Table of Contents
Passage
A Rhythm of the seasons cannot always be relied upon. At times the tropical Pacific Ocean and large expanses of the global atmosphere seem to be marching to the beat of a different drummer, disrupting the normal patterns of countless species of plants and animals along with hundreds of millions of human beings. So they want anticipate these occasional lapses in the march of the seasons and help societies plan accordingly, scientists are seeking to understand these competing rhythms: the strongest of which is the alternation between the “normal climate” and a different but still recurrent set of climatic conditions in the Pacific region called El Nino.
B Seabirds are prominent and highly visible components of marine ecosystems that will be affected by global climate change. The Bering Sea region is particularly important to seabirds; populations there are larger and more diverse than in any similar region in North America—over 90% of seabirds breeding in the continental United States are found in this region. Seabirds, so named because they spend at least 80% of their lives at sea, are dependent upon marine resources for food. As prey availability changes in response to climatically driven factors such as surface sea temperature and extent of sea ice, so will populations of seabirds be affected.
C Seabirds are valued as indicators of healthy marine ecosystems and provide a “vicarious use value” or existence value—people appreciate and value seabirds simply because they are there and enjoy them through venues such as pictures, nature programs, and written accounts without ever directly observing seabirds in their native environment. A direct measure of this value is demonstrated by Federal legislation that established specific national wildlife refuges to protect seabirds and international treaty obligations that provide additional protection for seabirds. Seabirds are also an important subsistence resource for many who live within the Bering Sea Region. Furthermore, the rich knowledge base about seabirds makes them a valuable resource as indicator species for measurement of change in the marine environment.
D The most abundant breeding species in Alaska are northern fulmars, storm-petrels, kittiwakes, murres, auklets and puffins. These species also form the largest colonies. Fulmars, storm-petrels and kittiwakes are surface feeders, picking their prey from the surface or just below the surface; murres, auklets, and puffins dive for their food. Fulmars nest primarily on island groups in and around the Bering Sea. They take a wide variety of prey (e.g., fish, squid, zooplankton, jellyfish) from the surface or just below the surface. Storm-petrels are strictly nocturnal and nest below ground in either burrows or crevices between rocks. They forage on zooplankton and squid; in some areas they are dependent upon small fish such as capelin and sand lance caught at the surface. Black-legged kittiwakes are widespread throughout Alaska, Canada and Eurasia while red-legged kittiwakes are found only in the Bering Sea region. Both are surface feeders although black-legged kittiwakes feed primarily on small fish and forage over the continental shelf and shelf break; red-legged kittiwakes feed primarily on myctophids and will forage beyond the shelf break.
E Marine mammals have exhibited similar signs of food stress in recent years. Harbor seals at Tugidak Island in the Gulf of Alaska declined by about 85% between 1976 and 1988 . Steller sea lion populations declined by 36% in the Gulf of Alaska between 1977 and 1985 , and by another 59% between 1985 and . Northern fur seals declined about 35% by 1986 from their average numbers in the 1970s, although numbers had rebounded somewhat (20%) by 1990 . Associated with the declines in Steller sea lions are declines in birth rate, fewer breeding females, fewer pups, decreased adult body condition, decreased juvenile survival, and a change in population age structure.
F Walker noticed that monsoon seasons with low-index conditions are often marked by drought in Australia, Indonesia, India, and parts of Africa. He also claimed that low-index winters tend to be unusually mild in western Canada. One of his British colleagues chided him in print for suggesting that climatic conditions over such widely separated regions of the globe could be linked. In his reply Walker predicted, correctly, that an explanation would be forthcoming, but that it would require a knowledge of wind patterns above ground level, which were not routinely being observed at that time.
G The need for long-term time series It seems obvious that without good baseline data ornithologists are doomed to be surprised by the arrival of El Nino every few years. Even when ornithologists and ecologists are at hand to take advantage of an incoming El Nino, lack of preexisting data, and of monitoring afterwards, makes it difficult 134 F.M. Jaksic & J.M. Farina to understand responses of birds to the successive El Nino, La Nina, and “normal” years. Indeed, according to Jaksic, during the last century there were 12 El Nino years and 12 La Nina years, thus leaving about 76 ‘normal’ years in between. Thus, by heavily concentrating attention on only 12% of the time span El Nino, and of neglecting possibly another 12% , ornithologists are essentially ignoring what happens during 76% of the time. This situation may be remedied only as long as data are logged on a regular or continuous basis, that is, as long-term time series. The recipe prescribed by Schreiber & Schreiber to understand El Nino, effects on birds still stands: ‘…carry out long-term studies that will shed further light on the interactions between global atmospheric cycles, oceanographic phenomena, and avian populations.’
H Populations of seabirds in Alaska are larger and more diverse than any similar region in the Northern Hemisphere. The extensive coastal estuaries and offshore waters of Alaska provide breeding, feeding and migrating habitats for 66 species of seabirds. At least 38 species of seabirds, over 50 million individuals, breed in Alaska. Eight Alaskan species breed only here and in adjacent Siberia. Five additional species range through the North Pacific, but their populations are concentrated in Alaska. In addition to breeding grounds, Alaskan waters also provide important wintering habitat for birds that breed in Canada and Eurasia. Shearwaters, which breed in the southern hemisphere, are the most numerous species in Alaskan waters during the summer.
I As another indication that food has been limiting in recent years, several largescale die-offs of seabirds, mostly surface-feeding species, have been observed in the Gulf of Alaska during the last decade, most notably in 1983, 1989，and 1993 . But Hatch thinks that it is too early to decide the these die-offs reports are somehow connected with effect of El nino. Byrd and Tobish believe that high rainfall can affect survival of chicks in earthen burrows, and incidence of big storms with high winds during the chick-rearing period can cause mortality for chicks of species nesting on cliff-ledges, but this view has not been considered as convincing evidence.
Questions
Questions 14-17 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write your answers in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
14 Why do scientists want to investigate El Nino phenomenon at beginning of the paragraph ?
A To learn patterns of creatures that live in marine environment.
B Assist us to map out because it disturbs normal cycle of for wildlife and human.
C It has profound theory for both the academic side and practical side.
D Tropical Pacific Ocean is where El Nino affects most.
15 Why do scientists use seabirds as important subjects when observe climate change World-widely?
A Seabirds affected by prey changes according to the temperature and ice.
B Its size is large enough to be observed.
C El Nino affects seabirds more than other sea creatures.
D North America is situated in the area where El Nino affects most.
16 What happened for Marine mammals that live in Tugidak Island in Gulf of Alaska?
A Number of seals declined about 85% from the mid of 20th century.
B Number of Steller sea lion declined while Number seals grew.
C Birth rate and breeding females declined on the Tugidak Island.
D The situation of mammals on the island is not that worse than we expected.
17 According to J. Walker, what happens in the monsoon seasons notably?
A Flood and drought seriously damage almost everywhere of the planet.
B Walker’s prediction would soon come true.
C Drought only affects some parts of Africa.
D Drought will affect somewhere of the earth such as Australia and Indonesia.
Questions 18-26 Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 18-26 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the sataement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
18 Seabirds are regarded as precious indicators of changes in oceanic nvironment.
19 Seabirds such as Fulmars and Murres feed by the characteristic of prey in different ways.
20 Steller sea lions only decline in birth rate and fewer pups, but the whole population wouldn’t be affected by the changes.
21 With reply of Walker’s colleague, knowledge of wind patterns will be very helpful.
22 It is difficult to investigate El Nino for ornithologists and ecologist because lack of available statistics and inspections.
23 Habit of seabirds in Alaska is similar to those in the Northern Hemisphere.
24 Number of Shearwaters in the southern hemisphere feed most during the summer.
25 Hatch thinks that it is too early to determine all the problems that are caused by El Nino.
26 Byrd and Tobish think that heavy rainfall and storms cause mortality for chicks, which has already been a convincing proof.
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage El Nino and Seabirds (Passage 2, Questions 14–26).
Questions 14–17: Multiple Choice
14. Why do scientists want to investigate the El Nino phenomenon at the beginning of the passage?
Answer: B (Assist us to plan because it disturbs the normal cycle for wildlife and humans)
Key words: disrupting the normal patterns of countless species … help societies plan accordingly
Synonyms: disturbs normal cycle for wildlife and human = disrupting normal patterns of species and human beings = “disrupting the normal patterns of countless species of plants and animals along with hundreds of millions of human beings … help societies plan accordingly”
Explanation: Paragraph A: scientists study El Nino because it disrupts the normal seasonal patterns for wildlife and people, and understanding it helps societies plan → B.
15. Why do scientists use seabirds as important subjects when observing climate change worldwide?
Answer: A (Seabirds are affected by prey changes driven by temperature and ice)
Key words: As prey availability changes in response to … surface sea temperature and extent of sea ice, so will populations of seabirds be affected
Synonyms: prey changes according to temperature and ice = prey availability changes with sea temperature and sea ice = “As prey availability changes in response to climatically driven factors such as surface sea temperature and extent of sea ice, so will populations of seabirds be affected”
Explanation: Paragraph B: seabird populations respond to prey changes caused by sea temperature and ice, making them useful climate indicators → A.
16. What happened to the marine mammals that live on Tugidak Island in the Gulf of Alaska?
Answer: C (Birth rate and breeding females declined)
Key words: declines in birth rate, fewer breeding females, fewer pups
Synonyms: birth rate and breeding females declined = declines in birth rate, fewer breeding females = “Associated with the declines in Steller sea lions are declines in birth rate, fewer breeding females, fewer pups …”
Explanation: Paragraph E: the marine-mammal declines came with falling birth rates and fewer breeding females. Option A is wrong because the 85% drop occurred in 1976–1988 (not “mid-20th century”) → C.
17. According to J. Walker, what notably happens in monsoon seasons?
Answer: D (Drought affects places such as Australia and Indonesia)
Key words: monsoon seasons with low-index conditions are often marked by drought in Australia, Indonesia, India, and parts of Africa
Synonyms: drought affects somewhere such as Australia and Indonesia = drought in Australia, Indonesia … = “Walker noticed that monsoon seasons with low-index conditions are often marked by drought in Australia, Indonesia, India, and parts of Africa”
Explanation: Paragraph F: Walker linked such monsoon seasons to drought in specific regions including Australia and Indonesia → D.
Questions 18–26: True / False / Not Given
18. Seabirds are regarded as precious indicators of changes in the oceanic environment.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: a valuable resource as indicator species for measurement of change in the marine environment
Synonyms: precious indicators of changes = valuable indicator species for change; oceanic environment = marine environment = “the rich knowledge base about seabirds makes them a valuable resource as indicator species for measurement of change in the marine environment”
Explanation: Paragraph C: seabirds are valued as indicator species for measuring change in the marine environment → TRUE.
19. Seabirds such as Fulmars and Murres feed on their prey in different ways.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: Fulmars … are surface feeders … murres, auklets, and puffins dive for their food
Synonyms: feed in different ways = surface feeders vs diving = “Fulmars, storm-petrels and kittiwakes are surface feeders … murres, auklets, and puffins dive for their food”
Explanation: Paragraph D: fulmars feed at the surface while murres dive, so they feed in different ways → TRUE.
20. Steller sea lions only decline in birth rate and fewer pups, but the whole population would not be affected by the changes.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: Steller sea lion populations declined by 36% … and by another 59%
Synonyms: whole population not affected = contradicted by large population declines = “Steller sea lion populations declined by 36% in the Gulf of Alaska between 1977 and 1985, and by another 59% …”
Explanation: Paragraph E: the whole Steller sea lion population fell sharply (36%, then 59%), so it was clearly affected → FALSE.
21. Following the reply of Walker’s colleague, knowledge of wind patterns will be very helpful.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: In his reply Walker predicted … it would require a knowledge of wind patterns above ground level
Synonyms: it was Walker’s own reply, not his colleague’s = “One of his British colleagues chided him … In his reply Walker predicted … that it would require a knowledge of wind patterns above ground level”
Explanation: Paragraph F: the point about wind patterns came from Walker’s own reply, not from his colleague, so the statement’s attribution is contradicted → FALSE.
22. It is difficult for ornithologists and ecologists to investigate El Nino because of a lack of available statistics and inspections.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: lack of preexisting data, and of monitoring afterwards, makes it difficult … to understand responses of birds
Synonyms: lack of available statistics and inspections = lack of preexisting data and of monitoring = “lack of preexisting data, and of monitoring afterwards, makes it difficult … to understand responses of birds”
Explanation: Paragraph G: the absence of baseline data and monitoring makes El Nino hard to study → TRUE.
23. The habits of seabirds in Alaska are similar to those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: Populations of seabirds in Alaska are larger and more diverse than any similar region in the Northern Hemisphere
Synonyms: The passage compares population size and diversity, but says nothing about their habits being similar.
Explanation: Paragraph H only compares Alaskan populations in size and diversity, not the birds’ habits → NOT GIVEN.
24. The number of Shearwaters in the southern hemisphere feed most during the summer.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Key words: Shearwaters, which breed in the southern hemisphere, are the most numerous species in Alaskan waters during the summer
Synonyms: The passage says shearwaters are most numerous in Alaskan waters in summer, but gives no information about their feeding in the southern hemisphere.
Explanation: Paragraph H notes shearwaters are most numerous in Alaskan waters in summer; there is no information about them “feeding most” in the southern hemisphere → NOT GIVEN.
25. Hatch thinks that it is too early to determine all the problems that are caused by El Nino.
Answer: TRUE
Key words: Hatch thinks that it is too early to decide … these die-offs reports are somehow connected with effect of El nino
Synonyms: too early to determine problems caused by El Nino = too early to decide the die-offs are connected with El Nino = “Hatch thinks that it is too early to decide the these die-offs reports are somehow connected with effect of El nino”
Explanation: Paragraph I: Hatch says it is too early to link the die-offs to El Nino, i.e. too early to determine El Nino’s effects → TRUE.
26. Byrd and Tobish think that heavy rainfall and storms cause mortality for chicks, which has already been convincingly proven.
Answer: FALSE
Key words: but this view has not been considered as convincing evidence
Synonyms: already convincingly proven = contradicted by “not … convincing evidence” = “Byrd and Tobish believe that high rainfall can affect survival of chicks … but this view has not been considered as convincing evidence”
Explanation: Paragraph I: their view about rainfall and storms is explicitly said NOT to be convincing evidence → FALSE.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | B | 21 | FALSE |
| 15 | A | 22 | TRUE |
| 16 | C | 23 | NOT GIVEN |
| 17 | D | 24 | NOT GIVEN |
| 18 | TRUE | 25 | TRUE |
| 19 | TRUE | 26 | FALSE |
| 20 | FALSE |
