Plant ‘thermometer’ Triggers Springtime Growth By Measuring Night-time Heat — IELTS Reading Answers

The Cambridge scientists’ discovery of the ‘thermometer molecule’ caused surprise among other scientists.

“An international team of scientists led by the University of Cambridge has discovered that the ‘thermometer’ molecule in plants enables them to develop according to seasonal temperature changes.”

The passage reports the Cambridge-led discovery of the 'thermometer' molecule but never mentions any surprise among other scientists, so NOT GIVEN.

The target for agricultural production by 2050 could be missed.

“It is estimated that agricultural yields will need to double by 2050, but climate change is a major threat to achieving this.”

'agricultural yields will need to double by 2050, but climate change is a major threat to achieving this' means the target could be missed, TRUE.

Wheat and rice suffer from a rise in temperatures.

“Key crops such as wheat and rice are sensitive to high temperatures. Thermal stress reduces crop yields by around 10% for every one degree increase in temperature”

'Key crops such as wheat and rice are sensitive to high temperatures', with thermal stress cutting yields about 10% per degree, TRUE.

It may be possible to develop crops that require less water.

“researchers say the discovery that this light-sensing molecule also functions as the internal thermometer in plant cells could help us breed tougher crops.”

The text says the discovery could help 'breed tougher crops', but never raises the possibility of crops needing less water, so NOT GIVEN.

Plants grow faster in sunlight than in shade.

“During the day, sunlight activates the molecules, slowing down growth. If a plant finds itself in shade, phytochromes are quickly inactivated — enabling it to grow faster to find sunlight again.”

Sunlight 'activates the molecules, slowing down growth', while shade lets plants 'grow faster', contradicting the claim, so FALSE.

Phytochromes change their state at the same speed day and night.

“At night, however, it’s a different story. Instead of a rapid deactivation following sundown, the molecules gradually change from their active to inactive state.”

At night 'instead of a rapid deactivation ... the molecules gradually change' state, so the speed is not the same day and night, FALSE.

mention of specialists who can make use of the research findings

“Cambridge is uniquely well-positioned to do this kind of research as we have outstanding collaborators nearby who work on more applied aspects of plant biology, and can help us transfer this new knowledge into the field.”

Paragraph H mentions Cambridge's 'outstanding collaborators nearby who work on more applied aspects of plant biology', specialists able to use the findings.

a reference to a potential benefit of the research findings

“Discovering the molecules that allow plants to sense temperature has the potential to accelerate the breeding of crops resilient to thermal stress and climate change.”

Paragraph D says the discovery has 'the potential to accelerate the breeding of crops resilient to thermal stress and climate change', a potential benefit.

scientific support for a traditional saying

“In fact, the discovery of the dual role of phytochromes provides the science behind a well-known rhyme long used to predict the coming season: oak before ash we’ll have a splash, ash before oak we’re in for a soak.”

Paragraph G says the discovery 'provides the science behind a well-known rhyme': 'oak before ash we'll have a splash'.

a reference to people traditionally making plans based on plant behaviour

“warm winters cause many trees and flowers to bud early, something humans have long used to predict weather and harvest times for the coming year.”

Paragraph C notes that early budding has long been 'used to predict weather and harvest times for the coming year', traditional planning.

a reference to where the research has been reported

“The new findings, published in the journal Science, show that phytochromes control genetic switches in response to temperature as well as light to dictate plant development.”

Paragraph A says the findings were 'published in the journal Science', indicating where the research was reported.

“Other species, such as daffodils, have considerable temperature sensitivity, and can flower months in advance during a warm winter.”

The gap needs the winter type that makes daffodils flower early; 'can flower months in advance during a warm winter' gives 'warm'.

“A warmer spring, and consequently a higher likeliness of a hot summer, will result in oak leafing before ash. A cold spring will see the opposite. As the British know only too well, a colder summer is likely to be a rain-soaked one.”

The gap needs the season whose heat follows a warm spring; 'a higher likeliness of a hot summer' supplies 'summer'.

“The new findings are the culmination of twelve years of research involving scientists from Germany, Argentina and the US, as well as the Cambridge team. The work was done in a model system, using a mustard plant called Arabidopsis”

The gap needs the model species used in the experiments; 'a mustard plant called Arabidopsis' answers it.