The economic effect of climate
Read The economic effect of climate and check the IELTS Reading answers. Dr William Masters was reading a book about mosquitoes when an idea struck him. 'There was this anecdote about the yellow fever epidemic that hit Philadelphia in 1793.' Masters recalls. 'This epidemic decimated the city until…
Passage preview
Dr William Masters was reading a book about mosquitoes when an idea struck him. 'There was this anecdote about the yellow fever epidemic that hit Philadelphia in 1793.' Masters recalls. 'This epidemic decimated the city until the first frost came.' The sub-zero temperatures froze out the insects, allowing Philadelphia to recover. If weather could be the key to a city's fortunes, Masters thought, then why not to historical fortunes of nations? And could frost lie at the heart of one of the most enduring economic mysteries of all why are almost all the wealthy, industrialized nations to be found where the climate is cooler?
Vocabulary from this passage
7 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- abundance noun
A very large quantity of something; a state of plenty.
The elimination of disease-carrying insects resulted in agricultural abundance and a large workforce.
- dissemination noun
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
Similar climates allowed for the faster dissemination of technologies like writing and the wheel.
- epidemic noun
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
The yellow fever epidemic decimated the population of the city in the late 18th century.
- impoverished adjective
A person or area that is made poor or reduced to poverty.
Nations with very few frosty days often remain impoverished compared to temperate countries.
- industrialized adjective
Having developed a wide range of industries or having highly developed industries.
Most wealthy, industrialized nations are found in regions with cooler climates.
- overriding adjective
More important than any other considerations or factors.
While climate is important, it is not the overriding factor in determining national wealth.
- speculate verb
To form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
Economists speculate that cold weather helps kill pests that would otherwise destroy crops.
Answers with explanations
- 14. vi
The answer is heading **vi**. Paragraph A describes how Dr. Masters's interest in the relationship between climate and wealth was sparked by an **anecdote** he read regarding a **yellow fever epidemic** and how frost helped the city recover, serving as the **inspiration** for his subsequent research.
- 15. vii
The answer is heading **vii**. This paragraph details specific **benefits** of cold weather, such as killing **pests** and disease-carrying **organisms**. These factors lead to 'agricultural abundance' and a healthier, larger workforce, which are clear **advantages** for economic development.
- 16. viii
The answer is heading **viii**. The paragraph focuses on the data showing a **positive correlation** between climate (frosty days) and the **economy** (average income). It mentions a 'curious tally' where a specific number of frost days consistently aligns with national wealth.
- 17. x
The answer is heading **x**. The text discusses how the **east-west alignment** of Eurasia allowed **crops** like wheat to spread rapidly across similar climates, contrasting this with the north-south alignment of other **continents** where climate variations hindered such movement.
- 18. i
The answer is heading **i**. Paragraph E acknowledges that there are **exceptions** to the climate rule (like Singapore) and emphasizes that wealth is influenced by **other factors** besides climate, such as **institutions**, governments, and access to trade routes.
- 19. iv
The answer is heading **iv**. This section reviews the **traditional view** held by economists that **institutions** and the **order** they provide (laws, property rights) were the primary drivers of wealth, though Masters argues environment plays a role too.
- 20. v
The answer is heading **v**. The final paragraph argues that **financial assistance** (aid) should be directed toward **technology** and health rather than just bureaucracy. This represents the author's view on the **best use** of resources to help tropical nations.
- 21. yellow fever epidemic
The answer is **yellow fever epidemic**. The text states that this specific **epidemic** 'decimated the city' but allowed for recovery once the **frost** (temperature drop) killed the insects responsible. The completion requires a noun phrase describing the crisis Philadelphia faced.
- 22. Finland
The answer is **Finland**. The passage uses **Finland** as a specific **example** of a small nation where the **economy** is 'growing quickly,' explicitly contrasting it with Bolivia to highlight the potential influence of climate on national success.
- 23. einkorn wheat
The answer is **einkorn wheat**. The text compares the **spread** of this crop, noting it moved quickly in Europe but much **more slowly** when traveling from Mexico northward. The noun phrase fits the grammatical requirement for the subject of the sentence.
- 24. Eurasia
The answer is **Eurasia**. The author explains that because **Eurasia** is aligned east-west, **technology** and crops could be shared **more quickly** across its similar latitudes compared to continents with north-south orientations like Africa or the Americas.
- 25. Singapore
The answer is **Singapore**. The passage identifies **Singapore** as an exception to the theory that tropical climates cause poverty, describing it as '**well-heeled**' (rich) due to its geographical advantage in trade despite being in the **tropics**.
- 26. administrative systems
The answer is **administrative systems**. The text argues that **aid** (financial assistance) is currently focused on these, but suggests it would be better spent on agriculture and health. The phrase follows the preposition 'improve' to complete the comparison.