Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

Answer: communities – healthy

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494 
PASSAGE 2: 
SHOULD WE TRY TO BRING EXTINCT 
SPECIES BACK TO LIFE ? 
QUESTIONS 14 -17: WHICH PARAGRAPH CONTAINS THE 
FOLLOWING INFORMATION? 
14. Answer: F
Key words: disappearance, avoided
While most paragraphs are about bringing back extinct species, only paragraph F mentions how 
extinction could be avoided in the first place. It is stated that it is “far easier to save an existing species 
which is merely threatened with extinction”, and this could be achieved specifically by making 
“genetic modifications which could prevent mass extinctions in the future”. In this sentence, “prevent” 
could be understood as “avoid”. In mass extinctions, many/multiple species disappear/become extinct. 
Therefore, paragraph F contains the message that matches this statement, so F is the answer. 

avoid = prevent 
 
15. Answer: A
Key words: explanation, reproducing, using DNA
By using the scanning and skimming technique, in paragraph A we could find the details of how DNA 
could be used to reproduce extinct animals. Specifically, it is stated that “the basic premise involves 
using cloning technology to turn the DNA of extinct animals into a fertilised embryo, which is carried 
by the nearest relative still in existence …”, meaning that this is an explanation of the mechanism of 
the technology. Therefore, A is the answer. 

reproduce = clone 
 
16. Answer: D
Key words: habitat, suffered, following the extinction
The purposes of bringing back extinct species are mentioned in paragraph D, where one of the reasons 
is to repair damage to ecosystems. Specifically, it is stated that “Since the disappearance of this key 
species (passenger pigeons), ecosystems in the eastern US have suffered….”, in which “ecosystems” 
refers to “habitat”. Therefore, D is the answer. 
habitat = ecosystems