This IELTS Reading post highlights all the solutions for IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 4 Reading Passage 2, which is entitled ‘Endless Harvest’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have great problems in finding answers for the Academic Reading module. This post can guide you the best to understand each Reading answer with ease. Tracing IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process and I sincerely hope this post can guide you in your IELTS Reading preparation.

IELTS Cambridge 7 Test 4: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2:

The headline of the passage: Endless Harvest

Questions 14-20: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- 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 14: The inhabitants of the Aleutian islands renamed their islands ‘Aleyska’.

Keywords for the question: inhabitants, Aleutian islands, renamed, ‘Aleyska’,

Let’s take a look at the very beginning of the passage. In paragraph no. 1 we find some information about naming the islands. The author says here, “More than two hundred years ago, Russian explorers and fur hunters landed on the Aleutian Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the North Pacific, and learned of a land mass that lay farther to the north. ‘The islands’ native inhabitants called this land mass Aleyska, the ‘Great Land’; today, we know it as Alaska.”

From these lines, we can realise that native inhabitants of the islands named it (called) ‘Aleyska’. They did not rename it. Nowadays, we know it as ‘Alaska’, it’s newly named (renamed).

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 15: Alaska’s fisheries are owned by some of the world’s largest companies.

Keywords for the question: Alaska’s fisheries, owned by, world’s largest companies,

Paragraph no. 2 talks about fisheries in Alaska; however, there is no information on the ownership of Alaska’s fisheries. The last lines of this paragraph only say, “ . .. Taking advantage of this rich bounty, Alaska’s commercial fisheries have developed into some of the largest in the world.”

So, it talks about the size of the commercial fisheries, not the ownership.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 16: Life in Alaska is dependent on salmon.

Keywords for the question: life, Alaska, dependent on, salmon,  

The answer lies in paragraph no. 3, lines 3-6, “ . . .. The true cultural heart and soul of Alaska’s fisheries, however, is salmon. ‘Salmon,’ notes writer Susan Ewing in The Great Alaska Nature Factbook, ‘pump through Alaska like blood through a heart, bringing rhythmic, circulating nourishment to land, animals, and people.”

The lines clearly match the statement in question no. 16.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 17: Ninety percent of all Pacific salmon caught are sockeye or pink salmon.

Keywords for the question: Ninety percent, all Pacific salmon caught, sockeye, pink salmon,

In paragraph no. 3, take a look at lines 8-10. The writer mentions, “ . . . . All five species of Pacific salmon – chinook, or king; chum, or dog; coho, or silver; sockeye, or red; and pink, or humpback – spawn** in Alaskan waters, and 90% of all Pacific salmon commercially caught in North America are produced there.”

Here, the writer says that 90% of all salmon caught commercially in North America comes from Alaska. It doesn’t mention about the percentage of particular types.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 18: More than 320,000 tonnes of salmon were caught in Alaska in 2000.

Keywords for the question: More than, 320,000 tonnes of salmon, caught, Alaska, 2000,

The last lines of paragraph no. 3 gives us information about the total weight of salmon caught in 2000 in Alaska, “ . … . During 2000, commercial catches of Pacific salmon in Alaska exceeded 320,000 tonnes, with an ex-vessel value of over $US 260 million.”

Here, exceeded = more than,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 19: Between 1940 and 1959, there was a sharp decrease in Alaska’s salmon population.

Keywords for the question: between 1940 and 1959, sharp decrease, Alaska’s, salmon population,

In the very beginning of paragraph no. 4, the writer says, “.. .. . Between 1940 and 1959, overfishing led to crashes in salmon populations so severe that in 1953 Alaska was declared a federal disaster area.”

Here, crashes in salmon populations so severe = there was a sharp decrease in Alaska’s salmon populations.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 20: During the 1990s, the average number of salmon caught each year was 100 million.

Keywords for the question: During, 1990s, average number of salmon, caught each year, 100 million,  

Take a look at the last few lines of paragraph no. 4, “ . . .. . . until, during the 1990s, annual harvests were well in excess of 100 million, and on several occasions over 200 million fish.”

Here, well in excess of = way over / way more than,

So, the answer is: FALSE

Questions 21-26 (Completing sentences with correct endings)

[For this type of question, candidates need to match the beginning and ending of sentences. Candidates need to look for keywords in the sentence-beginnings and find the relative paragraphs and then sentences in the passage. Skimming and scanning, both reading skills are essential for this question-type.]

Question 21: In Alaska, biologists keep a check on adult fish –

Keywords for the question: Alaska, biologists, check on, adult fish, 

In paragraph no. 5 the writer says, “.. … . There are biologists throughout the state constantly monitoring adult fish as they show up to spawn. The biologists sit in streamside counting towers, study sonar, watch from aeroplanes, and talk to fishermen. The salmon season in Alaska is not pre-set. The fishermen know the approximate time of year when they will be allowed to fish, but on any given day, one or more field biologists in a particular area can put a halt to fishing. Even sport fishing can be brought to a halt. It is this management mechanism that has allowed Alaska salmon stocks – and, accordingly, Alaska salmon fisheries — to prosper, . . .. .. .”

Here, the writer indicates that biologists keep monitoring adult salmons so that fish numbers can improve and fishing can be permitted on a large scale.  

So, the answer is: G (to ensure that fish numbers are sufficient to permit fishing.)

Question 22: Biologists have the authority –            

Keywords for this question: Biologists, authority,  

In paragraph no. 5, we can see the authority that biologists can apply on fishing. Take a look at lines 5-7, “ . .. but on any given day, one or more field biologists in a particular area can put a halt to fishing. Even sport fishing can be brought to a halt.”

Here, put a halt / can be brought to halt = to stop,

So, the answer is: E (to stop people fishing for sports.)

Question 23: In-Season Abundance-Based Management has allowed the Alaska salmon fisheries –

Keywords for this question: In-season, Abundance-Based Management, allowed, Alaska salmon fisheries,  

Paragraph no. 5 starts citing about In-Season Abundance-Based Management. Then, in lines 7-8, the author says, “. . ..  .. It is this management mechanism that has allowed Alaska salmon stocks – and, accordingly, Alaska salmon fisheries — to prosper, .. . .”

Here, to prosper = to be successful,

So, the answer is: B (to be successful.)

Question 24: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) was established –

Keywords for this question: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), established,   

In paragraph no. 6, lines 1-3 says, “In 1999, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)*** commissioned a review of the Alaska salmon fishery. The Council, which was founded in 1996, certifies fisheries that meet high environmental standards, enabling them to use a label that recognises their environmental responsibility.”

Here, founded = established, certifies = to recognise, recognises their environmental responsibility = care for the environment,

So, the answer is: A (to recognise fisheries that care for the environment.)

Question 25: As a result of the collapse of the salmon runs in 1999, the state decided –

Keywords for this question: As a result of, collapse, salmon, runs, 1999, state decided,   

In paragraph no. 7 we find the reference to the collapse of the salmon number in 1999, “Some observers thought the Alaska salmon fisheries would not have any chance of certification when, in the months leading up to MSC’s final decision, salmon runs throughout western Alaska completely collapsed.”  

Then in the next paragraph, the writer explained what happened as a result of this collapse, and in the last lines of this paragraph, the writer mentions, “. .. . However, the state reacted quickly, closing down all fisheries, even those necessary for subsistence purposes.”

So, the answer is: K (to close down all fisheries.)

Question 26: In September 2000, the MSC allowed seven Alaska salmon companies –

Keywords for this question: September 2000, MSC, allowed, seven Alaska salmon companies,   

In the last paragraph, the first lines say, “In September 2000, MSC announced that the Alaska salmon fisheries qualified for certification. Seven companies producing Alaska salmon were immediately granted permission to display the MSC logo on their products.”

Here, granted permission = allowed, display = label,

So, the answer is: F (to label their products using the MSC logo.)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 Test 4 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 Test 4 Reading Passage 3