Table of Contents
Passage
A It seems biodiversity has become a buzzword beloved of politicians, conservationists, protesters and scientists alike. But what exactly is it? The Convention on Biological Diversity an international agreement to conserve and share the planet’s biological riches, providing a good working definition: biodiversity comprises every form of life, from the smallest microbe to the largest animal or plant, the genes that give them their specific characteristics and the ecosystems of which they are a part.
B In October, the World Conservation Union (also known as the IUCN) published its updated Red List of Threatened Species, a roll call of 11,167 creatures facing extinction – 121 more than when the list was last published in 2000. But the new figures almost certainly underestimate the crisis. Some 1.2 million species of animal and 270,000 species of plant have been classified, but the well-being of only a fraction has been assessed. The resources are simply not available. The IUCN reports that 5714 plants are threatened, for example, but admits that only 4 percent of known plants have been assessed. And, of course, there are thousands of species that we have yet to discover. Many of these could also be facing extinction.
C It is important to develop a picture of the diversity of life on Earth now, so that comparisons can be made in the future and trends identified. But it isn’t necessary to observe every single type of organism in an area to get a snapshot of the health of the ecosystem. In many habitats there are species that are particularly susceptible to shifting conditions, and these can be used as indicator species.
D In the media, it is usually large, charismatic animals such as pandas, elephants, tigers and whales that get all the attention when loss of biodiversity is discussed. However, animals or plants far lower down the food chain are often the ones vital for preserving habitats – in the process saving the skins of those more glamorous species. These are known as keystone species.
E By studying the complex feeding relationships within habitats, species can be identified that have a particularly important impact on the environment. For example, the members of the fig family are the staple food for hundreds of different species in many different countries, so important that scientists sometimes call figs “jungle burgers”. A whole range of animals, from tiny insects to birds and large mammals, feed on everything from the tree’s bark and leaves to its flowers and fruits. Many fig species have very specific pollinators. There are several dozen species of fig tree in Costa Rica, and a different type of wasp has evolved to pollinate each one. Chris Lyle of the Natural History Museum in London-who is also involved in the Global Taxonomy Initiative of the Convention on Biological Diversity – points out that if fig trees are affected by global warming, pollution, disease or any other catastrophe, the loss of biodiversity will be enormous.
F Similarly, sea otters play a major role in the survival of giant kelp forests along the coasts of California and Alaska. These “marine rainforests” provide a home for a wide range of other species. The kelp itself is the main food of purple and red sea urchins and in turn the urchins are eaten by predators, particularly sea otters. They detach an urchin from the seabed then float to the surface and lie on their backs with the urchin shell on their tummy, smashing it open with a stone before eating the contents. Urchins that are not eaten tend to spend their time in rock crevices to avoid the predators. This allows the kelp to grow and it can grow many centimetres in a day. As the forests form, bits of kelp break off and fall to the bottom to provide food for the urchins in their crevices. The sea otters thrive hunting for sea urchins in the kelp, and many other fish and invertebrates live among the fronds. The problems start when the sea otter population declines. As large predators they are vulnerable – their numbers are relatively small so disease or human hunters can wipe them out. The result is that the sea urchin population grows unchecked and they roam the sea floor eating young kelp fronds. This tends to keep the kelp very short and stops forests developing, which has a huge impact on biodiversity.
G Conversely, keystone species can also make dangerous alien species: they can wreak havoc if they end up in the wrong ecosystem. The cactus moth, whose caterpillar is a voracious eater of prickly pear was introduced to Australia to control the rampant cacti. It was so successful that someone thought it would be a good idea to introduce it to Caribbean islands that had the same problem. It solved the cactus menace, but unfortunately some of the moths have now reached the US mainland-borne on winds and in tourists’ luggage-where they are devastating the native cactus populations of Florida.
H Organisations like the Convention on Biological Diversity work with groups such as the UN and with governments and scientists to raise awareness and fund research. A number of major international meetings – including the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg this year – have set targets for governments around the world to slow the loss of biodiversity. And the CITES meeting in Santiago last month added several more names to its list of endangered species for which trade is controlled. Of course, these agreements will prove of limited value if some countries refuse to implement them.
I There is cause for optimism, however. There seems to be a growing understanding of the need for sustainable agriculture and sustainable tourism to conserve biodiversity. Problems such as illegal logging are being tackled through sustainable forestry programmes, with the emphasis on minimising the use of rainforest hardwoods in the developed world and on rigorous replanting of whatever trees are harvested. CITES is playing its part by controlling trade in wood from endangered tree species. In the same way, sustainable farming techniques that minimise environmental damage and avoid monoculture.
J Action at a national level often means investing in public education and awareness. Getting people like you and me involved can be very effective. Australia and many European countries are becoming increasingly efficient at recycling much of their domestic waste, for example, preserving natural resources and reducing the use of fossil fuels. This in turn has a direct effect on biodiversity by minimising pollution, and an indirect effect by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from incinerators and landfill sites. Preserving ecosystems intact for future generations to enjoy is obviously important, but biodiversity is not some kind of optional extra. Variety may be “the spice of life”, but biological variety is also our life-support system.
Questions
Questions 14-20 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 14-20 0n your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
14 The term “biodiversity” consists of living creatures and environment that they live in.
15 There are species that have not been researched because it’s unnecessary to study all creatures.
16 It is not necessary to investigate all creatures in a certain place.
17 The press more often than not focus on animals well-known.
18 There is a successful case that cactus moth plays a positive role in the US.
19 Usage of hardwoods is forbidden in some European countries.
20 Agriculture experts advise farmers to plant single crops in the field in terms of sustainable farming
Questions 21-26 Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage, using no more than two words from the Reading Passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 21-26 on your answer sheet.
Summary
Because of the ignorance brought by media, people tend to neglect significant creatures called 21 ………………. . Every creature has diet connections with others, such as 22 ………………. , which provide a majority of foods for other species. In some states of America, decline in number of sea otters leads to the boom of 23 ………………. . An impressing case is that imported 24 ………………. successfully tackles the plant cacti in 25 ………………. . However, the operation is needed for the government to increase their financial support in 26 ………………. .
Answers
Below are the answers, key words and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Biodiversity (Passage 2, Questions 14–26).
Questions 14–20: True / False / Not Given
14. The term “biodiversity” consists of living creatures and environment that they live in.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: living creatures, environment they live in
Explanation: “biodiversity comprises every form of life … and the ecosystems of which they are a part.” Every form of life = living creatures; ecosystems they are part of = the environment they live in.
every form of life + the ecosystems they are part of = creatures and their environment.
Answer: TRUE
15. There are species that have not been researched because it’s unnecessary to study all creatures.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: not researched, because unnecessary
Explanation: The passage gives a different reason: “the well-being of only a fraction has been assessed. The resources are simply not available.” Species are unassessed because of a lack of resources, not because study is unnecessary.
“the resources are simply not available” contradicts “because it’s unnecessary.”
Answer: FALSE
16. It is not necessary to investigate all creatures in a certain place.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: not necessary, all creatures
Explanation: “it isn’t necessary to observe every single type of organism in an area to get a snapshot of the health of the ecosystem.“
isn’t necessary to observe every organism = not necessary to investigate all creatures.
Answer: TRUE
17. The press more often than not focus on animals well-known.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: press, well-known animals
Explanation: “In the media, it is usually large, charismatic animals such as pandas, elephants, tigers and whales that get all the attention.“
usually … charismatic animals get all the attention = the press mostly focuses on well-known animals.
Answer: TRUE
18. There is a successful case that cactus moth plays a positive role in the US.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: cactus moth, positive role, US
Explanation: In the US the moth is harmful: “they are devastating the native cactus populations of Florida.” Its success was in Australia, not the US.
devastating native cactus populations of Florida contradicts a “positive role in the US.”
Answer: FALSE
19. Usage of hardwoods is forbidden in some European countries.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: hardwoods, forbidden, European countries
Explanation: The passage only mentions “minimising the use of rainforest hardwoods in the developed world.” Minimising is not the same as forbidding, and no European country is specifically named as banning hardwoods.
“minimising the use” ≠ “forbidden,” and no European ban is stated.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
20. Agriculture experts advise farmers to plant single crops in the field in terms of sustainable farming.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: experts advise, single crops, sustainable farming
Explanation: The passage refers to “sustainable farming techniques that … avoid monoculture,” but it never mentions agriculture experts advising farmers about crop planting. The specific claim about expert advice is not made, so it is Not Given. (Note — debatable item: because the passage says sustainable farming avoids monoculture, this statement about planting single crops can also be argued as FALSE; the verified answer key gives NOT GIVEN.)
no mention of “experts advising” single-crop planting = Not Given.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Questions 21–26: Summary Completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
21. People tend to neglect significant creatures called __.
Answer: keystone species
Key words: neglect, significant creatures
Explanation: “animals or plants far lower down the food chain are often the ones vital for preserving habitats … These are known as keystone species.“
Answer: keystone species
22. … such as __, which provide a majority of foods for other species.
Answer: fig family
Key words: majority of foods, other species
Explanation: “the members of the fig family are the staple food for hundreds of different species in many different countries.“
staple food for hundreds of species = provide a majority of foods.
Answer: fig family
23. Decline in sea otters leads to the boom of __.
Answer: sea urchins
Key words: decline in sea otters, boom
Explanation: “The problems start when the sea otter population declines … The result is that the sea urchin population grows unchecked.“
sea urchin population grows unchecked = a boom of sea urchins.
Answer: sea urchins
24. Imported __ successfully tackles the plant cacti …
Answer: cactus moth
Key words: imported, tackles cacti
Explanation: “The cactus moth … was introduced to Australia to control the rampant cacti. It was so successful …“
Answer: cactus moth
25. … tackles the plant cacti in __.
Answer: Australia
Key words: cacti, where
Explanation: “was introduced to Australia to control the rampant cacti. It was so successful …“
Answer: Australia
26. The government needs to increase financial support in __.
Answer: public education
Key words: government, financial support, national level
Explanation: “Action at a national level often means investing in public education and awareness.“
investing in public education = increasing financial support in public education.
Answer: public education
| Answer Key (Quick Reference) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
| 14 | TRUE | 21 | keystone species |
| 15 | FALSE | 22 | fig family |
| 16 | TRUE | 23 | sea urchins |
| 17 | TRUE | 24 | cactus moth |
| 18 | FALSE | 25 | Australia |
| 19 | NOT GIVEN | 26 | public education |
| 20 | NOT GIVEN | ||
