IELTS Academic Reading: Syllabus, Question Types, Books, Tips and Practice Test

Aug 13, 2024

This section of the IELTS reading answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions, you have to answer the questions with one or two words. In the next section, you have to tell whether the statement is true or 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 Swordfish Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

SWORDFISH

Swordfish, also recognized as broadbills in some countries, are big, highly migratory, predatory fish considered by a lengthy, plain and pointed beak. They are a general sport fish 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 (xiphos, "sword") and from Latin gladius ("sword"). This makes it sketchily similar to other billfish such as marlin, but upon examination, their physiology is quite dissimilar, and they are members of different families. They commonly grasp 3 m (9.8 ft) in length and 550 Kg in weight, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in length and 650 kg (1,430 Ib) in weight. The International Game Fish Association's all-tackle angling record for a swordfish 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 rather than otoliths, since their otoliths are small. Swordfish are ectothermic animals; however, along with 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 of the eyes greatly advances their vision and thus advances their skill to clasp victims. Of the 25,000+ fish species, only 22 are known to have an apparatus to conserve heat. These include 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 gash at its prey to hurt the prey animal to make for an easier 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 favour water temperatures between 18 and 22 °C (64 and 72 ° F), but have the biggest 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 feed daily, most frequently at night when they increase to surface and near-surface waters in hunt 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, barracudas silver hake, rockfish, herring, and lanternfishes, but they also take demersal fish, squid, and crustaceans. In the northwestern Atlantic, a survey on the stomach content of 168 individuals found that 82% had eaten squid and 53% had eaten fish, including gadids, scombrids, butterfish bluefish, and sand lance. Large target is typically slashed with the sword, while small ones are swallowed whole. Swordfish are not schooling fish.

They swim alone or in very loose combinations, unglued by as much as 10 m (33 ft) from a neighbouring swordfish. They are often found lying at the surface, airing their initial dorsal fin. Boaters report this to be a beautiful sight, as is the influential jumping for which the species is known. This jumping, also called breaching, may be an exertion to dislodge pests, such as remoras or lampreys. Almost 50 species of parasites have been recognized in swordfish. In addition to remoras, lampreys, and cookie-cutter sharks, this comprises a wide range of invertebrates such as tapeworms, roundworms, and copepods. A contrast of the parasites of swordfish in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean designated that some parasites, chiefly Anisakis spp. larvae recognized by genetic markers could be used as biological tags and backing the being of a Mediterranean 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 takes on swordfish; dead or dying shortfin makos have been with broken-off swords in their heads, close-fitting the danger of this type of prey. Juvenile swordfish are far more susceptible to predation and are eaten by an extensive range of predatory fish. In the North Pacific, batch laying mainly happens in water warmer than 24 °C (75 °F) during the spring and summer, and year-round in the equatorial Pacific. In the North Atlantic, spawning is known from the Sargasso Sea, and in water warmer than 23 °C (73 °F) and less than 75 m (246 ft) deep. Spawning happens from November to February in the South Atlantic off southern Brazil. Spawning is year-round in the Caribbean Sea and other warm regions of the west Atlantic. Large females can carry more eggs than small females, and between 1 million to 29 million eggs have been recorded. The pelagic eggs measure 1.6-1.8 mm (0.063-0.071 in) in diameter and 2.5 days after fertilization, the embryonic development transpires. The surface-living and unique-looking larvae are 4 mm (0.16 in) long at hatching. The bill is obvious when the larvae reach 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: “.......The swordfish is called after its pointed, flat bill, which looks like a sword.........”

Keywords: pointed, flat

Keyword Location: para 1, line 9

Explanation: The passage describes the swordfish’s beak as "pointed" and "flat," which accurately fills the blank. This description specifies the shape of the beak, distinguishing the swordfish from other fish species.

2. Swordfish loses all teeth and scales by

Answer: ADULTHOOD

Supporting statement: “........Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood........”

Keywords: lose, adulthood

Keyword Location: para 1, line 4

Explanation: The passage states that swordfish lose their teeth and scales by the time they reach adulthood. This indicates that all such features are lost during their growth to maturity.

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

Keyword Location: para 1, line 6

Explanation: The passage mentions that the common length of swordfish is 3 meters, making it clear that this is the typical size for swordfish.

4. Female swordfish is…….. Then male swordfish.

Answer: LARGER

Supporting statement: “.......Females are larger than males, and Pacific swordfish reach a greater size than northwest Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish..........”

Keywords: females, larger

Keyword Location: para 1, line 18

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that female swordfish are larger compared to males, confirming that "larger" is the correct term to use. Hence larger is the correct answer.

5. Normally the swordfish reaches adulthood at … years.

Answer: 4-5

Supporting statement: “........They reach adulthood at 4-5 years of age and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years.........”

Keywords: adulthood, 4

Keyword Location: para 2, line 1

Explanation: This statement from the passage specifies the typical age range at which swordfish reach adulthood, confirming that they usually reach this stage between 4 and 5 years.

6. Swordfish have... near their eyes to keep their eyes and brain warm.

Answer: SPECIAL ORGANS

Supporting statement: “........they have special organs next to their eyes to warmth their eyes and brains........”

Keywords: organs, warmth

Keyword Location: para 2, line 5

Explanation: The passage explains that swordfish possess "special organs" next to their eyes that help keep their eyes and brains warm. This detail is crucial for understanding how swordfish maintain their body heat in varying water temperatures.

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

Answer: 60

Supporting statement: “........but the foundation for the regularly quoted speed of 97 km/h (60 mph) is unreliable..........”

Keywords: quoted, speed

Keyword Location: para 2, line 17

Explanation: Although the reliability of the speed claim is questioned, the passage provides 60 mph as the commonly quoted speed for swordfish, making it the answer to the question.

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 (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........”

Keywords: maximum, weight

Keyword Location: para 1, lines 6-8

Explanation: The passage indicates that 650 kg is the maximum reported weight for swordfish, not their common weight. The typical weight of a swordfish is generally less than this maximum value, so the statement is false.

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

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........and the maximum age is believed to be at least 9 years........”

Keywords: maximum, age

Keyword Location: para 2, line 2

Explanation: The passage states that the maximum age of swordfish is believed to be at least 9 years, but it does not confirm that all swordfish live to this age. This makes the statement about their age expectancy as a general rule false.

10. Swordfish is the largest fish in the world.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage does not mention whether swordfish are the largest fish in the world. It provides information on their size and weight but does not compare them to other fish species, so this information is not given.

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

Answer: NOT GIVEN

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

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “........but have the biggest tolerance among billfish, and can be originated from 5 to 27 °C (41 to 81 ° F).........”

Keywords: broadest, tolerance

Keyword Location: para 2, lines 20-21

Explanation: The passage confirms that swordfish have the widest tolerance for water temperatures among billfish species, supporting the statement as true.

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

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “........This highly travelling species typically moves near colder regions to feed during the summer.........”

Keywords: regions, summer

Keyword Location: para 3, line 1

Explanation: The passage states that swordfish move to colder regions during the summer to feed, making the statement true.

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

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “........Large females can carry more eggs than small females.........”

Keywords: females, more

Keyword Location: para 5, line 5

Explanation: The passage specifies that larger females carry more eggs than smaller ones. Therefore, the statement is false.