War Debris Could Cause Cancer- IELTS Reading Answers

In the Academic Reading practice passage, “War debris could cuase cancer”, there are various question types. Each of these question types are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. So, the passage given in this practice test will help you enhance your reading and understanding capabilities.

Reading Passage

War debris could cause cancer

Questions 14-18

14 a famous process is given relating to the new theory.

15 a person who acknowledges but suspects the theory.

16 the explanation of damage to DNA.

17 a debatable and short explanation of the way creating the problems of soldiers.

18 Busby’s hypothesis is not in the investigation plans of organizations.

Questions 19-22

19 All people believe that depleted uranium is harmful to people’s health.

20 Heavier elements can perform better at preventing X-rays and gamma radiation.

21 By particular calculations, it is known that the main effect of uranium genome toxicity is

phantom photoelectrons.

22 Most scientists support Mark Hill’s opinion.

Questions 23-26

23________________ attaches importance to depleted uranium due to its 24______________ and 25 ____________ features, which are helpful in the war. However, it has ill effects in people, and then causes organisations’ appeal to do more relative studies. According to some scientists, we should do research about the impact of uranium’s

26______________ which may be enhanced with weak radioactivity.

Reading Answer

14 Answer: D

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph D

Answer explanation: The initial lines of paragraph D reveals a famous process relating to the new theory, “Chris Busby and Ewald Schnug have a new theory that they say explains how depleted uranium could cause genetic damage. Their theory invokes a well-known process called the photoelectric effect.” These lines illustrate Busby and Schnug’s theory, which explains how depleted uranium can lead to genetic damage, and this invokes a well-known (famous) process of the photoelectric effect. Thus, the statement can be found in paragraph D. So, the answer is D.

15 Answer: G

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph G

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of paragraph G state, that Hans-Georg Menzel, who chairs the International Commission on Radiological Protection’s committee on radiation doses acknowledges that the theory should be considered, but he doubts that it will prove significant. These lines suggest that Hans-Georg Menzel from the radiological protection committee acknowledges the theory to be considered, but doubts if it will prove significant. Therefore, the statement can be found in paragraph G, so, the answer is G.

16 Answer: E

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph E, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph E defines an explanation of damage to the DNA, “Photoelectrons from uranium are therefore likely to be emitted precisely where they will cause the most damage to genetic material” says Busby.” These lines indicate Busby saying that the photoelectrons from the uranium are expected to be emitted in a way by causes the most damage to the genetic material (DNA). Thus, the statement can be found in paragraph E, so, the answer is E.

17 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph A, last line

Answer explanation: In the last line of paragraph A, it is explained how the residues of depleted uranium scattered across former war zones could be increasing the risk of cancers and other problems among soldiers and local people. These lines illustrate a debatable and short explanation of the way creating the problems for soldiers, i.e, the depleted uranium scattered across the former war zones might increase the risk of cancers and other health issues among the soldiers and local people in the place. Thus, the statement can be found in paragraph A, so, the answer is A.

18 Answer: G

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph G, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph G reveals that organizations in the UK, including the Ministry of Defence and the Health Protection Agency, say they have no plans to investigate Busby’s hypothesis. We can understand from these lines that Busby’s hypothesis is not in the investigation plans of organizations. Thus, the statement can be found in paragraph G. So, the answer is G.

19 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph A

Answer explanation: Paragraph A states the questions claimed by two researchers, who also argued how the residues of depleted uranium scattered across former war zones could be increasing the risk of cancers and other problems among soldiers and local people. These lines suggest a debatable and short explanation of the way creating the problems for soldiers, i.e, the depleted uranium scattered across the former war zones might increase the risk of cancers and other health issues among the soldiers and local people. Thus, only two researchers claimed that depleted uranium is harmful to people’s health. As a result, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

20 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph D, line 6

Answer explanation: The 6th line of paragraph D states, An atom’s ability to stop photons by this mechanism depends on the fourth power of its atomic number — the number of protons in its nucleus — so heavy elements are far better at intercepting gamma radiation and X-rays than light elements. This means that uranium could be especially effective at capturing photons and kicking out damaging photoelectrons. These lines indicate the ability of an atom to stop photons which depend on the fourth power of its atomic number and the number of protons in its nucleus, as a result of which the heavy elements are far better at intercepting gamma radiation and x-rays than light elements. Thus, the statement agrees with the facts, so, the answer is True.

21 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph F

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of paragraph F illustrate Busby and Schnug base their claim on calculations of the photoelectrons that would be produced by the interaction between normal background levels of gamma radiation and uranium in the body. “Our detailed calculations indicate that the phantom photoelectrons are the predominant effect by far for uranium genome toxicity and that uranium could be 1500 times as powerful as an emitter of photoelectrons than as an alpha emitter.” We can deduce from these lines that Busby and Schnug are claiming the calculations of photoelectrons to be produced by the interaction between normal background levels of gamma radiation and uranium. Their calculations revealed that by specific calculations, it is known that the main effect of uranium genome toxicity is phantom photoelectrons. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

22 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/ Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph H

Answer explanation: We find a reference for Mark Hill in paragraph H, which states that Radiation biophysicist Mark Hill of the University of Oxford would like to see a fuller investigation, though he suggests this might show that the photoelectric effect is not as powerful as Busby claims. Hill states that more detailed calculations and dose estimates for realistic situations with and without uranium present are required and his doubts center on an effect called Compton scattering, which he believes needs to be factored into any calculations. However, there’s no mention of the fact that most scientists support Hill’s opinions. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

23 Answer: the military

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: Paragraph B illustrates that depleted uranium is highly valued by the military, who use it in the tips of armor-piercing weapons. These lines indicate that the military values and attaches higher importance to the depleted uranium. They use it on the tips of their armor-piercing weapons. Thus, the answer is the military.

24 Answer: high density

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: Paragraph B reveals that depleted uranium is highly valued by the military, who use it in the tips of armor-piercing weapons. The material’s high density and self-sharpening properties help it to penetrate the armor of enemy tanks and bunkers. These lines suggest that the military that uses armor-piercing weapons attaches high importance due to its high-density and self-sharpening characteristics that help to penetrate the armor of the enemy tanks. Thus, the answer is high-density.

25 Answer: self-sharpening

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph B

Answer explanation: The introductory lines of paragraph B states that the depleted uranium is highly valued by the military, who use it in the tips of armor-piercing weapons. The material’s high density and self-sharpening properties help it to penetrate the armor of enemy tanks and bunkers. We can deduce from these lines that the armor-piercing weapons used by the military contain depleted uranium, whose self-sharpening and high-density features helps to penetrate the armor of enemy tanks and bunkers. Therefore, the answer is self-sharpening.

26 Answer: chemical toxicity

Question type: Summary Completion

Answer location: Paragraph C, last line

Answer explanation: The last line of paragraph C states that the authors of the NRC report argue that more long-term and quantitative research is needed on the effects of uranium’s chemical toxicity. These lines indicate that according to some scientists, more research about the effects of uranium’s chemical toxicity should be done which might help in the enhancement of the weak radioactivity. Thus, the answer is chemical toxicity.

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