It's Dangerous at the Top Reading Answers

Oct 17, 2024

It's Dangerous at the Top Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. It's Dangerous at the Top Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions set, you have to tell whether the statement is true or false. Also, there are questions where you have to fill in the blanks with the correct answer

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to assess a candidate's ability to comprehend and analyze different types of texts. In this passage, you will engage with a series of IELTS reading practice questions that simulate real test scenarios. These questions are aimed at improving your skills in identifying key ideas, extracting specific information, and making inferences. Whether you are preparing for the Academic or General Training module, practicing these IELTS reading questions will help you become familiar with the format and boost your confidence for the actual test.

Section 1

IT'S DANGEROUS AT THE TOP

In spring, 1996, ten separate teams were making their attempt on Mount Everest by way of the South Col. Twenty-four climbers reached the top, but on the way down they were hit by a ferocious storm. Five climbers died, and another one was horribly injured in what would become one of the most public of Everest disasters. That year, in fact, was the worst in Everest's climbing history, with a death toll of 15. Yes, it's dangerous at the top of the world, very dangerous, and the scores of frozen bodies that dot the high ridges of Everest attest to this fact. And yet the lure of this great mountain-the world's highest-continues to draw climbers onwards. In the early 1920s, the first serious attempts were made to climb Everest. In those days, the risks were much underestimated. It was even considered unsportsmanlike to use bottled oxygen in that rarified high-altitude air. This conceit quickly fell by the wayside when those pioneers felt the effects of oxygen deprivation: exhaustion, lack of clear thinking, and serious medical complaints. In 1924, when two climbers, Mallory and Irving, carrying only rudimentary and heavy oxygen equipment, and wearing inadequate clothing, disappeared into the fog high on the North-east Ridge, never to be seen alive again, the expectant British public were shocked. Since then, the risks have been fully analyzed, and the technology has advanced, but despite these benefits, playing with Everest will always be a lethal game.

So, what are these risks? The weather will always be the biggest variable, and the one that plays the biggest role in the ultimate success of any summit bid. The Sherpa porters know the weather patterns best, but even they will admit it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict. The 1996 climbers ascended in seemingly perfect conditions, yet within hours a blizzard descended over the mountain to take a lethal toll. Winds can be so strong as to literally blow a climber off the mountain, as Yasuo Kato, the foremost Japanese climber of his generation, and his partner, discovered, disappearing without trace in a savage storm in 1982. With such strong winds comes the cold. Even in the summer season, on the sunniest days, overnight on Everest's heights the temperature

plummets to minus 30. Living beings were simply never designed for such conditions-in fact, once in the 'death zone' (above 8,000 metres) no living being can live for very long. Trying to do so is a logistical nightmare. A succession of camps needs to be established, equipped with all the necessities to preserve the frail human body: tents, sleeping bags, thick clothing, stoves, fuel, food and drink, and oxygen, and all hauled up slowly and steadily in an inhospitable and windswept desolation of ice, snow, and rock. Then there is the risk of falls, what one would think is the biggest killer of climbers. Certainly Everest's exposed slopes of loose scree and shale slabs, often covered with snow and ice, have seen many fatal falls. When Mallory's body was found in 1999, it was quickly determined that he died in this way. Yet it is avalanches which cause the most deaths. Everest's three great faces fill with snow during the monsoon season, presenting a constant danger, as the 1984 British expedition discovered. High on the North Face, they settled into their sleeping bags with no warning of what was to happen. A chunk of ice far above them broke free, falling 1000 feet onto the mountain side, triggering an avalanche which swept their camp away, killing Tony Swierzy and injuring three others. The final big risk relates to the low oxygen levels. In the high realms of Everest the human body breathes only a quarter of the oxygen compared to sea-level. Each step is a maximal gasping brain- straining effort. The body attempts to receive more energy by metabolizing muscle mass, wasting it away, and the higher one climbs, the faster this happens, and the weaker one becomes. Additionally, the brain needs the highest proportion of oxygen to properly function, and deprived of this, thinking fast and

clearly becomes difficult-and yet this is absolutely crucial at that height, where the margin of safety is perilously slim, and sound decisions need to be quickly made. Little wonder then that many climbers just stop, sit down, curl up, and remain there, inevitably and tragically meeting their deaths.

This is exactly what happened to David Sharp in 2006. Overcome with exhaustion, he huddled under a small rock overhang at 8,500 meters. His oxygen supply eventually ran out, but he was noticed, clearly alive, on numerous occasions by almost 40 other climbers. Most decided that attempting a rescue would be too dangerous at that altitude, and that sharp was beyond neip anyway. Low on oxygen, sumering trom cold and exhausted themselves, they felt that the obligation towards their own safety was more important. True, one would think, yet the ethics of abandoning another human being to certain death in order to summit a mountain are immediately questionable. With the increasing commercialisation of Everest climbing operations, such concerns can only increase.

Questions 27 to 30

Write True, False, or Not Given, according to the information given in the reading passage.

27. Five climbers died in 1996.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........Twenty-four climbers reached the top... Five climbers died, and another one was horribly injured........”

Keywords: climbers, Five

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 2

Explanation: The statement is false because, while it is mentioned that five climbers died, the passage also states that 15 climbers died in total that year, not just five. This indicates that the statement oversimplifies the situation

28. Many people want to climb Everest.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “.........the lure of this great mountain-the world's highest-continues to draw climbers onwards.......”

Keywords: Lure, climbers

Keyword Location: para 1, Line 5

Explanation: The statement is true because it highlights the ongoing desire and motivation of climbers to attempt to reach the summit of Everest despite its dangers. The term "lure" suggests a strong attraction to the mountain, indicating that many climbers are eager to climb it.

29. The early climbers thought their oxygen equipment was heavy.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage does not explicitly state whether early climbers considered their oxygen equipment to be heavy.

30. Mallory was never seen again.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........when Mallory's body was found in 1999, it was quickly determined that he died in this way........”

Keywords: body, found

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 9

Explanation: This statement is false because the passage states that Mallory's body was found in 1999, indicating that he was "never seen again." The discovery of his body contradicts the assertion, providing clarity on his fate.

Questions 31 to 33

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

RISK	ASSOCIATED FACTS
Weather/Wind	Best assessed by 31.........
Cold	Fighting this is a logistical32 ………
Falls	Caused the death of33.............

Q.31

Answer: SHERPA PORTERS

Supporting statement: “.......The Sherpa porters know the weather patterns best.........”

Keywords: porters, weather

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 2

Explanation: The passage highlights that Sherpa porters possess the best understanding of weather patterns, making them crucial for assessing weather conditions during climbs. This emphasizes their expertise in navigating Everest's challenges.

Q.32

Answer: LOGISTICS

Supporting statement: “.......Fighting this is a logistical nightmare.........”

Keywords: logistical, nightmare

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 8

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that managing the cold conditions on Everest presents a "logistical nightmare," reinforcing the complexities involved in maintaining safety and survival at high altitudes.

Q.33

Answer: MALLORY

Supporting statement: “........When Mallory's body was found in 1999, it was quickly determined that he died in this way.........”

Keywords: Mallory, death

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 9

Explanation: The passage clarifies that Mallory died from a fall, thus directly connecting his death to the risks associated with climbing. This highlights the hazards present on Everest and the fatal consequences they can lead to.

Questions 34 to 36

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

RISK	ASSOCIATED FACTS
34. …..	Greatest taker of life
Reduced 35....	Extra energy is gained by the conversion of 36.....

Q.34

Answer: AVALANCHES

Supporting statement: “.........Yet it is avalanches which cause the most deaths. Everest's three great faces fill with snow during the monsoon season.......”

Keywords: avalanches, cause

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 7

Explanation: The passage states that avalanches are responsible for the majority of fatalities on Everest, making it clear that they are the greatest danger climbers face regarding loss of life.

Q.35

Answer: OXYGEN

Supporting statement: “.......In the high realms of Everest the human body breathes only a quarter of the oxygen compared to sea-level..........”

Keywords: oxygen, quarter

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 15

Explanation: The passage discusses the low oxygen levels at high altitudes on Everest and how this reduction affects climbers. The term "oxygen" directly correlates with the risks faced by climbers due to diminished air supply.

Q.36

Answer: MUSCLE MASS

Supporting statement: “.......The body attempts to receive more energy by metabolizing muscle mass........”

Keywords: energy, muscle

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 17

Explanation: The passage explains how the body compensates for low oxygen levels by breaking down muscle mass for energy. This process is crucial for understanding the physiological challenges climbers face on Everest.

Questions 37 to 40

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR NUMBERS.

At an altitude of 37……….. David Sharp's 38…….... supply eventually ran out. Many other climbers 39........ him, but continued their climb, in doing so displaying highly

questionable 40……....

Q.37

Answer: 8,500 METERS

Supporting statement: “.......Overcome with exhaustion, he huddled under a small rock overhang at 8,500 meters........”

Keywords: meters, altitude

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 2

Explanation: The passage specifies the altitude where David Sharp was found, indicating that he was at 8,500 meters. This detail is essential for contextualizing the extreme conditions he faced.

Q.38

Answer: OXYGEN

Supporting statement: “.......His oxygen supply eventually ran out.........”

Keywords: supply, ran

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 3

Explanation: The passage describes how David Sharp's oxygen supply depleted, which is crucial for understanding the challenges climbers encounter at high altitudes. This directly links to the dangers posed by low oxygen levels.

Q.39

Answer: NOTICED

Supporting statement: “.......he was noticed, clearly alive, on numerous occasions by almost 40 other climbers.........”

Keywords: noticed, climbers

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 4

Explanation: The passage mentions that many climbers saw David Sharp alive, indicating that he was visible to others despite his perilous situation. This underscores the ethical dilemma faced by climbers regarding rescue attempts.

Q.40

Answer: ETHICS

Supporting statement: “.......the obligation towards their own safety was more important... ethics of abandoning another human being to certain death.........”

Keywords: ethics, abandoning

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 6

Explanation: The passage discusses the ethical implications of climbers prioritizing their safety over the potential rescue of another climber in distress. This raises questions about moral responsibility in high-stakes situations, making "ethics" a fitting answer.

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