Its Ecological Reading Answers
Its Ecological Reading Answers consists of an IELTS Reading Passage and 13 questions to be completed in 20 minutes. Its Ecological Reading Answers includes three types of questions including- yes/no/not given, identify information, use no more than three words. For answering the questions, skim the passage and find the relevance of the statements to answer. Candidates should maintain the word count for using only three words and answer by reading the IELTS passage efficiently. Reading the passage thoroughly would help candidates to understand the statement provided and answer it with the choice of options.
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Section 1
Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
Its Ecological Reading Answers
Planning an eco-friendly holiday can be a minefield for the well- meaning traveller, says Steve Watkins. But help is now at hand.
- If there were awards for tourism phrases that have been hijacked, diluted and misused then ‘ecotourism’ would earn top prize. The term first surfaced in the early 1980s reflecting a surge in environmental awareness and a realisation by tour operators that many travellers wanted to believe their presence abroad would not have a negative impact. It rapidly became the hottest marketing tag a holiday could carry.
- These days the ecotourism label is used to cover anything from a two-week tour living with remote Indonesian tribes, to a one-hour motorboat trip through an Australian gorge. In fact, any tour that involves cultural interaction, natural beauty spots, wildlife or a dash of soft adventure is likely to be included in the overflowing ecotourism folder. There is no doubt the original motives behind the movement were honourable attempts to provide a way for those who cared to make informed choices, but the lack of regulations and a standard industry definition left many travellers lost in an ecotourism jungle.
- It is easier to understand why the ecotourism market has become so overcrowded when we look at its wider role in the world economy. According to World Tourism Organisation figures, ecotourism is worth US$20 billion a year and makes up one-fifth of all international tourism. Add to this an annual growth rate of around five per cent and the pressure for many operators, both in developed and developing countries, to jump on the accelerating bandwagon is compelling. Without any widely recognised accreditation system, the consumer has been left to investigate the credentials of an operator themselves. This is a time-consuming process and many travellers usually take an operator’s claims at face value, only adding to the proliferation of fake ecotours.
- However, there are several simple questions that will provide qualifying evidence of a company’s commitment to minimise its impact on the environment and maximise the benefits to the tourism area’s local community. For example, does the company use recycled or sustainable, locally harvested materials to build its tourist properties? Do they pay fair wages to all employees? Do they offer training to employees? It is common for city entrepreneurs to own tour companies in country areas, which can mean the money you pay ends up in the city rather than in the community being visited. By taking a little extra time to investigate the ecotourism options, it is not only possible to guide your custom to worthy operators but you will often find that the experience they offer is far more rewarding.
- The ecotourism business is still very much in need of a shake-up and a standardised approach. There are a few organisations that have sprung up in the last ten years or so that endeavour to educate travellers and operators about the benefits of responsible ecotourism. Founded in 1990, the Ecotourism Society (TES) is a non-profit organisation of travel industry, conservation and ecological professionals, which aims to make ecotourism a genuine tool for conservation and sustainable development. Helping to create inherent economic value in wilderness environments and threatened cultures has undoubtedly been one of the ecotourism movement’s most notable achievements. TES organises an annual initiative to further aid development of the ecotourism industry. This year it is launching ‘Your Travel Choice Makes a Difference’, an educational campaign aimed at helping consumers understand the potential positive and negative impacts of their travel decisions. TES also offers guidance on the choice of ecotour and has established a register of approved ecotourism operators around the world.
- A leading ecotourism operator in the United Kingdom is Tribes, which won the 1999 Tourism Concern and Independent Traveller’s World ‘Award for Most Responsible Tour Operator’. Amanda Marks, owner and director of Tribes, believes that the ecotourism industry still has some way to go to get its house in order. Until now, no ecotourism accreditation scheme has really worked, principally because there has been no systematic way of checking that accredited companies actually comply with the code of practice. Amanda believes that the most promising system is the recently re-launched Green Globe 21 scheme. The Green Globe 21 award is based on the sustainable development standards contained in Agenda 21 from the 1992 Earth Summit and was originally coordinated by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The scheme is now an independent concern, though the WTTC still supports it. Until recently, tour companies became affiliates and could use the Green Globe logo merely on payment of an annual fee, hardly a suitable qualifying standard. However, in November 1999 Green Globe 21 introduced an annual, independent check on operators wishing to use the logo.
- Miriam Cain, from the Green Globe 21 marketing development, explains that current and new affiliates will now have one year to ensure that their operations comply with Agenda 21 standards. If they fail the first inspection, they can only reapply once. The inspection process is not a cheap option, especially for large companies, but the benefits of having Green Globe status and the potential operational cost savings that complying with the standards can bring should be significant. ‘We have joint ventures with organisations around the world, including Australia and the Caribbean, that will allow us to effectively check all affiliate operators,’ says Miriam. The scheme also allows destination communities to become Green Globe 21 approved.
- For a relatively new industry, it is not surprising that ecotourism has undergone teething pains. However, there are signs that things are changing for the better. With a committed and unified approach by the travel industry, local communities, travellers and environmental experts could make ecotourism a tag to be proud of and trusted.
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Section 2
Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-6
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet write.
Yes, if the statement agrees with the passage
No, if the statement is contradictory to the passage
Not Given, if no information regarding the topic is mentioned in the passage.
(Guide: Candidates need to study the passage, then write down Yes or No or Not Given to each of the statement given in questions 1 to 6)
- The term ‘ecotourism’ has become an advertising gimmick.
Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: When we look at its wider role in the world economy. According to World Tourism Organisation figures, ecotourism is worth US$20 billion a year and makes up one-fifth of all international tourism. Add to this an annual growth rate of around five percent and the pressure for many operators, both in developed and developing countries, to jump on the accelerating bandwagon is compelling.
Keyword: World Tourism Organisation, ecotourism, operators, accelerating bandwagon.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3.
Explanation: Ecotourism is an already growing industry, and the constant popularity is a big pressure for other countries and operators to be even better. So it is a very compelling idea to use it as an advertising gimmick to get profit.
- The intentions of those who coined the term ‘ecotourism’ were sincere.
Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: There is no doubt the original motives behind the movement were honorable attempts to provide a way for those who cared to make informed choices, but the lack of regulations and a standard industry definition left many travelers lost in an ecotourism jungle.
Keywords: motives, movement, honorable, regulations, standard industry definition.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2
Explanation: When ecotourism was coined, the goal was surely an attempt to provide a way for traveling, exploration, and get educated for those people who cared to make informed choices. But now ecotourism has become a highly commercial endeavor and works hugely on profit.
- Ecotourism is growing at a faster rate than any other type of travel.
Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There is no mention of the fact about the growth of ecotourism in particular than any other types of travel. Therefore, the selected answer is selected as ‘Not Given’.
- It is surprising that so many tour organisations decided to become involved in ecotourism.
Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: According to World Tourism Organisation figures, ecotourism is worth US$20 billion a year and makes up one-fifth of all international tourism. Add to this an annual growth rate of around five percent and the pressure for many operators, both in developed and developing countries, to jump on the accelerating bandwagon is compelling.
Keyword: World Tourism Organisation, accelerating bandwagon
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3
Explanation: The statement is wrong because the real situation is quite opposite. More companies are getting involved in ecotourism and have made the market overcrowded.
- Tourists have learnt to make investigations about tour operators before using them.
Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: Without any widely recognized accreditation system, the consumer has been left to investigate the credentials of an operator themselves. This is a time-consuming process and many travelers usually take an operator’s claims at face value, only adding to the proliferation of fake eco-tours.
Keywords: accreditation system, face value, proliferation
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3
Explanation: The process of investigating the tour operators is time-consuming and often not preferred.
- Tourists have had bad experiences on eco-tour holidays.
Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There is no mention of the fact that tourists have encountered bad experiences during their eco-tour holidays. Therefore, the selected answer is ‘Not Given’.
Questions 7-9:
According to the information given in the reading passage, which THREE of the following are true of the Ecotourism Society (TES)?
Write the appropriate letters A-F in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.
- It has monitored the growth in ecotourism.
- It involves a range of specialists in the field.
- It has received public recognition for the role it performs.
- It sets up regular eco-tour promotions.
- It offers information on eco-tours at an international level.
- It consults with people working in tourist destinations
(Guide: Candidates need to read the passage and select the three statements which are true out of the options A to E)
Question 7:
Answer: B or D or E in either order.
Supporting Sentence: few organizations that have sprung up in the last ten years or so that endeavor to educate travelers and operators about the benefits of responsible ecotourism.
Keyword: endeavor, educate travelers and operators, responsible ecotourism
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: TES aims to impart knowledge about responsible ecotourism and its benefits to the operators in the field. There are some organizations that have come up in the last ten years, they are educating travellers about responsible tourism.
Question 8:
Answer: B or D or E in either order.
Supporting Sentence: Founded in 1990, the Ecotourism Society (TES) are a non-profit organization of travel industry, conservation, and ecological professionals, which aims to make ecotourism a genuine tool for conservation and sustainable development.
Keywords: non-profit organization, conservation and ecological professionals, sustainable development
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: TES or the Ecotourism Society aims to make ecotourism a tool to teach conservation, sustainability, conservation, etc. to travelers all around the world. It is a non-profit organization of the travel industry.
Question 9:
Answer: B or D or E in either order.
Supporting Sentence: TES also offers guidance on the choice of eco-tour and has established a register of approved ecotourism operators around the world.
Keywords: guidance, established, eco-tour
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5
Explanation: TES is helping teach operators around the world about conservation and sustainable development and the benefits of responsible ecotourism around the world.
Questions 10-11:
According to the information given in the reading passage, which TWO of the following are true of the Green Globe 21 award?
Write the appropriate letters A-D in boxes 10-11 on your answer sheet.
- The scheme is self-regulating.
- Amanda Marks was recruited to develop the award.
- Prior to 1999 companies were not required to pay for membership.
- Both tour operators and tour sites can apply for affiliation.
- It intends to reduce the number of eco-tour operators.
(Guide: Candidates need to study the passage and state which two statements are true of the Green Globe 21)
Question 10:
Answer: A or D in either order
Supporting Sentence: The scheme is now an independent concern, in November 1999 Green Globe 21 introduced an annual, independent check on operators wishing to use the logo.
Keyword: independent concern, operators
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: Green Globe 21 is an independent scheme that checks on operators to make sure they comply with the code of practice and is based on sustainable development standards.
Question 11:
Answer: A or D in either order.
Supporting Sentence: Miriam Cain, from the Green Globe 21 marketing development, explains The inspection process is not a cheap option, especially for large companies, but the benefits of having Green Globe status and the potential operational cost savings that complying with the standards can bring should be significant. ‘We have joint ventures with organizations around the world, including Australia and the Caribbean, that will allow us to effectively check all affiliate operators,’
Keywords: marketing development, inspection, operational cost savings, joint ventures, affiliate operators
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7
Explanation: Tour operators and tour sites can affiliate themselves with Green Globe 21. Although not a cheap option, it can help in cost-saving operations and the standards should be brought up significantly. Even destination communities can become Green Globe 21 approved.
Questions 12-14:
Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS, answer the following questions.
Write your answers in boxes 12-14 on your answer sheet.
(Guide: Candidates need to answer the questions with not more than three words )
- Which body provides information on global tourist numbers?
Answer: World Tourism Organisation
Supporting Sentence: According to World Tourism Organisation figures, ecotourism is worth US$20 billion a year and makes up one-fifth of all international tourism
Keywords: ecotourism, international tourism
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3
Explanation: WTO is the body that provides figures annually for tourists and travelers. The full form of WTO is the World Tourism Organization.
- Who often gains financially from tourism in rural environments?
Answer: City Entrepreneurs
Supporting Sentence: It is common for city entrepreneurs to own tour companies in country areas, which can mean the money you pay ends up in the city rather than in the community being visited.
Keywords: city entrepreneurs, community
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4
Explanation: The money paid by tourists and travelers to visit local communities usually ends up with the city entrepreneurs, since they organize the trip, hire employees to give the best experience.
- Which meeting provided the principles behind the Green Globe 21 regulations?
Answer: 1992 Earth Summit
Supporting Sentence: The Green Globe 21 award is based on the sustainable development standards contained in Agenda 21 from the 1992 Earth Summit and was originally coordinated by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
Keyword: sustainable development standards, Agenda 21, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6
Explanation: The Green Globe 21 has been inspired by Agenda 21 from the 1992 Earth Day Summit.
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