Accentuate the Negative Reading Answers

Jul 15, 2025

Accentuate the Negative Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Accentuate the Negative Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. It contains questions such as choose the correct letter, a, b, c, or d. Match each issue with one correct location. Write the appropriate locations, a-j. Choose no more than three words for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

ACCENTUATE THE NEGATIVE

July 5th 2010, 10:11 by The Economist online

A.FOR everyone else, what the picture showed was the glaciers; for the Dutch, it was the flooding. Last January errors in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) hit the headlines. The chapter on Asia in the report by the IPCC's second working

group, charged with looking at the impact of climate change and adapting to it, mistakenly claimed that the Himalayan glaciers be gone by 2035. This contradicted some reasonably basic physics, had not been predicted by the glacier specialists in the first working group and was unsupported by any evidence. There was a report from the 1990s which said something similar about all the world's non-polar glaciers, but it gave the date as 2350. Then there was a crucial typo and some shoddy referencing. Nevertheless, the IPCC's chair, Rajendra Pachauri, had lashed out at people bringing the criticism up, accusing them of "voodoo science". He then had to eat his words and set up a panel to look into ways the IPCC might be improved.

B.Inspired by this to look for other errors, a journalist for a Dutch newspaper spotted that the chapter on Europe gave a figure for the area of the Netherlands below sea level that was much too large. The area at risk of flooding by the sea had been conflated with that at risk of flooding by the Rhine and the Meuse rivers. That the careful Dutch should have provided faulty information and not spotted it in the review process was an embarrassment to the environment minister, Jacqueline Cramer; following a debate in parliament she called on the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), to look at all the regional chapters in the working group II report and make sure they were up to snuff. This the PBL has now done, and its report has already been published.

C.The authors try hard to make clear that their findings do not undermine the IPCC's conclusions on climate change. And there is nothing in their report as egregious as the glaciers or as embarrassing as the Dutch sea level. But they did find a number of things to take issue

with, most of which they thought minor, but eight of which they classed as major; and their work seems to bring out a systemic tendency to stress negative effects over positive ones. This tendency can be defended, but a reading of the report suggests there may also be broader and potentially more misleading bias.

D.The auditors found one distinct error, which they deemed major: a statement about the frequency of turbulence in South African fishing waters, which had been translated directly into a statement about the productivity of the fisheries. The IPCC has indicated it will produce an erratum for this and for a number of other errors, all concerned deemed minor. But the PBL also identified seven statements, which, while not errors, it thought were deserving of comment.

E.Perhaps the most striking relates to Africa. The table in the summary for policy makers reads: "By 2020, in some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%." The evidence on which this is based says only that yields during years in which there are droughts could be reduced by 50%. Furthermore, the relevant reference applies only for Morocco and it cites as its source an earlier paper that the PBL says no one, including the IPCC authors, now seems able to find.

F.Other criticisms turn on a tendency to generalise. Research showing decreased yields of millet, groundnuts and cowpeas in Niger becomes a claim that crop yields are decreasing in the Sahel, the strip that separates the Sahara from the Savannah in Africa, rather than that the yields of some crops are decreasing in some parts of the Sahel. The results of research on cattle in Argentina are applied to livestock (which would include pigs, chickens, llamas and the rest) throughout South America. The expert authors do not provide a compelling reason for their claim that fresh water availability will decline overall in South, East and Southeast Asia, or that the balance of climate-related effects on the health of Europeans will be negative.

G.Another problem identified by the PBL analysis is that, in general, negative impacts are stressed over positive ones. The table in the summary for policymakers is almost unremittingly bad news; the conclusions in the chapters that fed into it, while far from cheery, were more mixed. In a similar way, when there is a range of possible impacts. The top end of the range tends to get more play in the summaries for policymakers than the bottom end does. The PBL says that this is a reasonable way to proceed in a document that is explicitly aimed at policymakers thinking about adaptation, but it is not clear how transparent this approach is to readers.

H.This may reflect a larger issue. Work on the impacts of climate change the literature. Working Group II assesses tends to focus on vulnerabilities and damage for much the same reason the IPCC authors do. They seem more important, more urgent and quite possibly more fundable. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change requires countries to assess their vulnerabilities, and these assessments are fodder for Working Group II. Thus, the evidence base from which an assessment of impacts has to start is to some extent skewed.

I.Perhaps the most worrying thing about the PBL report, though, is a rather obvious one about which its authors say little. In all ten of the issues that the PBL categorized as major (the original errors on glaciers and Dutch sea level, and the eight others identified in the report), the impression that the reader gets from the IPCC is more strikingly negative than the impression which would have been received if the underlying evidence base had been reflected as the PBL would have wished, with more precise referencing, more narrow interpretation and less authorial judgment. A large rise in heat-related deaths in Australia is mentioned without noting that most of the effect is due to population rather than climate change. A claim about forest fires in northern Asia seems to go further than the evidence referred to - in this case, a speech by a politician would warrant.

J.A suspicion thus gains ground that the way in which the IPCC synthesizes, generalizes and checks its findings may systematically favor adverse outcomes in a way that goes beyond just serving the needs of policy makers. Anecdotally, authors bemoan fights to keep caveats in place as chapters are edited, refined and summarized. The PBL report does not prove or indeed suggest systematic bias, and it stresses that it has found nothing that should lead the parliament of the Netherlands, or anyone else, to reject the IPCC's findings. But the panel set up to look at the IPCC's workings should ask some hard questions about systematic tendencies to accentuate the negative.

Questions 27-29

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27. How did the IPCCs chair respond to the charge of IPCC's mistaken report about Himalayan's oncoming disappearance?

A. He absolutely denied it and retorted fiercely.

B. He sincerely accepted it and promised to make some improvements later.

C. He hesitated a lot and didn't know how to react for a while.

D. He felt it hard to accept it at first but demonstrated a positive attitude towards it.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Nevertheless, the IPCC's chair, Rajendra Pachauri, had lashed out at people bringing the criticism up, accusing them of "voodoo science". He then had to eat his words and set up a panel to look into ways the IPCC might be improved.

Keywords: lashed out, voodoo science, eat his words

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 9-10

Explanation: Initially, Rajendra Pachauri lashed out and accused critics, showing resistance. However, he then had to eat his words and set up a panel to look into ways the IPCC might be improved, indicating he eventually accepted the criticism and took a positive step towards addressing it.

28. What was the error which a Dutch newspaper identified in IPCC's report on the area of the Netherlands below sea level?

A. The figure was calculated in a wrong way.

B. The causes that led to the results were mixed up.

C. The Dutch provided faulty information.

D. The evidences for the results were not sufficient.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: The area at risk of flooding by the sea had been conflated with that at risk of flooding by the Rhine and the Meuse rivers.

Keywords: flooding, sea, Rhine

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The error wasn't in the calculation itself, but in mixing up or "conflating" the different causes of flooding (sea vs. rivers) when determining the area at risk. This means the causes were indeed mixed up.

29. According to the passage, how many issues were mentioned altogether in PBL's report as major issues to take seriously?

A.2

B.6

C. 8

D. 10

Answer: D

Supporting statement: "In all ten of the issues that the PBL categorized as major (the original errors on glaciers and Dutch sea level, ………………would have wished, with more precise referencing, more narrow interpretation and less authorial judgment."

Keywords: all ten, major, original errors, eight others

Keyword Location: Para I, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that there were "all ten of the issues that the PBL categorized as major," and then clarifies that this includes "the original errors on glaciers and Dutch sea level, and the eight others identified in the report." This means the total number of major issues is 2 (original errors) + 8 (others)

Questions 30-35

Match each issue with ONE correct location. Write the appropriate locations, A-J.

NB There are more Locations than issues, so you will not use all of them. ISSUES

30. Freshwater availability is destined to decrease.

Answer: J

Supporting statement: fresh water availability will decline overall in South, East and Southeast Asia,

Keywords: fresh water, decline, South, East, Southeast Asia

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 7-8

Explanation: Paragraph F explicitly discusses the issue that fresh water availability will decline overall in South, East and Southeast Asia, which aligns directly with the problem presented.

31. Livestock productivity is estimated to decrease.

Answer: I

Supporting statement: The results of research on cattle in Argentina are applied to livestock (which would include pigs, chickens, llamas and the rest) throughout South America.

Keywords: cattle, livestock, South America

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text discusses research on cattle and its application to "livestock... throughout South America." "South America" is location I.

32. Agricultural output from rain irrigation might be reduced by up to 50%.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: Perhaps the most striking relates to Africa. The table in the summary for policy makers reads: "By 2020, in some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%."

Keywords: Africa, rain-fed agriculture, reduced by up to 50%

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: Paragraph E details a specific issue concerning the projection that "yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%" in some African countries, which directly matches the issue described.

33. Health risks are likely to increase.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: the balance of climate-related effects on the health of Europeans will be negative.

Keywords: climate-related effects, health, Europeans, negative

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 8

Explanation: The passage mentions a claim that "the balance of climate-related effects on the health of Europeans will be negative," indicating increased health risks for "Europeans." "Europe" is location C.

34. Increased turbulence in some fish spawning grounds will reduce productivity.

Answer: H

Supporting statement: a statement about the frequency of turbulence in South African fishing waters, which had been translated directly into a statement about the productivity of the fisheries.

Keywords: South African fishing waters, productivity of the fisheries

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 2

Explanation: The error is specifically identified as relating to "South African fishing waters."

35. Warmer and drier conditions have led to a shorter growing season with detrimental effects on crops.

Answer: G

Supporting statement: Research showing decreased yields of millet, groundnuts and cowpeas in Niger becomes a claim that crop yields are decreasing in the Sahel,

Keywords: decreased yields, crop yields, Sahel

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The issue describes detrimental effects on crops and decreased yields in a region. The text discusses decreased yields of millet, groundnuts and cowpeas in Niger, leading to a claim about "crop yields... in the Sahel.

A. Africa

B. Australia

C. Europe

D. Himalayan

E. Netherlands

F. Northern Asia

G. Sahel

H. South Africa

I. South America

J. Southeast Asia

Questions 36-39

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

36. Apart from the specific errors in IPCC's chapters, PBL identified another big problem which can be analysed as "more negative impacts are……………….. than positive ones".

Answer: STRESSED

Supporting statement: Another problem identified by the PBL analysis is that, in general, negative impacts are stressed over positive ones.

Keywords: negative impacts, stressed over positive ones

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The sentence directly states that negative impacts are stressed over positive ones, providing the missing word according to the passage.

37. According to the writer, in order to obtain funds more easily, the researchers who studied the effects of climate change were likely to draw people's attention on………………...

Answer: VULNERABILITIES AND DAMAGE

Supporting statement: Working Group II assesses tends to focus on vulnerabilities and damage for much the same reason the IPCC authors do.

Keywords: vulnerabilities and damage, more fundable

Keyword Location: Para H, Line 2

Explanation: The text indicates that researchers focus on vulnerabilities and damage because these seem more important, more urgent and quite possibly more fundable, implying this focus helps in obtaining funds.

38. PBL noted that IPCC should have presented more precise evidence, more specific explanation and……………. for the conclusions they have made.

Answer: LESS AUTHORIAL JUDGMENT

Supporting statement: PBL would have wished, with more precise referencing, more narrow interpretation and less authorial judgment.

Keywords: PBL, referencing, less authorial judgment

Keyword Location: Para I, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The passage states that the PBL wished for "more precise referencing, narrower interpretation and less authorial judgment" for the IPCC's conclusions.

39. In spite of its scrutinising assessment, PBL fails to draw a conclusion that IPCC provided information with……………….. and thus it is impossible for the parliament to reject their

findings.

Answer: SYSTEMATIC BIAS

Supporting statement: The PBL report does not prove or indeed suggest systematic bias, and it stresses that it has found nothing that should lead the parliament of the Netherlands, or anyone else, to reject the IPCC's findings.

Keywords: systematic bias, parliament of the Netherlands

Keyword Location: Para J, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The text explicitly states that the PBL report "does not prove or indeed suggest systematic bias," and this is why it doesn't recommend rejecting the IPCC's findings.

Question 40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

What was the writer's attitude towards IPCC and PBL?

A. He stood for one and disliked the other.

B. He held an objective view towards them.

C. He showed indifference towards them.

D. He supported both of them.

Answer: B

Keywords: PBL report, found nothing, IPCC's findings

Keyword Location: Para J, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The writer maintains an objective view by presenting both the IPCC's errors and the PBL's criticisms, while also noting the PBL's limitations and not fully discrediting the IPCC.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples