Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears Reading Answers

Oct 19, 2022

Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears Reading Answers have 13 questions that have to be answered in 20 minutes. Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears Reading Answerss comprises two types of questions, namely- true/False/ Not Given and choose one word. For True/ False/ Not Given, candidates must read the passage and understand the statement provided. For one word, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords, understand the concept and choose the appropriate answer. Choosing the correct letter requires candidates to identify the relevance of the statements from within the passage. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage, identify keywords, and recognize synonyms to answer the question.

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Reading Passage Question

Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their disappearance could have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimetres of fat underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.

A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery. They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears. This allowed them to determine the genes that have allowed polar bears to survive in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol. In humans, mutations of this gene are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart disease in humans.

The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition, one that particularly affects our older generation: osteoporosis. This is a disease where bones show reduced density, usually caused by insufficient exercise, reduced calcium intake or food starvation. Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled, meaning that bone is added or removed, depending on nutrient availability and the stress that the bone is under. Female polar bears, however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. Once autumn comes around, these females will dig maternity dens in the snow and will remain there throughout the winter, both before and after the birth of their cubs. This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves. Despite this, their bones remain strong and dense.

Physiologists Alanda Lennox and Allen Goodship found an explanation for this paradox in 2008. They discovered that pregnant bears were able to increase the density of their bones before they started to build their dens. In addition, six months later, when they finally emerged from the den with their cubs, there was no evidence of significant loss of bone density. Hibernating brown bears do not have this capacity and must therefore resort to major bone reformation in the following spring. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.

The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our conservation efforts, but these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. We tend to want to protect animals we think are intelligent and possess emotions, such as elephants and primates. Bears, on the other hand, seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent. And yet anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those assumptions, suggesting for example that polar bears have good problem-solving abilities. A male bear called GoGo in Tennoji Zoo, Osaka, has even been observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach. Problem-solving ability has also been witnessed in wild polar bears, although not as obviously as with GoGo. A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high.

In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focused manipulation. For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game. The study demonstrates that bears are capable of agile and thought-out behaviours. These examples suggest bears have greater creativity and problem-solving abilities than previously thought.

As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill. Moreover, polar bears can form unusual relationships with other species, including playing with the dogs used to pull sleds in the Arctic. Remarkably, one hand-raised polar bear called Agee has formed a close relationship with her owner Mark Dumas to the point where they even swim together. This is even more astonishing since polar bears are known to actively hunt humans in the wild.

If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential breakthroughs in human medicine, but more importantly, the disappearance of an intelligent, majestic animal.

Solution with Explanation
Questions 1-7:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimetres of fat underneath their skin.
Keyword: skin, health, problems
Keyword Location: First paragraph, third line.
Explanation: Here, the writer said that polar bears have 11 centimeters of fat under their skin. Humans with the same amount of fat are considered obese and suffer from health issues, but polar bears have no issues. The statement in the question contradicts the information given in the passage. Hence, the answer is false.

The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears.
Keyword: compared, genetic
Keyword Location: Second paragraph, 2nd line,
Explanation: it is given that they compared the genes (genetic structure) of polar bears with brown bears (closest relative). However, the question says that they compared different groups of polar bears. They compared polar bears with bears from a warmer climate. Thus, there is a contradiction, and the answer is false.

Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Supporting Sentence: They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears.
Keyword: compared, genetic
Keyword Location: Second paragraph, 2nd line,
Explanation: There is no such information given in the passage whether Li and his colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears or not. Hence, the answer is not given. Some information about Liu and his colleague's research and their comparison between polar bears and brown bears is given in the second paragraph. However, it is not given whether they were the first to compare these categories of bears or not.

Polar bears are able to control their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Keyword: cholesterol
Keyword Location: 2nd paragraph, 4th line.
Explanation: It is found by Liu and his colleagues that polar bears had a certain kind of gene (APOB) that reduced levels of bad cholesterol. Hence, the answer is true.

Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves.
Keyword: months, six, food
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, 6th line.
Explanation: The writer said that female polar bears remain in their dens for about six months for the birth of their cubs. Hence, the statement is True.

It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out of their dens in spring.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves.
Keyword: female, polar bears
Keyword Location: 4th paragraph, 3rd line
Explanation: It is given that when they came out, there was no significant bone density loss. Hence, the answer is False

The polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people one day.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit
Keyword: bone, remodelling
Keyword Location: 4th paragraph, last line.
Explanation: It is said that many bedridden (bedridden:- unable to walk or move/ confined to bed) humans can get from polar bears' bone remodeling mechanism. "Could potentially benefit' there are chances that it can be used for human in the future

Questions 8-13:
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
Reasons why polar bears should be protected

People think of bears as unintelligent and ………………. .

Answer: violent
Supporting Sentence: Bears, on the other hand, seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent
Keyword: stupid
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, 4th line.
Explanation: Unintelligent and stupid are synonyms. So, the answer is violent.

However, this may not be correct. For example:

In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a ………………. .

Answer: Tool
Supporting Sentence: The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach.
Keyword: branch, bear
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, 5th line.
Explanation: As per the passage, it is clearly mentioned that bears use branches to dislodge meat. Hence, this is considered a tool - used to do some work.

This allowed him to knock down some ………………. .

Answer: meat
Supporting Sentence: The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach.
Keyword: meat, bear
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, 5th line.
Explanation: As per the passage, the bear uses branches to knock down some meat. Hence, meat is the correct answer.

A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a 11 ………………. was located.

Answer: photographer
Supporting Sentence: A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high..
Keyword: platform, bear, jumping
Keyword Location: 5th paragraph, last line.
Explanation: As per the passage, the male bear jumps and runs to get a photographer. Hence, photographer is the correct answer.

Polar bears have displayed behaviour such as conscious manipulation of objects and activity similar to a ………………. .

Answer: game
Supporting Sentence: Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game
Keyword: game, objects
Keyword Location: 6th paragraph, 2nd line.
Explanation: As per the passage, Ames has seen bears putting objects in piles and knocking them. This seemed like an activity or game. Hence, game is the correct answer.

Bears may also display emotions. For example:

They may make movements suggesting ………………. if disappointed when hunting.
They may form relationships with other species.

Answer: frustration
Supporting Sentence: As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill.
Keyword: frustration, kill, missed out
Keyword Location: 7th paragraph, 1st line.
Explanation: As per the passage, bears display emotion. They seem frustrated when they have missed out on a kill. Hence, frustration is the correct answer.

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