Table of Contents
Passage
A A little over a century ago, men of the ilk of Scott, Shackleton and Mawson battled against Antarctica’s blizzards, cold and deprivation. In the name of Empire and in an age of heroic deeds they created an image of Antarctica that was to last well into the 20th century—an image of remoteness, hardship, bleakness and isolation that was the province of only the most courageous of men. The image was one of a place removed from everyday reality, of a place with no apparent value to anyone.
B As we enter the 21st century, our perception of Antarctica has changed. Although physically Antarctica is no closer and probably no warmer, and to spend time there still demands a dedication not seen in ordinary life, the continent and its surrounding ocean are increasingly seen to an integral part of Planet Earth, and a key component in the Earth System. Is this because the world seems a little smaller these days, shrunk by TV and tourism, or is it because Antarctica really does occupy a central spot on Earth’s mantle? Scientific research during the past half century has revealed—and continues to reveal-that Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation, factors which influence the lives of millions of people all over the globe.
C Antarctica was not always cold. The slow break-up of the super-continent Gondwana with the northward movements of Africa, South America, India and Australia eventually created enough space around Antarctica for the development of an Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), that flowed from west to east under the influence of the prevailing westerly winds. Antarctica cooled, its vegetation perished, glaciation began and the continent took on its present-day appearance. Today the ice that overlies the bedrock is up to 4km thick, and surface temperatures as low as-89.2deg C have been recorded. The icy blast that howls over the ice cap and out to sea-the so-called katabatic wind—can reach 300 km/hr, creating fearsome wind-chill effects.
D Out of this extreme environment come some powerful forces that reverberate around the world. The Earth’s rotation, coupled to the generation of cells of low pressure off the Antarctic coast, would allow Astronauts a view of Antarctica that is as beautiful as it is awesome. Spinning away to the northeast, the cells grow and deepen, whipping up the Southern Ocean into the mountainous seas so respected by mariners. Recent work is showing that the temperature of the ocean may be a better predictor of rainfall in Australia than is the pressure difference between Darwin and Tahiti-the Southern Oscillation Index. By receiving more accurate predictions, graziers in northern Queensland are able to avoid overstocking in years when rainfall will be poor. Not only does this limit their losses but it prevents serious pasture degradation that may take decades to repair. CSIRO is developing this as a prototype forecasting system, but we can confidently predict that as we know more about the Antarctic and Southern Ocean we will be able to enhance and extend our predictive ability.
E The ocean’s surface temperature results from the interplay between deep-water temperature, air temperature and ice. Each winter between 4 and 19 million square km of sea ice form, locking up huge quantities of heat close to the continent. Only now can we start to unravel the influence of sea ice on the weather that is experienced in southern Australia. But in another way the extent of sea ice extends its influence far beyond Antarctica. Antarctic krill-the small shrimplike crustaceans that are the staple diet for baleen whales, penguins, some seals, flighted sea birds and many fish-breed well in years when sea ice is extensive and poorly when it is not. Many species of baleen whales and flighted sea birds migrate between the hemispheres and when the krill are less abundant they do not thrive.
F The circulatory system of the world’s oceans is like a huge conveyor belt, moving water and dissolved minerals and nutrients from one hemisphere to the other, and from the ocean’s abyssal depths to the surface. The ACC is the longest current in the world, and has the largest flow. Through it, the deep flows of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans are joined to form part of a single global thermohaline circulation. During winter, the howling katabatics sometimes scour the ice off patches of the sea’s surface leaving large ice-locked lagoons, or ‘polynyas’. Recent research has shown that as fresh sea ice forms, it is continuously stripped away by the wind and may be blown up to 90km in a single day. Since only fresh water freezes into ice, the water that remains becomes increasingly salty and dense, sinking until it spills over the continental shelf. Cold water carries more oxygen than warm water, so when it rises, well into the northern hemisphere, it reoxygenates and revitalises the ocean. The state of the northern oceans, and their biological productivity, owe much to what happens in the Antarctic.
G Antarctica has, truly, ‘come in from the cold’. As we learn more about its effect on climate, ocean circulation and biota we see that it is not a place that is unconnected to the rest of the world; nor is it useless and barren. On the contrary; it is a powerful engine that has impacts on human, animal and plant life across the globe. Australia’s Antarctic scientific research program, undertaken by government and university scientists and facilitated by the Australian Antarctic Division, publishes about 300 research papers and articles annually and is fully engaged in answering fundamental questions about the Continent’s physical and biological attributes, and its role in System Earth. Much of this research was on show at the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering’s symposium “Looking SouthManaging Technology, Opportunities and the Global Environment” held in Hobart late last year.
Questions
Questions 14-18 The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.
14 The effect of low pressure cells on weather prediction on agriculture
15 Antarctic sea ice brings life back to the world oceans’ vitality.
16 A food chain that influence the animals living pattern based on Antarctic fresh sea ice
17 The explanation of How atmosphere pressure above Antarctica can impose effect on global climate change
18 Antarctica was once thought to be a forgotten and insignificant continent
Questions 19-21 Please match the natural phenomenon with correct determined factor Write the correct letter A-C in boxes 19-21 on your answer sheet.
A Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)
B katabatic winds
C Southern Oscillation Index
D Ocean deep temperature
19 facilitates new sea ice’s formation—
20 contributory to western wind—
21 prediction of rainfall in Australia—
Questions 22-26 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write your answers in boxes 22-26 on your answer sheet.
22 How does Antarctica benefit Northern hemisphere ？
A Antarctica has been a central topic of global warming in Mass media
B huge see ice brings food to million lives to places in the world
C originate flow of cold water which motivate the world ocean current
D Antarctica located in the central spot on Earth geographically
23 Why do Australian farmers keep an eye on the Antarctic ocean temperature ？
A help farmers reduce their economic or ecological losses
B Retrieve grassland decreased in the overgrazing process
C Prevent animal from dying
D A cell provides fertilizer for the grassland
24 What is the final effect of katabatic winds?
A Increase the moving speed of ocean current
B Increase salt level near ocean surface
C Bring fresh ice into southern oceans
D Pile up the mountainous ice cap respected by mariners
25 the break of the continental shelf is due to the
A Salt and density increase
B Salt and density decrease
C global warming resulting a rising temperature
D fresh ice melting into ocean water
26 the decrease in number of Whales and seabirds is due to ：
A killers whales are more active around
B Sea birds are affected by high sea level salty
C less sea ice reduces productivity of food source
D seals fail to reproduce babies
Answers
Below are the answers, key words and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Antarctica — in from the cold? (Passage 2, Questions 14–26).
Questions 14–18: Matching Information (which paragraph A–G contains the information)
14. The effect of low-pressure cells on weather prediction for agriculture
Answer: D
Key words: low-pressure cells, prediction, agriculture
Explanation: “the temperature of the ocean may be a better predictor of rainfall in Australia … graziers in northern Queensland are able to avoid overstocking in years when rainfall will be poor.“
rainfall prediction helping graziers = weather prediction applied to agriculture.
Answer: D
15. Antarctic sea ice brings life back to the world oceans’ vitality
Answer: F
Key words: revitalise, oxygen, ocean
Explanation: “Cold water carries more oxygen than warm water, so when it rises, well into the northern hemisphere, it reoxygenates and revitalises the ocean.“
reoxygenates and revitalises the ocean = brings life back to the oceans’ vitality.
Answer: F
16. A food chain that influences the animals’ living pattern
Answer: E
Key words: food chain, krill, whales
Explanation: “Antarctic krill … are the staple diet for baleen whales, penguins, some seals, flighted sea birds … when the krill are less abundant they do not thrive.“
krill as staple diet affecting whales and birds = a food chain shaping animals’ lives.
Answer: E
17. How Antarctica imposes an effect on the global climate
Answer: B
Key words: influence, climate, globe
Explanation: “Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation, factors which influence the lives of millions of people all over the globe.” (Note: the site’s wording mentions “atmosphere pressure,” which could also point to paragraph D’s low-pressure cells; paragraph B is the paragraph that states Antarctica’s overall influence on global climate.)
major influence on climate … all over the globe = Antarctica’s effect on global climate.
Answer: B
18. Antarctica was once thought to be a forgotten and insignificant continent
Answer: A
Key words: once, no value, isolation
Explanation: “an image of remoteness, hardship, bleakness and isolation … a place with no apparent value to anyone.“
remoteness / no apparent value = a forgotten and insignificant continent.
Answer: A
Questions 19–21: Match each phenomenon with its determining factor (A Antarctic Circumpolar Current · B katabatic winds · C Southern Oscillation Index · D ocean deep temperature)
19. Facilitates new sea ice’s formation
Answer: B (katabatic winds)
Explanation: “as fresh sea ice forms, it is continuously stripped away by the wind,” which clears the surface so that new ice can keep forming.
the wind strips away fresh ice, allowing more to form = katabatic winds facilitate new ice.
Answer: B
20. Contributory to / associated with the westerly wind
Answer: A (Antarctic Circumpolar Current)
Explanation: “an Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), that flowed from west to east under the influence of the prevailing westerly winds.“
the ACC flows under the influence of the westerly winds = the two are linked.
Answer: A
21. Prediction of rainfall in Australia
Answer: D (ocean deep temperature)
Explanation: “the temperature of the ocean may be a better predictor of rainfall in Australia than is … the Southern Oscillation Index.“
ocean temperature best predicts rainfall = the determining factor for rainfall prediction.
Answer: D
Questions 22–26: Multiple Choice
22. How does Antarctica benefit the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer: C — it originates a flow of cold water that drives the world ocean current
Key words: benefit, northern hemisphere, cold water
Explanation: “the water … sinking until it spills over the continental shelf … when it rises, well into the northern hemisphere, it reoxygenates and revitalises the ocean.“
cold dense water sinks then rises in the north, driving circulation = the benefit to the Northern Hemisphere.
Answer: C
23. Why do Australian farmers keep an eye on the Antarctic ocean temperature?
Answer: A — it helps farmers reduce their economic or ecological losses
Key words: farmers, losses
Explanation: Better rainfall predictions let graziers “avoid overstocking … Not only does this limit their losses but it prevents serious pasture degradation.“
limit losses and prevent pasture degradation = reduce economic and ecological losses.
Answer: A
24. What is the final effect of the katabatic winds?
Answer: C — bringing fresh ice into the southern oceans
Key words: katabatic winds, fresh ice
Explanation: “as fresh sea ice forms, it is continuously stripped away by the wind and may be blown up to 90km in a single day.” The wind keeps moving newly formed fresh ice across the ocean.
fresh ice continuously stripped away and blown across the sea = the winds bring fresh ice into the oceans.
Answer: C
25. The spilling of water over the continental shelf is due to
Answer: A — an increase in salt and density
Key words: continental shelf, salt, density
Explanation: “Since only fresh water freezes into ice, the water that remains becomes increasingly salty and dense, sinking until it spills over the continental shelf.“
increasingly salty and dense water sinks and spills over the shelf = caused by rising salt and density.
Answer: A
26. The decrease in the number of whales and seabirds is due to
Answer: C — less sea ice reduces the productivity of their food source
Key words: whales, seabirds, food, sea ice
Explanation: Krill “breed well in years when sea ice is extensive and poorly when it is not … when the krill are less abundant they do not thrive.“
less sea ice → fewer krill → whales and birds do not thrive = food source productivity falls.
Answer: C
| Answer Key (Quick Reference) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
| 14 | D | 21 | D |
| 15 | F | 22 | C |
| 16 | E | 23 | A |
| 17 | B | 24 | C |
| 18 | A | 25 | A |
| 19 | B | 26 | C |
| 20 | A | ||
