut machines first became prominent in the ________ century.
11. Artisan doughnut shops often emphasise small-batch frying and ________.
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QUESTIONS 12–13: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
12. Which of the following best summarises the author’s view of the doughnut?
A. A harmful food that should be avoided.
B. A simple food with little historical interest.
C. A food that reflects technological and cultural change.
D. A food whose popularity is limited to North America.
13. Which statement about modern doughnut culture is supported by the passage?
A. Artisan doughnuts have eliminated mass production altogether.
B. Health concerns have no impact on doughnut consumption.
C. New doughnut varieties challenge traditional recipes.
D. Doughnuts are only eaten as breakfast items.
Passage 2 — The Remarkable World of Leaf-Cutting Ants
A
Among the most extraordinary insects in the natural world are the leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta and Acromyrmex, found predominantly in the tropical regions of Central and South America. Unlike most ants, these species do not consume the leaves they harvest. Instead, they transport fragments back to their nests where the material is used to cultivate a specialised fungus, which serves as their primary food source. This remarkable system represents one of the earliest and most sophisticated examples of agriculture beyond human societies.
B
The structure of a leaf-cutter colony is highly complex, consisting of millions of individuals divided into distinct castes. Workers vary drastically in size, from tiny “minims” responsible for tending the fungal gardens, to larger “majors” that defend foraging trails and carry hefty leaf fragments. This degree of polymorphism, where physical form aligns precisely with occupational roles, is unusual in the insect kingdom. It ensures efficient division of labour and maximises the survival of the colony.
C
Fungal cultivation requires meticulous care. Ants chew the leaves into a pulp, deposit it within subterranean chambers, and inoculate it with fungal spores. The fungus grows optimally under controlled humidity and temperature; to maintain this, workers constantly remove waste and secrete antimicrobial substances that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Such sanitary measures are essential, as the collapse of the fungal garden would spell disaster for the colony.
D
The symbiosis between ant and fungus is ancient. Fossil evidence and genetic analysis suggest that this mutualistic relationship originated more than 50 million years ago. Over this immense timescale, the fungus has become entirely dependent on the ants for propagation, while the ants cannot survive without their fungal crop. This tight coevolution has led scientists to describe the system as one of nature’s most successful “domestications.”
E
Leaf-cutting ants exert immense ecological influence. Their foraging activities remove significant amounts of vegetation, altering plant composition and nutrient cycles in forests. Some studies estimate that a large colony may harvest several hundred kilograms of leaves annually. While this appears destructive, it simultaneously enhances soil aeration through nest building and accelerates decomposition processes, contributing to ecosystem productivity. Thus, the ants function as both pests to farmers and essential engineers of tropical habitats.
F
Researchers have long admired the ants’ efficiency and resilience, and biologists now investigate whether their cooperative strategies can inspire human endeavours. The ants’ methods of waste management, task allocation, and agricultural innovation provide models for robotics, computer algorithms, and sustainable farming. Leaf-cutters demonstrate how collective intelligence and precise cooperation can generate systems of remarkable complexity without centralised control.
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QUESTIONS 14–18: MATCHING HEADINGS
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A–F from the list below.
List of Headings
i. Ecological impact of colonies
ii. Structure of ant society
iii. Farming practices and hygiene
iv. Ancient coevolution
v. Modern scientific inspiration
vi. Introduction to leaf-cutters
vii. Division of labour in other insects
14. Paragraph A → ___
15. Paragraph B → ___
16. Paragraph C → ___
17. Paragraph D → ___
18. Paragraph E → ___
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QUESTIONS 19–21: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
19. Leaf-cutting ants eat the leaves they collect.
20. The ants’ fungus would continue to thrive even without the ants’ assistance.
21. Large colonies can influence the physical structure of forest soil.
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QUESTIONS 22–24: SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer the questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
22. What do the smallest worker ants tend to within the nest?
23. What substances do the ants produce to fight bacteria?
24. Which human practices are researchers comparing to the ants’ cooperative behaviour?
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QUESTIONS 25–26: MULTIPLE CHOICE
25. What makes the leaf-cutters’ division of labour unusual?
A. Each ant performs all roles.
B. Ants change size as they age.
C. Physical form is linked to specific tasks.
D. Only the queen directs their activities.
26. The author’s overall attitude towards leaf-cutting ants can best be described as:
A. Admiration for their organisation.
B. Concern about their destructive nature.
C. Indifference towards their ecological role.
D. Criticism of their threat to agriculture.
Passage 3 — Hurricanes: Nature’s Fiercest Storms
A
Hurricanes, also called tropical cyclones or typhoons depending on their geographical location, are among the most powerful natural phenomena on Earth. Formed over warm ocean waters near the equator, they are characterised by spiralling winds, torrential rainfall, and the iconic “eye” of relative calm at their centre. While the destructive potential of these storms is widely acknowledged, scientific inquiry into their mechanics, history, and future trajectories reveals both their complexity and their broader global significance.
B
The basic ingredients of a hurricane include warm sea-surface temperatures, humid air, and converging winds. When moist air rises, it cools and condenses, releasing latent heat. This heat fuels the storm further, generating a self-sustaining cycle. Only when sea-surface temperatures exceed roughly 26°C can this chain reaction occur with enough intensity to form a hurricane. Furthermore, the Coriolis effect, produced by Earth’s rotation, causes the storm to spin, which is why hurricanes do not occur at the equator where rotational forces are minimal.
C
The anatomy of a hurricane is striking. The eyewall, which surrounds the central eye, contains the most violent winds and heaviest rainfall. Extending outward are spiral rainbands that can stretch hundreds of kilometres, producing floods and tornadoes. Although the eye itself may be deceptively tranquil, often clear with light winds, its surrounding structures are lethal. Scientists note that more fatalities occur due to storm surges—massive walls of seawater pushed ashore—than from the winds themselves.
D
Historically, hurricanes have altered human societies profoundly. Records from the Caribbean in the 16th and 17th centuries recount entire fleets being sunk, altering colonial ambitions. In 1900, the Galveston hurricane in Texas killed over 6,000 people, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Even with modern forecasting, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 demonstrated the vulnerability of urban infrastructure, leaving New Orleans devastated and igniting debates over social inequality in disaster preparedness.
E
Advances in meteorology have improved forecasting accuracy, with satellites and computer models now capable of tracking storm paths days in advance. However, predicting intensity remains difficult. Rapid intensification, when wind speeds increase dramatically within hours, continues to surprise experts. This unpredictability complicates evacuation decisions, leading to both false alarms and tragic underestimations. Scientists emphasise that further understanding of ocean–atmosphere interactions is crucial for more reliable predictions.
F
Climate change has added new urgency to hurricane research. Warmer oceans and higher sea levels are expected to intensify storms and magnify their destructive potential. While the frequency of hurricanes may not increase significantly, their severity is projected to rise, with Category 4 and 5 storms becoming more common. Coastal populations, especially in developing nations, are disproportionately at risk, as weaker infrastructure compounds the danger.
G
Beyond their destructive capacity, hurricanes play a paradoxical role in Earth’s climate system. They help redistribute heat from the tropics toward the poles, balancing global temperatures. Some scientists argue that without such storms, the tropics would overheat, destabilising atmospheric circulation. Thus, hurricanes represent both a threat to human societies and an essential mechanism in maintaining planetary equilibrium.
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QUESTIONS 27–31: MATCHING INFORMATION
Match each statement with the correct paragraph (A–G).
27. Describes why hurricanes do not form at the equator.
28. Mentions the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history.
29. Explains how storm surges cause more fatalities than winds.
30. Refers to hurricanes influencing the spread of colonial empires.
31. Notes how storms redistribute heat in the climate system.
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QUESTIONS 32–35: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
32. The eye of a hurricane is the most dangerous part of the storm.
33. Hurricanes require sea temperatures above a specific threshold to form.
34. Hurricane Katrina highlighted failures in protecting vulnerable groups.
35. Scientists can predict the exact strength of hurricanes several days in advance.
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QUESTIONS 36–39: SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer the questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
36. What natural force causes hurricanes to rotate?
37. What technology now helps track storm paths?
38. Which developing U.S. city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina?
39. What aspect of hurricane behaviour still surprises experts?
QUESTIONS 40: MULTIPLE CHOICE
40. The overall message of the passage is that hurricanes are:
A. Entirely destructive and should be eradicated.
B. Natural phenomena that also regulate Earth’s climate.
C. Becoming less frequent due to climate change.
D. Unpredictable but irrelevant to global balance.
ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
1–5 Matching Headings
1. Paragraph A → iii (Folk origins and early recipes)
Explanation: Paragraph A traces early ancestors and examples (olykoek, medieval fried dough), so it matches origins and recipes.
2. Paragraph B → iv (The ring-hole innovation and its inventor)
Explanation: Paragraph B focuses on Hanson Gregory and the hole-punch innovation — clearly about the ring and its origin story.
3. Paragraph C → i (Industrialisation and mass production)
Explanation: Paragraph C discusses mechanisation and Adolph Levitt’s machines in the 1920s producing standardised doughnuts: industrialisation.
4. Paragraph D → v (Globalisation, commerce and chains)
Explanation: Paragraph D covers cultural diffusion, transport, chains/franchises, commercialisation — fits globalisation and commerce.
5. Paragraph E → ii (Culinary critique: health and labour concerns)
Explanation: Paragraph E addresses health critiques and precarious labour, alongside artisan responses — this heading matches best.
(Note: Paragraph F corresponds to heading vii but only five matching questions were asked.)
6–8 TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN
6. FALSE — The olykoek was always a ring shape.
Why: Paragraph A describes olykoek as fried balls often filled with fruit. The ring shape came later (Paragraph B). So the statement contradicts the passage.
7. NOT GIVEN — Hanson Gregory certainly invented the ring doughnut in 1847.
Why: Paragraph B recounts the popular story but also notes “whether this anecdote is strictly historical is debated.” The passage does not confirm certainty; therefore NOT GIVEN.
8. TRUE — Automating doughnut production contributed to standardisation of the product.
Why: Paragraph C explicitly says mechanisation “standardised shapes and textures,” so the statement is directly supported.
9–11 Sentence Completion
9. even frying (or “even cooking” — accept either if within two words)
Where found / Why: Paragraph B explains the hole “ensured even frying” (increasing surface area to cook through).
10. twentieth (or “20th”)
Where found / Why: Paragraph C states mechanised production appeared in the early twentieth century.
11. provenance (or “provenance, small-batch frying” — but single word “provenance” fits the passage best)
Where found / Why: Paragraph E: artisan shops “market provenance, small-batch frying and seasonal glazes.” The requested phrase is provenance.
12–13 Multiple Choice
12. C — A food that reflects technological and cultural change.
Why: The passage traces doughnut evolution from folk origins (A), through technological change (C) to cultural and commercial roles (D, F) — the overall view is that the doughnut reflects technology, economy and taste.
13. C — New doughnut varieties challenge traditional recipes.
Why: Paragraph D and E describe regional innovations, filled and glazed varieties, and artisan experiments — supporting option C.
Options A, B and D are contradicted or unsupported: A is false (artisans coexist with mass production), B is false (health concerns are discussed), D is false (consumption contexts are wider than breakfast).
14. vi (Introduction to leaf-cutters) → Para A introduces their unique fungus-based farming.
15. ii (Structure of ant society) → Para B describes colony castes and division of labour.
16. iii (Farming practices and hygiene) → Para C outlines fungal cultivation and sanitation.
17. iv (Ancient coevolution) → Para D explains fossil/genetic evidence of 50m years.
18. i (Ecological impact of colonies) → Para E discusses vegetation removal and soil effects.
(Para F would match v.)
19–21 T/F/NG
19. FALSE → They do not eat leaves, they farm fungus (Para A).
20. FALSE → Para D: fungus is completely dependent on ants.
21. TRUE → Para E: nest building aerates soil, altering structure.
22–24 Short Answers
22. fungal gardens → Para B: “minims responsible for tending the fungal gardens.”
23. antimicrobial substances → Para C.
24. robotics / computer algorithms / sustainable farming → Para F lists these as comparisons.
25–26 MCQ
25. C → Para B: size polymorphism where form = role, unusual in insects.
26. A → Admiration; passage highlights efficiency, innovation, inspiration (Para F).
27. B → Para B explains Coriolis effect & absence at equator.
28. D → Galveston hurricane, 1900, deadliest U.S. event.
29. C → Para C: fatalities mainly from storm surges.
30. D → Para D: colonial fleets destroyed, altering ambitions.
31. G → Hurricanes redistribute tropical heat.
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32–35 T/F/NG
32. FALSE → Eye is calm; eyewall is dangerous (Para C).
33. TRUE → Para B: must exceed 26°C.
34. TRUE → Para D: Katrina exposed inequality & vulnerability.
35. FALSE → Para E: intensity prediction still unreliable.
36–39 Short Answers
36. Coriolis effect (Para B).
37. satellites (Para E).
38. New Orleans (Para D).
39. rapid intensification (Para E).
40. B → Passage ends by emphasising hurricanes’ dual role: destructive but climate-regulating (Para G)
