IELTS reading · Reading Test 23

Mammoth kill

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Section 1

Reading Passage 1

Mammoth kill

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mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus, proboscideans commonly equipped with long, curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair. They lived from the Pliocene epoch (from around 5 million years ago) into the Holocene at about 4,500 years ago, and were members of the family Elephantidae, which contains, along with mammoths, the two genera of modern elephants and their ancestors. Like their modern relatives, mammoths were quite large. The largest known species reached heights in the region of 4 m at the shoulder and weights of up to 8 tonnes, while exceptionally large males may have exceeded 12 tonnes. However, most species of mammoth were only about as large as a modern Asian elephant. Both sexes bore tusks. A first, small set appeared at about the age of six months, and these were replaced at about 18 months by the permanent set. Growth of the permanent set was at a rate of about 2.5 to 15.2 cm per year. Based on studies of their close relatives, the modern elephants, mammoths probably had a gestation period of 22 months, resulting in a single calf being born. Their social structure was probably the same as that of African and Asian elephants, with females living in herds headed by a matriarch, whilst bulls lived solitary lives or formed loose groups after sexual maturity. MEXICO CITY – Although it’s hard to imagine in this age of urban sprawl and automobiles, North America once belonged to mammoths, camels, ground sloths as large as cows, bear-size beavers and other formidable beasts. Some 11,000 years ago, however, these large-bodied…

Questions 1–7

Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage, using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.

1.The reason why had big size mammals become extinct 11,000 years ago is under hot debate. First explanation is that of human made it happen.

2.This so called began from 1960s suggested by an expert, who however received criticism of lack of further information.

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Answers & explanations

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13 answers3 explanations open

1
hunting
From the question, we can assume that the answer may be a Noun. Just take a look at the sentence: "Some 11,000 years ago, however, these large-bodied mammals and others – about 70 species in all – disappeared.", this sentence contains the keywords relating to the question => The answer must be somewhere near this sentence. Understanding the idea in the question, the answer is placed in "support to one of these controversial hypotheses: that human hunting drove this megafaunal menagerie to extinction". We choose "hunting" as the correct answer for this question.
2
overkill model
From the question, we can assume that the answer may be a Noun. Just take a look at the sentence: "The overkill model emerged in the 1960s", this sentence contains all two key words in the question => the answer must be somewhere in this sentence. We choose "overkill model" as the correct answer for this question.
3
(hyperlethal) disease
From the question, we can assume that the answer may be a Noun. Just take a look at the sentence: "Rather he suggests that people may have introduced hyperlethal disease , perhaps through their dogs or hitchhiking vermin, which then spread wildly among the immunologically naive species of the New World", this sentence confirms that "people introduced hyperlethal disease… and then spreadly wildly among species". We choose "hyperlethal disease" as the correct answer for this question.
4
empirical evidence
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5
(considerable) climatic instability
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6
geographical ranges
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7
Younger Dryas event
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8
A
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9
B
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10
A
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11
B
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12
B
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13
C
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Understand why, not only what.

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