Spider silk 2 – IELTS Reading Answers
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You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on the reading passage below.
Spider silk 2
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| Question number | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | The initial lines of paragraph E state that “researchers have used both yeast and bacteria as hosts to grow the raw material, which they spun into fibres.” From the line, we can infer that bacteria and yeast are two materials used to replace silk-producing glands. Hence, the correct answer is “E.” |
| 2 | H | In paragraph H the author states that “Dorsch is excited by the prospect of new super-strong materials but he warns they are many years away.” Therefore, the prediction regarding the availability of synthetic silk is that it is many years away. Hence, the correct answer is “H.” |
| 3 | I | The beginning of the paragraph I mention that “the spider is not the only creature that has aroused the interest of material scientists. They have also become envious of the natural adhesive secreted by the sea mussel.” Thus, we can infer that there is ongoing research on the adhesive produced by sea mussels. Hence, the correct answer is “I.” |
| 4 | D | Paragraph D provides the information that “Randolph Lewis at the University of Wyoming, first examined the silk-producing gland of the spider.” From this line, we can infer that the research is conducted on the silk-producing gland of the spider. Hence, the correct answer is “D.” |
| 5 | G | Paragraph G talks about “the earthquake-resistant suspension bridges hung from cables of synthetic spider silk fibres may become a reality.” This implies that the possible application of silk in civil engineering is that spider silk fiber can hold bridges. Hence, the correct answer is “G.” |
| 6 | yeast | The first line of paragraph E mentions that “researchers have used both yeast and bacteria as hosts to grow the raw material, which they spun into fibres.” Hence we can deduce that genes grow in yeast. Hence, the correct answer is “yeast.” |
| 7 | bacteria | The first line of paragraph E also states that “researchers have used both yeast and bacteria as hosts to grow the raw material, which they spun into fibres.”Hence we can deduce that genes grow in bacteria. Hence, the correct answer is “bacteria.” |
| 8 | protein | In paragraph E Robert Dorsch, DuPont’s director of biochemical development, conveys that “the globus of protein, comparable with marbles in an egg, are harvested and processed.” The line ‘globules of protein’ confirms that the director is referring to protein. Hence, the correct answer is “protein.” |
| 9 | chemical | In paragraph F, there’s a line that states that “we substituted man-made approaches and dissolved the protein in chemical solvents.” The line ‘dissolved the protein in chemical’ implies that it is dissolved in chemical. Hence, the correct answer is “chemical.” |
| 10 | holes | In paragraph F, “which are the spun to push the material through small holes to form the solid fibre.” The phrase ‘push through small holes’ signifies that it passed through holes. Hence, the correct answer is “holes.” |
| 11 | FALSE | In paragraph B, we can find that “army scientists are already looking at the possibilities of using it for lightweight, bulletproof vests and parachutes.” Since scientists are exploring the possibility of using biosilk in these areas, it has not yet come into practice. As the statement contradicts the information, the correct answer is “FALSE.” |
| 12 | TRUE | Paragraph C mentions that “For some time, biochemists have been trying to synthesise the drag-line silk of the Golden Orb Weaver. The drag-line silk, which forms the radial arms of the web, is stronger than the other parts of the web.” Hence, spiders produce silk of varying strengths. As the statement agrees with the information, the correct answer is “TRUE.” |
| 13 | NOT GIVEN | Paragraphs D and E mention the contribution of both Randolph Lewis and Robert Dorsch in the examination of spider silk. However, they never cooperated in the synthetic production of silk. Hence, the answer is NOT GIVEN. |
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