The thylacine- Reading Passage Answer Explanations
Note- Before you start solving this passage which is from the Cambridge 17 book for IELTS, Students must consider the chronology of solving the Questions to improve their band scores. They must start with blanks and then do True, False and Not Given.
The Keywords ‘in and around’ the questions are ‘underlinded’.
| Question | Answer |
| 1 | CARNIVOROUS |
| 2 | SCENT |
| 3 | POUCH |
| 4 | FOSSIL |
| 5 | HABITAT |
| 6 | TRUE |
| 7 | FALSE |
| 8 | NOT GIVEN |
| 9 | FALSE |
| 10 | TRUE |
| 11 | NOT GIVEN |
| 12 | TRUE |
| 13 | NOT GIVEN |
Questions 1-5
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
The thylacine
Appearance and behaviour
- looked rather like a dog
- had a series of stripes along its body and tail
-
ate an entirely 1………………… diet
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second line of the 2nd paragraph. The main keyword is ‘ate’. It has been written ‘in terms of feeding’ in the passage. Moreover, ‘entirely’ in the question is written as ‘exclusively’ in the passage which makes it clear that the answer is ‘carnivorous’
Answer: Carnivorous
-
probably depended mainly on 2………………… when hunting
Location: 2nd paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second last line of the paragraph. Firstly,‘ Probably depended’…in the question has been written as ‘likely to have relied’. Secondly, ‘mainly on’… in the question is visible as ‘more on’ in the paragraph. Thus, it confirms that answer is ‘scent’
Answer: Scent
-
young spent first months of life inside its mother’s3 …………………
Location: 3rd paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the middle line of the third paragraph. The question says, ‘young spent first months of life’…Here ‘young’ is paraphrased as ‘New born’ in the passage. Moreover, ‘life inside its mother’…has been paraphrased as ‘into the pouch on the belly of their mother’ Thus, it confirms that answer is ‘pouch’
Answer: Pouch
Decline and extinction
-
Last evidence in mainland Australia is a 3,100-year-old4 …………………
Location: 4th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword of the question ‘3100-year-old’ helps to locate the answer in the fourth paragraph which is written as it is in the passage. ‘Last evidence’ has been paraphrased as ‘the most recent ‘in the passage.
Answer: Fossil
- probably went extinct in mainland Australia due to animals known as dingoes
- reduction in 5 ………………… and available sources of food were partly responsible for decline in Tasmania
Location: 5th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. The main keyword of the question ‘Tasmania ‘is exactly written in the passage. ‘Reduction in available sources of food’ has been paraphrased as ‘disappearance of prey species’. The passage states loss of habitat as one of the cause for decline in Tasmania. Thus, it confirms that answer is ‘habitat’
Answer: habitat
The thylacine- Reading Passage Answer Explanations
Questions 6-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write
TRUEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â if the statement agrees with the information
FALSEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â if the statement contradicts the information
NOTÂ GIVENÂ Â if there is no information on this
6Â Â Â Significant numbers of thylacines were killed by humans from the 1830s onwards.
Location: 5th paragraph (First line)
Explanation: The main keyword ‘1830s onwards’ has been written as ‘began in 1830s’ in the passage. The information in the question and passage is same as ‘significant numbers of thylacines were killed by humans’ has been paraphrased as ‘the dramatic decline …sheep farmers and bounty hunters’…
Answer: True
7Â Â Â Several thylacines were born in zoos during the late 1800s.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. The main keyword ‘late 1800s’ has been written as ‘1899’in the paragraph and ‘zoos’ as ‘captivity’. The information of the Question is opposite to the passage as the question says’ there was only one successful attempt to breed’ but in the passage it is ‘several thylacines were born’
Answer: False
8   John Gould’s prediction about the thylacine surprised some biologists.
Location: 6th paragraph
Explanation: Though the main keyword of the question ‘John Gould’s has been written in the last line of the passage but there is no reference regarding other biologists. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
9Â Â Â In the early 1900s, many scientists became worried about the possible extinction of the thylacine.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword of the question ‘extinction’ has been written exactly in the middle line of the paragraph But the question statement contradicts the passage statement as it is written that ‘scientists became worried about the possible extinction’…but in the passage it is clearly stated that ‘but it was not until 1929…edge of extinction.
Answer: False
10  T.T. Flynn’s proposal to rehome captive thylacines on an island proved to be impractical.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘T.T Flynn’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph as it is written exactly in the paragraph but the passage does not provide information regarding’ T.T Flynn’s proposal is impractical’. Thus, information is missing.
Answer: Not Given
11Â Â There were still reasonable numbers of thylacines in existence when a piece of legislation protecting the species during their breeding season was passed.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second last line of the paragraph. The main keyword of the question ‘breeding season’ is exactly the same.But the information in the question is opposite to the passage. Here, in the question it is ‘still reasonable numbers of thylacines…which is opposite to the ‘the last known wild thylacine to be killed was shot by a farmer…’ It means the last individual was killed.
Answer: False
12Â Â From 1930 to 1936, the only known living thylacines were all in captivity.
Location: 7th paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the 7th paragraph. ‘The only known’… has been written as ‘the last known’…and ‘captivity’ is visible as ‘zoo’ in the passage. Moreover, ‘1930 to 1936’ has been paraphrased as ‘in 1930…on 7th September 1936’…  Therefore, the answer is true.
Answer: True
13Â Â Attempts to find living thylacines are now rarely made.
Location: 8th paragraph (Last paragraph)
Explanation: The passage says ‘there have been numerous searches…’but there is no information regarding the findings of species today. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
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