Swordfish Reading Answers

Sep 30, 2025

Swordfish Reading Answers contains 14 questions and belongs to the assessment system of the IELTS General Reading test. Swordfish Reading Answers must be answered within 20 minutes. In this IELTS reading section, question types include: Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER for each answer, and Do the following statements agree with the information given.

Swordfish Reading Answers offers a comprehensive overview of Swordfish, which are large, migratory predators with long, sword-like bills, found in tropical and temperate oceans. Known for their speed, sharp vision, and unique heat-conserving organs, they feed on fish and squid, spawn in warm waters, and have few natural predators. To practice similar reading tests, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Topic:

Swordfish, also recognized as broadbill in some countries, are big, highly migratory, predatory fish considered by a lengthy, plane and pointed beak. They are generally part of the billfish category, however elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are created broadly in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft). They commonly reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight.

The swordfish is called after its pointed, flat bill, which looks like a sword. The species name, Xiphias gladius, originates from Greek (xiphias, “swordfish”), itself from Latin gladius (“sword”). This makes it sketchily similar to other billfish such as marlin, but upon examination, their physiology is quite dissimilar, as they are members of different families. They commonly reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in length and 550 kg (1,210 lb) weight, and the maximum reported was a 536 kg (1,182 lb) specimen taken off Chile in 1953. Females are larger than males, and Pacific swordfish reach a greater size than northwest Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish. They reach adulthood at 4–5 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years.

Swordfish ages are resultant, with difficulty, from annual rings on fin rays or other bones, since their otoliths are small. Swordfish are ectothermic animals; like some species of sharks, they have special organs next to their eyes to warm their eyes and brains. Temperatures of 10 to 15 °C (18 to 27 °F) above the surrounding water temperature have been measured. The heating greatly advances their vision, and this advances their ability to clasp victim.

Of the 25,000+ fish species, only 22 are known to have this apparatus to conserve heat. These include the swordfish, marlin, tuna, and some sharks. Conflicting to popular belief, the “sword” is not used to spear, but in its place may be used to slash at prey to hurt the prey and make it easier to clasp. Mainly, the swordfish depends on its great speed and nimbleness in the water to clasp its prey. It is no doubt among the fastest fish, but the foundation for the regularly quoted speed of 97 km/h (60 mph) is unreliable. Swordfish prefer temperatures between 18 and 22 °C (64 and 72 °F), but have the highest tolerance among billfish, and can be originated from 5 to 27 °C (41 to 81 °F). This highly travelling species typically moves near colder regions to feed during the summer.

Swordfish have been found at night, when they increase to surface and near-surface waters in quest of smaller fish, during the day they usually happen to depths of 550 m (1,800 ft) and have remarkably been recorded as deep as 2,878 m (9,442 ft). Adults feed on a wide range of pelagic fish, such as mackerel, barracudinas, silver hake, rockfish, herring, and lanternfishes, but they also take demersal fish, squid, and crustaceans. In the northwest Atlantic, a survey founded on the stomach content of 168 individuals found that they had eaten squid and 53% had consumed Atlantic mackerel. Other prey included butterfish, bluefish, and sand lance. Larger target is typically slashed with the sword, while smaller fish are swallowed whole. Swordfish are not schooling fish. They swim alone or in very loose continuations, unglued by as much as 10 m (33 ft) from a neighbouring swordfish. They are not aggressive fish, at the surface, airing their initial dorsal fins.

Boaters report them to be a beautiful sight, as is the influential jumping. For the most part, jumping has been recognized in swordfish. In addition to other identified pests, such as remoras or lampreys, almost 50 species of parasites have been recognized in swordfish. In addition to parasites of swordfish such as cestodes, nematodes, and copepods. A count of parasites of swordfish in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean noted that some parasites, chiefly Anisakis spp. larvae recognized in swordfish stomachs, could be used as biological tags for investigating swordfish stock.

Fully adult swordfish have scarce natural predators. Among marine mammals, killer whales occasionally prey on adult swordfish. The shortfin mako, a remarkably fast species of shark, occasionally preys on swordfish; dead adult swordfish have been noted broken off-short in their heads, close-fitting the danger of this type of predator. Juvenile swordfish are preyed on by other pelagic fishes.

Swordfish spawn in specific areas, at certain times of the year, and in certain conditions. Spawning is known year-round in the Caribbean Sea and in waters near Florida, peaks may happen in water warmer than 24 °C (75 °F) during spring and summer, and year-round in the equatorial Pacific. In the North Atlantic, spawning is known from the Sargasso Sea during spring and summer, and year-round in the equatorial Pacific. In the South Atlantic, spawning is known to happen from November to February in the South Atlantic off Brazil. Spawning is year-round in the Caribbean Sea and other warmer regions of the West Atlantic. Large females can carry more eggs than small females, and even between 1 million to 29 million eggs have been reported. The pelagic eggs measure 1.6–1.8 mm (0.063–0.071 in) in diameter and 2.5 days after fertilization, the small larvae are 4 mm (0.16 in) long at hatching. The bill is obvious when they are 1 cm (0.4 in) in length.

Questions 1-7

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER for each answer

1. Swordfish has a long, flat, …………………… beak.

Answer: pointed

Supporting statement: "…predatory fish considered by a lengthy, plane and pointed beak."

Keywords: long, flat, pointed beak

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 1

Explanation: The text directly states swordfish has a long, flat, pointed beak.

2. Swordfish loses all teeth and scales by …………………………..

Answer: adulthood

Supporting statement: "…lose all teeth and scales by adulthood."

Keywords: lose, teeth, scales, adulthood

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 3

Explanation: Swordfish shed their teeth and scales when they become adults.

3. The usual length of swordfish is …………………….. Meters.

Answer: 3

Supporting statement: "They commonly reach 3 m (9.8 ft) in length…"

Keywords: reach, 3 m, length

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, line 6

Explanation: The average size of swordfish is given as 3 meters.

4. Female swordfish is …………………… than male swordfish.

Answer: larger

Supporting statement: "Females are larger than males…"

Keywords: females, larger, males

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 6

Explanation: The text directly compares female and male swordfish.

5. Normally the swordfish reaches adulthood at ……………………….. Years.

Answer: 4–5

Supporting statement: "They reach adulthood at 4–5 years of age…"

Keywords: adulthood, 4–5 years

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 7

Explanation: Swordfish maturity is reached at 4–5 years.

6. Swordfish has …………………… near their eyes to keep their eyes and brain warm.

Answer: special organs

Supporting statement: "…they have special organs next to their eyes to warm their eyes and brains."

Keywords: special organs, eyes, warm

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 2

Explanation: Swordfish use specialized organs near the eyes to keep warm.

7. It is regularly said that the swordfish can travel up to ……………………… mph.

Answer: 60

Supporting statement: "…regularly quoted speed of 97 km/h (60 mph) is unreliable."

Keywords: speed, 60 mph

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 5

Explanation: Though unreliable, 60 mph is the commonly quoted speed.

Questions 8-14

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage ?

TRUE - If the statement agrees with the information

FALSE - If the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN - If there is no information on this

8. A common swordfish weights around 650 kg.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "They commonly reach 3 m… and 550 kg (1,210 lb) weight, and the maximum reported… 650 kg."

Keywords: common, 550 kg, maximum 650 kg

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 3–5

Explanation: Average weight is ~550 kg, not 650 kg (which is maximum).

9. A swordfish has an age expectancy of at least 9 years.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "…the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years."

Keywords: maximum age, 9 years

Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 8

Explanation: The passage clearly states the maximum age is at least 9 years.

10. Swordfish is the largest fish in the world.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: Not mentioned; but other species like whale sharks are larger. The passage only gives swordfish size (3–4.55 m, 650 kg).

Keywords: largest fish, swordfish size

Keyword Location: Paragraph 1–2

Explanation: Swordfish is large but not the world’s largest fish.

11. Swordfish keeps themselves warm by using a special organ.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "…they have special organs next to their eyes to warm their eyes and brains."

Keywords: special organs, warm

Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 2

Explanation: Warmth is maintained through specialized organs.

12. Swordfish have the broadest tolerance when it comes to adjusting with water temperatures among billfish.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "…but have the highest tolerance among billfish…"

Keywords: highest tolerance, billfish

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 6

Explanation: Swordfish are confirmed to have the broadest tolerance.

13. Swordfish generally moves to colder regions to feed during the summers.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "…typically moves near colder regions to feed during the summer."

Keywords: colder regions, feed, summer

Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, line 7

Explanation: Migration to colder waters in summer is explicitly mentioned.

14. Small females can carry more eggs than large females.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Large females can carry more eggs than small females…"

Keywords: large females, more eggs

Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, line 4

Explanation: The passage says the opposite — larger females carry more eggs.

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