Frogwatch- IELTS Reading Answers

The IELTS reading sample answer, Frogwatch consists of the following two question types:

• True/False/Not Given
• Multiple Choice Question

Each of these question types are asked in the IELTS Reading exam to check your reading and understanding capabilities.

True/False/Not Given

The True/False/Not given type of questions in the IELTS is highly tricky and challenging as most of the questions are rephrased. The test-taker needs to check for the statements matching with information in the passage and mark it accurately whether the statement is true/false. If the information is not mentioned in the passage, it is Not Given. The test-taker should note that the question statements may not be direct, so they should be analyzed correctly.

Multiple Choice Question

Multiple choice questions are among the types of questions in the IELTS, which tests a test taker’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills. An MCQ will have three to four options for which the test-taker needs to analyze the questions and answer them strategically. It’s always better for test-takers to eliminate the wrong options first to save time and wisely select the correct option.

Read the passage to answer the following questions.

Answers

1 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 1, line 3

Answer explanation: In the third line of the first paragraph of the passage, it is quoted “Through such a network, ordinary untrained members of the community could learn about frog habitats, observe the numbers and kinds of frogs in their local area, and report this information to the museum.”

From these quoted lines, we understand that Dr. Ken Aplin wanted ordinary untrained members of the community to learn about frog habitats, observe their numbers and kinds and report it to the museum. This does not require any basic knowledge or level of scientific training. Thus, Frogwatch members don’t need a basic level of training. So, the answer is No.

2 Answer: Not Given

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: The first paragraph of the passage gives an introduction to Frogwatch and how it started. “Frogwatch, a remarkable success story started in Western Australia, is the brainchild of Dr. Ken Aplin. His work, as the curator of reptiles and frogs in the Western Australian Museum, invoked long field trips and he wondered if a community-based frog monitoring network could help him keep a track of frogs.”

From the introduction in the 1st paragraph, we understand that Frogwatch began in Western Australia and it was the idea of Dr. Ken Aplin, who thought of creating a community-based frog monitoring network to help him keep track of frogs. However, it is not specified in the passage whether the members in the monitoring network live in Western Australia. So, the answer is Not Given.

3 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 2, Line 3

Answer explanation: In the third paragraph, it is mentioned, “Frogwatch membership increased dramatically when a mysterious parasitic fungus disease began attacking frogs nationwide. Although research is yet incomplete, scientists suspect the fungus originated overseas, perhaps in South America, where frogs have died in catastrophic numbers from a fungus disease genetically similar to the Australian organism.”

From these quoted lines, we understand that scientists suspiciously suggest that the fungus rose from overseas, preferably in South America, because a vast majority of frogs died disastrously from a fungus disease genetically to the organism from Australia. But, it’s not yet substantiated that frogs disappeared due to fungus as the research is incomplete and all of the information is just an assumption. So, the answer is No. Here, “rapidly” refers to dramatically, and “disastrously” means catastrophic.

4 Answer: No

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 3

Answer explanation: In the 3rd line of 3rd paragraph, the author states that more than 2,000 frogs have now been examined, half from the museum’s existing collection. We understand from these lines that 2000 frogs were examined, of which half of them were from the museum’s existing collection. Thus, it’s clear that Frogwatch members collected only 1000 frogs. So, the answer is No.

5 Answer: Yes

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 3

Answer explanation: It is quoted in the 3rd paragraph, “More than 2,000 frogs have now been examined, half from the museum’s existing collection. Aplin once thought the fungus had arrived in Western Australia in only the past year or two, but tests now suggest it has been there since the late 1980s”.

We understand from these lines that initially, Aplin thought that the fungus arrived in Western Australia in one or two years, but when he examined the frogs, he found that the fungus has been present since the late 1980s. So, these lines in Paragraph 4 indicate that it was more than ten years from 1980 to 1995 and agree with the statement resulting in an answer to Yes.

6 Answer: Yes

Question type: Yes/No/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 7

Answer explanation: The quoted lines in the seventh paragraph, “Roberts argues that Western Australia is different. Unlike most other states, species are still being discovered there.”

From these lines, we understand that unlike other states, Western Australia is entirely different because species are still being discovered there. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is Yes.

7 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 2 – 3 & 6, line 1

Answer explanation: As mentioned in the fifth & sixth paragraph, Dr. Dale Roberts isn’t so sure. A senior zoology lecturer at the University of WA, Roberts agrees the program has: tapped into the public’s enthusiasm for frogs, but he warns that strong public awareness does not amount to sound science/He argues that getting the public to send in pages of observations is a good thing, but giving these reports credibility may not be valid scientifically.

From the lines mentioned above, we can understand that it was Dr. Dale Roberts, who said that the huge number of people involving themselves in observing pages is encouraging but the people giving credibility to these observations is not scientifically valid. Here, “valid” refers to guarantee and “good thing” refers to encouraging. Thus, the answer is B – Dr. Roberts.

8 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 1

Answer explanation: “Not everyone is convinced by the ‘feelgood’ popularity of Frogwatch. While Aplin believes even tiny backyard ponds can help to significantly improve frog numbers.”

From the quoted lines in the fifth paragraph, we understand that it was Dr. Alpin, who believed tiny backyard ponds may assist in improving the number of frogs. So, the statement, the development of frog friendly backyards will help to conserve frog species, was said by Dr Alpin.

9 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 8, line 5

Answer explanation: The quoted sentences are from the fourth line of paragraph 8, “Aplin’s opinion is that they should use the precautionary principle in cases where they don’t yet know enough about the situation. Usually diseases sort themselves out naturally and some frog fauna will co-evolve with the fungus. Given time some balance may be restored, but in the shorter term, they are seeing negative impacts”.

From the quoted sentences, we can indicate that Dr. Alpin’s opinion revealed that even though it’s possible for the frogs to adapt themselves with the fungus in the long term, it’s better to take precautions beforehand. So, the statement was said by A- Dr. Alpin.

10 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 5 & 6

Answer explanation: The fifth and sixth paragraph of the passage illustrates what Dr. Dale Roberts has concluded. So, when you read the 6th paragraph as quoted, “So, he argues, there are other things that might have precipitated the deaths. He questions what could be done about it anyway. If it’s already widespread, it may not be worth the cost and effort of doing anything about it. Even if it’s causing high death rates, he says he can still find every frog species found over the past ten years in the south-west of Australia”.

From the quoted lines, we understand that Dr. Roberts concluded saying that there might be many reasons for the death of frogs and it’d be a waste of time and money when the fungal disease is already widespread. Here, “time” refers to effort, and “cost” refers to money. So, the answer is B- Dr. Dale Roberts

11 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 7

Answer explanation: The seventh paragraph starts as, “Dr. Roberts argues that Western Australia is different. Unlike most other states, species are still being discovered there; the disappearances of frog types in Queensland and New South Wales, are not occurring in Western Australia, although three south-west species are on the endangered list”.

From the above-mentioned sentences and the given question, we understand that it was Dr. Roberts, who illustrated that Western Australia is different from other states as many species are still being discovered and disappearance (extinction) is not taking place, which might be because of the unique geographical features of Western Australia. Thus, the answer is B – Dr. Roberts.

12 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 9

Answer explanation: The ninth paragraph of the passage states, ” The nationwide spread of the chytrid fungus is being mapped by Dr. Rick Speare, who also tests the accuracy of Aplin’s fungus diagnoses and says Frogwatch is ‘an amazing and under-acknowledged system… the best program in Australia for harnessing public interest in frog biology”.

The quoted lines indicate that Dr. Speare tested the accuracy of Alpin’s fungus diagnoses and reported that Frogwatch is one of the best programs in Australia for controlling public interest in frog biology. Here, “harnessing” means controlling. So, the answer is C – Dr. Speare.