The Language of Whales Unlocking the Secrets of Cetacean Communication Reading Answers

Aug 27, 2025

The Language of Whales: Unlocking the Secrets of Cetacean Communication Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic.The Language of Whales: Unlocking the Secrets of Cetacean Communication Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, you have to fill in the blank with the correct answer using no more than three words for each. In the next question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

THE LANGUAGE OF WHALES: UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF CETACEAN COMMUNICATION

For decades, scientists have been fascinated by the complex vocalisations of whales. These majestic creatures, which inhabit the vast and mysterious oceans, are known to produce a range of sounds that travel long distances underwater. Recent research suggests that some whale species, particularly humpbacks and sperm whales, may be using vocalisations in ways that resemble human language more than previously thought.

Whale communication is not merely random noise; it is composed of structured patterns that vary by species and even by region. Humpback whales, for instance, produce what researchers call "songs" that can last for hours. These songs are made up of repeating units and phrases that change gradually over time. Interestingly, all the male humpbacks within a particular population tend to sing the same version of the song during a given season. Then, as the months progress, they collectively modify it—something no other species, besides humans, has been observed to do.

Sperm whales, on the other hand, communicate through a series of clicking sounds known as "codas." Each group of sperm whales, or "clan," uses a distinct set of codas, which act almost like cultural identifiers. These codas can vary in rhythm and pattern, and whales appear to use them for social bonding, identification, and even coordination of movement. One study off the coast of Dominica found that sperm whales living in the same waters but belonging to different clans never intermingled, largely due to their distinct vocal repertoires.

The challenge in studying whale communication lies in the medium itself. Sound travels nearly five times faster in water than in air, making it difficult to localise the source of a sound. Moreover, the vastness of the ocean and the mobility of whales complicate efforts to track their vocal patterns over time. Despite these hurdles, technological advances have enabled scientists to make progress. Underwater microphones known as hydrophones, as well as machine learning tools, have helped researchers catalogue thousands of whale sounds and begin to identify meaningful patterns.

In 2021, a collaborative project named the CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) was launched with the ambitious goal of deciphering whale communication. Using artificial intelligence and massive underwater recording arrays, the project hopes to understand whether whales possess a structured language system with elements of grammar and syntax. If successful, it could dramatically reshape our understanding of animal intelligence and cognition. There are significant ethical implications to these discoveries. If whales do possess a form of language, it raises questions about their consciousness, culture, and even rights. Many marine biologists argue that increased awareness of whale intelligence should lead to stronger international protections against hunting, ship strikes, and underwater noise pollution.

Whales have existed for millions of years, and their communication systems may predate human speech. Understanding their language could open a new chapter in interspecies communication, challenging the long-held belief that language is uniquely human. As researchers continue to listen to the deep, they are beginning to realise that the oceans may be filled with voices still waiting to be understood.

Questions 27-33

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

27. Humpback whales create long and structured vocalisations known as_________

Answer: SONGS

Supporting statement: "Humpback whales, for instance, produce what researchers call “songs”that can last for hours."

Keywords: Humpback whales, produce, songs

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The text directly refers to the long, structured vocalisations of humpback whales as songs.

28. Male humpbacks in a group usually sing the ________version of the song.

Answer: SAME

Supporting statement: "Interestingly, all the male humpbacks within a particular population tend to sing the same version of the song during a given season."

Keywords: male humpbacks, same version, sing

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-5

Explanation: According to the text, during a season, male humpbacks in a population sing the identical version of the song.

29. The clicking sounds used by sperm whales to communicate are referred to as___________

Answer: CODAS

Supporting statement: "Sperm whales, on the other hand, communicate through a series of clicking sounds known as “codas.” "

Keywords: Sperm whales, clicking sounds, codas

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text defines the clicking sounds of sperm whales as codas.

30. Each sperm whale clan has its own unique set of_____________-

Answer: VOCAL REPERTOIRES

Supporting statement: "One study off the coast of Dominica found that sperm whales living in the same waters but belonging to different clans never intermingled, largely due to their distinct vocal repertoires."

Keywords: clans, distinct, vocal repertoires

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the text, the vocal repertoires of several sperm whale clans differ from one another. Different is paraphrased as its own unique set of.

31. Sound travels faster in___________than in air, making it hard to track.

Answer: WATER

Supporting statement: "Sound travels nearly five times faster in water than in air, making it difficult to localise the source of a sound."

Keywords: sound travels, faster, water

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that sound travels faster in water than in air.

32.___________have helped record and identify whale vocal patterns.

Answer: HYDROPHONES

Supporting statement: "Underwater microphones known as hydrophones, as well as machine learning tools, have helped researchers catalogue thousands of whale sounds..."

Keywords: Underwater microphones, hydrophones

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The text names hydrophones as a technology that has helped researchers record and identify whale sounds.

33. The CETI project aims to find out if whale communication has_______________

Answer: GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX

Supporting statement: "Using artificial intelligence and massive underwater recording arrays, the project hopes to understand whether whales possess a structured language system with elements of grammar and syntax."

Keywords: CETI, understand, grammar and syntax

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 3-4

Explanation: According to the passage, the purpose of the CETI project is to determine whether grammar and syntax are part of whale communication.

Questions 34-40

Do the following statements agree with the information in the reading passage?

write: TRUE/ FALSE/ NOT GIVEN

34. All whale species sing songs that change over time.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Humpback whales, for instance, produce what researchers call “songs” that can last for hours."

Keywords: Humpback whales, produce, songs

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the passage, not all whale species sing, but only humpback whales do.

35. Codas help sperm whales to maintain their social structure.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "These codas can vary in rhythm and pattern, and whales appear to use them for social bonding, identification, and even coordination of movement."

Keywords: codas, social bonding, identification, coordination

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that codas are used for social bonding and identification, which are key aspects of maintaining social structure.

36. Whales of different clans living in the same region avoid each other.

Answer: TRUE

Keywords: sperm whales, different clans, never intermingled

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 5-6

Explanation: Even though they lived in the same waters, the text makes it clear that sperm whales from different clans never intermingled.

37. Hydrophones have recently been replaced by drones for whale tracking.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Underwater microphones known as hydrophones, as well as machine learning tools, have helped researchers catalogue thousands of whale sounds..."

Keywords: hydrophones, machine learning

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 5-6

Explanation: The passage mentions that hydrophones are currently used, alongside other tools, but does not state they have been replaced by drones.

38. The CETI project uses AI to analyse whale communication.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Using artificial intelligence and massive underwater recording arrays, the project hopes to understand whether whales possess a structured language system..."

Keywords: artificial intelligence, analyse, whale communication

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 3-4

Explanation: According to the text, the CETI project makes use of artificial intelligence to comprehend whale communication.

39. Scientists are certain that whales have grammar and syntax in their language.

Answer: FALSE

Keywords: hopes to understand, whether, grammar and syntax

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage uses the phrase hopes to understand whether, indicating that scientists are not yet certain but are investigating this possibility.

40. Some experts believe that whales may deserve stronger legal protection.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Many marine biologists argue that increased awareness of whale intelligence should lead to stronger international protections against hunting, ship strikes, and underwater noise pollution."

Keywords: marine biologists, stronger international protections

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 7-9

Explanation: The text states that marine biologists believe that due to their intelligence, whales should have stronger international protections.

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