Poison Rain Reading Answers

May 20, 2025

Poison Rain Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Poison Rain Reading Answers has a total of 15 IELTS questions in total. In the question set, you have to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings (I-X). In the question, you have to choose the correct answer in no more than three words or a number from the given passage.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through some IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1 POISON RAIN

A: In the late 1970s, people in Northern Europe were observing a change in the lakes and forests around them. Areas once famous for the quality and quantity of their fish began to decline, and areas of once-green forest were dying. The phenomenon they witnessed was

acid rain - pollutants in rain, snow, hail and fog caused by sulphuric and nitric acids.

B: The principal chemicals that cause these acids are sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, both by-products of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas). A percentage of acid rain is natural, from volcanoes, forest fires and biological decay, but the majority is unsurprisingly manmade. Of this, transportation sources account for 40%, power plants 30%, industrial sources 25%, and commercial institutions and residues 5%. What makes these figures particularly disturbing is that since the 1970s, nitrogen oxide emissions have tripled. Each year the global atmosphere is polluted with 20 billion tons of carbon dioxide, 130 million tons of sulphur dioxide, more than three million tons of toxic metals, and a wealth of synthetic organic compounds, many of which are proven causes of cancer, genetic mutations and birth defects.

C: For natural causes of acid rain, nature has provided a filter. Naturally occurring substances such as limestone or other antacids can neutralise this acid rain before it enters the water cycle, thereby protecting it. However, areas with a predominantly quartzite- or granite-based geology and little topsoil have no such effect, and the basic environment shifts from an alkaline to an acidic one. Recycled and intensified through the water table, acid rain has reached such a degree in some parts of the world that rainfall is now 40 times more acidic than normal - the same acidic classification as vinegar.

D: Environmentally, the impact is devastating. Lakes and the life they support are dying, unable to withstand such a battering. This has a direct effect on the animals that rely on fish as a food source. Certain species of American otter have had their numbers reduced by over half in the last 20 years, for example. Yet this is not the only effect. Nitrogen oxides, the principal reagent in acid rain, react with other pollutants to produce ozone, a major air pollutant responsible for destroying the effectiveness of farmland, making it significantly less productive. With scientists working on producing ever bigger and longer lasting genetically modified foods, some farmers are reporting abnormally low yields. Tomatoes grow to only half their full weight and the leaves, stalks and roots of other crops never reach full maturity.

E: Naturally it rains on cities too, eating away stone monuments and concrete structures, and corroding the pipes which channel the water away to the lakes where the cycle is repeated. Paint exposed to rain is not lasting as long due to the pollution in the atmosphere speeding up the corrosion process. In some communities the drinking water is laced with toxic metals freed from metal pipes by the acidity. After any period of non-use, we are encouraged to run taps for at least 60 seconds to flush any excess debris, as increased concentrations of metals in plumbing such as lead, copper and zinc result in adverse health effects. As if urban skies were not already grey enough, typical visibility has declined from ten to four miles, in many American cities, as acid rain turns into smog. Also, now there are indicators that the components of acid rain are a health risk, linked to human respiratory disease.

F: Acid rain itself is not an entirely new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century, acid rain fell both in towns and cities. What is new, and of great concern, is that it can be transported thousands of kilometres due to the introduction of tall chimneys dispersing pollutants high into the atmosphere, allowing strong wind currents to blow the acid rain hundreds of miles from its source. Thus, the areas where acid rain falls are not necessarily the areas where the pollution comes from. Pollution from industrial areas of England are damaging forests in Scotland and Scandinavia. Acids from the Midwest United States are blown into northwest Canada. More and more regions are beginning to be affected, and given that 13 of the world's most polluted cities are in neighbouring Asia, countries like Australia and New Zealand are increasingly under threat.

G: Transboundary pollution, the spread of acid rain across political and international borders, has prompted a number of international responses. International legislation during the 1980s and 1990s has led to reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions in many countries but reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides have been much less, leading to the conclusion that without a cooperative global effort, the problem of acid rain will not simply blow away.

Questions 26–31

The text has seven paragraphs: A- G. Choose the most suitable heading for the paragraphs from the list below.

LIST OF HEADINGS

i. Impact on the urban landscape

ii. Higher dispersal creates a global problem

iii. Recent changes in Europe

iv. Artificial causes of acid rain

v. Metals in acid rain

vi. International reactions

vii. Secondary impact on flora and fauna

viii. First signs

ix. Acid rain in Asia

x. Effects of the natural environment

26. Paragraph B

Answer: IV

Supporting statement: but the majority is unsurprisingly manmade. Of this, transportation sources account for 40%, power plants

Keywords: manmade, sources

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 3-4

Explanation: In paragraph B, it is stated that the artificial cause of acid rain is manmade, in which 40% comes from transportation sources, 30% from power plants, 25% from industrial sources, and 5% from commercial establishments and residue. Also, the emission of nitrogen oxides has significantly increased since the 1970s.

27. Paragraph C

Answer: X

Supporting statement: Naturally occurring substances such as limestone or other antacids can neutralise this acid rain

Keywords: Naturally, neutralise

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: In paragraph C, a natural filter, which is limestone and other antacids, has been stated, as they prevent the entry of acid rain into the water cycle.

28. Paragraph D

Answer: VII

Supporting statement: Environmentally, the impact is devastating.

Keywords: Environmentally devastating

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 1

Explanation: In paragraph D, the impact of acid rain on the animals and plants in nature is mentioned. For example, over the past 20 years, the number of some American otter species has decreased by more than half as the fish they consider as their main food source have been affected by the acid rain. Another example is the low crop yield due to the rain, as it stops the leaves, stalks and roots of crops from reaching full maturity, making it difficult for farmers to produce good crops.

29. Paragraph E

Answer: I

Supporting statement: Naturally it rains on cities too, eating away stone monuments and concrete structures,

Keywords: rains, structures

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 1

Explanation: In paragraph E, it is given that the cities are also affected by the acid rain as the monuments and concrete structures are corroded, and the acid water drains into nearby lakes or water bodies, eventually entering the water cycle and repeating the process, causing more damage.

30. Paragraph F

Answer: II

Supporting statement: transported thousands of kilometres due to the introduction of tall chimneys dispersing pollutants high into the atmosphere,

Keywords: kilometres, pollutants

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 3

Explanation: In paragraph F, it is given that the phenomenon of acid rain itself is not new. What is new—and very concerning—is that it can travel thousands of kilometres because tall chimneys have been built, which release pollutants high into the environment. Thus allowing powerful wind currents to carry the acid rain hundreds of miles from its source.

31. Paragraph G

Answer: VI

Supporting statement: International legislation during the 1980s and 1990s has led to reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions

Keywords: International, 1980s and 1990s

Keyword Location: Para G, Lines 2-3

Explanation: In paragraph G, Acid rain's ability to transcend national and political boundaries has led to various international responses. In several nations, international regulations in the 1980s and 1990s have reduced sulphur dioxide emissions.

Questions 32–40

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND A NUMBER from the text.

32. A deterioration in lakes and forests in Northern Europe was first noticed in……………….

Answer: THE LATE 1970S

Supporting statement: In the late 1970s, people in Northern Europe were observing a change in the lakes and forests around them.

Keywords: 1970s, lakes and forests

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text, the first time people in Northern Europe started noticing the acid rain was in the 1970s, when they saw the deteriorating state of the lakes and forest.

33. Pollution in rain is a result of sulphuric and nitric ……….

Answer: ACID

Supporting statement: acid rain - pollutants in rain, snow, hail and fog caused by sulphuric and nitric acids.

Keywords: pollutants, acids

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 3

Explanation: According to the text, the cause of acid rain is the presence of sulphuric and nitric acids in the air.

34. Nearly half of manmade sources of acid rain are due to ................

Answer: TRANSPORTATION

Supporting statement: but the majority is unsurprisingly manmade. Of this, transportation sources account

Keywords: manmade, transportation

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 3-4

Explanation: Transportation is considered to account for 40% of the manmade cause of acid rain, making it the biggest source of the pollution.

35. Some animals have declined in number by over 50% as that rely on fish as a…………

Answer: FOOD SOURCE

Supporting statement: This has a direct effect on the animals that rely on fish as a food source.

Keywords: animals, source

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 2-3

Explanation: A certain species of American otter, for example, has suffered a 50 % decline in their population due to the acid rain, as their food source, which is fish, has also been affected by the acid rain.

36. Land used for farming is becoming ………….

Answer: SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PRODUCTIVE

Supporting statement: destroying the effectiveness of farmland, making it significantly less productive.

Keywords: destroying, farmland

Keyword Location: Para D, Line 6

Explanation: Acid rain has considerably affected farming, as the water used in it is full of chemicals. Making the land lose its fertility, which in turn leads to the land becoming significantly less productive for crops.

37. Urban household water supplies are contaminated by …………

Answer: TOXIC METALS

Supporting statement: In some communities the drinking water is laced with toxic metals freed from metal pipes by the acidity.

Keywords: communities, acidity

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 4-5

Explanation: According to the text, some households in urban areas are also affected by acid rain as the water supply to these places is contaminated due to the toxic metals, which are present in the metal pipes, caused by the high level of acidity.

38. Air pollution is travelling further as it is disgorged through ............

Answer: TALL CHIMNEYS

Supporting statement: What is new, and of great concern, is that it can be transported thousands of kilometres due to the introduction of tall chimneys dispersing pollutants

Keywords: transported, tall chimneys

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Tall chimneys used in factories cause the dispersal of pollutants in the air to larger areas, as strong winds spread the pollutants from their main source to further distances.

39. Legislation passed in the 1980s and the 1990s was a response to…………..

Answer: TRANSBOUNDARY POLLUTION

Supporting statement: Transboundary pollution, the spread of acid rain across political and international borders

Keywords: Transboundary, international

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 1

Explanation: Due to the Transboundary pollution, legislation was passed in the 1980s and the 1990s as a response to control the spread of acid rain across political and international borders.

40. A solution to the problem must involve a……………

Answer: COOPERATIVE GLOBAL EFFORT

Supporting statement: leading to the conclusion that without a cooperative global effort, the problem of acid rain will not simply blow away.

Keywords: cooperative, global

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 5

Explanation: According to the text, only a cooperative global effort can reduce the problem of acid rain, as it's not possible for one country to stop the pollution itself.

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