‘Secrets of the Forest’- Reading Answers Explanations- CAM
This passage is from ‘Cambridge Reading Module Material’. The name of the passage is ‘Secrets of the Forest’. The Questions in the passage are ‘List of Headings’ and Yes/No, Not Given’ and MCQs. Students must do ‘List of Headings’ followed by ‘Yes/No, Not Given’. MCQs should me done later.
Questions 1-3 Reading Passage 2 has six sections A-F.
Choose the most suitable headings for sections A, B and D from the list of headings below.
Write the appropriate numbers i-vii in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i Amazonia as unable to sustain complex societies
ii The role of recent technology in ecological research in Amazonia
iii The hostility of the indigenous population to North American influences
iv Recent evidence
v Early research among the Indian Amazons
vi The influence of prehistoric inhabitants on Amazonian natural history
vii The great difficulty of changing local attitudes and practices
1- Section A
-By reading the first and the last line of the paragraph, one can easily understand that some research was going on. As it is readable as well, “In 1942 Allan R Holmberg, a student in anthropology from Yale university, USA, ventured deep into jungle of Bolivian Amazonia and searched out an isolated band of Serono Indians”. This gives clear indication that Allan was doing a research work on Indian Amazons.
Answer- V
2- Section B
-One can conclude by reading the first and last line of the paragraph that ‘lives of the Siriono’ are compared with the other societies of the world here. Confirmation of it is in the sixth line of the paragraph where it is written ‘living proof that Amazonia could not and cannot – sustain a more complex society (Complex Societies). Thus, the answer is I.
Answer- I
3- Section D
– Words like ‘Ecologist’ and ‘tropical’ in the starting and ‘natural history’ and ‘prehistoric inhabitants’ makes it clear that they are talking about the vi heading. Further, it is very clear if we read the last 2nd line of the paragraph where it is written that, the archaeological evidence shows that natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to activities of its prehistoric inhabitants. Thus, the answer is very clear.
Answer- VI
Questions 4-9 Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage.
In boxes 4-9 on your answer sheet write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about it.
4- The reason for the simplicity of the Indian way of life is that Amazonia has always been unable to support a more complex society.
Location- Paragraph B, 5th line.
Explanation- ‘The apparent simplicity of Indian ways of life has been judged an evolutionary adaption to forest ecology, living proof that Amazonia could not- cannot – sustain a more complex society.’ This is very opposite to what is in the question. The question states ‘unable to support’ but the passage says ‘an evolutionary adaptation’. Therefore, the answer is No.
Answer- No.
5 -There is a crucial popular misconception about the human history of Amazonia
Location- Paragraph C, 1st line.
Explanation – The popular conception of Amazonia and its native would be enormously consequential if it were true. But the human history of Amazonia in the past 11,000 years betrays that view as myth. (Myth is the synonym of conception). Therefore. the answer is Yes.
Answer- YES
6- There are lessons to be learned from similar ecosystems in other parts of the world.
Explanation- Though, conversation regarding the ecosystems has been in the D paragraph but no reference has been made to learning from similar ecosystems in other parts of the world. Thus, the answer is ‘Not Given’.
Answer- NOT GIVEN
7 -Most ecologists were aware that the areas of Amazonia they were working in had been shaped by human settlement.
Location- D Paragraph, 2nd line.
Explanation- Ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely by natural forces and they have focused their research on habitat they believe have escaped human influence. Hence, this is very much opposite to the statement of the Question. So the answer is NO.
Answer- NO
8 -The indigenous Amazonian Indians are necessary to the well-being of the forest.
Location-Paragraph F, 3rd line.
Explanation- In the clash between environmentalists and developers, the Indians, who’s the presence in fact is crucial to the of forest, have suffered the most. Hence, the answer is No.
Answer- NO
9 -It would be possible for certain parts of Amazonia to support a higher population.
Location- Paragraph F, last 3rd line.
Explanation- Archaeology make clear that with judicious management selected parts of the region could support more people than anyone thought before. ‘Support more people’ is in the question as ‘a higher population’.
Answer- YES
‘Secrets of the Forest’- Reading Answers Explanations- CAM
Questions 10-13 Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 10-13 on your answer sheet.
10- In 1942 the US anthropology student concluded that the Siriono.
A were unusually aggressive and cruel.
B had had their way of life destroyed by invaders.
C were an extremely primitive society.
D had only recently made permanent settlements.
Location- Paragraph A, 3rd line.
Explanation – Their villages were little more than clusters of thatched huts. Life itself was a perpetual and punishing search for food. ‘Clusters of thatched huts’ and ‘search of food’ are symbolic for primitive society. Thus, the answer is C.
Answer- C
11 -The author believes recent discoveries of the remains of complex societies in Amazonia
A are evidence of early indigenous communities.
B are the remains of settlements by invaders.
C are the ruins of communities established since the European invasions.
D show the region has only relatively recently been covered by forest
Location- Paragraph C, 5 th line
Explanation- Evidence gathered in recent years from anthropology and archaeology indicates that the region has supported a series of indigenous cultures for eleven thousand years; an extensive network of complex societies – some with populations perhaps as large as 100,000 thrived more than 1,000 years before the arrival of Europeans. So, the answer is A.
Answer- A
12 -The assumption that the tropical ecosystem of Amazonia has been created solely by natural forces
A has often been questioned by ecologists in the past.
B has been shown to be incorrect by recent research.
C was made by Peter Feinsinger and other ecologists.
D has led to some fruitful discoveries
Location- Paragraph D , 1st line
Explanation- Ecologists have assumed that tropical ecosystems were shaped entirely natural forces and they have focused their research on habitats they believe have escaped human influence. But as the university of Florida ecologist, peter Feininger, has noticed, an approach that leaves people out of the equation is no longer tenable. The natural history of Amazonia is to a surprising extent tied to activities of its prehistoric inhabitants. This makes it very clear that they have been shown incorrect by recent research. Therefore, the answer is B.
Answer- B
13 -The application of our new insights into the Amazonian past would
A warn us against allowing any development at all.
B cause further suffering to the Indian communities.
C change present policies on development in the region.
D reduce the amount of hunting, fishing, and ‘slash- and – burn’
Location – paragraph E, last 2nd line.
Explanation – Because the tropical forest has been depicted as ecologically unfit for large – scale human occupation, some environmentalists have opposed development of any kind. Thus, the reference has been made to the ‘changing present policies on development’. Thus, the answer is C.
Answer- C
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