First Aid For Snake Bites - IELTS General Reading Sample with Explanation

The IELTS reading section consists of a passage based on which questions are made and the student needs to answer the question reading the comprehension. The IELTS reading section basically is conducted to understand the ability of the candidate. This particular IELTS reading topic - First Aid For Snake Bites is an IELTS General Training topic and contains one type of question.

• Identifying information

Candidates can practice similar topics from IELTS reading practice papers.

Topic: First Aid For Snake Bites

Snakes are not normally aggressive and tend to bite only when they are threatened or mishandled. Some snakes, e.g. the carpet snake, are not poisonous. Others, e.g. the brown snake, tiger snake, and taipan, are very poisonous.

1. Prevention

• leave snakes alone and do not collect snakes
• do not put your hands in hollow logs, under piles of wood, or in rubbish
• be noisy when walking in the bush
• look carefully when walking through thick grass
• use a torch around camps at night

2. Symptoms and signs

These do not appear immediately, but from about 15 minutes to 2 hours after the casualty is bitten. There are often no visible symptoms or signs. Take seriously any information from a casualty concerning:

• strong emotional reaction
• headache or double vision
• drowsiness, dizziness, or faintness
• nausea and/or vomiting and diarrhea
• puncture marks about 1 centimeter apart at the site of the bite. Bites are usually on the limbs, especially the legs.
• reddening
• bruising
• sweating
• breathing difficulties

100. Management

• reassure the casualty
• apply a pressure immobilization bandage over the bitten area and around the limb
• seek medical aid urgently

500. Snakebite Warnings

• never wash the venom off the skin as this will help in later identification
• never cut or squeeze the bitten area
• never try to suck the venom out of the wound

Questions 11 – 15

The passage “First Aid for Snake Bites” explains what to do in the event of a snake bite.
Read the additional instructions below and choose the section A-D to which each instruction belongs.
Write the appropriate letter in boxes 11-15 on your answer sheet.

11. help the casualty to sit or lie down
12. wear stout shoes, walk-socks, and jeans (or similar clothing) in areas where snakes could be present
13. pain or tightness in the chest or abdomen
14. do not try to catch the snake
15. swelling of the bitten area

11. help the casualty to sit or lie down

Answer: C

Supporting Sentence: apply a pressure immobilization bandage over the bitten area and around the limb

Keywords: bandage, the bitten area

Keyword Location: Section C, 2nd Line

Explanation: When a person is bitten by a snake make sure the casualty should be in a still position and then bandage over the bitten area.

Also, check:

12. wear stout shoes, walk-socks, and jeans (or similar clothing) in areas where snakes could be present

Answer: A

Supporting Sentence: look carefully when walking through thick grass

Keywords: thick grass, carefully

Keyword Location: Section A, 2nd Line

Explanation: As snakes can be present in the thick grass so you should wear jeans, walk-socks & stout shoes to prevent your naked body from a snake bite.

13. pain or tightness in the chest or abdomen

Answer: B

Supporting Sentence: breathing difficulties

Keywords: breathing, pain

Keyword Location: Section B, 13th Line

Explanation: When you are bitten by a snake the symptoms you can feel are pain or tightness in the chest or abdomen which will result in issues while breathing.

14. do not try to catch the snake

Answer: D

Supporting Sentence: never cut or squeeze the bitten area

Keywords: squeeze, the bitten area

Keyword Location: Section D, 2nd Line

Explanation: So, don’t go after the snake or don’t try to catch the snake after the bite because when you will run the bitten area will be squeezed and it is not recommended.

15. swelling of the bitten area

Answer: B

Supporting Sentence: puncture marks about 1 centimeter apart at the site of the bite. Bites are usually on the limbs, especially the legs.

Keywords: puncture marks, bites, 1 cm,

Keyword Location: Section B, Line 8

Explanation: When a person is bitten by a snake the bitten area gets tiny holes of about 1 cm and results in swelling of that area.