IELTS Reading practice Passages 16 May 2026

IELTS Reading practice Passages 16 May 2026

Passage 1: The Tyne Bridge

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

The Tyne Bridge

The Tyne Bridge is one of the most recognised landmarks in northeast England. Connecting the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, the structure crosses the River Tyne and has played an essential role in transportation and regional identity for decades.

Construction of the famous crossing began in 1925 and was completed in 1928. At the time, local authorities wanted a durable and visually impressive structure that could support the increasing movement of vehicles and pedestrians between the two urban centres. Thousands of workers participated in the ambitious project, which required significant quantities of steel and concrete.

The bridge officially opened in October 1928 in a ceremony attended by King George V. During the opening event, large crowds gathered along the riverbanks to celebrate what was considered a major engineering achievement. Since then, the crossing has become a symbol of industrial progress in the region.

Architecturally, the structure is often compared to the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia because both share a similar arch design. Interestingly, the British bridge was completed first, leading many historians to believe it may have influenced the later Australian project.

Over the years, the crossing has required regular maintenance due to weather exposure and increasing traffic demands. Engineers frequently inspect the steel framework to ensure safety and preserve the structure for future generations. Restoration programmes have also included repainting the bridge and improving pedestrian pathways.

Apart from transportation purposes, the landmark has cultural significance as well. It regularly appears in films, tourism campaigns, postcards, and television broadcasts associated with northern England. Many sporting celebrations in Newcastle also involve large gatherings around the bridge area.

Today, despite the development of newer transportation systems and additional river crossings, the Tyne Bridge continues to remain a powerful symbol of local heritage and engineering excellence.

Questions 1–5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

Write:

TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this

1. The Tyne Bridge connects Newcastle upon Tyne with London.

2. Construction of the bridge started in the mid-1920s.

3. Only local workers were involved in building the structure.

4. King George V attended the opening ceremony.

5. The bridge no longer supports vehicle traffic.

Questions 6–9

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

6. Why was the bridge originally constructed?

A. To attract tourists

B. To reduce river pollution

C. To improve transport connections

D. To replace railway services

7. The Tyne Bridge is often compared to the Sydney Harbour Bridge because of its:

A. location

B. colour

C. arch structure

D. construction cost

8. Why do engineers regularly inspect the bridge?

A. To increase ticket sales

B. To maintain public safety

C. To change its design

D. To prepare for demolition

9. According to the passage, the bridge is also important because it:

A. produces electricity

B. supports farming activities

C. has cultural value

D. contains museums

Questions 10–13

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

10. The bridge crosses the River ________.

11. Construction was completed in the year ________.

12. The structure is mainly made from steel and ________.

13. The bridge frequently appears in tourism campaigns and ________ broadcasts.

Passage 2: Synaesthesia

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which are based on the reading passage below.

Synaesthesia

Synaesthesia is a rare neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense automatically triggers experiences in another sense. For example, some individuals may hear music and simultaneously perceive colours, while others may associate numbers or letters with specific shades. Researchers believe this unusual condition provides valuable insight into how the human brain organises sensory information.

The term originates from Greek words meaning “joined perception.” Scientists first began formally studying the condition in the nineteenth century, although many earlier artists and musicians had described similar experiences in diaries and personal writings. Initially, some researchers dismissed these reports as imagination or exaggeration. However, advances in brain-imaging technology later confirmed that synaesthesia is a genuine neurological trait.

One of the most common forms is grapheme-colour synaesthesia. Individuals with this variation consistently associate letters or numbers with particular colours. For instance, the number five may always appear red to one person, while another individual might see it as green. These associations usually remain stable throughout life.

Another well-known type is sound-colour synaesthesia, in which sounds trigger visual colour experiences. Musical notes, voices, or everyday environmental noises may produce vivid mental images. Some composers and painters are believed to have used such experiences creatively in their work.

Researchers are still debating the exact causes of the condition. One theory suggests that people with synaesthesia possess increased connections between regions of the brain responsible for processing sensory information. Another explanation proposes that everyone is born with these neural connections, but most lose them during childhood development.

Although synaesthesia is generally harmless, it can occasionally affect concentration or learning in educational settings. Nevertheless, many individuals consider it beneficial because it may strengthen memory and creativity. Studies have shown that some synaesthetes perform particularly well in tasks involving recall and artistic thinking.

Today, scientists continue investigating the phenomenon in order to understand broader questions about human consciousness and perception. Modern research may eventually help experts explain how the brain combines information from multiple senses to create everyday experiences.

Questions 14–18

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

Write:

TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this

14. Synaesthesia causes people to lose one of their senses.

15. Some early researchers doubted the condition was real.

16. Grapheme-colour synaesthesia changes frequently throughout life.

17. Certain artists may have benefited creatively from synaesthesia.

18. Scientists fully understand the causes of synaesthesia.

Questions 19–22

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

19. Why is synaesthesia important to researchers?

A. It improves eyesight

B. It helps explain brain organisation

C. It increases hearing ability

D. It prevents mental illness

20. What is grapheme-colour synaesthesia?

A. Smelling colours

B. Hearing shapes

C. Associating letters or numbers with colours

D. Tasting sounds

21. According to one theory, synaesthesia may occur because:

A. people study music from childhood

B. sensory brain regions are strongly connected

C. environmental pollution damages the brain

D. memory loss affects perception

22. Some people consider synaesthesia beneficial because it may improve:

A. balance and coordination

B. athletic performance

C. creativity and memory

D. physical strength

Questions 23–26

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

23. The word “synaesthesia” comes from the ________ language.

24. Scientists used brain-imaging ________ to confirm the condition.

25. Sound-colour synaesthesia may be triggered by music, voices, or environmental ________.

26. Modern studies aim to understand human consciousness and ________.

Passage 3: Pacific Migration and Voyaging

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on the reading passage below.

Pacific Migration and Voyaging

For thousands of years, people living across the Pacific Ocean developed remarkable navigation techniques that allowed them to travel enormous distances between isolated islands. Long before modern instruments such as compasses or GPS systems existed, skilled voyagers successfully crossed open oceans using knowledge passed through generations.

Historians believe that early Pacific communities migrated gradually from Southeast Asia into regions including Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. These movements occurred over centuries and required extraordinary maritime abilities. Archaeological evidence suggests that ancient sailors built large wooden canoes capable of transporting families, animals, plants, and supplies across dangerous waters.

Navigation depended heavily on observing the natural environment. Experienced sailors carefully studied the position of stars, ocean currents, wind directions, cloud formations, and bird movements. Some navigators could even detect nearby islands by recognising patterns in ocean waves. Such knowledge demanded years of training and memorisation.

One of the most impressive achievements of Pacific voyagers was the settlement of remote islands separated by thousands of kilometres of ocean. Easter Island, Hawaii, and New Zealand were among the final destinations reached during these migrations. Scientists continue debating exactly how these journeys were organised and how often contact occurred between distant communities.

European explorers arriving in the Pacific during later centuries were often surprised by the advanced maritime knowledge possessed by Indigenous populations. However, colonisation and changing lifestyles gradually reduced the use of traditional navigation systems in many regions.

In recent decades, interest in ancient voyaging techniques has increased again. Cultural organisations and researchers have reconstructed traditional canoes and completed long-distance voyages using only historical navigation methods. These projects aim to preserve Indigenous knowledge and educate younger generations about Pacific heritage.

Today, Pacific navigation is recognised not only as an important historical accomplishment but also as evidence of human adaptability, intelligence, and cultural cooperation across vast environments.

Questions 27–31

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

Write:

TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this

27. Ancient Pacific sailors used GPS systems for navigation.

28. Early Pacific migration began from Southeast Asia.

29. Traditional canoes were only used for fishing activities.

30. Some navigators identified islands through wave patterns.

31. Traditional navigation methods completely disappeared after European arrival.

Questions 32–35

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

32. Why were Pacific voyages considered remarkable?

A. They used steam-powered boats

B. They crossed vast ocean distances

C. They depended on written maps

D. They avoided dangerous weather

33. According to the passage, navigation relied mainly on:

A. mechanical equipment

B. underwater cameras

C. observation of nature

D. military guidance

34. Which islands were among the final migration destinations?

A. Iceland and Greenland

B. Japan and China

C. Easter Island and Hawaii

D. Madagascar and India

35. Why are traditional voyages being recreated today?

A. To develop tourism businesses

B. To improve fishing industries

C. To preserve cultural knowledge

D. To discover new islands

Questions 36–40

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

36. Ancient sailors travelled across the Pacific using large wooden ________.

37. Navigators studied stars, currents, winds, and cloud ________.

38. Knowledge of navigation required years of training and ________.

39. European explorers admired the advanced maritime ________ of Indigenous populations.

40. Modern reconstruction projects help educate younger ________ about Pacific heritage.

Answers with Explanations — The Tyne Bridge

1. FALSE

Explanation: The passage says the bridge connects “Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead,” not London.

2. TRUE

Explanation: Construction began in 1925, which is in the mid-1920s.

3. NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage mentions “thousands of workers” but does not state whether all of them were local workers.

4. TRUE

Explanation: It clearly says the bridge opened in a ceremony “attended by King George V.”

5. FALSE

Explanation: The final paragraph states the bridge still remains important and continues functioning despite newer transport systems.

6. C — To improve transport connections

Explanation: Authorities wanted a structure that could support increasing movement between the two cities.

7. C — arch structure

Explanation: The passage says both bridges share a “similar arch design.”

8. B — To maintain public safety

Explanation: Engineers inspect the framework “to ensure safety.”

9. C — has cultural value

Explanation: The passage states it has “cultural significance” and appears in films, postcards, and broadcasts.

10. Tyne

Explanation: The bridge crosses the “River Tyne.”

11. 1928

Explanation: Construction “was completed in 1928.”

12. concrete

Explanation: The project required “steel and concrete.”

13. television

Explanation: It appears in “television broadcasts associated with northern England.”

14. FALSE

Explanation: The passage says synaesthesia connects senses together, not that it causes people to lose senses.

15. TRUE

Explanation: Early researchers “dismissed these reports as imagination or exaggeration.”

16. FALSE

Explanation: The colour associations “usually remain stable throughout life.”

17. TRUE

Explanation: The passage states some composers and painters may have used such experiences creatively.

18. FALSE

Explanation: Researchers are “still debating the exact causes.”

19. B — It helps explain brain organisation

Explanation: The passage says it gives insight into how the brain organises sensory information.

20. C — Associating letters or numbers with colours

Explanation: This is the exact definition given in the passage.

21. B — sensory brain regions are strongly connected

Explanation: One theory suggests increased connections between sensory-processing regions.

22. C — creativity and memory

Explanation: The passage says it may strengthen “memory and creativity.”

23. Greek

Explanation: The term originates from “Greek words.”

24. technology

Explanation: Advances in brain-imaging “technology” confirmed the condition.

25. noises

Explanation: Environmental “noises” may trigger colour experiences.

26. perception

Explanation: Scientists want to understand “human consciousness and perception.”

27. FALSE

Explanation: The passage says GPS systems did not exist at that time.

28. TRUE

Explanation: Historians believe migration moved from “Southeast Asia.”

29. FALSE

Explanation: Canoes transported families, animals, plants, and supplies — not only fishing.

30. TRUE

Explanation: Some navigators recognised islands through “patterns in ocean waves.”

31. FALSE

Explanation: The passage says usage reduced gradually, not that it disappeared completely.

32. B — They crossed vast ocean distances

Explanation: Voyagers travelled enormous distances between isolated islands.

33. C — observation of nature

Explanation: Navigation depended on stars, winds, currents, birds, and clouds.

34. C — Easter Island and Hawaii

Explanation: These are specifically mentioned as final destinations.

35. C — To preserve cultural knowledge

Explanation: Modern projects aim to preserve Indigenous knowledge.

36. canoes

Explanation: Ancient sailors built large wooden “canoes.”

37. formations

Explanation: Sailors studied cloud “formations.”

38. memorisation

Explanation: Navigation required years of training and “memorisation.”

39. knowledge

Explanation: Europeans admired Indigenous maritime “knowledge.”

40. generations

Explanation: Projects educate younger “generations.”