The King of Fruits - IELTS Reading Answers

“The King of Fruits” is an IELTS Academic Reading passage that serves as an excellent resource for candidates preparing for the IELTS Reading test. This passage helps learners become familiar with the type of texts commonly included in the exam, as well as the range of question formats they are expected to answer.

By reviewing “The King of Fruits” IELTS Reading answers, candidates can better understand the difficulty level of the passage, identify common question types, and develop effective strategies for tackling the IELTS Reading section with confidence.

Not sure how to answer IELTS Reading True/False/Not Given questions? Check out the guide below to learn now!

The question types in this Reading Passage include:

• Matching Headings (Q. 1-4)
• Reading Diagram Completion (Q. 5-7)
• True/False/Not Given(Q. 8-10)
• Reading Short Answer Questions (Q. 11-13)

The King of Fruits IELTS Reading Passage

Paragraph A: One fact is certain—you’ll smell it before you see it. The scent is so overpowering that some people enjoy it and others dislike it intensely. Descriptions of the smell vary wildly, but this fruit is often considered the most unusual in the world: the durian, a favourite in Southeast Asia and commonly known as the “king of fruits.”

Paragraph B: The durian’s title is deserved. It’s large (up to 3 kg) and covered in sharp thorns, making it difficult to handle without gloves or protective bags. In western markets, vendors often remove and package the flesh to ease buying.

Paragraph C: Though its smell and tough exterior seem odd, these features serve a purpose. The strong scent helps animals in the tropical forests of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia locate the fruit when it falls. Because the seeds are large, only the biggest animals—like deer, pigs, orangutans, and elephants—can eat and disperse them, which is why the spiny shell exists.

Paragraph D: Inside the husk is fibrous pith with pockets of creamy yellow flesh around large seeds. Although the seeds can also be eaten, it’s the flesh that most people seek. A British naturalist, Alfred Wallace, described the taste as rich and smooth. After trying it, he became a dedicated durian eater.

Paragraph E: The taste and texture vary between regions. For example, in Southern Thailand, younger, milder durians are preferred, while in Malaysia, durians are left to ripen naturally, resulting in a creamier flesh. The flesh can be used in sweets like ice cream or cakes, and even lower-quality durian is fermented and added to rice dishes.

Paragraph F: Durian cultivation has spread because the tree thrives in tropical climates, including northern Australia where it was introduced in the 1960s. Through selective breeding, many cultivars now exist with different aromas, seed sizes, and flesh textures. The trees grow tall and the heavy pods can fall from high branches, so wearing protective gear is recommended.

Paragraph G: Thailand remains a major exporter of durian, especially to other Asian countries, and demand is growing in places like Canada and Australia due to Asian diaspora communities. The fruit is seasonal and expensive, partly because less than one third of the durian pod is edible. Still, the number of “confirmed durian eaters” around the world is increasing.

The King of Fruits IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1–4: Matching Paragraphs

Which paragraph gives a reason for the durian’s:

1. Spread outside of Asia?

2. Variety of forms?

3. Variety of food uses?

4. Defining characteristics?

Questions 5–7: Label the Diagram

Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer:
5. Parts of a durian covered in ____.
6. The interior supporting structure is called ____.
7. Small compartments holding the edible sections are ____.

Questions 8–10: TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

Decide if the statements agree with the passage:
8. The seeds can be eaten.
9. Durian trees are grown in many parts of Australia.
10. Thailand consumes the most durians.

Questions 11–13: Short Answer

Answer with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS:
11. What helps carry durians in markets?
12. Which type of durian is fermented into paste?
13. What should you wear walking among durian trees?

The King of Fruits IELTS Reading Answers with Explanations

Let’s now review the answers to the questions from the passage in the reading section, The King of Fruits - IELTS Reading Answers, and assess your improvement for a high IELTS Reading band score. 

Tips to Ace The King of Fruits - IELTS Reading Answers

Let us check out some quick IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to answer the types of questions in the Reading Answers. 

 Matching Paragraphs 

• Skim first, scan later – Quickly read the first sentence of each paragraph to understand the main idea, then scan for keywords in the question.
• Look for synonyms – The question may use words like “spread” or “variety,” which may appear differently in the passage (e.g., “exported” instead of “spread”).
• Identify topic sentences – Often, the first or last sentence of a paragraph contains the main idea relevant to the question.
• Ignore unnecessary details – Some paragraphs contain extra information; focus only on the reason asked.
• Eliminate clearly unrelated paragraphs – Narrow down choices by discarding paragraphs that do not mention the feature in question.

Diagram Completion

• Look for descriptive words in the passage – Words describing parts of the durian (e.g., “spiny,” “pockets,” “pith”) are usually your answers.
• Check for singular/plural forms – The diagram may ask for singular (“pith”) even if plural is used in the text.
• Match exactly one word – Only one word from the passage should be used; avoid adding extra words.
• Scan sentences with anatomical terms – Phrases like “covered in…” or “interior structure” often contain the answer.
• Visualize the diagram while reading – Picture the fruit in your mind to connect text details with the diagram labels.

True / False / Not Given 

• Focus on keywords – Underline or note keywords in the statement, then locate them or their synonyms in the passage.
• Check for exact meaning – TRUE = agrees, FALSE = contradicts, NOT GIVEN = no info. Be careful not to assume.
• Beware of qualifiers – Words like “all,” “most,” or “many” can change the answer.
• Don’t overthink – If the passage doesn’t mention the detail at all, mark NOT GIVEN.
• Read around the keyword – Sometimes the answer is implied in nearby sentences, not the one containing the keyword.

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In conclusion, the IELTS Reading passage “The King of Fruits - IELTS Reading Answers” allows candidates to practise a range of question types while improving comprehension and information-identifying skills. With complete answers, keyword locations, and explanations, this article helps learners understand the passage more effectively, enhance accuracy, and boost their overall IELTS Reading score. Keep practising with more IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests  and answers on IELTSMaterial.com to improve your speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

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