Cambridge IELTS 17 reading test 3 answers with explanation
Reading Passage 1
The thylacine
Complete the notes below.
Appearance and behavior
- ate an entirely ……………… diet
Carnivorous – second paragraph’s second line. In terms of feeding, it was exclusively carnivorous.
Carnivorous = of an animal feeding on other animals.
- probably depended mainly on …………….. when hunting
Scent – second paragraph’s sixth line. During long-distance chases, thylacines were likely to have relied more on scent than any other sense.
Scent = a distinctive smell
- young spent first months of life inside its mother’s ………
Pouch – third paragraph’s third and fourth line. Newborns crawled into the pouch on the belly of their mother, and attached themselves to one of the four teats, remaining there for up to three months.
- last evidence in mainland Australia is a 3,100-years-old………………..
Fossil – fourth paragraph’s second to fourth line. The most recent, well-dated occurrence of a thylacine on the mainland is a carbon-dated fossil from Murray Cave in Western Australia, which is around 3,100 years old.
- reduction in……………..and available source of food were partly responsible for decline in Tasmania
Habitat – fifth paragraph’s third to sixth line. it is likely that various other factors also contributed to the decline and eventual extinction of the species. These include competition with wild dogs introduced by European settlers, loss of habitat along with the disappearance of prey species.
Habitat = the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
True/False/Not Given
- Significant number of thylacines were killed by humans from 1830s onwards.
True – fifth paragraph’s first three lines. The dramatic decline of the thylacine in Tasmania, which began in the 1830s and continued for a century, is generally attributed to the relentless efforts of sheep farmers and bounty hunters with shotguns.
Explanation:- The sudden (dramatic) reduction in the number of thylacines started in the 1830s when hunters started hunting them for rewards and sheep farmers for saving their sheep.
- Several thylacines were born in zoos during the late 1800s.
False – sixth paragraph’s first line. There was only one successful attempt to breed a thylacine in captivity, at Melbourne Zoo in 1899.
Explanation:- Only once was a thylacine breed in Melbourne Zoo in 1899. Hence, the question statement contradicts the information (False).
- John Gould’s prediction about the thylacine surprised some biologists.
Not given – The famous naturalist John Gould foresaw the thylacine’s demise when he published his Mammals of Australia between 1848 and 1863.
Explanation:- No information about whether anyone was surprised or not is given. Hence, not given.
- In the early 1900s, many scientists became worried about the possible extinction of the thylacine.
False – seventh paragraph’s first two lines. However, there seems to have been little public pressure to preserve the thylacine, nor was much concern expressed by scientists at the decline of this species in the decade that followed.
Explanation:- Scientists had no concern (not worried) about the reduction in the number of thylacine.
- T. T. Flynn’s proposal to rehome captive thylacines on an island proved to be impractical.
Not given – seventh paragraph’s third and fourth line. T. T. Flynn, Professor of Biology at the University of Tasmania. In 1914, he was sufficiently concerned about the scarcity of thylacine to suggest that some should be captured and placed on a small island.
Explanation:- There is no information about whether his idea was implemented or not, and if implemented, was it successful (practical) or failed.
- There were still reasonable numbers of thylacine in existence when a piece of legislation protecting the species during their breeding seasons was passed.
False – seventh paragraph’s fifth to seventh line. But it was not until 1929, with the species on the very edge of the extinction, that Tasmania’s Animals and Birds Protection Board passed a motion protecting thylacines only for the month of December, which was thought to be the their prime breeding season.
Explanation:- The thylacines were on the edge of extinction (no living member left), which means they were very low in numbers when a rule to protect them was passed.
- From 1930 to 1936, the only known living thylacines were all in captivity.
True – seventh paragraph’s last four lines. The last known wild thylacine to be killed was shot by a farmer in the north-east of Tasmania in 1930, leaving just captive specimens. Official protection of the species by the Tasmania government was introduced in July 1936, 59 days before the last known individual died in Hobart Zoo on 7th September, 1936.
Explanation:- The last wild thylacine was killed by a farmer in 1930. Then thylacines were left only in captivity (zoo), and on 7th September 1936, the last thylacine died in Hobart Zoo.
- Attempts to find living thylacines are now rarely made.
Not given – last full paragraph. There have been numerous expeditions and searches for the thylacines over the years, none of which has produced definitive evidence that thylacines still exist. The species was declared extinct by the Tasmania government in 1986.
Explanation:- This paragraph does not tell whether the search for thylacines is now (present) done or not. It was declared extinct after searching for many years until 1986.
Reading Passage 2
Palm Oil
Which section contains the following information?
- Examples of a range of potential environmental advantages of palm tree cultivation.
F – F paragraph’s last three lines from first part and second full part. If ten times more palm oil can be produced from a patch of land than any competing oil, than ten times more land would need to be cleared in order to produce the same volume of oil from that competitor…… As for the question of carbon emissions, the issue really depends on what oil palm trees are replacing. Crops vary in the degree to which they sequester carbon – in the other words, the amount of carbon they capture from the atmosphere and store within the plant. The more carbon sequesters, the more it reduces the effect of climate change. As Shankar explains: ‘[ Palm oil production ] actually sequesters more carbon in some ways than other alternatives, [ ….. ] Of course, if you’re cutting down virgin forest it’s terrible- that’s what’s happening in Indonesia and Malaysia, it’s been allowed to get out of hand. But if it’s replacing rice, for example, it might actually sequester more carbon.’
Explanation:- F paragraph talks about the advantages of growing palm trees to the environment. It includes less land that needs to be cleared for more oil and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- description of an organization which controls the environmental impact of palm oil production
G – G paragraph’s first five lines. The industry is now regulated by a group called Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), consisting of palm growers, retailers, product manufactures, and other interested parties. Over the past decade or so, an agreement has gradually been reached regarding standards that producers of palm oil have to meet in order for their product to be regard as officially ‘sustainable’.
Explanation:- Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is an organization that sets standards to be followed by palm oil producers so that palm oil production does not harm the environment and remains sustainable.
- Examples of the widespread global use of palm oil.
A – A paragraph’s second, third and last three lines. It’s almost certainly in the soap we wash with in the morning, the sandwich we have for lunch, and the biscuits we snack on during the day…… Make it an ideal ingredient for long-term preservation, allowing many packaged food on supermarket shelves to have ‘best before’ dates of months, even years, into the future.
Explanation:- The uses of Palm oil are given in the ‘A’ paragraph. It is used in soap, sandwiches, biscuits, and packed food to increase its shelf life.
- references to a particular species which could benefit the ecosystem of oil palm plantation.
H – H paragraph’s third to last line. The bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) grows on trees in a epiphytic fashion (meaning it’s dependent on the tree only for support, not for nutrients), and is native to many tropical regions, where as a keystone species it performs a vital ecological role. Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity, providing a home for all manner of species, from fungi and bacteria, to invertebrates such as insects, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals.
Explanation:- The bird’s nest fern is an ecologically important plant that, if planted on palm plantations, can provide a home to many fungi, bacteria, insects, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals, which will increase biodiversity and benefit oil palm plantations.
- figures illustrating the rapid expansion of the palm oil industry.
B – B full paragraph. Many farmers have seized the opportunity to maximize the planting of oil palm trees. Between 1990 and 2012, the global land area devoted to growing oil palm trees grew from 6 to 17 million hectares, now accounting for around ten percent of total cropland in the entire world. From a mere two million tonnes produced annually globally 50 years ago, there are now around 60 million tonnes produced every single year, a figure looking likely to double or even triple by the middle of the century.
Explanation:- Palm oil production increased from 2 million tones (a figure) to 60 million tones (a figure) in 50 years, which will double or triple in the future.
- an economic justification for not opposing the palm oil industry.
E – E paragraph’s first to fifth line. One response to the boycott movement has been the argument for the vital role palm oil plays in lifting many millions of people in the developing world out of poverty. Is it desirable to have palm oil boycotted, replaced, eliminated from the global supply chain, given how many low-income people in developing countries depend on it for their livelihood?
Explanation:- Here, the economic justification is that palm oil production eliminated the poverty of many people in developing countries, and many other poor earn their livelihood from palm oil. So, it should not be opposed.
- Examples of creatures badly affected by the establishment of oil palm plantations.
C – C paragraph’s last three line. Endangered species – most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna – have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.
Explanation:- This paragraph has information about animal species that suffered from oil palm plantations.
Choose TWO letters, A-E
21&22. Which TWO statements are made about the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)?
B (It demands that certified producers be open and honest about their practices.) – G paragraph’s third to fifth line. Over the past decade or so, an agreement has gradually been reached regarding standards that producers of palm oil have to meet in order for their product to be regarded as officially ‘sustainable’. The RSPO insisted upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency and regular assessment of carbon stock, among other criteria.
Explanation:- RSPO asks for transparency from certified producers, which means their practices should be open and honest.
C (It took several years to establish its set of criteria for sustainable palm oil certification) – G paragraph’s first four lines. The industry is now regulated by a group called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), consisting of palm growers, retailers, product manufacturers, and other interested parties. Over the past decade or so, an agreement has gradually been reached regarding standards that producers of palm oil have to meet in order for their product to be regarded as officially ‘sustainable’.
Decade = a period of 10years
Explanation:- The organization took a decade or more to reach an agreement for setting standards (criteria) that palm oil producers need to follow to label (certify) their product as ‘sustainable’.
Complete the sentences below
- One advantage of palm oil for manufacturers is that it stays ……………. even when not refrigerated.
solid – A paragraph’s fourth to fifth line. Why is Palm Oil so attractive for manufacturers? Primarily because its unique properties such as remaining solid at room temperature.
- The ……………… is the best known of the animal suffering habitat loss as a result of the spread of oil palm plantation.
Sumatran orangutan – C paragraph’s fifth line . Endangered species – most famously the Sumatran orangutan, but also rhinos, elephants, tigers, and numerous other fauna – have suffered from the unstoppable spread of oil palm plantations.
- As one of its criteria for the certification of sustainable palm oil, the RSPO insists that growers check ………….on a routine basis.
Carbon stocks – G paragraph’s fifth and sixth line. The RSPO insists upon no virgin forest clearing, transparency and regular assessment of carbon stocks, among their criteria.
- Ellwood and his researchers are looking into whether the bird’s nest fern could restore………….. in areas where oil palm tree are grown.
Biodiversity – H paragraph’s sixth to seventh line. Ellwood believes that reintroducing the bird’s nest fern into oil palm plantations could potentially allow these areas to recover their biodiversity.
Reading Passage 3
Building the Skyline: The Birth and Growth of Manhattan’s Skyscrapers
Choose the correct letter A, B, C and D.
- What point does Shester make about Barr’s book in the first paragraph?
D – it covers a range of factors that affected the development of New York, first paragraph’s second to fourth line .The book combines geology, history, economics and a lot of data to explain why business clusters developed where they did and how the early decisions of workers and firms shaped the skyline we see today.
Explanation:- Geology, history, economics, and decisions of firms and workers are the factors that affected the development of New York, as covered in this passage.
- How does Shester respond to the information in the book about tenements?
B – She indicates a potential problem with Barr’s analysis. Third paragraph’s fifth to last line. I would have liked Barr to expand upon his claim that existing tenements prevents skyscrapers in certain neighborhoods because ‘ likely no skyscrapers developer was interested in performing the necessary “slum clearance”’. Later in the book, Barr makes the claim that the depth of bedrock was not a limiting factor for developers, as foundation costs were a small fraction of the cost of development. At first glance, it is not obvious why slum clearance would be limiting, while more expensive foundations would not.
Explanation:- Shester disputes the points made by Barr that slum clearance was an obstacle in developing skyscrapers and foundation cost was not. Barr did not explain why tenement clearance was not done by developers. So, she finds Barr’s analysis problematic.
- What does Shester say about chapter six of the book?
C – it is too specialized for most readers. Sixth paragraph’s last four lines. Chapter six then presents data on building height throughout the 20th century and uses regression analysis to ‘predict’ building construction. While less technical than the research paper on which the chapter is based, it is probably more technical than would be preferred by a general audience.
Explanation:- The language used in the sixth chapter was less technical than the research paper but not as easy as ordinary people (without technical knowledge) could understand it.
- What does Shester suggest about the chapters focusing on the 1920s building boom?
D – Some parts will have limited appeal to certain people. Eighth paragraph’s first three lines. Chapters eight and nine focus on the birth of Midtown and the building boom of the 1920s.Chapter eight contains lengthy discussions of urban economic theory that may serve as a distraction to readers primarily interested in New York.
Explanation:- Chapters eight and nine talk about the building boom of the 1920s, and chapter eight has an urban economic theory, which might not be interesting to people who like to read about New York.
- What impresses Shester the most about the chapter on land values?
C – The nature of the research into topic. Last paragraph’s first to fifth line. In the final chapter (chapter 10), Barr discusses another of his empirical papers that estimates Manhattan land values from the mid – 19th century to the present day. The data work that went into these estimations is particularly impressive. Towards the end of the chapter, Barr assesses ‘whether skyscrapers are a cause or an effect of high land values’. He finds that changes in land values predict future building height, but the reverse is not true.
Explanation:- Sheshter impresses from the data work on estimating the land value in Manhattan from the 19th century to now. Barr also found the relation between the building height and land value, which she also found interesting.
Yes/No/Not Given
- The description in the first chapter of how New York probably looked from the air in the early 1600s lacks interest.
No – Second paragraph’s first two lines. Barr begins chapter one by taking the reader on a ‘helicopter time-machine’ ride – giving a fascinating account of how the New York landscape in 1609 might have looked from the sky.
Explanation:- In the first chapter, Barr gives a fascinating ( extremely interesting ) description (account) of how 1609 New York might have been seen from the sky.
- Chapters two and three prepare the reader well for material yet to come.
Yes – Third paragraph’s first four lines. Chapter two and three takes the reader up to the Civil War (1861-1865), with chapter two focusing on the early development of land and the implementations of a grid system in 1811. Chapter three focuses on land use before the Civil War. Both chapters are informative and well researched and set the stage for the economic analysis that comes later in the book.
Explanation:- Chapters two and three set the stage (prepare the reader) for economic analysis given in upcoming chapters.
- The biggest problem for many nineteenth-century New York immigrant neighborhoods was a lack of amenities.
Not given – Fourth paragraph’s first three lines. Chapter four focuses on immigration and the location of neighborhoods and tenements in the late 19th century. Barr identifies four primary immigrant enclaves and analyzes their locations in terms of the amenities available in the area.
Explanation:- Barr talks about immigrants’ place of living in terms of amenities (facilities) but does not tell whether the lack of facilities was a problem for them or if they had other concerns. Thus, not given is the answer.
- In the nineteenth century, New York’s immigrant neighborhoods tended to concentrate around the harbor.
No – fourth paragraph line three to five. Most of these enclaves were located on the least valuable land, between the industries located on the waterfront and the wealthy neighborhoods bordering Central Park.
Explanation:- Immigrants were not living around the harbour; they lived on the land between industries on the waterfront and rich people’s living area near Central Park.
Complete the summary using the list of phrases, A-J
- In chapter seven, Barr indicates how the lack of bedrock close to the surface does not explain why skyscrapers are absent from……………………
H – Specific area, seventh paragraph’s first three lines. Chapter seven tackles the ‘bedrock myth’, the assumptions that the absence of bedrock close to the surface between Downtown and Midtown New York is the reason for skyscrapers not being built between the two urban centers.
Explanation:- The specific area is the land between Downtown and Midtown New York, where the bedrock was assumed not near the surface.
- He points out that although the cost of foundations increases when bedrock is deep below the surface, this cannot be regarded as………………..,
D – excessive expense. Seventh paragraph’s third and fourth line. Rather, Barr argues that while deeper bedrock does increase foundation costs, these costs were neither prohibitively high nor were they large compared to overall cost of building a skyscraper.
Explanation:- Even though the foundation cost increases if bedrock is deeper, it remains too low (not excessive expense) compared to the whole cost of building a skyscraper.
- especially when compared to……………….,
The answer is in the same lines
I – total expenditure, Seventh paragraph’s third and fourth line. Rather, Barr argues that while deeper bedrock does increase foundation costs, these costs were neither prohibitively high nor were they large compared to overall cost of building a skyscraper.
Explanation:- Overall cost = total expenditures
- He describes not only how……………… are made possible by the use of caissons
B – deep excavations, Seventh paragraph’s sixth line. He describes the use of caissons, which enables workers to dig down for considerable distances
Explanation:- Caisson = a large watertight chamber, open at the bottom, from which the water is kept out by air pressure and in which construction work may be carried out under water. Dig down for considerable distances = deep excavations.
Due to the use of caissons, deep excavation became possible.
- but he also discusses their………………… . The chapter is well researched but relatively easy to understand.
F – associated risks, Seventh paragraph’s third last line. Barr’s thorough technological history discusses not only how caissons work, but also the dangers involved.
Explanation:- Read this blank in connection with the previous (39) one for more clarity. Danger involved = associated risk.
