Pygmy Blue Whale Research - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 2 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
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Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the lecture notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Pygmy Blue Whale Research
- Pygmy blue whales: Before 1966 it is likely they were 31 with the Antarctic blue whales.
- Aim of study: To find out more about their 32 and movements.
- Method: Whales are tagged with an antenna. When the antenna communicates with a number of satellites, the whale's 33 can be identified. Researchers access the results using the project 34.
- Findings: The whales travel from the 35 of Australia to breeding grounds in Indonesia during March and April, and return to Australian waters in 36. Pygmy whales do not go without 37 whilst they are in their breeding grounds.
- Conservation issues: The effect of 38 routes on communication between whales.
Conservation efforts can take place over a(n) 39 area now there is evidence that they migrate out of Australian waters.
- Future studies: To explore whether pygmy whales off the southern coast of Australia follow the same northerly migratory routes as those studied or whether they travel to a(n) 40 region to the south of Australia.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | confused | Before then they were probably confused with the Antarctic or 'true' blue whale, so it's only recently that researchers have started to learn about them and their migrations to and from their breeding and feeding grounds | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in the past, people made a mistake and mixed up pygmy blue whales with a different group called Antarctic blue whales. Answer Explanation: The answer means that scientists mistakenly thought pygmy blue whales were the same as another kind of whale. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'confused' because the lecturer explains that until 1966, people did not realize pygmy blue whales were a different type. Before this time, people probably saw them and thought they were the 'Antarctic' or 'true' blue whale. To be 'confused' in this context means to mix up the identity of one thing with another. |
| Q32 | populations / population | Scientists are interested in pygmy blue whales because although they are a very mobile subspecies, very little is known about their movements and their populations | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that people who study science want to learn about these whales because they do not have much information about the whales' travel patterns or their groups. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the groups of these whales that live together in specific areas. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is population(s) because the lecturer explains that scientists want to study pygmy blue whales to learn more about where they go (movements) and how many live in their different groups (populations). The notes ask for the aim of the study, and these are the two main things scientists want to find out. |
| Q33 | location | The location of the whale can be determined when multiple satellites receive the tag's transmissions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that when many satellites get signals from the whale's tag, scientists can find out exactly where the whale is. Answer Explanation: The answer "location" means the specific place or position where the whale is at that moment. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "location" because the transcript explains how satellite technology is used to find where the whales are. It mentions that after the whale's tag sends signals to many satellites, the "location of the whale can be determined." In the lecture notes, the word "identified" is used as a synonym for "determined." |
| Q34 | website | Researchers receive this location data in almost real time via the project website, which allows them to track the movement of the tagged whale from many miles away | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that researchers get the whale's location data through the project website. This website helps them see the whale's path even if they are many miles away. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'website'. This is a place on the internet where people find information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'website' because the lecturer says researchers use it to see the tracking information. When a whale with a special tag comes to the surface, its location is sent to a satellite. Then, this location information is sent to the project's website. Researchers look at this website to see where the whale is moving. |
| Q35 | west coast | The use of these tags has enabled researchers to discover that pygmy blue whales do indeed travel northwards from the west coast of Australia in March and April, reaching the warmer breeding grounds of Indonesia in June | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that by using tracking tags, scientists found that these whales swim from the western edge of Australia to Indonesia during March and April. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific place or side of Australia where the whales start their trip north. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "west coast" because the speaker says that during March and April, the whales swim from this part of Australia to reach Indonesia. The words "west coast" specify where they are located before they begin moving toward their breeding grounds. |
| Q36 | September | They remain there until September, at which time they then return to Australian waters | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the whales stay in their northern location until September, and that is when they move back toward Australia. Answer Explanation: The answer September is the month when the pygmy blue whales start their journey back to the seas around Australia. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is September because the text specifically mentions that after staying in their breeding grounds in Indonesia, the whales travel back to Australian waters during this month. Key words in the transcript used were 'return' and 'Australian waters'. |
| Q37 | food / feeding | It's usually assumed that whales go without food outside of the summer, when they leave their feeding grounds. But interestingly, the pygmy blue whales studied travel from productive feeding grounds off western Australia to productive areas in Indonesia and therefore probably still have the opportunity to feed whilst they're in their breeding grounds | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that people usually believe whales do not eat after the summer. However, these specific whales move from areas with lots of food to another area in Indonesia that also has lots of food. Because of this, they are able to continue eating in their breeding area. Answer Explanation: The answer means either 'food' (the things that animals eat) or 'feeding' (the act of eating). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'food / feeding' because the lecturer explains that most people think whales stop eating once they leave their main feeding grounds. However, pygmy blue whales move between two areas that both have plenty of food. This means they likely keep eating in their breeding grounds. Key terms that point to this include 'go without food' and 'opportunity to feed'. |
| Q38 | shipping | For example, the migratory routes of pygmy blue whales correspond closely with shipping routes. Consequently, researchers are keen to monitor whether this has any negative effects on the whales' behaviour. Baleen whales — these are whales that use filters to feed, not teeth — use sounds to communicate and to gain information about their environment. Clearly, as pygmy blue whale movements correspond to shipping routes, there is potential for the noise generated by ships to affect communication and hence social encounters and feeding | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the paths whales take are very similar to the paths boats take (shipping routes). It explains that whales use sound to talk (communicate), and the noise from the ships might stop them from being able to do this properly. Answer Explanation: The answer 'shipping' refers to the movement of large boats that carry goods and products across the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'shipping' because the transcript explains that a major conservation problem is how the whales' paths match up with 'shipping routes.' The speaker explains that the loud sounds made by these big boats can make it difficult for the whales to talk to each other or 'communicate.' This match between whale paths and boat paths is a key concern for the researchers. |
| Q39 | wider | Now that this hypothesis has been borne out by evidence, conservation efforts can be undertaken in a wider area than just Australian waters | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that because scientists have proven their idea is true, they can now protect the whales in a larger space instead of only in the ocean near Australia. Answer Explanation: The answer "wider" means a larger space or a bigger part of the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "wider" because the lecturer explains that now that researchers have proof (evidence) that the whales move to different locations, the work to save and protect them (conservation efforts) can happen in a much bigger region (a wider area) beyond just the waters of Australia. |
| Q40 | subtropical | Researchers are keen to discover whether the pygmy whales from the southern feeding grounds follow a similar migration route to those from the west coast or whether they migrate to the subtropical region to the south of Australia | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that scientists want to know if these whales move north like others or if they travel to the subtropical area in the southern part of the ocean. Answer Explanation: The answer is a word that describes a type of climate or area. It refers to a place that is warm but slightly cooler than the tropics. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is subtropical because the speaker mentions a specific alternative path for whales living off the south coast. While researchers know where the west coast whales go, they are still trying to find out if the southern whales go to a 'subtropical region' located to the south of Australia. |
Transcript
Lecturer: Today we're going to continue our investigation into the use of technology in plotting oceanographic migratory patterns and I'd like to focus specifically on creatures that we didn't even realise existed until very recently: pygmy blue whales. In particular, I'd like to talk about a high-tech method of tracking that researchers have used to find out more about these creatures.
Pygmy blue whales, which are one of several sub-species of blue whales, spend their lives in the vast expanses of the Indian and southern Pacific Oceans. They were first identified as a distinct subspecies in 1966. Before then they were probably confused with the Antarctic or 'true' blue whale, so it's only recently that researchers have started to learn about them and their migrations to and from their breeding and feeding grounds.
Scientists are interested in pygmy blue whales because although they are a very mobile subspecies, very little is known about their movements and their populations. Large-scale movements of whales are particularly hard to study, and what we do know about pygmy blue whales we've mainly learnt from examining whaling records. There are several populations of pygmy blue whales in the southern hemisphere and two main feeding grounds off southern and western Australia. Scientists were interested in testing their hypothesis that the pygmy blue whales feeding off western Australia migrate to Indonesia to breed.
To track the whales' movements, researchers made use of something called satellite telemetry. This refers to the use of a satellite-linked tag attached to a whale. When the antenna on the whale breaks the surface of the water, the tag communicates with a satellite system. The location of the whale can be determined when multiple satellites receive the tag's transmissions, much like how the navigation system works on a mobile phone. Researchers receive this location data in almost real time via the project website, which allows them to track the movement of the tagged whale from many miles away.
The use of these tags has enabled researchers to discover that pygmy blue whales do indeed travel northwards from the west coast of Australia in March and April, reaching the warmer breeding grounds of Indonesia in June. They remain there until September, at which time they then return to Australian waters.
In addition to identifying the migratory pattern of this particular population of pygmy whales, research has also shone new light on the whales' feeding patterns. It's usually assumed that whales go without food outside of the summer, when they leave their feeding grounds. But interestingly, the pygmy blue whales studied travel from productive feeding grounds off western Australia to productive areas in Indonesia and therefore probably still have the opportunity to feed whilst they're in their breeding grounds.
It is hoped that mapping the migratory movements of the pygmy whales will help conservation efforts for these endangered animals, and the study has enabled researchers to identify specific conservation issues. For example, the migratory routes of pygmy blue whales correspond closely with shipping routes. Consequently, researchers are keen to monitor whether this has any negative effects on the whales' behaviour. Baleen whales - these are whales that use filters to feed, not teeth - use sounds to communicate and to gain information about their environment. Clearly, as pygmy blue whale movements correspond to shipping routes, there is potential for the noise generated by ships to affect communication and hence social encounters and feeding.
Previously, researchers could only hypothesise that pygmy blue whales occupying western Australian waters travelled into Indonesian waters. Now that this hypothesis has been borne out by evidence, conservation efforts can be undertaken in a wider area than just Australian waters.
However, scientists aren't stopping here. A question mark still remains over the movements of the pygmy blue whales that utilise the feeding grounds further south, off the southern coast of Australia. Genetic evidence indicates that there is a mixing taking place between the population of whales in the feeding grounds of western Australia and the population further south. Researchers are keen to discover whether the pygmy whales from the southern feeding grounds follow a similar migration route to those from the west coast or whether they migrate to the subtropical region to the south of Australia. As a result, there are plans to tag the pygmy blue whales further south in order to find out whether they move through the same areas as the western population and are therefore exposed to the same risks.