Adapting or Fading: Penguins Struggling with Climate Change

Jan 24, 2025

Adapting or Fading: Penguins Struggling with Climate Change is an IELTS Reading Answer which contains 13 questions and needs to be completed within 20 minutes. This reading answer also helps you to prepare for your IELTS exam. Adapting or Fading: Penguins Struggling with Climate Change consists of questions like: Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below and Write the correct letter A-l, Choose no more than two words. Also, this Adapting or Fading: Penguins Struggling with Climate Change, says about the penguin's life in climate change. Participants should go through the IELTS Reading passage to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions. Also, this Open All Day, says about the new restaurant opening. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Adapting or Fading: Penguins Struggling with Climate Change

A. In the expansive and icy landscapes of the Polar Regions, penguins emerge as resilient ambassadors of the natural world. These captivating creatures, subjects of extensive study, have long fascinated scientists and nature enthusiasts. However, the once resilient evolutionary capacity that served them well for ages is now diminishing, revealing a vulnerability in the face of unprecedented environmental changes. Penguins are now recognized as one of the species with the slowest evolution rates. This has presented them with distinctive challenges in an era of rapid habitat transformations.

B. Despite numerous efforts, tracing the history of penguin evolution presents persistent challenges with crucial components unexplored. While scientists possess insights into some adaptations, the limited research comparing the genomes of all current penguins hinders the precise identification of genes guiding their evolutionary changes. Another barrier lies in the extinction of three-quarters of all penguin species, solely preserved in the fossil record.

Besides, the lack of a comprehensive study integrating the fossil record with the genomes of all living and recently extinct penguins also makes it difficult to estimate when genes and diverse species first emerged.

C. In the recent effort to merge extensive datasets, a collaborative team, which included marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer Pablo Borboroglu as a co-author, undertook the task of refining the evolutionary tree of penguins. Their efforts involved identifying the key times in penguin diversification and the genes that helped them adapt to living in water. Based on fossils and genetic samples from different penguin species, they estimated that the ancestors of modern penguins evolved around 14 million years ago, during the Middle Miocene Climate Transition (MMCT). During this time, the temperature dropped by 17°C because more carbon dioxide was being stored in deep water. This created selective pressures that sped up penguin adaptations to living in colder places. The research also identified genes crucial for penguins' aquatic lifestyle, including those shaping flippers with shorter, denser, and more rigid forearm bones, contributing to their ability to dive to significant depths.

D. Returning to the present-day story, in the ever-changing landscape of our planet, the ability to adapt quickly is not only crucial for penguins but for all species, as it can make the difference between survival and extinction. Several species across diverse ecosystems have demonstrated rapid evolution in response to environmental shifts. One notable example is the peppered moth. During the Industrial Revolution, pollution made tree stems darker, which made light-colored moths easier for predators to see. This forced the population of dark-colored moths to quickly grow through natural selection.

E. Paradoxically, as climate change intensifies and demands increased adaptability from species, penguin adaptation features seem to be stagnating.

During the harsh conditions of the last glacial maximum, a period of extensive ice sheets and lower global temperatures during the last glaciation, populations of three penguin species - gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie - evolved to withstand challenging environments. However, a recent study reveals a contrasting picture. Amid ongoing warming trends in the western Antarctic, while gentoo penguins are thriving, the other two species are experiencing a decline. Scientists emphasize that, although penguins used to evolve adeptly to adapt to past climate fluctuations, the current pace of climate change, surpassing the historical shifts they endured, poses a unique evolutionary challenge.

F. Many Antarctic researchers anticipate that climate change impacts penguins primarily through alterations in the quality and quantity of food and nesting habitats. Warming seas may diminish the abundance of prey, prompting shifts in the birds' diets. Specifically, changes in sea ice and temperature can decrease the availability of krill and fish-the mainstays of penguins' diets. Climate change also poses a threat to the quality of penguin nesting sites, potentially altering local weather patterns. While Antarctica's climate is typically cold and harsh, warming trends might lead to unprecedented rain or snow melt earlier than usual, leaving ponds on the ground. This poses a significant risk for ground-nesting penguins, as eggs exposed to water are unlikely to survive, and chicks without waterproof feathers may succumb to hypothermia, a life-threatening condition resulting from the loss of body heat.

G. Despite pessimistic predictions for penguins in northerly latitudes, Megan Cimino, the lead author of an article published in Scientific Reports (2016), and her colleagues brought a ray of hope. Their study identifies climate refugia, potential safe havens enabling Adélie penguins to thrive amid adverse climate conditions. Particularly, the Ross and Amundsen Seas, recognized as glacial refuges in the past, emerge as potential future havens. Along with this discovery, an international team of Antarctic scientists proposes a significant initiative an expansive marine protected area (MPA) covering 250,000 square miles, nearly the size of Texas. This MPA is designed to safeguard the seas along the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula that are vital for penguins. Furthermore, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, active since 1982 under the Antarctic Treaty, has been crucial in responding to growing commercial interest in fishing krill, a primary food source for many penguin species. With membership from 25 countries and the European Union, the Commission stands as a vital international body dedicated to preserving Antarctic marine life.

Questions 14-20

Reading passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-ix.

LIST OF HEADINGS

i. Penguin species with a diminishing ability over time

ii. An unexpected reputation in the new era

ill. Finding safe places for penguins

iv. How early penguins survived

v. Comparing ancient and present environments

vi. Measures to protect penguin

populations

vii. Missing pieces for recalling ancient times

viii. Consequences of climate change on

penguins

ix. A life-saving skill for animal species

14. Paragraph A

Answer: i. Penguin species with a diminishing ability over time

Supporting statement: "However, the once resilient evolutionary capacity that served them well for ages is now diminishing, revealing a vulnerability in the face of unprecedented environmental changes."

Keywords: diminishing, environmental changes

Keyword Location: para A, line 3

Explanation: The paragraph introduces penguins as species that are increasingly struggling to adapt, highlighting their declining evolutionary capacity over time.

15. Paragraph B

Answer: vii. Missing pieces for recalling ancient times

Supporting statement: “Tracing the history of penguin evolution presents persistent challenges with crucial components unexplored."

Keywords: evolution, penguin

Keyword Location: para B, line 1

Explanation: The paragraph discusses the challenges in understanding penguin evolution due to gaps in the fossil record and lack of integrated genome studies.

16. Paragraph C

Answer: iv. How early penguins survived

Supporting statement: "They estimated that the ancestors of modern penguins evolved around 14 million years ago, during the Middle Miocene Climate Transition (MMCT)... This created selective pressures that sped up penguin adaptations to living in colder places."

Keywords: Transition, penguin

Keyword Location: para C, line 6-8

Explanation: The paragraph explains how early penguins adapted during past climate transitions to survive in cold environments.

17. Paragraph D

Answer: ix. A life-saving skill for animal species

Supporting statement: "Several species across diverse ecosystems have demonstrated rapid evolution in response to environmental shifts."

Keywords: ecosystems, evolution

Keyword Location: para D, line 2

Explanation: The paragraph focuses on species, including the peppered moth, that rapidly evolved to survive environmental changes, emphasizing adaptability as a survival skill.

18. Paragraph E

Answer: viii. Consequences of climate change on penguins

Supporting statement: "Amid ongoing warming trends in the western Antarctic, while gentoo penguins are thriving, the other two species are experiencing a decline."

Keywords: western Antarctic, decline

Keyword Location: para E, line 6

Explanation: This paragraph examines how climate change has different impacts on penguin species, with some thriving and others declining.

19. Paragraph F

Answer: ii. An unexpected reputation in the new era

Supporting statement: "Climate change also poses a threat to the quality of penguin nesting sites, potentially altering local weather patterns."

Keywords: Climate change, threat

Keyword Location: para F, line 6

Explanation: The paragraph outlines surprising new threats penguins face due to climate change, such as changes to nesting habitats and weather patterns.

20. Paragraph G

Answer: vi. Measures to protect penguin populations

Supporting statement: "An expansive marine protected area (MPA)... is designed to safeguard the seas along the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula that are vital for penguins."

Keywords: western coast, Antarctic Peninsula

Keyword Location: para G, line 6-8

Explanation: The paragraph discusses proposed initiatives like marine protected areas to protect penguins from climate change and overfishing.

Questions 21-26

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

Climate change impact on penguin evolution today

Despite the pressing need for adaptation to current climate change, penguin species exhibit 21….

Answer: Stagnating

Supporting statement: "Penguin adaptation features seem to be stagnating."

Keywords: adaptation , penguin

Keyword Location: para E, line 2

Explanation: The text highlights that penguin evolution is not keeping pace with the rapidly changing climate. This stagnation poses a challenge to their ability to adapt to current environmental changes.

evolutionary traits. A population 22…..

Answer: Decline

Supporting statement: "While gentoo penguins are thriving, the other two species are experiencing a decline."

Keywords: decline, penguin

Keyword Location: para E, line 6

Explanation: The text notes a decline in populations of chinstrap and Adélie penguins, even though they adapted well to harsh past conditions. This emphasizes the impact of rapid climate changes.

is witnessed in two out of the three penguin species, which was once well-adapted to harsh ancient conditions. Penguins face challenges in evolution as today's climate change takes place at a greater 23…..

Answer: Pace

Supporting statement: "...the current pace of climate change, surpassing the historical shifts they endured, poses a unique evolutionary challenge."

Keywords: climate change, historical shifts

Keyword Location: para E, line 7

Explanation: The rapid pace of modern climate change is unprecedented, making it harder for penguins to adapt compared to past slower environmental changes.

than historical shifts. This situation could result in anticipated 24........•...

Answer: Alterations

Supporting statement: "Many Antarctic researchers anticipate that climate change impacts penguins primarily through alterations in the quality and quantity of food and nesting habitats."

Keywords: Antarctic , habitats

Keyword Location: para F, line 1

Explanation: The text explains how researchers foresee significant changes to penguin diets and nesting habitats due to climate change, which could adversely affect their survival.

in their nutrition and nesting sites. For instance, their 25…...

Answer: Diet

Supporting statement: "...prompting shifts in the birds' diets. Specifically, changes in sea ice and temperature can decrease the availability of krill and fish—the mainstays of penguins' diets."

Keywords: temperature, diets

Keyword Location: para F, line 3

Explanation: Changes in prey abundance due to warming seas directly impact penguins’ nutrition by altering their diet composition and availability of key food sources.

could be impacted by diminishing food sources, while the absence of 26....

Answer: Waterproof feathers

Supporting statement: "...chicks without waterproof feathers may succumb to hypothermia, a life-threatening condition resulting from the loss of body heat."

Keywords: waterproof feathers, body heat

Keyword Location: para F, line 7

Explanation: Ground-nesting penguin chicks are at risk due to water exposure, as they lack waterproof feathers, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia and affecting their survival rates.

may pose serious threats to penguin chicks.

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