Monkeys And Forests Reading Answers

Dec 7, 2022

Monkeys And Forests Reading Answers has 14 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. Monkeys And Forests Reading Answers comprises three types of questions, namely- Write the correct letter, complete the sentence and match places with the list of descriptions. Candidates are required to write the correct letter of the paragraph that involves the given information for each answer. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and understand the description of the place and match it with its name. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to complete the sentences given. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise more on different topics.

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Reading Passage Questions

AS AN EAST WIND blasts through a gap in the Cordillera de Tilaran, a rugged mountain range that splits northern Costa Rica in half, a female mantled howler monkey moves through the swaying trees of the forest canopy.

Ken Glander, a primatologist from Duke L University, gazes into the canopy, tracking the female’s movements. Holding a dart gun, he waits with infinite patience for the right moment to shoot. With great care, Glander aims and fires. Hit in the rump, the monkey wobbles. This howler belongs to a population that has lived for decades at Hacienda La Pacifica, a working cattle ranch in Guanacaste province. Other native primates — white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys — once were common in this area, too, but vanished after the Pan-American Highway was built nearby in the 1950s. Most of the surrounding land was clear-cut for pasture.
Howlers persist at La Pacifica, Glander explains, because they are leaf-eaters. They eat fruit, when it’s available but, unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, do not depend on large areas of fruiting trees. “Howlers can survive anyplace you have half a dozen trees, because their eating habits are so flexible” he says. In forests, life is an arms race between trees and the myriad creatures that feed on leaves. Plants have evolved a variety of chemical defenses, ranging from bad-tasting tannins, which bind with plant-produced nutrients, rendering them indigestible, to deadly poisons, such as alkaloids and cyanide.
All primates, including humans, have some ability to handle plant toxins. “We can detoxify a dangerous poison known as caffeine, which is deadly to a lot of animals:’ Glander says. For leaf-eaters, long-term exposure to a specific plant toxin can increase their ability to defuse the poison and absorb the leaf nutrients. The leaves that grow in regenerating forests, like those at La Pacifica, are actually more howler friendly than those produced by the undisturbed, centuries-old trees that survive farther south, in the Amazon Basin. In younger forests, trees put most of their limited energy into growing wood, leaves and fruit, so they produce much lower levels of toxin than do well- established, old-growth trees.
The value of maturing forests to primates is a subject of study at Santa Rosa National Park, about 35 miles northwest of Hacienda La Pacifica. The park hosts populations not only of mantled howlers but also of white-faced capuchins and spider monkeys. Yet the forests there are young, most of them less than 50 years old. Capuchins were the first to begin using the reborn forests, when the trees were as young as 14 years. Howlers, larger and heavier than capuchins, need somewhat older trees, with limbs that can support their greater body weight. A working ranch at Hacienda La Pacifica also explain their population boom in Santa Rosa. “Howlers are more resilient than capuchins and spider monkeys for several reasons, Fedigan explains. “They can live within a small home range, as long as the trees have the right food for them. Spider monkeys, on the other hand， occupy a huge home range, so they can’t make it in fragmented habitat”
Howlers also reproduce faster than do other monkey species in the area. Capuchins don’t bear their first young until about 7 years old, and spider monkeys do so even later, but howlers give birth for the first time at about 3.5 years of age. Also, while a female spider monkey will have a baby about once every four years, well-fed howlers can produce an infant every two years.
The leaves howlers eat hold plenty of water, so the monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes. This ability gives them a real advantage over capuchin and spider monkeys, which have suffered during the long, ongoing drought in Guanacaste.
Growing human population pressures in Central and South America have led to persistent destruction of forests. During the 1990s, about 1.1 million acres of Central American forest were felled yearly. Alejandro Estrada, an ecologist at Estacion de Biologia Los Tuxtlas in Veracruz, Mexico, has been exploring how monkeys survive in a landscape increasingly shaped by humans. He and his colleagues recently studied the ecology of a groupof mantled howler monkeys that thrive in a habitat completely altered by humans: a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico. Like many varieties of coffee, cacao plants need shade to grow, so 40 years ago the landowners planted fig, monkey pod and other tall trees to form a protective canopy over their crop. The howlers moved in about 25 years ago after nearby forests were cut. This strange habitat, a hodgepodge of cultivated native and exotic plants, seems to support about as many monkeys as would a same-sized patch of wild forest. The howlers eat the leaves and fruit of the shade trees, leaving the valuable cacao pods alone, so the farmers tolerate them
Estrada believes the monkeys bring underappreciated benefits to such farms, dispersing the seeds of fig and other shade trees and fertilizing the soil with feces. He points out that howler monkeys live in shade coffee and cacao plantations in Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well as in Mexico. Spider monkeys also forage in such plantations, though they need nearby areas of forest to survive in the long term. He hopes that farmers will begin to see the advantages of associating with wild monkeys, which includes potential ecotourism projects.

“Conservation is usually viewed as a conflict between agricultural practices and the need to preserve nature,” Estrada says. “We’re moving away from that vision and beginning to consider ways in which agricultural activities may become a tool for the conservation of primates in human-modified landscapes.”

Solution with explanation

Questions 1-6:
The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-I.
Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

a reference of reduction in Forest inhabitants.

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: Like many varieties of coffee, cacao plants need shade to grow, so 40 years ago the landowners planted figs, monkeypods, and other tall trees to form a protective canopy over their crop. The howlers moved in about 25 years ago after nearby forests were cut.
Keyword: forest inhabitant, reduction
Keyword Location: 5th Line, Section G
Explanation: It is stated in the fifth line of paragraph G that because cacao plants, like many types of coffee. It needs shade to thrive, proprietors planted fig trees, monkeypod trees, and other tall trees 40 years ago to provide a protective canopy over their crop. The howlers arrived there about 25 years ago following the destruction of nearby woodlands. Therefore, G is the proper match for the statement.

Only one species of monkey survived while the other two species have vanished.

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Other native primates — white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys — once were common in this area, too, but vanished after the Pan-American Highway was built nearby in the 1950s. Most of the surrounding land was clear-cut for pasture.
Keywords: vanish, species
Keyword Location: Last Line, Section A.
Explanation: The last sentence of section A reads, "Other native monkeys, such as white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys, were formerly common in this area but went extinct after the Pan-American Highway was constructed nearby in the 1950s." The majority of the land in the vicinity had been turned over to pasture. Therefore, A is the proper match for the statement.

a reason for Howler Monkey choosing new leaves.

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: For leaf-eaters, long-term exposure to a specific plant toxin can increase their ability to defuse the poison and absorb the leaf nutrients.
Keyword: howler, new leaves
Keyword Location: 3rd Line, Section C
Explanation: The ability of leaf-eaters to neutralise a particular plant toxin. Further, assimilated nutrients from leaves can be improved by prolonged exposure, according to the third line of section C. Therefore, C is the appropriate match for the statement.

mention Howler Monkey’s nutrient and eating habits.

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: They eat fruit when it’s available but, unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, do not depend on large areas of fruiting trees. “Howlers can survive anyplace you have half a dozen trees because their eating habits are so flexible,” he says.
Keyword: Eating habits, Nutrient
Keyword Location: 2nd Line, Section B
Explanation: The second line of section B states, "They take food when it is accessible, but unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, they do not depend on huge tracts of fruiting trees." Howlers can survive anywhere there are half a dozen trees because their eating habits are so adaptive, he says. Thus, B is the appropriate match for the statement.

a reference of asking farmers’ changing attitude toward wildlife.

Answer: H
Supporting Sentence: He hopes that farmers will begin to see the advantages of associating with wild monkeys, which includes potential ecotourism projects.
Keywords: farmer, wildlife
Keyword Location: Last Line, Section H
Explanation: The last sentence of section H is that He thinks farmers would see the advantages of cooperating with wild monkeys, which may include tourism endeavours. Therefore, H is the appropriate match for the assertion.

the advantage for Howler Monkey’s flexibility living in a segmented habitat.

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: “Howlers are more resilient than capuchins and spider monkeys for several reasons, Fedigan explains.“ They can live within a small home range, as long as the trees have the right food for them.
Keyword: segmented habitat
Keyword Location: 7th Line, Section D
Explanation: According to the seventh line of section D, Fedigan describes why howler monkeys are tougher than capuchin and spider monkeys. They can live in a small home range if the trees offer enough food. Therefore, D is the proper match for the statement.

Questions 7-10

Look at the following places and the list of descriptions below.
Match each description with the correct place, A-E.
Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

List of places

Hacienda La Pacifica
Santa Rosa National Park
a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico
Estacion de Biologia Los Tuxtlas in Veracruz, Mexico
Amazon Basin

Howler Monkey’s benefit to the local region’s agriculture

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: He and his colleagues recently studied the ecology of a group of mantled howler monkeys that thrive in a habitat completely altered by humans: a cacao plantation in Tabasco, Mexico. Like many varieties of coffee, cacao plants need shade to grow, so 40 years ago the landowners planted fig, monkeypod, and other tall trees to form a protective canopy over their crop.
Keyword: local region
Keyword Location: 3rd Line, Section C
Explanation: It is mentioned in the third sentence of section c that Alejandro Estrada and his colleagues recently studied the ecology of a group of mantled howler monkeys. These reside on a cocoa plantation in Tabasco, Mexico, in an environment that has been totally altered by humans. Like many varieties of coffee, cacao plants need shade to thrive. Therefore forty years ago, landowners planted fig, monkeypod, and other tall trees to create a protective canopy over their crop. C is the correct response, thus.

Original home for all three native monkeys

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: This howler belongs to a population that has lived for decades at Hacienda La Pacifica, a working cattle ranch in Guanacaste province. Other native primates — white-faced capuchin monkeys and spider monkeys — once were common in this area, too, but vanished after the Pan-American Highway was built nearby in the 1950s.
Keyword: native monkey, the original home
Keyword Location: 3rd Line, Section A
Explanation: The howler is a member of a community that has lived at Hacienda La Pacifica, a successful cow ranch in the province of Guanacaste. For many years, according to the third line of section A. Spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys were once common in this region. But they disappeared after the Pan-American Highway was constructed nearby in the 1950s. So, the correct answer is A.

A place where Capuchins monkey comes for a better habitat

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The value of maturing forests to primates is a subject of study at Santa Rosa National Park, about 35 miles northwest of Hacienda La Pacifica. The park hosts populations not only of mantled howlers but also of white-faced capuchins and spider monkeys.
Keywords: capuchins, habitat
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section D
Explanation: The first line of section D states that research is being done on the importance of mature trees to primates at Santa Rosa National Park. It is located about 35 miles northwest of Hacienda La Pacifica. The park is home to populations of spider monkeys, mantled howlers, and white-faced capuchins. B is the correct response, thus.

Questions 10-14

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 23-27 on your answer sheet.

The reasons for Howlers monkey survive better in a focal region than other two species:

Howlers in La Pacifica since they can feed themselves with the leaf when 10………………………is not easily found. Howlers have better ability to alleviate the 11………………………. which old and young trees used to protect themselves). When compared to that of spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys, 12 …………….. the rate of Howlers is relatively faster (round for just every 2 years). The monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes as the leaves howlers eat hold the high content of 13………………………………. which ensure them to resist to continuous 14………………………………………. in Guanacaste.

Question 10:

Answer: fruit/ the fruit
Supporting Sentence: Howlers persist at La Pacifica, Glander explains because they are leaf-eaters. They eat fruit when it’s available but, unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, do not depend on large areas of fruiting trees.
Keyword: Howlers, La Pacifica
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section B
Explanation: The first sentence of section B is that Glander contends that howler monkeys at La Pacifica are able to survive because they eat leaves. They consume fruit when it is available, but unlike capuchin and spider monkeys, they do not depend on vast areas of fruiting trees.

Question 11:

Answer: plant toxin/ toxin
Supporting Sentence: In younger forests, trees put most of their limited energy into growing wood, leaves, and fruit, so they produce much lower levels of the toxin than do well-established, old-growth trees.
Keyword: alleviate, howlers
Keyword Location: Last Line, Section C
Explanation: The final sentence of section C reads, "Trees in younger forests produce significantly less poison than mature, old-growth trees," referring to the fact that they focus the majority of their limited energy on producing wood, leaves, and fruit.

Question 12:

Answer: reproduction/ reproduce
Supporting Sentence: Howlers also reproduce faster than do other monkey species in the area.
Keyword: rate, faster
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section E
Explanation: The first sentence of section E states that howler monkeys procreate more fast than some other monkey species in the region.

Question 13:

Answer: water
Supporting Sentence: The leaves howlers eat hold plenty of water, so the monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes.
Keyword: resist
Keyword Location: 1st Line, Section F
Explanation: According to the first sentence of section F, howler monkeys may survive away from open watercourse. Further, also from watering holes because the bushes they eat hold a lot of water.

Question 14:

Answer: drought
Supporting Sentence: The leaves howlers eat hold plenty of water, so the monkeys can survive away from open streams and water holes. This ability gives them a real advantage over capuchin and spider monkeys, which have suffered during the long, ongoing drought in Guanacaste.
Keyword: Guanacaste
Keyword Location: Section F
Explanation: According to Section F, Howler monkeys may survive away from open streams and watering holes because the leaves they eat contain a lot of water. Because of the long-lasting drought in Guanacaste, they have a substantial advantage against capuchin and spider monkeys.

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