This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to Reading Passage 1 titled ‘Why we need to protect polar bears’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have major problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you to the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The headline of the passage: Why we need to protect polar bears

Questions 1-7: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 1: Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin.

Keywords for the question: polar bears, suffer from, various health problems, due to, build-up, fat, under, skin,   

For this question, we have to look at the first paragraph. Here, in lines 3-6, the writer says, “ … … .. 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.”

This means humans suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin; NOT the polar bears.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 2: The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.

Keywords for the question: study, Liu and his colleagues, compared, different groups, polar bears,   

 Lines 1-2 of paragraph no. 2 say, “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. .. .. .”

Here, the lines suggest that the study compared polar bears with brown bears; NOT different groups of polar bears.

So, the answer is: FALSE

 Question no. 3: Liu and his colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.

Keywords for the question: Liu and his colleagues, first researchers, compare, polar bears, brown bears, genetically,

 The passage contains NO INFORMATION on whether Liu and his colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 4: Polar bears are able to control their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means.

Keywords for the question: polar bears, able to control, levels, ‘bad’ cholesterol, genetic means,   

In paragraph no. 2, take a close look at lines 4-5, “ … … .. 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’ cholesterols. .. .. .”

Here, had a gene known as APoB = genetic means, reduces levels = control levels,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 5: Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.  

Keywords for the question: female polar bears, able to survive, about six months, without food,    

The answer to this question can be found in the third paragraph. Here, take a look at lines 5-9, “ . . .. .. 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, … .. …”

Here, six months of fasting = six months without food,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 6: It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out of their dens in spring.  

Keywords for the question: found, bones of female polar bears, very weak, came out, their dens, spring,     

In paragraph no. 3, take a look at lines 5-10, “ . . … .. Female polar bears, however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. . . . .. . .. . . .. .  This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, . . .. . . .. . ..  Despite this, their bones remain strong and dense.”

Here, the lines suggest that the bones of female polar bears remained very strong a dense when they came out of their dens in spring.

So, the answer is: FALSE  

Question no. 7: The polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people one day.

Keywords for the question: polar bear’s mechanism, increasing bone density, also, used by people, one day,  

At the end of paragraph no. 4, the author of the text says, “ .. .. .. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.”

Here, mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears = polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density,

many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit = could also be used by people one day,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 8-13: Completing table with ONE WORD ONLY

[In this type of question candidates need to fill in the gaps in a table with ONE WORD ONLY. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question type.]

Title of the table: Reasons why polar bears should be protected

Question no. 8: People think of bears as unintelligent and ___________.  

Keywords for the question: people think, bears, unintelligent,  

The answer lies in lines 3-4 of paragraph no. 5, where the writer says, “ . .. . . 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. .. .. .”

Here, seem to be perceived = people think, stupid = unintelligent,

So, the answer is: violent   

Questions no. 9 & 10: However, this may not be correct. For example,

• In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a 9. _________

This allowed him to knock down some 10. ________

Keywords for the question: may not be correct, Tennoji Zoo, bear, seen, using a branch, allowed, knock down, some,

Paragraph no. 5 contains answers to these questions. Here, take a look at lines 5-8, “ . . .. . 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. … .. ..”

Here, challenges those assumptions = may not be correct, to dislodge = to knock down,

So, the answers are:

9. tool
10. meat

Question no. 11:

• A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a _________ was located.

Keywords for the question: wild polar bear, worked out, method, reaching a platform, located,   

Have a look at the final lines of paragraph no. 5. The writer says here, “ . . .. . 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.”

Here, A calculated move = worked out a method, to get to = reaching,

So, the answer is: photographer   

Question no. 12:

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

Keywords for the question: Polar bears, displayed, behaviour, conscious manipulation, objects and activity, similar to,  

The first few lines of paragraph no. 6 say, “In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focussed manipulation. For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game. .. .. .”    

Here, deliberate and focussed manipulation = conscious manipulation, what appeared to be = similar to,

So, the answer is: game   

Question no. 13: Bears may also display emotions. For example:

• They may make movements suggesting __________ if disappointed when hunting.

Keywords for the question: display emotions, may make movements, suggesting, if disappointed, when hunting,

In paragraph no. 7, the first few lines say, “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. .. .. .”  

Here, seen to hit out at ice and snow = may make movements, when they have just missed out on a kill = if disappointed when hunting,

So, the answer is: frustration

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