Spider silk 2 – IELTS Reading Answers
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The Academic passage ‘Spider silk 2’ is a reading passage that appeared in an IELTS Test. Since questions get repeated in the IELTS exam, these passages for ideal for practice. If you want more practice, try taking an IELTS reading practice test
The question types found in this passage are:
Matching Information
The matching information type of questions in the IELTS reading test is one of the easiest question types, which requires the test-taker to identify which paragraph information is found in or match the statement according to the information in the reading text. In order to attempt this type of question, the test-taker needs to recognize paraphrasing and synonyms in the statement and match it accordingly with the reading paragraphs.
Flowchart Completion
The flowchart completion type of questions in the IELTS are very rare. This type of question requires the test-taker to fill up the blank spaces in the flowchart with the words taken from the reading text. The test-taker should complete the flowchart with the number of words specified in the instruction. The information in the flowchart will match information in the text but it will very likely be paraphrased and include synonyms. So, the test-taker should understand the meaning and fill the gaps in the flowchart.
True/False/Not Given
The True/False/Not Given Question in the IELTS reading test are very common and similar to the Yes/No/Not Given type of questions. The test-taker should scan and skim the reading passage and check if the statement in the question agrees/ disagrees/ contradicts with the information in the text. They should write True, if the statement agrees with the information, write False, if the statement disagrees/ contradicts and write Not Given, if the information in the statement is not present in the reading passage.
Spider silk 2
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1 Answer: E
Question type: Matching Information
Answer locations: Paragraph E
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: H
Question type: Matching Information
Answer locations: Paragraph H
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: I
Question type: Matching Information
Answer locations: Paragraph I
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: D
Question type: Matching Information
Answer locations: Paragraph D
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: G
Question type: Matching Information
Answer locations: Paragraph G
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Yeast
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer locations: Paragraph E
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Bacteria
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer locations: Paragraph E
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Protein
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer locations: Paragraph E
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Chemical
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer locations: Paragraph F
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Holes
Question type: Flowchart Completion
Answer locations: Paragraph F
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: False
Question type: True/False/Not Given
Answer locations: Paragraph B
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: True
Question type: True/False/Not Given
Answer locations: Paragraph C
Answer explanations: 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 Answer: Not Given
Question type: True/False/Not Given
Answer locations: Paragraph D & E
Answer explanations: 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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Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson

Janice Thompson
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