FACT SHEET ABOUT CORALS - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
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Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
FACT SHEET ABOUT CORALS
Nature's significant creations:
Over 31 sea species and humans depend on coral reefs.
Formation:
Each April, coral polyps release eggs, which will take root on 32 and grow up.
Habitats:
Coral reefs only live in clear, 33 waters.
Tropical areas are ideal because of the perfect 34.
Threats:
• 11% of the reefs have been lost and 35 are damaged by the natural disaster in 1998.
• One of the greatest threats comes from 36 or development.
• 37 causes the decrease of reef fish.
• Corals are sold as 38 in many shops.
• The leak of 39 by large vessels damages corals.
Natural factors:
Hurricanes cause 40, which break the corals apart.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | one-quarter | Over one-quarter of all marine species depend on healthy coral reefs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that more than one-fourth of all sea animals rely on healthy coral reefs to live. Answer Explanation: The answer means one out of four parts, or 25 percent. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "one-quarter" because the speaker discusses how many sea creatures rely on coral reefs. In the listening text, the phrase "marine species" corresponds to "sea species" in the notes. The speaker states that "Over one-quarter of all marine species depend on healthy coral reefs." |
| Q32 | the seafloor / seafloor | After the fertilized eggs take root on the seafloor, they can grow up to 15 centimeters per year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when the coral eggs attach to the bottom of the ocean, they begin to grow bigger each year. Answer Explanation: The answer means the bottom surface of the sea or ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(the) seafloor" because the notes ask where the released eggs settle and grow. In the talk, Mr. Harford explains that after mature corals release their eggs, the fertilized eggs "take root on the seafloor" and begin to grow up to 15 centimeters each year. Therefore, "seafloor" fits the blank perfectly. |
| Q33 | warm and salt | Only clear, warm salt water can support a coral reef | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a coral reef can only survive in water that is clear, warm, and contains salt. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the water must not be cold and it must contain salt. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer completes the sentence about the habitat of corals. The speaker explains that corals need specific conditions to survive, stating that "Only clear, warm salt water can support a coral reef." Therefore, the waters must be "warm and salt" (or warm salt). |
| Q34 | natural conditions | Most coral reefs are in the tropics because natural conditions there are perfect | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that most reefs are found in tropical places because the conditions created by nature there are ideal. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the normal environment and weather of nature, such as warm water and bright sunlight. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "natural conditions" because the speaker explains why tropical regions are ideal for coral reefs. In the notes, "tropical areas are ideal" corresponds to the speaker saying that "most coral reefs are in the tropics", and "because of the perfect [natural conditions]" matches the statement that "natural conditions there are perfect." |
| Q35 | 16% | In recent years, however, more than 11% of the world's reefs have been lost, with another 16% severely damaged during the El Nino event in 1998 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that more than 11 percent of the reefs on Earth have disappeared, and an additional 16 percent were badly harmed during the 1998 El Niño event. Answer Explanation: The answer "16%" refers to the percentage of the world's coral reefs that suffered serious damage during a major natural weather event in the year 1998. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "16%" because the speaker discusses the recent loss and destruction of reefs. The speaker states that over 11% have been lost, and "another 16% severely damaged during the El Nino event in 1998." The phrase "natural disaster in 1998" in the notes matches "the El Nino event in 1998" in the audio, making "16%" the exact figure needed to fill in the blank. |
| Q36 | human expansion | One of the greatest threats to coral reefs is human expansion or development | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that one of the biggest dangers threatening coral reefs is the expansion of human activities and construction. Answer Explanation: The answer "human expansion" refers to the growth of human communities and towns spreading into natural spaces. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker's discussion of dangers to reefs. The speaker specifically points out that a major danger to coral reefs is "human expansion or development." The note prompt includes the words "or development," which directly matches this sentence. |
| Q37 | Overfishing | Due to overfishing, reef fish populations have been greatly decreased in some areas of the world | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that catching too many fish has led to a big drop in the number of fish living around coral reefs. Answer Explanation: The answer means catching too many fish from the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker explains that catching too many fish reduces the number of fish living around the reefs. In the notes, the phrase 'causes the decrease of reef fish' matches the transcript's phrase 'reef fish populations have been greatly decreased' caused by 'overfishing'. |
| Q38 | decorations / souvenirs | They sell the corals to the souvenir shops, where a large number tourists wait to purchase them as decorations or souvenirs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that corals are taken and sold in souvenir shops, where many tourists buy them to keep as decorations or souvenirs. Answer Explanation: The answer means items used to make a room look nice or small gifts bought to remember a trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "decorations/souvenirs" because the speaker explains that corals are sold to shops where visitors buy them as "decorations or souvenirs". In the text, the keyword "purchase" means "buy" or "sold", and "souvenir shops" relates directly to "many shops". |
| Q39 | fuels | The leakage of fuels into the water and the occurrences of spills by large tankers are extremely damaging to local corals | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that when fuels leak into the sea and big ships spill oil, it causes severe harm to nearby corals. Answer Explanation: The answer means energy liquids like petrol or oil used to run boats and ships. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "fuels" because the speaker explains that boats and large tankers harm coral reefs when their power source leaks or spills into the ocean. The phrase in the notes "The leak of [fuels] by large vessels damages corals" directly matches the speaker's statement about "leakage of fuels into the water" causing severe damage. |
| Q40 | powerful waves | The most recognised of these events are hurricanes, or typhoons, which bring powerful waves to the tropics. These storm waves cause large corals to break apart and scatter fragments about the reefs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that hurricanes produce very strong waves in tropical regions, and these heavy waves smash and break big corals into pieces. Answer Explanation: The answer "powerful waves" means very strong, energetic movements of water on the ocean surface. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker when discussing natural disturbances to coral reefs. The speaker explains that hurricanes bring "powerful waves" to the tropics, and these storm waves cause large corals to break apart. Therefore, "powerful waves" accurately completes the note describing what hurricanes cause that damages the corals. |
Transcript
Presenter: Do you fancy diving in the wonderful world of coral reef? Green sponges, colorful fish, and red crabs... It is a rich garden beneath the waves. But how much do you know about the corals? Are they animals or plants? What are the threats to coral reefs? Today Mr. Tim Harford, Executive Director of the Coral Reef Alliance, is going to introduce the facts about coral reef.
Mr. Harford: Good afternoon, everyone. Coral reefs are one of the nature's most magnificent creations. They are filled with thousands of unique and valuable plants and animals. Over one-quarter of all marine species depend on healthy coral reefs. Humans also depend on coral reefs. These marine ecosystems are the primary source of food and income for millions of people, a vast repository of valuable chemical compounds and medicines, and a natural wave barrier that protect beaches and coastlines from waves and storms.
Coral is actually the exoskeletons of coral polyps. Made of limestone, these skeletons build up over time, forming the reef. New corals are born each April. At a certain hour, on a certain night, mature corals suddenly release clouds of eggs and sperm into the sea. After the fertilized eggs take root on the seafloor, they can grow up to 15 centimeters per year.
Coral reefs are present in the waters of over 100 countries. These are warm (18-29°C), shallow, sunny regions primarily between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Only clear, warm salt water can support a coral reef. And because sunlight is crucial to the reefs survival, the water must also be shallow. The algae that grow on coral provide much of the corals' food. In deeper water, algae cannot get the sunlight they need to grow. Most coral reefs are in the tropics because natural conditions there are perfect.
In their modern form, coral reefs have thrived on earth for over 50 million years. In recent years, however, more than 11% of the world's reefs have been lost, with another 16% severely damaged during the El Nino event in 1998. Up to 32% of coral reefs may be destroyed by human activities in the next thirty years if we do not take action now.
Corals and coral reefs are extremely sensitive. Slight changes in the reef environment may have detrimental effects on the health of entire coral colonies. These changes may be due to a variety of factors. One of the greatest threats to coral reefs is human expansion or development.
As human population increases, so does the harvest of resources from the sea. Due to overfishing, reef fish populations have been greatly decreased in some areas of the world. The removal of large numbers of reef fish has caused the coral reef ecosystems to become unbalanced.
As we know corals are also very popular as decorations. A large amount of the most healthy corals are selected by commercial collectors. They sell the corals to the souvenir shops, where a large number tourists wait to purchase them as decorations or souvenirs.
Coral reefs also receive much damage from both commercial and private vessels. The leakage of fuels into the water and the occurrences of spills by large tankers are extremely damaging to local corals.
Although much of the coral reefs degradation is directly blamed on human impact, there are several natural disturbances which cause significant damage to coral reefs. The most recognised of these events are hurricanes, or typhoons, which bring powerful waves to the tropics. These storm waves cause large corals to break apart and scatter fragments about the reefs.
Home to a diverse community of creatures, coral reefs are underwater treasure chests of colour and activity. Predators and prey swim and crawl among the coral in nature's never-ending dance of life and death. This lively, fascinating world beneath the waves is just waiting to be explored.