Otters Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

Otters Reading Answers is a topic of the IELTS Reading section. IELTS reading section assesses the examinee's reading prowess over a set of passages and 40 questions of different kinds. The IELTS Reading test helps students in improving their skills which includes reading, accessing and analyzing.The topic has been taken from the book: E-ENG-school IELTS Reading Test With Answers Key (New Edition). In this IELTS Reading Section, there are few questions divided into sets. The following IELTS reading sample Otters Reading Answers have two question types: Selecting the right paragraph and Choosing the proper word(s) from the material. Students can follow the IELTS practice papers to improve their skill.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Otters Reading Answers

Otters have long, thin bodies and short legs – ideal for pushing through dense undergrowth or hunting in tunnels. An adult male may be up to 4 feet long and 30lbs. Females are typically smaller. The Eurasian otter’s nose is about the smallest among the otter species and has a characteristic shape described as a shallow ‘W’. An otter’s tail (or rudder, or stern) is stout at the base and tapers towards the tip where it flattens. This forms part of the propulsion unit when swimming fast underwater. Otter fur consists of two types of hair: stout guard hairs which form a waterproof outer covering, and under-fur which is dense and fine, equivalent to an otter’s thermal underwear. The fur must be kept in good condition by grooming. Seawater reduces the waterproofing and insulating qualities of otter fur when saltwater in the fur. This is why freshwater pools are important to otters living on the coast. After swimming, they wash the salts off in pools and the squirm on the ground to rub dry against vegetation.
The scent is used for hunting on land, for communication and for detecting danger. Otterine sense of smell is likely to be similar in sensitivity to dogs. Otters have small eyes and are probably short-sighted on land. But they do have the ability to modify the shape of the lens in the eye to make it more spherical, and hence overcome the refraction of water. In clear water and good light, otters can hunt fish by sight. The otter’s eyes and nostrils are placed high on its head so that it can see and breathe even when the rest of the body is submerged. Underwater, the cotter holds its legs against the body, except for steering, and the hind end of the body is flexed in a series of vertical undulations. River otters have webbing which extends for much of the length of each digit, though not to the very end. Giant otters and sea otters have even more prominent webs, while the Asian short-clawed otter has no webbing – they hunt for shrimps in ditches and paddy fields so they don’t need the swimming speed. Otter’s ears are tiny for streamlining, but they still have very sensitive hearing and are protected by valves which close them against water pressure.
A number of constraints and preferences limit suitable habitats of otters. Water is a must and the rivers must be large enough to support a healthy population of fish. Being such shy and wary creatures, they will prefer territories where man’s activities do not impinge greatly. Of course, there must also be no other otter already in residence – this has only become significant again recently as populations start to recover. Coastal otters have a much more abundant food supply and range for males and females may be just a few kilometres of coastline. Because male range overlaps with two or three females – not bad! Otters will eat anything that they can get hold of – there are records of sparrows and snakes and slugs being gobbled. Apart from fish, the most common prey are crayfish, crabs and water birds. Small mammals are occasionally taken, most commonly rabbits but sometimes even moles.
Eurasian otters will breed any time where food is readily available. In places where the condition is more severe, Sweden for example where the lakes are frozen for much of winter, cubs are born in spring. This ensures that they are well grown before severe weather returns. In the Shetlands, cubs are born in summer when fish is more abundant. Though otters can breed every year, some do not. Again, this depends on food availability. Other factors such as food range and quality of the female may have an effect. Gestation for Eurasian otters is 63 days, with the exception of Lutra canadensis whose embryos may undergo delayed implantation. Otters normally give birth in more secure dens to avoid disturbances. Nests are lined with bedding to keep the cub’s warm mummy is away feeding.
Otters normally give birth in more secure dens to avoid disturbances. Nests are lined with bedding (reeds, waterside plants, grass) to keep the cub’s warm while is away feeding. Litter Size varies between 1 and 5. For some unknown reason, coastal otters tend to produce smaller litters. At five weeks they open their eyes – a tiny cub of 700g. At seven weeks they’re weaned onto solid food. At ten weeks they leave the nest, blinking into daylight for the first time. After three months they finally meet the water and learn to swim. After eight months they are hunting, though the mother still provides a lot of food herself. Finally, after nine months she can chase them all away with a clear conscience, and relax – until the next fella shows up.
The plight of the British otter was recognised in the early 60s, but it wasn’t until the late 70s that the chief cause was discovered. Pesticides, such as dieldrin and aldrin, were first used in1955 in agriculture and other industries – these chemicals are very persistent and had already been recognised as the cause of huge declines in the population of peregrine falcons, sparrow hawks and other predators. The pesticides entered the river systems and the food chain – micro-organisms, fish and finally otters, with every step increasing the concentration of the chemicals. From 1962 the chemicals were phased out, but while some species recovered quickly, otter numbers did not – and continued to fall into the 80s. This was probably due mainly to habitat destruction and road deaths. Acting on populations fragmented by the sudden decimation in the 50s and 60s, the loss of just a handful of otters in one area can make an entire population unviable and spell the end.
Otter numbers are recovering all around Britain – populations are growing again in the few areas where they had remained and have expanded from those areas into the rest of the country. This is almost entirely due to legislation, conservation efforts, slowing down and reversing the destruction of suitable otter habitat and reintroductions from captive breeding programs. Releasing captive-bred otters is seen by many as a last resort. The argument runs that where there is no suitable habitat for them they will not survive after release and where there is suitable habitat, natural populations should be able to expand into the area. However, reintroducing animals into a fragmented and fragile population may add just enough impetus for it to stabilize and expand, rather than die out. This is what the Otter Trust accomplished in Norfolk, where the otter population may have been as low as twenty animals at the beginning of the 1980s. The Otter Trust has now finished its captive breeding program entirely, great news because it means it is no longer needed.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-9
The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 1-9 on your answer sheet.
NB: You may use any letter more than once.

A description of how otters regulate vision underwater

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: But they do have the ability to modify the shape of the lens in the eye to make it more spherical, and hence overcome the refraction of water.
Keywords: modify the shape of the lens in the eye
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 4
Explanation: The author states that otters have the ability to change the shape of the lens in their eye. Although otters have limited vision on land, they are capable of adapting the lenses in their eyes underwater. This helps them see against the refraction in water. The Paragraph B contains the information, making it the correct answer.

The fit-for-purpose characteristics of otter’s body shape

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: An otter’s tail (or rudder, or stern) is stout at the base and tapers towards the tip where it flattens.
Keywords: otter’s tail, propulsion unit
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 5
Explanation:The passage states that the otter's body is built to help the animal swim faster. The tail that mimics an oar which flattens towards the tip helps them swim underwater.

A reference to an underdeveloped sense

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Otters have small eyes and are probably short-sighted on land.
Keywords: small eyes, short-sighted
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 3
Explanation: The author states that otters have small eyes. They are hence, short sighted on land. This is one of the senses that animals have. Even though otters' have a strong olfactory sense, the animal has small eyes, and its vision is confined to land.

An explanation of why agriculture failed in otter conservation effort

Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: The pesticides entered the river systems and the food chain – micro-organisms, fish and finally otters, with every step increasing the concentration of the chemicals.
Keywords: Pesticides, river system, food chain
Keyword Location: Paragraph F, line 3
Explanation: Agriculture released toxic chemical pesticides like aldrin and dieldrin were heavily used in agriculture. These pesticides found their way to the water bodies, contaminating the food chain and causing a decrease in the British otter population. Hence, F is the correct answer.

A description of some of the otter’s social characteristics

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Being such shy and wary creatures, they will prefer territories where man’s activities do not impinge greatly.
Keywords: Shy and wary creatures
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 3
Explanation: Otters are timid and cautious animals that prefer to inhabit quiet and peaceful areas devoid of human presence. They prefer to take root in places where no other otter is already stationed.

A description of how baby otters grow

Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: At five weeks they open their eyes – a tiny cub of 700g.
Keywords: Five week, open their eyes, seven weeks, weaned onto solid food, ten weeks, learn to swim, eight months, hunting, nine months, clear conscience
Keyword Location: Paragraph E, lines 4-9
Explanation: The supporting sentence is the start of the process. The author goes on to explain the process of interval of few weeks. Baby otters are brought up in secluded dens devoid of interference. It is not before three months that they learn to swim and eight months before they start hunting. At around nine months, they are ready to fend for themselves and set into the world.

The conflicting opinions on how to preserve

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: The argument runs that where there is no suitable habitat for them they will not survive after release and where there is suitable habitat, natural populations should be able to expand into the area. However, reintroducing animals into a fragmented and fragile population may add just enough impetus for it to stabilize and expand, rather than die out.
Keywords: Argument, suitable habitat, not survive, natural populations
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, lines
Explanation: Several conservation measures have been taken to restore the otter populations. Nevertheless, there are opposing ideas on what is best for the animals. Some believe that otters that were bred in artificially simulated natural habitats may not be able to survive in the wild. Others believe that the environment may provide thrust for them to thrive.

A reference to the legislative act

Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: This is almost entirely due to legislation, conservation efforts, slowing down and reversing the destruction of suitable otter habitat and reintroductions from captive breeding programs.
Keywords: Entirely due to legislation
Keyword Location: Paragraph G, line 2
Explanation:The author states that several measures were taken with an aim to preserve and increase the otter populations. Legislation played a crucial role in the conservational efforts. Paragraph G talks about this, making this the correct answer.

An explanation of how otters compensate for heat loss

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Otter fur consists of two types of hair: stout guard hairs which form a waterproof outer covering, and under-fur which is dense and fine, equivalent to an otter’s thermal underwear.
Keywords: Waterproof outer covering, thermal underwear
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 7
Explanation:Otters spend an ample amount of time underwater, and hence, their fur is made up of two kinds of hairs that counter heat loss. The waterproof and thermal properties of the fur keep the animal warm. This is how they compensate for the heat loss.

Questions 10-13
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer

What affects the outer fur of otters?

Answer: Sea water/Salt water/Salt
Supporting Sentence: Seawater reduces the waterproofing and insulating qualities of otter fur when saltwater in the fur.
Keywords: Seawater, saltwater, waterproofing, insulating, qualities of otter fur
Keyword Location: Paragraph A, line 9
Explanation: The author in the passage states that otter's fur has water-repelling and insulating properties, which need grooming. As per the passage, saltwater affects the water repelling and insulating properties keep the animal warm. Hence, sea water is the correct answer.

What skill is not necessary for Asian short-clawed otters?

Answer: Swimming speed
Supporting Sentence: Giant otters and sea otters have even more prominent webs, while the Asian short-clawed otter has no webbing – they hunt for shrimps in ditches and paddy fields so they don’t need the swimming speed.
Keywords: Asian short-clawed otter, swimming speed
Keyword Location: Paragraph B, line 9
Explanation: The passage states tat Asian short-clawed otters do not hunt for fish in rivers. They eat shrimps from paddy fields and trenches. Therefore, they do not need the claws for swimming speed, unlike other otters.

Which type of otters has the shortest range?

Answer: Coastal otters
Supporting Sentence: Coastal otters have a much more abundant food supply and range for males and females may be just a few kilometres of coastline.
Keywords: Coastal otters, range for males and females
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 5
Explanation: The author states that coastal otters have a short-range. The males and females stretch over only a few kilometers of the coastline. Additionally, a male otter extends for two to three females. This means that coastal otters have shortest range.

Which type of animals do otters hunt occasionally?

Answer: Small mammals
Supporting Sentence: Small mammals are occasionally taken, most commonly rabbits but sometimes even moles.
Keywords: Small mammals, rabbits, moles
Keyword Location: Paragraph C, line 9
Explanation: The author claims that Otters mostly take small mammals. They have a diverse diet that spreads across fish, crabs, snakes, sparrows to small mammals like rabbits and moles. Hence, small mammals is the correct answer.

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