Animal Camouflage IELTS Reading Answers

Every year, thousands of students appear for the IELTS test. Within 60 minutes, students must answer a host of questions associated with a given passage. While IELTS test questions are not too difficult, they may be challenging for unprepared students. One way to become exam-ready is to practice regularly using sample test papers. The Animal Camouflage Reading Answers sample for IELTS is one paper through which candidates can gauge preparations and ace the IELTS test. 

A

Animals use camouflage to protect themselves from predators in the wild. There are four basic types of camouflage used by animals. They include concealing coloration, disruptive coloration, disguise and mimicry.

When animals hide against a background of the same color, concealing coloration is used. For example, in snowy areas, an animal such as the polar bear or snowy owl in the Arctic have white coloring to blend in with their backgrounds. In deserts and grasslands, some animals have tan and brown colors that they use to blend into the environment.

A green tree frog blends into the background with its bright green color to fade and hide in trees and grasses. Adult white-tail deer have earth-tone colors that help keep and hide them from predators.

B

Animals use disruptive coloration with spots, stripes, or patterns to break up their outline so it does not stick out against the background. Animals that use this camouflage include zebras, leopards, tigers, and even some fish.

A zebra uses its stripes, helping it to avoid lions. A leopard has a spotted coat camouflaging them in tall brush and grass while they hunt. A raccoon butterflyfish uses its patterns of black and yellow to single it out in a large group.

C

When animals blend into their surroundings by appearing like another object, it is called disguise. Insects that look like branches or leaves hide from predators using a costume. Examples of animals using this kind of camouflage include walking sticks, katydids, and leaf insects. The walking stick looks like a stick, the katydid can appear as a leaf, and a thorn bug looks like a thorn on a plant.

D

The final type of camouflage is called mimicry. Mimicry is when animals or insects appear like other dangerous, bad-tasting, or poisonous animals or insects. These animals or insects pretend to be another animal or insect. There are some snakes, butterflies, and moths that use this type of camouflage for protection from predators. Some examples include the scarlet king snake, hawk moth, and Viceroy butterfly.

The elephant hawk moth caterpillar has two false eyes and moves its head from side to side like a snake. It does this to frighten off predators who think it is a snake. The scarlet king snake is non-poisonous, but it has coloration and patterning that allows it to look like a poisonous snake called a coral snake. Its predators get confused and stay away from the real scarlet king snake. A monarch butterfly is poisonous, so the non-poisonous Viceroy butterfly mimics it, so predators avoid eating it.

E

In summary, animals use camouflage to protect themselves from predators. The four types of camouflage include concealing coloration, disruptive coloration, disguise, and mimicry. Every kind of camouflage helps the animal or insect protect itself not just from predators but is also useful when some animals go hunting for prey.

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Questions and Answers

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?

TRUE – If the statement agrees with the information 

FALSE – If the statement contradicts the information 

NOT GIVEN – If there is no information on this 

1. The walking stick insect looks like a small stick. 

Answer – TRUE 

Explanation: Section C of the Animal Camouflage Reading Answers offers the answer to this question. This section talks explicitly about disguise as a type of animal camouflage. The writer explains that animals using disguise usually blend in with their environment. They give examples of leaf insects, katydids, and walking sticks. In the following sentence, the writer reveals that walking stick insects look like walking sticks. So, the statement is true. 

2. The viceroy butterfly is similar in appearance to the monarch butterfly. 

Answer – TRUE 

Explanation: The answer to this question may be found in Section D of the Animal Camouflage IELTS Reading sample. In this section, the writer explains mimicry as a type of animal camouflage. We understand that less dangerous animals use this technique to appear as their more dangerous counterparts to stay safe from predators. The writer gives examples of the hawk moth, the scarlet king snake, and the viceroy butterflies. Regarding the latter, the writer reveals that they mimic (look nearly identical) monarch butterflies to confuse their predators. So, the statement is true. 

3. The scarlet snake is highly poisonous. 

Answer – FALSE 

Explanation: According to Section D of the reading passage, we learn about the fourth and final kind of animal camouflage, called mimicry. The writer says that less dangerous animals use this technique to ward off predators by appearing more dangerous. Mention is made of the scarlet king snake, which is non-poisonous. It camouflages itself through patterning and coloration as the poisonous coral snake. This keeps it safe from predators. So, the statement is false. 

4. The hawk moth caterpillar is brightly colored. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN 

Explanation: The answer to this question may be derived from Section D of the Animal Camouflage Reading Answers. Talking about mimicry as a camouflage technique, the writer gives examples of the scarlet king snake, viceroy butterfly, and elephant hawk moth caterpillar. As for the latter, the writer discloses details like the caterpillar consists of two eyes and tends to move its head like a snake (from side to side). This scares off its predators. However, no mention is made of the caterpillar's appearance. 

Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer among A, B, C, or D for questions 5-10. 

5. Which of the following type of camouflage is used by animals when they hide against a background of the same color?

A – Mimicry 

B – Disguise 

C – Disruptive Coloration 

D – Concealing Coloration 

Answer – D – Concealing Discoloration 

Explanation: The answer to this question may be found in Paragraph A of the Animal Camouflage Reading Answers sample. The writer dedicates that section to concealing discoloration as a form of animal camouflage. Mention is made of animals that hide by blending in with their backgrounds through color. The writer also gives the example of polar bears that blend with their Artic backgrounds through white color. 

6. Which of the following type of camouflage is used when animals blend into their surroundings, appearing like another object?

A – Mimicry 

B – Disguise 

C – Concealing Coloration 

D – Disruptive Coloration 

Answer – B – Disguise 

Explanation: Section C of the reading passage finds the answer to this question. There, we see the writer talking about a form of animal camouflage called disguise. The writer explains that this form of camouflage allows animals to blend with their surroundings through the appearance or illusion of another object. Examples of walking stick insects and leaf insects are given, where the former looks precisely like a stick while the latter seems like a leaf. 

7. Which type of camouflage is used when insects or animals appear to be more dangerous, poisonous, or bad-tasting counterparts?

A – Disguise 

B – Concealing Coloration 

C – Mimicry

D – Disruptive Coloration 

Answer – C – Mimicry 

Explanation: Section D of the Animal Camouflage Reading sample provides the answer. This section is dedicated to talking about a type of animal camouflage called mimicry. The writer mentions that animals or insects using this camouflage can mimic more dangerous, poisonous, or bad-tasting counterparts to stay safe from predators. Furthermore, the writer gives examples of the scarlet king snake, the viceroy butterfly, and the elephant hawk moth. 

8. Which type of camouflage is used by animals with spots, patterns, or stripes to break their outline, so they do not stand out against their background?

A – Concealing Coloration 

B – Disguise 

C – Disruptive Coloration 

D – Mimicry 

Answer – C – Disruptive Coloration 

Explanation: According to Section B of the reading passage, we learn about disruptive coloration as animal camouflage. The writer says that animals or insects use this camouflage with patterns, stripes, or spots to blend with their backgrounds. Examples of tigers, zebras, leopards, and some species of fish are mentioned. 

1. Which of the following animal does NOT use mimicry to camouflage?

A – Snakes 

B – Butterflies 

C – Fishes 

D – Moths 

Answer – C – Fishes 

Explanation: Section D of the reading passage finds the answer to this question. The writer talks about the fourth or final type of animal camouflage called mimicry. They explain that animals or insects mimic other dangerous, poisonous, or bad-tasting counterparts in this form of camouflage. This is done for protection from predators. The writer gives many examples of animals that use mimicry, such as hawk moths, scarlet king snakes, etc., but no mention of fishes. 

9. Which of the following animal relies on concealing coloration to camouflage?

A – Green tree frogs 

B – Zebras 

C – Leopards 

D – Insects 

Answer – A – Green tree frogs 

Explanation: The answer to this question may be found in Section A of the Animal Camouflage Reading Answers sample. The writer mainly talks about concealing discoloration as animal camouflage in this section. We are informed that this camouflage form helps its user blend in with their surroundings through color. The writer goes on to provide examples, such as that polar bears and green tree frogs.