The Economic Importance Of Coral Reefs - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 Academic Reading Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
The economic importance of coral reefs
A lot of people around the world are dependent, or partly dependent, on coral reefs for their livelihoods. They often live adjacent to the reef, and their livelihood revolves around the direct extraction, processing and sale of reef resources such as shell fish and seaweeds. In addition, their homes are sheltered by the reef from wave action.
Reef flats and shallow reef lagoons are accessible on foot, without the need for a boat, and so allow women, children and the elderly to engage directly in manual harvesting, or 'reef-gleaning'. This is a significant factor distinguishing reef-based fisheries from near-shore sea fisheries. Near-shore fisheries are typically the domain of adult males, in particular where they involve the use of boats, with women and children restricted mainly to shore-based activities. However, in a coral-reef fishery the physical accessibility of the reef opens up opportunities for direct participation by women, and consequently increases their independence and the importance of their role in the community. It also provides a place for children to play, and to acquire important skills and knowledge for later in life. For example, in the South West Island of Tobi, in the Pacific Ocean, young boys use simple hand lines with a loop and bait at the end to develop the art of fishing on the reef. Similarly, in the Surin Islands of Thailand, young Moken boys spend much of their time playing, swimming and diving in shallow reef lagoons, and in doing so build crucial skills for their future daily subsistence.
Secondary occupations, such as fish processing and marketing activities, are often dominated by women, and offer an important survival strategy for households with access to few other physical assets (such as boats and gear), for elderly women, widows, or the wives of infirm men. On Ulithi Atoll in the western Pacific, women have a distinct role and rights in the distribution of fish catches. This is because the canoes, made from mahogany logs from nearby Yap Island, are obtained through the exchange of cloth made by the women of Ulithi. Small-scale reef fisheries support the involvement of local women traders and their involvement can give them greater control over the household income, and in negotiating for loans or credit. Thus their role is not only important in providing income for their families, it also underpins the economy of the local village.
Poor people with little access to land, labour and financial resources are particularly reliant on exploiting natural resources, and consequently they are vulnerable to seasonal changes in availability of those resources. The diversity of coral reef fisheries, combined with their physical accessibility and the protection they provide against bad weather, make them relatively stable compared with other fisheries, or land-based agricultural production.
In many places, the reef may even act as a resource bank, used as a means of saving food for future times of need. In Manus, Papua New Guinea, giant clams are collected and held in walled enclosures on the reef, until they are needed during periods of rough weather. In Palau, sea cucumbers are seldom eaten during good weather in an effort to conserve their populations for months during which rough weather prohibits good fishing.
Coral reef resources also act as a buffer against seasonal lows in other sectors, particularly agriculture. For example, in coastal communities in northern Mozambique, reef harvests provide key sources of food and cash when agricultural production is low, with the peak in fisheries production coinciding with the period of lowest agricultural stocks. In Papua New Guinea, while agriculture is the primary means of food production, a large proportion of the coastal population engage in sporadic subsistence fishing.
In many coral-reef areas, tourism is one of the main industries bringing employment, and in many cases is promoted to provide alternatives to fisheries-based livelihoods, and to ensure that local reef resources are conserved. In the Caribbean alone, tours based on scuba-diving have attracted 20 million people in one year. The upgrading of roads and communications associated with the expansion of tourism may also bring benefits to local communities. However, plans for development must be considered carefully. The ability of the poorer members of the community to access the benefits of tourism is far from guaranteed, and requires development guided by social, cultural and environmental principles. There is growing recognition that sustainability is a key requirement, as encompassed in small-scale eco-tourism activities, for instance.
Where tourism development has not been carefully planned, and the needs and priorities of the local community have not been properly recognised, conflict has sometimes arisen between tourism and local, small-scale fishers.
Questions
Questions 1–7 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 8–13 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
How coral-reef-based resources protect people during difficult times
Coral reefs can provide
- a resource bank, e.g. for keeping clams and 8
- a seasonal back-up, when 9 products are insufficient, e.g. in northern Mozambique.
- a tourist attraction, e.g. 10 tours in the Caribbean.
Benefits for local people include:
- The creation of jobs.
- Improvements to roads and 11 .
Important considerations:
- Development must be based on appropriate principles.
- Need for 12 .
- Poorly-planned development can create 13 with local fishers.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | FALSE | Reef flats and shallow reef lagoons are accessible on foot, without the need for a boat, and so allow women, children and the elderly to engage directly in manual harvesting, or 'reef-gleaning' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that because the shallow parts of the reef can be reached by walking without a boat, women, children, and older people are able to take part in 'reef-gleaning', which means picking up seafood by hand. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because men are not the main people who do reef-gleaning; instead, it is a task done mostly by women, children, and older people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text explains that because the reef is easy to reach by walking, it allows women, children, and the elderly to do 'manual harvesting' (picking things up by hand), which is also called 'reef-gleaning'. This is different from other types of fishing farther from the shore, which the text says are 'typically the domain' (usually the job) of 'adult males' (men). Because reef-gleaning is specifically mentioned as an activity for women and children, saying it is normally done by men is incorrect. |
| Q2 | TRUE | However, in a coral-reef fishery the physical accessibility of the reef opens up opportunities for direct participation by women, and consequently increases their independence and the importance of their role in the community | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when women can participate in working on the reef, it makes them more independent and makes their lives and jobs more important to the people around them. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means the text confirms that working in jobs related to coral reefs helps women become more independent and more important in their society. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that since coral reefs are easy to reach, women can work there directly. This active work helps them become more independent and gives them a more important position in their village. The phrase 'importance of their role' is another way to say that their 'status' is raised. |
| Q3 | TRUE | It also provides a place for children to play, and to acquire important skills and knowledge for later in life | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that coral reefs are not just for work; they are also places for children. While playing there, kids learn things they will need when they grow up. Answer Explanation: The answer says it is true that kids can learn useful things while at the coral reefs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the text, which says coral reefs are a place where children can play and learn. It mentions that they get important 'skills' (things they are good at doing) and 'knowledge' (things they know) that will help them when they are older. For example, boys learn how to fish or dive, which helps them get food in the future. |
| Q4 | TRUE | On Ulithi Atoll in the western Pacific, women have a distinct role and rights in the distribution of fish catches | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that on an island group called Ulithi Atoll, women have a special job and the legal or social right to oversee how fish caught from the sea are handed out to the community. Answer Explanation: The answer means that in the specific area called Ulithi Atoll, women have the power to help decide how the fish that are caught get divided among people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explicitly mentions that women on Ulithi Atoll have a specific and recognized position regarding the sharing of fish. The text uses the word 'distribution,' which is a synonym for 'shared out' or 'divided,' and confirms that they have 'rights' in this process. This matches the statement's claim that they have control over how catches are shared. |
| Q5 | NOT GIVEN | This is because the canoes, made from mahogany logs from nearby Yap Island, are obtained through the exchange of cloth made by the women of Ulithi | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the wood used for the boats is brought from Yap Island and that the boats are traded for cloth. Crucially, it does not mention where the boats are constructed. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not provide enough information to know if the boats are actually built on Yap Island. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because, although the passage mentions that the canoes (boats) are made from 'mahogany logs' that come from Yap Island, it does not explicitly state where the building or construction of these boats happens. The text tells us where the wood comes from and how the people of Ulithi trade for the finished canoes, but it leaves out the specific location of the workshop or shipyard. Because the passage is missing this specific detail, we cannot say the statement is true or false. |
| Q6 | FALSE | Small-scale reef fisheries support the involvement of local women traders and their involvement can give them greater control over the household income, and in negotiating for loans or credit | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that because women are involved in selling items from the reef, they have the power to handle the family's money and can ask for loans or credit. Answer Explanation: The answer is false because women who work as traders in coral reef areas are actually able to talk to people to get loans or credit. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that women play a very active role in the business side of reef fishing. While the question claims that only men can apply for finance (which means getting loans or money from a bank), the text clearly states that being a trader allows women to negotiate for loans or credit themselves. In this context, 'negotiating for loans or credit' is a synonym for 'applying for finance'. |
| Q7 | FALSE | The diversity of coral reef fisheries, combined with their physical accessibility and the protection they provide against bad weather, make them relatively stable compared with other fisheries, or land-based agricultural production | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that coral reef fishing is more steady and reliable than other ways of getting food or money because reefs are easy to get to and they keep people safe from storms. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the statement says coral reefs give less regular money than other fishing areas, but the text says the opposite. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage describes coral reef fishing as 'relatively stable.' In English, 'stable' means something is steady, reliable, and does not change easily. The text explains that because reefs are easy to reach and offer protection from bad weather, they provide a more dependable source of food and money than other types of fishing or farming. Therefore, saying they are 'less constant' (less steady) is incorrect. |
| Q8 | sea cucumbers | In many places, the reef may even act as a resource bank, used as a means of saving food for future times of need. In Manus, Papua New Guinea, giant clams are collected and held in walled enclosures on the reef, until they are needed during periods of rough weather. In Palau, sea cucumbers are seldom eaten during good weather in an effort to conserve their populations for months during which rough weather prohibits good fishing | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that coral reefs can save food for people to use in the future. It highlights that giant clams are stored in special spots and sea cucumbers are kept alive until the weather becomes too rough to catch other fish. Answer Explanation: The answer is "sea cucumbers," which are small sea animals that people save and eat when other food is hard to find. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "sea cucumbers" because the paragraph describes how a coral reef works like a "resource bank." A bank is usually a place to save money for later, but here it means a place where food is saved for future needs. The text gives two examples of food saved on the reef: giant clams and sea cucumbers. These animals are kept or not eaten until the weather is bad and people cannot go out to fish for other things. |
| Q9 | agricultural | For example, in coastal communities in northern Mozambique, reef harvests provide key sources of food and cash when agricultural production is low, with the peak in fisheries production coinciding with the period of lowest agricultural stocks | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in northern Mozambique, people get food and money from the reef when they do not have enough food from farming (agricultural production) or when their supplies (agricultural stocks) are at their lowest point. Answer Explanation: The answer "agricultural" refers to anything related to farming, such as growing food or raising animals. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section mentioning northern Mozambique. The passage explains that coral reefs serve as a backup for food and money when farming results are poor. It uses the word 'agricultural' to describe this type of production and the stocks of food that are low or insufficient at those times. |
| Q10 | scuba-diving | In the Caribbean alone, tours based on scuba-diving have attracted 20 million people in one year | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage highlights that in the Caribbean area, tours that focus on diving underwater (scuba-diving) are very popular and bring millions of visitors annually. Answer Explanation: The answer 'scuba-diving' refers to an activity where people swim underwater and use special equipment to help them breathe. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'scuba-diving' because the text explains how tourism brings money and jobs to coral reef areas. In the section about the Caribbean, the author uses the example of 'tours based on scuba-diving' to show how many people visit the reefs. The notes ask for the specific type of 'tour' found in the Caribbean, which matches the word used in the passage. |
| Q11 | communications | The upgrading of roads and communications associated with the expansion of tourism may also bring benefits to local communities | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when more tourists come to a place, the roads and the ways people communicate (like phone lines or internet) are made better, which helps the local people. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to systems like phones, internet, and signals that allow people to talk or share information with each other. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is located in the section about tourism. The passage mentions that when tourism grows, it often leads to the 'upgrading' or improvement of two specific things: roads and communications. This development helps the local people who live near the coral reefs. In the notes, the word 'upgrading' from the text is synonymous with 'improvements' used in the question. |
| Q12 | sustainability | There is growing recognition that sustainability is a key requirement, as encompassed in small-scale eco-tourism activities, for instance | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that more people are realizing it is very important (a key requirement) to focus on sustainability, which means making sure tourism or other activities do not ruin nature or the community. Answer Explanation: The answer means using resources like coral reefs in a way that does not destroy them, so they remain available for the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the text identifies sustainability as a 'key requirement' for development in coral reef areas. In the notes, the phrase 'Need for' acts as a synonym for 'key requirement,' indicating that this is an essential part of how projects should be planned to ensure they last and do not harm the local community or environment. |
| Q13 | conflict | Where tourism development has not been carefully planned, and the needs and priorities of the local community have not been properly recognised, conflict has sometimes arisen between tourism and local, small-scale fishers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that if the government or companies build tourism projects without thinking about the local people, it can cause fighting or disagreements with the local fishermen. Answer Explanation: The answer "conflict" means a serious disagreement, fight, or argument between different groups of people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "conflict" because the final sentence of the text explains that when tourism development is not planned with care and fails to respect the needs of the local community, it leads to trouble between the tourism industry and the local fishermen (fishers). In the notes, the phrase "Poorly-planned development" corresponds to the passage's "tourism development has not been carefully planned," which is linked to the outcome of "conflict." |