Forest Management in Pennsylvania USA Reading Answers

Sep 26, 2023

Forest management in Pennsylvania IELTS Reading Answers is a general reading subject that explores Forest management in Pennsylvania. Forest management in Pennsylvania IELTS reading answers have a total of thirteen questions. The specified topic generates a single type of question: True/False/Not Given. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly in order to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Research Committed a Crime IELTS Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

How managing low-quality wood (also known as low-use wood) for bioenergy can encourage sustainable forest management

A) A tree’s ‘value’ depends on several factors including its species, size, form, condition, quality, function, and accessibility, and depends on the management goals for a given forest. The same tree can be valued very differently by each person who looks at it. A large, straight black cherry tree has high value as timber to be cut into logs or made into furniture, but for a landowner more interested in wildlife habitat, the real value of that stem (or trunk) may be the food it provides to animals. Likewise, if the tree suffers from black knot disease, its value for timber decreases, but to a woodworker interested in making bowls, it brings an opportunity for a unique and beautiful piece of art.

B) In the past, Pennsylvania landowners were solely interested in the value of their trees as high-quality timber. The norm was to remove the stems of highest quality and leave behind poorly formed trees that were not as well suited to the site where they grew. This practice, called ‘high-grading’, has left a legacy of ‘low-use wood’ in the forests. Some people even call these ‘junk trees’, and they are abundant in Pennsylvania. These trees have lower economic value for traditional timber markets, compete for growth with higher-value trees, shade out desirable regeneration and decrease the health of a stand* leaving it more vulnerable to poor weather and disease. Management that specifically targets low-use wood can help landowners manage these forest health issues, and wood energy markets help promote this.

C) Wood energy markets can accept less expensive wood material of lower quality than would be suitable for traditional timber markets. Most wood used for energy in Pennsylvania is used to produce heat or electricity through combustion. Many schools and hospitals use wood boiler systems to heat and power their facilities, many homes are primarily heated with wood, and some coal plants incorporate wood into their coal streams to produce electricity. Wood can also be gasified for electrical generation and can even be made into liquid fuels like ethanol and gasoline for lorries and cars. All these products are made primarily from low-use wood. Several tree- and plant-cutting approaches, which could greatly improve the long-term quality of a forest, focus strongly or solely on the use of wood for those markets.

D) One such approach is called a Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Cut. In a TSI Cut, really poor-quality tree and plant material is cut down to allow more space, light, and other resources to the highest-valued stems that remain. Removing invasive plants might be another primary goal of a TSI Cut. The stems that are left behind might then grow in size and develop more foliage and larger crowns or tops that produce more coverage for wildlife; they have a better chance to regenerate in a less crowded environment. TSI Cuts can be tailored to one farmer’s specific management goals for his or her land.

E) Another approach that might yield a high amount of low-use wood is a Salvage Cut. With the many pests and pathogens visiting forests including hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, and gypsy moth, to name just a few, it is important to remember that those working in the forests can help ease these issues by cutting procedures. These types of cuts reduce the number of sick trees and seek to manage the future spread of a pest problem. They leave vigorous trees that have stayed healthy enough to survive the outbreak.

F) A Shelterwood Cut, which only takes place in a mature forest that has already been thinned several times, involves removing all the mature trees when other seedlings have become established. This then allows the forester to decide which tree species are regenerated. It leaves a young forest where all trees are at a similar point in their growth. It can also be used to develop a two-tier forest so that there are two harvests and the money that comes in is spread out over a decade or more.

G) Thinnings and dense and dead wood removal for fire prevention also center on the production of low-use wood. However, it is important to remember that some retention of what many would classify as low-use wood is very important. The tops of trees that have been cut down should be left on the site so that their nutrients cycle back into the soil. In addition, trees with many cavities are extremely important habitats for insect predators like woodpeckers, bats and small mammals. They help control problem insects and increase the health and resilience of the forest. It is also important to remember that not all small trees are low-use. For example, many species like hawthorn provide food for wildlife. Finally, rare species of trees in a forest should also stay behind as they add to its structural diversity.

Section 2

Questions 14 -18
Reading Passage Forest Management in Pennsylvania has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 14- 18 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

Bad outcomes for a forest when people focus only on its financial reward

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “...growth with higher-value trees, shade out desirable regeneration and decrease the health of a stand* leaving it more vulnerable to poor weather and disease....”
Keywords: growth, regeneration
Keyword location: para B, line 7-8
Explanation: It is clearly given in the paragraph that people used to cut trees for timber markets. These things lead to poor weather and disease prone areas. These are mentioned as bad outcomes in the statement.

Reference to the aspects of any tree that contribute to its worth

Answer: A
Supporting statement: “...A large, straight black cherry tree has high value as timber to be cut into logs or made into furniture, but for a landowner more interested in wildlife habitat...”
Keywords: straight, furniture
Keyword location: para A, line 4-5
Explanation: There are different aspects of a tree like the straight black cherry tree is popular for the timber of high quality. The landowner gives more value to the wildlife. Hence it can be concluded that the different aspects of the tree prove out to be of different value for different people.

Mention of the potential use of wood to help run vehicles

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “...Wood can also be gasified for electrical generation and can even be made into liquid fuels like ethanol and gasoline for lorries and cars....”
Keywords: electrical, ethanol
Keyword location: para C, line 6-7
Explanation: It is clearly given in the passage that wood can be used as a fuel in vehicles. Wood is gasified and then used to generate electricity and also converted to liquid fuels.

Examples of insects that attack trees

Answer: E
Supporting statement: “...With the many pests and pathogens visiting forests including hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, and gypsy moth...”
Keywords: hemlock, emerald
Keyword location: para E, line 2-3
Explanation: This passage mentions the names of the insects that feed upon the trees. For example there are pests like adelgid, longhorned beetle, borer, etc that are harmful for the trees.

An alternative name for trees that produce low-use wood

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “....This practice, called ‘high-grading’, has left a legacy of ‘low-use wood’ in the forests. Some people even call these ‘junk trees’,...”
Keywords: grading, legacy
Keyword location: para B, line 4-5
Explanation: There was a practice called “high-grading” which is the use of low use wood to enhance its quality. These trees are alternatively called junk trees.

Questions 19-21
Look at the following purposes (Questions 19-21) and the list of timber cuts below.
Match each purpose with the correct timber cut, A, B, or C.
Write the correct letter, A, B, or C, in boxes 19-21 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

to remove trees that are diseased

Answer: B
Supporting statement: “...TSI Cut, really poor-quality tree and plant material is cut down to allow more space, light, and other resources to the highest-valued stems that remain...”
Keywords: plant, resources
Keyword location: para D, line 1-3
Explanation: It is given in the passage that the TSI cut uses poor-quality trees and removes the improper or irregular part of the tree and tries to improve the better part of the tree. They provide more resources to the good quality stems to make the plant a healthy one.

to generate income across a number of years

Answer: E
Supporting statement: “...Another approach that might yield a high amount of low-use wood is a Salvage Cut...”
Keywords: approach, salvage
Keyword location: para E, line 1-2
Explanation: The salvage cut is used to cut low-use wood in a high amount. This cut is used to generate income through out years.

to create a forest whose trees are close in age

Answer: C
Supporting statement: “...A Shelterwood Cut, which only takes place in a mature forest that has already been thinned several times, involves removing all the mature trees when other seedlings have become established...”
Keywords: shelterwood, seedlings
Keyword location: para C
Explanation: The shelterwood cut is a cut that is done in a forest having old age trees or trees that have been there for a long time. The trees whose seeds have become established are cut with shelterwood.

List of timber cuts

a TSI Cut
a Salvage Cut
a Shelterwood Cut

Questions 22-26
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-26 on your answer sheet.

Some dead wood is removed to avoid the possibility of ………….

Answer: fire
Supporting statement: “...Thinnings and dense and dead wood removal for fire prevention also center on the production of low-use wood...”
Keywords: dense, prevention
Keyword location: para G, line 1-2
Explanation: The dead wood is easily burned. Hence the dead wood is removed from the tree to avoid any kind of fire.

The ………… from the tops of cut trees can help improve soil quality.

Answer: nutrients
Supporting statement: “...The tops of trees that have been cut down should be left on the site so that their nutrients cycle back into the soil...”
Keywords: cuts, nutrients
Keyword location: para G, line 3-4
Explanation: The tops of the tree contain some nutrients in it. These nutrients are very much useful to improve the soil quality of the area.

Some damaged trees should be left, as their ………… provide habitats for a range of creatures.

Answer: cavities
Supporting statement: “...In addition, trees with many cavities are extremely important habitats for insect predators like woodpeckers, bats and small mammals. They help control problem insects and increase the health and resilience of the forest....”
Keywords: cavities, predators
Keyword location: para G, line 5-6
Explanation: Some birds like bats and woodpeckers make their homes on the damaged trees. The damaged part of trees such as holes and stems are also important to these creatures. Hence these cavities should also be left to provide habitats to them.

Some trees that are small, such as …………, are a source of food for animals and insects.

Answer: hawthorn
Supporting statement: “...For example, many species like hawthorn provide food for wildlife. Finally, rare species of trees in a forest should also stay behind as they add to its structural diversity....”
Keywords: wildlife, diversity
Keyword location: para G, line 8-9
Explanation: Some species of trees serve as food for the animals and birds of the forest. Hawthorn is one of them.

Any trees that are ………… should be left to grow, as they add to the variety of species in the forest.

Answer: rare
Supporting statement: “...Finally, rare species of trees in a forest should also stay behind as they add to its structural diversity....”
Keywords: species, structural
Keyword location: para G, line 9
Explanation: rare species of plants should not be cut because if they are cut they will become extinct. In this way we will lose the variety of plants we have in forests.

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