IELTS Academic Reading Passage:
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-12 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below:
Population Viability Analysis
Part A
To make political decisions about the extent and type of forestry in a region it is important to understand the consequences of those decisions. One tool for assessing the impact of forestry on the ecosystem is population viability analysis (PVA). This is a tool for predicting the probability that a species will become extinct in a particular region over a specific period. It has been successfully used in the United States to provide input into resource exploitation decisions and assist wildlife managers and there is now an enormous potential for using population viability to assist wildlife management in Australia’s forests. A species becomes extinct when the last individual dies. This observation is a useful starting point for any discussion of extinction as it highlights the role of luck and chance in the extinction process. To make a prediction about extinction we need to understand the processes that can contribute to it and these fall into four broad categories which are discussed below.
Part B
A) Early attempts to predict population viability were based on demographic uncertainty whether an individual survives from one year to the next will largely be a matter of chance. Some pairs may produce several young in a single year while others may produce none in that same year. Small populations will fluctuate enormously because of the random nature of birth and death and these chance fluctuations can cause species extinctions even if, on average, the population size should increase. Taking only this uncertainty of ability to reproduce into account, extinction is unlikely if the number of individuals in a population is above about 50 and the population is growing.
B) Small populations cannot avoid a certain amount of inbreeding. This is particularly true if there is a very small number of one sex. For example, if there are only 20 individuals of a species and only one is a male, all future individuals in the species must be descended from that one male. For most animal species such individuals are less likely to survive and reproduce. Inbreeding increases the chance of extinction.
C) Variation within a species is the raw material upon which natural selection acts. Without genetic variability, a species lacks the capacity to evolve and cannot adapt to changes in its environment or to new predators and new diseases. The loss of genetic diversity associated with reductions in population size will contribute to the likelihood of extinction.
D) Recent research has shown that other factors need to be considered. Australia’s environment fluctuates enormously from year to year. These fluctuations add yet another degree of uncertainty to the survival of many species. Catastrophes such as fire, flood, drought or epidemic may reduce population sizes to a small fraction of their average level. When allowance is made for these two additional elements of uncertainty the population size necessary to be confident of persistence for a few hundred years may increase to several thousand.
Part C
Besides these processes, we need to bear in mind the distribution of a population. A species that occurs in five isolated places each containing 20 individuals will not have the same probability of extinction as a species with a single population of 100 individuals in a single locality. Where logging occurs (that is, the cutting down of forests for timber) forest-dependent creatures in that area will be forced to leave. Ground-dwelling herbivores may return within a decade. However, arboreal marsupials (that is animals which live in trees) may not recover to pre-logging densities for over a century. As more forests are logged, animal population sizes will be reduced further. Regardless of the theory or model that we choose, a reduction in population size decreases the genetic diversity of a population and increases the probability of extinction because of any or all of the processes listed above. It is, therefore, a scientific fact that increasing the area that is loaded in any region will increase the probability that forest-dependent animals will become extinct.
Questions 1-4:
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Part A of Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet write:
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Example: A link exists between the consequences of decisions and the decision-making process itself. Answer: YES.
1. Scientists are interested in the effect of forestry on native animals.
2. PVA has been used in Australia for many years.
3. A species is said to be extinct when only one individual exists.
4. Extinction is a naturally occurring phenomenon.
Questions 5-8:
These questions are based on Part B of Reading Passage 1.
In paragraphs A to D the author describes four processes which may contribute to the extinction of a species.
Match the list of processes (i-vi) to the paragraphs.
Write the appropriate number (i-vi) in boxes 5-8 on your answer sheet.
NB. There are more processes than paragraphs so you will not use all of them.
| Paragraphs | Processes |
|---|---|
|
5. Paragraph A 6. Paragraph B 7. Paragraph C 8. Paragraph D |
i. Loss of ability to adapt ii. Natural disasters iii. An imbalance of the sexes iv. Human disasters v. Evolution vi. The haphazard nature of reproduction |
Questions 9-11:
Based on your reading of Part C, complete the sentences below.
Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 9-11 on your answer sheet.
While the population of a species may be on the increase, there is always a chance that small isolated groups ………. (9) ………. Survival of a species depends on a balance between the size of a population and its ………. (10) ……… The likelihood that animals which live in forests will become extinct is increased when ………. (11) ………..
Question 12:
Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write it in box 12 on your answer sheet.
12. An alternative heading for the passage could be:
A. The protection of native flora and fauna
B. Influential factors in assessing survival probability
C. An economic rationale for the logging of forests
D. Preventive measures for the extinction of a species
Answer to the reading passage – Population Viability Analysis
Answer: Click the button to Show/ Hide Answers.
Need answer explanation? Visit – Answer Explanation – Population Viability Analysis
9-11 is the summary of part ‘C’. Read part C and try to understand. But you have to catch the keywords of questions 9, 10 & 11.
I face difficulty to find “fill in the blanks” type answers. I couldn’t expect like these small words in blanks. Seriously we need this kind of tip.
From question 9-11, I am confused. Please explain these answers. How can I find these answers correctly?
The correct answer is “Yes” because the keyword effect and forestry has been used in the passage and this tool is eventually used by the scientists.
The answer to question 1 must be ‘Not Given’. There is no information about that. I solved countless gap-fill questions and this is the first time I’ve seen the answers that are independent of the reading passage.
The answer can be inferred from the beginning of the text.
Sir, I have a lot of confusions in questions 9-11. How to find answers to these types of questions? Is there any tips or something easy procedure which may help in IELTS exam in a short time?
I am always getting struck in this type of question – fill in the blanks. So anybody please give me some logic to find the answers to these types of questions. Thanks.
Hi, this is my first time in IELTS and I found this website very sympathetic to me. Thank you so much in advance.
Use the “Show/ Hide Answers” option.
I am also confused about the answer to question 1.
Why don’t you put any comma in the reading passage? We are learners and don’t want to learn bad habits. However, thanks for updating.
Hi, I have started studying IELTS for one month. I found this website just three days ago. I want to say that this will help me get a high band score in IELTS.
Can you explain the answers to the questions 9 to 11? I could not find the answers on that page. Where can I find the answer? It may be in the whole page or do I have to think?
It was helpful! Thanks!
Can anyone please explain to me why in the world question 1 is ‘YES’? There is nowhere in Part A stating that! So why? It must be ‘Not Given’. And would the answer ‘forests are logged’ be acceptable for question 11, instead of the presented answer in the key?
[quote name=”IELTS Mentor”]Yes, the right answer to the question 12 would be ‘B’: (Influential factors in assessing survival probability)[/quote]Please, tell me some strategies for IELTS reading.
I did not understand why the answer to question 1 is ‘Yes’, and not ‘Not Given’?
To answer questions 9 to 11, we require to take words from the reading passage (part C), but I do not see exactly many phrase words in your answers! Can you please explain this to me?
No, I think it is ‘B’ because the passage explains some solutions.
In ‘True/False’ type questions, you deal with the fact while in Yes-No type questions, you deal with the opinion of the narrator and not the exact fact. So check out the last line of this passage which depicts a scientific fact.
Read the last line of section “C” of this reading passage.
[quote name=”ZaZa”]Thank you in advance for your efforts. I’m wondering why there are not exact match answers for questions 9, 10 and 11? Is it acceptable that we change the form of the word?[/quote]It’s a good question. We really need a clarification.
I have noticed the same 🙂
Hey. It’s confusing that the answer-words given to 9, 10 & 11 are not included in the passage. Is that acceptable to use words that are not included in the passage but have the same meaning? Thank you.
Hi, I did not understand how answers were chosen for questions 1 to 4! For example, for question 1, the answer was given ‘Yes’. Can anyone tell me where it is written exactly in the reading passage? Seriously I doubt the answers are right if I follow the passage. Sorry, everyone.
Hi, I’m Simran. I don’t understand the answers to this reading passage.
The answer to question 36 is ‘i’, I think. (number).
I am so much confused about question 9, 10 and 11. How can I fill suitable words?
Can you explain the question 10 and its answer to me, please? Thank you a lot!
For question 1, keywords are “forestry on the ecosystem”. The ‘Ecosystem’ refers to native animals.
Hi, I do not understand the answer to questions from 9 to 11.
There is an enormous potential for using population viability to assist wildlife management in Australia’s forests. I think that’s what they mean by interest.
Actually, I don’t find any information that can convince that the scientists are interested in the effect of forestry on native animals. So I chose ‘Not Given’ for question 28. Please explain it to me.
Hello IELTS Mentor, I was taught that for the type of question – Y, N, NG, we have to find the exact or same meaning word in the text to conclude it is ‘Yes’ or ‘True’, and implication or guessing might not be right. Can you please explain this, question 1 in particular? Thank you.
Anyone, please explain question 1 and its answer.
I am very happy witht this IELTS website. It is an easy passage. I enjoyed reading it and answering it.
I’m sorry, is it only me who thinks these examples are way too easy compared to the actual test questions? I don’t know if these are taken from IELTS actual questionnaires and if so, I’m glad that these help a lot. Thanks to the provider, though; your works are much appreciated.
It is very hard 🙁
Where can we find supporting information for the answer to question number 1?
That’s a really great effort. I enjoyed this test thoroughly.
That’s a great effort. I enjoyed this test very much.
I think the answer to question 11 could be “reduced population size”.
I am very very thankful for the whole information regarding IELTS.
Good help for IELTS Reading…
9, 10 & 11 – Got some serious situations!
Thank you in advance for your efforts. I’m wondering why there are not exact match answers for questions 9, 10 and 11? Is it acceptable we change the form of the word?
I am grateful to you for arranging such a wonderful sample quest…
[quote name=”karan”] Answers from 9 to 11 have more than 3 words[/quote] Dear Karan, if you notice the answers, (9. will not survive 10. locality 11. logging takes place), all of them contain three or fewer words.
Answers from 9 to 11 have more than 3 words!!!
“Aro valo questions chai?” It translates to “we want better questions and answers.” Thanks, IELTS Mentor. I am from Bangladesh.
Thank you so much. This website is very useful to me:-)