Reducing the Effects of Climate Change Reading Answers

The IELTS reading passage, "Reducing the Effects of Climate Change," discusses the new geo-engineering techniques approved by scientists in response to climate change.

The different geo-engineering techniques involve large-scale environmental alterations, like aerosol spraying, sunshade schemes and methods to insulate ice.

This passage is great for testing your skimming ability as well as practicing True/False/Not Given, matching features and table completion.

When you use this material, you will develop your scanning skills, become familiar with core IELTS examination question types, and work on your practice of locating definitive information in a short time.

Let us have look on the overview table for Reducing the Effects of Climate Change IELTS practice test:

Section	Details
Passage Title	Reducing the Effects of Climate Change
Main Theme	Geo‑engineering solutions to slow or reverse global warming
Question Types	Table completion, matching features, Yes/No/Not Given
Key Vocabulary	Geo‑engineering, sunshade, aerosols, polar ice, algae, cooling
Keywords to Locate Answers	sunlight reduction, aerosol spraying, iron fertilization, snow reflection, cables
Tips	Scan for specific names and schemes; match statements to scientist views
Common Answer Types	Fact vs. opinion, cause-effect, matching options, key-term identification

Reducing the Effects of Climate Change IELTS Reading Passage

Passage A: Considering our intense dependency on fossil fuels, and the amount of carbon dioxide already in our atmosphere, many academics argue that substantial global warming is inevitable. Most see the focus on and reduction of emissions as the only method of preventing it from being extreme, although we may not be able to stop it altogether. In some parts of the world, carbon emissions are being successfully reduced. In most cases, however, countries struggle even to simply slow the increase, to say nothing of reversing it. Thus, an increasing number of scientists are now considering geoengineering, which refers to the intentional and large-scale modification of the environment; although what geoengineering includes is often debated. Proponents of geoengineering refer to it as a "Plan B" if we do not succeed in lessening fossil-fuel reliance, which would then be an alternative plan to focus on bold techniques to reduce the impacts of climate change or to reverse it all together.

Passage B: Geo-engineering has proven effective in smaller, controlled settings. For instance, during MayDay parades in Moscow, aircraft have dispersed dry ice, silver iodide, and cement powder to break up clouds and guarantee clear skies. Many current proposals aim to achieve the opposite to reduce sunlight reaching the Earth's surface. One of the most ambitious ideas comes from Professor Roger Angel of the University of Arizona, who envisions launching around 16 trillion tiny spacecraft, each about a gram in weight, into an orbit 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. These would form a transparent sunshade to deflect sunlight, potentially reducing incoming solar radiation by 2%. 

Passage C: Most current geo-engineering projects, like planting trees in desert regions or introducing iron into the ocean to encourage algae, are focused on the more general goal of reducing global temperatures. Some projects specifically target the cessation of ice melt in polar areas, particularly the Arctic. The rationale is that the restoration of ice coverage would restore more sunlight to be reflected away from the ocean, helping cool both oceans and atmosphere.

Passage D: Several researchers in the scientific community have put up the idea that aerosol sprays should be released into the stratosphere located above the Arctic. For this to work, sulfur or hydrogen sulfide aerosols would have to be used. This would result in the formation of sulfur dioxide clouds, which would then lead to a reduction in overall brightness. The concept is based on historical volcanic eruptions, such as the one that occurred at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991. This eruption caused a temporary drop of 0.5 degrees Celsius in the average temperature of the whole planet.

Passage E: In order to avoid glaciers from dislodging into the ocean, researchers have also investigated if it is feasible to protect the Greenland ice sheets with strengthened high-tension cables. Meanwhile, proposals for geoengineering in the Russian Arctic involve the cultivation of hundreds of birch trees. Since birches lose their leaves in wintertime, radiation can be scattered by the snow instead of being absorbed by it like it is by the natural evergreen pines of the area. According to some climate experts, rerouting Russian rivers to boost the flow of cold water to locations that generate ice might potentially be utilized to reduce warming.

Passage F: Despite these proposals, there is skepticism about their real-world implementation. Interestingly, some of the most cautious voices come from scientists themselves. Professor Angel acknowledges that his plan should not replace the push for renewable energy, which remains the only permanent fix. Similarly, Dr. Phil Rasch of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory warns that if geoengineering is suddenly halted, the climate would likely revert to its previous state within a decade or two, a serious concern. The US National Center for Atmospheric Research also warns that injecting sulphur into the atmosphere could disrupt rainfall patterns in the tropics and the Southern Ocean. Rasch notes that while aerosol injection or cloud seeding may increase sea ice and cool the planet, all models suggest they would alter global precipitation.

Passage G: Another concern is the possibility of overshooting climate targets. Dr. Dan Hunt from the University of Bristol explains that even if global temperatures return to pre-industrial levels, the poles could still be too warm while the tropics become unusually cold. To prevent such imbalances, he suggests that sunshade projects like Angels should be deployed at partial capacity further emphasizing the importance of avoiding geoengineering if possible.

Passage H: The primary reason geo-engineering receives support from much of the scientific community is their lack of confidence in political leaders' ability to agree on and implement meaningful carbon reductions. Even prominent environmental groups acknowledge the need to explore these options. As Dr. Martin Sommerkorn from the World Wildlife Fund’s International Arctic Programme puts it, human-driven climate change has pushed us to a point where geoengineering deserves serious and comprehensive consideration.

Also Read: IELTS General Reading Test: Practice Test With Answers

Reducing the Effects of Climate Change Reading Answers: Question 1-3

Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

1. _____mention of a geo-engineering project based on an earlier natural phenomenon

2. _____an example of a successful use of geo-engineering

3. _____a common definition of geo-engineering

Reducing the Effects of Climate Change Answers : Question 4-10

Complete the table below. Choose ONE WORD from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 4-10 on your answer sheet.

GEO-ENGINEERING PROJECTS

Procedure	Aim
put a large number of tiny spacecraft into orbit far above Earth	to create a 4 _____ that would reduce the amount of light reaching Earth
Place 5 _____ in the sea	to encourage 6 _____ to form
release aerosol sprays into the stratosphere	to create 7 _____ that would reduce the amount of light reaching Earth
fix strong 8 _____ to Greenland ice sheets	to prevent icebergs moving into the sea
plant trees in Russian Arctic that would lose their leaves in winter	to allow the 9 _____ to reflect radiation
change the direction of 10. _____	to bring more cold water into ice-forming areas

Reducing the Effects of Climate Change Reading Answers: Question 11- 14

Look at the following statements (Questions 11-14) and the list of scientists below. Match each statement with the correct scientist, A-D.

Write the correct letter, A-D, in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.

List of Scientists

A    Roger Angel

B    Phil Rasch

C    Dan Hunt

D    Martin Sommerkorn 

11. _____The effects of geo-engineering may not be long-lasting.

12. _____Geo-engineering is a topic worth exploring.

13. _____It may be necessary to limit the effectiveness of geo-engineering projects.

14. _____Research into non-fossil-based fuels cannot be replaced by geo-engineering.

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Designated Answers with Explanations

Here are all the answers of above mentioned questions along with their keyword location and a brief explanation of the answers:

Answer to Question no-1. D

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, Line 4

Explanation: The premise relies upon historical examples where dispersed volcanic eruptions had an impact, one example is the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991. 

Answer to Question No.2- B

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, Line 1.

Explanation: Geo-engineering has been demonstrated to work, at least on a localized basis.

Answer to Question No.3- A

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, Line 9.

Explanation: Geo-engineering, according to its proponents, is much like an emergency generator.

Answer to Question No.4- Sunshade

Keyword Location: Paragraph B, Line 6.

Explanation: His plan was to establish a sunshade that would diffuse sunlight 1.5 million km above earth.

Answer to Question no.5- Iron

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, Line 2.

Explanation: These efforts also include planting trees in arid areas, and supplying iron into the ocean to support algae growth.

Answer to Question No.6- Algae

Keyword Location: Paragraph C, Line 2.

Explanation: These efforts also include planting trees in arid areas, and supplying iron into the ocean to support algae growth.

Answer to Question No.7- Clouds

Keyword Location: Paragraph D, Line 3.

Explanation: This would create clouds consisting of sulfur dioxide, thus reducing overall brightness.

Answer to Question No.8- Cables

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, Line 1

Explanation: Scientists have also studied if high-tension cables can have stronger poles to protect the Greenland Ice Sheets.

Answer to Question No.9- Snow

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, Line 4

Explanation: Since birches shed their leaves in the wintertime, radiation can be scattered by the snow rather than absorbed, as it is by the natural evergreen pines.

Answer to Question No.10- Rivers

Keyword Location: Paragraph E, Line 6

Explanation: Some climate experts have suggested diverting Russian rivers to increase the flow of cold water to areas that make ice, which might be one way to counteract warming.

Answer to Question No.11- B

Keyword Location: Paragraph A, Line 3

Explanation: Dr. Phil Rasch of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory remarked: "We would all likely agree that if we stopped geoengineering on this particular day, within 10 to 20 years, the world would go back to its pre-engineered state. There is certainly reason for concern about it."

Answer to Question No.12- D

Keyword Location: Paragraph H, Line 4

Explanation: "Human-induced climate change has brought humanity to a point at which we should not dismiss considering this issue and its possibilities as a whole," observes Dr. Martin Sommerkorn.

Answer to Question No.13- C

Keyword location: Paragraph G, Line 6

Explanation: Hunt explains, "Angel's plan would have to run at half power to avoid that situation; all of this supports his belief that the smarter thing to do is to take away geo-engineering completely." 

Answer to Question No.14- A

Keyword location: Paragraph F, Line 2

Explanation: Angel believes that renewable energy is the only long-term solution, and that his technology is not a substitute.

Conclusion

The Reducing the Effects of Climate Change passage, although not as exploratory as our previous text, provides high-level knowledge of geoengineering as a backup for mitigating global warming when emission reductions just would not cut it. 

By engaging in exercises with matching features, table completion, and classification questions, you are developing the capacity to extract factual information on your own and are developing your accuracy for IELTS Reading.