Cambridge ielts 1-15 series reading answers explained

 
17. Answer: A
Key words: exact point, particular species, extinct
As the “exact point” might refer to an exact time or date, we could use the skimming and scanning 
technique and find in paragraph A the particular date for the extinction of the passenger pigeon, which 
“came to an end on 1 September 1914, when the last living specimen died…” As “come to an end” is 
the same as “become extinct”, it is confirmed that A is the answer. 

become extinct = come to an end 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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QUESTIONS 18 – 22: COMPLETE THE SUMMARY BELOW. 
18. Answer: genetic traits
Key words: George Church, mammoths, tundra
In paragraph E, the team is focusing on reaching its goal by “pinpointing which genetic traits made it 
possible for mammoths to survive the icy climate of the tundra”. 

identify = pinpoint 

enable = make it possible 

live = survive 
Therefore, the subject that Professor George Church and his team are trying to identify ís the “genetic 
traits”, which should be filled in gap 18. 
 
19. Answer: heat loss
Key words: Church, Asian elephants, physical adaptations, minimise
In the same paragraph, it is stated that in order to expand the range of Asian elephants to the tundra, 
there would be multiple necessary physical adaptations that are “all for the purpose of reducing heat 
loss in the tundra”. 

minimise = reduce 
Therefore, certain physical adaptations are aimed at minimising “heat loss”, which are the missing 
words in gap 19. 
20. Answer: ears
Key words: mammoth-like features
As mentioned earlier, multiple adaptations are necessary for the elephant to survive in the tundra, 
including “smaller ears, thicker hair, and extra insulation fat”, which are traits found in the woolly 
mammoth. 

reduced size = smaller 

more = extra 
Therefore, the adaptations can be rewritten as “ears” of reduced size and more “insulation fat”. Thus, 
“ears” and “insulation fat” are respectively filled in gaps 20 and 21.