Tracking Elephants In Namibia - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 28–40
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 28-40.
Tracking elephants in Namibia
A The elephants surrounded us, moving closer and closer. Hendrick, our expert tracker, whispered: ‘I’m just checking whether they’re really eating or just pretending to eat.’ A voice screamed in my head ‘What do you mean pretending to eat? Is that bad?’ They were two metres away now, and just as I leaned towards him to ask for clarification, Hendrick raised his arm, pointing his index finger in the air – this was the signal not to move, not to make a sound, not to breathe.
B The last time I had seen these elephants, 15 years earlier, I had narrowly escaped being flattened as they charged towards us, and was saved by the fact that the matriarch, the eldest member and authority on decision making, had been towards the back of the herd. The younger females, seeing us in their path, had turned to check and see what she wanted to do. That split second saved my life, giving us the chance to start the engine, and slam our 4×4 into reverse and out of their way.
They were really wild back then, rarely meeting humans in anything but a confrontational setting. But for years, Hendrick Munembone, and other rangers working alongside Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA), have tried to create a positive relationship, not only within the herds of elephants in the region, but also between the animals and the humans who live and work side by side with them – with a knock-on benefit for tourism.
C This time, as it turned out, they really were eating – which meant they were calm and curious rather than nervous and potentially aggressive. ‘They’re in a good mood,’ Hendrick whispered, putting me only slightly more at ease as they moved even closer towards the truck. Elisabeth, one of our group, was taking data and had a pencil between her teeth. Not daring to take it out, she kept it there, biting down hard on it.
This was called the Mama Africa herd of elephants, and ‘Deliwe’ and her daughter ‘Hanna’ were so close now that we could see every detail of their faces, and feel their rumbling calls under our skin. Just as it seemed as though Deliwe was about to take Elisabeth’s pencil with her trunk, Hendrick clapped his hands in quick bursts and the mother and daughter retreated a little. We let out our breath. It’s great to go on adventures – even better to return to tell the tale.
D We were not on safari, we were on patrol with EHRA to collect data: to record the locations of these herds, check their wellbeing, note down any injuries they may have suffered, make sure they were all there and record any new-borns. But this was not just about the wellbeing of the elephants, it was about the wellbeing of the participants – the women who had decided to join me and experience true wilderness, have close encounters with wildlife, face a challenge, support conservation efforts, trek through the desert, meet local women and relax.
I had first had the idea for an all-female expedition seven years before, but had done nothing about it. Then I happened to discuss it with a friend, and suddenly everything fell into place: a group of women, elephants, ten days in Namibia, EHRA. We could track desert elephants in one of my favourite places in the world, help EHRA with its work, and experience the beauty of the desert.
E I could picture it all really clearly, but now I had to make it happen. I contacted EHRA, who thought it was a great plan. But how to find the women? I wrote to all my female friends and asked them to spread the word, and soon I had a number wanting to know more. Only three months after the idea took shape, we were there in Namibia, ten women of different ages and backgrounds.
F When you think of Namibia, you think of desert, heat, baked cracked earth. Instead we were greeted with rain. It hadn’t rained properly for seven years, but now the rivers were in flood and the elephants had retreated to higher ground to eat the sweet new shoots. This made tracking them difficult, and we frequently had to climb up the rocks and peer through binoculars. If someone had told me that an elephant could disguise itself as a rock I wouldn’t have believed them, but with thousands of these boulders in our view, it was almost impossible to distinguish the herd, despite Hendrick pointing wildly. Once we had spotted them, we then had to try and get closer. Even with a 4×4, thorny bushes and protruding rocks made the going tough. Later, as we headed back to our camp, I spotted a rainbow. In the desert! It was an incredible sight, but of course it means there’s rain. We certainly hadn’t expected to be cooking our barbecue under umbrellas!
G Even with rain, the spirits of this all-women team were not dampened: in fact it made for a great sense of community. On the last day, as we sat in the safety of our truck, silently watching our animal counterparts seeking shade under a tree, I was struck by the similarity of our two groups, and wondered who was watching who more intently. We were most definitely in their territory, but they didn’t seem to mind us being there – which showed that EHRA had succeeded in reducing tension between elephants and people.
Questions
Questions 28–34 Matching Headings
The text has seven sections, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
i. A disappointment
ii. A cheerful group of people
iii. An elephant’s memory
iv. A past encounter
v. A great surprise
vi. Making the elephants move back
vii. The need to keep still and quiet
viii. The expedition’s aims
ix. Turning an idea into reality
Questions 35–37 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Questions 38–40 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Tracking the elephants
The rain meant that shoots had grown, which attracted the elephants. It was hard to see the animals, even when using 38 Driving towards them was also difficult, because of bushes and rocks. As the expedition returned to their camp, the writer saw a 39 , and then they had to use 40 as they prepared their meal.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q28 | vii | Hendrick raised his arm, pointing his index finger in the air – this was the signal not to move, not to make a sound, not to breathe | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows that when the wild elephants were only two metres away, the guide signaled to the group that they must stay completely still and totally silent. Answer Explanation: The answer "vii" means heading vii, which is "The need to keep still and quiet". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading vii because Section A describes a tense moment where elephants came very close to the group. At this moment, the expert guide gives a signal instructing everyone not to move, make any noise, or even breathe. The words "not to move" match the idea of keeping "still", and "not to make a sound" matches keeping "quiet". |
| Q29 | iv | The last time I had seen these elephants, 15 years earlier, I had narrowly escaped being flattened as they charged towards us, and was saved by the fact that the matriarch, the eldest member and authority on decision making, had been towards the back of the herd | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that 15 years ago, the writer met these elephants and was in great danger when they ran quickly at the vehicle, showing a scary encounter from the past. Answer Explanation: The answer "iv" means the most suitable title for Section B is "A past encounter", which refers to an event from the writer's past when they met these same elephants. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "iv" because Section B focuses entirely on the author's previous experience meeting these elephants 15 years in the past. In that previous meeting, the elephants charged and almost crushed the author's vehicle. The author contrasts how aggressive and wild the animals were back then with how relations have changed over time. Key words and phrases like "The last time I had seen these elephants", "15 years earlier", and "back then" all clearly match the concept of "a past encounter". |
| Q30 | vi | Just as it seemed as though Deliwe was about to take Elisabeth’s pencil with her trunk, Hendrick clapped his hands in quick bursts and the mother and daughter retreated a little | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when an elephant got too close to taking a pencil, Hendrick clapped his hands loudly to make the mother elephant and her calf step backwards. Answer Explanation: The answer choice "vi" means causing the elephants to step away or go backwards. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is vi because in paragraph C, two elephants ("Deliwe" and her daughter "Hanna") get dangerously close to the vehicle and a woman named Elisabeth. To stop Deliwe from grabbing a pencil with her trunk, the guide Hendrick claps his hands quickly, which makes both elephants step away. In the text, the word "retreated" is a direct synonym for "move back." |
| Q31 | viii | We were not on safari, we were on patrol with EHRA to collect data: to record the locations of these herds, check their wellbeing, note down any injuries they may have suffered, make sure they were all there and record any new-borns. But this was not just about the wellbeing of the elephants, it was about the wellbeing of the participants – the women who had decided to join me and experience true wilderness, have close encounters with wildlife, face a challenge, support conservation efforts, trek through the desert, meet local women and relax | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains the reasons for the journey: to gather information to help the elephants, and to provide the female travelers with an adventure, a personal challenge, and a chance to relax and help nature. Answer Explanation: The answer "viii" means that the best title for Section D is "The expedition’s aims", which refers to the goals and purposes of their trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because Section D explains the goals of the trip. The writer states they were there to "collect data" on elephants (tracking locations, checking injuries, noting new births) as well as to benefit the women on the trip (experiencing nature, supporting conservation, and relaxing). In English, "aims" means goals or purposes, and an "expedition" is an organized journey, which directly matches the content of Section D. |
| Q32 | ix | I could picture it all really clearly, but now I had to make it happen | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the writer had a clear thought of the trip in her mind, but she now had to do the real work to make that thought come true. Answer Explanation: The answer 'ix' means making a plan or a thought actually happen in real life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is ix because Section E explains how the author took the trip plan and brought it to life. At the start of the section, the author notes that she had to 'make it happen'. She contacted the organization (EHRA), asked friends to find participants, and just three months after the 'idea took shape', they were actually in Namibia. The phrase 'make it happen' is a direct synonym for 'turning an idea into reality'. |
| Q33 | v | We certainly hadn’t expected to be cooking our barbecue under umbrellas | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the group never planned or thought they would need umbrellas while cooking in the desert, showing how surprising the rain was. Answer Explanation: The answer heading 'A great surprise' means something completely unexpected happened that astonished the people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading v because Section F talks about an unexpected event in the dry desert: heavy rain. The author mentions that people usually expect dry heat and cracked earth in Namibia, but it rained heavily for the first time in seven years. The phrase 'certainly hadn't expected' is a direct synonym for having a 'surprise'. |
| Q34 | ii | Even with rain, the spirits of this all-women team were not dampened: in fact it made for a great sense of community | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that even though it was raining, the group of women stayed positive and happy, and the experience helped them feel closer to one another. Answer Explanation: The answer "ii" means a group of individuals who stayed happy, positive, and in high spirits. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is ii because Section G begins by describing how the bad weather did not ruin the mood of the women. The text says "the spirits of this all-women team were not dampened," which directly means that the members of the group remained happy and cheerful despite the unexpected rain. Here, "spirits... were not dampened" matches the idea of being "cheerful," and the "all-women team" refers to the "group of people." |
| Q35 | C | I had narrowly escaped being flattened as they charged towards us, and was saved by the fact that the matriarch, the eldest member and authority on decision making, had been towards the back of the herd | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the writer was protected from being crushed when the elephants ran at them because the oldest elephant, who makes the decisions for the group, was near the rear of the herd. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the writer survived being crushed because the leader, who was the oldest elephant, was walking at the back of the group rather than in front. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Paragraph B explains what happened during the elephant encounter 15 years ago. The writer explains that they narrowly escaped being crushed ("flattened") because "the matriarch, the eldest member... had been towards the back of the herd." In the options, "the oldest one" matches "the eldest member", and "behind most of the others" matches being "towards the back of the herd." This position caused the other elephants to pause and look back at her, which gave the writer time to escape. |
| Q36 | A | But for years, Hendrick Munembone, and other rangers working alongside Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA), have tried to create a positive relationship, not only within the herds of elephants in the region, but also between the animals and the humans who live and work side by side with them – with a knock-on benefit for tourism | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that EHRA and its rangers have worked for many years to help wild elephants and local humans live together peacefully without fighting. Answer Explanation: The answer means that EHRA wants to stop fighting and problems between elephants and local people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because paragraph B explains that rangers working with EHRA try to build a friendly and positive relationship between the elephants and the local people who live and work near them. In the past, people and elephants only met in an angry or dangerous way (a "confrontational setting"). Therefore, EHRA's goal is to reduce tension and stop conflict between them. |
| Q37 | B | This time, as it turned out, they really were eating – which meant they were calm and curious rather than nervous and potentially aggressive | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the elephants were actually eating food, which showed they were relaxed and interested instead of upset and ready to attack. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if elephants only pretend to eat, they might attack or harm people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because section C explains what it means when elephants are truly eating. The author writes that because the elephants really were eating, they were 'calm and curious rather than nervous and potentially aggressive'. This contrast implies that if they were only pretending to eat, they would be nervous and aggressive, meaning they could be 'a danger to humans'. |
| Q38 | Binoculars | This made tracking them difficult, and we frequently had to climb up the rocks and peer through binoculars. If someone had told me that an elephant could disguise itself as a rock I wouldn’t have believed them, but with thousands of these boulders in our view, it was almost impossible to distinguish the herd, despite Hendrick pointing wildly | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that following the elephants was hard. The team had to climb onto rocks and look through binoculars, but because there were so many large rocks everywhere, it was still nearly impossible to spot the elephants. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to binoculars, which are a handheld tool with lenses used to see things that are far away. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "binoculars" because paragraph F describes the difficulty of locating the elephants. The summary states that it was hard to see the animals even when using this tool. In the text, the author writes: "This made tracking them difficult, and we frequently had to climb up the rocks and peer through binoculars. If someone had told me that an elephant could disguise itself as a rock I wouldn’t have believed them, but with thousands of these boulders in our view, it was almost impossible to distinguish the herd...". Here, "distinguish the herd" means to see the animals clearly, and "peer through" corresponds to looking through or using "binoculars". |
| Q39 | Rainbow | Later, as we headed back to our camp, I spotted a rainbow | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that while the group was traveling back to their campsite, the author noticed a rainbow in the desert sky. Answer Explanation: The answer "rainbow" refers to the colorful arc that appears in the sky when the sun shines through rain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by paragraph F. The text describes what happened when the team was returning to where they were staying: "Later, as we headed back to our camp, I spotted a rainbow." The phrase "headed back to our camp" means the same as "returned to their camp", and "I spotted" means "the writer saw". Therefore, the missing word is "rainbow". |
| Q40 | Umbrellas | We certainly hadn’t expected to be cooking our barbecue under umbrellas | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that it was raining, so the group had to hold umbrellas over themselves while making their dinner on the barbecue grill. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to handheld items used to protect people from the rain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "umbrellas" because the passage states that the group had to cook their food while keeping out of the rain. In paragraph F, the writer explains that after seeing a rainbow on their way back to camp, they had to prepare their food in the rain, noting: "We certainly hadn’t expected to be cooking our barbecue under umbrellas!" Here, "cooking our barbecue" corresponds directly to the summary's phrase "prepared their meal." |