Cambridge 19 Test 1 Reading Answers & Explanations

13 August 2026

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Cambridge 19 Test 1 Reading Answers & Explanations

This guide provides the complete answers and clear explanations for Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic Reading Test 1.

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Each answer includes:

Strategy
Keywords
Exact paragraph and line location
Explanation
Correct answer

> Location note: The paragraph and line references below follow the supplied Cambridge 19 Reading Test 1 material.

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How This Guide Is Structured

Strategy

The strategy explains the quickest and safest way to approach each IELTS Reading question type.

Keywords

Keywords are the words or ideas that help you locate the relevant part of the passage.

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Each answer includes the passage, paragraph or section, and exact line range where the evidence appears.

Explanation

The explanation shows how the passage supports, contradicts or fails to provide enough information for the question.

Correct Answer

The final answer appears after the explanation.

Reading Passage 1

How Tennis Rackets Have Changed

Questions 1–7: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

Strategy

For TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN:

TRUE = the statement agrees with the passage.
FALSE = the passage clearly says the opposite.
NOT GIVEN = the passage does not provide enough information.

Do not choose NOT GIVEN simply because the wording is different. Look for paraphrases first.

Question 1

People had expected Andy Murray to become the world's top tennis player for at least five years before 2016.

Keywords

Andy Murray, world number one, five years before, expected

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 1, lines 5–10

Explanation

The passage says Murray became world number one in 2016, but five years earlier he was regarded as a talented outsider who had not won the major tournaments.

That contradicts the idea that people had already expected him to become the world's top player.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 2

The change Andy Murray made to his rackets attracted a lot of attention.

Keywords

Murray, racket change, attention

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 2, lines 11–17

Explanation

The passage contrasts two changes.

His new coach attracted public attention, but the racket-string change was described as so subtle that it passed almost unnoticed.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 3

Most of the world's top players take a professional racket stringer on tour with them.

Keywords

top players, professional racket stringer, on tour

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Closest related location: Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 3, lines 18–23

Explanation

The passage says professional players customise rackets to suit their needs and quotes a professional racket stringer.

However, it never says most players take a stringer with them while touring.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 4

Mike and Bob Bryan use rackets that are light compared with most rackets.

Keywords

Mike and Bob Bryan, light, majority

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 3, lines 23–28

Explanation

The passage says the Bryans' rackets weigh more than the average model.

The statement says they are lighter.

This is a direct contradiction.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 5

Werner Fischer designed the spaghetti-strung racket himself.

Keywords

Werner Fischer, designed, spaghetti-strung racket

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 5, lines 36–40

Explanation

The passage says Fischer started playing with a spaghetti-strung racket.

It does not state that he personally designed or invented it.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 6

The weather can affect how professional players adjust racket strings.

Keywords

weather, strings, professional players

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 6, lines 41–45

Explanation

Players change string type and tension depending on factors including court surface, playing style and climatic conditions.

Here:

weather = climatic conditions

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 7

Pete Sampras's racket modification was believed to contribute to his powerful serve.

Keywords

Pete Sampras, modification, serve, power

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 9, lines 57–60

Explanation

The passage says much of Sampras's serving power was attributed to adding lead weights to his rackets.

The statement matches this directly.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 8–13: Note Completion

Strategy

The instruction says:

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

For these questions:

Predict the type of noun needed.
Follow the passage in order.
Copy the exact word.
Do not change singular/plural unnecessarily.

Question 8

Mike and Bob Bryan made changes to the types of ______ used on their racket frames.

Keywords

Bryan brothers, racket frames, types

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 3, lines 23–28

Explanation

The passage says the Bryans experimented with different kinds of paint.

So, the answer is: paint

Question 9

The spaghetti-strung racket was banned because of the amount of ______ it created.

Keywords

spaghetti-strung racket, banned, generated

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 5, lines 36–38

Explanation

The racket produced so much topspin that the International Tennis Federation banned it.

So, the answer is: topspin

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Question 10

Racket modifications can be as important as players' diets or the ______ they do.

Keywords

important, nutrition, equal significance

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 5, lines 39–40

Explanation

The passage says racket modification is now equal in importance to nutrition or training.

So, the answer is: training

Question 11

Natural racket strings were once made from the ______ of animals.

Keywords

natural strings, animals, sheep, cow

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 7, lines 46–50

Explanation

Traditional natural gut strings were produced using the outer layer of sheep or cow intestines.

So, the answer is: intestines

Question 12

Pete Sampras had metal ______ added to his racket frames.

Keywords

Pete Sampras, metal, racket frame

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 9, lines 57–60

Explanation

Sampras's rackets had four or five lead weights added.

So, the answer is: weights

Question 13

Gonçalo Oliveira changed the ______ on his racket handles.

Keywords

Oliveira, racket handles, changed

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 1, Paragraph 10, lines 61–69

Explanation

Oliveira replaced the original grips with thinner ones because the previous ones felt uncomfortable.

So, the answer is: grips

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Reading Passage 2

The Pirates of the Ancient Mediterranean

Questions 14–19: Matching Information

Strategy

For matching-information questions:

Read Questions 14–19 first.
Identify the main idea in each statement.
Scan sections A–G.
Match the full idea, not one repeated word.
Remember that a paragraph may be used more than once.

Question 14

A reference to a denial of involvement in piracy

Keywords

denial, involvement, piracy

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section D, lines 174–181

Explanation

The king of Alashiya rejects Akhenaten's claim that he was connected with the Lukka pirates.

That is a direct denial of involvement.

So, the answer is: D

Question 15

Details of how a campaign to eradicate piracy was carried out

Keywords

campaign, eradicate piracy, method

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section G, lines 206–213

Explanation

Pompey divided the Mediterranean into 13 districts, assigned fleets to each and cleared the areas systematically.

This section describes exactly how the anti-piracy campaign worked.

So, the answer is: G

Question 16

Circumstances in which governments used pirates

Keywords

governments, used pirates, circumstances

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section C, lines 166–173

Explanation

Governments sometimes used pirates during wartime, employing them against enemies and sending pirate fleets in the first wave of attacks.

So, the answer is: C

Question 17

How people today commonly imagine pirates

Keywords

today, common image, pirates

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section A, lines 143–151

Explanation

The writer begins with the modern stereotype of pirates as adventurous crews sailing tall ships in the Caribbean.

So, the answer is: A

Question 18

How some pirates were encouraged not to return to piracy

Keywords

encouraged, not return, piracy, long-term solution

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section G, lines 206–213

Explanation

Rome offered many captured pirates farmland far from the sea.

Instead of returning to piracy, they became productive farmers.

So, the answer is: G

Question 19

Why many ships needed to remain near the coast

Keywords

ships, near land, open water

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section B, lines 152–165

Explanation

Ancient ships could not easily travel long distances across open water.

They therefore followed established coastal routes.

So, the answer is: B

Questions 20–21: Choose TWO Answers

Questions 20–21

Which TWO statements does the writer make about inhabitants of the ancient Mediterranean region?

Keywords

inhabitants, Mediterranean, local knowledge, livelihood

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section B, lines 152–165

Explanation

The writer says many inhabitants:

relied heavily on marine resources rather than agriculture;
knew the local coastline so well that they could escape retaliation.

Therefore:

B — They escaped capture because of their knowledge of the area.
D — They depended heavily on the sea for their livelihood.

So, the answers are: B and D

Questions 22–23: Choose TWO Answers

Questions 22–23

Which TWO statements does the writer make about piracy and ancient Greece?

Keywords

ancient Greece, officials, texts, positive attitude

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section E, lines 182–193

Explanation

The passage says:

even high-ranking government figures sometimes participated in piracy;
writers including Homer and Thucydides spoke positively about pirates.

Therefore:

C — Important officials occasionally participated in piracy.
E — Certain ancient Greek texts show a favourable view of piracy.

So, the answers are: C and E

Questions 24–26: Summary Completion

Strategy

The instruction says:

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.

Use the grammar around each blank and scan Section F.

Question 24

Pirate attacks on vessels carrying ______ caused concern in Rome.

Keywords

ships, Roman citizens, attacks

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section F, lines 194–202

Explanation

Pirates attacked ships carrying grain, which was essential to Roman citizens.

So, the answer is: grain

Question 25

These attacks resulted in demands for ______ of the pirates.

Keywords

Senate, demanded, culprits

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section F, lines 198–200

Explanation

Angry voices in the Senate demanded punishment of the pirates responsible.

So, the answer is: punishment

Question 26

Pirates demanded a ______ for captured Roman officials.

Keywords

captured officials, payment, return

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 2, Section F, lines 200–202

Explanation

Pirates kidnapped important Roman figures and demanded a large ransom for their release.

So, the answer is: ransom

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Reading Passage 3

The Persistence and Peril of Misinformation

Questions 27–30: Multiple Choice

Strategy

For multiple-choice questions:

Locate the paragraph named in the question.
Identify the writer's main point.
Compare all options.
Reject options that use correct keywords but change the meaning.

Question 27

What point does the writer make about misinformation in the first paragraph?

Keywords

first paragraph, misinformation, reasons

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 1, lines 278–283

Explanation

The writer says misinformation may be spread deliberately or accidentally.

People may deceive others for strategic advantage, to encourage action or even to protect relationships.

This shows that misinformation can spread for several different reasons.

So, the answer is: D — There may be a number of reasons for the spread of misinformation.

Question 28

What does the writer say about technology?

Keywords

technology, misinformation, solution

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 2, lines 284–288

Explanation

Technology allows misinformation to spread widely.

However, the writer also suggests that the same mass-communication systems may eventually help correct misinformation.

So, the answer is: A — It may at some point provide us with a solution to misinformation.

Question 29

What is the writer doing in the fourth paragraph?

Keywords

three observations, contemporary media

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 4, lines 296–302

Explanation

The writer identifies three current concerns:

people initially believe misinformation;
media often fails to block it before publication;
correcting it can require substantial resources.

The paragraph is outlining the important issues surrounding misinformation today.

So, the answer is: C — outlining which issues connected with misinformation are significant today

Question 30

What point does the writer make about regulation in the USA?

Keywords

USA, regulation, FDA, prevent

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 6, lines 321–330

Explanation

US regulators monitor and react to problematic information, but they generally do not censor it before publication.

The writer says even useful programmes cannot keep all false advertising off the air.

So, the answer is: D — Regulation fails to prevent misinformation from appearing in the media.

Questions 31–36: Summary Completion

Strategy

For summary completion with a list of options:

Read the complete summary first.
Identify the meaning needed for each gap.
Find the matching sentence in the passage.
Match the phrase, not individual vocabulary.

Question 31

Although people have ______ to misinformation...

Keywords

routine, encounter, misinformation

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 306–309

Explanation

The passage says it is fairly routine for people to encounter false information.

This corresponds to repeated or frequent contact.

So, the answer is: G — frequent exposure

Question 32

Descartes and Spinoza had ______ about how people engage with information.

Keywords

Descartes, Spinoza, contrast, predictions

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 309–315

Explanation

Their theories make conflicting predictions about how people process new information.

So, the answer is: J — different ideas

Question 33

Spinoza believed a separate ______ was involved.

Keywords

separate, cognitive process

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 312–315

Explanation

Spinoza argues that people initially accept information and later verify or reject it through a separate cognitive process.

So, the answer is: H — mental operation

Question 34

Recent research has provided ______ for Spinoza's theory.

Keywords

recent research, supported, Spinoza

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 315–318

Explanation

Recent experimental research supports Spinoza's account.

This means it provides further evidence.

So, the answer is: B — additional evidence

Question 35

People may initially accept information as true for only a very ______.

Keywords

momentarily, true, initial

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 317–318

Explanation

The writer says people may encode new information as true only momentarily.

So, the answer is: E — short period

Question 36

The resources for scepticism and encoding are in ______ in the brain.

Keywords

brain, scepticism, encoding, physically reside

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 5, lines 318–320

Explanation

The mental resources used for scepticism are physically located in a different area from those used for perceiving and encoding.

So, the answer is: C — different locations

Questions 37–40: YES / NO / NOT GIVEN

Strategy

For YES / NO / NOT GIVEN:

YES = agrees with the writer's claim.
NO = contradicts the writer.
NOT GIVEN = the writer's opinion is not stated.

Question 37

Corrective campaigns will fail if people cannot understand them.

Keywords

campaigns, understand, persuasive

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 7, lines 331–335

Explanation

The writer says that for corrective campaigns to be persuasive, audiences need to comprehend them.

That supports the statement.

So, the answer is: YES

Question 38

Attempts to teach elementary-school students about misinformation have been opposed.

Keywords

elementary school, media literacy, opposed

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraph 7, lines 335–337

Explanation

The writer recommends media-literacy education as early as elementary school.

However, nothing is said about anyone opposing such efforts.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39

The misinformation problem may be solved in a relatively short time.

Keywords

short time, solution, future

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Reading Passage 3, Paragraphs 8–9, lines 343–351

Explanation

The writer says the journey toward solving misinformation will be long and arduous and will require coordinated efforts over time.

That directly contradicts the statement.

So, the answer is: NO

Question 40

The need to keep up with new information is greatly exaggerated today.

Keywords

information needs, exaggerated, today

Exact Paragraph and Line Location

Closest related location: Reading Passage 3, final paragraph, lines 349–351

Explanation

The writer says misinformation arises partly from human information needs.

However, there is no claim that today's need for new information is exaggerated.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Cambridge 19 Test 1 Reading Answer Key

Reading Passage 1

FALSE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
TRUE
TRUE
paint
topspin
training
intestines
weights
grips

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Reading Passage 2

D
G
C
A
G
B 20–21. B and D 22–23. C and E
grain
punishment
ransom

Reading Passage 3

D
A
C
D
G — frequent exposure
J — different ideas
H — mental operation
B — additional evidence
E — short period
C — different locations
YES
NOT GIVEN
NO
NOT GIVEN

Bonus IELTS Reading Tips

Understand TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

TRUE

The statement matches the passage.

Example:

Weather can affect racket strings.

The passage says players change string settings according to climatic conditions.

Therefore: TRUE

FALSE

The passage gives the opposite information.

Example:

The Bryan brothers use lighter-than-average rackets.

The passage says their rackets weigh more than average.

Therefore: FALSE

NOT GIVEN

The passage does not provide enough information.

Example:

The passage says Werner Fischer used a spaghetti-strung racket.

It never says whether he personally designed it.

Therefore: NOT GIVEN

Look for Paraphrases

Question wording	Passage wording
attracted attention	widely publicised
little attention	passed unnoticed
weather	climatic conditions
strong serve	serving power
animal body part	intestines
use pirates	resort to pirates' services
denial of involvement	rejected claims
close to land	routes followed coastline
officials	high-ranking members
favourable opinion	praises / glorified
payment for release	ransom
several reasons	strategic advantage / motivate / protect
solution	means to correct
different ideas	conflicting predictions
mental operation	cognitive process
short period	momentarily
different locations	different part of the brain
understand campaign	comprehend
long-term problem	long and arduous

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Pay Attention to Comparison Words

Words such as:

more
less
most
average
stronger
only
first

can completely change an answer.

Question 4 says the Bryans' rackets are lighter.

The passage says they weigh more than average.

One comparison word makes the answer FALSE.

Follow the Passage Order

Note-completion and summary-completion questions usually follow passage order.

For Questions 8–13:

paint
topspin
training
intestines
weights
grips

appear progressively through the passage.

Once you find one answer, continue from that point.

Match the Full Meaning

For Question 16, simply seeing the word government is not enough.

The important idea is when governments used pirates.

The passage says this happened especially during wartime.

That makes Section C correct.

Be Careful With Historical Dates

Reading Passage 2 contains many dates:

1390–1353 BCE
1353–1336 BCE
355 BCE
75 BCE
67 BCE

Use these dates as scanning markers when searching for specific events.

Distinguish Writer Opinion From Fact

In Questions 37–40, you are answering YES / NO / NOT GIVEN.

This means you must identify what the writer claims, not merely whether something sounds reasonable.

Watch for Strong Claims

Statements containing words such as:

all
most
always
never
completely
short period
greatly exaggerated

need extra care.

The passage may mention the topic without supporting the stronger claim.

Read One Sentence Before and After

When you find a matching keyword, read the surrounding context.

This helps you catch:

contradictions;
corrections;
examples;
qualifications;
the actual answer after a distractor.

Review Every Wrong Answer

After completing the reading test, check why every wrong answer happened.

Common reasons include:

missing a paraphrase;
confusing FALSE with NOT GIVEN;
overlooking a comparison;
exceeding the word limit;
matching one keyword instead of the whole idea;
misunderstanding the writer's opinion;
stopping before reading the full context.

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