Marine Ecosystems — IELTS Reading Answers

Section A

“For some time now, the world's oceans and the people who fish them have been a constant source of bad environmental news: cod is effectively an endangered species of fish in some places now; every year thousands of dolphins are injured by fishing vessels, huge tuna farms are ruining the Mediterranean Sea”

Section A matches vi: cod is 'effectively an endangered species', dolphins are injured and tuna farms 'ruin the Mediterranean', a catalogue of damage.

Section B

“The point that many reports failed to highlight, says Worm, is that we have to revolutionise the way our marine resources are run”

Section B matches iv: Worm argues 'we have to revolutionise the way our marine resources are run', a call for a new approach.

Section C

“Around 7,500 years ago, shrinking glaciers and the resulting higher water levels led to the development of what's called the Wadden Sea, a 13,500-square-kilometre area of the North Sea”

Section C matches ii: 'Around 7,500 years ago, shrinking glaciers and the resulting higher water levels led to the development of ... the Wadden Sea'.

Section D

“It's due to an ongoing combination of exploitation, habitat destruction and pollution”

Section D matches viii: the harm comes from 'an ongoing combination of exploitation, habitat destruction and pollution', several causes together.

Section E

“Worm believes that, 'to have a greater number of species makes an ecosystem more robust'”

Section E matches v: Worm believes 'to have a greater number of species makes an ecosystem more robust', diversity giving strength.

Section F

“And some positive news came from the study. Worm and his colleagues were able to show that it’s possible to reverse such damage as long as there are enough species”

Section F matches vii: 'some positive news came from the study', which showed it is 'possible to reverse such damage', grounds for recovery.

Section G

“However, there has long been a tendency to view our oceans as a limitless resource, combined with a widespread failure to make an emotional connection with most marine wildlife”

Section G matches iii: there is a 'tendency to view our oceans as a limitless resource' and a 'failure to make an emotional connection', mistaken attitudes.

Boris Worm’s main concern is that

1. Amarine ecosystems will completely break down.correct
2. Binsufficient attention is being paid to fish numbers.
3. Cthere will no longer be enough seafood for people to eat.
4. Dpoliticians will be unwilling to discuss marine resources.

“there is a more serious point: that the way in which we manage the oceans is not only threatening the survival of individual species, it's upsetting the delicate balance of marine communities and thus causing the collapse of entire ecosystems”

Option A fits: mismanagement is 'upsetting the delicate balance of marine communities and thus causing the collapse of entire ecosystems', total breakdown.

What point does John Shepherd make?

1. AMarine conservation areas are not high on the list of visitor attractions.
2. BPeople know very little about how different species actually live.
3. CThe public are much less likely to help unattractive creatures.correct
4. DThe marine environment was better understood in the past.

“Human nature will always draw us towards those species or habitats that are more aesthetically pleasing”

Option C fits: 'Human nature will always draw us towards those species or habitats that are more aesthetically pleasing', so plain creatures get less support.

Which of the following best summarises the text as a whole?

1. AScientists disagree about the state of the world’s oceans.
2. BA radical review of marine resource management is needed.correct
3. CThe fishing industry is mainly responsible for today’s problems.
4. DThe natural systems of our seas will not be able to repair themselves.

“The point that many reports failed to highlight, says Worm, is that we have to revolutionise the way our marine resources are run, changing the focus from stocks and quotas to biodiversity and ecosystem protection”

Option B fits the whole text: Worm says 'we have to revolutionise the way our marine resources are run', a radical review of management.

“Around 7,500 years ago, shrinking glaciers and the resulting higher water levels led to the development of what's called the Wadden Sea”

The gap is what shrank and raised water levels: 'shrinking glaciers and the resulting higher water levels' created the Wadden Sea.

“the salt marshes and mud flats on the coast supported millions of birds”

The gap is the wildlife supported in millions: 'the salt marshes and mud flats on the coast supported millions of birds'.

“This over-enrichment of the sea can ultimately lead to the collapse of the entire system through oxygen starvation”

The gap is what over-enrichment removes: the system collapses 'through oxygen starvation', so oxygen is the key word.