Questions 27-32
The reading passage has eight paragraphs labelled A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-H in boxes 27-32 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
The answer is B. In Paragraph B, the passage states: "By combining the records with climate data, researchers can reveal how, for example, changes in temperature affect the arrival of spring, allowing ecologists to make improved predictions about the impact of climate change." This shows that thanks to records collected by amateurs, researchers are now able to make more accurate forecasts on temperature change.
Associated Text:
By combining the records with climate data, researchers can reveal how, for example, changes in temperature affect the arrival of spring, allowing ecologists to make improved predictions about the impact of climate change.
The answer is D. In Paragraph D, it says: "Rafe Sagarin...recently studied records of a betting contest in which participants attempt to guess the exact time at which a specially erected wooden tripod will fall through the surface of a thawing river. The competition has taken place annually on the Tenana River in Alaska since 1917, and analysis of the results showed that the thaw now arrives five days earlier than it did when the contest began." This is the annual contest mentioned, and it provides useful information on the arrival of spring.
Associated Text:
Rafe Sagarin, an ecologist at Stanford University in California, recently studied records of a betting contest in which participants attempt to guess the exact time at which a specially erected wooden tripod will fall through the surface of a thawing river. The competition has taken place annually on the Tenana River in Alaska since 1917, and analysis of the results showed that the thaw now arrives five days earlier than it did when the contest began.
The answer is E. Paragraph E details: "Terry Root, an ecologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has collected birdwatchers' counts of wildfowl taken between 1955 and 1996 on seasonal ponds in the American Midwest and combined them with climate data and models of future warming. Her analysis shows that the increased droughts that the models predict could halve the breeding populations at the ponds." This describes ornithologists’ data (birdwatchers) being used to predict patterns of drought.
Associated Text:
Terry Root, an ecologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, has collected birdwatchers' counts of wildfowl taken between 1955 and 1996 on seasonal ponds in the American Midwest and combined them with climate data and models of future warming. Her analysis shows that the increased droughts that the models predict could halve the breeding populations at the ponds. "The number of waterfowl in North America will most probably drop significantly with global warming," she says.
The answer is F. In Paragraph F: "But not all professionals are happy to use amateur data. 'A lot of scientists won't touch them, they say they're too full of problems,' says Root." This clearly indicates the skepticism of professional scientists towards amateur findings.
Associated Text:
But not all professionals are happy to use amateur data. "A lot of scientists won't touch them, they say they're too full of problems," says Root.
The answer is G. In Paragraph G, it says: "professional researchers are now trying to create standardized recording schemes for future efforts. They hope that well-designed studies will generate a volume of observations large enough to drown out the idiosyncrasies of individual recorders." This refers to systems being set up to collect more reliable evidence from amateurs.
Associated Text:
professional researchers are now trying to create standardized recording schemes for future efforts. They hope that well-designed studies will generate a volume of observations large enough to drown out the idiosyncrasies of individual recorders.
The answer is H. In Paragraph H, the passage states: "'People are thrilled to think that the data they've been collecting as a hobby can be used for something scientific; it empowers them,' says Root." This describes the gratification and sense of importance felt by amateurs when their data is accepted.
Associated Text:
"People are thrilled to think that the data they've been collecting as a hobby can be used for something scientific; it empowers them," says Root.
Questions 33-36
Look at the following
Descriptions (Questions 33-36) and
List of people below.
Match each description with the correct person
Write the correct number
A-E in boxes
Questions 33-36
on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
List of people
- Tim Sparks
- Rafe Sagarin
- Terry Root
- Mark Schwartz
- Arnold Van Vliet
The answer is E. In Paragraph G, it is stated: "Together with colleagues at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, environmental scientist Arnold van Vliet is developing statistical techniques to account for the uncertainty in amateur phenological data." Arnold Van Vliet is working on ways to ensure amateur data can be used accurately.
Associated Text:
Together with colleagues at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, environmental scientist Arnold van Vliet is developing statistical techniques to account for the uncertainty in amateur phenological data.
The answer is D. In Paragraph F, Mark Schwartz is quoted: 'The biggest concern with ad hoc observations is how carefully and systematically they were taken... if they just say, "I noted when the leaves came out," it might not be that useful.' This shows his caution about the use of amateur observation due to issues in how original data was interpreted.
Associated Text:
"The biggest concern with ad hoc observations is how carefully and systematically they were taken," says Mark Schwartz of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who studies the interactions between plants and climate. "We need to know pretty precisely what a person's been observing; if they just say, 'I noted when the leaves came out,' it might not be that useful."
The answer is A. In Paragraph A: "Sparks slides a small leather-bound notebook out of an envelope... He adds it to his growing pile of local journals, birdwatchers' lists... We're uncovering about one major new record each month," he says. "I still get surprised." This shows Tim Sparks recognizing the large number of amateur naturalists whose data is valuable.
Associated Text:
Sparks slides a small leather-bound notebook out of an envelope. The book's yellowing pages contain bee-keeping notes made between 1941 and 1969 by the late Walter Coates of Kilworth, Leicestershire. He adds it to his growing pile of local journals, birdwatchers' lists and gardening diaries. "We're uncovering about one major new record each month," he says, "I still get surprised."
The answer is B. In Paragraph D, it is said: "Rafe Sagarin, an ecologist at Stanford University in California, recently studied records of a betting contest..." This confirms that it was Sagarin who used records from a gambling contest to find clues about climate change.
Associated Text:
Rafe Sagarin, an ecologist at Stanford University in California, recently studied records of a betting contest in which participants attempt to guess the exact time at which a specially erected wooden tripod will fall through the surface of a thawing river. The competition has taken place annually on the Tenana River in Alaska since 1917, and analysis of the results showed that the thaw now arrives five days earlier than it did when the contest began.
Questions 37-38
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 37-38
on your answer sheet.
37. Mark Schwartz used the leaves example to demonstrate
38. What’s the implication of phenology for ordinary people?
The answer is D. (A) is incorrect because nowhere does it claim that amateur data is often accurate. (B) is incorrect because the passage does not claim that amateur accounts are always useless. (C) mentions the color change of leaves being hard to document, but the passage (paragraph F) focuses on amateur records not being rigorous enough due to the subjective nature of deciding when leaves change color. This matches (D): "that amateur records may not be rigorous enough to be considered." Paragraph F: 'if they just say, "I noted when the leaves came out," it might not be that useful.' This is about the lack of rigor in amateur records.
Associated Text:
"The biggest concern with ad hoc observations is how carefully and systematically they were taken," says Mark Schwartz of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who studies the interactions between plants and climate. "We need to know pretty precisely what a person's been observing; if they just say, 'I noted when the leaves came out,' it might not be that useful."
The answer is C. (A) is incomplete as the passage notes rat infestations as one unpleasant consequence, but the broader implication is that phenology raises public awareness about climate change. (B) and (D) partially reflect other points, but (C) fits best: In Paragraph H, "Phenology also helps to drive home messages about climate change. 'Because the public understand these records, they accept them,' says Sparks." This shows phenology increases climate change awareness among the public.
Associated Text:
Phenology also helps to drive home messages about climate change. "Because the public understand these records, they accept them," says Sparks.
Questions 39-40
Choose two letters A-E.
Write your answers in boxes 39-40 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of the following are reasons why scientists may discredit data collected by amateurs?
-
Amateurs do not utilize valid scientific methods while collecting the data.
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Amateur observers do not have the technical or scientific expertise to collect data.
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Amateur data is not corroborated by other scientists.
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Amateurs can’t provide enough data to be useful.
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Amateur observations are not rigorous enough.
The answer is B. Scientists may discredit amateur data because amateur observers do not have the technical or scientific expertise to collect accurate data. In Paragraph G: "But the professionals also acknowledge the need for careful quality control... I disregard a lot of records because they're not rigorous enough." This, along with phrasing like "carefully and systematically", shows a lack of technical expertise is a concern.
Associated Text:
"The biggest concern with ad hoc observations is how carefully and systematically they were taken," says Mark Schwartz of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who studies the interactions between plants and climate. "We need to know pretty precisely what a person's been observing; if they just say, 'I noted when the leaves came out,' it might not be that useful." "I disregard a lot of records because they're not rigorous enough," she says.
The answer is E. Amateur observations are not rigorous enough is another reason scientists may discredit amateur data. In Paragraph G and F: 'I disregard a lot of records because they're not rigorous enough,' and 'A lot of scientists won't touch them, they say they're too full of problems.' This specifically addresses the rigor of the observations.
Associated Text:
"I disregard a lot of records because they're not rigorous enough," she says. But not all professionals are happy to use amateur data. "A lot of scientists won't touch them, they say they're too full of problems," says Root.
