To Britain - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
To Britain
Mark Rowe investigates attempts to reintroduce elms to Britain
A. Around 25 million elms, accounting for 90% of all elm trees in the UK, died during the 1960s and ’70s of Dutch elm disease. In the aftermath, the elm, once so dominant in the British landscape, was largely forgotten. However, there’s now hope the elm may be reintroduced to the countryside of central and southern England. Any reintroduction will start from a very low base. ‘The impact of the disease is difficult to picture if you hadn’t seen what was there before,’ says Matt Elliot of the Woodland Trust. ‘You look at old photographs from the 1960s and it’s only then that you realise the impact [elms had]. They were significant, large trees then they were gone.’
B. The disease is caused by a fungus that blocks the elms’ vascular (water, nutrient and food transport) system, causing branches to wilt and die. A first epidemic, which occurred in the 1920s, gradually died down, but in the '70s a second epidemic was triggered by shipments of elm from Canada. The wood came in the form of logs destined for boat building and its intact bark was perfect for the elm bark beetles that spread the deadly fungus. This time, the beetles carried a much more virulent strain that destroyed the vast majority of British elms.
C. Today, elms still exist in the southern English countryside but mostly only in low hedgerows between fields. ‘We have millions of small elms in hedgerows but they get targeted by the beetle as soon as they reach a certain size,’ says Karen Russell, co-author of the report Where we are with elm. Once the trunk of the elm reaches 10-15 centimetres or so in diameter, it becomes a perfect size for beetles to lay eggs and for the fungus to take hold. Yet mature specimens have been identified, in counties such as Cambridgeshire, that are hundreds of years old, and have mysteriously escaped the epidemic.
The key, Russell says, is to identify and study those trees that have survived and work out why they stood tall when millions of others succumbed. Nevertheless, opportunities are limited as the number of these mature survivors is relatively small. 'What are the reasons for their survival?' asks Russell. 'Avoidance, tolerance, resistance? We don't know where the balance lies between the three. I don't see how it can be entirely down to luck.'
D. For centuries, elm ran a close second to oak as the hardwood tree of choice in Britain and was in many instances the most prominent tree in the landscape. Not only was elm common in European forests, it became a key component of birch, ash and hazel woodlands. The use of elm is thought to go back to the Bronze Age, when it was widely used for tools. Elm was also the preferred material for shields and early swords. In the 18th century, it was planted more widely and its wood was used for items such as storage crates and flooring. It was also suitable for items that experienced high levels of impact and was used to build the keel of the l9th-century sailing ship Cutty Sark as well as mining equipment.
E. Given how ingrained elm is in British culture, it’s unsurprising the tree has many advocates. Amongst them is Peter Bourne of the National Elm Collection in Brighton. ‘I saw Dutch elm disease unfold as a small boy,’ he says. ‘The elm seemed to be part of rural England, but I remember watching trees just lose their leaves and that really stayed with me.’ Today, the city of Brighton’s elms total about 17,000. Local factors appear to have contributed to their survival. Strong winds from the sea make it difficult for the determined elm bark beetle to attack this coastal city’s elm population. However, the situation is precarious. ‘The beetles can just march in if we’re not careful, as the threat is right on our doorstep,’ says Bourne.
F. Any prospect of the elm returning relies heavily on trees being either resistant to, or tolerant of, the disease. This means a widespread reintroduction would involve existing or new hybrid strains derived from resistant, generally non-native elm species. A new generation of seedlings have been bred and tested to see if they can withstand the fungus by cutting a small slit on the bark and in ecting a tiny amount of the pathogen. 'The effects are very quick,' says Russell. 'You return in four to six weeks and trees that are resistant show no symptoms, whereas those that are susceptible show leaf loss and may even have died completely.'
G. All of this raises questions of social acceptance, acknowledges Russell. ‘If we’re putting elm back into the landscape, a small element of it is not native - are we bothered about that?’ For her, the environmental case for reintroducing elm is strong. 'They will host wildlife, which is a good thing.' Others are more wary. ‘On the face of it, it seems like a good idea,’ says Elliot. The problem, he suggests, is that, ‘You’re replacing a native species with a horticultural analogue. You’re effectively cloning.’ There’s also the risk of introducing new diseases. Rather than plant new elms, the Woodland Trust emphasises providing space to those elms that have survived independently. ‘Sometimes the best thing you can do is just give nature time to recover over time, you might get resistance,’ says Elliot.
*horticultural analogue: a cultivated plant species that is genetically similar to an existing species.
Questions
Questions 14–18 Matching Information
Reading Passage has seven paragraphs, A–G.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Questions 19–23 Matching Features
Look at the following statements and the list of people below.
Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, or C.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
List of People:
A. Matt Elliot
B. Karen Russell
C. Peter Bourne
Questions 24–26 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Uses of a Popular Tree
For hundreds of years, the only tree that was more popular in Britain than elm was 24. Starting in the Bronze Age, many tools were made from elm, and people also used it to make weapons. In the 18th century, it was grown to provide wood for boxes and 25. Due to its strength, elm was often used for mining equipment, and the Cutty Sark’s 26 was also constructed from elm.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | C | Nevertheless, opportunities are limited as the number of these mature survivors is relatively small | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that it is hard to study these large elms because there are not many of them left. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means that the information about problems with research related to the few large elms that survived can be found in section C. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because in section C, it mentions that there are very few mature elm trees left, which makes research about their survival difficult. The section states, 'Nevertheless, opportunities are limited as the number of these mature survivors is relatively small.' This clearly shows that having only a few large elms is a problem for research. |
| Q15 | G | All of this raises questions of social acceptance, acknowledges Russell. 'If we're putting elm back into the landscape, a small element of it is not native - are we bothered about that?' For her, the environmental case for reintroducing elm is strong. 'They will host wildlife, which is a good thing.' Others are more wary | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says there are different feelings about bringing back elms. Russell thinks it is good because elms can help wildlife. But some people are worried about using trees that are not originally from the area. Answer Explanation: The answer is G. This section talks about different opinions on whether bringing back elms to Britain is a good idea or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because it describes the debate around reintroducing elms. Some people think it will help the environment, while others are concerned about replacing native species with plants that are similar but not originally from the area. The section presents viewpoints from different people about the benefits and risks of reintroducing elms. |
| Q16 | B | A first epidemic, which occurred in the 1920s, gradually died down, but in the '70s a second epidemic was triggered by shipments of elm from Canada | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the first time there was a problem with elm trees was in the 1920s. But then, in the 1970s, a new problem started because some elm wood came from Canada. This wood had beetles that spread the disease, making it worse. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'B'. This means that the part of the passage you are looking for is section B. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because this section explains how Dutch elm disease came to Britain. It mentions that the disease was caused by a fungus that was spread by beetles, which came with shipments of elm wood from Canada in the 1970s. This directly relates to the question about how the disease was brought into Britain. |
| Q17 | E | Strong winds from the sea make it difficult for the determined elm bark beetle to attack this coastal city’s elm population | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that strong winds from the sea help protect the elm trees in Brighton, making it hard for harmful insects, like the elm bark beetle, to harm them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that section 'E' talks about how the elm trees in Brighton were able to survive the Dutch elm disease because of special conditions. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'E' because it describes how factors unique to Brighton, like strong winds, help the elm trees survive against the beetles that spread the disease. The conditions mentioned in the excerpt are important for understanding why the elms in this location were able to escape Dutch elm disease. |
| Q18 | C | 'We have millions of small elms in hedgerows but they get targeted by the beetle as soon as they reach a certain size,' says Karen Russell | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us that there are many small elms in hedgerows, but when they grow to a certain size, beetles can attack them. This means young elms become vulnerable when they are big enough for the beetles to lay eggs on them. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means the information about when young elms can get sick from Dutch elm disease is found in section C. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C. In this section, it says that small elms stay safe until they reach a trunk size of 10-15 centimeters. After this size, they are more likely to be attacked by beetles that spread the disease. This shows that young elms are vulnerable when they grow to a certain size. |
| Q19 | B | 'The effects are very quick,' says Russell. 'You return in four to six weeks and trees that are resistant show no symptoms, whereas those that are susceptible show leaf loss and may even have died completely.' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the results of the disease can be seen very soon. After four to six weeks, if a tree is weak, it can lose leaves and might die. This shows that the damage from the disease happens fast. Answer Explanation: The answer is B, which means Karen Russell said that when a tree is sick from Dutch elm disease, you can see the damage quickly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Karen Russell talks about how you can see the damage to the trees from the disease in a short time. She explains that resistant trees do not show symptoms quickly, while those that are not resistant can show leaf loss and might even die completely. This indicates that damage from the disease appears fast on weak trees. |
| Q20 | A | Rather than plant new elms, the Woodland Trust emphasises providing space to those elms that have survived independently. 'Sometimes the best thing you can do is just give nature time to recover over time, you might get resistance,' says Elliot | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that instead of bringing in new elms, it is better to make space for the elms that are already alive. By doing this and letting nature heal, the trees might become stronger against diseases. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which means Matt Elliot thinks it's better to wait and let the surviving mature elms grow before doing anything else. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Matt Elliot emphasizes the importance of letting nature take its course. He believes that the best solution might be to give time for the existing elm trees that have survived to recover so that, over time, they can develop resistance to the disease. This means waiting and seeing how these trees do, instead of planting new elms right away. |
| Q21 | B | 'What are the reasons for their survival?' asks Russell. 'Avoidance, tolerance, resistance? We don’t know where the balance lies between the three. I don’t see how it can be entirely down to luck.' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about Karen Russell asking questions about why some mature elms are still alive today, even though many others died from a disease. She mentions three possible reasons: avoidance, tolerance, and resistance. She believes it's not just chance that helped these trees survive. Answer Explanation: The answer says 'B', which means it is Karen Russell who is thinking about why some mature elms survived when so many others did not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because Karen Russell directly asks about the reasons for the survival of mature elms in the passage. She is trying to figure out if the trees survived because they avoided the disease, were tolerant of it, or were resistant to it. This shows she is focused on understanding their survival. |
| Q22 | C | 'The beetles can just march in if we're not careful, as the threat is right on our doorstep,' says Bourne | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that if we are not careful, the beetles carrying the disease can come very close and cause problems. Bourne says this makes it important to pay attention to the threat. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means Peter Bourne is the person who told us to be careful about insects that spread Dutch elm disease being close to us. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Peter Bourne talks about how the elm trees in Brighton are at risk from the beetles carrying the disease. He says, 'The beetles can just march in if we're not careful, as the threat is right on our doorstep.' This shows that we need to be aware of these insects nearby. |
| Q23 | A | 'The impact of the disease is difficult to picture if you hadn't seen what was there before,' says Matt Elliot of the Woodland Trust. 'You look at old photographs from the 1960s and it's only then that you realise the impact [elms had]. They were significant, large trees then they were gone.' | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about how important it is to see old photos to understand how many elms used to be in Britain before they died from the disease. Matt Elliot says that if you haven't seen these photos, it's hard to understand how many trees there were and why it was significant. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Matt Elliot talks about how important elms were in the past. He says that it is hard to understand how much they mattered until you look at old photos that show how many elms there were. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Matt Elliot explains how we can see the impact of Dutch elm disease by looking at old photographs. He mentions that these pictures show how many elms were in Britain before they mostly disappeared due to the disease. This helps us understand the importance of elms in the past. |
| Q24 | oak | For centuries, elm ran a close second to oak as the hardwood tree of choice in Britain | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that for a long time, elm was almost as popular as oak, which was the most preferred hardwood tree in Britain. Answer Explanation: The answer is "oak." This means that oak was the tree that was more popular than elm in Britain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "oak" because the passage says that for many years, elm was almost the most popular tree in Britain, but oak was slightly more popular. This is important because it shows the history and significance of these trees in British culture. |
| Q25 | flooring | In the 18th century, it was planted more widely and its wood was used for items such as storage crates and flooring | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in the 18th century, people started to plant more elm trees, and the wood from these trees was used to make storage crates and flooring, showing its importance. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'flooring'. This means the wood from the elm tree was used to make the floor in buildings or other places. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'flooring' because the passage talks about how elm wood was used for making storage boxes and also for flooring in the 18th century. This shows that elm was valuable for these kinds of uses. |
| Q26 | keel | It was also suitable for items that experienced high levels of impact and was used to build the keel of the l9th-century sailing ship Cutty Sark as well as mining equipment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us that elm wood was strong and used for things that needed to take a lot of force, like the keel of ships and mining tools. Answer Explanation: The answer 'keel' means the bottom part of a ship that helps it stay stable in the water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'keel' because the passage mentions that elm wood was used to build the keel of the famous sailing ship Cutty Sark. This shows how important elm wood was for making strong and useful parts of boats. |