The Fatal Attraction IELTS reading answers passage is about carnivorous plants and the clever ways they catch and eat insects. It explains how plants such as the Venus flytrap, bladderwort and pitcher plants trap their prey and get useful nutrients from them.
Working through the fatal attraction reading answers can help you practise different IELTS reading question types, including note completion, matching features and matching information.
The fatal attraction IELTS reading passage also talks about how these plants evolved and how pollution and other human activities are putting them at risk.
Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading Passage
Below the IELTS fatal attraction reading passage is shown which describes how they catch insects, why they eat them, how they evolved and the dangers they face.
Fatal Attraction
Evolutionist Charles Darwin first marvelled at flesh-eating plants in the mid-19th century. Today, biologists, using 21st-century tools to study cells and DNA, are beginning to understand how these plants hunt, eat and digest - and how such bizarre adaptations arose in the first place.
A The leaves of the Venus flytrap plant are covered in hairs. When an insect brushes against them, this triggers a tiny electric charge, which travels down tunnels in the leaf and opens up pores in the leaf's cell membranes. Water surges from the cells on the inside of the leaf to those on the outside, causing the leaf to rapidly flip in shape from convex to concave, like a soft contact lens. As the leaves flip, they snap together, trapping the insect in their sharp-toothed jaws.
B The bladderwort has an equally sophisticated way of setting its underwater trap. It pumps water out of tiny bag-like bladders, making a vacuum inside. When small creatures swim past, they bend the hairs on the bladder, causing a flap to open. The low pressure sucks water in, carrying the animal along with it. In one five-hundredth of a second, the door swings shut again. The Drosera sundew, meanwhile, has a thick, sweet liquid oozing from its leaves, which first attracts insects, then holds them fast before the leaves snap shut. Pitcher plants use yet another strategy, growing long tube-shaped leaves to imprison their prey. Raffles' pitcher plant, from the jungles of Borneo, produces nectar that both lures insects and forms a slick surface on which they can't get a grip. Insects that land on the rim of the pitcher slide on the liquid and tumble in.
C Many carnivorous plants secrete enzymes to penetrate the hard exoskeleton of insects so they can absorb nutrients from inside their prey. But the purple pitcher plant, which lives in bogs and infertile sandy soils in North America, enlists other organisms to process its food. It is home to an intricate food web of mosquito larvae, midges and bacteria, many of which can survive only in this unique habitat. These animals shred the prey that fall into the pitcher, and the smaller organisms feed on the debris. Finally, the plant absorbs the nutrients released.
D While such plants clearly thrive on being carnivorous, the benefits of eating flesh are not the ones you might expect. Carnivorous animals such as ourselves use the carbon in protein and the fat in meat to build muscles and store energy. Carnivorous plants instead draw nitrogen, phosphorus, and other critical nutrients from their prey in order to build light-harvesting enzymes. Eating animals, in other words, lets carnivorous plants do what all plants do: carry out photosynthesis, that is, grow by harnessing energy directly from the sun.
E Carnivorous plants are, in fact, very inefficient at converting sunlight into tissue. This is because of all the energy they expend to make the equipment to catch animals - the enzymes, the pumps, and so on. A pitcher or a flytrap cannot carry out much photosynthesis because, unlike plants with ordinary leaves, they do not have flat solar panels that can grab lots of sunlight. There are, however, some special conditions in which the benefits of being carnivorous do outweigh the costs. The poor soil of bogs, for example, offers little nitrogen and phosphorus, so carnivorous plants enjoy an advantage over plants that obtain these nutrients by more conventional means. Bogs are also flooded with sunshine, so even an inefficient carnivorous plant can photosynthesise enough light to survive.
F Evolution has repeatedly made this trade-off. By comparing the DNA of carnivorous plants with other species, scientists have found that they evolved independently on at least six separate occasions. Some carnivorous plants that look nearly identical turn out to be only distantly related. The two kinds of pitcher plants - the tropical genus Nepenthes and the North American Sarracenia - have, surprisingly, evolved from different ancestors, although both grow deep pitcher-shaped leaves and employ the same strategy for capturing prey.
G In several cases, scientists can see how complex carnivorous plants evolved from simpler ones. Venus flytraps, for example, share an ancestor with Portuguese sundews, which only catch prey passively, via ‘flypaper' glands on their stems. They share a more recent ancestor with Drosera sundews, which can also curl their leaves over their prey. Venus flytraps appear to have evolved an even more elaborate version of this kind of trap, complete with jaw-like leaves.
H Unfortunately, the adaptations that enable carnivorous plants to thrive in marginal habitats also make them exquisitely sensitive. Agricultural run-off and pollution from power plants are adding extra nitrogen to many bogs in North America. Carnivorous plants are so finely tuned to low levels of nitrogen that this extra fertilizer is overloading their systems, and they eventually burn themselves out and die.
I Humans also threaten carnivorous plants in other ways. The black market trade in exotic carnivorous plants is so vigorous now that botanists are keeping the location of some rare species a secret. But even if the poaching of carnivorous plants can be halted, they will continue to suffer from other assaults. In the pine savannah of North Carolina, the increasing suppression of fires is allowing other plants to grow too quickly and outcompete the flytraps in their native environment. Good news, perhaps, for flies. But a loss for all who, like Darwin, delight in the sheer inventiveness of evolution.
For Questions 14-18, complete the notes below. Select words from the passage for each answer, not more than 2 words.
How a Venus flytrap traps an insect
insect touches 14 ______ on leaf of plant
small 15 ______ passes through leaf
16 ______ in cell membrane open
outside cells of leaves fill with 17 ______
leaves change so that they have a 18 ______ shape and snap shut
Q14: Only hospital patients can go on to have transition care.
Answer: hairs
Explanation: Paragraph A says that leaves of the Venus flytrap have hairs covering them. As insects touch these hairs, the trap begins to work. Hence, hairs is the right answer.
Q15: Small ______ passes through the leaf.
Answer: electric charge
Explanation: The passage says that touching the hairs creates a tiny electric charge. This charge travels through tunnels in the leaf. The word “small” in the question matches “tiny” in the passage. Therefore, the answer is electric charge.
Q16: ______ in cell membrane open.
Answer: pores
Explanation: After the electric charge moves through the leaf, it opens the pores in the cell membranes. So, pores is the correct answer.
Q17: Outside cells of leaves fill with ______.
Answer: water
Explanation: Given in paragraph A, water flows from the inside cells of the leaf to the outside cells of the leaf. This makes the leaf change its shape. Therefore, the answer is water.
Q18: Leaves change so that they have a ______ shape and snap shut.
Answer: concave
Explanation: The passage states that the leaf is changing from convex to concave. Concave is a term that refers to a surface that is curved toward the center. Hence, the answer is concave.
Fatal Attraction Reading Answers: Questions 19-22
For Questions 19-22, match each statement with the correct plant.
A. Venus flytrap
B. bladderwort
C. Drosera sundew
D. Raffles' pitcher plant
E. purple pitcher plant
Q19: It uses other creatures to help it digest insects.
Answer: E - purple pitcher plant
Explanation: Paragraph C explains that a purple pitcher plant gets its food through other organisms in its pitcher and is an example of a predator. The insects are broken down by mosquito larvae, midges and bacteria. Then the nutrients are absorbed by the plant. Hence E is the right option.
Q20: It produces a slippery substance to make insects fall inside it.
Answer: D - Raffles' pitcher plant
Explanation: Raffles' pitcher plant makes nectar that creates a slick surface. Insects cannot get a grip on this surface, so they slide into the pitcher. “Slick” means slippery. Therefore, D is the correct answer.
Q21: It creates an empty space into which insects are sucked.
Answer: B - bladderwort
Explanation: The bladderwort pumps water out of its little bladders and creates a vacuum within the bladder. When a small creature comes near, low pressure sucks water and the creature into the bladder. Hence, B is the right answer.
Q22: It produces a sticky substance which traps insects on its surface.
Answer: C - Drosera sundew
Explanation: The Drosera sundew has a thick, sweet liquid on its leaves. This liquid is used to attract and trap insects. Hence, C is the right answer.
For Questions 23-26, choose the paragraph that contains the information.
Q23: A mention of a disadvantage of the leaf shape of some carnivorous plants
Answer: E
Explanation: Pitcher plants and flytraps have leaves that are not flat, as you find in regular plants, as stated in Paragraph E. As a result, they are able to absorb less sunlight and cannot perform as much photosynthesis. This shows a disadvantage of their leaf shape. Hence, E is the answer.
Q24: An example of an effort made to protect carnivorous plants
Answer: I
Explanation: Paragraph I talks about the black market trade in rare carnivorous plants. To protect these plants, botanists are keeping the locations of some rare species secret. This is an example of an effort to protect them. Therefore, I is the correct answer.
Q25: Unexpected information about the origins of certain carnivorous plants
Answer: F
Explanation: Paragraph F gives a surprising fact about two types of pitcher plants. Both nepenthes and sarracenia are able to trap prey in a similar manner, and are closely related in appearance, but they are descended from separate ancestors. Thus, F is the answer.
Q26: An example of environmental changes that shorten the life cycles of carnivorous plants
Answer: H
Explanation: The extra nitrogen added to bogs due to agricultural run off and pollution is explained in paragraph H. Nitrogen is a very sensitive plant nutrient for carnivorous plants, and excess nitrogen will "burn" them. Hence, the answer is H.
How to Approach the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading Answers?
There were three types of questions in the reading passage of the fatal attraction towards IELTS. The most important thing to do when solving these is to know what each question is asking before looking its solution.
Below is the approach that you can apply when giving answers to the questions in IELTS exam.
Read carefully the question you have been given
Identify the key words in the question. For example, in Question 21, the words “empty space” and “sucked” are useful clues. In the passage, these ideas are explained through the words “vacuum” and “low pressure”.
Look for synonyms
IELTS often changes the words used in the passage. The question may not use the same words.
For example:
Slippery: slick
Empty space: vacuum
Sticky substance: thick, sweet liquid
Different beginnings: different ancestors
This is an important skill for getting the fatal attraction reading answers correct.
Follow the order in Note Completion
The answers to questions 14-18 are in Paragraph A (in the same order as the passage). Begin at point A in the top left corner of the Paragraph and follow each step of the Venus flytrap's action.
Use the plant names as clues
For Questions 19-22, each plant has a different way of catching insects. Try to remember the main action of each one:
Venus flytrap: snaps shut
Bladderwort: sucks prey in
Drosera sundew: uses sticky liquid
Raffles' pitcher plant: uses a slippery surface
Purple pitcher plant: gets help from other organisms
Match ideas, not just words
For Questions 23-26, do not look only for the exact words in the question. Look for the same meaning.
For example, “effort made to protect” is connected to botanists keeping the location of rare plants secret. This is why the answer is Paragraph I.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in the “Fatal Attraction” IELTS Reading
The IELTS reading fatal attraction answers can be easier to find when you know what mistakes to avoid. So, here are some of the pointers that may help you prevent common mistakes that may occur eventually while taking the IELTS exam.
Choosing an answer from the wrong plant: Several plants are discussed together in Paragraph B. Read the description carefully before choosing an option.
Missing important clues: Words such as vacuum, sticky, slick, differentancestors and pollution can help you find the right part of the passage.
General knowledge: Avoid responding to what you are familiar with about carnivorous plants. Only use the information provided in the passage.
Searching for synonyms: For IELTS questions, the words used may vary but have a similar meaning. Always search for synonyms and paraphrases.
Wasting a lot of time on a single question: If there is no answer that you can find quickly, skip the question and return to it later.
Conclusion
The fatal attraction reading passage is a useful IELTS practice text because it covers different question types and uses many paraphrases. It explains the clever ways carnivorous plants catch insects and why these plants need nutrients from their prey.
While solving the fatal attraction IELTS reading answers, focus on keywords, synonyms and the main idea of each paragraph. For Note Completion questions, also check the word limit carefully.
Practising IELTS reading fatal attraction answers can help you become better at finding information quickly and understanding how IELTS changes the wording of information from the passage.
How many questions are there in the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage?
This version has 13 questions, numbered 14-26. Questions 14-18 are Note Completion, Questions 19-22 are Matching Features, and Questions 23-26 are Matching Information questions.
What question types are asked in the Fatal Attraction reading passage?
The passage includes Note Completion, Matching Features, and Matching Information questions. Each type needs a slightly different approach, so it is useful to understand the instructions before you start solving the Fatal Attraction reading answers.
What is the main topic of the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage?
The Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage is about carnivorous plants and how they catch and digest insects. It discusses plants such as the Venus flytrap, bladderwort, sundew and pitcher plants, along with their special ways of getting nutrients.
Which questions are Note Completion in the Fatal Attraction passage?
Questions 14-18 are Note Completion questions. You need to complete the notes using words from the passage. Pay close attention to the word limit and make sure your answer fits grammatically in the sentence.
Which questions are Matching Features in the Fatal Attraction passage?
Questions 19-22 are Matching Features questions. You need to match information with the correct carnivorous plant. Reading the details about how each plant catches insects can help you find the correct Fatal Attraction reading answers.
Which questions are Matching Information in the Fatal Attraction passage?
Questions 23-26 are Matching Information questions. You need to find which paragraph contains the information given in each statement. Look for the same idea in the passage, even when different words are used.
How can I solve Matching Features questions in Fatal Attraction?
First, understand what makes each plant different. For example, one plant uses a vacuum, another uses sticky liquid, and another uses a slippery surface. Match these special features with the correct plant instead of searching for exact words.
Why is paraphrasing important in the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage?
The questions may use different words from the passage while keeping the same meaning. For example, a question may describe a plant as using an empty space, while the passage uses the word vacuum. Looking for meaning is important.
How do I approach Note Completion questions in Fatal Attraction?
First, read the sentence around each blank and understand what information is missing. Then find the related part of the passage and copy the correct word or words. Always check the word limit before writing your Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading answers.
Is the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage difficult?
The passage can feel a little difficult because it has science-related words and talks about how plants catch their food. However, you do not need deep science knowledge. Careful reading, keyword matching and understanding paraphrasing can make it easier.
How long should I spend on the Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading passage?
You should aim for around 20 minutes for this passage and its 13 questions. Do not spend too long on one question. Move to the next question and return to the difficult one later if needed.
What vocabulary can I learn from the Fatal Attraction reading passage?
You can learn useful words such as carnivorous, prey, nutrients, photosynthesis, enzymes, vacuum, pores, ancestors, pollution and adaptation. Learning these words can help you understand the Fatal Attraction reading passage and other science-based IELTS texts.
upGrad Abroad Editorial Team |4899 articles published
We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education ...
Refer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹15000
Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.
