Catastrophe Theory – IELTS Reading Answers

In the Academic Reading practice passage, “Catastrophe Theory”, there are various question types, each of which are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

Reading Passage

Catastrophe Theory

Questions 27-32 

Catastrophe Theory

First introduced by 27.________________

Proposes that major 28._______________ have given Earth its shape.

Supports the idea that the Earth has a 29. _________________history.

Gradualist Theory 

First introduced by 30._________________

Proposes that many 31. _________________ changes in the shape of the

Earth happened over a 32. _________________ period of time.

1. short
2. small
3. Charles Darwin
4. long
5. definite
6. disasters
7. James Hutton
8. mysterious
9. Walter Alvarez
10. evolution
11. George Cuvier

Questions 33-39 

33 proof that not all changes on Earth have occurred gradually

34 a theory explaining the presence of iridium beneath Earth’s surface

35 publication of a book about the gradualist theory

36 discovery of a large crater that could have been caused by an asteroid

37 evidence of the occurrence of a large flood in Earth’s past

38 recurrence of interest in the catastrophe theory

39 ideas about how quickly ice age glaciers disappeared

Question 40

40 Most scientists now agree that

1. The gradualist theory is correct.
2. Catastrophic events occur regularly on the moon.
3. A major catastrophe caused the dinosaurs to disappear.

Reading Answer 

27 Answer: K

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph A, line 3

Answer explanation: The 3rd line of paragraph A states that it was French Geologist Baron Georges Cuvier who introduced the idea, which was later coined as the catastrophe theory. So, the answer is K. George Cuvier.

28 Answer: F

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: The initial lines of paragraph A states that in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the popular theory among Earth Scientists was that a number of major catastrophes had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape. Thus, it’s clear that major catastrophes had occurred over a period of time giving Earth its shape. Here, catastrophe refers to disasters. So, the answer is F. Disaster.

29 Answer: A

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: Paragraph A illustrates that the popular theory among Earth Scientists was that a number of major catastrophes had taken place over a relatively short period of time to give Earth its shape. We understand that several major disasters occurred in a short period of time to give Earth its shape. Thus, the catastrophe theory supports the idea that Earth has a short history, so, the answer is A. short.

30 Answer: G

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: Paragraph B illustrates that James Hutton, the father of geology, is best known for his gradualist theory, a paradigm that became known as “uniformitarianism.” We can understand from these lines that the gradualist theory was first introduced by James Hutton. So, the answer is G. James Hutton.

31 Answer: B

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph B states that Hutton published the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time. These lines reveal that many geologists including Charles implemented the idea that many small changes occurred on Earth. So, the answer is B. small

32 Answer: D

Question type: Note Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: Line 4, paragraph B states that Hutton published the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time. We understand that after the theory of Earth was published by Hutton, several geologists adopted the notion that many small changes in the shape of Earth happened over a long period of time. Here, largely refers to long. So, the answer is D. Long.

33 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph E

Answer explanation: The initial lines of paragraph E states that the events that have occurred on Earth in the last 100 years or more have proved to geologists that not all processes are gradual. These lines indicate that all the changes in the Earth in the 100 years have occurred gradually. Thus, the statement can be found in paragraph E, so, the answer is E.

34 Answer: D

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 2

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph A states that according to their hypothesis, the iridium in the K-T boundary was caused by an asteroid or a comet that hit Earth near the end of the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago. These lines indicate that an asteroid or a comet that hit the Earth caused the iridium in the KT Boundary. Thus, paragraph D explains the presence of Iridium beneath the earth’s surface. Since the statement can be found in Paragraph D, the answer is D.

35 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph B, line 4

Answer explanation: The 4th line of paragraph B illustrates Hutton publishing the theory of the Earth in 1795, after which many other geologists including Charles Lyell, adopted the idea that small changes on Earth occurred over a large expanse of time. These lines reveal that Hutton published a book about the gradualist theory. Thus, the answer is B.

36 Answer: D

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph D, last line

Answer explanation: The 2nd line of paragraph D “iridium in the K-T boundary was caused by an asteroid or a comet that hit Earth near the end of the Cretaceous period, over 65 million years ago.” These lines explain a theory of the presence of iridium beneath the earth’s surface. Now, the last line of the same paragraph reveals that the acceptance of this theory was widespread, even before the discovery in 1990 of a 180-kilometer crater in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a potential piece of evidence of the asteroid impact. So, we understand from these lines that an asteroid or a comet that hit the Earth caused the iridium in the KT Boundary. However, the last lines state that acceptance of the crater was widespread even before its discovery. Since the statement can be found in paragraph D, the answer is D.

37 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 2

Answer explanation: We find a reference for flood in the 2nd line of paragraph E, where it is mentioned that Major rivers have flooded areas in a matter of days, and volcanoes have erupted, causing mass devastation. The 5th line states that the modern research on fossils even supports the theory of a marine catastrophe, not unlike the legends and stories among many peoples of great floods. These lines indicate evidence of the occurrence of a large flood in the earth’s past. Thus, the answer is E.

38 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph C

Answer explanation: The initial lines of paragraph C states that the majority of paleontologists and geologists adopted the gradualist theory of Earth’s history for more than 100 years. In 1980, a discovery in Italy gave scientists a reason to reconsider the discarded theories of catastrophism. These lines suggest that Scientists decided to reconsider the discarded theories of catastrophism when something was discovered in Italy. This indicates the recurrence of interest in the catastrophe theory. Thus, the answer is C.

39 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph E, line 9

Answer explanation: The 9th line of paragraph E states that some scientists propose that the glacial ice sheet that once spread out across North America melted catastrophically rather than having a slow glacial retreat. These lines reveal ideas about how quickly the ice age glaciers disappeared. Thus, the answer is E.

40 Answer: C

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph F

Answer explanation: In the first line of paragraph F, the writer has stated that though there’s a little debate that catastrophic events caused the mass extinction of several of Earth’s species, namely the dinosaurs. Thus, it is evident that scientists agree that a major catastrophe caused the extinction of dinosaurs. Thus, the answer is C.

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