🔥Why we need to protect polar bears IELTS READING ACTUAL TEST (Làm bài online, kèm giải thích từ vựng)

Why we need to protect polar bears

Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their disappearance could have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimetres of fat underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.

A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery. They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears. This allowed them to determine the genes that have allowed polar bears to survive in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol. In humans, mutations of this gene are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart disease in humans.
The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition, one that particularly affects our older generation: osteoporosis. This is a disease where bones show reduced density, usually caused by insufficient exercise, reduced calcium intake or food starvation. Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled, meaning that bone is added or removed, depending on nutrient availability and the stress that the bone is under. Female polar bears, however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. Once autumn comes around, these females will dig maternity dens in the snow and will remain there throughout the winter, both before and after the birth of their cubs. This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves. Despite this, their bones remain strong and dense.
Physiologists Alanda Lennox and Allen Goodship found an explanation for this paradox in 2008. They discovered that pregnant bears were able to increase the density of their bones before they started to build their dens. In addition, six months later, when they finally emerged from the den with their cubs, there was no evidence of significant loss of bone density. Hibernating brown bears do not have this capacity and must therefore resort to major bone reformation in the following spring. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.

The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our conservation efforts, but these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. We tend to want to protect animals we think are intelligent and possess emotions, such as elephants and primates. Bears, on the other hand, seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent. And yet anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those assumptions, suggesting for example that polar bears have good problem-solving abilities. A male bear called GoGo in Tennoji Zoo, Osaka, has even been observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach. Problem-solving ability has also been witnessed in wild polar bears, although not as obviously as with GoGo. A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high.
In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focused manipulation. For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game. The study demonstrates that bears are capable of agile and thought-out behaviours. These examples suggest bears have greater creativity and problem-solving abilities than previously thought.

As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill. Moreover, polar bears can form unusual relationships with other species, including playing with the dogs used to pull sleds in the Arctic. Remarkably, one hand-raised polar bear called Agee has formed a close relationship with her owner Mark Dumas to the point where they even swim together. This is even more astonishing since polar bears are known to actively hunt humans in the wild.

If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential breakthroughs in human medicine, but more importantly, the disappearance of an intelligent, majestic animal.

Questions 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1? In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin.

2. The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.

3. Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.

4. Polar bears are able to control their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means.
5. Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.
6. It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out of their dens in spring.

7. The polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people one day.

Questions 8-13
Complete the table below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.

Reasons why polar bears should be protected

People think of bears as unintelligent and 8 ………………. .
However, this may not be correct. For example:

• In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a 9 ……. . This allowed him to knock down some 10 ……. .
• A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a 11 ………………. was located.
• Polar bears have displayed behaviour such as conscious manipulation of objects and activity similar to a 12 ……. .

Bears may also display emotions. For example:

• They may make movements suggesting 13 ………………. if disappointed when hunting.
• They may form relationships with other species.

1. Adipose tissue

• Vietnamese: Mô mỡ
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese.
  (Con người với mức độ mô mỡ tương đương sẽ được coi là béo phì.)

2. Obese

• Vietnamese: Béo phì
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese.
  (Con người với lượng mô mỡ tương đương sẽ được coi là béo phì.)

3. Shed light on

• Vietnamese: Làm sáng tỏ
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery.
  (Một nghiên cứu năm 2014 của Shi Ping Liu và các đồng nghiệp đã làm sáng tỏ bí ẩn này.)

4. Genome

• Vietnamese: Bộ gen
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition.
  (Bộ gen của gấu bắc cực cũng có thể cung cấp giải pháp cho một tình trạng khác.)

5. Osteoporosis

• Vietnamese: Bệnh loãng xương
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Osteoporosis is a disease where bones show reduced density.
  (Loãng xương là một căn bệnh mà xương có mật độ giảm.)

6. Remodelled

• Vietnamese: Tái cấu trúc
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled.
  (Mô xương liên tục được tái cấu trúc.)

7. Hibernating

• Vietnamese: Ngủ đông
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Hibernating brown bears do not have this capacity.
  (Gấu nâu ngủ đông không có khả năng này.)

8. Conservation

• Vietnamese: Sự bảo tồn
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our conservation efforts.
  (Lợi ích y học của gấu bắc cực đối với con người chắc chắn rất quan trọng trong nỗ lực bảo tồn của chúng ta.)

9. Anecdotal

• Vietnamese: Giai thoại
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those assumptions.
  (Bằng chứng giai thoại từ thực địa thách thức những giả định đó.)

10. Manipulate

• Vietnamese: Thao tác, điều khiển
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to manipulate his environment.
  (Con gấu đã nhiều lần sử dụng một cành cây để điều khiển môi trường của nó.)

11. Frustration

• Vietnamese: Sự thất vọng
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: Many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration.
  (Nhiều con gấu được thấy đập vào băng và tuyết – dường như vì thất vọng.)

12. Majestic

• Vietnamese: Hùng vĩ, uy nghi
• IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: This would mean the disappearance of an intelligent, majestic animal.
  (Điều này sẽ đồng nghĩa với sự biến mất của một loài động vật thông minh và hùng vĩ.)

Questions 1-7:

1. FALSE
2. FALSE
3. Not Given
4. TRUE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. TRUE

Questions 8-13:

1. violent
2. tool
3. meat
4. photographer
5. game
6. frustration

Questions 1-7:

Question 1:
Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 1, sentences 3-5
Keywords: "polar bears," "health problems," "fat under their skin"
Explanation: Paragraph 1, sentences 3-5 state that polar bears have a thick layer of fat up to 11 cm under their skin, but they do not face health problems like humans. This contradicts the information in Question 1, as polar bears do not suffer health issues due to their thick fat layer.

Question 2:
Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 2, sentences 1-2
Keywords: "study by Liu and colleagues," "different groups of polar bears"
Explanation: The study by Liu and colleagues compares the genetic structure of polar bears and brown bears, not different groups of polar bears. This contradicts the information in Question 2.

Question 3:
Answer: Not Given
Location: Paragraph 2, sentences 1-2
Keywords: "first researchers," "compare polar bears and brown bears"
Explanation: The text does not confirm whether Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears. Therefore, this information is not mentioned.

Question 4:
Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 2, sentence 4
Keywords: "control levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol," "APOB gene"
Explanation: Paragraph 2, sentence 4 explains that polar bears have the APOB gene, which helps reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol. This confirms the information in Question 4.

Question 5:
Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 3, sentences 4-6
Keywords: "female polar bears," "six months without food"
Explanation: Paragraph 3, sentences 4-6 state that female polar bears can survive for about six months without food during pregnancy. This confirms the information in Question 5.

Question 6:
Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 3, last two sentences
Keywords: "bones of female polar bears," "very weak"
Explanation: The last two sentences of Paragraph 3 reveal that the bones of female polar bears remain strong and dense, even after fasting for a long time. This contradicts the information in Question 6.

Question 7:
Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 4, last sentence
Keywords: "mechanism for increasing bone density," "benefit people"
Explanation: The last sentence of Paragraph 4 indicates that understanding the bone regeneration mechanism in polar bears could benefit many people, including astronauts. This confirms the information in Question 7.

Questions 8-13:

Question 8:
Answer: violent
Keywords: "unintelligent and violent"
Explanation: The text mentions that bears are often perceived as "unintelligent and violent," reflecting a mistaken view of them.

Question 9:
Answer: tool
Keywords: "using a branch as a tool"
Explanation: A bear at Tennoji Zoo was observed using a branch as a "tool" to manipulate its environment.

Question 10:
Answer: meat
Keywords: "knock down some meat"
Explanation: The bear used a branch to knock down a piece of "meat" that was out of its reach.

Question 11:
Answer: photographer
Keywords: "where a photographer was located"
Explanation: A bear figured out how to reach a "photographer" who was positioned on a four-meter-high platform.

Question 12:
Answer: game
Keywords: "activity similar to a game"
Explanation: The text describes polar bears engaging in deliberate and focused manipulation, such as stacking objects and knocking them down in a "game."

Question 13:
Answer: frustration
Keywords: "movements suggesting frustration"
Explanation: Many bears have been observed making movements that suggest "frustration" when they miss a prey.