Rising Sea Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

Rising Sea Reading Answers has two sections. Section 1 and Section 2 of the Rising Sea Reading Answers passage and Section 2 contain 13 questions that are to be answered in 20 minutes. Rising Sea Reading Answers consists of two types of questions including- match the heading, choose the correct option, True False and Not Given. For the match the heading, candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question. Candidates would be assessed for their reading skills based on their accuracy in answering the questions correctly in True False and Not Given .

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Rising Sea Reading Answers

Paragraph 1. INCREASED TEMPERATURES

The average air temperature at the surface of the earth has risen this century, as has the temperature of ocean surface waters. Because water expands as it heats, a warmer ocean means higher sea levels. We cannot say definitely that the temperature rises are due to the greenhouse effect; the heating may be part of a “natural” variability over a long time-scale that we have not yet recognized I our short 100 years of recording. However, assuming the build up of greenhouse gases is responsible, and that the warming will continue. Scientists and inhabitants of low-lying coastal areas would like to know the extent of future sea level rises.

Paragraph 2

Calculating this is not easy. Models used for the purpose have treated the oceans as passive, stationary and one-dimensional. Scientists have assumed that heat simply diffused into the sea from the atmosphere. Using basic physical laws, they then predict how much a known volume of water would expand for a given increase in temperature. But the oceans are not one-dimensional, and recent work by oceanographers, using a new model which takes into account a number of subtle facets of the sea-including vast and complex ocean currents-suggests that the rise in sea level may be less than some earlier estimates had predicted.

Paragraph 3

An international forum on climate change, in 1986, produced figures for likely sea-level rises of 20 cm and 1.4 m, corresponding to atmospheric temperature increases of 1.5 and 4.5C respectively. Some scientists estimate that the ocean warming resulting from those temperature increases by the year 2050 would raise the sea level by between 10 cm and 40 cm. This model only takes into account the temperature effect on the oceans; it does not consider changes in sea level brought about by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, and changes in groundwater storage. When we add on estimates of these, we arrive at figures for total sea-level rises of 15 cm and 70 cm respectively.

Paragraph 4

It’s not easy trying to model accurately the enormous complexities of the ever-changing oceans, with their great volume, massive currents and sensitively to the influence of land masses and the atmosphere. For example, consider how heat enters the ocean. Does it just “diffuse” from the warmer air vertically into the water, and heat only the surface layer of the sea? (Warm water is less dense than cold, so it would not spread downwards). Conventional models of sea-level rise have considered that this the only method, but measurements have shown that the rate of heat transfer into the ocean by vertical diffusion is far lower in practice than the figures that many models have adopted.

Paragraph 5

Much of the early work, for simplicity, ignored the fact that water in the oceans moves in three dimensions. By movement, of course, scientists don’t mean waves, which are too small individually to consider, but rather movement of vast volumes of water in huge currents. To understand the importance of this, we now need to consider another process-advection. Imagine smoke rising from a chimney. On a still day it will slowly spread out in all directions by means of diffusion. With a strong directional wind, however, it will all shift downwind, this process is advection-the transport of properties (notably heat and salinity in ocean) by the movement of bodies of air or water, rather than by conduction or diffusion.

Paragraph 6

Massive oceans current called gyres do the moving. These currents have far more capacity to store heat than does the atmosphere. Indeed, just the top 3 m of the ocean contains more heat than the whole of the atmosphere. The origin of the gyres lies in the fact that more heat from the Sun reaches the Equator than the Poles, and naturally heat trends to move from the former to the latter. Warm air rises at the Equator, and draws more air beneath it in the form of winds (the “Trade Winds") that, together with other air movements, provide the main force driving the ocean currents.

Paragraph 7

Water itself is heated at the Equator and moves poleward, twisted by the Earth’s rotation and affected by the positions of the continents. The resultant broadly circular movements between about 10 and 40 ' North and South are clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. They flow towards the east at mind latitudes in the equatorial region. They then flow towards the Poles, along the eastern sides of continents, as warm currents. When two different masses of water meet, once will move beneath the other, depending on their relative densities in the subduction process. The densities are determined by temperature and salinity. The convergence of water of different densities from the Equator and the Poles deep in the oceans causes continuous subduction. This means that water moves vertically as well as horizontally. Cold water from the Poles travels as depth-it is denser than warm water-until it emerges at the surface in another part of the world in the form of a cold current.

Paragraph 8. HOW THE GREENHOUSE EFFECTS WILL CHANGE OCEAN TEMPERATURES

Ocean currents, in three dimensions, from a giant “conveyor belt”, distributing heat from the thin surface layer into the interior of the oceans and around the globe. Water may take decades to circulate in these 3-D gyres in the lop kilometer of the ocean, and centuries in the deep water. With the increased atmospheric temperatures due to the greenhouse effect, the oceans conveyor belt will carry more heat into the interior. This subduction moves heat around far more effectively than simple diffusion. Because warm water expands more than cold when it is heated, scientists had presumed that the sea level would rise unevenly around the globe. It is now believed that these inequalities cannot persist, as winds will act to continuously spread out the water expansion. Of course, of global warming changes the strength and distribution of the winds, then this “evening-out” process may not occur, and the sea level could rise more in some areas than others.

Section 2

Solution with Explanation

Question 1 to 6:

The reading passage has 8 paragraphs, out of which 1st and last paragraphs have been given headings.
The candidate has to choose headings for the remaining six paragraphs.
A list of headings of different paragraphs is given from A to I. The candidate has to choose appropriate headings for different paragraphs starting from paragraphs 2 to 7.

Fill the correct answer in the answer boxes from 1 to 6.

List of Headings

The gyre principle
The Greenhouse Effect
How ocean waters move
Statistical evidence
The advection principle
Diffusion versus advection
Figuring the sea level changes
Estimated figures
The diffusion model

Question 1. Paragraph 2

Answer: G (Figuring the sea level changes)
Supporting Sentence: Using basic physical laws, they then predict how much a known volume of water would expand for a given increase in temperature.
Keywords: predict, the volume of water, sea level change, expand, increase in temperature
Keyword Location: In paragraph 2, on the 3rd line
Explanation: With the information given in paragraph 2, we can observe that scientists were predicting the change in sea level. The paragraph 2 says, "they then predict how much a known volume of water would expand for a given increase in temperature". So, the perfect answer would be option G.

Question 2. Paragraph 3

Answer: H (Estimated figures)
Supporting Sentence: When we add on estimates of these, we arrive at figures for total sea-level rises of 15 cm and 70 cm respectively.
Keywords: estimates, at figures, sea-level rises
Keyword Location: In paragraph 3, on the last line
Explanation: As per the information given in paragraph 3, "estimates of these, we arrive at figures for total sea-level rises of 15 cm and 70 cm respectively." The answer would be estimated figures given on option H.

Question 3. Paragraph 4

Answer: I (The diffusion model)
Supporting Sentence: The rate of heat transfer into the ocean by vertical diffusion is far lower in practice than the figures that many modelers have adopted.
Keywords: vertical diffusion, rate of heat, modelers
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, on the last line
Explanation: Paragraph 4 reads, "transfer into the ocean by vertical diffusion is far lower in practice than the figures." The answer, in this case, would be the diffusion model.

Question 4. Paragraph 5

Answer: E (The advection principle)
Supporting Sentence: With a strong directional wind, however, it will all shift downwind, this process is advection – the transport of properties (notably heat and salinity in the ocean) by the movement of bodies of air or water.
Keywords: advection, process, movement of bodies, strong directional wind
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, on the 4th line
Explanation: The information given matches with the advection process. As the entire process is explained in it. It says, "process is advection – the transport of properties (notably heat and salinity in the ocean) by the movement of bodies of air or water."

Question 5. Paragraph 6

Answer: A (The gyre principle)
Supporting Sentence: Massive oceans current called gyres do the moving.
Keywords: massive ocean, gyre, atmosphere
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6,
Explanation: As per the information provided in paragraph 6," Massive oceans currently called gyres do the moving." The answer would be the gyre principle. As the explanation of the gyre principle is given..

Question 6. Paragraph 7

Answer: C (How ocean waters move)
Supporting Sentence: When two different masses of water meet, one will move beneath the other depending on their relative densities in the subduction process.
Keywords: one will move, beneath, two different, water meet
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 4th- 5th line
Explanation: The details in paragraph 7 says, "When two different masses of water meet, one will move beneath the other depending on their relative densities." This shows the answer, which is heading C.

Questions 7 to 8:

Below are given four options for each statement. The candidate has to choose the correct option out of options A, B, C, or D.
Write the correct answer in answer boxes 7 and 8.

Question 7. Scientists do not know for sure why the air and surface of oceans temperatures are rising because

there is too much variability
there is no enough variability
they have not been recording these temperatures for enough time
the changes have only been noticed for 100 years

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: We cannot say definitely that the temperature rises are due to the greenhouse effect; the heating may be part of ‘natural’ variability over a long time scale that we have not yet recognized in our short 100 years of recording.
Keywords: short 100 years, recording, cannot say definitely
Keyword Location: paragraph 1, on lines 2 -3
Explanation: In this case, option C fits the most. Paragraph 1 reveals the information"over a long time-scale that we have not yet recognized in our short 100 years of recording." According to the question, the information given in option C is perfect.

Question 8. New search leads scientists to believe that

the oceans are less complex
the oceans are more complex
the oceans will rise more than expected
the oceans will rise less than expected

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: A new model which takes into account a number of subtle facets of the sea – including vast and complex ocean currents – suggests that the rise in sea level may be less than some earlier estimates had predicted.
Keywords: rise in sea level, less than estimates, predicted
Keyword Location: In paragraph 2, on 4th - 5th line
Explanation: Here in this question, we need to find what are the beliefs of new scientists. The information in "complex ocean currents – suggests that the rise in sea level may be less than some earlier estimates had predicted." The statement given here and the text given above both reflect the same meaning. So the answer would be option D.

Question 9:

Below are given a list of factors that are numbered from A to F.
Candidate has to choose from the passage, three options that truly contribute to the rising sea levels.
The candidate has to write the correct answer in answer box 9.

List of Factors:

thermal expansion
melting ice
increased air temperature
higher rainfall
Changes in the water table
increased ocean movement

Answer: B (melting ice)
Supporting Sentence: changes in sea level brought about by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, and changes in groundwater storage.
Keywords: melting of ice sheets, glaciers, changes in sea level
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, on 4th- 5th line
Explanation: The information matches the information in the passage. The passage reads, "changes in sea level brought about by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers and changes in groundwater storage." So the answer would be B (melting ice).

Question:

Answer: C (increased air temperature)
Supporting Sentence: The average air temperature at the surface of the earth has risen this century, as has the temperature of ocean surface waters.
Keywords: average air temperature, risen this century
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, the first line
Explanation: It is given in paragraph 1 in the first line, that "average air temperature at the surface of the earth has risen this century." This shows that the water level will rise. So the statement C (increased air temperature) is correct.

Question:

Answer: E (changes in the water table )
Supporting Sentence: Because water expands as it heats, a warmer ocean means higher sea levels.
Keywords: water expands, higher sea levels
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, second line
Explanation: The passage talks about the changes in sea level, the statement given in paragraph 1 on the second line is evidence of it. The statement is, "water expands as it heats, a warmer ocean means higher sea levels." Hence, option E is true.

Questions 10 to 14:

Candidates need to check whether the information given in the statement is right or not.
As per the given direction, they have to fill the answer boxes from 10 to 14 by using the following words:

True: In case the information given in the question matches with the information in the passage.
False: In case the information given in the question is contrary to what is said in the passage.
Not Given: In case the information given in the question is not available in the reading passage.

Question 10. The surface layer of the oceans is warmed by the atmosphere.

Answer: Not Given

Supporting Sentence: With the increased atmospheric temperatures due to the greenhouse effect, the oceans conveyor belt will carry more heat into the interior.
Keywords: atmospheric, oceans , heat
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, third line
Explanation: The passage says that oceans conveyor belt will carry more heat into the interior due to increased temperature. It is nowhere mentioned that surface of the ocean is warmed by the atmosphere.

Question 11. Advection of water changes to heat and salt levels.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: With a strong directional wind, however, it will all shift downwind, this process is advection – the transport of properties (notably heat and salinity in the ocean) by the movement of bodies of air or water, rather than by conduction or diffusion.
Keywords: advection, heat, and salinity, in ocean
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, last line
Explanation: The information given in paragraph 5, is equivalent to the question. In paragraph 5, the writer says that "With a strong directional wind, however, it will all shift downwind, this process is advection". Hence, the statement here is true.

Question 12. A gyre holds less heat than there is in the atmosphere.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: These currents have far more capacity to store heat than does the atmosphere.
Keywords: far more capacity, store heat, than does the atmosphere, more heat
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, 2 - 3 line
Explanation: The statement in the question does not match the information in the passage. The passage reads," These currents have far more capacity to store heat than does the atmosphere." Hence, the answer, in this case, would be false.

Question 13. The process of subduction depends on the water density.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: When two different masses of water meet, one will move beneath the other depending on their relative densities in the subduction process.
Keywords: subduction process, depending on relative densities
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 4th- 5th line
Explanation: As per the passage, "When two different masses of water meet, one will move beneath the other depending on their relative densities in the subduction process.". Since the information is correct in the statement, the answer is true.

Question 14. The sea level is expected to rise evenly over the Earth’s surface.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Of course, if global warming changes the strength and distribution of the winds, then this ‘evening-out’ process may not occur, and the sea level could rise more in some areas than others.
Keywords: changes, strength, and distribution rise more in some areas
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, last line
Explanation: The statement is contrary to the details available in the reading passage. As the passage says, "‘evening-out’ process may not occur; the sea level could rise more in some areas than others." Hence, the answer would be false in this case.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples