Ambergris IELTS Reading Answers
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The Academic passage ‘Ambergris’ is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. It has various question types, each of which are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. So, the passage given in this practice test will help you enhance your reading and understanding capabilities.
If you are interested in familiarising yourself with all the question types, don’t hesitate to take an IELTS reading practice test.
The question types found in this passage are:
Matching Features
In the Matching features type of question, there will be a list of items in the box and some related features. You need to match these items by reading and understanding some sentences in the passages. The list may be of the name of people or cities. For example, If there is a name of a person in the box of items then the question may be to match the sentence with the person who said them. Like other types of match questions, some of the items mentioned may not be available in the passage. So, to save time read the passage before answering each question.
Summary Completion
In summary completion, you will be provided with a summary of information from a text, and there will be a few gaps. You will either get a list of words to be filled in the gaps or you could be asked to find answers from the reading passage. You will have to insert a few words from the text into the gaps. All of the information in the summary will also be available in the reading text. However, they will be using paraphrasing and synonyms. Thus, you cannot expect to find the exact words.
True/False/Not Given Questions
These questions are very tricky. True/False/Not Given question consists of several statements – If the statement is present in the article as it is then you need to mark it as true. If the statement is found to be the opposite of the sentence which is there then it should be marked as false. If the statement given in the question is not at all present in the article then it should be marked as not given. Do not spend a lot of time finding the sentence which is not there.
Ambergris
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1 Answer: A
Question Type: Matching features
Answer location: Paragraph A, line 2
Answer explanation: The opening lines of paragraph A suggests that “the use of ambergris in Europe is now entirely confined to perfumery-as a material of perfumery. Its high price varies from $15 to $25 an ounce, though it formerly occupied on inconsiderable place in medicine.” Here, the term very expensive has been paraphrased to high price. Thus, we can state that only ambergris is expensive.
2 Answer: A
Question Type: Matching features
Answer location: Paragraph A, last line
Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can find out that “it occupies a very important place in the perfumery of the East, and there it is also used in pharmacy and as a flavouring material in cookery.” Since this paragraph discusses ambergris only and it is mentioned that besides perfumery it is also used as a flavoring material in cookery, which can also be referred to as flavor food, we can conclude that the correct answer is A.
3 Answer: D
Question Type: Matching features
Answer location: Complete Paragraph
Answer explanation: The word currency is not found in the entire passage. So it does not relate to either of them
4 Answer: A
Question Type: Matching features
Answer location: Paragraph E, line 1
Answer explanation: Paragraph E puts forward the information that “the true source and character of ambergris were first satisfactorily established by Dr. Swediaur in a communication to the Royal Society.” Hence, only ambergris is referred to in a communication.
5 Answer: B
Question Type: Matching features
Answer location: Paragraph B, line 3
Answer explanation: If you read clearly, it is mentioned that “although considered a gem, amber is a hard, transparent and wholly-organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees.” Here, the term transparent means could be seen through. Hence, we can infer that only amber is a hard substance through which you can see through.
6 Answer: beaks
Question Type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph E, line 2
Answer explanation: The answer is clearly mentioned in the said paragraph and line. You must note the paraphrasing here. In the passage, it is said that “it was found by Dr. Swediaur that ambergris very frequently contained the horny mandibles or beaks of the squid, on which the sperm whales are known to feed.” Thus, we can deduce that Dr. Swediaur discovered the formation of ambergris through (experiences) several stages. Such sperm whales are known to feed on the horny( hard substance) and mandibles or beaks of the squid.
7 Answer: passage
Question Type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph E, last line
Answer explanation: In the said paragraph, you can refer to “that observation, in connection with the fact of ambergris being frequently taken from the intestines of the sperm whale, sufficiently proved that the substance is produced by the whale’s intestine as a means of facilitating the passage of undigested hard, sharp beaks of squid that the whale has eaten.” The steps involved in the formation of ambergris starts when whales eat beaks of squid and produced substances in their intestine to facilitate the passage that goes undigested.
8 Answer: vomited
Question Type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph F, line 3
Answer explanation: You can note the paraphrasing here. In the passage, it states that “often expelled by vomiting, ambergris floats in chunks on the water and is of a deep grey colour, soft consistence, and an offensive, disagreeable smell.” Here, the term expelled means to send out something by force. Thus, we can infer that when sperm whales force out ambergris through vomiting, some pieces (chunks) of it float on water.
9 Answer: hardens
Question Type: Summary Completion
Answer location: Paragraph F, 2nd last line
Answer explanation: If you read thoroughly, there’s a line in the said paragraph that describes “following months to years of photo-degradation and oxidation in the ocean, this precursor gradually hardens, developing a dark grey or black colour, a crusty and waxy texture, and a peculiar odour that is at once sweet, earthy, marine, and animalist.” Since it is mentioned that months to years of photo-degradation and oxidation in the ocean causes ambergris to turn hard, we can state that months to years of exposure to air causes ambergris to harden.
10 Answer: TRUE
Question Type: True/False and Not Given Question
Answer location: Paragraph H, line 4
Answer explanation: Paragraph H puts forward the information that “in the 20th century, 90% of ambergris was derived in the processing of killing sperm whales.” This line from the passage confirms that in the 20th century, most ambergris (90%) were derived (was made) from the process of killing sperm whales.
11 Answer: NOT GIVEN
Question Type: True/False and Not Given Question
Answer location: N/A
Answer explanation: None of the passages confirms or denies that ambergris’s cost increased recently.
12 Answer: NOT GIVEN
Question Type: True/False and Not Given Question
Answer location: N/A
Answer explanation: None of the passages confirms or denies ambergris still remains in the perfume making.
13 Answer: FALSE
Question Type: True/False and Not Given Question
Answer location: Paragraph I, 2nd last line
Answer explanation: Few lines in the said paragraph convey that “the most important of these is Ambrox, which has taken its place as the most widely used amber odorant in perfume manufacture.” According to author, the most important substance in perfume is ambrox, not ambergris.
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