What Is Exploration? — IELTS Reading Answers

The writer refers to visitors to New York to illustrate the point that

1. Aexploration is an intrinsic element of being human.correct
2. Bmost people are enthusiastic about exploring.
3. Cexploration can lead to surprising results.
4. Dmost people find exploration daunting.

“We are all explorers. Our desire to discover, and then share that new-found knowledge, is part of what makes us human – indeed, this has played an important part in our success as a species.”

A: the writer says 'We are all explorers' and that the desire to discover 'is part of what makes us human', so exploration is intrinsic.

According to the second paragraph, what is the writer’s view of explorers?

1. ATheir discoveries have brought both benefits and disadvantages.
2. BTheir main value is in teaching others.
3. CThey act on an urge that is common to everyone.correct
4. DThey tend to be more attracted to certain professions than to others.

“That, however, doesn’t take away from the fact that we all have this enquiring instinct, even today; and that in all sorts of professions”

C: he insists 'we all have this enquiring instinct, even today; and that in all sorts of professions', so explorers act on a universal urge.

The writer refers to a description of Egdon Heath to suggest that

1. AHardy was writing about his own experience of exploration.
2. BHardy was mistaken about the nature of exploration.
3. CHardy’s aim was to investigate people’s emotional states.correct
4. DHardy’s aim was to show the attraction of isolation.

“used the landscape to suggest the desires and fears of his characters”

C: Hardy 'used the landscape to suggest the desires and fears of his characters', showing his aim was emotional states.

In the fourth paragraph, the writer refers to ‘a golden age’ to suggest that

1. Athe amount of useful information produced by exploration has decreased.
2. Bfewer people are interested in exploring than in the 19th century.
3. Crecent developments have made exploration less exciting.
4. Dwe are wrong to think that exploration is no longer necessary.correct

“as if the process of discovery is now on the decline, though the truth is that we have named only one and a half million of this planet’s species, and there may be more than 10 million – and that’s not including bacteria”

D: people talk 'as if the process of discovery is now on the decline, though the truth is' much remains unnamed, so that view is wrong.

In the sixth paragraph, when discussing the definition of exploration, the writer argues that

1. Apeople tend to relate exploration to their own professional interests.correct
2. Bcertain people are likely to misunderstand the nature of exploration.
3. Cthe generally accepted definition has changed over time.
4. Dhistorians and scientists have more valid definitions than the general public.

“Each definition is slightly different – and tends to reflect the field of endeavour of each pioneer”

A: each definition 'tends to reflect the field of endeavour of each pioneer', meaning people link exploration to their own profession.

In the last paragraph, the writer explains that he is interested in

1. Ahow someone’s personality is reflected in their choice of places to visit.
2. Bthe human ability to cast new light on places that may be familiar.correct
3. Chow travel writing has evolved to meet changing demands.
4. Dthe feelings that writers develop about the places that they explore.

“this is what interests me: how a fresh interpretation, even of a well-travelled route, can give its readers new insights”

B: he is interested in 'how a fresh interpretation, even of a well-travelled route, can give its readers new insights'.

He referred to the relevance of the form of transport used.

“If I’d gone across by camel when I could have gone by car, it would have been a stunt”

E fits: the speaker says crossing 'by camel when I could have gone by car' would have been 'a stunt', so transport mattered.

He described feelings on coming back home after a long journey.

“Peter Fleming talks of the moment when the explorer returns to the existence he has left behind with his loved ones”

A: Peter Fleming describes 'the moment when the explorer returns to the existence he has left behind with his loved ones', feelings on returning.

He worked for the benefit of specific groups of people.

“a campaigner on behalf of remote so-called ‘tribal’ peoples”

D fits the campaigner 'on behalf of remote so-called tribal peoples', work that benefited specific groups.

He did not consider learning about oneself an essential part of exploration.

“To him, exploration meant bringing back information from a remote place regardless of any great self-discovery”

E fits: exploration meant 'bringing back information from a remote place regardless of any great self-discovery', so self-knowledge was not essential.

He defined exploration as being both unique and of value to others.

“An explorer is someone who has done something that no human has done before – and also done something scientifically useful”

B fits: 'An explorer is someone who has done something that no human has done before – and also done something scientifically useful'.

“I’ve done a great many expeditions and each one was unique”

The gap needs what the speaker has done many of; he says 'I've done a great many expeditions'.

“I’ve lived for months alone with isolated groups of people all around the world, even two ‘uncontacted tribes’”

He lived with isolated groups, 'even two uncontacted tribes', so uncontacted describes the people.

“We know how the land surface of our planet lies; exploration of it is now down to the details – the habits of microbes, say, or the grazing behaviour of buffalo”

Exploration of the planet's 'land surface' is largely complete, leaving only details, so surface fills the gap.