Caves: Natural Wonders Reading Answers

Mar 19, 2025

Caves: Natural Wonders Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Caves: Natural Wonders ReadingAnswers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set you have to choose the correct heading for the paragraph. In the next question set you have to Match the correct cave with the description given. In the last question set given you have to fill the blanks with the correct option in no more than three words.

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 ofIELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing 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.

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Section 1 CAVES: NATURAL WONDERS

A. When most people think of caves, things like darkness, isolation and bats usually come to mind. But according to cave explorer or ‘caver' Duncan Roberts, “There is much more to these unique and often vulnerable parts of our natural and archaeological heritage". Speleologists, those who study caves, define them as naturally occurring underground hollows or passages, where sunlight may or may not reach. with at least one opening to the surface of the earth.

B. The flow of lava in a volcanic eruption is one of the most common ways that caves are formed. Lava caves are formed out of pure volcanic activities. When a volcano erupts, molten lava flows downwards until it cools and becomes solid. If the outer surface of the lava-flow cools down before the inner surface, the lava still flowing beneath the surface leaves behind a solid outer shell or cave. Another way caves are formed is through limestone being dissolved by flowing water. The major ingredients, limestone and silica, along with clay, silt and sand, are filtered out to form a solid base for the bottom part of the cave. During this process, different marine plants then form the outer Shell over the base of the cave. In time, these marine plants become solid, and as water flows, the solid structure created by the plants remains and forms the permanent outer shell of a cave. A third way caves are Often formed is through the alignment of rocks. Large chunks of rock in different mountains are not always set in perfect alignment with other surrounding rocks. As a result, it is common to find some empty spaces between multiple rocks. Rock caves, as they are called, are among the most common caves in the world with almost all mountains or hills having some type of rock cave.

C. In addition to scientific research, caves are also a means of enjoyment for many adventurous people. Caving, which is also known as spelunking in some countries, is the recreational sport of exploring caves. Depending upon the cave surface, caving is a challenging sport where participants move through a cave by crawling or climbing. The elevation in some caves is so high that ropes are required to ensure the safety of cavers. Some caves open over seas or rivers making them excellent locations for another popular activity - cave diving. Another form of saving is known as virgin caving where participants locate unexplored caves. Although exploring virgin caves can sometimes be risky, many cavers consider it to be the ultimate adventure.

D. As a part of the ongoing research on global warming, environmental scientists are increasingly exploring glacier caves. These caves are found in the cold places of the earth where there are year-round snow falls. Glacier caves are usually formed in large, slow-moving

rivers of ice made up of compacted layers of snow. Water flow that runs through or under the layers of snow usually begins the formation of a glacier cave. Heat transfer from the water causes significant melting to create an air-filled cavity. Different marine creatures and plants settle on the surface of the cavity. Over time, the surface attracts sand and solid minerals. As a result, the surface becomes hard enough to resist the force of the flowing water outside it. In a similar way, another air-filled cavity is formed close by and gradually becomes solid. Later, the two cavities merge to form a cave. It is unusual to find glacier caves that are formed by more than two cavities.

E. While there are many thousands of caves throughout the world, a relative few are well known. Containing over 550 kilometres of narrow passageway, perhaps the most famous cave is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA. Big enough to accommodate 10 football fields, Carlsbad Cavern in Texas, USA, is another of the world's largest and most famous caves. Europe also has a number of famous caves. The Lascaux Cave in France is famous because it contains ancient paintings. Copies of these paintings - mostly horses, bulls and deer - are now stored in the Cincinnati Natural History Museum. In Australia the Naracoorte Cave is famous for its huge sink holes, which make the ceiling of the cave with its different shapes and colours look like a man-made interior design . Waitomo Cave in New Zealand is famous due to the condensed gas inside it which glows in the dark making the roof look like a night sky full of stars.

F. There are quite a number of research organisations around the world Who actively promote the discovery of new caves and the exploration of cave formation. Established in 1950, the Cave Research Foundation, a non-profit group based in the USA. is dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves and was the first of its kind. In Europe most cave research organisations are affiliated with universities such as the Universities ofLondon, Paris and Dublin. The universities fund and monitor all research activities and maintain extensive libraries with printed and audio-visual materials of the caves. Sometimes groups generate funds by conducting tours of unique caves.

Questions 28-32

The article has Six paragraphs A-F.

For which paragraph is each of the headings

(Questions 28-32) most suitable?

Write your answer A-F.

28. Prominent caves

Answer: E

Supporting statement: perhaps the most famous cave is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA.

Keywords: famous, cave

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 2

Explanation: The paragraph claims that certain caverns, including Kentucky, USA's Mammoth Cave, are more well-known than others. Large enough to hold ten football fields. Another of the biggest and most well-known caverns in the world is Carlsbad Cavern in Texas, USA. Because it has ancient artwork, the Lascaux Cave in France is well-known. Australia's Naracoorte Cave is well-known for its enormous sinkholes. New Zealand's Waitomo Cave is well-known because of its condensed gas, which shines in the dark and gives the impression that the roof is a starry night sky.

29. Enjoying caves

Answer:C

Supporting statement: caves are also a means of enjoyment for many adventurous people.

Keywords: enjoyment, people

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text Caves are a source of enjoyment for many daring individuals. The leisure activity of exploring caverns is called calving, or spelunking in some countries.

30. Defining caves

Answer: A

Supporting statement: define them as naturally occurring underground hollows or passages,

Keywords: naturally, underground

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 4

Explanation:The passage states that caves are defined by speleologists, who study them, as naturally occurring passageways or hollows where sunlight may or may not reach. having a minimum of one opening to the earth's surface.

31. Common caves

Answer: B

Supporting statement: Rock caves, as they are called, are among the most common caves in the world with almost all mountains or hills having some type of rock cave

Keywords: common caves, rock cave

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 13-14

Explanation: According to the passage the most common type of waves are the rock caves which are made by the not so perfect alignment of the rocks with each other.

32. Publicising caves

Answer: F

Supporting statement: Established in 1950, the Cave Research Foundation, a non-profit group based in the USA. is dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves and was the first of its kind.

Keywords: 1950, Cave Research Foundation

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the first of its kind, the Cave Research Foundation is a non-profit organization based in the United States that was founded in 1950 with the goal of exploring, studying, and conserving caves. The majority of cave research organizations in Europe are connected to academic institutions including the Universities of London, Paris, and Dublin. In addition to maintaining sizable libraries with printed and audiovisual resources about the caves, the institutions finance and oversee all research endeavors.

Questions 33-34

Look at the list of caves A-G in the table below.

Match the correct cave with a description (33-36)

below. Write your answer A-G.

A. Mammoth Cave

B. Lava Cave

C. Lascaux Cave

D. Rock Cave

E. Waitomo Cave

F. Glacier cave

G. Naracoorte Cave

33. Commonly found in naturally raised areas of land.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Large chunks of rock in different mountains are not always set in perfect alignment with other surrounding rocks.

Keywords: rock, alignment

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 11-12

Explanation: Certain caves are frequently created by the alignment of rocks. Sometimes, big rock fragments in various mountains are not perfectly aligned with the rocks around them. Because of this, it is typical to discover some vacant areas in between rocks. Almost every mountain or hill has some kind of rock cave, making them one of the most common cave types in the world.

34. Parts of the interior have been reproduced.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: The Lascaux Cave in France is famous because it contains ancient paintings. Copies of these paintings - mostly horses, bulls and deer - are now stored in the Cincinnati Natural History Museum.

Keywords: Lascaux Cave, paintings

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the passage, France's Lascaux Cave is well-known for its prehistoric artwork. The Cincinnati Natural History Museum currently holds copies of these paintings, which primarily feature horses, bulls, and deer artwork found in the cave.

35. Intense heat is required.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: The flow of lava in a volcanic eruption is one of the most common ways that caves are formed.

Keywords: volcanic eruption, caves

Keyword Location: Para B, Line 1

Explanation: The passage mentions that the formation of Lava Cave can only happen when the hot molten lava flows downwards until it cools and becomes solid. If the outer surface of the lava-flow cools down before the inner surface, the lava still flowing beneath the surface leaves behind a solid outer shell or cave.

36. The ceiling radiates light.

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Waitomo Cave in New Zealand is famous due to the condensed gas inside it which glows in the dark making the roof look like a night sky full of stars

Keywords: Waitomo Cave, glows

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The passage mentions that New Zealand's Waitomo Cave is well-known because of its condensed gas, which shines in the dark and gives the impression that the roof is the sky filled with stars.

Questions 37-40

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each.

GLACIER CAVE FORMATION

- Water flowing beneath snow layers creates 37..…......

Answer: AN AIR FILLED CAVITY

Supporting statement: layers of snow usually begin the formation of a glacier cave. Heat transfer from the water causes significant melting to create an air-filled cavity.

Keywords: snow, water

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 5

Explanation: The passage highlights that heat transfer from the water running under the glaciers causes enough melting leading to the creation of air-filled cavities.

- Sea animal life as well as38……….. remain permanently on the cavity surface.

Answer: PLANTS

Supporting statement:Different marine creatures and plants settle on the surface of the cavity.

Keywords: marine, plants

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 6

Explanation: The passage states that with time many aquatic animals and plants can settle on the surface of the cavity formed in the glaciers.

- Sand and solid minerals make39……….hard enough to resist the flowing water.

Answer: THE SURFACE

Supporting statement:Over time, the surface attracts sand and solid minerals. As a result, the surface becomes hard enough to resist the force of the flowing water outside it.

Keywords: surface, hard

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 7-8

Explanation: The passage mentions that due to the sand and solid material settling on the surface it becomes hard for the surface to resist the force of the water flowing outside.

- The process is repeated until 40………….combine to produce a glacier cave.

Answer: THE TWO CAVITIES

Supporting statement:In a similar way, another air-filled cavity is formed close by and gradually becomes solid. Later, the two cavities merge to form a cave.

Keywords: air-filled, cavities merge

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 9-10

Explanation: The passage highlights that the two cavities formed due to the water underneath the glaciers gradually came together and merge with each other to form a Glacier cave.

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