IELTS Reading B2 ⏱️ 18 Minutes 10 Questions

Traditional Festivals in Modern Times

Mastering skimming, scanning, and author stance through academic reading.

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How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers

Give students exactly 18 minutes to complete all questions independently under exam timing.
Use the Evidence and Why explanations to review errors and fix superficial scanning habits.

🧑‍🎓 For Students

Skim all four paragraphs quickly to map out the overall structure before reading any questions.
Answer in sequence and underline the exact proof sentence in the text before confirming your choice.

Reading Passage

Traditional Festivals in Modern Times

230 words

A

In 2008, UNESCO added Mexico's Day of the Dead to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festivities are held each year from the end of October to the beginning of November.

B

Thailand's Songkran is the traditional New Year festival, held in mid-April. It was added to the UNESCO list in December 2023. Pouring water is its central act, and it is a sign of cleansing, respect and good fortune.

C

La Tomatina is a tomato-throwing festival in Bunol, Spain. It is held on the last Wednesday of August and has run since 1945. People must squash tomatoes before throwing them, and they must stop at the second signal.

D

Looking at these festivals, it seems that they survive because they change a little. I think it is hard to say how much change is too much.

Questions 1 – 10

Questions 1–3

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the text? Choose:

YES if the statement agrees

NO if the statement contradicts

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say

1

Songkran occurs during the middle period of April.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

2

UNESCO chose to recognize the Day of the Dead mainly because of Mexico's expanding tourism industry.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

3

Participants at La Tomatina are allowed to throw whole, firm tomatoes.

____ YES ____ NO ____ NOT GIVEN

Questions 4–5

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

4

What can be inferred about La Tomatina from Paragraph C?

____ A. People can throw tomatoes whenever they like. ____ B. Taking part means following some rules. ____ C. The festival was added to the UNESCO list in 1945. ____ D. It is held in the middle of August.

5

In paragraph D, what is the writer's attitude towards the changes happening to traditional festivals?

____ A. Confident that international commercialization has zero drawbacks. ____ B. Convinced that modern traditions must strictly resist all forms of change. ____ C. Cautious about how much change a festival can have before it is too much. ____ D. Disappointed that modern travelers no longer respect any ancient customs.

Questions 6–8

Which paragraph contains the following information? Choose the correct letter, A–D.

6

An explanation of what the act of pouring water is a sign of.

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

7

A description of a festival schedule extending across two consecutive months.

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

8

The idea that minor adaptations across time help ancient customs endure.

____ Paragraph A ____ Paragraph B ____ Paragraph C ____ Paragraph D

Questions 9–10

Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Key Elements of Cultural Festivities

At La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain, people throw tomatoes, but each person must first ____ (your answer...) every tomato before throwing it.

Meanwhile, at Songkran in Thailand, pouring water is a sign of ____ (your answer...) and respect, as well as good fortune.

IELTS Reading: Traditional Festivals in Modern Times

Traditional Festivals in Modern Times

How to use this lesson

Traditional Festivals in Modern Times

Questions 1–3

Questions 4–5

Questions 6–8

Questions 9–10

Key Elements of Cultural Festivities

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