Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

CAMBRIDGE IELTS 7 – TEST 4 – PASSAGE 1
PULLING STRINGS TO BUILD PYRAMIDS 

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ENDLESS HARVEST 
QUESTIONS 14-20 TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN 
14. THE INHABITANTS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS RENAMED THEIR 
ISLANDS “ALEYSKA” 
Keywords: inhabitants, renamed, Aleutian islands, Aleyska 
In the first paragraph, the writer says: ” …Russian explorers and fur hunters landed on the Aleutian 
Islands…and learned of a land mass that lay farther to the north. The islands‟ native inhabitants called 
this land mass Aleyska…” This means that the inhabitants of the Aleutian islands only named the land 
to the north of the islands Aleyska. This was not a new name for their own islands. 
=>ANSWER: FALSE 
15. ALASKA‟S FISHERIES ARE OWNED BY SOME OF THE WORLD‟S 
LARGEST COMPANIES. 
Keywords: Alaska‟s fisheries, owned, world‟s largest companies 
At the end of paragraph 2, the writer just states: “Taking advantage of this rich bounty, Alaska‟s 

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commercial fisheries have developed into some of the largest in the world.” No information indicating 
their owners can be found. 
=>ANSWER: NOT GIVEN 
16. LIFE IN ALASKA IS DEPENDENT ON SALMON 
Keywords: dependent, salmon 
In paragraph 3, the writer states: “Salmon….pump through Alaska like blood through a heart, bringing 
rhythmic, circulating nourishment to land, animals and people.” Therefore, the land, animals and 
people all depend on salmon. 
=>ANSWER: TRUE 
17. NINETY PER CENT OF ALL PACIFIC SALMON CAUGHT ARE 
SOCKEYE OR PINK SALMON 
Keywords: ninety per cent,Pacific, caught, sockeye, pink 
In paragraph 3, where information on sockeye and pink salmon can be found, the writer explains: “All 
five species of Pacific salmon -chinook, or king; chum or dog; coho, or silver; sockeye, or red; and 
pink, or humpback- spawn in Alaskan waters, and 90% of all Pacific salmon commercially caught in 
North America are produced there.” The author only indicates that sockeye and pink salmon spawn in 
Alaskan waters, but there are 5 species of Pacific salmon. We do not know what percentage of 
sockeye or pink salmon are part of the 90% of Pacific salmon caught in general. So, there is no 
information indicating the percentage of pink and sockeye salmon caught. 
=>ANSWER: NOT GIVEN 
18. MORE THAN 320,000 TONNES OF SALMON WERE CAUGHT IN 
ALASKA IN 2000 
Keywords: more, 320,000 tonnes, Alaska, in 2000 
At the end of paragraph 3, the writer says: “During 2000, commercial catches of Pacific salmon in 
Alaska exceeded 320,000 tonnes…” 
+ more than = exceed = be greater than a particular amount 
=>ANSWER: TRUE 
19. BETWEEN 1940 AND 1959, THERE WAS A SHARP DECREASE IN 
ALASKA‟S SALMON POPULATION 
Keywords: Between 1940 and 1959, sharp decrease, population 
In the opening of paragraph 4, the writer says: “Between 1940 and 1959, overfishing led to crashes in 
salmon populations so severe that in 1953 Alaska was declared a federal disaster area” 
+ a sharp decrease = a crash = a sudden serious fall in the price or value of something In case you have 
no idea what “crash” means, we can still guess that its meaning is “decrease”, because as stated, it is 
caused by overfishing, which means fishing too much, exceeding the allowed amount. 
=>ANSWER: TRUE 
20. DURING THE 1990S, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF SALMON CAUGHT 
EACH YEAR WAS 100 MILLION. 
Keywords: during the 1990s, average, each year, 100 million 
At the end of paragraph 4, the writer states : ” …until, during the 1990s, annual harvests were well in 
excess of 100 million, and on several occasions over 200 million fish”. This means that the annual 
number of salmon caught was over 100 million during the 1990s. Therefore, because the number of 

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salmon caught each year in the 1990s was a lot more than 100 million (and sometimes was over 200 
million), it is impossible that the average for each year could be 100 million. 
+ each year = annual 
+ in excess of = over 
=>ANSWER: FALSE 
21. IN ALASKA, BIOLOGISTS KEEP A CHECK ON ADULT FISH 
Keywords: biologists, check, adult 
In paragraph 5, the writer reports: “There are biologists throughout the state constantly monitoring 
adult fish as they show up to spawn. The biologists sit in streamside counting towers, study sonar, 
watch from aeroplanes and talk to fishermen.” In any area, the biologists “…can put a halt to 
fishing….It is this management mechanism that has allowed Alaska salmon stocks – to 
prosper…” Therefore, the most suitable answer is G. 
+ keep a check on = monitor = to watch and check something over a period of time in order to see how 
it develops, so that you can make any necessary changes 
+ permit = allow 
=>ANSWER: G To ensure that fish numbers are sufficient to permit fishing. 
22. BIOLOGISTS HAVE THE AUTHORITY 
Keywords: biologists, authority 
As mentioned above, the writer says : “one or more field biologists in a particular area can put a halt to 
fishing. Even sport fishing can be brought to a halt.” This means that biologists have the authority to 
stop fishing, and particularly sport fishing. The answer, therefore, is E. Stop people fishing for 
sport. We do not choose K. Biologists in one area can stop fishing in that area, but they cannot close 
down all the companies engaged in fishing = fisheries. 
+ stop = close down =put a halt to = bring a halt to 
=>ANSWER: E. Stop people fishing for sport 
23. IN-SEASON ABUNDANCE-BASED MANAGEMENT HAS ALLOWED 
THE ALASKA SALMON FISHERIES 
Keywords : In-Season Abundance -Based Management, allowed,fisheries 
In paragraph 5 again, the author also says: “It is this management mechanism that has allowed Alaska 
salmon stocks – and, accordingly, Alaska salmon fisheries- to prosper,…” This management 
mechanism here refers to In-Season Abundance-Based Management 
The answer is B. 
+ be successful =to prosper = be fortunate or successful 
=>ANSWER: B to be successful 
24. THE MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MSC) WAS ESTABLISHED 
Keywords : MSC 
In the opening of paragraph 6, the writer states: “In 1999, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) 
commissioned a review of the Alaska salmon fisheries.The Council, which was founded in 1996, 
certifies fisheries that meet high environmental standards, enabling them to use a label that recognises 
their environmental responsibility…” This means that MSC was founded to recognise fisheries that 
meet their environmental standards The answer, then, should be A. 
+ established = founded = started or created an organization, a system, etc. that is meant to last for a 
long time 

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+ recognise=certify = admit officially (usually in writing ) that something is true/exists. 
=>ANSWER: Ato recognise fisheries that care for the environment 
25. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE SALMON RUNS IN 1999, 
THE STATE DECIDED 
Keywords : result,collapse, salmon runs, the state, 1999 
In paragraph 7, the author mentions the collapse: “… in the months leading up to the MSC‟s final 
decision [1999], salmon runs throughout western Alaska completely collapsed.” Then, in the next 
paragraph, he continues to deal with its result: “However, the state reacted quickly, closing down all 
fisheries, even those necessary for subsistence purposes ” Therefore, the answer is K. 
=>ANSWER: K to close down all fisheries 
26. IN SEPTEMBER 2000, THE MSC ALLOWED SEVEN ALASKA 
SALMON COMPANIES 
Keywords : MSC, September 2000, allowed, seven, companies 
In the last paragraph, the writer states: ” In September 2000, MSC announced that the Alaska salmon 
fisheries qualified for certification. Seven companies producing Alaska salmon were immediately 
granted permission to display the MSC logo on their products.” This means that the MSC allowed 
seven companies to have the MSC logo on their products. The answer, therefore, is F. 
+ allow = grant permission 
=>ANSWER: F label their product using the MSC logo