All About The Otter - IELTS Reading Answers

Paragraph 1

Otters possess elongated, slender bodies with short legs, making them well-suited for pushing through dense bushes or exploring tunnels. A fully grown male can reach up to 4 feet in length and weigh up to 30 pounds. Females tend to be smaller than males. The nose of the Eurasian otter is the tiniest among otter species, featuring a subtle W shape. The tail, also known as a rudder or stern, is thick near the base and narrows toward the tip, where it becomes flattened. During rapid underwater swimming, this part acts as a propulsion mechanism. Otter fur consists of two categories of hair: tough guard hairs that create a waterproof outer shield, and thick, fine under-fur that functions as the otter's thermal underwear. Regular grooming is necessary to maintain the fur's quality. When otter fur comes into contact with saltwater, it loses its water-resistant and insulating qualities. Freshwater ponds are therefore vital for coastal otters. They crawl onto land to rub themselves dry against plants after swimming and rinsing off the salts in ponds.

Paragraph 2

On land, scent is utilized for hunting, communication, and sensing danger. The sharpness of an otter's sense of smell is believed to match that of a dog. Above ground, otters have small eyes and are likely nearsighted. Nevertheless, they possess the ability to alter the lens shape in the eye, turning it more spherical and thus countering water refraction. Otters are capable of hunting fish visually in clear water under good lighting conditions. The otter's eyes and nostrils are positioned high on its head, enabling it to see and breathe even while the rest of its body remains underwater. Apart from steering, the otter keeps its legs pressed against its body beneath the surface and moves its hindquarters in a series of vertical waves. River otters have webbing extending along each digit, though not completely to the tip. The webs of giant and sea otters are significantly more prominent, whereas the Asian short-clawed otter lacks them entirely since it hunts for shrimp in ditches and rice paddies, meaning speed is not required. Otter ears are compact to conserve space, yet they boast exceptionally sharp hearing and are safeguarded by valves that seal shut against water pressure.

Paragraph 3

The habitats appropriate for otters are restricted by several conditions and preferences. Water is indispensable, and rivers must be wide enough to support a robust fish population. Because they are such discreet and cautious animals, they will look for locations where human activities do not cause major disruptions. Naturally, no other otters must be present in the region, a factor that has only recently gained significance as populations begin to bounce back. Coastal otters enjoy a much larger food supply, and males and females might occupy a territory spanning only a few kilometers of shoreline. Given that a male's territory overlaps with two or three females, this arrangement works out favorably. Otters will eat virtually anything they can catch, including sparrows, snakes, and slugs, according to accounts. Crayfish, crabs, and water fowl represent the most common prey items besides fish. Small mammals, most frequently rabbits along with moles, are occasionally preyed upon.

Paragraph 4

Where nourishment is abundant, Eurasian otters will breed year-round. Cubs are born during spring in harsher environments, such as Sweden, where lakes remain frozen through much of the winter. This ensures they reach full maturity before the next spell of severe weather arrives. Cubs arrive in summer in the Shetlands, a period when fish are more plentiful. Certain otters do not reproduce annually, despite having the biological capacity to do so. This behavior is likewise tied to food availability. Additional elements, including the female's foraging territory and food quality, may also play a role. With the exception of Lutra canadensis, whose embryos can experience delayed implantation, Eurasian otters have a gestation period lasting 63 days. To limit disturbances, otters generally give birth within safer dens. While the mother is away hunting, the nests of the cubs are lined with bedding material to keep them warm.

Paragraph 5

To reduce disturbances, otters generally give birth in safer dens. To keep the pups warm while the mother goes out to feed, the nests are lined with bedding materials like reeds, waterside plants, and grass. Litter sizes vary from one to five. For reasons not fully understood, coastal otters produce smaller litters. Weighing a mere 700g, they open their eyes at five weeks of age. They transition to solid food at seven weeks. At ten weeks, they leave the nest and blink in daylight for the very first time. They finally encounter water and learn to swim after three months. They begin hunting at eight months, though the mother still supplies plenty of food. After nine months, she can finally chase them all away with a clear conscience and rest until the next mate arrives.

Paragraph 6

The plight of the British otter was acknowledged in the early 1960s, though the root cause was not identified until the late 1970s. Agricultural and industrial use of pesticides such as dieldrin and aldrin began in 1955; these highly persistent chemicals were tied to severe population declines in peregrine falcons, sparrow hawks, and other predatory species. The pesticides infiltrated river systems and the food web, contaminating microorganisms, fish, and ultimately otters, with toxic concentrations compounding at each level. Although the use of these pesticides was phased out starting in 1962, while certain species recovered quickly, otter populations failed to rebound and kept shrinking well into the 1980s. Habitat degradation and road casualties were likely major factors. For populations already fragmented by the sharp declines of the 1950s and 1960s, losing just a handful of otters in a single area could render an entire group unviable and drive it to extinction.

Paragraph 7

Otter numbers are recovering across the United Kingdom, growing in the few areas where they survived and spreading from those pockets to the rest of the country. This progress is almost entirely attributable to legislation, conservation projects, halting and reversing the loss of suitable otter habitats, and reintroductions through captive breeding programs. Many experts view releasing captive-bred otters as a last resort. The rationale is that if suitable habitat is lacking, they will not survive release, whereas if sufficient habitat exists, wild populations should naturally expand into the region. Conversely, introducing animals into a fragmented and fragile population can provide just enough boost to stabilize and spread the population rather than letting it die out. This strategy enabled the Otter Trust to succeed in Norfolk, where the local otter population was estimated at a mere twenty individuals in the early 1980s. The Otter Trust has now concluded its captive breeding program, which is wonderful news as it indicates the initiative is no longer necessary.

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Questions (1 - 4)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

TRUE if the statement agrees with the informationFALSE if the statement contradicts the informationNOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. An otter's stern is thick until it reaches the tip, where it flattens.

2. It is believed that the sensitivity of an otter's sense of smell is comparable to that of a bat.

3.Otter populations are recuperating throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, with populations strengthening in the few remaining regions and expanding from there to the rest of the region.

4. Because they are such timid and apprehensive creatures, they will seek out regions where human activity has little to no effect.

Questions (5 - 10)

The reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G Which paragraph contains the following information?Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 1-9 on your answer sheet.NB You may use any letter more than once.

5. The conflicting opinions on how to preserve.

6. The fit-for-purpose characteristics of otter’s body shape

7. A reference to an underdeveloped sense

8. An explanation of why agriculture failed in otter conservation efforts

9. A description of how otters regulate vision underwater

10. A description of how baby otters grow

Questions (11 - 13)

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

11. Which type of otters has the shortest range?

12. What affects the outer fur of otters?

13. What skill is not necessary for Asian short-clawed otters?

All about the Otters reading answers with explanation are given for your reference. You can use these explanations to identify your shortcomings and rectify them quickly.

(Note: The text in italics is from the reading passage and shows the location from where the answer is taken or inferred. The text in the regular font explains the answer in detail.)

1. False

Explanation: The 5th line of paragraph A states,” The tail (or rudder, or stern) of an otter is thick at the base and thins out as it approaches the tip, where it flattens”.

2. Not given

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph B states,” On land, the scent is used for hunting, communication, and detecting danger. The sensitivity of an otter's sense of smell is thought to be equivalent to that of a dog”.

3. Not given

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph G states,” Otter populations are rebounding across the United Kingdom, with populations increasing in the few regions where they remained, and expanding from those areas into the rest of the country”.

4. True

Explanation: The 1st line of paragraph C states,” Water is essential, and rivers must be large enough to sustain a healthy fish population. Because they are such quiet and wary creatures, they will seek areas where man's activities do not have a significant impact”.

5. G

Explanation: Paragraph G, line 7 shows the reasoning that without a suitable habitat, released animals will fail to survive, whereas existing natural populations should be capable of expanding into areas where habitats are suitable. Nevertheless, releasing animals into a fragile and fragmented population might provide just enough momentum for it to expand and stabilise rather than perish. These sentences highlight the differing viewpoints regarding otter population preservation. Consequently, the correct choice is G.

6. A

Explanation: Paragraph A, line 5 demonstrates that an otter's tail (or stern, or rudder) is thick at the base and narrows toward the flattened tip, functioning as part of the propulsion mechanism during rapid underwater swimming. These details point to the specialized physical traits of the otter's body. The otter is physically designed to swim faster, particularly because its tail acts like an underwater oar. Hence, the correct choice is A.

7. B

Explanation: Paragraph B, line 3 notes that otters possess small eyes and tend to be short-sighted when on land. These lines illustrate that while otters have a well-developed sense of smell, their small eye size leads to poor vision out of water. Therefore, the correct choice is B.

8. F

Explanation: Line 6 of paragraph F explains that pesticides made their way into aquatic systems and the food chain, affecting micro-organisms, fish, and finally otters, with concentrations multiplying at every level. These sentences account for why agricultural factors hindered otter conservation efforts; toxic chemical pesticides used extensively in farming washed into river systems, contaminated the food chain, and triggered a decline in otter numbers. Thus, the correct choice is F.

9. B

Explanation: Paragraph B, line 3 mentions, “But they do have the ability to modify the shape of the lens in the eye to make it more spherical, and hence overcome the refraction of water. In clear water and good light, otters can hunt fish by sight.” From this, we gather that although otters have restricted vision on land, they can adjust their eye lenses underwater to counteract water refraction. Consequently, an explanation of how otters manage underwater vision is found in Paragraph B, making B the correct choice.

10. E

Explanation: Paragraph E, line 5 notes that at five weeks of age, weighing a mere 700g, the cubs open their eyes. By seven weeks, they transition to solid food. At ten weeks, they emerge from the nest, blinking into the light for the first time. After three months, they finally encounter water and learn to swim. By eight months, they engage in hunting, though the mother still supplies much of their food. Finally, at nine months, she can chase them away with a clear conscience and rest until the next suitor arrives. These sentences outline the developmental stages of a young otter up to 9 months of age. We learn that baby otters grow up in undisturbed, sheltered dens, do not swim until they are 3 months old, and hunt by 8 months. Around 9 months, they become independent. Hence, the correct choice is E.

11. Coastal Otters

Explanation: Paragraph C, line 6 indicates that coastal otters enjoy a much greater food availability, meaning the territory for both males and females may span only a few kilometers of coastline. This implies that coastal otters maintain the most limited territorial range. Therefore, the answer is coastal otters.

12. sea water/ salt water/ salt

Explanation: Paragraph A, line 8 points out that seawater diminishes the insulating and waterproofing properties of otter fur when salt water gets trapped in it, which is why freshwater pools are crucial for coastal otters. These lines show that while otter fur naturally repels water and provides insulation without needing maintenance, salt water compromises these warmth-retaining traits. This explains why coastal otters rely on fresh-water pools. Thus, salt water impacts the outer fur of otters, making sea water/ salt water/ salt the correct answer.

13. swimming speed

Explanation: Paragraph B, line 10 states that giant otters and sea otters feature even more pronounced webbing, whereas the Asian short-clawed otter lacks webbing altogether since it hunts for shrimp in paddy fields and ditches and does not require swimming speed. These statements explain that while giant and sea otters have distinct webs, Asian short-clawed otters have none because they forage in paddy fields and ditches instead of chasing fish in rivers, meaning fast swimming is unnecessary for them. Consequently, Asian short-clawed otters do not need swimming speed, making swimming speed the correct answer.

Suggested: Difference Between IELTS vs GMAT

• Read the instructions carefully: Before beginning, ensure you fully grasp the matching requirements. You might be tasked with matching headings to paragraphs or statements to sections, so make sure the objective is clear.
• Skim the passage: Quickly glance through the text to form a general idea of its structure and content. This helps you figure out where specific information is likely to be found.
• Use keywords: Identify key terms or phrases in both the questions and the passage. These expressions are frequently restated or paraphrased in the text and can point you toward the right answer.
• Underline or highlight: Mark relevant information in the passage as you discover it. This makes it simpler to locate again when you are ready to answer the questions.
• Check for synonyms: Watch out for paraphrases and synonyms. The exact wording from a question may not appear directly in the passage, but equivalent words or phrases will usually be present. Keep an eye out for them.

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