Antarctic Research Reading Answers

Jan 23, 2023

Antarctic Research Reading Answers contains sample answers about Antarctica and its climatic conditions . Antarctic Research Reading Answers has 13 different questions. IELTS Antarctic Research Reading Answers contains 3 types of questions: identify the paragraph, choose the correct letter and complete the summary. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and answer which paragraph contains the given statement. Candidates are supposed to complete the summary by using the correct answer from the given list of options. For the last set of questions, candidates are required to choose the correct option for each answer from the given options. Candidates can gain proficiency on diverse topics by undertaking IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Antarctic Research Reading Answers

A little over a century ago, men of the ilk of Scott, Shackleton and Mawson battled against Antarctica’s blizzards, cold and deprivation. In the name of Empire and in an age of heroic deeds they created an image of Antarctica that was to last well into the 20th century – an image of remoteness, hardship, bleakness and isolation that was the province of only the most courageous of men. The image was one of a place removed from everyday reality, of a place with no apparent value to anyone.

As we enter the 21st century, our perception of Antarctica has changed. Although physically Antarctica is no closer and probably no warmer, and to spend time there still demands a dedication not seen in ordinary life, the continent and its surrounding ocean are increasingly seen as an integral part of Planet Earth, and a key component in the Earth System. Is this because the world seems a little smaller these days, shrunk by TV and tourism, or is it because Antarctica really does occupy a central spot on Earth’s mantle? Scientific research during the past half-century has revealed – and continues to reveal – that Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation, factors which influence the lives of millions of people all over the globe.

Antarctica was not always cold. The slow break-up of the supercontinent Gondwana with the northward movements of Africa, South America, India and Australia eventually created enough space around Antarctica for the development of an Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), that flowed from west to east under the influence of the prevailing westerly winds. Antarctica cooled, its vegetation perished, glaciation began and the continent took on its present-day appearance. Today the ice that overlies the bedrock is up to 4 km thick, and surface temperatures as low as – 89.2deg C have been recorded. The icy blast that howls over the ice cap and out to sea – the so-called katabatic wind – can reach 300 km/hr, creating fearsome wind-chill effects.

Out of this extreme environment come some powerful forces that reverberate around the world. The Earth’s rotation, coupled to the generation of cells of low pressure off the Antarctic coast, would allow astronauts a view of Antarctica that is as beautiful as it is awesome. Spinning away to the northeast, the cells grow and deepen, whipping up the Southern Ocean into the mountainous seas so respected by mariners.

Recent work is showing that the temperature of the ocean may be a better predictor of rainfall in Australia than is the pressure difference between Darwin and Tahiti – the Southern Oscillation Index. By receiving more accurate predictions, graziers in northern Queensland are able to avoid overstocking in years when rainfall will be poor. Not only does this limit their losses but it prevents serious pasture degradation that may take decades to repair. CSIRO is developing this as a prototype forecasting system, but we can confidently predict that as we know more about the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean we will be able to enhance and extend our predictive ability.

The ocean’s surface temperature results from the interplay between deep-water temperature, air temperature and ice. Each winter between 4 and 19 million square km of sea ice form, locking up huge quantities of heat close to the continent. Only now can we start to unravel the influence of sea ice on the weather that is experienced in southern Australia. But in another way, the extent of sea ice extends its influence far beyond Antarctica. Antarctic krill – the small shrimp-like crustaceans that are the staple diet for baleen whales, penguins, some seals, flighted sea birds and many fish – breed well in years when sea ice is extensive and poorly when it is not. Many species of baleen whales and flighted sea birds migrate between the hemispheres and when the krill are less abundant they do not thrive.

The circulatory system of the world’s oceans is like a huge conveyor belt, moving water and dissolved minerals and nutrients from one hemisphere to the other, and from the ocean’s abyssal depths to the surface. The ACC is the longest current in the world and has the largest flow. Through it, the deep flows of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans are joined to form part of single global thermohaline circulation. During winter, the howling katabatics sometimes scour the ice off patches of the sea’s surface leaving large ice-locked lagoons, or ‘polynyas’.

Recent research has shown that as fresh sea ice forms, it is continuously stripped away by the wind and maybe blown up to 90 km in a single day. Since only freshwater freezes into ice, the water that remains becomes increasingly salty and dense, sinking until it spills over the continental shelf. Coldwater carries more oxygen than warm water, so when it rises well into the northern hemisphere, it deoxygenates and revitalises the ocean. The state of the northern oceans and their biological productivity owe much to what happens in the Antarctic.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-5

The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-F
Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-F, in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

The example of research on weather prediction on agriculture

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: the cells grow and deepen, whipping up the Southern Ocean into the mountainous seas so respected by mariners
Keyword : cell, grow, deepen, southern ocean
Keyword Location: Paragraph D, last line
Explanation: In paragraph D, it is explained that strong forces that have an international impact emerge from the extreme environment. The creation of low-pressure cells off the Antarctic coast as a result of the Earth's rotation. It would provide astronauts a breathtakingly magnificent view of Antarctica. The Southern Ocean is whipped up into the deep, towering seas that seafarers so revere as the cells spin away to the northeast.

Antarctic sea ice brings life back to the world oceans’ vitality.

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: flighted sea birds and many fish – breed well in years when sea ice is extensive and poorly when it is not
Keyword : flighted sea, fish, breed well, sea ice
Keyword Location: paragraph F, 3rd last line
Explanation: The expanse of sea ice extends its influence far beyond Antarctica, as stated in paragraph F. Baleen whales, penguins, certain seals, flightless seabirds, and numerous fish all rely heavily on Antarctic krill for their primary diet. They reproduce well when there is a lot of sea ice and poorly when there isn't.

A food chain that influences the animals living pattern based on Antarctic fresh sea ice

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: By receiving more accurate predictions, graziers in northern Queensland are able to avoid overstocking in years when rainfall will be poor. Not only does this limit their losses but it prevents serious pasture degradation that may take decades to repair.
Keyword : accurate predictions, avoid overstocking, years
Keyword Location: paragraph E, lines 3-5
Explanation: Lines 3-5 of paragraph E suggests that by receiving more definite prophecy, graziers in northern Queensland are able to avoid overstocking in years. It is when rainfall will be poor. Not only does this limit their losses but it prevents serious pasture degradation that may take decades to repair.

The explanation of how atmosphere pressure above Antarctica can impose an effect on global climate change

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: the ice that overlies the bedrock is up to 4 km thick, and surface temperatures as low as – 89.2deg C have been recorded
Keyword : ice, overlies, bedrock, surface temperature
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 6
Explanation: The cooling of Antarctica caused its flora to perish, the start of glaciation, and the development of the continent's current form, as described in paragraph C. There are currently 4 km of ice covering the bedrock, and surface temperatures as low as -89.2 deg C have been observed.

Antarctica was once thought to be a forgotten and insignificant continent

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: The image was one of a place removed from everyday reality, of a place with no apparent value to anyone.\
Keyword : image, removed, reality, apparent value
Keyword Location: paragraph A, last line
Explanation: As stated in paragraph C, they portrayed Antarctica in a way that would endure well into the 20th century in the name of the Empire and during a time of heroism. It was a picture of isolation, suffering, desolation, and remoteness that was the domain of only the most valiant of mankind. The picture was of a location that seemed to have no relevance to anyone, one that was isolated from the normal world.

Question 6-8

Summary
Please match the natural phenomenon with correct determined factor

Choose the correct answer from the box.

Write the correct letter A-F, in boxes 6-8 on your answer sheet.

Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)
katabatic winds
rainfall
temperature
glaciers
pressure

Globally, mass Antarctica’s size and _______ influence climate change

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation
Keyword : temperature, influence, climate, ocean
Keyword Location: paragraph B, 2nd last line
Explanation: As per paragraph B, scientific research over the past 50 years has shown that the large mass and chilly temperature of Antarctica have a significant impact on the climate. Additionally, there are elements that affect ocean circulation that have an impact on millions of people's lives worldwide.

__________ contributory to western wind

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: flowed from west to east under the influence of the prevailing westerly winds
Keyword : west, east, influence, westerly wind
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 4
Explanation: With the northward excursions of Africa, South America, India, and Australia, paragraph B shows how the supercontinent Gondwana slowly broke up. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current eventually developed because it gradually cleared enough space around Antarctica (ACC). It moved eastward under the force of the dominant westerly winds. Antarctica experienced cooling, the extinction of its flora, the onset of glacial, and the development of its current shape.

Southern Oscillation Index based on air pressure can predict ___________ in Australia

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: better predictor of rainfall in Australia than is the pressure difference between Darwin and Tahiti – the Southern Oscillation Index
Keyword : predictor, Australia, pressure, Darwin
Keyword Location: paragraph E, 2nd line
Explanation: According to paragraph E, new research indicates that an improved predictor of rainfall in Australia may be the temperature of the ocean. The Southern Oscillation Index should be used instead of the pressure differential between Tahiti and Darwin.

Questions 9-13

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.
Write your answer in box 22-26 on your answer sheet.

In paragraph B, the author wants to tell which of the following is true about the Antarctic?

To show Antarctica has been a central topic of global warming in Mass media
To illustrate its huge sea ice brings food to million lives to places in the world
To show it is the heart and its significance to the global climate and current
To illustrate it locates in the central spot on Earth geographically

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean
Keyword : Antarctica, temperature, influence, climate, ocean
Keyword Location: paragraph B, last few lines
Explanation: The continent and the ocean that surrounds it are increasingly recognised as being a vital component of Planet Earth, as stated in paragraph B. Ocean circulation and climate are significantly influenced by Antarctica's large bulk and low temperature.

Why do Australian farmers keep an eye on the Antarctic ocean temperature?

Help farmers reduce their economic or ecological losses
Retrieve grassland decreased in the overgrazing process
Prevent animal from dying
A cell provides fertiliser for the grassland

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Scientific research during the past half-century has revealed – and continues to reveal – that Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation, factors which influence the lives of millions of people all over the globe.
Keyword : Antarctica’s great mass, influence, lives of millions of people all over the globe
Keyword Location: paragraph B, lines 6-9
Explanation: Lines 6-9 of paragraph B explains about a scientific research. Scientific research during the past half-century has revealed, and continues to reveal. It is that Antarctica’s great mass and low temperature exert a major influence on climate and ocean circulation. The factors which influence the lives of millions of people all over the globe. Hence, option A is the correct answer for this question.

What is the final effect of katabatic winds?

Increase the moving speed of ocean current
Increase salt level near the ocean surface
Bring fresh ice into southern oceans
Pile up the mountainous ice cap respected by mariners

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: sometimes scour the ice off patches of the sea’s surface leaving large ice-locked lagoons, or ‘polynyas
Keyword : lagoons, polynyas, ice
Keyword Location: paragraph G, last line
Explanation: The roaring katabatics occasionally sweep the ice off parts of the sea's surface. Hence leaving behind enormous ice-locked lagoons, or "polynyas," as stated in paragraph G.

The break of the continental shelf is due to the

Salt and density increase
Salt and density decrease
global warming resulting in a rising temperature
fresh ice melting into ocean water

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: the water that remains becomes increasingly salty and dense, sinking until it spills over the continental shelf
Keyword : water, salty, dense, sinking
Keyword Location: paragraph H, line 3
Explanation: As per paragraph H, new studies have revealed that as new sea ice forms, the wind continuously strips it away and may carry it up to 90 kilometres in a single day. Only freshwater can freeze into ice, therefore the remaining water grows saltier and denser as it sinks until it overflows the continental shelf.

The decrease in the number of Whales and seabirds is due to

killers whales are more active around
Sea birds are affected by high sea level salty
less sea ice reduces the productivity of food source
seals fail to reproduce babies

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Many species of baleen whales and flighted sea birds migrate between the hemispheres and when the krill are less abundant
Keyword : species, whales, sea birds, krill
Keyword Location: paragraph F, last line
Explanation: Numerous species of flighted seabirds and baleen whales migrate between the hemispheres, as stated in paragraph F. And they do not flourish when the krill are few.