St Lawrence Island - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
St Lawrence Island
Location & Geography
Closer to Russia and 31 kms from Alaska
One of the few lasting parts of the land mass which once joined Asia and North America which is still 32
Polynya (open water surrounded by ice) formation on the south coast formed by winds and 33
Natural characteristics
Having streams and lakes but no trees
Mainly flat landscape though 34 in the centre
Early settlement
Not permanent — depended on weather patterns, 35 and food
First European — 1728
Since 1800
1878-1880 — many inhabitants died or left due to 36
1900 — introduction of animals for farming to improve the island's 37
By 1917— 38 reindeer on the island
Ill health experienced by 39 in the North East Cape
Effects of pollutants worsened by the 40 of the region
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | over 160 | It is in fact situated just under 70kms from Siberia and over 160 kilometres from Alaska | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the island is a bit less than 70 kilometers away from Siberia and more than 160 kilometers away from mainland Alaska. Answer Explanation: The answer means more than 160. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "over 160" because the speaker explains the distance between the island and Alaska. In the text, the island is located "over 160 kilometres from Alaska". In the notes, the unit "kms" is already provided right after the gap, so "over 160" completes the phrase correctly. |
| Q32 | above sea level | It is thought to be one of the last remaining portions of land mass above sea level that once joined Asia with the North American continent | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that this island is one of the final pieces of land that used to connect Asia and North America that is still out of the water. Answer Explanation: The answer means not covered by the ocean water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "above sea level" because the speaker explains that St Lawrence Island is believed to be one of the final parts of the old land connection between Asia and North America that still remains above the ocean surface. In the notes, the phrase "few lasting parts" matches "last remaining portions" in the audio, and "joined Asia and North America" matches "joined Asia with the North American continent". |
| Q33 | ocean currents | A polynya such as this is formed due to the action of winds and ocean currents which force frozen water away from the coastline | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the open water area (polynya) is created by the movement of winds and ocean currents pushing frozen water away from the shore. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to continuous, directed movements of seawater in the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "ocean currents" because the speaker explains how the polynya to the south of the island is created. In the talk, it is stated that this area of open water is "formed due to the action of winds and ocean currents". Therefore, alongside winds, "ocean currents" complete the note about what forms the polynya. |
| Q34 | mountainous | Although the central part of the island is mountainous, the majority of the landscape is flat tundra; many parts of this turning into swampy land in summer which is difficult to cross | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that while most of the land on the island is flat, the middle area has mountains. Answer Explanation: The answer "mountainous" means having many mountains. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker describes the terrain of the island. The notes state that the landscape is "Mainly flat landscape though in the centre". The speaker directly matches this by saying that the "central part of the island is mountainous", while the "majority of the landscape is flat tundra". Therefore, "mountainous" is the exact word that fits the note. |
| Q35 | availability of resources / resources | It is thought, however, that early occupation of the island was never permanent and that in fact populations would leave and return as governed by the availability of resources and food and seasonal weather patterns | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that early people did not live on the island all the time; instead, they moved in and out depending on the weather of each season and whether they could find food and necessary supplies. Answer Explanation: The answer means things that people need to survive and live, such as natural materials and supplies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(availability of) resources" because the notes discuss why early living on the island was not permanent. The transcript explains that people would come and go based on three things: "seasonal weather patterns", "food", and the "availability of resources". The phrase "governed by" in the talk means the same thing as "depended on" in the notes. |
| Q36 | extreme famine / famine | The significant drop in population size occurred between 1878 and 1880 when extreme famine hit the island causing many to die of starvation and forcing many others to leave and relocate to different parts of Alaska | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that between 1878 and 1880, a terrible lack of food affected the island, causing many residents to die of hunger and many others to move to other places. Answer Explanation: The answer means a very serious shortage of food, where people have almost nothing to eat. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(extreme) famine" because the speaker explains that between 1878 and 1880, a terrible food shortage struck the island. This caused many residents to die of hunger and forced others to move away. Key synonyms and related phrases to notice are "extreme famine" (a severe lack of food), "die of starvation" (die from having no food), and "forcing many others to leave" (inhabitants left). |
| Q37 | economy | In 1900, reindeer were introduced to the island with the intention of developing larger scale farming to enhance the island's economy | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that in the year 1900, reindeer were brought to the island to start bigger farms and boost or improve the local economy. Answer Explanation: The answer "economy" means the system of how money and goods are made and used in a place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "economy" because the speaker explains the reason reindeer were brought to the island in 1900. In the notes, the phrase "to improve the island's" matches the phrase "to enhance the island's" in the audio. Therefore, the goal was to improve the island's "economy". |
| Q38 | 10 000 / 10,000 | By 1917, there were 10,000 of the animals on St. Lawrence, but numbers today are significantly reduced | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that by the year 1917, there were 10,000 reindeer living on St. Lawrence Island. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number 10,000. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "10,000" because the speaker mentions that after reindeer were brought to the island in 1900, the population of these animals reached 10,000 by the year 1917. |
| Q39 | local families | After its closure in the 1970s, it was observed that a seemingly large proportion of local families began to experience health problems | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that during the 1970s, people noticed that many families living nearby started getting sick. Answer Explanation: The answer means the households or groups of related people living in that area. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "local families" because the speaker explains that after the military station closed, many local families started to have health issues. In the notes, the phrase "Ill health experienced by" corresponds directly to "began to experience health problems" in the talk. |
| Q40 | cold Arctic air / cold air | the effects of pollutants being intensified by the cold Arctic air | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the freezing temperature of the air in the Arctic made the harmful effects of the chemical pollution much stronger. Answer Explanation: The answer means the very freezing weather or atmosphere found in the Arctic area. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "cold (Arctic) air" because the note asks what condition in the region made the effects of pollutants worse. The transcript states that the "effects of pollutants being intensified by the cold Arctic air." The word "intensified" has the same meaning as "worsened" in the note prompt. |
Transcript
Today, I am going to give you some information on the little known atoll - St Lawrence Island - which is situated west of mainland Alaska in the Bering Sea. Although it is politically classified as belonging to Alaska and therefore the U.S.A., St Lawrence Island is geographically closer to Russia than it is to the Alaskan mainland. It is in fact situated just under 70kms from Siberia and over 160 kilometres from Alaska. It is thought to be one of the last remaining portions of land mass above sea level that once joined Asia with the North American continent.
To the south of the island is a permanent "polynya" which is an area of open water surrounded by sea ice. A polynya such as this is formed due to the action of winds and ocean currents which force frozen water away from the coastline. As new ice forms in the open water area, the wind and currents push the new ice downwind to the existing ice formation. The term "polynya" refers to the open area of unfrozen sea and not the ice itself.
The island and its surrounding area is home to a high number of seabirds and marine animals. This is thought to be due to the influence of the "Anadyr" current which is an ocean current that brings cold but nutrient-rich water from the deep waters of the Bering Sea.
There are many lakes and small streams, though no trees growing on St Lawrence Island and the only woody plant species in existence there is the Arctic Willow which grows no taller than 30 centimetres in height. Although the central part of the island is mountainous, the majority of the landscape is flat tundra; many parts of this turning into swampy land in summer which is difficult to cross.
St Lawrence Island is thought to have been first occupied around 2500 years ago; this settlement has been dated due to archeological investigation of the area and the findings of Okvik (early Eskimo) artifacts and statues. It is thought, however, that early occupation of the island was never permanent and that in fact populations would leave and return as governed by the availability of resources and food and seasonal weather patterns.
The island is the first area of Alaska known to have been visited by European explorers, the first of whom was Vitus Bering who was of Russian and Danish decent. He first visited the island on St Lawrence's Day, August 10th 1728, hence its name. Prior to Bering's visit, the island was known as Sivuqaq by the Yupik people who are native people of the central Alaskan region.
In the mid 1800s there were around 4,000 Yupik people living in several villages on St Lawrence Island. These days there are around 1200 people living there. The significant drop in population size occurred between 1878 and 1880 when extreme famine hit the island causing many to die of starvation and forcing many others to leave and relocate to different parts of Alaska.
It is mainly Yupik people who live there still and their main pursuits are hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. In 1900, reindeer were introduced to the island with the intention of developing larger scale farming to enhance the island's economy. By 1917, there were 10,000 of the animals on St. Lawrence, but numbers today are significantly reduced. Reindeers are now as source of subsistence meat to sustain the island's population and are not farmed for commercial or export purposes.
The island's people are also renowned for their carving expertise, most of their carvings and statues being made from walrus ivory and whalebone. Today, only two significant villages still exist on the island, which are Gambell and Savoonga.
From 1952 to 1972 a multi-functional US Airforce station was operated from the North East Cape of St Lawrence Island. After its closure in the 1970s, it was observed that a seemingly large proportion of local families began to experience health problems. Some experts believe that these illnesses were linked to high levels of chemical contamination from the site; the effects of pollutants being intensified by the cold Arctic air. Whilst links have not been confirmed, in 2003, the majority of the facility was completely removed in a cleanup project. The site continues to be monitored, as do unusual incidences of ill health in the local population.