Catastrophe Theory Reading Answers

Dec 16, 2022

Catastrophe Theory Reading Answers has 14 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. It is about a number of major catastrophes that had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape, it later came to be known as Catastrophe Theory. Catastrophe Theory Reading Answers passage discusses a number of major catastrophes. Catastrophe Theory Reading Answers comprises three types of questions-complete the notes, match the information with the passage and choose the correct letter. Candidates are required to complete the notes by choosing the right answers from the given option after reading the IELTS reading passage. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage to match the given information with the correct paragraph. At last, they are required to choose the correct letter from the given options to answer the question correctly. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise more on different topics.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Catastrophe Theory Reading Answers

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the popular theory among Earth scientists was that a number of major catastrophes had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape. French geologist Baron Georges Cuvier introduced this idea, which was later coined the "Catastrophe Theory." Proponents of the catastrophe theory used fossilised creatures and the faunal changes in rock strata to support their beliefs that major events such as volcanoes had occurred on a worldwide scale. The catastrophe theory was used to support the notion that Earth's history was not a relatively long one.
In response to the catastrophe theory, a handful of Earth scientists searched for explanations that would provide a better scientific basis for Earth's geology. James Hutton, the father of geology, is best known for his gradualist theory, a paradigm that became known as "Uniformitarianism." Hutton published the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time. Uniformitarianism rejected the idea that cataclysmic events could shape the Earth so quickly, and instead proposed the theory that the key to the present is the past. The term deep time was used to describe the span in which gradual geological processes occurred, especially the formation of sedimentary rock. Charles Darwin later based his work on the idea, by developing his theory of evolution.
The majority of palaeontologists and geologists adopted the gradualist theory of Earth's history for more than 100 years. In 1980, a discovery in Italy gave scientists a reason to reconsider the discarded theories of catastrophism. Geologist Walter Alvarez discovered a clay layer in the K-T boundary that intrigued him. The K-T boundary refers to the layer of Earth between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. The geologist with the help of his father Luis Alvarez, a prominent physicist, analysed the clay for heavy metals. After careful examination, the clay was found to contain high levels of iridium. Samples taken from the K-T boundary in other parts of the world were examined, with the same findings.
The Alvarez group wrote a historic paper that applied the catastrophe theory to their discovery. According to their hypothesis, the iridium in the K-T boundary was caused by an asteroid or a comet that hit Earth near the end of the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago. They also proposed that the impact would have raised enough dust to block the sun and cool Earth, which in turn would have prevented photosynthesis. This chain reaction would have led to the extinction of plants and animals. The main reason that the Alvarez theory took hold so quickly in both the world of science and the public realm, was that it could account for the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period. The acceptance of this theory was widespread, even before the discovery in 1990 of a 180-kilometre crater in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a potential piece of evidence of the asteroid impact.
Events that have occurred on Earth in the last 100 years or more have proved to geologists that not all processes are gradual. Major rivers have flooded areas in a matter of days, and volcanoes have erupted, causing mass devastation. The eruption of Mount St. Helens was proof of how a catastrophe could easily change the Earth's landscape. Modern research on fossils even supports the theory of a marine catastrophe, not unlike the legends and stories among many peoples of great floods. Some scientists believe that animal remains found within the layers of sedimentary rock may have been casualties of such a flood. Sedimentary rock is made up of layers such as sandstone and limestone and is created by water movement. In addition, some scientists propose that the glacial ice sheet that once spread out across North America melted catastrophically rather than having a slow glacial retreat. Deep erosion up to 100 metres wide was discovered along the bottom of some of the Great Lakes. Within the gullies, layers of periodic sediment point to catastrophic melting.
Though there is little debate that catastrophic events caused the mass extinction of several of Earth's species, namely the dinosaurs, geologists still question whether asteroids, volcanoes, or other natural disasters were the cause. The idea that the moon was formed as a result of catastrophic events is a related field of study and one that has been debated for decades.

Section 2

Solution with Explanation
Questions 27-32:
Complete the notes using the list of words, A—K, below. Write the correct letter, A—K, on lines 27—32 on your answer sheet.

short
small
Charles Darwin
long
definite
disasters
James Hutton
mysterious
Walter Alvarez
evolution
George Cuvier

Catastrophe Theory
First introduced by 27.________________

Answer: K
Supporting Sentence: French Geologist Baron Georges Cuvier who introduced the idea, which was later coined as the catastrophe theory.
Keywords: introduced, coined, catastrophe theory
Keywords Location: Paragraph A, line 3
Explanation: The theory was first put forth by French geologist Baron Georges Cuvier, according to the third line in paragraph A. The catastrophe theory was later coined to describe the theory.

Proposes that major 28._______________ have given Earth its shape.

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: The popular theory among Earth Scientists was that a number of major catastrophes had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape.
Keywords: earth, catastrophes, shape, scientists, theory
Keywords Location: Paragraph A, first line.
Explanation: In the first sentence of paragraph A, it is mentioned that Earth scientists had a common theory. They held that Earth's shape was the result of a number of significant catastrophes that occurred over a brief period of time.

Supports the idea that the Earth has a 29. _________________history.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Earth Scientists was that a number of major catastrophes had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape.
Keywords: Earth, Scientists, Catastrophes, Short period, Shape
Keywords Location: Paragraph A, first line
Explanation: Earth scientists agreed that a series of major disasters contributed to the formation of the Earth's shape, as stated in the opening sentences of paragraph A. It happened in a brief amount of time. The idea that Earth's history is brief is supported by the catastrophe theory as a result.

Gradualist Theory
First introduced by 30._________________

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: James Hutton, the father of geology, is best known for his gradualist theory, a paradigm that became known as “uniformitarianism.”
Keywords: gradualist theory, paradigm, uniformitarianism, geology
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 2
Explanation: James Hutton is credited as the pioneer of geology and is most recognised for his gradualist theory, as indicated in the second line of paragraph B. The term "uniformitarianism" is also used occasionally. These assertions prove that James Hutton was the person who initially put forth the gradualist theory.

Proposes that many 31. _________________ changes in the shape of the

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Hutton published the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time.
Keywords: Hutton, Earth, geologists, changes
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 4
Explanation: The fourth line of paragraph B states that after Hutton's theory of the Earth was published in 1795. The idea that the Earth underwent slow, long-term changes was widely accepted by other geologists. One geologist who shared this viewpoint was Charles Lyell. These lines demonstrate that Charles, like other geologists, accepted the idea that the Earth underwent a number of little alterations.

Earth happened over a 32. _________________ period of time.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: The theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time.
Keywords: theory, earth, shape, changes, time
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 4
Explanation: Charles Lyell and many other geologists followed the theory that minute alterations to the Earth transpired over a very long time. This has been stated in line 4, paragraph B. It was at the time Hutton released the Earth theory in 1795. We are aware that other geologists have embraced the notion that countless little changes over a long period of time resulted in the Earth's shape changing.

Questions 33-39:
The passage has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph mentions the following information? Write the correct letter, A —F, on lines 33—39 on your answer sheet. You may use any paragraph more than once.

proof that not all changes on Earth have occurred gradually

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: The events that have occurred on Earth in the last 100 years or more have proved to geologists that not all processes are gradual.
Keywords: events, earth, 100 years, geologists
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, first line.
Explanation: Geologists have discovered that not all processes are progressive, as stated in the first few phrases of paragraph E. Mostly, due to events that have occurred on Earth over the past hundred years or more. These lines demonstrate how the Earth has changed over the last 100 years in a gradual manner.

a theory explaining the presence of iridium beneath Earth’s surface

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: The iridium in the K-T boundary was caused by an asteroid or a comet that hit Earth near the end of the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago.
Keywords: iridium, comet, asteroid, cretaceous period, boundary
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, line 2
Explanation: The iridium in the K-T boundary, according to the second sentence of paragraph D, was produced by an asteroid or comet. It also hit Earth around 65 million years ago, during the conclusion of the Cretaceous period. According to these lines, an asteroid or comet that hit the Earth is what caused the iridium in the KT Boundary. This is how the earth's crust is made up of iridium, as stated in paragraph D.

publication of a book about the gradualist theory

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Hutton published the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time.
Keywords: hutton, published, earth, Charles Lyell, geologists
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, line 4
Explanation: According to line 4 of paragraph B, numerous other geologists developed their theories of the Earth after Hutton published his in 1795. Charles Lyell, in particular, adopted the idea that the Earth underwent slow changes over a long period of time. Hutton produced a book on gradualism, as evidenced by the given information.

discovery of a large crater that could have been caused by an asteroid

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: The acceptance of this theory was widespread, even before the discovery in 1990 of a 180-kilometre crater in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a potential piece of evidence of the asteroid impact.
Keywords: discovery, crater, asteroid
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, last line
Explanation: Paragraph D's second line begins, "An asteroid or comet that passed close to Earth is what produced the iridium at the K-T boundary. Moreover, the Cretaceous period's end occurred more than 65 million years ago." According to the last sentence of the same paragraph, this theory was well-liked even before the finding in 1990. It was of a 180-kilometre-long crater in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, which may have been created by an asteroid impact. We can deduce that a comet or asteroid that hit the Earth caused the iridium in the KT Boundary. But the last few sentences assert that the crater was well acknowledged even before it was discovered.

evidence of the occurrence of a large flood in Earth’s past

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Major rivers have flooded areas in a matter of days, and volcanoes have erupted, causing mass devastation.
Keywords: rivers, flooded, devastation
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, line 2
Explanation: The second sentence of paragraph E, which reads, "Volcanoes have erupted, devastating catastrophic destruction," uses the term "flood." In a few days, major rivers flooded several places. The fifth sentence claims that current fossil research even supports the idea of a maritime catastrophe. Similar to the legends and myths of great floods that are widespread across many cultures. These lines provide evidence that the world once experienced a huge flood.

recurrence of interest in the catastrophe theory

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The majority of palaeontologists and geologists adopted the gradualist theory of Earth’s history for more than 100 years. In 1980, a discovery in Italy gave scientists a reason to reconsider the discarded theories of catastrophism.
Keywords: geologist, earth, gradualist theory, reconsider
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, first line
Explanation: The gradualist theory of the history of the Earth has been largely accepted, as shown in the first few lines of paragraph C. For more than a century, palaeontologists and geologists have been discussing it. Experts were prompted to reconsider the previously disregarded catastrophism theories in 1980 by a discovery found in Italy. These remarks imply that scientists decided to re-examine the catastrophism theories following anything uncovered in Italy. The catastrophe theory is still relevant, as evidenced by this.

ideas about how quickly ice age glaciers disappeared

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: The glacial ice sheet that once spread out across North America melted catastrophically rather than having a slow glacial retreat.
Keywords: glacial, ice sheet, North America, slow, retreat
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, line 9
Explanation: As per the ninth line of paragraph E, some scientists argue that the glacial ice sheet that once covered North America melted rapidly as opposed to gradually. The speed with which the Ice Age glaciers dissipated is the subject of these works.

Question 40:
Choose the correct letter, A-C, and write it on line 40 on your answer sheet.

Most scientists now agree that

The gradualist theory is correct.
Catastrophic events occur regularly on the moon.
A major catastrophe caused the dinosaurs to disappear.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: A little debate that catastrophic events caused the mass extinction of several of Earth’s species, namely the dinosaurs.
Keywords: catastrophic, extinction, earth, species, dinosaurs
Keywords Location: Paragraph F, first line
Explanation: A few Earthly species, notably the dinosaurs, became extinct as a result of cataclysmic catastrophes, as was said in the first line of paragraph F. Therefore, it is evident that scientists agree that a major catastrophe caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

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