The Great Blue Hole Reading Answers

May 21, 2024

The great blue hole Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The great blue hole Reading Answers have a total of 4 IELTS questions in total. In the questions you have to choose the correct word from the passage.

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 The great blue hole 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

Read the Text Below and Answer Questions

The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the centre of lighthouse reef about 70 kms from the mainland and Belize city. The hole is circular in shape, 318 m (1,043 ft) across and 124 m (407 ft) deep. It was formed during several episodes of quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower. Analysis of stalactites found in the Great Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000 to 15,000 years ago. As the ocean began to rise again, the cave was flooded. The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize barrier reef reserve system, a World heritage site of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Investigations by various expeditions confirmed the hole's origin as typical karst limestone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at least four stages. Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves, confirming their previous formation above sea level. Some of these stalactites were also off-vertical by 5° in a consistent orientation, indicating that there had also been some past geological shift and tilting of the underlying plateau, followed by a long period in the current plane. The tilt indicates that this was a movement of the land, rather than a rise in sea level alone. Initial measured depth of Great Blue Hole was 125 m (410 ft) which is the most often cited depth up to this day. An expedition by the Cambrian Foundation in 1997 measured the hole's depth as 124 m (407 ft) at its deepest point. This difference in measurement can be explained by ongoing sedimentation or by imprecision in measurements.
The ancient processes contributing to Belize atoll development may have begun as many as 70 million years ago and the atolls did not develop around subsiding volcanoes. Instead, they originated atop giant fault blocks; limestone covered ridges that settled in steps, providing a series of offshore platforms for coral growth. After the last ice age, with the slow rise of sea level, coral growth continued upward, creating the precipitous outer walls and the shallow inside lagoon that typifies these distinct formations. Many drop-offs surrounding the Belize atolls are thousands of feet deep, while depths in the shallow lagoons average 10 to 30 feet
The sense of isolation and remoteness that accompanies a visit to the atolls, belies a rich history. Although only archaeological traces remain, it appears the ancient Maya inhabited at least a few of the atoll islands for more than 1,000 years. The recorded history of the atolls begins in the early 16th century with the arrival of the Europeans. From 1528 to 1532 Spanish explorers researched and charted the coastline and offshore reefs of Belize and the Yucatan.
Today, it is a popular spot among recreational scuba divers who are lured by the opportunity to dive in sometimes crystal-clear water and meet several species of fish, including midnight parrotfish, Caribbean reef shark, and other juvenile fish species. Other species of sharks, such as the bull shark and hammerheads, have been reported there, but are not regularly sighted. Usually, day trips to the Great Blue Hole are full- day trips from the coastal tourist communities in Belize. Dive excursions to the Great Blue Hole are full-day trips, that usually consist of one dive in the Blue Hole and two additional dives in nearby reefs.
Despite the beauty it offers, the Great Blue Hole of Belize also often witnesses accidents including the death of divers. According to reports, several divers have so far lost their lives in the darkness of the Blue Hole for various reasons. Even though there are no currents in the Blue Hole, accounts suggest the death occurs due to nitrogen narcosis as they go deeper. When divers cross 135ft or more, according to reports, they start feeling numbing sensation or euphoria, eventually causing death.

Section 2

Solution and Explantion

Questions 28-33

The Text has Five Paragraphs

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-v.

LIST OF HEADINGS

Favourable tourist spot with water sport facilities
A word of caution for divers
Environmental significance of the reserve
History unfolds various expeditions by explorers
Resources, composition and structure are discussed
Inhabitation and impact of coral on structure

Paragraph A

Answer: V
Supporting statement:“........The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize barrier reef reserve system, a World Heritage site of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).........”
Keywords: reef, UNESCO
Keyword Location: para A, line 8
Explanation: This paragraph discusses the geological and historical significance of the Great Blue Hole, including its formation and role within a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Paragraph B

Answer: VI
Supporting statement:“.......Investigations by various expeditions confirmed the hole's origin as typical karst limestone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at least four stages..........”
Keywords: limestone, formations
Keyword Location: para B, line 1
Explanation: This paragraph details the geological processes and investigations that confirm the origin and structure of the Great Blue Hole.

Paragraph C

Answer: I
Supporting statement:“........The ancient processes contributing to Belize atoll development may have begun as many as 70 million years ago and the atolls did not develop around subsiding volcanoes.........”
Keywords: processes, atoll development
Keyword Location: para C, line 1
Explanation: This part focuses on the environmental history and coral growth contributing to the Belize Atoll development, indicating a broader context for its structure and importance.

Paragraph D

Answer: IV
Supporting statement:“........Although only archaeological traces remain, it appears the ancient Maya inhabited at least a few of the atoll islands for more than 1,000 years.........”
Keywords: archaeological, inhabited
Keyword Location: para D, line 2
Explanation: This paragraph outlines the historical and archaeological significance of the atolls, detailing the exploration and settlement by the Maya and Europeans.

Paragraph E

Answer: II
Supporting statement:“.......Despite the beauty it offers, the Great Blue Hole of Belize also often witnesses accidents including the death of divers..........”
Keywords: beauty, accidents
Keyword Location: para E, line 1
Explanation: This part describes the risks and accidents associated with diving in the Great Blue Hole, highlighting a word of caution for divers.

Paragraph F

Answer: III
Supporting statement:“........The Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize barrier reef reserve system, a World Heritage site of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).........”
Keywords: UNESCO, heritage site
Keyword Location: para F, line 1
Explanation: This para emphasizes the environmental and cultural significance of the Great Blue Hole as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Questions 34-40

Choose NOT MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

Investigations confirmed that the origin of the hole is of 34..... formation. 35… retrieved from submerged caves 36. The formation above sea level. 37.... ... and shifting of plateau was also observed. Hole's 38..... was measured by a Cambrian foundation in 1997 and the 39........ in measurement can be explained by impression or 40......

Q.34

Answer: . KARST LIMESTONE
Supporting statement:“.........Investigations by various expeditions confirmed the hole's origin as typical karst limestone formations........”
Keywords: confirmed, karst limestone
Keyword Location: para B, line 1
Explanation: The investigations confirmed that the origin of the Great Blue Hole is typical karst limestone formations.

Q.35

Answer: STALACTITES
Supporting statement:“.......Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves..........”
Keywords: stalactites, retrieved
Keyword Location: para B, line 2
Explanation: Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves, providing evidence of their formation above sea level.

Q.36

Answer: CONFIRMED
Supporting statement:“.......confirming their previous formation above sea level..........”
Keywords: confirming, formation
Keyword Location: para B, line 2
Explanation: The retrieval of stalactites confirmed the previous formation of the Great Blue Hole above sea level.

Q.37

Answer: TILTING
Supporting statement:“........Some of these stalactites were also off-vertical by 5° in a consistent orientation, indicating that there had also been some past geological shift and tilting of the underlying plateau..........”
Keywords: geological shift, tilting
Keyword Location: para B, line 3
Explanation: The off-vertical orientation of stalactites indicates past geological shifts and tilting of the underlying plateau.

Q.38

Answer: DEPTH
Supporting statement:“.......An expedition by the Cambrian Foundation in 1997 measured the hole's depth as 124 m (407 ft) at its deepest point..........”
Keywords: Foundation, depth
Keyword Location: para B, line 6
Explanation: The depth of the Great Blue Hole was measured by the Cambrian Foundation in 1997.

Q.39

Answer: DIFFERENCE
Supporting statement:“.......This difference in measurement can be explained by ongoing sedimentation or by imprecision in measurements..........”
Keywords: difference, imprecision
Keyword Location: para B, line 7
Explanation: The difference in depth measurements can be explained by ongoing sedimentation or imprecision in measurements.

Q.40

Answer: SEDIMENTATION
Supporting statement:“.........This difference in measurement can be explained by ongoing sedimentation or by imprecision in measurements........”
Keywords: sedimentation, imprecision
Keyword Location: para B, line 7
Explanation: Ongoing sedimentation could explain the difference in depth measurements.

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