Unusual Life Form - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–33 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
Questions 34–40 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write ONE WORD for each answer.
- Access to the sun's heat can create a 34 for some organisms.
- The deeper the soil, the higher the 35 of salt.
- Salt can protect organisms against the effects of 36, even at very low temperatures.
- All living things must have access to 37 water.
- Salt plays a part in the process of 38, which prevents freezing.
- The environment of 39 is similar to the dry valleys of Antarctica.
- This research may provide evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial life forms and their possible 40 on other planets.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | B | life forms are being found - and these have been grouped into what is now known as extremophiles - that is, organisms that can survive in the most extreme environments | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript defines extremophiles as specific types of life forms that have the ability to live in environments that are considered very extreme or harsh. Answer Explanation: The answer means that extremophiles are living organisms that can stay alive in very difficult or dangerous environments. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explicitly defines extremophiles as organisms that survive in the most "extreme environments." In the context of the transcript, these environments are described as "harsh," which is a synonym for hostile. This ability to survive in dangerous or unfriendly conditions is the identifying trait of an extremophile. |
| Q32 | B | The researchers concluded that this was clear evidence that these colonies were certainly not new arrivals they might've been there for centuries, or even millennia - possibly even since the last Ice Age |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the scientists do not think these organisms just arrived recently; instead, they believe the colonies have stayed in that spot for hundreds or thousands of years. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the groups of living things found in the soil have been there for a very, very long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the transcript says the researchers believe these living groups (colonies) are not new to the area. Instead, they think the organisms have lived there for hundreds of years (centuries) or even thousands of years (millennia). The word "ancient" in the answer choice is a synonym for something that is very old and has existed for hundreds or thousands of years, such as since the "last Ice Age." |
| Q33 | A | Now, some types of microbes had previously been found living just a few millimetres under the surface of rocks - porous, Antarctic rocks but this was the first time that living colonies had been found surviving - erm - relatively deeply in the soil itself, several centimetres down in fact |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although small life forms had been found under rocks before, this group of scientists was the first to find living groups of organisms relatively deep inside the soil. Answer Explanation: The answer means that these researchers were the first to find living organisms deep inside the ground in Antarctica. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker highlights that finding life deep in the ground was a new discovery. While other microbes had been seen before under the surface of rocks, this research was the first time anyone found colonies living several centimeters down in the soil itself. The speaker uses the phrase "this was the first time" to specifically describe the discovery in the soil. |
| Q34 | microclimate | the organisms living very near the rock surface can still be warmed by the sun, so they can survive in their own microclimate | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because some living things are near rocks warmed by the sun, they are able to live in a tiny zone with its own warmer conditions. Answer Explanation: The answer means a small, specific area where the climate or temperature is different from the environment around it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'microclimate' because the transcript explains that some tiny organisms live close to rock surfaces that are heated by the sun. This heat creates a special, warmer environment that protects them from freezing, even in the cold conditions of Antarctica. Key phrases like 'warmed by the sun' and 'survive in their own microclimate' link the sun's heat directly to the creation of this specific environment. |
| Q35 | concentration | The team found that the salt concentration increased the deeper down they went in the soil | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when researchers looked further into the ground, they discovered that the amount of salt in the dirt became higher. Answer Explanation: The answer 'concentration' refers to the amount of salt found in a specific amount of soil. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the part of the talk where the speaker describes how the amount of salt changes based on depth. In the transcript, the speaker says that as the researchers went further down into the ground (soil), they found that the salt concentration went up (increased). Keywords to note are 'salt concentration' and 'deeper down'. |
| Q36 | frost | In soil that had as much as 3000 parts of salt per million, relatively high numbers of microbes were present - which seems incredible! But the point is that at those levels of salt, the temperature could drop to minus 56 degrees before frost would cause any damage to the organisms | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when there is a large amount of salt in the ground, the weather can get very cold without the frost hurting the tiny creatures living there. Answer Explanation: The answer 'frost' refers to the thin layer of ice that forms in extremely cold weather, which can normally harm living organisms. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is shown in the text when it explains how salt helps tiny living things survive in the cold. It says that because of high salt levels, it can get as cold as minus 56 degrees before 'frost' causes any 'damage' or harm to the organisms. |
| Q37 | liquid | As you all know, life is dependent on the availability of water in liquid form, and the role of salt at very low temperatures could be the key to survival in these kinds of conditions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that all living things rely on having water available in its liquid state (not frozen) to stay alive in harsh environments. Answer Explanation: The answer "liquid" refers to a state of matter where a substance, like water, flows freely and is not frozen into solid ice. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "liquid" because the text states that life cannot survive without water in this specific form. Even in freezing environments, organisms need water to remain fluid to function. Keywords to look for are "dependent on," which means "must have," and "availability," which refers to "having access to." |
| Q38 | supercooling | Now the process at work here is called supercooling - and that's usually written as one word - but it isn't really understood as yet, so, there's a lot more for researchers to work on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explicitly labels the process that keeps the soil and organisms from freezing in the harsh Antarctic environment as 'supercooling', clarifying it is treated as a single word. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the specific name of a phenomenon where substances remain liquid even when they are cold enough to normally turn into ice. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section where the speaker discusses how salt allows organisms to survive temperatures as low as minus 56 degrees without being damaged by frost. The speaker identifies this natural mechanism as a process called 'supercooling'. This process is the link between high salt levels and the prevention of freezing in extreme conditions. |
| Q39 | Mars | However, the fact that this process occurs naturally in Antarctica, may suggest that it might occur in other places with similar conditions, including on our neighbouring planet, Mars | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that since certain things happen in Antarctica, they might also happen on the planet Mars because Mars has similar conditions. Answer Explanation: The answer means the planet Mars. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Mars because the speaker mentions that conditions in Antarctica are similar to those on Mars. Specifically, they talk about a process happening naturally in Antarctica and suggest it could happen in other places with "similar conditions," naming Mars as an example. This shows that the environment on Mars is like the dry, cold environment found in Antarctica. |
| Q40 | locations | Not only does this research produce evidence that life is possible there, it's also informing scientists of the locations where it might be found | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the study doesn't just prove life is possible on other planets; it also tells scientists the specific areas or 'locations' to look for it. Answer Explanation: The answer means the specific places or areas on a planet where living things might be able to exist. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is locations because the transcript discusses how finding life in extreme Antarctic conditions helps scientists predict where life could sit on other planets. By understanding that microbes can survive in deep, salty soil, researchers are 'informing' themselves about the specific 'locations' or spots they should target during space missions to find extraterrestrial life. Important keywords in the text are 'evidence' and 'found.' |
Transcript
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the sixth of our Ecology evening classes. Nice to see you all again. As you know from the programme, today I want to talk to you about some research that is pushing back the frontiers of the whole field of ecology. And this research is being carried out in the remoter regions of our planet... places where the environment is harsh and - until recently - it was thought that the conditions couldn't sustain life of any kind. But, life forms are being found - and these have been grouped into what is now known as extremophiles - that is, organisms that can survive in the most extreme environments. And these discoveries may be setting a huge challenge for the scientists of the future, as you'll see in a minute.
Now, the particular research I want to tell you about was carried out in Antarctica - one of the coldest and driest places on Earth. But a multinational team of researchers - from the US, Canada and New Zealand - recently discovered colonies of microbes in the soil there, where no one thought it was possible. Interestingly enough, some of the colonies were identified as a type of fungus called Beauveria Bassiana - a fungus that lives on insects. But where are the insects in these utterly empty regions of Antarctica? The researchers concluded that this was clear evidence that these colonies were certainly not new arrivals... they might've been there for centuries, or even millennia - possibly even since the last Ice Age! Can you imagine their excitement?
Now, some types of microbes had previously been found living just a few millimetres under the surface of rocks - porous, Antarctic rocks... but this was the first time that living colonies had been found surviving - erm - relatively deeply in the soil itself, several centimetres down in fact.
So, the big question is: how can these colonies survive there? Well, we know that the organisms living very near the rock surface can still be warmed by the sun, so they can survive in their own microclimate... and this keeps them from freezing during the day. But this isn't the case for the colonies that are hidden under the soil.
In their research paper, this team suggested that the very high amounts of salt in the soil might be the clue - because this is what is preventing essential water from freezing. The team found that the salt concentration increased the deeper down they went in the soil. But while they had expected the number of organisms to be fewer down there, they actually found the opposite. In soil that had as much as 3000 parts of salt per million, relatively high numbers of microbes were present - which seems incredible! But the point is that at those levels of salt, the temperature could drop to minus 56 degrees before frost would cause any damage to the organisms.
This relationship between microbes and salt - at temperatures way below the normal freezing point of water - is a really significant breakthrough. As you all know, life is dependent on the availability of water in liquid form, and the role of salt at very low temperatures could be the key to survival in these kinds of conditions. Now the process at work here is called supercooling - and that's usually written as one word - but it isn't really understood as yet, so, there's a lot more for researchers to work on. However, the fact that this process occurs naturally in Antarctica, may suggest that it might occur in other places with similar conditions, including on our neighbouring planet, Mars. So, you can start to see the wider implications of this kind of research.
In short, it appears to support the growing belief that extraterrestrial life might be able to survive the dry, cold conditions on other planets after all. Not only does this research produce evidence that life is possible there, it's also informing scientists of the locations where it might be found. So all of this might have great significance for future unmanned space missions.
One specialist on Mars confirms the importance...