Otters- IELTS Reading Answers

The Reading Module of the IELTS can be the top-scoring category, with diligent practice. To achieve the best results in this section, you must understand how to approach and answer the different Question types in the Reading Module. By solving and reviewing Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark.

Reading Passage

Otters

Questions 1-9

1 A description of how otters regulate vision underwater

2 The fit-for-purpose characteristics of otter’s body shape

3 A reference to an underdeveloped sense

4 An explanation of why agriculture failed in otter conservation efforts

5 A description of some of the otter’s social characteristics

6 A description of how baby otters grow

7 The conflicting opinions on how to preserve

8 A reference to the legislative act

9 An explanation of how otters compensate for heat loss

Questions 10-13

10 What affects the outer fur of otters?

11 What skill is not necessary for Asian short-clawed otters?

12 Which type of otters has the shortest range?

13 Which type of animals do otters hunt occasionally?

Reading Answer

1 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph B states, “But they do have the ability to modify the shape of the lens in the eye to make it more spherical, and hence overcome the refraction of water. In clear water and good light, otters can hunt fish by sight.” We can understand from these lines that though otters have limited eyesight on land, they’re capable of adapting the lenses in their eyes under water which helps them see against the refraction in water. Thus, a description of how otters regulate vision underwater can be found in Paragraph B, so, the answer is B.

2 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph A illustrates that an otter’s tail (or rudder, or stern) is stout at the base and tapers towards the tip where it flattens. This forms part of the propulsion unit when swimming fast underwater. These lines indicate the fit-for-purpose characteristics of the otter’s body shape. The otter’s body is built to help the animal swim faster, especially the tail that resembles an oar underwater. Therefore, the answer is A.

3 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 2

Answer explanation: Line 2 of paragraph B illustrates that Otters have small eyes and are probably short-sighted on land. These lines depict that despite Otters having a strong olfactory sense, they have small size, which results in short-sight on land. Hence, the answer is B.

4 Answer: F

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph F, line 5

Answer explanation: Paragraph F, line 5 states that the pesticides entered the river systems and the food chain – micro-organisms, fish and finally otters, with every step increasing the concentration of the chemicals. These lines indicate an explanation to why agriculture failed in Otter conservation effect, that is the toxic chemical pesticides were heavily used in agriculture, however, they entered the river systems, anf contaminated the food chain and caused a decrease in the Otter population. Thus, the answer is F.

5 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph C reveals that being such shy and wary creatures, they will prefer territories where man’s activities do not impinge greatly. These lines illustrate a description of some of the otter’s social characteristics. Thus, the answer is C.

6 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph E states that at five weeks they open their eyes – a tiny cub of 700g. At seven weeks they’re weaned onto solid food. At ten weeks they leave the nest, blinking into daylight for the first time. After three months they finally meet the water and learn to swim. After eight months they are hunting, though the mother still provides a lot of food herself. Finally, after nine months she can chase them all away with a clear conscience, and relax – until the next fella shows up. These lines give a description of how a baby otter grows until 9 months. We can understand that baby otters are brought up in secluded dens devoid of interference. Only after 3 months, they learn to swim and hunt after 8 months. At almost 9 months, the otters are ready to fend for themselves. Thus, the answer is E.

7 Answer: G

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph G, line 5

Answer explanation: The 5th line of paragraph G illustrates that the argument runs that where there is no suitable habitat for them they will not survive after release and where there is suitable habitat, natural populations should be able to expand into the area. However, reintroducing animals into a fragmented and fragile population may add just enough impetus for it to stabilize and expand, rather than die out. These lines indicate the conflicting options on how to preserve the otter population. Thus, the answer is G.

8 Answer: G

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph G, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph G reveals that this is almost entirely due to legislation, conservation efforts, slowing down and reversing the destruction of suitable otter habitat and reintroductions from captive breeding programs. These lines illustrate a reference to the legislative act. We can deduce from these lines that with an aim to preserve and increase the otter population, several measures are taken, including the implementation of a legislative act. Thus, the answer is G.

9 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 6

Answer explanation: The 6th line of paragraph A reveals that Otter fur consists of two types of hair: stout guard hairs which form a waterproof outer covering, and under-fur which is dense and fine, equivalent to an otter’s thermal underwear. These lines give a definitive explanation of how otters compensate for the loss of heat. We can understand that Otters spend a lot of time underwater, as a result of which their fur is made up of two kinds of hairs that counter heat loss. However the waterproofing and thermal properties of the fur keep the animal warm. Hence, the answer is A.

10 Answer: sea water/ salt water/ salt

Question type: Short Answer Question

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 8

Answer explanation: The 8th line of paragraph A states that seawater reduces the waterproofing and insulating qualities of otter fur when saltwater in the fur. This is why freshwater pools are important to otters living on the coast. These lines indicate that the otter’s fur has water-repelling/ waterproofing and insulating qualities, which doesn’t require grooming. However, saltwater affects these features keeping the otters warm. This might be the reason why fresh-water pools are essential for the otters on the coast. Thus, saltwater affects the outer fur of otters. So, the answer is sea water/ salt water/ salt.

11 Answer: swimming speed

Question type: Short Answer Question

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 9

Answer explanation: In the 9th line of paragraph B, it is mentioned that giant otters and sea otters have even more prominent webs, while the Asian short-clawed otter has no webbing – they hunt for shrimps in ditches and paddy fields so they don’t need the swimming speed. These lines elucidate that giants and sea otters have more prominent webs, while Asian short-clawed otters have no webbing and they hunt for shrimps from paddy fields and ditches rather than hunting for fish in rivers as they don’t need the swimming speed. Thus, Asian short-clawed otters do not require swimming speed to eat their prey. Hence, the answer is swimming speed.

12 Answer: coastal otters

Question type: Short Answer Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 5

Answer explanation: The 5th line of paragraph C states that coastal otters have a much more abundant food supply and range for males and females may be just a few kilometers of coastline. These lines suggest that coastal otters have a wide range of food supply, with a short range, where the males and females stretch over only a few kilometers of the coastlines. Therefore, the coastal otters have the shortest range. Thus, the answer is coastal otters.

13 Answer: small mammals

Question type: Short Answer Question

Answer location: Paragraph C, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph C states that small mammals are occasionally taken, most commonly rabbits but sometimes even moles. It is well known that Otters have a diverse diet that spreads across fish, crabs, snakes, sparrows to small mammals like rabbits and moles. As a result, these are the small mammals that are usually taken and hunted by Otters occasionally. Thus, the answer is Small mammals.