IELTS Reading Sentence Completion Example 2

Zuhana

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Updated On Aug 14, 2024

Sample Reading Passage:
Answers:

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Sample Reading Passage:

MEXICO CITY – Although it’s hard to imagine in this age of urban sprawl and automobiles, North America once belonged to mammoths, camels, ground sloths as large as cows, bear-sized beavers, and other formidable beasts. Some 11,000 years ago, however, these large-bodied mammals and others – about 70 species in all – disappeared. Their demise coincided roughly with humans’ arrival in the New World and dramatic climatic change – factors that have inspired several theories about the die-off. Yet despite decades of scientific investigation, the exact cause remains a mystery. Now new findings offer support to one of these controversial hypotheses: that human hunting drove this megafaunal menagerie to extinction. The overkill model emerged in the 1960s when it was put forth by Paul S. Martin of the University of Arizona. Since then, critics have charged that no evidence exists to support the idea that the first Americans hunted to the extent necessary to cause these extinctions. But at the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Mexico City last October, paleoecologist John Alroy of the University of California at Santa Barbara argued that, in fact, hunting-driven extinction is not only plausible, but it was also unavoidable. Using a computer simulation, he has determined that even a very modest amount of hunting would have wiped these animals out.

Questions:

Choose No More Than Two Words from the passage to complete the sentences.

1. North America was once a home to ____________,camels, ground sloths, bear-sized beavers, and beasts.

2. About 11,000 years ago, large-bodied mammals and around _________

disappeared.

3. Even after decades of _____________, the cause for the demise of these species still remains unknown.

4. The overkill model emerged in the 1960s and was put forth by_______ of the University of Arizona.

5. Paleoecologist John Alroy determined using a _________ that hunting could have destroyed these animals.

Answers:

1.North America was once home to Mammoths, camels, ground sloths, bear-sized beavers, and beasts.

2. About 11,000 years ago, large-bodied mammals and around 70 species disappeared.

3. Even after decades of scientific investigation, the cause for these species’ demise still remains unknown.

4. The overkill model emerged in the 1960s and was put forth by Paul S. Martin of the University of Arizona.

5. Paleoecologist John Alroy determined using a computer simulation that hunting could have destroyed these animals.

Explanation of the answers:

Unlock Explanation

The question asks to choose answers from the passage. So answers are definitely in the passage. Also, the instruction says, “ NOT MORE THAN TWO WORDS.” Please bear it in mind while answering.

For the first question, it is mentioned in the second line of the passage that North America once belonged to the Mammoths, Camels, ground sloths, large-bodied beavers, and beasts. So, the answer is Mammoths. Here, “belonged” refers to “home too.”

The second question is clearly given in the fourth line; some 11,000 years ago, the large-bodied mammals and a total of 70 species disappeared. So, the answer is 70 species.

The third question is mentioned in the sixth line of the passage; despite decades of scientific investigation, the exact cause still remains a mystery. So, the answer is Scientific investigation. Here, mystery refers to the unknown.

For the fourth question, we come to know from the ninth line of the passage that the overkill model which emerged in the 1960s was put forth by Paul S. Martin of the University of Arizona. So, the answer is Paul S.Martin.

For the fifth question, it is mentioned in the fifteenth line of the passage that Paleoecologist John Alroy used computer simulation and determined that even a very modest amount of hunting would have wiped out the animals. So, the answer is Computer simulation. Here, wiped out means destruction.

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Zuhana

Nafia Zuhana is an experienced content writer and IELTS Trainer. Currently, she is guiding students who are appearing for IELTS General and Academic exams through ieltsmaterial.com. With an 8.5 score herself, she trains and provides test takers with strategies, tips, and nuances on how to crack the IELTS Exam. She holds a degree in Master of Arts – Creative Writing, Oxford Brookes University, UK. She has worked with The Hindu for over a year as an English language trainer.

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