New Zealand Seaweed Reading Answers

Feb 22, 2023

New Zealand Seaweed Reading Answers is an IELTS reading topic that requires candidates to solve a given set of questions within 20 minutes. New Zealand Seaweed Reading Answers has been referenced from the IELTS Book Official IELTS Practice Materials 2 with DVD - Volume 2. This IELTS Reading topic; New Zealand Seaweed Reading Answers comprises 13 questions. The question types in this IELTS reading topic that candidates are required to solve are; choose the correct paragraph, no more than three words, and choose the correct option. To practice more such reading passage candidates can refer to the IELTS reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

New Zealand Seaweed Reading Answers

Section A

Seaweed is a particularly nutritious food, which absorbs and concentrates traces of a wide variety of minerals necessary to the body's health. Many elements may occur in seaweed - aluminum, barium, calcium, chlorine, copper, iodine and iron, to name but a few - traces normally produced by erosion and carried to the seaweed beds by river and sea currents. Seaweeds are also rich in vitamins: indeed, Eskimos obtain a high proportion of their bodily requirements of vitamin C from the seaweeds they eat. The nutritive value of seaweed has long been recognized. For instance, there is a remarkably low incidence of goitre amongst the Japanese, and for that matter, amongst our own Maori people, who have always eaten seaweeds, and this may well be attributed to the high iodine content of this food. Research into old Maori eating customs shows that jellies were made using seaweeds, fresh fruit and nuts, fuchsia and tutu berries, cape gooseberries, and many other fruits which either grew here naturally or were sown from seeds brought by settlers and explorers.

Section B

New Zealand lays claim to approximately 700 species of seaweed, some of which have no representation outside this country. Of several species grown worldwide, New Zealand also has a particularly large share. For example, it is estimated that New Zealand has some 30 species of Gigartina, a close relative of carrageen or Irish moss. These are often referred to as the New Zealand carrageens. The gel- forming substance called agar which can be extracted from this species gives them great commercial application in seameal, from which seameal custard is made, and in cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and in toothpaste. In fact, during World War II, New Zealand Gigartina were sent to Australia to be used in toothpaste.

Section C

Yet although New Zealand has so much of the commercially profitable red seaweeds, several of which are a source of agar (Pterocladia, Gelidium, Chondrus, Gigartina), before 1940 relatively little use was made of them. New Zealand used to import the Northern Hemisphere Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) from England and ready-made agar from Japan. Although distribution of the Gigartina is confined to certain areas according to species, it is only on the east coast of the North Island that its occurrence is rare. And even then, the east coast, and the area around Hokiangna, have a considerable supply of the two species of Pterocladia from which agar is also available. Happily, New Zealand-made agar is now obtainable in health food shops.

Section D

Seaweeds are divided into three classes determined by color, red, brown and green, and each tends to live in a specific location. However, except for the unmistakable sea lettuce (Ulva), few are totally one colour; and especially when dry, some species can change color quite significantly - a brown one may turn quite black, or a red one appear black, brown, pink or purple. Identification is nevertheless facilitated by the fact that the factors which determine where a seaweed will grow are quite precise, and they therefore tend to occur in very well-defined zones. Although there are exceptions, the green seaweeds are mainly shallow-water algae; the browns belong to medium depths, and the reds are plants of the deeper water. Flat rock surfaces near mid-level tides are the most usual habitat of sea bombs, Venus’ necklace and most brown seaweeds. This is also the location of the purple laver or Maori karengo, which looks rather like a reddish-purple lettuce. Deep-water rocks on open coasts, exposed only at very low tide, are usually the site of bull kelp, strap weeds and similar tough specimens. Those species able to resist long periods of exposure to the sun and air are usually found on the upper shore, while those less able to stand such exposure occur nearer to or below the low-water mark. Radiation from the sun, the temperature level, and the length of time immersed all play a part in the zoning of seaweeds.

Section E

Propagation of seaweeds occurs by spores, or by fertilization of egg cells. None have roots in the usual sense; few have leaves, and none have flowers, fruits or seeds. The plants absorb their nourishment through their fronds when they are surrounded by water: the base or "holdfast" of seaweeds is purely an attaching organ, not an absorbing one.

Section F

Some of the large seaweeds maintain buoyancy with air-filled floats; others, such as bull kelp, have large cells filled with air. Some, which spend a good part of their time exposed to the air, often reduce dehydration either by having swollen stems that contain water, or they may (like Venus' necklace) have | swollen nodules, or they may have distinctive shape like a sea bomb. Others, like the sea cactus, are filled with slimy fluid or have a coating of mucilage on % the surface. In some of the larger kelps, this coating is not only to keep the plant moist but also to protect it from the violent action of waves.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Question 1 – 6:
Reading Passage has six sections A-F.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number i-x in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings:

Locations and features of different seaweeds
Various products of seaweeds
Use of seaweeds in Japan
Seaweed species around the globe
Nutritious value of seaweeds
Why it doesn't dry or sink
Where to find red seaweeds
Underuse of native species
Mystery solved
How seaweeds reproduce and grow

Question 1. Section A

Answer: (v) Nutritious value of seaweeds
Supporting Sentence: Seaweed is a particularly nutritious food, which absorbs and concentrates traces of a wide variety of minerals necessary to the body's health.
Keywords: Seaweed, nutritious, minerals, body’s health
Keywords Location: Section A, 1st line
Explanation: The author in the passage states that seaweed absorbs and concentrates minerals. It is a highly nutritious food that absorbs and concentrates traces of a wide variety of minerals essential to human health. hence, they have a lot of nutritious value added. Since this is mentioned in section A, “Nutritious value of seaweeds” is the correct answer.

Question 2. Section B

Answer: (ii) Various products of seaweed
Supporting Sentence: The gel-forming substance called agar which can be extracted from this species gives them great commercial application in seameal, from which seameal custard is made, and in cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and in toothpaste.
Keywords: gel-forming substance, commercial application, cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, paint and leather industries
Keywords Location: Section B, 5th line.
Explanation: The passage states that gel-forming has a wide commercial application in seameal. Seameal custard is manufactured, as well as cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint, and leather industries, the fabrication of duplicating pads, and toothpaste. So, we can say that seaweed provides us with a variety of products. Hence, section B is the correct answer.

Question 3. Section C

Answer: (viii) Underuse of native species
Supporting Sentence: Yet although New Zealand has so much of the commercially profitable red seaweeds, several of which are a source of agar (Pterocladia, Gelidium, Chondrus, Gigartina), before 1940 relatively little use was made of them.
Keywords: New Zealand, commercially, profitable, relatively little, use
Keywords Location: Section C, 1st line
Explanation: The first sentence states that although New Zealand possesses a large number of economically viable red seaweeds, several of which are sources of agar, their was little usage of them before 1940. This means that the native spices were underused.

Question 4. Section D

Answer: (i) Locations and features of different seaweeds
Supporting Sentence: Seaweeds are divided into three classes determined by color, red, brown and green, and each tends to live in a specific location.
Keywords: seaweeds, color, location
Keywords Location: Section D, 1st line
Explanation: The author states that seaweeds are split into three classes based on color - red, brown, and green - and each prefers to reside in a specific place. The location and features (color) are mentioned. Hence, “Locations and features of different seaweeds” is the correct answer.

Question 5. Section E

Answer: (x) How seaweeds reproduce and grow
Supporting Sentence: Propagation of seaweeds occurs by spores, or by fertilization of egg cells.
Keywords: Propagation, seaweeds, fertilization
Keywords Location: Section E, 1st line
Explanation: The first line of Section E, states that seaweeds reproduce by spores or egg cell fertilization. The passage also goes on to describe the reproduction and growth of seaweeds. Hence, “How seaweeds reproduce and grow” is the correct answer.

Question 6. Section F

Answer: (vi) Why it doesn’t dry or sink
Supporting Sentence: Some of the large seaweeds maintain buoyancy with air-filled floats; others, such as bull kelp, have large cells filled with air. In some of the larger kelps, this coating is not only to keep the plant moist but also to protect it from the violent action of waves.
Keywords: buoyancy, air-filled floats, moist
Keywords Location: 1st and the last line of section F.
Explanation: Our answer may be deduced from the first and last lines of the section, which explain that some giant seaweeds maintain buoyancy using air-filled floats; others, such as bull kelp, have enormous cells packed with air; and that this coating is not just to keep the plant wet but also to protect it from the violent movement of waves in some of the larger kelps.

Question 7 – 10:
Complete the flowchart below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

Question 7

Answer: New Zealand Carrageen
Supporting Sentence: These are often referred to as the New Zealand carrageens.
Keywords: New Zealand, gigartina, relative, carrageenan
Keywords Location: Section B, 4^th line
Explanation: The author states that New Zealand has some 30 species of Gigartina, a close relative of carrageen or Irish moss. The author also states that they are often called as as New Zealand carrageenan. Hence, New Zealand Carrageen is the correct answer.

Question 8

Answer: Agar
Supporting Sentence: The gel-forming substance called agar which can be extracted from this species gives them great commercial application in seameal, from which seameal custard is made, and in cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint, and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and in toothpaste.
Keywords: gel forming substance, extracted, commercial application, seameal
Keywords Location: Section B, line 5
Explanation: The author states that the gel-forming ingredient called agar can be extracted from this species. Hence, we can say that New Zealand Carrageen can be made into Agar or a gel-forming substance.

Question 9

Answer: Seameal
Supporting Sentence: The gel-forming substance called agar which can be extracted from this species gives them great commercial application in seameal, from which seameal custard is made, and in cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and in toothpaste.
Keywords: gel forming substance, extracted, commercial application, seameal custard
Keywords Location: section B, 5th line.
Explanation: As stated in the fifth line of the section, this species' gel-forming substance, agar, has a wide range of commercial applications. They are used to make seameal custard, as well as cough syrup, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint, and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and toothpaste. Hence, seameal is the correct answer.

Question 10

Answer: Cough Mixture
Supporting Sentence: The gel-forming substance called agar which can be extracted from this species gives them great commercial application in seameal, from which seameal custard is made, and in cough mixture, confectionery, cosmetics, the canning, paint and leather industries, the manufacture of duplicating pads, and in toothpaste.
Keywords: gel forming substance, extracted, commercial application, seameal
Keywords Location: section B, 5th line
Explanation: The passage states that Agar has a wide commercial application in seameal. Products like cough mixture, candy, cosmetics, the canning, paint, and leather industries, the fabrication of duplicating pads, and toothpaste are made. Hence, cough mixture is the correct answer.

Questions 11-13:
Classify the following description as relating to

A- Green seaweeds
B- Brown seaweeds
C- Red seaweeds

Write the correct letter A, B, or C in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.

Question 11. Can resist exposure to sunlight at high-water mark

Answer: (A) Green Seaweeds
Supporting Sentence: Although there are exceptions, the green seaweeds are mainly shallow-water algae.
Keywords: Seaweeds, shallow water, algae
Keywords Location: section D, 4th line.
Explanation: The author explains that, with a few exceptions, green seaweeds are primarily shallow-water algae. Hence, they can resist exposure to sunlight since sunlight stays at a high water mark. This make green seaweeds the correct answer.

Question 12. In far open seawater

Answer: (C) Red Seaweeds
Supporting Sentence: The reds are plants of deeper water.
Keywords: deeper water, plants
Keywords Location: section D, 4th line
Explanation: The fourth line of section D has our answer. It states that red seaweeds can be found in deeper water. Hence, the far open seawater matches with red seaweeds.

Question 13. Share their habitat with karengo

Answer: (B) Brown Seaweeds
Supporting Sentence: Flat rock surfaces near mid-level tides are the most usual habitat of sea bombs, Venus’ necklace and most brown seaweeds.
Keywords: habitat of sea bombs, mid-level tides, flat rock surfaces
Keywords Location: section D, 5th line
Explanation: The answer to this question is provided in section D. It states that flat rock surfaces near mid-level tides are the most common home of sea bombs, Venus' necklace, and most brown seaweeds. Hence, they share their habitat or home with karengo.

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