Reclaiming The Future Of Aral Sea Reading Answers

Feb 2, 2023

Reclaiming The Future Of Aral Sea Reading Answers contains a write up about the Causton health center. Reclaiming The Future Of Aral Sea Reading Answers contains a total of 6 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. The paragraphs contain information about reclaiming the future of the Aral sea. The problems and challenges faced while the process and its effects.

Reclaiming The Future Of Aral Sea Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises three types of questions:Associate the paragraph, complete the summary and true/false and not given. Candidates are required to read each paragraph attentively and thoroughly. The interpretation of each paragraph is must. An overall theme of the paragraph is required to answer the questions. The important information must be remembered. Some information might be missing in the paragraphs which must be answered as not given. The summary completion answers must not exceed more than two to three words.To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Reclaiming The Future Of Aral Sea Reading Answers

The Aral Sea gets almost all its water from the Amu and Syr rivers. Over millennia the Amu’s course has drifted away from the sea, causing it to shrink. But the lake always rebounded as the Amu shifted back again. Today heavy irrigation for crops such as cotton and rice siphons off much of the two rivers, severely cutting flow into their deltas and thus into the sea. Evaporation vastly outpaces any rainfall, snowmelt or groundwater supply, reducing water volume and raising salinity. The Soviet Union hid the sea’s demise for decades until 1985, when leader Mikhail Gorbachev revealed the great environmental and human tragedy. By the late 1980s the sea’s level had dropped so much that the water had separated into two distinct bodies: the Small Aral (north) and the Large Aral (south). By 2007 the south had split into a deep western basin, a shallow eastern basin and a small, isolated gulf. The Large Aral’s volume had dropped from 708 to only 75 cubic kilometers (km3), and salinity had risen from 14 to more than 100 grams per liter (g/1). The 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union divided the lake between newly formed Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ending a grand Soviet plan to channel water from distant Siberian rivers and establishing competition for the dwindling resource.

Desiccation of the Aral Sea has wrought severe consequences. Greatly reduced river flows ended the spring floods that sustained wetlands with freshwater and enriched sediment. Fish species in the lakes dropped from 32 to 6 because of rising salinity and loss of spawning and feeding grounds (most survived in the river deltas). Commercial fisheries, which caught 40,000 metric tons of fish in 1960, were gone by the mid-1980s; more than 60,000 related jobs were lost. The most common remaining lake occupant was the Black Sea flounder, a saltwater fish introduced in the 1970s, but by 2003 it had disappeared from the southern lakes because salinity was more than 70 g/1, double that of a typical ocean. Shipping on the Aral also ceased because the water receded many kilometers from the major ports of Aralsk to the north and Moynak in the south; keeping increasingly long channels open to the cities became too costly. Groundwater levels dropped with falling lake levels, intensifying desertification.

The receding sea has exposed and dried 54,000 square kilometers of seabed, which is choked with salt and in some places laced with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals deposited by runoff from area farming. Strong windstorms blow salt, dust and contaminants as far as 500 km. Winds from the north and northeast drive the most severe storms, seriously impacting the Amu delta to the south—the most densely settled and most economically and ecologically important area in the region. Afrbome sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate kill or retard the growth of natural vegetation and crops—a cruel irony given that irrigating those crops starves the sea. Health experts say the local population suffers from high levels of respiratory illnesses, throat and esophageal cancer, and digestive disorders caused by breathing and ingesting salt-laden air and water. Liver and kidney ailments, as well as eye problems, are common. The loss of fish has also greatly reduced dietary variety, worsening malnutrition and anemia, particularly in pregnant women.

Returning the entire Aral Sea to its 1960s state is unrealistic. The annual inflow from the Syr and Amu rivers would have to be quadrupled from the recent average of 13 km3. The only means would be to curtail irrigation, which accounts for 92 percent of water withdrawals. Yet four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (Kazakhstan is the exception) intend to expand irrigation, mainly to feed growing populations. Switching to less water- intensive crops, such as replacing cotton with winter wheat, could help, but the two primary irrigating nations, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, intend to keep cotton to earn foreign currency. The extensive irrigation canals could be greatly improved; many are simply cut through sand, and they allow enormous quantities of water to seep away. Modernizing the entire system could save 12 km3 a year but would cost at least $16 billion. The basin states do not have the money or the political will. Kazakhstan has nonetheless tried to partially restore the northern Aral.

We expect salinities in the Small Aral to settle at three to 14 g/1, depending on location. At these levels many more indigenous species should return, although the saltwater kambala would disappear from most places. Further restoration is possible. For example, if irrigation improvements raised the average annual inflow from the Syr to 4.5 km3, which is entirely feasible, the lake’s level could stabilize at about 47 meters. This change would bring the shoreline to within eight kilometers of Aralsk, the former major port city, close enough to allow recovery of an earlier channel that connected the city to the receding waters. The channel would give large commercial fishing vessels access to the sea, and shipping could restart. Marshlands and fish populations would improve even more because of a further reduction in salinity. Outflow to the southern lakes could also increase, helping then restoration. Such a plan would require a much longer and higher dike, as well as reconstruction of the gate facility, and it is not clear that Kazakhstan has the means or desire to pursue it. The country is, however, now discussing more modest proposals to bring water closer to Aralsk.

The Large Aral faces a difficult future; it continues to shrink rapidly. Only a long, narrow channel connects the shallow eastern basin and the deeper western basin, and this could close altogether. If countries along the Amu make no changes, we estimate that at current rates of groundwater in and evaporation out, an isolated eastern basin would stabilize at an area of 4,300 square kilometers (km2). But it would average only 2.5 meters deep. Salinity would exceed 100 g/1, possibly reaching 200 g/1; the only creatures that could live in it would be brine shrimp and bacteria. The western basin’s fate depends on ground- water inflow, estimates for which are uncertain. Someone has noted numerous fresh- water springs on the western cliffs. The most reliable calculations indicate that the basin would settle at about 2,100 km2. The lake would still be relatively deep, reaching 37 meters in spots, but salinity would rise well above 100 g/1.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-6

The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-F.
Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-F, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.

A mission impossible

Answer: D
Supporting Statement: Returning the entire Aral Sea to its 1960s state is unrealistic. The annual inflow from the Syr and Amu rivers would have to be quadrupled from the recent average of 13 km3.
Keywords: Returning, unrealistic
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been clearly stated that it is impossible to restore the entire Aral Sea to its 1960s condition. The average annual inflow from the Syr as well as Amu rivers, which is currently 13 km3, would need to be doubled. So, the correct answer is D as per the explanation provided.

An extremely worrying trend for one main part of Aral Sea

Answer: F
Supporting Statement: The Large Aral faces a difficult future; it continues to shrink rapidly. Only a long, narrow channel connects the shallow eastern basin and the deeper western basin, and this could close altogether. If countries along the Amu make no changes, we estimate that at current rates of groundwater in and evaporation out, an isolated eastern basin would stabilize at an area of 4,300 square kilometers
Keywords: Difficult future, shrink rapidly
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: As per paragraph F, it has been stated that the Large Aral faces a challenging future since it keeps getting smaller quickly. At present rates of groundwater inflow and evaporation outflow, we predict that an isolated eastern basin would stabilize at a size of 4,300 square kilometers if countries along the Amu make no adjustments. So, the correct answer is F.

An uncompleted project because of political reasons

Answer: A
Supporting Statement: By 2007 the south had split into a deep western basin, a shallow eastern basin and a small, isolated gulf. The Large Aral’s volume had dropped from 708 to only 75 cubic kilometers (km3), and salinity had risen from 14 to more than 100 grams per liter (g/1). The 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union divided the lake between newly formed Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, ending a grand Soviet plan to channel water from distant Siberian rivers and establishing competition for the dwindling resource.
Keywords: Isolated gulf, dwindling resource
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A, it has been clearly mentioned that by 2007, the southern region has divided into a small, isolated gulf, a shallow eastern basin, and a deep western basin. The lake was partitioned between the newly established nations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 1991, terminating a huge Soviet plan to channel water from far-off Siberian rivers and creating competition for the diminishing supply. So, the correct answer is A.

A promising recovery in the future

Answer: E
Supporting Statement: We expect salinities in the Small Aral to settle at three to 14 g/1, depending on location. At these levels many more indigenous species should return, although the saltwater kambala would disappear from most places. Further restoration is possible.
Keywords: Settle, return
Keyword Location: Paragraph E
Explanation: As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that depending on the region, we anticipate that salinities in the Small Aral will range from three to 14 g/1. Although the saltwater kambala would vanish from most locations, many more native species should reappear at these levels. The repair process could continue. So, the correct answer is E.

A strongly affected populated district

Answer: C
Supporting Statement: The receding sea has exposed and dried 54,000 square kilometers of seabed, which is choked with salt and in some places laced with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals deposited by runoff from area farming. Strong windstorms blow salt, dust and contaminants as far as 500 km.
Keywords: Receding sea, choked with salt
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: As per paragraph C, it has been stated that 54,000 square kilometers of seabed, which is covered in salt and in some places is riddled with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals deposited by runoff from nearby farming, have been exposed and dried by the retreating water. Strong windstorms can carry pollutants, dust, and salt. So, the correct answer is C.

The disclosure of a big secret

Answer: A
Supporting Statement: The Soviet Union hid the sea’s demise for decades until 1985, when leader Mikhail Gorbachev revealed the great environmental and human tragedy. By the late 1980s the sea’s level had dropped so much that the water had separated into two distinct bodies: the Small Aral (north) and the Large Aral (south).
Keywords: Revealed, tragedy
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: As per paragraph A, it has been mentioned that leader Mikhail Gorbachev made the immense environmental and human catastrophe public, the Soviet Union kept the sea's decline a secret. The Small Aral as well as the Large Aral, two different bodies of water, were formed by the sea's drastic decline by the late 1980s. So, the correct answer is A.

Questions 7-9

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? In boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

In response to the increasingly growing number in the population, not all nations near the Aral Sea consider plans which will enhance the severity of the problems the Aral Sea is faced with.

Answer: True
Supporting Statement: The only means would be to curtail irrigation, which accounts for 92 percent of water withdrawals. Yet four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (Kazakhstan is the exception) intend to expand irrigation, mainly to feed growing populations. Switching to less water- intensive crops, such as replacing cotton with winter wheat, could help, but the two primary irrigating nations, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, intend to keep cotton to earn foreign currency.
Keywords: Curtail irrigation, growing population
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been mentioned that the only option would be to reduce irrigation, which uses 92 percent of all water. While Kazakhstan is the sole exception, four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin plan to increase irrigation, primarily to feed their expanding populations. So, the question statement is true.

The willingness for Kazakhstan to take the restoration action to save the Small Aral Sea is somehow not certain.

Answer: True
Supporting Statement: The extensive irrigation canals could be greatly improved; many are simply cut through sand, and they allow enormous quantities of water to seep away. Modernizing the entire system could save 12 km3 a year but would cost at least $16 billion. The basin states do not have the money or the political will. Kazakhstan has nonetheless tried to partially restore the northern Aral.
Keywords: Extensive irrigation, Kazakhstan
Keyword Location :Paragraph D
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been mentioned that the large irrigation canals could use a lot of work; many of them are just sand-cuttings that let a lot of water drain away.Both the financial and political will are lacking in the basin states. The northern Aral has however been substantially restored by Kazakhstan. So, the question statement is True.

The western basin seems to have a destined future regardless of the influx of groundwater.

Answer: False
Supporting Statement: The western basin’s fate depends on ground- water inflow, estimates for which are uncertain. Someone has noted numerous fresh- water springs on the western cliffs. The most reliable calculations indicate that the basin would settle at about 2,100 km2.
Keywords: Western basin, uncertain
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: As per mentioned in paragraph F, the fate of the western basin depends on the input of groundwater, the estimations for which are imprecise. On the western cliffs, there are a lot of fresh water springs, according to someone. The basin would eventually settle at a size of around 2,100 km2, according to the most accurate predictions. So, the correct answer is False as the question statement is contradictory to the actual information.

Questions 10-13

Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage, using No More than Three words from the Reading Passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.

The 10……………..produced by the floodwaters, which were ceased because of the decrease in 11…………………of the Aral Sea, are main sources to keep the survival of the wetlands. The types of fishes living in it experienced a devastating tragedy out of the increase in 12 …………………… and decrease in spots for 13…………….with a good example of the extinction of a specific fish. What is more, fisheries and shipping suffered greatly from these vast changes.

Question 10)

Answer: sediment and freshwater
Supporting Statement: Desiccation of the Aral Sea has wrought severe consequences. Greatly reduced river flows ended the spring floods that sustained wetlands with freshwater and enriched sediment. Fish species in the lakes dropped from 32 to 6 because of rising salinity and loss of spawning and feeding grounds (most survived in the river deltas).
Keywords: desiccation, Aral Sea.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly mentioned that serious effects have resulted from the Aral Sea's depletion. The spring floods that supported wetland with freshwater and enriched silt were put an end to by significantly lower river flows. Due to increased salinity and the loss of breeding and feeding areas, the number of fish species in the lakes decreased from 32 to 6. (most survived in the river deltas). So, the correct answer is sediment and freshwater.

Question 11)

Answer: River flows
Supporting Statement: Desiccation of the Aral Sea has wrought severe consequences. Greatly reduced river flows ended the spring floods that sustained wetlands with freshwater and enriched sediment. Fish species in the lakes dropped from 32 to 6 because of rising salinity and loss of spawning and feeding grounds (most survived in the river deltas).
Keywords: river flows, Aral Sea.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly mentioned that serious effects have resulted from the Aral Sea's depletion. The spring floods that supported wetland with freshwater and enriched silt were put an end to by significantly lower river flows. Due to increased salinity and the loss of breeding and feeding areas, the number of fish species in the lakes decreased from 32 to 6. (most survived in the river deltas). So, the correct answer is river flows.

Question 12)

Answer: Salinity
Supporting Statement: Commercial fisheries, which caught 40,000 metric tons of fish in 1960, were gone by the mid-1980s; more than 60,000 related jobs were lost. The most common remaining lake occupant was the Black Sea flounder, a
saltwater fish introduced in the 1970s, but by 2003 it had disappeared from the southern lakes because salinity was more than 70 g/1, double that of a typical ocean.
Keywords: Commercial fishing, salinity
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been mentioned that the Black Sea flounder, a saltwater fish introduced in the 1970s, was the most prevalent remaining lake resident, but by 2003 it had vanished from the southern lakes due to salinity levels that were more than 70 g/1, double that of a regular ocean. So, the correct answer is Salinity.

Question 13)

Answer: spawning and feeding
Supporting Statement: Fish species in the lakes dropped from 32 to 6 because of rising salinity and loss of spawning and feeding grounds (most survived in the river deltas). Commercial fisheries, which caught 40,000 metric tons of fish in 1960,
were gone by the mid-1980s; more than 60,000 related jobs were lost.
Keywords: fish species, spawning and feeding
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been mentioned that due to increased salinity and the loss of spawning and feeding areas, the number of fish species in the lakes decreased from 32 to 6. (most survived in the river deltas).So, the correct answer is spawning and feeding as per the explanation provided.

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