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CAMBRIDGE IELTS 10 READING – TEST 4 – ANSWERS

1-2. Characteristics of wildfires and wildfire conditions today compared to the past:

• 
  Occurrence: more frequent
  

• 
  Temperature: hotter
  

• 
  Speed: faster
  

• 
  Movement: 1…….more unpredictably
  

• 
  Size of fires: 2……greater on average than two decades ago.
  

1. At the end of paragraph 1, the writer indicates that “The wildfires themselves, experts say, are generally hotter, faster, and spread more erratically than in the past.”

• 
  unpredictably=erratically
  

=>ANSWER: spread

1. At the beginning of paragraph 2, the writer says that “Megafires, also called “siege fires” are the increasingly frequent blazes that burn 50,000 acres or more – 10 times the size of the average forest

fire of 20 years ago.

• 
  20years = 2 decades
  

=>ANSWER: 10 times

3-6. Reasons wildfires cause more damage today compared to the past:

• 
  Rainfall: 3……average
  

• 
  More brush to act as 4…..
  

• 
  Increase in yearly temperature
  

• 
  Extended fire 5…….
  

• 
  More building of 6… in vulnerable places
  

1. In paragraph 3, the writer says that “One explanation for the trend to more superhot fires is that the region, which usually has dry summers, has had significantly below normal precipitation in many recent years.”

• 
  rainfall=precipitation
  

• 
  average=normal
  

=>ANSWER: below

1. In paragraph 3, “The unintentional consequence has been to halt the natural eradication of underbrush, now the primaryfuel for megafires.” In the past, the US Forest Service had a policy of cutting this „brush‟ – the plants that grow beneath the trees. However, the Service did not realize then that if this brush was eradicated naturally by fires, then this natural process would be more effective. Without realising this, as a result of their policy, the brush grew more quickly and strongly, providing

more fuel to start fires.

=>ANSWER: fuel

1. In paragraph 4, the writer indicates that “Three other factors contribute to the trend, they add…Second is fire seasons that on average are 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago.” This means that fire seasons are extended.

• 
  extended=longer
  

=>ANSWER: seasons

1. At the end of paragraph 4, the writer says that “Third is increased construction of homes in wooded areas.”

• 
  more=increased
  

• 
  building=construction
  

=>ANSWER: homes

1. The amount of open space in California has diminished over the last ten years.

Keywords: space, California, diminished, 10 years.

In paragraph 6, “In California, where population growth has averaged more than 600,000 a year for at least a decade, more residential housing is being built. What once was open space is now residential homes…” This means that the open space in California has diminished over the last ten

years because there have been more residential homes. So, the statement is TRUE.

=>ANSWER: TRUE

1. Many experts believe California has made little progress in readying itself to fight fires.

Keywords: experts, California, little progress, fight fires.


In paragraph 7, the writer argues that “That said, many experts give California high marks for making progress on preparedness in recent years, after some of the largest fires in state history scorched thousands of acres, burned thousands of homes, and killed numerous people.” This that many experts appreciate California ‟s making progress on preparedness in recent years. The people involved are now fighting fires “better than previously”. So, the statement is FALSE.

• 
  readying itself=preparedness
  

=>ANSWER: FALSE

1. Personnel in the past have been criticised for mishandling fire containment.

Keywords: personnel, criticised, mishandling, containment

In paragraph 7, the writer argues that “Stung in the past by criticism of bungling that allowed fires to spread when they might have been contained, personnel are meeting the peculiar challenges of neighborhood – and canyon – hoping fires better than previously, observers say.” So, it is true that personnel in the past have been criticised for mishandling fire containment.

• 
  mishandling=bungling
  

=>ANSWER: TRUE

1. California has replaced a range of firefighting tools.

Keywords: replace, firefighting tools, California

In paragraph 9, “Besides providing money to upgrade the fire engines that must traverse the mammoth state and wind along serpentine canyon roads, the state has invested in better command- and-control facilities as well as in the strategies to run them.” This means that California has replaced a range of firefighting tools. So, the statement is TRUE.

• 
  replaced=upgrade
  

• 
  tools=facilities
  

=>ANSWER: TRUE

1. More firefighters have been hired to improve fire-fighting capacity.

Keywords: more firefighters, hired, improve

In this passage, the writer mentions the improvement in firefighting tools, but does not mention whether more firefighters have been hired to improve fire- fighting capacity. So, the statement is NOT GIVEN.

=>ANSWER: NOT GIVEN

1. Citizens and government groups disapprove of the efforts of different states and agencies working

together.

Keywords: government, disapprove, working together.

At the end of paragraph 9, the writer argues that “There is a sense among both government and residents that the speed, dedication, and coordination of firefighters from several states and jurisdictions are resulting in greater efficiency than in past „siege fire‟ situations.” So, this means that both

citizens and government groups appreciate the efforts of different states and agencies working together. The statement is FALSE.

• 
  agencies=jurisdictions
  

• 
  citizens=residents
  

• 
  working together=coordination
  

=>ANSWER: FALSE

1. Randy Jacobs believes that loss of life from fires will continue at the same levels, despite changes made.

Keywords: Randy Jacobs, loss of life, same levels

At the end of the passage, Randy Jacobs says that “Notwithstanding all the damage that will continue to be caused by wildfires, we will no longer suffer the loss of life endured in the past because of the fire prevention and firefighting measures that have been put in place”. This means that, thank’s to the fire prevention and firefighting measures, we will no longer suffer the loss of life from fires like we did in the past. So, the statement is FALSE.

=>ANSWER: FALSE