Veins of the Earth Reading Answers

Feb 26, 2025

Veins of the Earth Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Veins of the Earth Reading Answers has a total of 14 IELTS questions in total. In the question set you have to choose the correct answer from the given options. In the next question set you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given. In the last question set you have to answer in no more than two words or a number.

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 recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing 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.

Check: Get 10 Free Sample Papers
Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1 VEINS of THE EARTH

Rivers, the pulsing veins of our blue planet, course through the landscape like life-giving arteries, sustaining the varied tapestry of Earth's ecosystems and cradling the rise and advance of human civilizations. Their rhythmic flow carves out the geography of our cultures and economies, whispering tales of the past as they nurture the present and future. Beyond mere bodies of water, rivers are dynamic systems that have danced through time, shaping and reshaping the contours of continents, fostering lush wilderness along their banks, and beckoning humanity to settle alongside their life-sustaining waters. In their ceaseless journey from mountain to ocean, rivers bind the earth's terrestrial heart to its marine soul, uniting land and sea under the banner of flowing water.

Time has witnessed the enduring flow of rivers, from the sinuous path of the Mississippi, Which has carved its Story over 300 million years, to the ancient River Finke in Australia, slicing through terrains as Old as the Devonian period itself. It was during this time that the Earth underwent a profound transformation. As vascular plants took root. rivers transformed from meandering sheets across sand into flowing channels confined by rooted banks. The introduction of these plants brought about a revolutionary era for river landscapes, giving rise to

the creation of winding channels that now shape most of the world's rivers. Throughout the ages, these waterways have witnessed the remarkable journey of life as it moved from water to land. They have observed the formation and eventual breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, capturing in their sediments a captivating history of our ever-changing planet.

Rivers are remarkable hubs of biodiversity within Earth's hydrological system. They are more than just water channels—they are vital arteries that support an extraordinary array of life. housing some of the most diverse and endangered species. Although freshwater systems constitute less than one percent of the planet's total water surface, they relay their modest share by nurturing nearly 40 percent of all species. From the microscopic algae that oxygenate the water to the larger mammals that rely on rivers for sustenance and habitat, This enormous variety is a monument to the evolutionary miracles that freshwater habitats have developed and conserved over millennia.

From the birth of civilization, rivers have been the throbbing heart of human progress, serving as the original highways that connected disparate communities and fostered the exchange of culture, commodities, and ideas. The interdependence of rivers and human development is indelible, supplying the essential elements of survival— food and water—while also providing the raw materials that spurred early industrial growth. Along the Tigris and Euphrates, the Cradle of civilization flourished, transforming arid lands into fertile crescents of abundance. Rivers powered mills and factories, dictating the pace of technological advancement, and their banks became the bedrock for modern cities. As civilizations evolved, So did the utilization of these waterways, with societies building ever more complex networks to harness and exploit the rich bounties rivers provided

Today, rivers remain as critical as ever, their roles and responsibilities magnified by the demands of contemporary society. They fertilize floodplains that in turn yield bountiful harvests, Additionally, their cascading waters arc harnessed for clean hydroelectric power that provide illumination to urban areas and fueling various industries, The importance transcends mere economics; they are pivotal in regulating the global carbon cycle, offering climate feedback that may dictate the future of our planetary climate. The waters support fisheries that feed millions and create micro-habitats for a plethora of species. Thus, rivers are not only economic arteries but ecological bastions that uphold the delicate balance of nature's diverse mechanisms. allowing for a symbiosis between human need and environmental stewardship.

However, the health of these vital watercourses is under siege. It is quite alarming that less than one percent of rivers in England and Wales are free from man-made barriers. The construction of dams, the dredging for sand, and unchecked pollution are suffocating these aquatic lifelines, With significant repercussions for the ecosystems and communities that rely on them. In Southeast Asia, rampant sand mining and damming have altered river courses and sediment flows, devastating local environments and livelihoods. These human interventions, while beneficial to development, often come at a high ecological cost, disrupting the natural flow of rivers and the life they support. The challenge lies in balancing the imperatives of human use with the preservation of river integrity, ensuring these waterways can continue to sustain us without sacrificing the ecosystems that have thrived for millennia.

The push for preservation is not just about safeguarding nature's beauty—it's about upholding the ecological and economic services that rivers provide. Conservationists and policymakers are rallying for the restoration of natural water flows, the reclamation of disrupted habitats, and the implementation of sustainable water management practices. Such initiatives aim to mitigate the impact of dams, curtail excessive water extraction. and control pollution. This holistic approach to river management is essential, recognizing rivers as more than just water channels, but as ecosystems with Intrinsic value that must be protected for the benefit of all species that rely on them, including our own.

Questions 27-31

Choose the correct letter.

27. In the first paragraph, what can be inferred about the writer's view on the relationship between rivers and humans In history

A. Rivers have witnessed but not influenced human history.

B. Rivers have played a passive role in human settlement.

C. Rivers have been central to the development of human societies.

D. Rivers have sometimes hindered human advancement.

Answer: C

Supporting statement:cradling the rise and advance of human civilizations.

Keywords: rise, human civilizations

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the passage rivers have been central to supporting the diverse ecosystems and supporting the development of human civilizations.

28. In the fourth paragraph, how have rivers contributed to human civilization?

A. by promoting community unity and cultural integration

B. by acting as natural barriers shaping settlement patterns

C. by encouraging the shifts in industrial advancements

D. by fostering diverse agricultural developments

Answer: A

Supporting statement:the original highways that connected disparate communities and fostered the exchange of culture, commodities, and ideas

Keywords: communities, culture

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The text states that since the dawn of civilization, rivers have been the vital heart of human development, acting as the first roads that linked diverse communities and promoted the flow of ideas, goods, and culture.

29. In the fourth paragraph, how have rivers facilitated industrial growth?

A. by mainly serving as transit routes and trade

B. by primarily providing basic resources

C. by operating machines and influencing technology

D. by providing industrial workers with freshwater

Answer: C

Supporting statement:Rivers powered mills and factories, dictating the pace of technological advancement,

Keywords: Rivers, technological

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 7

Explanation: The passage mentions that mills and industries were powered by rivers, which determined how quickly technology advanced.

30. What concern does the writer raise about the contemporary status of rivers in the sixth paragraph?

A. Rivers face challenges due to excessive conservation measures that limit their use.

B. Rivers face numerous Challenges due to human activities and pollution.

C. Rivers have lost their significance as vital resources for human survival.

D. The emphasis on conserving river beauty has overshadowed their ecological significance.

Answer: B

Supporting statement:These human interventions, while beneficial to development, often come at a high ecological cost, disrupting the natural flow of rivers and the life they support.

Keywords:human interventions, disrupting

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 6-7

Explanation:According to the passage the challenges faced by the river due to human intervention such as the construction of dams and sand mining alters the river courses and sediment flows, devastating local environments and livelihoods.

31.What vision for river management Is conveyed by the writer in the sixth paragraph?

A. maintaining the existing approach to river exploitation and development

B. reducing the negative effects of human activities on river ecosystem

C. striking a balance between human utilization and the preservation of rivers

D. prioritizing river ecology above commercial exploitation

Answer: C

Supporting statement:The challenge lies in balancing the imperatives of human use with the preservation of river integrity

Keywords: human use, river integrity

Keyword Location: Para 6, Line 8

Explanation: The passage mentions that balancing the use of rivers by the human is faced with many challenges

Questions 32-35

Do the following statements agree with the

views of the writer in the Reading Passage 3? write:

TRUE If the statement agrees with the information

FALSE If the statement contradicts with the information

NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this

32. Rivers have been connecting the land and sea as they flow.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement:rivers bind the earth's terrestrial heart to its marine soul

Keywords: bind, earth's

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 8

Explanation:According to the text rivers play a crucial part in connecting the sea and the land as it flows.

33. River flows have been purposefully guided by the plant life growing nearby.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The text provides no information regarding the statement given above

34. Fisheries find rivers a challenging environment for profitability.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement:The waters support fisheries that feed millions and create micro-habitats for a plethora of species.

Keywords: fisheries, micro-habitats

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 6-7

Explanation:According to the text, fisheries are supported By the waters as it is a micro habitat for a plethora of species and feeds the Millions dependent on it.

35. The conservation of rivers is seen as beneficial to select species.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement:that must be protected for the benefit of all species that rely on them, including our own.

Keywords: benefit, species

Keyword Location: Para 7, Line 7

Explanation:The text mentions that the conservation of the river does not only benefit a selected species but it benefits all the species that rely on it for habitat and food.

Questions 36-40

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER.

- Within the global 36…………, rivers stand out as exceptional centers of biodiversity, providing a home to a wide variety of organisms and habitats, including some that are critically endangered.

- About 37……..only of the world's entire biodiversity, including not only 38………...but also bigger animals, depend on freshwater systems, which account for less than 1% of the planet's total water area.

- The variety of life in rivers shows how amazing 39……….are for development, indicating how rich the environment has been for thousands of years.

- Rivers have always been at the center of human development, providing vital links between cities and facilitating the flow of people, goods, and ideas.

- Rivers have played a critical role in human evolution offering 40……….for living and providing for early industrial

- Rivers have shaped urbanization and technological progress as people have adapted to new methods of using these resources.

36……….

Answer: HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM

Supporting statement:Rivers are remarkable hubs of biodiversity within Earth's hydrological system.

Keywords: biodiversity, hydrological

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 1

Explanation:According to the text rivers are an important hub for the biodiversity within the earth's hydrological system.

37………..

Answer: 40 PERCENT

Supporting statement: they relay their modest share by nurturing nearly 40 percent of all species.

Keywords: modest, 40 percent

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 4-5

Explanation: The text mentions that despite making up less than 1% of the planet's total water surface, freshwater systems support around 40% of all species, showing their small contribution.

38………..

Answer: MICROSCOPIC ALGAE

Supporting statement: From the microscopic algae that oxygenate the water to the larger mammals

Keywords: microscopic, mammals

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the text the above incredible diversity, which ranges from the microscopic algae that give the water its oxygen to the bigger mammals that depend on rivers for home and food, is proof of the evolutionary wonders that freshwater ecosystems have created and preserved over thousands of years.

39………..

Answer: FRESHWATER INHABITANTS

Supporting statement:This enormous variety is a monument to the evolutionary miracles that freshwater habitats have developed and conserved over millennia.

Keywords: freshwater, conserved

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 6-7

Explanation:The text states that the proof to the evolutionary wonders that freshwater habitats have created and preserved over thousands of years is this vast diversity.

40………..

Answer: ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Supporting statement:supplying the essential elements of survival— food and water—

Keywords: essential, survival

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 4

Explanation:Rivers and human progress are intimately linked since they provide the raw materials that powered the early industrialization as well as the necessities of life, such as food and water.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples