In Deep Water
Read In Deep Water and check the IELTS Reading answers. While we know that the sea is a big place, few of us realise just how big it really is. More than 66% of the world's surface is covered by ocean, and the sea makes up 97% of the environments on Earth that can support living things. The vast ma…
Passage preview
While we know that the sea is a big place, few of us realise just how big it really is. More than 66% of the world's surface is covered by ocean, and the sea makes up 97% of the environments on Earth that can support living things. The vast majority of this area - and New Zealand's seas are no exception - remains unexplored. In fact, the deepest parts of the oceans are so poorly known that nearly every submarine dive or research trawl (pulling up specimens from the seabed) brings new knowledge of genuine significance to oceanographers. Our present knowledge of land biodiversity (all the animals and plants) compared with ocean biodiversity is one measure of how early we are in the task of researching the deep sea. A good example is the New Zealand takahe bird. In 1948, a small population of takahe, a flightless bird which at the time was thought to be extinct, was found living in New Zealand's mountains. The rediscovery of this bird species created a sensation among bird lovers. In dramatic contrast, new species from New Zealand's deep sea are today being discovered at a rate of about one every two weeks.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
The statement claims that research trawls produce **important findings**. The passage confirms this by stating that nearly every **research trawl** in the deepest parts of the ocean brings **new knowledge of genuine significance** to oceanographers. 'New knowledge of genuine significance' is synonymous with important findings. Answer: TRUE.
- 2. TRUE
The statement claims **land biodiversity** is **better understood** than ocean research. The passage states that comparing our knowledge of land biodiversity with ocean biodiversity shows **how early we are** in researching the deep sea. This stark contrast implies land biodiversity is currently much better understood than the ocean. Answer: TRUE.
- 2-3: A
2: The statement claims **land biodiversity** is **better understood** than ocean research. The passage states that comparing our knowledge of land biodiversity with ocean biodiversity shows **how early we are** in researching the deep sea. This stark contrast implies land biodiversity is currently much better understood than the ocean. Answer: TRUE.
3: The statement claims the bird was **first recorded** in 1948. The passage explicitly states that in 1948, the takahe was thought to be **extinct** when it was rediscovered. An animal must have been recorded earlier in history to be classified as extinct. This directly contradicts the claim. Answer: FALSE.
- 3. FALSE
The statement claims the bird was **first recorded** in 1948. The passage explicitly states that in 1948, the takahe was thought to be **extinct** when it was rediscovered. An animal must have been recorded earlier in history to be classified as extinct. This directly contradicts the claim. Answer: FALSE.
- 3-4: NO
3: The statement claims the bird was **first recorded** in 1948. The passage explicitly states that in 1948, the takahe was thought to be **extinct** when it was rediscovered. An animal must have been recorded earlier in history to be classified as extinct. This directly contradicts the claim. Answer: FALSE.
4: The statement claims museums display only a **small number** of their specimens. While the passage mentions giving an animal **shelf space in a museum**, it does not provide any information about the proportion or number of specimens that museums choose to display versus those kept hidden in storage. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 4. NOT GIVEN
The statement claims museums display only a **small number** of their specimens. While the passage mentions giving an animal **shelf space in a museum**, it does not provide any information about the proportion or number of specimens that museums choose to display versus those kept hidden in storage. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 5. FALSE
The statement claims filming provides **accurate information** about **normal behaviour**. The text states that animals observed with a **submarine camera** were almost certainly **acting unnaturally** due to the glare of lights. 'Acting unnaturally' directly contradicts the idea that the filming captures normal behavior. Answer: FALSE.
- 6. TRUE
The statement claims scientists **disagree** about the giant squid's **swimming speed**. The passage explicitly confirms this by stating that a **fierce debate continues among scientists** regarding exactly **how fast giant squid can swim**. A fierce debate is a clear indication of disagreement. Answer: TRUE.
- 7. TRUE
The statement compares deep-sea biologists' approach to **police investigations**. The passage confirms this by stating that deep-sea biology **parallels** the way **detectives hunt for criminals**, noting that both fields require comparable problem-solving and clue-finding skills. This directly supports the statement. Answer: TRUE.
- 8. size
The blank requires a noun describing why the Bollons Seamount is unusual. The text explicitly states that its massive dimensions (rising three kilometres and measuring two hundred kilometres across) make it a 'remarkable **size**, and therefore of particular interest.' The word fits grammatically and accurately describes its uniqueness.
- 9. mud
The blank requires a noun describing what seamounts lack compared to the rest of the deep sea. The text points out that 'Another factor is that they are not completely draped with the fine **mud** that covers just about everything else'. The noun 'mud' contextually and grammatically completes the sentence.
- 10. fishing
The blank requires a noun denoting what local people source from the Chatham Rise. The text notes that the inhabitants of the nearby Chatham Islands 'come **fishing** here because a valuable species called orange roughy seasonally migrates'. The root noun 'fishing' fits the grammatical structure of being 'a good source for [noun]'.
- 11. tourism
The blank requires a noun describing what has developed due to the presence of whales. The passage explains that thousands of people come to see the whales, 'helping local **tourism**'. The noun correctly completes the cause-and-effect relationship outlined in the question sentence.
- 12. coral
The blank needs a noun identifying the species discovered near Dunedin. The text details unusual discoveries in this specific southern region, specifying 'Among these was a population of button-sized **coral**'. The noun correctly describes the specific marine organism found by the university researchers.
- 13. earthquake
The blank requires a singular noun that started the underwater current near Canada. The passage explicitly states that in November 1929, 'a significant **earthquake** in Canadian waters triggered an underwater current'. The word perfectly matches the grammatical structure and accurately identifies the trigger event.