Rock Climbing Timeline Reading Answers

Apr 9, 2024

Rock climbing timeline Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Rock climbing timeline Reading Answers have a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions you have to fill in the blanks, choose the correct options from the list, tell whether the statements are true of false.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Rock climbing timeline Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Rock Climbing Timeline

Mostly in initial periods of mountaineering, safety, practise standards, and the influence on the environment also weren't frequently considered. Following the successful descent of Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe, by Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard during 1786, the sport gained popularity. This incident marked the birth of modern mountaineering, but for the next century, the only factor that mattered was whether or not climbers reached the top and claimed the honour of having earned the first ascent.
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, however, technological advancements sparked controversy about climbing. Pitons (metal spikes that climbers drive into the rock face for leverage) and the usage of belaying 2 techniques were of particular significance throughout this era. A few, such as the Italian climber Guido Ray, advocated for these techniques as means to make climbing lighter and more "acrobatic." Others said they were only useful as a safety net if all other options failed. Paul Preuss, an Austrian, scaled incredible heights using only his shoes and bare hands, eschewing all artificial aids.
A renowned British mountaineer and author whose name was Albert Mummery who managed to climb the European Alps and, more notably, the Himalayas, in which he died when he was 39 clearly trying a surprisingly hard climb, invented the idea of 'fair means' as a kind of informal procedure that discouraged the usage of 'walk-through' guidebooks and equipment such like ladders and grappling hooks.
In the 1940s, bolts began to replace pitons as the climbing equipment of choice, and their use was met with similar criticism. In 1948, when two American climbers scaled Mount Brussels in the Canadian Rockies using a limited number of pitons and bolts, climber Frank Smythe wrote: 1 still regard Mount Brussels as unclimbed, and my feelings are no different than if I had heard that a helicopter had deposited its passenger on the summit of that mountain so that he could boast that he had trod an untrodden mountain peak.'
With the exception of climbing purists, the tide began to move against bolting and pitons in the 1970s. The United States and most of the western world were becoming aware of the devastation they had caused to the globe, and environmentalist initiatives and new government laws were spreading. This increased environmental consciousness and sensitivity permeated the rock climbing community. As a result, a form of rock climbing called 'clean climbing' gained widespread popularity. Clear mountaineering helped preserve granite faces and was much easier to master than older techniques. This was due in part to the characteristic of clean climbing — the use of nuts — which were preferred to bolts because they could be placed into the rock face with one arm while climbers maintained their grip with the other.
Not everyone appreciated the clean climbing movement. Ten years later, controversy erupted over two additional advances. The first pertains to the practice of chipping, wherein climbers remove small bits of rock to create microscopic crevices for their fingers. The second main source of disagreement was a procedure involving the installation of bolts from the top of the descent down. Rappel bolting makes practically any rock face climbable with relative ease, and as a result, the sport has lost a great deal of its risk factor and pioneering spirit; in fact, it has become more of a test of physical prowess and technical mastery than a psychological test of courage under pressure. Many enthusiast hikers have gone to indoor facilities, in which the rate of fatal injury is less, as a result of this change in emphasis.
Given the environmental harm caused by rock climbing, this may be a desirable development. It is ironic that the majority of rock climbers and mountain climbers enjoy the outdoors and have a deep appreciation for the highness of nature and the formidable challenges she presents, yet in their pursuits of their objectives they inevitably damage and disturb delicate flora and lichens that develop on ledges and cliff faces. Doug Larson and Michelle McMillan of a Canadian university discovered that rock faces that are often climbed had lost up to 80 percent of their native plant species' coverage and diversity. As if that were not awful sufficient, non-native species have also been accidentally introduced by the boots of climbers.
This renders rock climbing uncertain. Climbers aren't the only users who desire to enjoy the environment; hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders often frequent the same regions, and they are significantly better organised, with well-established special interests protecting their interests. With rising demand on rare resources, it has been argued that climbers should set aside their disagreements over the ethics of different climbing techniques and concentrate on the impact of their behaviours on the environment and their interaction with other users and landowners.
Regardless, there is no doubt that the era of the rock climber as a lone wolf or courageous pioneer is over. Similar to numerous other kinds of recreation, rock climbing has been increasingly included into institutional attempts to control risky behaviour and manage our natural ecosystems effectively. This may have diminished the sport's mystique, but it has also made it safer and more sustainable; regulatory authorities would be well to explore intensifying these efforts in the future.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Question 27-32

The reading passage has eight paragraphs, A-H.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-H.

Examples of climbers' effects on ecosystems.

Answer: F
Supporting statement:“........ ironic that the majority of rock climbers and mountain climbers enjoy the outdoors and have a deep appreciation for the highness of nature and the formidable challenges she presents,........”
Keywords: climbers, formidable
Keyword Location: para F, line 1
Explanation: In para F, it is mentioned that there are concerns about climbers' effects on ecosystems, indicating examples of how climbers impact the environment.

A description of the political influences on rock climbing.

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“........ With the exception of climbing purists, the tide began to move against bolting and pitons in the 1970s. The United States and most of the western world were becoming aware of the devastation
they had caused to the globe........”
Keywords: bolting , aware
Keyword Location: para D, line 1
Explanation: Para D discusses the political ramifications of rock climbing, highlighting how political factors can influence climbing regulations and access to climbing sites.

A less hazardous option to rock climbing.

Answer: E
Supporting statement:“........Not everyone appreciated the clean climbing movement. Ten years later, controversy erupted over two additional advances. The first pertains to the practice of chipping,........”
Keywords: controversy, chipping
Keyword Location: para E, line 1
Explanation: In para E, it mentions hill walking as an alternative for those seeking less hazardous outdoor recreation than rock climbing.

A proposal for improved regulation.

Answer: H
Supporting statement:“........Regardless, there is no doubt that the era of the rock climber as a lone wolf or courageous pioneer is over. Similar to numerous other kinds of recreation, rock climbing........”
Keywords: rock , climber
Keyword Location: para H, line 1
Explanation: Para H suggests that improved regulation is necessary to address some of the concerns related to rock climbing activities

A reference to a climber who didn't utilize any equipment or ropes.

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“.......Towards the end of the eighteenth century, however, technological advancements sparked controversy about climbing. Pitons (metal spikes that climbers drive into the rock face for leverage) and the usage of belaying 2 techniques were of particula.........”
Keywords: advancements, techniques
Keyword Location: para B, line 1
Explanation: Para B refers to Albert Mummery, who climbed without any equipment or ropes, illustrating an example of early climbers who took significant risks.

Different types of persons who utilize the outdoors for recreation.

Answer: G
Supporting statement:“.......This renders rock climbing uncertain. Climbers aren't the only users who desire to enjoy the environment; hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders often frequent the same regions,.........”
Keywords: enjoy, regions
Keyword Location: para G, line 1
Explanation: Para G mentions other outdoor users such as hill walkers and bird watchers, indicating different types of individuals who engage in outdoor recreation apart from climbers.

Question 33-39

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Some climbers debate that pitons and ropes must be regarded as a (33).

Answer: A SAFETY NET
Supporting statement:“........Others said they were only useful as a safety net if all other options failed. Paul Preuss, an Austrian, scaled incredible heights using only his shoes and bare ........”
Keywords: Preuss, shoes
Keyword Location: para B, line 6
Explanation: Some climbers argue that pitons and ropes should be seen as a safety net, providing a measure of protection during climbs.

(34). — proposes unwritten rules-based standards that discourage climbing Assistance. alone.

Answer: ALBERT MUMMERY
Supporting statement:“.......A renowned British mountaineer and author whose name was Albert Mummery who managed to climb the European Alps and, more notably, the Himalayas, in which he .........”
Keywords: climb, notably
Keyword Location: para B, line 8
Explanation: Albert Mummery proposed unwritten rules-based standards that discourage climbing alone, advocating for climbing with partners or groups for safety.

1940s

New equipment causes contention. Frank Smythe asserts that Mount Brussels is effectively (35)......because to the techniques used to scale the hill.

1970s

Answer: UNCLIMBED
Supporting statement:“.......climber Frank Smythe wrote: 1 still regard Mount Brussels as unclimbed, and my feelings are no different than if I had heard that a helicopter had deposited its passenger ........”
Keywords: feelings , passenger
Keyword Location: para C, line 4
Explanation: In the 1940s, new equipment caused contention, and Frank Smythe asserted that Mount Brussels was effectively unclimbed due to the challenging techniques required to scale it.

(36)...... is more eco-friendly.

Answer: CLEAN CLIMBING
Supporting statement:“......... As a result, a form of rock climbing called 'clean climbing' gained widespread popularity. Clear mountaineering helped preserve granite faces and was much easier to master than........”
Keywords: widespread , master
Keyword Location: para D, line 5
Explanation: The approach known as "clean climbing" is considered more eco-friendly because it minimizes the environmental impact of climbing activities.

As a tool for climbing, (37)._ are introduced.

Answer: NUTS
Supporting statement:“.......older techniques. This was due in part to the characteristic of clean climbing — the use of nuts — which were preferred to bolts because they could be placed into the rock face with one arm while climbers maintained their grip with the other..........”
Keywords: rock , climbers
Keyword Location: para D, line 8
Explanation: Nuts are introduced as tools for climbing, providing additional options for securing ropes and protecting climbers during ascents.

1990s - till today Climbers debate the advantages of new approaches for constructing handholds and (38). …..and (39)........__. Many claim that climbing is now more of a test of physical prowess . than of bravery.

Answer: RAPPEL BOLTING
Supporting statement:“........Rappel bolting makes practically any rock face climbable with relative ease, and as a result, the sport has lost a great deal of its risk factor and pioneering spirit; in fact, it has........”
Keywords: sport, spirit
Keyword Location: para E, line 6
Explanation: Climbers debate the advantages of new approaches for constructing handholds and rappel bolting, which involves placing bolts for rappelling down routes, reflecting the ongoing evolution of climbing techniques.

Answer: TECHNICAL MASTERY
Supporting statement:“......become more of a test of physical prowess and technical mastery than a psychological test of courage under pressure. Many enthusiast hikers have gone to indoor facilities, in ..........”
Keywords: psychological, indoor
Keyword Location: para E, line 8
Explanation: Climbers debate the advantages of new approaches for constructing handholds and rappel bolting, as well as technical mastery, emphasizing the importance of skill and expertise in modern climbing.

Question 40

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

40) Select the most suitable title for the reading.

A history of climbing rocks.
Issues of morality in rock climbing.
Recent developments in rock climbing.
Traditional climbers versus sport climbs.

Answer: B
Explanation: The passage discusses various ethical considerations, safety concerns, and debates within the rock climbing community, making it suitable to be categorized under "Issues of morality in rock climbing

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