An Overview of The Research on Amber - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 2 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
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Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
An Overview of The Research on Amber
Amber: a fossilised tree resin, which may be produced to protect itself against 31 and fungi.
Colors
- usual yellow, orange, or brown
- uncommon colors e.g. blue (what causes the blue color in amber is related to the occurrence of 32)
Formation
- under sustained 33 and pressure
- during an 34 stage between resins and amber, copal is produced.
Places and Conditions
- commonly found on 35 e.g. in Russia
- avoid exposure to 36, rain, and temperate extremes
Inclusions
- Dominican amber: 1 inclusion to every 100 pieces
- Baltic amber: 1 inclusion to every 37 pieces
Uses and Applications
- It can be used to make ornamental objects and jewelry in 38 settings.
- Some people believe that its powder mixed with 39 cures throat, eye and ear diseases.
- It has even been used as a 40 material, for instance using it to create Amber Room.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | insects | The resin may be produced to protect the tree from disease and injury inflicted by insects and fungi | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that trees make resin as a defense system to stop tiny animals (insects) and fungi from making them sick or hurting them. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'insects', which are small living creatures like bugs that can harm trees. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'insects' because the transcript explains that resin is a way for a tree to protect itself. It specifically mentions that this resin acts as a shield against both insects and fungi, which can cause sickness or damage to the tree. |
| Q32 | volcanic dust | The most common one links it to the occurrence of volcanic dust that was present when the resin was first pressed out from hymenaea protera millions of years ago | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the most popular theory for why some amber is blue is because volcanic dust was present when the tree resin was first made. Answer Explanation: The answer "volcanic dust" refers to the tiny pieces of rock and ash from a volcano that can give rare amber a blue color. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the part of the talk discussing different colors of amber. Specifically, the speaker explains that while amber is usually yellow or brown, blue amber is very rare. The most popular explanation for this blue color is that it was caused by volcanic dust being mixed into the resin millions of years ago. |
| Q33 | heat | Sustained heat and pressure drives off terpenes and results in the formation of amber | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when high temperatures and heavy weight are applied for a long duration, it results in the creation of amber. Answer Explanation: The answer "heat" refers to high temperatures or warmth. In this context, it is one of the two main forces required over a long period to turn tree resin into amber. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "heat" because the speaker explains the scientific process of how amber is created. In the transcript, the speaker mentions that "sustained heat and pressure" are necessary to drive away certain chemicals and finish the change from a younger material (copal) into amber. The word "sustained" indicates that this warmth must continue for a long time alongside the "pressure." |
| Q34 | intermediate | More generally, the term copal describes resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerisation and hardening between “gummier” resins and amber | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that copal is what we call resin when it is in the middle of changing from a soft, sticky liquid into a hard fossil like amber. Answer Explanation: The answer "intermediate" means coming between two things in time, order, or level. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the section explaining the formation of amber. The transcript identifies copal as a substance that is not yet amber but is more than just regular resin. It specifically uses the word "intermediate" to describe the middle stage of the process where resin turns into copal before eventually becoming amber. This matches the note's description of a "stage between resins and amber." |
| Q35 | sea shores | So where can we find amber? It can be found on sea shores | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that amber is located on the edges of the sea where the water meets the land. Answer Explanation: The answer 'sea shores' means the land right next to the sea or ocean where people can find amber. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the speaker's direct statement. When discussing where to find amber, the speaker asks 'So where can we find amber?' and answers 'It can be found on sea shores'. The text also mentions Russia as a main producer where amber is washed up on the coast. |
| Q36 | sunlight | However, exposure to sunlight, rain, and temperate extremes tends to disintegrate resin | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that being out in the sun, rain, or very hot or cold weather will cause the resin to break down. Answer Explanation: The answer "sunlight" is one of the natural elements that can cause amber to break down or fall apart. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "sunlight" because the speaker explains that certain environmental factors cause resin to break into pieces, which is what the word 'disintegrate' means. In the list provided in the transcript, sunlight is mentioned first, followed by rain and extreme temperatures. |
| Q37 | 1,000 / 1000 | Baltic amber contains approximately 1 inclusion to every 1,000 pieces | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript specifically states that in the case of Baltic amber, you can expect to find one inclusion for every thousand pieces of amber. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number of Baltic amber pieces usually needed to find one piece that contains a trapped insect or plant. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the section of the talk discussing inclusions—insects or plants trapped inside the resin. The speaker compares Dominican amber, which has one inclusion for every 100 pieces, with Baltic amber, noting that Baltic amber has a much lower rate of about one inclusion for every 1,000 pieces. |
| Q38 | silver | Good quality amber is used to manufacture ornamental objects and jewelry, for instance using a variety of exclusive first class quality natural Baltic amber with silver to make natural amber jewelry | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that high-quality amber is used for making jewelry and decorative objects. It gives an example of using Baltic amber along with silver to create these items. Answer Explanation: The answer "silver" is a shiny, white precious metal that is often used to make rings, necklaces, and other types of jewelry. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "silver" because the transcript discusses the use of amber in jewelry and decorative items. It specifically describes how top-quality amber is combined with silver to create beautiful jewelry pieces. This matches the note about amber being used in certain "settings" for jewelry. |
| Q39 | honey | Kalistrate, a famous doctor in the Roman Empire wrote that amber powder mixed with honey cures throat, eye and ear diseases, and if it is taken with water, eases stomachache | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in history, a well-known doctor said that mixing amber powder with honey can fix (cure) issues with the throat, eyes, and ears. Answer Explanation: The answer is honey, which is a sweet food made by bees that is used with amber powder as a medicine. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is honey because the transcript mentions that a famous Roman doctor, Kalistrate, wrote about using amber powder mixed with honey to treat specific health problems like throat, eye, and ear diseases. This matches the note about what the powder is combined with to help cure illnesses. |
| Q40 | building | Amber has even been used as a building material. Amber created the altar in St. Brygida Church in Gdansk, Poland. In St. Petersburg, Russia, the walls of the famous Amber Room were lined with intricate carvings and inlaid designs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that amber was used for construction, such as making birdges or church parts, and specifically mentions that it was used to decorate the walls of the well-known Amber Room. Answer Explanation: The answer 'building' means that amber was used as a type of material for construction or making parts of a house or room. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is building because in the transcript, the speaker says that amber has been used as a 'building material'. To prove this, they give an example of the famous Amber Room in Russia, where amber was used to cover the walls. |
Transcript
Tonight I'm going to present an overview of the research on amber. Okay, I'll start by giving a brief introduction about amber, then talk about the formation of amber, and then describe amber's applications in different fields.
First of all, what is amber? Amber is not a stone, but is ancient, fossilised tree resin, which is the semi-solid amorphous organic substance secreted in pockets and canals through epithelial cells of the plant. And why is resin produced? Although there are contrasting views as to why resin is produced, it is a plant's protection mechanism. The resin may be produced to protect the tree from disease and injury inflicted by insects and fungi.
Amber occurs in a range of different colors. Besides the usual yellow, orange, and brown, other uncommon colors are also associated with it. Interestingly, blue amber, the rarest Dominican amber, is highly sought after. It is only found in Santiago, Dominican Republic. There are several theories about what causes the blue color in amber. The most common one links it to the occurrence of volcanic dust that was present when the resin was first pressed out from hymenaea protera millions of years ago.
At this point, you might be curious about how amber is formed. Molecular polymerisation, resulting from high pressures and temperatures produced by overlying sediment, transforms the resin first into copal. Sustained heat and pressure drives off terpenes and results in the formation of amber. Copal that I've just mentioned is also a tree resin but it hasn't fully fossilised to amber. More generally, the term copal describes resinous substances in an intermediate stage of polymerisation and hardening between “gummier” resins and amber.
So where can we find amber? It can be found on sea shores. The main producer worldwide is Russia. In fact about 90% of the world's available amber is located in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, which is located on the Baltic. Here, the resin is washed up on the coast after being dislodged from the ocean floor by years of water and ocean currents. However, exposure to sunlight, rain, and temperate extremes tends to disintegrate resin. This also indicates that amber is not really an ideal fossil preservative for most uses.
We've already learned that amber is made of tree resin. It often includes insects that were trapped within the tree many millions of years ago. A piece with a visible and well-arranged insect is generally valued much higher than simple, solid amber. One Dominican amber source reported finding a butterfly with a five-inch wing spread; this is both a large and unusual find; most butterfly specimens have no more than a two-inch wingspan. Inclusions in Dominican amber are numerous – 1 inclusion to every 100 pieces; Baltic amber contains approximately 1 inclusion to every 1,000 pieces.
Now that you have a basic knowledge of amber, I'd like to talk a bit about amber's applications in different fields. First, amber is appreciated for its color and beauty. Good quality amber is used to manufacture ornamental objects and jewelry, for instance using a variety of exclusive first class quality natural Baltic amber with silver to make natural amber jewelry. But due to the biodegradation of Amber fossils, people with amber jewelry have to take special care of it, to ensure that the amber is not damaged.
It was previously believed that amber worn on the neck served to protect one from diseases of the throat and preserved the sound mind. Kalistrate, a famous doctor in the Roman Empire wrote that amber powder mixed with honey cures throat, eye and ear diseases, and if it is taken with water, eases stomachache. While the mystery around that use of amber has not been cleared, one thing is sure: it will help effectively to defeat small malaises.
Amber has even been used as a building material. Amber created the altar in St. Brygida Church in Gdansk, Poland. In St. Petersburg, Russia, the walls of the famous Amber Room were lined with intricate carvings and inlaid designs. This palace room is being reconstructed from photographs, and can be visited at the Catherine Palace, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo.
And finally, the fourth use of amber is that...