Passage Reference: Scientists have found that many of the huge glaciers of Greenland are moving at an accelerating rate - dumping twice as much ice into the sea as five years ago - indicating that the ice sheet is undergoing a potentially catastrophic breakup.

Common Mistake: Some students write researchers because it sounds similar, but that word is not used in Section A. You must copy the exact word from the passage. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Scientists have found' = Notes: 'Section A, have found'

Tips: Always match the verb in the notes with the subject used in the passage.

Key Vocabulary:

• scientists = people who do scientific research

Question Focus: Identifying who holds the belief in Section B

Correct Answer: scientists

Passage Reference: Scientists believe that computer models of how the Greenland ice sheet will react to global warming have seriously underestimated the threat posed by sea levels that could rise far more quickly than envisaged.

Why this is correct: Section B begins with Scientists believe, followed by their opinion about computer models. The note repeats the verb "believe", so the answer is scientists.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write they, but pronouns are not used in the passage here. This is a grammar fit trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Scientists believe' = Notes: 'Section B, believe'

Tips: When notes repeat the reporting verb, look just before it in the passage.

Key Vocabulary:

• believe = think something is true

Question Focus: Identifying who spoke in Section C

Correct Answer: Eric Rignot

Passage Reference: Eric Rignot, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, said that computer models used by the UN's International Panel on Climate Change have not adequately taken into account the amount of ice falling into the sea from glacial movements. Yet the satellite study shows that about two-thirds of the sea-level rise caused by the Greenland ice sheet is due to icebergs breaking off from fast-moving glaciers rather than simply the result of water running off from melting ice. 'In simple terms, the ice sheet is breaking up rather than melting. It's not a surprise in itself but it is a surprise to see the magnitude of the changes. These big glaciers seem to be accelerating, they seem to be going faster and faster to the sea,' Dr Rignot said.

Why this is correct: Section C starts by naming Eric Rignot, and then says what he said. The note says "Section C, said", so the speaker is Eric Rignot.

Common Mistake: Some students write Dr Rignot, but that exact form is not used at the start of the section. This is a copying accuracy trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Eric Rignot ... said' = Notes: 'Section C, said'

Tips: For names, copy the spelling exactly as it appears in the passage.

Key Vocabulary:

• scientist = researcher

Question Focus: Identifying who was surprised in Section C

Correct Answer: we

Passage Reference: The fact is the glaciers of Greenland are evolving faster than we thought

Why this is correct: Dr Rignot says the glaciers are evolving faster than we thought. The note says "Section C, thought", so the word we completes it.

Common Mistake: Students often write scientists because it seems logical, but the passage uses we, not that noun. This is a paraphrase trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'faster than we thought' = Notes: 'Section C, thought'

Tips: If the passage uses a pronoun, you must copy the pronoun.

Key Vocabulary:

• evolving = changing

Question Focus: Identifying what suggests change in Section D

Correct Answer: latest study

Passage Reference: But the latest study suggests that glaciers moving at an accelerating rate could bring about a much faster change.

Why this is correct: Section D explicitly says the latest study suggests faster change. The note mirrors this wording, so latest study is correct.

Common Mistake: Some students write computer models, but that refers to an earlier idea, not what suggests change here. This is a wrong section trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'the latest study suggests' = Notes: 'Section D, suggests'

Tips: When notes copy the verb exactly, copy the subject too.

Key Vocabulary:

• suggests = shows or indicates

Question Focus: Identifying who made estimates in Section E

Correct Answer: scientists

Passage Reference: Scientists estimate that, in 1996, glaciers deposited about 50 cubic km of ice into the sea. In 2005 it had risen to 150 cubic km of ice.

Why this is correct: Section E states Scientists estimate before giving numbers. The note says "Section E, estimate", so the answer is scientists.

Common Mistake: Writing researchers is tempting, but that word appears later, not here. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'Scientists estimate' = Notes: 'Section E, estimate'

Tips: Check carefully which sentence contains the verb in the note.

Key Vocabulary:

• estimate = roughly calculate

Question Focus: Identifying who calculated figures in Section E

Correct Answer: researchers

Passage Reference: the researchers calculated that the overall amount of ice dumped into the sea increased from 90 cubic km in 1996 to 224 cubic km in 2005.

Why this is correct: Later in Section E, the passage says the researchers calculated the overall amount of ice. This matches "Section E, calculated".

Common Mistake: Students may repeat scientists, but the passage changes the word here. This is a same meaning different word trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'researchers calculated' = Notes: 'Section E, calculated'

Tips: Do not assume the same people word is used every time.

Key Vocabulary:

• calculated = worked out

Question Focus: Understanding the role of melt water

Correct Answer: lubricant

Passage Reference: aided by the lubricant' of melt water forming at their base.

Why this is correct: Section B explains that melt water acts as a lubricant helping glaciers move faster. The sentence in the question directly paraphrases this idea.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write water, but that is too general and not the key word used. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'the lubricant of melt water' = Sentence: 'acts as a which aids their breakup'

Tips: Articles like "a" are strong grammar clues for singular nouns.

Key Vocabulary:

• lubricant = substance that reduces friction

Question Focus: Key factor in understanding ice sheets

Correct Answer: behaviour

Passage Reference: The behaviour of the glaciers that dump ice into the sea is the most important aspect of understanding how an ice sheet will evolve in a changing climate,' Dr Rignot said.

Why this is correct: Section D states that the behaviour of the glaciers is the most important aspect. The question sentence paraphrases this directly.

Common Mistake: Some students write movement, which sounds similar but is not the exact word. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'behaviour of the glaciers' = Sentence: 'factor ... is the ___ of glaciers'

Tips: For FIB questions, exact words matter more than meaning.

Key Vocabulary:

• behaviour = how something acts

Question Focus: Contrasting formation time with breakdown time

Correct Answer: disintegration

Passage Reference: but now its disintegration could occur in decades or centuries.

Why this is correct: Section D contrasts how long the ice sheet formed with how quickly its disintegration could happen. The sentence in the question uses the same contrast.

Common Mistake: Writing melting is wrong because the passage focuses on breaking up, not just melting. This is a paraphrase trap.

Paraphrasing: Passage: 'its disintegration could occur' = Sentence: 'its ___ could take place'

Tips: Look for contrast words like "although" to locate the right sentence.

Key Vocabulary:

• disintegration = breaking apart

General Tips:

• Note completion questions follow passage order. Use the section labels to jump to the right place quickly.
• Always copy the exact word used in the passage. Do not change it to a synonym.
• Use reporting verbs like "said", "believe", "estimate" as strong clues to find answers.
• Check grammar carefully. Articles and verb forms tell you what type of word is needed.
• Manage time. Spend about 90 seconds per question and move on if stuck.