IELTS® General Reading Practice 18

The answer is C. The passage states, “Once the remains had been dug up and analyzed, paleontologists came to the conclusion that these creatures were known as ‘polar dinosaurs’, and endured long periods of dimly-lit environments for up to eight months!” (Paragraph 2). The phrase ‘endured long periods of dimly-lit environments for up to eight months’ directly shows that polar dinosaurs spent a majority of the year in an overcast environment. Option (A) is incorrect as there is no mention of them being in solitude for lengthy periods. Option (B) is incorrect, as while Antarctica is mentioned, there is no indication that they lived there for most of their time. Option (D) is incorrect because 'humid conditions' is not linked to ‘lengthy periods’ for polar dinosaurs.

Associated Text:
“Once the remains had been dug up and analyzed, paleontologists came to the conclusion that these creatures were known as ‘polar dinosaurs’, and endured long periods of dimly-lit environments for up to eight months!”

The answer is B. The passage says, “...these typical winters may have been much different from what current society is familiar with. In fact, they were most likely much milder than winters today. Scientists estimate that the typical winter in the area that we now come to regard as ‘Alaska’ was closer to something that we may see in present-day Chicago. That is, there was plenty of ice and snow, but nowhere near what current temperatures in Alaska are known to be.” (Paragraph 3). This shows that winters experienced by polar dinosaurs did not have extremely low temperatures, making (B) correct. (A) is incorrect as the winters were not similar to present-day Alaska. (C) suggests brutally low temperatures, which is incorrect. (D) is also incorrect as there is no evidence that the winters were especially harsh or difficult.

Associated Text:
“...these typical winters may have been much different from what current society is familiar with. In fact, they were most likely much milder than winters today.”

The answer is A. The passage states, “Fossil evidence shows that the relatives of the popular Tyrannosaurus Rex would have roamed forests full of conifers, otherwise known as cone-bearing trees, which were similar to our modern day juniper or pine trees.” (Paragraph 4). This confirms that relations of Tyrannosaurus Rex would have been familiar with trees similar to modern junipers. (B) is unsupported as there is no mention of their height. (C) incorrectly claims fossil evidence only proved existence, rather than revealing habitat. (D) is incorrect since it is not stated they hunted solely Edmontosaurus dinosaurs.

Associated Text:
“Fossil evidence shows that the relatives of the popular Tyrannosaurus Rex would have roamed forests full of conifers, otherwise known as cone-bearing trees, which were similar to our modern day juniper or pine trees.”

The answer is A. The passage says, “These dinosaurs would have most likely hunted the thirty-five foot long herbivores, Edmontosaurs, in these forests.” (Paragraph 4). This directly shows that Edmontosaurs were hunted by at least one other type of dinosaur (the T. rex and its relatives). (B) is incorrect as Edmontosaurs are described as herbivores, not predatory. (C) is incorrect since Edmontosaurs lived in conifer forests. (D) offers speculation without direct evidence.

Associated Text:
“These dinosaurs would have most likely hunted the thirty-five foot long herbivores, Edmontosaurs, in these forests.”

The answer is D. The passage states, “Scientists believe that the dinosaurs that stayed in a given area may have been warm-blooded, similar to modern birds and mammals, because they maintained a body temperature through metabolic processes.” (Paragraph 5). This confirms that thanks to their metabolism, polar dinosaurs were able to sustain a static body temperature. Option (A) is incorrect because sunlight absorption is not mentioned here. Option (B) is incorrect, as the passage specifically connects warm-bloodedness with sustained warmth, not cold-bloodedness. Option (C) reverses the causal relationship: it is warm-bloodedness that enables them to endure staying in one place, not the other way around.

Associated Text:
“Scientists believe that the dinosaurs that stayed in a given area may have been warm-blooded, similar to modern birds and mammals, because they maintained a body temperature through metabolic processes.”

The answer is B. The passage notes, “Initially, some critics posited that these polar dinosaurs were most likely cold-blooded, remaining warm by absorbing sunshine.” (Paragraph 5). This means initial theories suggested polar dinosaurs retained heat through reliance on the sun's natural rays. Option (A) is incorrect as there is no restriction about 'only in bright areas.' Option (C) discusses migration, which is not referenced in the theory. Option (D) is incorrect since initial theories supposed they were cold-blooded, not warm-blooded.

Associated Text:
“Initially, some critics posited that these polar dinosaurs were most likely cold-blooded, remaining warm by absorbing sunshine.”

The answer is C. The passage states, “Recently, these researchers were able to compare the dinosaurs' growth rates with those of both living and extinct animals, and found that the growth rate of the polar dinosaurs matched that of mammals.” (Paragraph 6). This shows the debate has been settled after studying development speeds/growth rates of different animals. (A) is incorrect as it is not specifically about matching metabolic processes. (B) is incorrect since the passage claims the issue has been resolved, not left questionable. (D) is not correct as both fossils and comparative studies with living animals contributed to the findings.

Associated Text:
“Recently, these researchers were able to compare the dinosaurs' growth rates with those of both living and extinct animals, and found that the growth rate of the polar dinosaurs matched that of mammals.”

The answer is D. The passage says, “On the contrary, cold-blooded animals have shorter limbs and fewer degrees of muscle mass than warm-blooded animals.” (Paragraph 6). Therefore, warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals have different appendage length and muscle mass. (A) is incorrect as it compares to polar dinosaurs, not warm- vs cold-blooded generally. (B) is refuted by the comparison. (C) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes differences, not similarities.

Associated Text:
“On the contrary, cold-blooded animals have shorter limbs and fewer degrees of muscle mass than warm-blooded animals.”