Global Warming IELTS Reading Answers

Appearing for the upcoming IELTS examination? The IELTS test is mandatory for students aiming for English-taught programs in international universities. The test assesses the student's language proficiency and comprehension skills. The questions in this exam are often challenging. With regular practice, acing the exam becomes a breeze. The Global Warming Reading Answers is an IELTS sample to help students understand the paper pattern and question type. 

Global Warming IELTS Reading Passage

Day after day, we hear about how anthropogenic development is causing global warming. According to an increasingly vocal minority, however, we should be asking ourselves how much of this is media hype cud how much is based on real evidence. It seems, as so often is the ease, that it depends on which expert you listen to or which statistics you study. Yes, there is a mass of evidence to indicate that the world is getting warmer, with one of the world's leading weather predictors stating that air temperatures have frowned an increase of just under half a degree Celsius since the beginning of the twentieth century. And while this may not sound like anything worth losing sleep over, the international press would have us believe that the consequences could be devastating. Other experts, however, believe that what we see is just part of a natural upward and downward swing flint has always been part of the global weather cycle. An analysis of the views of significant meteorologists in the United States showed that less than 20% of them believed that any change in temperature over the last hundred years was our own fault – the rest attributed it to natural cyclical changes.

There is, of course, no denying that we are still at a very early stage in understanding weather. The effects of such variables as rainfall, cloud formation, the seas and oceans, gases such as methane and ozone, or even solar energy still need to be understood, and therefore the predictions that we make using them cannot always be relied on. Dr. James Hansen, in 19BH, predicted that the likely effects of global warming would be a rising of world temperature, which would have disastrous consequences for humankind: "a strong cause arid effect relationship between the current climate and human alteration of the atmosphere". He has now gone on record stating that using artificial models of climate to predict change is all but impossible. In fact, he now believes that, rather than getting hotter, our planet is getting greener due to the carbon dioxide increase, with the prospect of increasing vegetation In areas that in recent history have been frozen wastelands.

Some evidence suggests that as our computer-based weather models have become more sophisticated, the predicted rises in temperature have been cut back. In addition, if we look at the much-reported increase in global temperature over the last century, a close analysis reveals that the lion's share of that increase, almost three-quarters in total, occurred before man began to "poison" his world with industrial processes anti the accompanying greenhouse gas emissions in the second half of the twentieth century.

So should we pay any attention to those stories that scream out at us from billboards and television news headlines, claiming that man, with his inexhaustible dependence on oil-based machinery and ever more sophisticated forms of transport is creating a nightmare level of greenhouse gas emissions, poisoning his environment and ripping open the ozone layer? Doubters point to scientific evidence, which can prove that, of all the greenhouse gases, only two per cent come from manmade sources, the rest resulting from natural emissions. Who, then, to believe: the environmentalist exhorting us to leave the car at home, buy reusable products packaged in recycled paper, and plant trees in our back yard? Or the sceptics, including, of course, a lot of big businesses who have the most to lose, when they tell us that we are making a mountain out of a molehill? And my own opinion? The jury’s still out, as far as I am concerned!

Global Warming IELTS Answers

Questions 1-5 

1. The author …..

A – believes that man is causing global warming 

B – believes that global warming is a natural process 

C – is sure what the causes of global warming are 

D – does not say what he believes the causes of global warming are 

Answer – D 

Explanation: The answer to this question can be found in Paragraph A of the Global Warming Reading Answers. The writer begins the paragraph by saying that anthropogenic development has been stated to be one of the leading causes of global warming. While this may give the appearance that the author claims to know the exact cause, the next few statements clarify his stance. The author says that the reasons depend entirely upon which expert one listens to. So, he is not saying that he believes what the causes of global warming are. 

2. As to the cause of global warming, the author believes that –

A – occasionally, the fact depends on who you are talking to 

B – the facts always depend on who you are talking to 

C – often, the fact depends on which expert you listen to 

D – you should not speak to experts 

Answer – C 

Explanation: This answer may also be found in Paragraph A of the Global Warming Reading sample. Towards the beginning of the paragraph, we understand the author's stance on the subject. While he opens the essay by saying that anthropogenic development is the leading cause of global warming. The following lines clarify that the author believes the reasons are as many as the experts out there. So, depending upon which expert one listens to, the causes may vary. 

3. More than 80% of all meteorologists are of the opinion that –

A – global warming should make us lose sleep 

B – global warming is not the result of natural cyclic changes but manmade 

C – the consequences of global warming will be devastating 

D – global warming is not manmade, but the result of natural cyclic changes 

Answer – D

Explanation: Paragraph A of the essay offers the answer to this question. In the first paragraph, we see that the author is revealing what scientists, researchers, and other experts in the field have to say regarding global warming. Towards the end of the paragraph, the author shows that less than 20% of meteorologists believe that the weather change we observe today can be attributed to manmade causes. The remaining (more than 80%) think global warming is a result of natural causes.  

4. Our understanding of weather –

A – leads to reliable predictions 

B – is variable 

C – cannot be denied 

D – is not very developed yet 

Answer – D 

Explanation: This question's answer is in Paragraph B of the Global Warming Reading Answers. The author begins this paragraph by mentioning that even today, our understanding of weather is in its fragmented, early stages. The explanation is given further wherein the author says that phenomena such as solar energy, cloud formation, rainfall, etc., still need to be understood. This is what makes human predictions inaccurate and unreliable. 

5. Currently, Dr. James Hansen’s benefits include the fact that –

A – It is nearly impossible to predict weather change using artificial models 

B – the consequences of global warming would be disastrous for mankind 

C – there is a significant link between the climate now, mid man’s changing of the atmosphere 

D – Earth is getting colder 

Answer – A 

Explanation: The answer to this question is also found in Paragraph B of the Global Warming Reading sample. The author first states the fragmented and inaccurate human understanding of weather in this paragraph. Then, mention is made of Dr. James Hansen and his claim that global warming would lead to a rise in temperature, which will have devastating consequences for all. The following statement reveals his current stance: Hansen believes it is impossible to predict weather change via artificial models. 

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Questions 6-11 

Do the statements below agree with the information in the Reading passage? In boxes 6-11, write –

Yes, If the statement agrees with the information in the passage 

No, If the statement contradicts the information in the passage 

Not Given If there is no information about the statement in the passage 

Example: Computer-based weather models have become more sophisticated. 

6. At the same time that computer-based weather models have become more sophisticated, weather forecasters have become more expert. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN

Explanation: As per Paragraph C of the Global Warming Reading Answers, we learn that the author talks about computer-based weather models. Though the author does mention that these computerized models have become more sophisticated, he further says the result be some cut-down in the rapid rise in global temperature. However, no mention is made of whether these models have made weather forecasters more expert. 

7. Most of the increase in global temperature happened in the second half of the twentieth century. 

Answer – NO

Explanation: The answer to this question is also given in Paragraph C of the Global Warming Reading sample. In this paragraph, the author starts by discussing computer-based weather forecast models. Further, the author mentions that man is not the leading cause of global warming. He supports his answer by stating that nearly three-fourths of the worldwide warming issue happened before man started being the problem in the second half of the 20th century. 

8. The media wants us to blame ourselves for global warming. 

Answer – YES

Explanation: In Paragraph A of the Global Warming Reading sample, we find the answer to this question. The author's stance is made clear within the first couple of sentences. Though he believes that the world temperature is getting higher by the year, the author also believes that the media wants us to lose our sleep over it. He says that the international press is the one that wants man to blame himself for global warming, whilst that is not the case. 

9. The media encourages the public to use environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric cars, to combat global warming. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN 

Explanation: The clue to this answer may be found in Paragraph D of the Global Warming Reading Answers. We observe that towards the end of the paragraph, the author mentions that only 2% of all greenhouses are emitted due to manmade causes. Then, he asks a thought-provoking question – whether to believe the skeptics or the environmentalists. The environmentalists want the masses to leave their cars back home. But no mention is made of electric cars or whether the media wants the public to use them. 

10. Environmentalists are very effective at persuading people to be kind to the environment. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Paragraph D of the Global Warming Reading Answers IELTS sample talks about environmentalists. Towards the end of the paragraph, the author talks about their stance. He states that environmentalists want the masses to cut down usage and ownership of private vehicles, reuse and recycle products, and even plant saplings in backyards. However, this is merely their suggestion or opinion. No indication is given whether they effectively persuade people to take care of the environment. 

11. Many big businesses are on the side of the skeptics as regards the cause of global warming. 

Answer – YES 

Explanation: The final paragraph or Paragraph D of the reading sample offers the answer to this question. In closing, the author provides some food for thought. He leaves an open-ended question for his readers – whether to trust the opinion of environmentalists or the skeptics, the latter believing that the former is merely exaggerating the problem. He reveals that big businesses are siding with the skeptics and their stance on the subject before stating his opinion, which is that the jury is out. 

Questions 12-13 

Complete the sentences below. Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each blank space. Write your answers in boxes 12 and 13 on your answer sheet. 

12. As well as planting trees and not driving, the environmentalist would like us to choose products that are wrapped _______________ and can be used more than once. 

13. Big businesses would have us believe that we are making too much fuss about global warming because they have _____________. 

Answer – 12. In recycled paper 13. Most to lose 

Explanation: The answers to these questions may be found in Paragraph D of the Global Warming Reading sample. Towards the end of the paragraph, we notice that the author talks about environmentalists. He says they want the masses to use recycled and reused paper, which naturally means the packaging should contain recycled paper. At the end of the paragraph, the author also talks about sceptics who believe that global warming is a minor issue. He further mentions that big businesses also believe the same, but the answer seems to lie in profits more than the truth. 

Question 14 

Choose the appropriate letter A-D and write in Box 14 on your answer sheet. 

14. Which of these is the best title for the text?

A – Global warming is for real 

B – Global warming – media hype or genuine threat?

C – Weather changes over the last 100 years 

D – Global warming – the greatest threat to mankind 

Answer – B

Explanation: If we assess the essence of the entire Global Warming Reading Answers theme, we observe a constant tug of war or comparison between what global warming truly is and what the media would have us believe. The author starts the essay with the question of whether anthropogenic development is the leading cause of global warming. The conclusion also explores the same thing – whether environmentalists are too anxious or skeptics correct. So, the suitable title would be Global Warming – media hype or genuine threat? 

This IELTS reading passage with answers will help you understand how to attempt the 2024 IELTS. Brace yourselves up and keep practicing.

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