The Paleobiology Database Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

The Paleobiology Database Reading Answers has 13 questions. The IELTS Reading passage has to be answered in 20 minutes. The Paleobiology Database Reading Answers consists of four types of questions including- choosing the correct heading, matching people with opinions, choosing two letters, and choosing the correct letter. Choosing the correct letter and no more than three words requires candidates to identify the relevance of the options given from within the passage. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question. It is important that candidates abide by the word limit as well as answer accurately for what is asked.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Paleobiology Database Reading Answers

Are we now living through the sixth extinction as our own activities destroy ecosystems and wipe out diversity? That’s the doomsday scenario painted by many ecologists, and they may well be right. The trouble is we don’t know for sure because we don’t have a clear picture of how life changes between extinction events or what has happened in previous episodes. We don’t even know how many species are alive today, let alone the rate at which they are becoming extinct. A new project aims to fill some of the gaps. The Paleobiology Database aspires to be an online repository of information about every fossil ever dug up. It is a huge undertaking that has been described as biodiversity’s equivalent of the Human Genome Project. Its organizers hope that by recording the history of biodiversity they will gain an insight into how environmental changes have shaped life on Earth in the past and how they might do so in the future. The database may even indicate whether life can rebound no matter what we throw at it, or whether a human induced extinction could be without parallel, changing the rules that have applied throughout the rest of the planet’s history.
But already the project is attracting harsh criticism. Some experts believe it to be seriously flawed. They point out that a database is only as good as the data fed into it, and that even if all the current fossil finds were catalogued, they would provide an incomplete inventory of life because we are far from discovering every fossilised species. They say that researchers should get up from their computers and get back into the dirt to dig up new fossils. Others are more sceptical still, arguing that we can never get the full picture because the fossil record is riddled with holes and biases.
Fans of the Paleobiology Database acknowledge that the fossil record will always be incomplete. But they see value in looking for global patterns that show relative changes in biodiversity. “The fossil record is the best tool we have for understanding how diversity and extinction work in normal times,” says John Alroy from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara. “Having a background extinction estimate gives US a benchmark for understanding the mass extinction that’s currently under way. It allows us to say just how bad it is in relative terms.”
To this end, the Paleobiology Database aims to be the most thorough attempt yet to come up with good global diversity curves. Every day between 10 and 15 scientists around the world add information about fossil finds to the database. Since it got up and running in 1998, scientists have entered almost 340,000 specimens, ranging from plants to whales to insects to dinosaurs to sea urchins. Overall totals are updated hourly at www.paleodb.org. Anyone can download data from the public part of the site and play with the numbers to their heart’s content. Already, the database has thrown up some surprising results. Looking at the big picture, Alroy and his colleagues believe they have found evidence that biodiversity reached a plateau long ago, contrary to the received wisdom that species numbers have increased continuously between extinction events. “The traditional view is that diversity has gone up and up and up,” he says. “Our research is showing that diversity limits were approached many tens of millions of years before the dinosaurs evolved, much less suffered extinction.” This suggests that only a certain number of species can live on Earth at a time, filling a prescribed number of niches like spaces in a multi-storey car park. Once it’s full, no more new species can squeeze in, until extinctions free up new spaces or something rare and catastrophic adds a new floor to the car park.
Alroy has also used the database to reassess the accuracy of species names. His findings suggest that irregularities in classification inflate the overall number of species in the fossil record by between 32 and 44 per cent. Single species often end up with several names, he says, due to misidentification or poor communication between taxonomists in different countries. Repetition like this can distort diversity curves. “If you have really bad taxonomy in one short interval, it will look like a diversity spike—a big diversification followed by a big extinction-when all that has happened is a change in the quality of names,” says Alroy. For example, his statistical analysis indicates that of the 4861 North American fossil mammal species catalogued in the database, between 24 and 31 per cent will eventually prove to be duplicates.
Of course, the fossil record is undeniably patchy. Some places and times have left behind more fossil-filled rocks than others. Some have been sampled more thoroughly. And certain kinds of creatures—those with hard parts that lived in oceans, for example–are more likely to leave a record behind, while others, like jellyfish, will always remain a mystery. Alroy has also tried to account for this. He estimates, for example, that only 41 per cent of North American mammals that have ever lived are known from fossils, and he suspects that a similar proportion of fossils are missing from other groups, such as fungi and insects.
Not everyone is impressed with such mathematical Jonathan Adrain from the University of Iowa in Iowa City points out that statistical wrangling has been known to create mass extinctions where none occurred. It is easy to misinterpret data. For example, changes in sea level or inconsistent sampling methods can mimic major changes in biodiversity. Indeed, a recent and thorough examination of the literature on marine bivalve fossils has convinced David Jablonsky from the University of Chicago and his colleagues that their diversity has increased steadily over the past 5 million years.
With an inventory of all living species, ecologists could start to put the current biodiversity crisis in historical perspective. Although creating such a list would be a task to rival even the Palaeobiology Database, it is exactly what the San Francisco-based ALL Species Foundation hopes to achieve in the next 25 years. The effort is essential, says Harvard biologist Edward o. Wilson, who is alarmed by current rates of extinction. “There is a crisis. We’ve begun to measure it, and it’s very high,” Wilson says. “We need this kind of information in much more detail to protect all of biodiversity, not just the ones we know well.” Let the counting continue.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Question 1 – 6:
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-F
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-F from the list below. Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

Potential error exists in the database
Supporter of database recleared its value
The purpose of this paleobiology data
Reason why some certain species were not included in it
Duplication of breed but with different names
Achievement of Paleobiology Databasesince
Criticism on the project which is waste of fund

Question 1. Paragraph A

Answer: (iii) The purpose of this paleobiology data
Supporting Sentence: “The Paleobiology Database aspires to be an online repository of information about every fossil ever dug up. It is a huge undertaking that has been described as biodiversity’s equivalent of the Human Genome Project. Its organizers hope that by recording the history of biodiversity they will gain an insight into how environmental changes have shaped life on Earth in the past and how they might do so in the future.
Keyword: online repository, Human Genome Project
Keyword Location: Para A, lines 5-8
Explanation: The author in the first paragraph talks about the aspirations, hopes and indications about the future plans that the paleobiology database is going to conduct.

Question 2. Paragraph B

Answer: (i) Potential error exists in the database
Supporting Sentence: “Some experts believe it to be seriously flawed. They point out that a database is only as good as the data fed into it, and that even if all the current fossil finds were catalogued, they would provide an incomplete inventory of life because we are far from discovering every fossilized species.”
Keyword: experts, fossil, inventory
Keyword Location: Para B, lines 1-2
Explanation: Author indicates that some of the experts believe that the data is seriously flawed and mankind is far from discovering each and every fossilised species.

Question 3. Paragraph C

Answer: ii
Supporting Sentence: “Fans of the Paleobiology Database acknowledge that the fossil record will always be incomplete. But they see value in looking for global patterns that show relative changes in biodiversity. “The fossil record is the best tool we have for understanding how diversity and extinction work in normal times,” says John Alroy from the National Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara.”
Keyword: fossil, global patterns, biodiversity
Keyword Location: para C, lines 1-4
Explanation: Despite some of the experts who see flaws in the database, there are some fans or supporters also who see the positive and concerning side of the database. They tend to make their point crystal clear by saying that the database will remain incomplete no matter how hard we try.

Question 4. Paragraph D

Answer: vi
Supporting Sentence: “the Paleobiology Database aims to be the most thorough attempt yet to come up with good global diversity curves. Every day between 10 and 15 scientists around the world add information about fossil finds to the database. Since it got up and running in 1998, scientists have entered almost 340,000 specimens, ranging from plants to whales to insects to dinosaurs to sea urchins.”
Keyword: global diversity curves
Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 1-3
Explanation: Aa everyday 10-15 scientists from all over the world add information about the fossil finds in the database. Till now they have entered near about 340,000 specimens ranging from a wide array of plants and animals. It's been running since 1998 and is still counting.

Question 5. Paragraph E

Answer: v
Supporting Sentence: “Single species often end up with several names, he says, due to misidentification or poor communication between taxonomists in different countries. Repetition like this can distort diversity curves.”
Keyword: Single species, poor communication
Keyword Location: Para E, lines 3-5
Explanation: Author explains that this is due to the misidentification and poor communication among the taxonomists of various parts of the world. They end up giving different names to a single species which leads to the distortion of diversity curves.

Question 6. Paragraph F

Answer: iv
Supporting Sentence: “Some have been sampled more thoroughly. And certain kinds of creatures—those with hard parts that lived in oceans, for example–are more likely to leave a record behind, while others, like jellyfish, will always remain a mystery. Alroy has also tried to account for this. He estimates, for example, that only 41 per cent of North American mammals that have ever lived are known from fossils, and he suspects that a similar proportion of fossils are missing from other groups, such as fungi and insects.”
Keyword: Single species, poor communication
Keyword Location: Para E, lines 3-5
Explanation: It is only because of the harsh environments that resist scientists to discover the new species and in the meantime many are lost due to extinction.

Question 7-9:
Use the information in the passage to match the people (listed A-D) with opinions or deeds below. Write the appropriate letters A-D in boxes 7-9 on your answer sheet.

Jonathan Adrain
John Alroy
David Jablonsky
Edward o. Wilson

Question 7. Creating the Database would help scientist to identify connections of all species

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: “ has also used the database to reassess the accuracy of species names. His findings suggest that irregularities in classification inflate the overall number of species in the fossil record by between 32 and 44 per cent.”
Keyword: database, accuracy, species name, irregularities
Keyword Location: Para E, lines 1-4
Explanation: John Alroy explains this in the paragraph E.

Question 8. Believed in contribution of detailed statistics should cover beyond the known species

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: “The effort is essential, says Harvard biologist Edward o. Wilson, who is alarmed by current rates of extinction. “There is a crisis. We’ve begun to measure it, and it’s very high,” Wilson says. “We need this kind of information in much more detail to protect all of biodiversity, not just the ones we know well.” Let the counting continue.”
Keyword: Harvard biologist, extinction
Keyword Location: Para H, lines 4-6
Explanation: Edward o. Wilson explains that there is an urgent need for biodiversity conservation which is only possible due to the contribution of statistics.

Question 9. Reached a contradictory finding to the tremendous species die-out

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: “changes in sea level or inconsistent sampling methods can mimic major changes in biodiversity. Indeed, a recent and thorough examination of the literature on marine bivalve fossils has convinced David Jablonsky from the University of Chicago and his colleagues that their diversity has increased steadily over the past 5 million years.”
Keyword: sampling methods, marine
Keyword Location: Para G, lines 3-7
Explanation: David Jablonsky found that minor changes in the environment or niche can cause major effects in the biodiversity of that disturbed area.

Questions 10-11:
Choose the TWO correct letter following
Write your answers in boxes 10-11 on your answer sheet.
Please choose TWO CORRECT descriptions about the The Paleobiology Database in this passage:

almost all the experts welcome this project
intrigues both positive and negative opinions from various experts
all different creature in the database have unique name
aims to embrace all fossil information globally
get more information from record rather than the field

Question 10:

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Some experts believe it to be seriously flawed. They point out that a database is only as good as the data fed into it, and that even if all the current fossil finds were catalogued, they would provide an incomplete inventory of life because we are far from discovering every fossilised species. They say that researchers should get up from their computers and get back into the dirt to dig up new fossils. Others are more sceptical still, arguing that we can never get the full picture because the fossil record is riddled with holes and biases.
Keyword: fossil, inventory, fossilised species
Keyword Location: Para B
Explanation: various experts have given both positive and negative views and opinions on the aspect of Paleobiology database. While some consider it to be flawed others point that researchers must dig up new fossils to gather more information.

Question 11:

Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: Fans of the Paleobiology Database acknowledge that the fossil record will always be incomplete. But they see value in looking for global patterns that show relative changes in biodiversity.
Keyword: Paleobiology Database
Keyword Location: Para C, lines 1-3
Explanation: researchers have been looking for global patterns to embrace information on fossils on a massive scale

Question 12-13:
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 12-13 on your answer sheet.

Question 12. According to the passage, jellyfish belongs to which category of The Paleobiology Database?

repetition breed
untraceable species
specifically detailed species
currently living creature

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: And certain kinds of creatures—those with hard parts that lived in oceans, for example–are more likely to leave a record behind, while others, like jellyfish, will always remain a mystery. Alroy has also tried to account for this.
Keyword: creatures, jellyfish, mystery
Keyword Location: Para G, lines 3-5
Explanation: the trace of jellyfish in a fossilised pattern remains a mystery for the researchers and remains an untraceable species in Paleobiology database

Question 13. What is the author’s suggestion according to the end of passage?

continue to complete counting the number of species in the Paleobiology Database
stop contributing The Paleobiology Database
try to create a database of living creature
study more in the field rather than in the book

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: With an inventory of all living species, ecologists could start to put the current biodiversity crisis in historical perspective. Although creating such a list would be a task to rival even the Palaeobiology Database, it is exactly what the San Francisco-based ALL Species Foundation hopes to achieve in the next 25 years. The effort is essential, says Harvard biologist Edward o. Wilson, who is alarmed by current rates of extinction.
Keyword: inventory, biodiversity, historical perspective
Keyword Location: Para H, lines 1-5
Explanation: the author in the end of the passage suggests that the inventory needs to be made on all the living creatures and species. Ecologists need to focus on the biodiversity of the present. This is in order to endure a historical perspective to deal with the biodiversity crisis in the present times.