Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Mar 27, 2025, 04:44

The IELTS Reading section assesses your ability to understand and interpret a variety of texts within a limited time. You will encounter different question types, such as summary completion and True/False/Not Given, designed to test your comprehension, scanning, and analytical skills. The passages are taken from books, journals, newspapers, and magazines, ensuring exposure to academic and general interest topics.
 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading passage explores the disappearance of the giant deer, also known as Megaloceros giganteus. It examines possible causes of extinction, including environmental changes, human influence, and evolutionary disadvantages.


Let’s look at the Extinct The Giant Deer reading answer passage, questions, and answers with explanations.

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1. Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 13 based on the Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer Passage below.

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2. Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Extinct The Giant Deer.

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3. Check Out Top 35+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. 

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1.

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer 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.

 

 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer Passage

 


Toothed cats, wooly rhinos, mastodons, giant sloths and a lot of other big, long-haired mammals are generally thought to have died out on all sides by the end of the rearmost ice age, some 10,500 years ago.

 

Paragraph A. The megaloceros giganteus is otherwise called the Irish elk (giant deer). Studies of decrepit bones and teeth by analysts based in Britain and Russia show the enormous herbivore lived until about 5,000 B.C.—exceeding three renaissances later than formerly trusted. The investigation panel says this hints at more aspects, apart from climate change, probably rushed the Irish elk’s final disappearance. The aspects could comprehend hunting or environmental demolition by humans.

 

Paragraph B. The giant deer, so-called as its well-kept debris are frequently found in lake dregs under morass in Ireland, first emerged about 400,000 years ago in Europe and central Asia. via an amalgamation of carbon-14 dating of skeletal remains and the aligning of spots where the remains were excavated, the crew shows the giant deers was excited across Europe before the last “big freeze.” The deer’s span later shrinks to the Ural Mountains in present-day Russia, which divided Europe from Asia.

 

Paragraph C. The Irish elk made its last stand in western Siberia, some 3,000 years after the ice sheets retreated, said the study’s co-author, Adrian Lister, lecturer of palaeobiology at University College London, England. “The eastern highlands of the Urals became very thickly forested about 8,000 years ago, which could have pushed them onto the plain,” he said. He combined that antigen inquiry to designate the region, then became very parched in reaction to further climate swap, leading to the loss of chief food plants. “In amalgamation with human pressures, this could have eventually extinguished them out,” Lister said.

 

Paragraph D. Stalking by humans has frequently been placed forward as a conducive cause of the destruction of the pleistocene megafauna. The crew, even though, said their new date for the Irish elk’s annihilation, clue at an additional human-made issue-environmental demolition. Lister said, “We haven’t got just hunting 7,000 years ago-this was also about the time the first Medieval people lived in the region. They were farmers who would have discharged the land.” The existence of humans may help describe why the Irish elk was helpless to resilient out the latest of many climatic oscillation-periods it had alive in the past.

 

Paragraph E. Meanwhile,  Lister cast uncertainty on other feasible clarification for the deer’s death-the male’s vast horn. Some chemists have advised this overemphasised characteristic-the outcome of females preferring stags with the biggest horns, perhaps because they published a male’s fitness- donated to the mammal’s downfall. They say such horns would have been a serious trouble in the thick forests that spread northward after the last ice age. But, Lister said, “ That’s a compelling argument to make because the deer formerly survived finely well via wooded glaciation [ a warm period between glacial epochs].” Some analysts have advised that an inadequacy of enough high-quality fodder caused the annihilation of the elk. High amounts of calcium and sodium phosphate compounds are needed to form horns, and therefore, huge quantities of these minerals are needed for the huge structures of the Irish Elk. The males(and male deer in general) met this necessity partly from their bones, refill them from food plants after the horns were developed or recoup the nutrients from discarded horns( as has been noticed in surviving deer). Thus, in the horn growth stage. Irish elk were aching from a condition alike to silent disease. When the climate swapped at the end of the last ice age, the flora in the animal’s environment also changed against species that probably could not deliver enough amounts of the needed minerals. At least in the western part of its range.

 

Paragraph F. The annihilation of megafauna all over the world was almost concluded by the end of the last glacial period. It is trusted that megafauna at first came into continuation in reaction to icy conditions and vanished with the onset of warmer climates. Tropical and subtropical areas have gone through less radical climate swap. The most dramatic of these swaps was the change of a huge area of North Africa into the world’s biggest desert. Notably, Africa avoided major faunal annihilation, as did tropical and subtropical Asia. The human evacuation from Africa and our access into the Americans and Australia were also caused by climate change. Australia’s climate swapped from cold-dry to warm-dry. As a outcome, surface water becomes scant. Most inland lakes become totally dry or dry in the warmer seasons. Most large, mainly peruse animals lost their environment and retired to a narrow band in eastern Australia, where there was lasting water and better flora. Some animals may have lived until about 7000 years ago. If people have been in Australia for up to 60,000 years, then megafauna must have accompanied humans for at least 30,000 years. Frequently hunted modern kangaroos lived not only 10,000 years of indigenous hunting but also an assault of trade shooters.

 

Paragraph G. The crew of analysts led by A.J. Stuart concentrated on northern Eurasia, which he was taking as Europe, plus Siberia, basically, where they have got the best data that animals vanished in Europe during the Late pleistocene. Some cold-adapted animals experienced the last part of the cold stage, and then vanished up there. So you have usually got two phases of vanishing. Now, neither of these concur— these are Neanderthals here being replaced by modernised humans. There’s no clear accident between the arrival of humans or climatic swap alone and these destruction. There’s a climate swap here, so there’s a dual effect here. Again, as animals come via to the last part of the icy stage, here there’s a basic swap in the climate restructuring of flora, and the amalgamation of the climatic change and the existence. There’s a heartfelt variance between the North American data and that of Europe, which abridge that the destruction in northern Eurasia, in Europe, are average and lurch, and in North America, acute and sudden. And these things relate to the variance in the timing of human arrival. The destruction follows from human depredation but only at times of basis swaps in the habitat.

 

Let’s explore the questions and answers of Extinct The Giant Deer Reading passage.

2.

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers with Sample Questions

Have you read the passage? Now, take the test and find Extinct The Giant Deer Reading answers! Try to answer these questions by yourself before you sneak a peek at the answers given below.

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of the Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answer Passage.
  • Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

 

Having been preserved well in Europe and Central Asia, the remains of the Irish elk were initially found approximately (1)________  Around (2) ________ , they were driven to live in the plain after being restricted to the Ural Mountains. Hunting was considered as one of the important factors of Irish elk’s extinction; people did not start hunting until (3)________ when Irish elk used to get through under a variety of climatic fluctuations.
The huge antlers may possibly contribute to the reason why Irish elk became extinct, which was highly controversial as they live pleasantly over the span of (4)________. Generally, it is well-known that, at the last maximum ice age, mammals became extinct about (5)_________.
 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)
 

Type of question: Summary completion

 

Under this task, you will be given a summary with incomplete sentences. However, you will not be given any list of words/phrases to choose the missing information. You must refer to the main passage to fill in the missing information. 

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Read the summary to understand what information it’s missing.
  • Identify keywords and locate them in the main passage to find missing words. 
  • Review the context of the words you’ve chosen to match the summary.
  • Finalise your answers.
     
400,000 years ago

 

Reference: From Paragraph B: “The giant deer, so-called as its well-kept debris are frequently found in lake dregs under morass in Ireland, first emerged about 400,000 years ago in Europe and Central Asia.”

 

Explanation: This line states that the Irish elk first appeared around 400,000 years ago in Europe and Central Asia. Since the question asks for when the remains were initially found, this confirms "400,000 years ago" as the correct answer.

 

2. 8000 years ago

 

Reference: From Paragraph C: “The eastern highlands of the Urals became very thickly forested about 8,000 years ago, which could have pushed them onto the plain,” he said.

 

Explanation: This line explains that around 8,000 years ago, the thick forests of the Urals forced the Irish elk to move onto open plains. As the question refers to when they were driven to the plain, "8000 years ago" is the right answer.
 

3. 7000 years ago

 

Reference: From Paragraph D: “Lister said, “We haven’t got just hunting 7,000 years ago-this was also about the time the first Medieval people lived in the region.”

 

Explanation: This line highlights that hunting by humans became prominent around 7,000 years ago. Since the question asks when hunting started affecting the Irish elk, "7000 years ago" is the correct answer.
 

4. wooded interglacials

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “But, Lister said, “ That’s a compelling argument to make because the deer formerly survived finely well via wooded glaciation [ a warm period between glacial epochs].” ”

 

Explanation: This line suggests that the Irish elk thrived during wooded interglacial periods, contradicting the idea that their large antlers contributed to their extinction. Therefore, "wooded interglacials" is the correct answer.
 

5. 10,500 years ago

 

Reference: From Paragraph C: “Toothed cats, woolly rhinos, mastodons, giant sloths and a lot of other big, long-haired mammals are generally thought to have died out on all sides by the end of the rearmost ice age, some 10,500 years ago.”

 

Explanation: This line states that the extinction of large mammals, including the Irish elk, occurred at the end of the last glacial period, which was around 10,500 years ago. This confirms "10,500 years ago" as the right answer.

 

To build a strong word bank that can help you approach the Reading section with clarity and confidence, go through the list of IELTS Reading Vocabulary!

Questions and Answers 6-8
  • Answer the questions below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

 

6. What kind of physical characteristics eventually contributed to the extinction of Irish elk?

7. What kind of nutrient substance is needed in maintaining the huge size of Irish elk?

8. What geographical evidence suggested the advent of humans resulted in the extinction of Irish elk?

 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers With Explanations (6-8)
 

Type of question: Locating Information

 

In this task, you are required to find specific details, facts, or information within the passage. These questions typically ask you to identify where particular information is located in the text.

 

How to best answer: 

 

  • Understand what specific information you need to find (e.g., a word, phrase, or detail).
  • Quickly skim through the relevant paragraph or section to locate keywords related to the question.
  • Ensure the answer fits grammatically and contextually into the sentence or passage.
  • Check for synonyms or keywords to locate the information
  • Finalise your answers.

 

6. male’s huge antlers

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “Meanwhile,  Lister cast uncertainty on other feasible clarification for the deer’s death-the male’s vast horn”

 

Explanation: This line suggests that the large antlers of male Irish elk may have been a disadvantage, particularly in dense forests that expanded after the Ice Age. Some researchers argue that this characteristic hindered their survival, making "male’s huge antlers" the correct answer.

 

7. minerals

 

Reference: From Paragraph E: “High amounts of calcium and sodium phosphate compounds are needed to form horns, and therefore, huge quantities of these minerals are needed for the huge structures of the Irish Elk.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates that Irish elk required significant amounts of minerals, such as calcium and sodium phosphate, to sustain their massive antlers. A shortage of these nutrients could have weakened them over time, leading to their extinction, making "minerals" the correct answer.
 

8. habitat destruction

 

Reference: From Paragraphs A & D: “The investigation panel says this hints at more aspects, apart from climate change, probably rushed the Irish elk’s final disappearance. The aspects could comprehend hunting or environmental demolition by humans.” & “The crew, even though, said their new date for the Irish elk’s annihilation, clue at an additional human-made issue—environmental demolition."

 

Explanation: This line suggests that human activities, such as deforestation and land clearance, contributed to the Irish elk’s extinction. The presence of early farming communities may have further degraded their habitat, making "habitat destruction" the correct answer.

Questions and Answers 9-12
  • Choose the letter A-D and write your answers in boxes 9-12 on your answer sheet.

 

A. Eurasia

B. Australia

C. Asia

D. Africa

 

9. The continents where humans imposed a little impact on large mammals extinction

10. The continents where the climatic change was mild, and fauna remains

11. The continents where both humans and climatic change are the causes

12. The continents where the climatic change along caused a massive extinction

 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers With Explanations (9-12)
 

Type of question: Multiple choice questions

 

In this question type, you are asked to answer the question followed by several options, typically lettered A, B, C, or D. The task is to select the correct answer from the given choices based on the information provided in the reading passage.

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Read the question carefully and understand what it asks.
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the question.
  • Skim the passage quickly to locate relevant information.
  • Eliminate the clearly incorrect options.
  • Select the answer that best fits the information in the passage.

 

9. B - Australia

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “Australia’s climate swapped from cold-dry to warm-dry. As a outcome, surface water becomes scant. Most inland lakes become totally dry or dry in the warmer seasons. Most large, mainly peruse animals lost their environment and retired to a narrow band in eastern Australia, where there was lasting water and better flora.”

 

Explanation: This line shows that climatic changes in Australia, such as reduced surface water and habitat loss, were the primary reasons for the extinction of large mammals. Since human influence is not highlighted as a major factor, "Australia" is the correct answer.

 

10. D - Africa

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “The most dramatic of these swaps was the change of a huge area of north Africa into the world’s biggest desert. Notably, Africa avoided major faunal annihilation, as did tropical and subtropical Asia. The human evacuation from Africa and our access into the Americans and Australia were also caused by climate change.”

 

Explanation: This line indicates that, despite drastic climatic changes, Africa experienced little loss of its large mammals compared to other continents. Since the fauna remained largely intact, "Africa" is the correct answer.

 

11. A - Eurasia

 

Reference: From Paragraph G: “The crew of analysts led by A.J. Stuart concentrated on northern Eurasia, which he was taking as Europe, plus Siberia, basically, where they have got the best data that animals vanished in Europe during the Late pleistocene. Some cold-adapted animals experienced the last part of the cold stage, and then vanished up there. So you have usually got two phases of vanishing. Now, neither of these concur— these are Neanderthals here being replaced by modernised humans. There’s no clear accident between the arrival of humans or climatic swap alone and these destruction.”

 

Explanation: This line explains that both human activity and climatic changes contributed to the extinction of large mammals in Eurasia. Since neither factor alone caused the destruction, "Eurasia" is the correct answer.

 

12. C - Asia

 

Reference: From Paragraph F: “The most dramatic of these swaps was the change of a huge area of north Africa into the world’s biggest desert. Notably, Africa avoided major faunal annihilation as did tropical and subtropical Asia.

 

Explanation: This line suggests that climate change alone led to massive extinction in certain regions of Asia, particularly due to desertification. Since human impact is not mentioned as a cause, "Asia" is the correct answer.

 

Read more about the IELTS General Reading Practice Test 2025

Questions and Answers 13
  • Which statement is true according to the Stuart team’s finding?

 

A. Neanderthals, rather than modern humans, caused the extinction in Europe

B. Paleolithic humans in Europe along kill the big animals such as Giant deer

C. climatic change was not solely responsible for the megafauna extinction in Europe

D. moderate and staggered extinction was mainly the result of fundamental climatic change

 

Extinct The Giant Deer Reading Answers With Explanations (13)
 

Type of question: Yes/No/Not Given(True/False/Not Given)

 

In this question type, you are required to determine whether the statements provided agree with, contradict, or are not mentioned in the reading passage. 

 

How to best answer: 
 

  • Understand what information is being presented and what is being asked.
  • Find relevant information in the reading passage that relates to the statement.
  • Determine if the statement agrees with, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the passage.
  • If the information is not explicitly provided in the passage, select 'Not Given' rather than making assumptions.
  • Base your answers solely on the information presented in the passage, avoiding personal opinions or outside knowledge.

 

13. C - climatic change was not solely responsible for the megafauna extinction in Europe

 

Reference: From Paragraph G: “The crew of analysts led by A.J. Stuart concentrated on northern Eurasia, which he was taking as Europe, plus Siberia, basically, where they have got the best data that animals vanished in Europe during the Late Pleistocene.

 

Explanation: This line suggests that neither human arrival nor climate change alone was responsible for the extinction of megafauna in Europe. Instead, the disappearance of species was influenced by a combination of climatic shifts and human presence, making "climatic change was not solely responsible for the megafauna extinction in Europe" the correct answer..

 

Read more about the IELTS General Reading Practice Test 2025

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Check Out Top 35+ IELTS Reading Practice Test Questions with Answers

Below are some top 35+ free IELTS Reading Practice test online questions with detailed answers to enhance your IELTS preparation online. We have provided sample passages for each test type for your reference.
 

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FAQs

Q. What are common keywords in Extinct The Giant Deer reading passage?

Ans. Common keywords include extinction, habitat, climate change, fossil evidence, antlers, evolution, and human activity. These words help identify key ideas and locate relevant information in the passage.

Q. How to answer matching headings questions in the Extinct The Giant Deer reading passage?

Ans. Read all the headings first and underline keywords. Skim each paragraph to identify the main idea and match it with the most suitable heading. Look for synonyms or paraphrased phrases instead of exact words from the headings.

Q. What is a challenging aspect of Extinct The Giant Deer reading passage?

Ans. One challenging aspect is understanding complex scientific terms related to extinction and evolution. Additionally, distinguishing between causes of extinction and their supporting evidence can be tricky for test-takers.

Q. Are Extinct The Giant Deer passages part of the IELTS Academic or General Reading?

Ans. This passage is typically part of the IELTS Academic Reading test, as it focuses on scientific and research-based content. General Training passages are usually more practical, covering topics like advertisements and workplace communication.

Q. Can I take notes during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, you can write notes, underline keywords, or highlight important information in the question paper. However, your notes will not be marked, and only answers on the answer sheet count.

Q. How can I improve my reading speed for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Practice skimming and scanning techniques to find key information quickly. Read academic articles daily, time yourself, and avoid reading every word. Focusing on keywords and main ideas helps increase speed.

Q. Are there practice materials available for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, you can find official IELTS practice tests on websites like the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Many books and online resources also provide sample questions and passages for practice.

Q. How can I effectively manage my time during the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Allocate around 20 minutes per passage, leaving extra time to review answers. Don't spend too long on difficult questions—move on and return later if needed. Use skimming and scanning to locate answers quickly.

Q. What are some strategies for tackling True/False/Not Given questions in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Carefully read the statement and compare it with the passage. If the statement is fully supported, choose True; if it contradicts, select False; and if there's no clear information, pick Not Given. Avoid assumptions.

Q. How can I prepare for the IELTS Reading test if English isn't my first language?

Ans. Read English newspapers, magazines, and academic articles daily. Practise past IELTS reading tests, focus on understanding context, and learn new vocabulary. Engaging in timed reading exercises will also help.

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

Ans. The IELTS Reading test consists of 40 questions, divided into three passages. The question types vary and include multiple-choice, matching headings, True/False/Not Given, sentence completion, and summary completion.