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Disappearing Delta Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading section is a vital component of the exam, designed to assess your English reading proficiency. It consists of three passages of increasing complexity, followed by questions that evaluate your comprehension and analytical skills.

 

Key Highlights:

 

  • Passage Variety: Expect diverse topics ranging from social issues to scientific research.
  • Question Formats: Questions come in various forms, including multiple-choice and matching headings.
  • Time Management: You have 60 minutes for the Reading section, so manage your time wisely.

 

One of the most commonly used passages for IELTS Reading preparation is ‘Disappearing Delta.’ The passage explores the ecological repercussions of dam construction on Egypt's Nile Delta. It delves into how the Aswan Dam has accelerated coastal erosion by obstructing sediment flow, jeopardising agriculture and escalating pollution. 
 

It underscores the challenges of mitigating these effects amidst rapid urbanisation and proposes solutions like artificial flooding and desalination to safeguard the region's ecology.

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1. Disappearing Delta Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

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2. Disappearing Delta Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Disappearing Delta

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1.

Disappearing Delta Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 

 

Disappearing Delta Reading Passage


 

 

Paragraph A
 

The Nile delta’s fertile land eroded along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt is highly increased, 100 metres per year is eroded in some parts. In the past, sediment brought to the delta by River Nile was replaced in the place where the land was scoured away from the coastline by the Mediterranean sea currents. But this is no longer the case. 

 

Paragraph B 
 

All the sediment which used to flow down the river is virtually blocked by the two large dams at Aswan in the south of Egypt. So, the people have blamed the delta for the loss of the delta land. The Nile flowed freely before the dams were built, which carried a large amount of sediment north from the interior of Africa that was to be deposited on the Nile delta. This happened for 7000 years. At least it covered a region of over 22,000 square kilometres with the fertile slit’s layer. In the Delta Region, new, nutrient-rich soil is brought down by the Annual flooding. It replaces what had been scoured away by the sea and provides the fertilisers for Egypt’s richest food-growing area. The problem occurred when the Aswan dam was built in the 20th Century for the purpose of providing electricity and irrigation protecting the large population centre of Cairo, and preventing floods from the surrounding areas. Most of the sediments with its natural fertilisers, instead of passing down to the delta, accumulated up above the dam in the southern, upstream half of Lake Nasser. 

 

Paragraph C 
 

However, the story is not finished. The silt and sand were picked up by the sediment-free water which emerged from the Aswan Dams and eroded the river bed as well as banks on the 800-kilometre trip to Cairo. The water samples are taken in Cairo before the river enters the delta by Daniel Jean Stanley of the Smithsonian Institute, which indicates that sometimes rivers pick up more than eight fifty grams of sediment per cubic metre of water. About half of what it carried before the dams were constructed. Stanley in Marine Geology says that “I'm ashamed to say that the significance of this didn't strike me until after I had read 50 or 60 studies”. A lot of sediment is still entering into the delta. But, no sediments come out into the Mediterranean to restore the coastline. Therefore, the sediment must be stuck on the delta itself. 
 

Paragraph D 

 

Most of the Nile water is bypassed into more than 10,000 kilometres of irrigation canals and what directly reaches the sea through the rivers in the delts is only a small proportion. Stanley explains that water in the irrigation canals is either still or moves slowly, so it cannot carry the sediment. The sediment went down to the bottom of the canal, and the farmers added it to the fields or expelled it with the water into the four large freshwater lagoons, which are situated near the outer edges of the delta. So, what reaches the coastline is very little to replace what Mediterranean currents wash away. 
 

Paragraph E 
 

Most of Egypt's food supply depended on the farms located on the delta plains, as well as fishing and aquaculture in the lagoons. Stanley said that Pollutants are building up faster and faster. It is because the sediments which come to rest in the fields and lagoons are combined with industrial, municipal and agricultural waste from the region of Cairo, which is considered the home to more than 40 million people. 

 

Paragraph F
 

Fredric Siegal of George Washington University says, “In Manzalah Lagoon, for example, the increase in mercury, lead, copper and zinc coincided with the building of the High Dam at Aswan, the availability of cheap electricity, and the development of major power-based industries”. He agreed to it based on his investigations of sediment from the delta lagoons. From that time, a significant increase in the concentration of mercury is noted. With that, leaded fuels and other industrial sources were also found to be dramatically increased. It can badly affect the productivity of fishing and farming as it enters into the food chain. One more problem is that agricultural wastes include fertilisers, which increase plant growth in the lagoons and disturb the ecology of the area, with serious consequences for the fishing industry. 
 

Paragraph G
 

According to Siegel, international environmental organisations are starting to invest closer to the region, the partial reason being the erosion problems and pollution of the Nile. However, they mainly fear the effect this situation will have on the whole Mediterranean coastal ecosystem. It cannot be solved easily. As an immediate solution, Stanley believes that creating artificial floods to drive out the delta waterways is similar to natural floods before the dams were built. He says that long-term alternative processes, such as desalination, could increase the amount of water available. Stanley said that, in his view, Egypt should devise a way to have more water running through the river and the delta”. It is difficult to accomplish in a desert region with a rapidly growing population. 

2.

Disappearing Delta Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Disappearing Delta

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Answer the questions below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

 

 

1. Where are the two large dams located that block the sediment flow?

 

2. When was the Aswan dam built?

 

3. Who took the water sample in Cairo?

 

4. What sinks into the bottom of the Delta?

 

5. Who began to pay closer attention to the Delta region?

 

 

Disappearing Delta Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Type of Question: Short Answer
 

In short answer questions, you'll be asked to provide brief responses based on specific details or information from the reading passage. This type of question assesses your ability to understand and extract key details from the text.
 

How to best answer:
 

  • Carefully read the question to understand what specific information is required.
  • Quickly skim through the passage to grasp the main ideas and locate relevant details.
  • Pay attention to keywords or phrases in the question to guide your search in the passage.
  • Locate the section of the passage containing the information needed to answer the question.
  • Provide a concise response that directly addresses the question using the information found in the passage.
  • Ensure that your answer is accurate and relevant to the question posed.

 

 

1. Aswan

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B, "All the sediment which used to flow down the river is virtually blocked by the two large dams at Aswan in the south of Egypt." 

 

Explanation: The mention of the dams at Aswan in this paragraph indicates the location where sediment flow is obstructed.


 

2. 20th Century

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B, "The problem occurred when the Aswan dam was built in the 20th Century for the purpose of providing electricity and irrigation..." 

 

Explanation: The construction of the Aswan Dam, which was stated to have taken place in the 20th century, led to the issues discussed in the passage.


 

3. Daniel Jean Stanley

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C, "The water samples are taken in Cairo before the river enters the delta by Daniel Jean Stanley of the Smithsonian Institute..." 

 

Explanation: Daniel Jean Stanley's role in taking water samples is highlighted in this paragraph.


 

4. Sediment

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D, "The sediment went down to the bottom of the canal and the farmers added it to the fields or expelled it with the water into the four large freshwater lagoons..." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph discusses the fate of sediment in irrigation canals and lagoons, supporting the reference to sediment.


 

5. International environmental organisations

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G, "According to Siegel, international environmental organisations are starting to invest closer to the region..." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph mentions the involvement of international environmental organisations, which address concerns about Nile erosion and pollution.

Questions and Answers 6-10
  • Choose the correct letter: a, b, c or d.

 

 

6. How many years has the Nile flowed freely?

 

a. 9000 years

b. 7500 years

c. 7000 years

d. 700 years

 

7. Who adds the sediment into the fields?

 

a. Agricultural workers

b. Farmers

c. Stanley

d. Siegel

 

8. Where did Fredric Siegal investigate the sediment?

 

a. Delta lagoons

b. Nile delta

c. Cairo

d. Southern Egypt

 

9. What would be the immediate solution to resolve the problems in the Nile, according to Stanley?

 

a. Stimulating natural floods

b. Desalination

c. Creating artificial floods

d. Creating artificial tsunami

 

10. Which is building up faster and faster, according to Stanley?

 

a. Pollution

b. Pollutants

c. Problems

d. Sediment

 

 

Disappearing Delta Reading Answers with Explanations (6-10)

 

Type of Question: Multiple Choice

 

You'll be presented with a question or statement in multiple choice questions followed by several options. Your task is to select the option that best answers the question or completes the statement based on the information in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer:

 

  • Carefully read the question or statement to understand what information is being sought.
  • Skim through the passage to get an overview of its main ideas and key points.
  • Pay close attention to keywords or phrases in the question or statement.
  • Read each option provided, considering how well it aligns with the information presented in the passage.
  • Eliminate options that are incorrect or irrelevant.
  • Select the option that best matches the information presented in the passage, ensuring that it addresses the question or statement accurately and completely.


 

6. c - 7000 years

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph B, "This happened for 7000 years." 

 

Explanation: Paragraph B contains the statement that sediment has been carried to the Nile Delta for 7000 years, providing historical context for the sediment deposition process.


 

7. b - Farmers

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D, "The sediment went down to the bottom of the canal, and the farmers added it to the fields or expelled it with the water into the four large freshwater lagoons..." 

 

Explanation: The paragraph discusses how farmers use sediment by adding it to fields or directing it into freshwater lagoons, which aligns with the reference to farmers.


 

8. a - Delta Lagoons

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "Fredric Siegal of George Washington University says, 'In Manzalah Lagoon, for example, the increase in mercury, lead, copper and zinc coincided with the building of the High Dam at Aswan...'" 

 

Explanation: Fredric Siegal's study focuses on sediment from the delta lagoons, as indicated by the reference to Manzalah Lagoon, supporting the answer.


 

9. c - Creating Artificial Floods

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G, "As an immediate solution, Stanley believes that creating the artificial flood to drive out the delta waterways, similar to the natural floods did before the dams were built." 

 

Explanation: The paragraph discusses Stanley's proposal to create artificial floods as a solution, which aligns with the reference to creating artificial floods.


 

10. b - Pollutants

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "Stanley said that Pollutants are building up faster and faster." 

 

Explanation: The paragraph addresses the accumulation of pollutants, which is consistent with the reference to pollutants in the answer.

Questions and Answers 11-14
  • Complete the notes below.
  • Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/ OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

 

 

The farms located on the 11) ______, fishing and aquaculture in the 12) ______ which serves most of the Egypt’s food supply

Concentration of the 13) ______ is significantly increased

Plant growth in the lagoons is increased by 14) _____ wastes

 

 

Disappearing Delta Reading Answers with Explanations 11-14

 

Type of Question: Note Completion
 

For note completion questions, you'll be asked to fill in missing information in notes or summaries using details from the reading passage. This task evaluates your ability to locate specific details within the passage and comprehend the main points.

 

How to best answer:
 

  • Understand the specific information required to fill in the blanks.
  • Skim through the passage to grasp its main ideas, key points, and the context surrounding the information needed for completion.
  • Pay attention to keywords or phrases in the notes provided.
  • Scan the passage to find the section containing the information required to complete the notes.
  • Be prepared for the information in the passage to be paraphrased or expressed using synonyms.
  • Ensure that the completed notes logically fit within the context of the passage.

 

 

11. Delta Plains

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "Most of Egypt's food supply depended on the farms located on the delta plains"
 

Explanation: This highlights the agricultural importance of the delta plains in Egypt, indicating their significance for food production.


 

12. Lagoons

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E, "fishing and aquaculture in the lagoons"

 

Explanation: The lagoons are essential for fishing and aquaculture, contributing significantly to Egypt's food supply beyond agricultural production.


 

13. Mercury

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph F, "From that time, a significant increase in the concentration of mercury is noted"
 

Explanation: This points to the observation of a notable rise in mercury levels, suggesting a concerning environmental impact likely caused by human activities.


 

14. Agricultural

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph F, "One more problem is that agricultural wastes include fertilisers"
 

Explanation: The presence of agricultural wastes, particularly fertilizers, threatens the area's ecology, affecting plant growth and consequently disturbing the balance in the lagoons.

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FAQs

Q. How many passages are there in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. In the IELTS Academic test, there are 3 long passages, one provided in each section. The IELTS General Training test has 3-6 passages, including one long passage and a few short ones.

Q. Is there a fixed time limit for each section in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. No, there isn’t a fixed time constraint for each section in the IELTS Reading test. You have one hour in total for the Reading test, which you can distribute among the sections as per your preference. However, spending no more than 20 minutes on each section is recommended.

Q. Can I write in the question paper during my IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, you can make notes or jot down in your question booklet during the IELTS Reading test, especially for the paper-based version. For computer-based tests, where questions appear on-screen, notes can be made on a rough sheet. However, avoid spending too much time on note-taking.