Australia's Platypus Reading Answers

Nov 24, 2022

Australia's Platypus Reading Answers consists of 13 questions. This reading passage comprises questions like true/false/not given and no more than three words. In order to solve true/false/not given, candidates are required identify the keywords and understand the sentences and questions posed. Thus, candidates need to read the IELTS passage efficiently. For no more than three words, candidates must read the passage and understand questions asked to answer them appropriately. Test-takers must make a note that they must strictly maintain the word limit.

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Reading Passage Question

Of all the creatures on the earth, the Australian platypus, Omithorbynchusparadoxus, is perhaps one of the most mysterious and reclusive. Derived from the Latin platys meaning ‘flat and broad’ and pous meaning ‘foot’, the platypus has long been an iconic symbol of Australia. Upon being discovered in Australia in the 1700s, sketches of this unusual creature were made and sent back to England whereupon they were considered by experts to be a hoax. Indeed, the incredible collection of its body parts – broad, flat tail, rubbery snout, webbed feet and short dense fur – make it one of the world’s most unusual animals.

Officially classified as a mammal, the egg-laying platypus is mostly active during the night, a nocturnal animal. As if this combination of characteristics and behaviours were not unusual enough, the platypus is the only Australian mammal known to be venomous. The male platypus has a sharply pointed, moveable spur on its hind foot which delivers a poison capable of killing smaller animals and causing severe pain to humans. The spur – about 2 centimetres in length – is quite similar to the fang of a snake and, if provoked, is used as a means of defence. Those who have been stung by a platypus’ spur report an immediate swelling around the wound followed by increased swelling throughout the affected limb. Excruciating, almost paralyzing pain in the affected area accompanies the sting which, in some victims has been known to last for a period of months. One report from a victim who was stung in the palm of the hand states that “…the spur could not be pulled out of the hand until the platypus was killed.” During the breeding season, the amount of venom in the male platypus increases. This has led some zoologists to theorize that the poisonous spur is primarily for asserting dominance amongst fellow-males. To be stung by a male platypus is a rare event with only a very small number of people being on the receiving end of this most reclusive creature.

In the same area of the hind foot where the male has the poisonous spur, the female platypus only develops two buds which drop off in their first year of life never to appear again. The female platypus produces a clutch of one to three eggs in late winter or spring, incubating them in an underground burrow. The eggs are 15-18 millimetres long and have a whitish, papery shell like those of lizards and snakes. The mother is believed to keep the eggs warm by placing them between her lower belly and curled-up tail for a period of about 10 or 11 days as she rests in an underground nest made of leaves or other vegetation collected from the water. The baby platypus drinks rich milk which is secreted from two round patches of skin midway along with the mother’s bell)’. It is believed that a baby platypus feeds by slurping up milk with rhythmic sweeps of its stubby bill. When the juveniles first enter the water at the age of about four months, they are nearly (80-90%) as long as an adult. The male platypus does not help to raise the young.

In Australia, the platypus is officially classified as ‘Common but Vulnerable’. As a species, it is not currently considered to be endangered. However, platypus populations are believed to have declined or disappeared in many catchments 1, particularly in urban and agricultural landscapes. In most cases, the specific underlying reasons for the reduction in numbers remain unknown. Platypus surveys have only been carried out in a few catchments in eastern Australia. It is therefore impossible to provide an accurate estimate of the total number of platypus remaining in the wild. Based on recent studies, the average platypus population density along relatively good quality streams in the foothills of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range is only around one to two animals per kilometre of the channel. Because platypus is predators near the top of the food chain and requires large amounts of food to survive (up to about 30% of a given animal’s body weight each day), it is believed that their numbers are most often limited by the availability of food, mainly in the form of bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates such as shrimps, worms, yabbies, pea-shell mussels, and immature and adult aquatic insects. Small frogs and fish eggs are also eaten occasionally, along with some terrestrial insects that fall into the water from overhanging vegetation. Catchments are an area of land drained by a creek or river system, or a place set aside for collecting water which runs off the surface of the land.

Until the early twentieth century, the platypus was widely killed for their fur. The species is now protected by law throughout Australia. Platypus is wild animals with specialized living requirements. It is illegal for members of the public to keep them in captivity. A platypus that has been accidentally captured along a stream or found wandering in an unusual place should never be taken home and treated as a pet, even for a brief time. The animal will not survive the experience. Only a small number of Australian zoos and universities hold a permit to maintain platypus in captivity for legitimate display or research purposes. Current Australian government policy does not allow’ this species to be taken overseas for any reason.

Solution With Explanation

Questions 1-5
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer? In boxes 1- 5 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information in the passage
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information in the passage
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information about the statement in the passage

The appearance of the platypus caused experts to doubt it was real.

Answer: True
Supporting sentence: Upon being discovered in Australia in the 1700s, sketches of this unusual creature were made and sent back to England whereupon they were considered by experts to be a hoax. Indeed, the incredible collection of its body parts – broad, flat tail, rubbery snout, webbed feet and short dense fur – make it one of the world’s most unusual animals.
Keywords: to be a hoax, incredible collection, body parts, broad, flat tail, rubbery snout, webbed feet, and short dense fur
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1
Explanation: In 1700s, when the sketches of the Platypus were sent to England from Australia it was considered to be a hoax which makes the answer correct. In the first paragraph of the passage, it is mentioned that the researchers believed it is something hoax at the beginning. It rather seemed like a collection of different body parts.

The amount of venom in male platypus changes during the year.

Answer: True
Supporting sentence: During the breeding season, the amount of venom in the male platypus increases.
Keywords: breeding season, amount of venom, increases
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2
Explanation: This is a correct answer as the amount of venom in the male platypus increases during the breeding period. In the second paragraph of this reading passage, it is mentioned that when the breeding season of the platypus comes, the amount of venom of the male ones increases. This is identified by the researchers at that time.

Most platypus lives in Eastern Australia.

Answer: False
Supporting sentence: Platypus surveys have only been carried out in a few catchments in eastern Australia. It is therefore impossible to provide an accurate estimate of the total number of platypus remaining in the wild.
Keywords: few catchments, eastern Australia
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: The survey is only conducted in Eastern Australia. Thus, the proper number is not clear. It is not specifically mentioned whether eastern Australia has the highest number of platypus or not. Though the research initiated in Eastern Australia, the proper statistics is not given in the entire passage. It is also mentioned that most of the surveys are conducted in eastern Australia.

Snake venom and platypus venom are very similar.

Answer: False
Supporting sentence: The spur – about 2 centimetres in length – is quite similar to the fang of a snake and, if provoked, is used as a means of defence.
Keywords: quite similar, fang of a snake
Paragraph 2
Explanation: The spur of the platypus is similar to that of the fang of snakes. According to the second paragraph, snake venom and platypus venom are not much similar. It is stated that these are “quite similar” which means that there are some similarities. However, these are not completely similar.

Because their environment is specialized, platypus cannot be kept as pets.

Answer: True
Supporting sentence: Only a small number of Australian zoos and universities hold a permit to maintain platypus in captivity for legitimate display or research purposes. Current Australian government policy does not allow’ this species to be taken overseas for any reason.
Keywords: Australian zoos and universities, permit to maintain platypus, legitimate display or research purposes
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: This is the correct answer because the platypus wouldn’t survive in any unusual conditions. Therefore, can’t be kept at home. A small number of zoos in Australia and a few universities currently have a permit to keep platypus. However, in captivity. These need to mention it was only for research purposes. So, it cannot be kept at home as a pet.

Questions 6-9:
Complete the summary. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 6-9 on your answer sheet.

Male and Female Platypus

Platypus is a unique Australian animal. Although all platypus share many similarities, the male and female are somewhat different from each other. For example, on the hind feet, the male has a 6. ____________ while the young female has 7. ______________. In the 8. _______________ the mother keeps her eggs warm and, once born, supplies her 9. _______________. On the o ther hand, the male platypus does not help raise the young at all.

Answer: Poisonous spur, Only two buds, Curled up tails and between the lower belly, Slurping up milk
Supporting sentence: In the same area of the hind foot where the male has the poisonous spur, the female platypus only develops two buds which drop off in their first year of life never to appear again. The female platypus produces a clutch of one to three eggs in late winter or spring, incubating them in an underground burrow. The eggs are 15-18 millimetres long and have a whitish, papery shell like those of lizards and snakes. The mother is believed to keep the eggs warm by placing them between her lower belly and curled-up tail for a period of about 10 or 11 days as she rests in an underground nest made of leaves or other vegetation collected from the water. The baby platypus drinks rich milk which is secreted from two round patches of skin midway along with the mother’s bell)’. It is believed that a baby platypus feeds by slurping up milk with rhythmic sweeps of its stubby bill.
Keywords: the male has the poisonous spur, female platypus only develops two buds, eggs are 15-18 millimetres long, lower belly and curled-up tail, baby platypus feeds by slurping up milk
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3
Explanation: At the same area in the hindfoot, the male platypus has the poisonous spur making the selected answer of poisonous spur correct. Only two buds are correct for the next gap because the female platypus only develops two buds which drop off in their first year of life never appeared again. In the winter and spring season, the mother produces 2-3 eggs which she keeps between her lower belly to keep them warm by incubating them in the underground burrow – making the keyword correct. The keyword is correct as the baby platypus are fed by slurping up milk with rhythmic sweeps of its stubby bill.

Questions 10-13:
Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

Even though the platypus is not endangered, it is considered _________________.

Answer: Vulnerable
Supporting sentence: In Australia, the platypus is officially classified as ‘Common but Vulnerable’. As a species, it is not currently considered to be endangered.
Keywords: Common but Vulnerable, endangered
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: Even though the platypus is not endangered, it is considered vulnerable. It means that the platypus is not endangered but it is considered common but vulnerable. Paragraph 4 of this reading passage begins with the classification of the platypus, in terms of its availability. It is mentioned as a common yet vulnerable species. Platypus is not endangered and it is maintaining quite a good number.

Platypus numbers in ________________ areas have declined in many catchments.

Answer: Urban and agricultural landscape
Supporting sentence: As a species, it is not currently considered to be endangered. However, platypus populations are believed to have declined or disappeared in many catchments 1, particularly in urban and agricultural landscapes.
Keywords: considered to be endangered, platypus populations, urban and agricultural landscapes
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: Platypus numbers in urban and agricultural landscape areas have declined in many catchments. This is the accurate keyword as the number of platypus in many catchments in urban and agricultural areas have declined and the reason for the same remained unknown.

Platypus numbers are low which is probably due to a lack of _________________.

Answer: Availability of food
Supporting sentence: Because platypus is predators near the top of the food chain and requires large amounts of food to survive (up to about 30% of a given animal’s body weight each day), it is believed that their numbers are most often limited by the availability of food, mainly in the form of bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates such as shrimps, worms, yabbies, pea-shell mussels, and immature and adult aquatic insects.
Keywords: predators near the top of the food chain, limited by the availability of food, form of bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: Platypus numbers are low which is probably due to a lack of availability of food. According to the passage, the platypus is the predator and there near the top of the food chain. It means that they need a large amount of food to live. Lack of availability of food is one of the basic reasons for the declining numbers of the platypus, mainly in the form of bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates such as shrimps, worms, yabbies, pea-shell mussels, and immature and adult aquatic insects. Sometimes, the availability of food is limited and they rely on the bottom dwellers like the shrimps, worms, yabbies, and pea-shell mussels, and other aquatic insects.

Platypus captivity for research and study purposes requires a _________________.

Answer: Permit of the government
Supporting sentence: Only a small number of Australian zoos and universities hold a permit to maintain platypus in captivity for legitimate display or research purposes. Current Australian government policy does not allow’ this species to be taken overseas for any reason.
Keywords: Australian zoos and universities, captivity, legitimate display or research purposes, Australian government policy
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: Platypus captivity for research and study purposes requires a permit of the government. Only very few Australian universities and research Institutes hold the permit for the captivity of the Platypus. The current government doesn’t provide any permit for the overseas travel of the platypus.

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