Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 571
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 571 – PASSAGE – 3
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 571
READING PASSAGE – 3
Picture-Perfect Caterpillars
A. Caterpillars are often regarded as mere intermediates in the life cycle of butterflies and moths. Their slow, crawling movements and worm-like appearance may not seem impressive at first glance. However, when viewed closely—especially through the lens of a high-resolution macro camera—these creatures reveal an extraordinary beauty and diversity. Their vivid colors, textured skins, and bizarre shapes are comparable to works of abstract art in motion.
B. Wildlife photographer Sarah Lumley never intended to specialize in caterpillars. Her journey began during a 2012 photography trip to Borneo. While trekking through the forest, she noticed a tiny insect curled on a leaf. With nothing else in sight, she captured a quick macro shot. Later that evening, as she zoomed in on her laptop, she was stunned. The insect had intricate spirals, shimmering spots, and what appeared to be tiny “horns.” That single photo launched a 10-year career focused entirely on caterpillars.
IELTS General Reading Test
C. Since then, Lumley has documented more than 400 species across Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Africa. Many of the caterpillars she’s photographed had never been visually documented in the wild before. Her images now feature in museums, textbooks, and online biodiversity databases. Lumley believes that visual documentation not only educates the public but can also aid researchers in identifying and classifying rare species.
D. Caterpillars have developed remarkable survival strategies. Some mimic twigs, dead leaves, or even bird droppings to avoid predators. Others go to the opposite extreme: they wear bold colors and patterns to signal toxicity. Interestingly, some caterpillars that appear fearsome—with horns, spikes, or eye-like markings—are completely harmless. These are purely visual tricks designed to scare off potential threats.
IELTS General Reading Test
E. Lumley notes that many caterpillars appear dull in natural light but glow under macro or ultraviolet photography. Their tiny scales reflect light in ways invisible to the human eye. As a result, people often overlook their beauty unless they are magnified significantly. Her use of custom lighting and macro gear allows for extreme close-ups that reveal microscopic textures and color shifts.
F. Beyond their visual appeal, caterpillars play a vital role in ecosystems. As herbivores, they consume leaves, aiding in plant population control. They also serve as a major food source for birds, reptiles, and mammals. Because they are sensitive to temperature, pollution, and habitat change, caterpillars are excellent bioindicators—organisms that reflect the overall health of their environment.
IELTS General Reading Test
G. Lumley’s mission goes beyond photography. Through exhibitions, documentaries, and school outreach, she advocates for forest preservation and insect biodiversity. She believes that by helping people admire the small and often unnoticed creatures, conservation can become a more emotionally driven goal. “When you care about something tiny,” she says, “you start to care about everything it depends on.”
Questions 28–33
The passage has seven paragraphs labelled A–G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–G.
28. A personal story about how a random moment inspired a professional journey
29. Why some caterpillars appear more beautiful in artificial or enhanced lighting
30. The importance of caterpillars in maintaining ecosystem balance
31. A mention of how caterpillars defend themselves using imitation
32. The number of species documented by a single photographer
33. An explanation of how photographing caterpillars can help scientists
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 34–40
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
34. Sarah Lumley had studied caterpillars at university before becoming a photographer.
35. Some caterpillars look dangerous even though they are not harmful.
36. UV photography helps reveal patterns not seen by the human eye.
37. All of Lumley’s photos are taken in controlled studio conditions.
38. Caterpillars are a major part of the food web.
39. Caterpillars are used to detect changes in their natural environments.
40. Lumley believes that focusing on small creatures can lead to broader conservation efforts.
IELTS General Reading Test
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
28. B
29. E
30. F
31. D
32. C
33. C
34. FALSE
35. TRUE
36. TRUE
37. FALSE
38. TRUE
39. TRUE
40. TRUE
IELTS General Reading Test