Health In The Wild
Read Health In The Wild and check the IELTS Reading answers. For the past decade Dr Engel, a lecturer in environmental sciences at Britain's Open University, has been collating examples of self-medicating behavior in wild animals. She recently published a book on the subject. In a talk at the Edinb…
Passage preview
For the past decade Dr Engel, a lecturer in environmental sciences at Britain's Open University, has been collating examples of self-medicating behavior in wild animals. She recently published a book on the subject. In a talk at the Edinburgh Science Festival earlier this month, she explained that the idea that animals can treat themselves has been regarded with some skepticism by her colleagues in the past. But a growing number of animal behaviourists now think that wild animals can and do deal with their own medical needs.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
The statement claims Dr Engel has worked on this topic for **10 years**. The text confirms she has been studying **self-medicating behavior** in wild animals for the **past decade**, which means exactly 10 years. Therefore, the statement agrees with the information.
- 2. NOT GIVEN
The statement suggests animals need to **walk a long distance** to find medicinal plants. While the passage mentions animals finding and eating specific plants or dirt, it never states whether they have to travel long distances to obtain them. As this specific detail is missing, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 2-3: E
2: The statement suggests animals need to **walk a long distance** to find medicinal plants. While the passage mentions animals finding and eating specific plants or dirt, it never states whether they have to travel long distances to obtain them. As this specific detail is missing, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
3: The statement claims Macaws eat clay as a **part of their natural diet**. However, the text explicitly points out that animals consume dirt for **medical rather than nutritional reasons**, specifically to **detoxify** the defensive poisons in their diet. Therefore, the statement contradicts the passage.
- 3. FALSE
The statement claims Macaws eat clay as a **part of their natural diet**. However, the text explicitly points out that animals consume dirt for **medical rather than nutritional reasons**, specifically to **detoxify** the defensive poisons in their diet. Therefore, the statement contradicts the passage.
- 3-4: ii
3: The statement claims Macaws eat clay as a **part of their natural diet**. However, the text explicitly points out that animals consume dirt for **medical rather than nutritional reasons**, specifically to **detoxify** the defensive poisons in their diet. Therefore, the statement contradicts the passage.
4: The question claims Dr Engel is excited about inventing **new painkillers**. The text states she is excited about how this knowledge could be used to **improve the health of livestock**. Because her excitement is directed at livestock health rather than human painkillers, the statement contradicts the text.
- 4. FALSE
The question claims Dr Engel is excited about inventing **new painkillers**. The text states she is excited about how this knowledge could be used to **improve the health of livestock**. Because her excitement is directed at livestock health rather than human painkillers, the statement contradicts the text.
- 5. pith
The table asks for the specific part or product **of Veronia** consumed by chimpanzees. The text states they dose themselves with the **pith** of the plant. A noun is required here, making 'pith' the correct answer.
- 6. terpenes
The table requires the name of the chemicals contained in the plant that kill parasites. The text explains that the plant produces poisonous chemicals called **terpenes**, which are strong enough to **kill gut parasites**. The correct word is 'terpenes'.
- 7. alkaloids
The table asks what is contained within the seeds eaten by Macaws. The text explicitly states that they eat **seeds containing alkaloids**. A noun is needed, making 'alkaloids' the correct choice.
- 8. detoxify
The table requires a verb explaining what clay does to poisonous contents. The text states that clay helps to **detoxify** the defensive poisons. Thus, 'detoxify' fits perfectly both grammatically and factually.
- 9. hooks
The table requires a noun describing what is on the surface of the leaves eaten by chimpanzees in 1972. The text describes the leaves as being covered with **microscopic hooks**. 'Hooks' is the exact noun needed.
- 10. G
The summary needs a term for a **soil-consuming behaviour**. The text defines the consumption of dirt by animals as **geophagy**. Option G matches this perfectly.
- 11. D
The summary describes earth or clay neutralizing a specific content of the diet. The passage mentions that clay helps to **detoxify** defensive **poisons**. The adjective meaning poisonous from the options is **toxic** (Option D).
- 12. E
The summary states people in Africa purchase something at markets as medication. The passage directly states that medical stalls in African markets sell **tablets made of different sorts of clays**. This corresponds to **clay tablets** (Option E).
- 13. C
The summary refers to leaves that chimpanzees eat, which have a specific taste. The passage notes that chimps wrinkled their noses, meaning the experience (and taste) was **unpleasant**. Option C is the correct match.