Secrets of The Forest Reading Answers

Dec 17, 2022

Secrets of The Forest Reading Answers contains a write up about the Bolivian Amzonia forests and its importance. Secrets of The Forest Reading Answers comprising 13 different types of questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. Secrets of The Forest Reading Answers comprises three types of questions: Matching heading, sentence completion, and Choose the correct option. For Matching heading in IELTS Reading passage, candidates need to thoroughly go through each passage. For sentence completion, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords and understand the concept. To choose the correct option, candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage and understand the statement provided. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section1

Read the passage below to answer the following questions

Secrets of The Forest Reading Answers

A

In 1942 Allan R Holmberg, a doctoral student in anthropology from Yale University, USA, ventured deep into the jungle of Bolivian Amazonia and searched out an isolated band of Siriono Indians. The Siriono, Holmberg later wrote, led a "strikingly backward” existence. Their villages were little more than clusters of thatched huts. Life itself was a perpetual and punishing search for food: some families grew manioc and other starchy crops in small garden plots cleared from the forest, while other members of the tribe scoured the country for small game and promising fish holes. When local resources became depleted, the tribe moved on.

As for technology, Holmberg noted, the Siriono "may be classified among the most handicapped peoples of the world". Other than bows, arrows and crude digging sticks, the only tools the Siriono seemed to possess were "two machetes worn to the size of pocket- knives".

Although the lives of the Siriono have changed in the intervening decades, the image of them as Stone Age relics has endured. Indeed, in many respects the Siriono epitomize the popular conception of life in Amazonia. To casual observers, as well as to influential natural scientists and regional planners, the luxuriant forests of Amazonia seem ageless, unconquerable, a habitat totally hostile to human civilization. The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society. Archaeological traces of far more elaborate cultures have been dismissed as the ruins of invaders from outside the region, abandoned to decay in the uncompromising tropical environment.

The popular conception of Amazonia and its native residents would be enormously

consequential if it were true. But the human history of Amazonia in the past 11,000 years betrays that view as myth. Evidence gathered in recent years from anthropology and archaeology indicates that the region has supported a series of indigenous cultures for eleven thousand years; an extensive network of complex societies - some with populations perhaps as large as 100,000 - thrived there for more than 1,000 years before the arrival of Europeans. (Indeed, some contemporary tribes, including the Siriono, still live among the earthworks of earlier cultures.) Far from being evolutionarily retarded, prehistoric Amazonian people developed technologies and cultures that were advanced for their time. If the lives of Indians today seem "primitive", the appearance is not the result of some environmental adaptation or ecological barrier; rather it is a comparatively recent adaptation to centuries of economic and political pressure. Investigators who argue otherwise have unwittingly projected the present onto the past.

The evidence for a revised view of Amazonia will take many people by surprise. Ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely by natural forces and they have focused their research on habitats they believe have escaped human influence. But as the University of Florida ecologist, Peter Feinsinger, has noted, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable. The archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.

The realization comes none too soon. In June 1992 political and environmental leaders from across the world met in Rio de Janeiro to discuss how developing countries can advance their economies without destroying their natural resources. The challenge is especially difficult in Amazonia. Because the tropical forest has been depicted as ecologically unfit for large-scale human occupation, some environmentalists have opposed development of any kind.

Ironically, one major casualty of that extreme position has been the environment itself. While policy makers struggle to define and implement appropriate legislation, development of the most destructive kind has continued apace over vast areas.

The other major casualty of the "naturalism" of environmental scientists has been the indigenous Amazonians, whose habits of hunting, fishing, and slash-and-burn cultivation often have been represented as harmful to the habitat. In the clash between environmentalists and developers, the Indians, whose presence is in fact crucial to the survival of the forest, have suffered the most. The new understanding of the pre-history of Amazonia, however, points toward a middle ground. Archaeology makes clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. The long- buried past, it seems, offers hope for the future.

Section 2

Solution with Explanations

Questions 1-3

This passage has 6 sections A-F
Choose suitable headings for the A, B, and D sections from the list of headings given below.
Write the appropriate numbers i-vii in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

Amazonia as unable to sustain complex societies
The role of recent technology in ecological research in Amazonia
The hostility of the indigenous population to North American influences
Recent evidence
Early research among the Indian Amazons
The influence of prehistoric inhabitants on Amazonian natural history
The great difficulty of changing local attitudes and practices

Question 1: Section A

Answer: v
Supporting Answer: In 1942 Allan R Holmberg, a doctoral student in anthropology from Yale University, USA, ventured deep into the jungle of Bolivian Amazonia and searched out an isolated band of Siriono Indians.
Keywords: ventured, Amazonian, isolated.
Keyword Location: Paragraph A
Explanation: The research that was done on the Indian Amazon and its conclusions are discussed in the first paragraph. As a result, this section's heading (v) is appropriate.

Question 2: Section B

Answer: i
Supporting Answer: The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society.
Keywords: simplicity, evolutionary, ecology, sustain, complex society.
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: The studies and findings made it quite evident that Amazonia cannot support a sophisticated civilisation in an environment hostile to human civilization. This makes it appropriate.

Question 3: Section D

Answer: vi
Supporting Answer: The archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.
Keywords: archaeological evidence, history, prehistoric
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: As stated in the preceding sentence, it was previously believed that the ecosystems were molded by natural processes; nevertheless, another study found evidence that Amazonia's history is linked to some sort of ancient inhabitants. Therefore, the proper heading is (vi).

Questions 4-9

Determine if the given statements agree with the views of the writer.
In boxes 4-9 on your answer sheet write-

Yes, if the statement agrees with the passage
No, if the statement is contradictory to the passage
Not Given, if no information regarding the topic is mentioned in the passage.

Question 4: The reason for the simplicity of the Indian way of life is that Amazonia has always been unable to support a more complex society.

Answer: No
Supporting Answer: The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaptation to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not - and cannot - sustain a more complex society. Archaeological traces of far more elaborate cultures have been dismissed as the ruins of invaders from outside the region, abandoned to decay in the uncompromising tropical environment.
Keywords: evolutionary, adaptation, complex, elaborate, cultures, abandoned, environment
Keyword Location: Paragraph B
Explanation: Archaeological evidence suggests that there formerly were ruins built by foreign invaders from other places, but they have rotted and were largely abandoned, as has been documented. As a result, despite efforts to create and develop, everything built has been overtaken and destroyed by the trees, which are eternal and completely antagonistic to human civilization. The provided statement runs counter to reality.

Question 5: There is a crucial popular misconception about the human history of Amazonia.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Answer: The popular conception of Amazonia and its native residents would be enormously consequential if it were true. But the human history of Amazonia in the past 11,000 years betrays that view as myth.
Keywords: conception, history, consequential
Keyword Location: Paragraph C
Explanation: There are many myths about Amazonia's past that can be detrimental to the region's reputation, but fortunately, recent statistics and study have shown that the region supported a number of indigenous cultures and other networks of sophisticated communities that endured for a very long period. Even more advanced technology than those of their day are thought to have been created by them.

Question 6: There are lessons to be learned from similar ecosystems in other parts of the world.

Answer: Not Given
Most ecologists were aware that the areas of Amazonia they were working in had been shaped by human settlement.
Answer: No
Supporting Answer: The evidence for a revised view of Amazonia will take many people by surprise. Ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely by natural forces and they have focused their research on habitats they believe have escaped human influence. But as the University of Florida ecologist, Peter Feinsinger, has noted, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable. The archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.
Keywords: ecosystems, research, habitats, influence, evidence.
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: The supporting text makes it obvious that ecologists were unaware that the Amazonia was originally formed by human settlements, which is what is implied by the statement. The insight emerged much later.

Question 7: The indigenous Amazonian Indians are necessary to the well-being of the forest.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Answer: The other major casualty of the "naturalism" of environmental scientists has been the indigenous Amazonians, whose habits of hunting, fishing, and slash-and-burn cultivation often have been represented as harmful to the habitat. In the clash between environmentalists and developers, the Indians, whose presence is in fact crucial to the survival of the forest, have suffered the most.
Keywords: environmentalists, crucial, survival
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: The indigenous people are very important to the forest because they depend entirely on it for their livelihood, which motivates them to protect and preserve it. Giving priority to forest conservation is essential in the current environment of ongoing industrial and development needs.

Question 8: It would be possible for certain parts of Amazonia to support a higher population.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Answer: The new understanding of the pre-history of Amazonia, however, points toward a middle ground. Archaeology makes clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. The long-buried past, it seems, offers hope for the future.
Keywords: judicious management, support, region
Keyword Location: Paragraph F
Explanation: There is a chance that more people could reside in some particular areas of the region with adequate management.

Question 9: It would be possible for certain parts of Amazonia to support a higher population.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Answer: some with populations perhaps as large as 100,000 - thrived there for more than 1,000 years before the arrival of Europeans.
Keyword: populations, thrived
Keyword Location: Para C, Line 5
Explanation: According to the supporting clauses above, it is possible for some areas of the Amazonian Forest to support larger populations.

Questions 10-13

Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.
Question 10: In 1942 the US anthropology student concluded that the Siriono-

Were unusually aggressive and cruel.
Had had their way of life destroyed by invaders.
Were an extremely primitive society.
Had only recently made permanent settlements.

Answer: C
Supporting Answer: In 1942 Allan R Holmberg, a doctoral student in anthropology from Yale University, USA, ventured deep into the jungle of Bolivian Amazonia and searched out an isolated band of Siriono Indians. The Siriono, Holmberg later wrote, led a "strikingly backward” existence.
Keyword: existence, strikingly backward
Keyword Location: Para A
Explanation: The original investigation suggested that the native Indian Amazonians led a simple and archaic way of life.

Question 11: The author believes recent discoveries of the remains of complex societies in Amazonia-

Are evidence of early indigenous communities.
Are the remains of settlements by invaders.
Are the ruins of communities established since the European invasions
show the region has only relatively recently been covered by forest.

Answer: A
Supporting Answer: The archaeological evidence shows that the natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to the activities of its prehistoric inhabitants.
Keyword: prehistoric inhabitants
Keyword Location: Paragraph D
Explanation: Recent studies and research have revealed that although the Amazonia had complex societies, most of them were engulfed by the jungle and swallowed up.

Question 12: The assumption that the tropical ecosystem of Amazonia has been created solely by natural forces-

Has often been questioned by ecologists in the past.
Has been shown to be incorrect by recent research.
Was made by Peter Feinsinger and other ecologists.
Has led to some fruitful discoveries.

Answer: B
Supporting Answer: But as the University of Florida ecologist, Peter Feinsinger, has noted, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable.
Keyword: Florida ecologist, tenable
Keyword Location: Para D
Explanation: The existence of people who shaped the forest throughout the prehistoric period has been established.

Question 13: The application of our new insights into the Amazonian past would-

Warn us against allowing any development at all.
Cause further suffering to the Indian communities.
Change present policies on development in the region.
Reduce the amount of hunting, fishing, and ‘slash-and-burn’.

Answer: C
Supporting Answer: The new understanding of the pre-history of Amazonia, however, points toward a middle ground. Archaeology makes clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. The long-buried past, it seems, offers hope for the future.
Keyword: judicious management, long-buried past
Keyword Location: Para F
Explanation: A brighter future and progress are indicated by the region's and space's wise management.

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