IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 63

The answer is C. Paragraph C includes the naming of different plant species that invaded the New World. It mentions, "John Josselyn... compiled a list on which he noted, 'Of Such Plants as Have Sprung Up since the English Planted and Kept Cattle in New England,' which included couch grass, dandelion, shepherd’s purse, groundsel, sow thistle, and chickweed." This directly provides names of plant species that became invasive after European settlers came to the New World.

Associated Text:
John Josselyn was an Englishman who came to New England on two occasions during the seventeenth century. During his time, he compiled a list on which he noted, 'Of Such Plants as Have Sprung Up since the English Planted and Kept Cattle in New England,' which included couch grass, dandelion, shepherd’s purse, groundsel, sow thistle, and chickweed.

The answer is E. Paragraph E provides a detailed description of the demise of many indigenous people. It states, "they suffered from afflictions such as white brutality, alcoholism, the killing and driving off of game, and the repurposing of farmland. However, these factors alone cannot completely explain the level of their defeat. What was most influential in harming the Native Americans was infectious diseases, the most infamous of these being smallpox." This paragraph focuses on the causes and scale of population decline among indigenous peoples.

Associated Text:
However, these factors alone cannot completely explain the level of their defeat. What was most influential in harming the Native Americans was infectious diseases, the most infamous of these being smallpox.

The answer is G. Paragraph G refers to the contributing factor in the population growth of both the Old and New Worlds, stating "their influence is far-reaching. This kind of exchange can also be used to explain the growth in the global population within the last 300 years. The Columbian Exchange seems to be an important part of history in the growth of the global human population." This links the exchange of crops to population growth.

Associated Text:
This kind of exchange can also be used to explain the growth in the global population within the last 300 years. The Columbian Exchange seems to be an important part of history in the growth of the global human population.

The answer is H. Paragraph H discusses the resulting shifts in the demographics of the Old and New Worlds. It mentions, "European settlers arrived in the New World, bringing, both wittingly and unknowingly, plants, animals, and diseases... Today, the populations of both places have adapted, but the demographic triumph of the invaders, which was the most spectacular feature of the Old World’s invasion of the New, still stand." This indicates a significant demographic change.

Associated Text:
Today, the populations of both places have adapted, but the demographic triumph of the invaders, which was the most spectacular feature of the Old World’s invasion of the New, still stand.

The answer is F. Paragraph F contains a description of some animal species being ineffective in affecting the Old World. The text states, "grey squirrels and muskrats, along with a few others, did manage to establish themselves in America east of the Atlantic and west of the Pacific, they have not had much of an impact." Thus, this is the paragraph that addresses the ineffectiveness of some animal species.

Associated Text:
While grey squirrels and muskrats, along with a few others, did manage to establish themselves in America east of the Atlantic and west of the Pacific, they have not had much of an impact.

The answer is B. Paragraph B makes a comparison of the species lacked in the New World and Old World, saying, "plant species often grown on farms like barley, wheat, turnips, and rice had never been introduced in the New World, while crops such as maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc had never been introduced in the Old World. The same is true for animals..." This paragraph provides a direct comparison between the two worlds.

Associated Text:
plant species often grown on farms like barley, wheat, turnips, and rice had never been introduced in the New World, while crops such as maize, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and manioc had never been introduced in the Old World. The same is true for animals such as horses, cows, sheep, and goats, which are all native to the Old World. Aside from animals like llamas, alpacas, dogs, some kinds of birds, and the guinea pig, the New World, and Old World did not have the same or even similar kinds of animal species.

The answer is D. Paragraph D provides an account of the exportation of European animals to North America. It says, "In the early 1600s, horses and cattle arrived in the New World on settler boats, and experienced ideal conditions and landscape in North America. There were horses in the state of Virginia by the year 1620 and in Massachusetts by 1629." This recounts the arrival and adaptation of European animals in the New World.

Associated Text:
In the early 1600s, horses and cattle arrived in the New World on settler boats, and experienced ideal conditions and landscape in North America. There were horses in the state of Virginia by the year 1620 and in Massachusetts by 1629.

The answer is A. Paragraph A explains how the continents came into being: "Over a period of millions of years, the Old and New worlds have separated due to continental drift, a change which resulted in the North and South American continents being split away from the Eurasian and African continents." This sentence directly describes the formation and separation of the continents.

Associated Text:
Over a period of millions of years, the Old and New worlds have separated due to continental drift, a change which resulted in the North and South American continents being split away from the Eurasian and African continents.

The answer is E. The foremost reason why the indigenous population declined is found in Paragraph E, which states: "What was most influential in harming the Native Americans was infectious diseases, the most infamous of these being smallpox." This points directly to infectious diseases as the primary cause of indigenous population decline.

Associated Text:
What was most influential in harming the Native Americans was infectious diseases, the most infamous of these being smallpox.