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The Grand Banks Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test with Answers

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Updated on Sep 06, 2024, 08:30

The passage “The Grand Banks” discusses the Grand Banks, a significant fishing area southeast of Newfoundland. Historically rich in marine life due to the mixing of cold and warm ocean currents, it attracted European fishermen from the 15th century. However, technological advancements in the 19th and 20th centuries led to overfishing and depletion of fish stocks. The establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the late 20th century aimed to protect local fisheries from foreign competition but faced challenges from overfishing and a subsequent moratorium on cod fishing in 1992. Recently, there have been signs of recovery in cod stocks, but caution is needed. Additionally, petroleum reserves have been discovered, raising concerns about potential ecological impacts.

 

This passage is useful for IELTS Reading preparation as it features various text types such as historical accounts, scientific descriptions, and policy discussions. It also aids in developing skills to identify key information and trends, useful for tackling IELTS Reading comprehension questions and improving the IELTS Reading score.

 

Let’s look at the “The Grand Banks” reading passage along with questions, answers and explanations.

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1. The Grand Banks Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 13 based on the Reading Passage below.

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2. The Grand Banks Reading Questions and Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about The Grand Banks Reading Questions and Answers

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1.

The Grand Banks 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.

 

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The Grand Banks Reading Passage

 

 

Paragraph A

The Grand Banks is a large area of submerged highlands southeast of Newfoundland and east of the Laurentian Channel on the North American continental shelf. Covering 93,200 square kilometres, the Grand Banks are relatively shallow, ranging from 25 to 100 metres in depth. It is in this area that the cold Labrador Current mixes with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The mixing of these waters and the shape of the ocean bottom lifts nutrients to the surface, and these conditions create one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Extensive marine life flourishes in the Grand Banks, whose range extends beyond the Canadian 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and into international waters. This has made it an important part of both the Canadian and the high seas fisheries, with fishermen risking their lives in the extremely inhospitable environment consisting of rogue waves, fog, icebergs, sea ice, hurricanes, winter storms and earthquakes.
 

Paragraph B

While the area’s ‘official’ discovery is credited to John Cabot in 1497, English and Portuguese Vessels are known to have first sought out these waters prior to that, based upon reports they received from earlier Viking voyages to Newfoundland. Several navigators, including Basque fishermen, are known to have fished these waters in the fifteenth century. Some texts from that era refer to a land called Bacalao, ‘the land of the codfish’, which is possibly Newfoundland. However, it was not until John Cabot noted the waters’ abundance of sea life that the existence of these fishing grounds became widely known in Europe. Soon, fishermen and merchants from France, Spain, Portugal, and England developed seasonal inshore fisheries that were produced for European markets. Known as a ‘dry’ fishery, cod were split, salted, and dried on shore over the summer before crews returned to Europe. The French pioneered ‘wet’ or ‘green’ fishery on the Grand Banks proper around 1550, heavily salting the cod on board and immediately returning home.
 

Paragraph C

The Grand Banks were possibly the world’s most important international fishing area in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Technological advances in fishing, such as sonar and large factory ships, including the massive factory freezer trawlers introduced in the 1950s, led to overfishing and a serious decline in fish stocks. Based upon the many foreign policy agreements Newfoundland had entered into prior to its admittance into the Canadian Confederation, foreign fleets, some from as far away as Russia, came to the Grand Banks in force, catching unprecedented quantities of fish.
 

Paragraph D

Between 1973 and 1982, the United Nations and its member states negotiated the ThirdConvention of the Law of the Sea, one component of which was the concept of nations being allowed to declare an EEZ. Many nations worldwide have declared the 200-nautical mile EEZ, including Canada and the United States. On the whole, the EEZ was very well received by fishermen in eastern Canada because it meant they could fish unhindered out to the limit without fear of competing with foreign fleets. 
 

Paragraph E

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Canada’s domestic offshore fleet grew as fishermen and fish-processing companies rushed to take advantage. It was during this time that it was noticed that the foreign fleets were now pushed out to areas of the Grand Banks off Newfoundland outside the Canadian EEZ. By the late 1980s, dwindling catches of Atlantic cod were being reported throughout Newfoundland and eastern Canada, and the federal government and citizens of coastal regions in the area began to face the reality that domestic and foreign overfishing had taken its toll. The Canadian government was finally forced to take drastic action in 1992 when a total moratorium was declared indefinitely for the northern cod.
 

Paragraph F

Over the last ten years, it has been noted that cod appear to be returning to the Grand Banks in small numbers. The reasons for this fragile recovery are still unknown. Perhaps the damage done by trawlers is not permanent, and the marine fauna and ecosystems can rebuild themselves if given a prolonged period of time without any commercial activity. Either way, the early stage recovery of the Grand Banks is encouraging news, but caution is needed, as, after nearly twenty years of severe limitations, cod stocks are still only at approximately ten percent of 1960’s levels. It is hoped that in another ten to twenty years, stocks may be close to a full recovery, although this would require political pressure to maintain strict limitations on commercial fishing. If cod do come back to the Grand Banks in meaningful numbers, it is to be hoped that the Canadians will not make the same mistakes again.


 

Paragraph G

Further riches have now been found in the Grand Banks. Petroleum reserves have been discovered, and a number of oil fields are under development in the region. The vast Hibernia oil field was discovered in 1979, and following several years of aborted start-up attempts, the Hibernia megaproject began construction of the production platform and gravity base structures in the early 1990s. Production commenced on November 17, 1997, with initial production rates in excess of 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day from a single well. Hibernia has proven to be the most prolific oil well in Canada. However, earthquake and iceberg activity in the Grand Banks pose a potential ecological disaster that could devastate the fishing grounds that are only now starting to recover.

2.

The Grand Banks Reading Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers 1-7
  • The reading passage has 6 paragraphs A-F.
  • Which paragraph contains the following information?
  • Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet. (A–F).

 

1. Many countries could legally fish Newfoundland waters because of treaties Newfoundland had made before becoming part of Canada.
2. The establishment of the EEZ did not stop overfishing in the Grand Banks.
3. Natural disasters could cause oil to destroy what is left of the Grand Banks ecosystem.
4. The original amount of fish in the Grand Banks was due to mixing different temperatures and waters.
5. East Canadian fishermen were generally happy with the establishment of the Canadian EEZ.
6. Grand Banks' cod stocks are still 90 percent lower than they were in the 1960s.
7. The French were the first to prepare the cod aboard their ships before going back to France.

 

The Grand Banks Reading Answers with Explanations (1-7)

 

Type of question: Matching information

In this question type, you will be asked to match specific pieces of information, often dates, names, or events, from the reading passage with corresponding options provided in the question.

 

How to best answer: 

  • Read each statement carefully to understand the specific information being asked for.
  • Scan the passage for relevant dates or events in the reading passage that corresponds to each statement.
  • Eliminate incorrect options that do not match the information found in the passage.
  • Match the remaining options based on the information provided in the passage.
  • Verify your answers to ensure they match the information in the passage before finalising them.
     
1. C

 

Reference: 


From paragraph C:  "Based upon the many foreign policy agreements Newfoundland had entered into prior to its admittance into the Canadian Confederation, foreign fleets, some from as far away as Russia, came to the Grand Banks in force, catching unprecedented quantities of fish." 

 

Explanation: This line reveals that Newfoundland had established agreements with multiple countries before it became part of Canada. These agreements permitted foreign vessels to fish in Newfoundland's waters. This means that foreign fleets legally fished in these waters due to these pre-existing treaties, making Paragraph C the correct reference.

 

2. D

 

Reference: 


From paragraph D: “On the whole, the EEZ was very well received by fishermen in eastern Canada because it meant they could fish unhindered out to the limit without fear of competing with the foreign fleets”.

 

Explanation: This line demonstrates that the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was positively received by local fishermen in eastern Canada. It provided them with the ability to fish freely without competition from foreign fleets. Despite this benefit, the passage indicates that overfishing continued, thus showing that the EEZ did not fully prevent overfishing, making Paragraph D the correct reference.

 

3. G

 

Reference: 


From paragraph G: “However, earthquake and iceberg activity in the Grand Banks pose a potential ecological disaster that could devastate the fishing grounds that are only now starting to recover.”

 

Explanation: This line highlights the risks posed by natural disasters, specifically earthquakes and icebergs, to the Grand Banks' ecosystem. It suggests that these disasters could have severe impacts on the fishing grounds, which are still in the early stages of recovery. The potential for an ecological disaster underscores the danger that such events pose to the region, making Paragraph F the relevant reference.

 

4. A

 

Reference: 


From paragraph A: "The mixing of these waters and the shape of the ocean bottom lifts nutrients to the surface, and these conditions created one of the richest fishing grounds in the world." 

 

Explanation: This line explains how the combination of cold and warm waters, along with the ocean bottom's shape, contributes to the nutrient-rich environment in the Grand Banks. This nutrient uplift is a key factor that led to the area being one of the most abundant fishing grounds globally. Therefore, this line from Paragraph A effectively explains why the Grand Banks had such a rich supply of fish.

 

5. D

 

Reference: 


From paragraph D:  "On the whole, the EEZ was very well received by fishermen in eastern Canada because it meant they could fish unhindered out to the limit without fear of competing with foreign fleets. " 

 

Explanation: This line illustrates that the local fishermen in eastern Canada appreciated the EEZ because it allowed them to fish without the threat of competition from foreign fleets. This positive reception indicates that the establishment of the EEZ was beneficial for local fishermen. Thus, it confirms that the EEZ met the needs of Canadian fishermen by providing them exclusive fishing rights, making Paragraph D the correct reference.

6. F

 

Reference:

From paragraph F:  "Either way, the early stage recovery of the Grand Banks is encouraging news, but caution is needed, as, after nearly twenty years of severe limitations, cod stocks are still only at approximately ten percent of 1960s levels." 

 

Explanation: This line from Paragraph F highlights that despite ongoing efforts and limitations, cod stocks in the Grand Banks remain significantly reduced, at only about ten percent of their levels from the 1960s. This indicates that the cod population has not yet fully recovered and still faces major challenges. Thus, Paragraph F is the correct reference for the current status of cod stocks.

 

7. B

 

Reference:

From paragraph B:  "The French pioneered ‘wet’ or ‘green’ fishery on the Grand Banks proper around 1550, heavily salting the cod on board and immediately returning home."

 

Explanation:  This line details how the French were the first to implement the ‘wet’ or ‘green’ fishery method on the Grand Banks. By salting the cod on board their ships before returning home, they established an early practice of fish preservation and processing. This historical detail highlights the French innovation in fish processing, making Paragraph B the correct reference.
 

Also Read: IELTS General Reading Test.
 

Questions and Answers 8-10
  • Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.
  • Write the correct letter in boxes 8-10 on your answer sheet.

 

8. The first English fishermen to come to the Grand Banks to fish


A) were told about the fishery by Basque fishermen.
B) were sent word about the fishery from the first American colonists.
C) acted on information from previous Viking expeditions.
D) discovered the fishery themselves while exploring.

 

9. John Cabot's reports of the Grand Banks


A) led to the establishment of the Canadian EEZ.
B) meant the fishery was well known in Europe.
C) led to fighting between rival fishing fleets.
D) were not immediately publicised so that English fishermen could benefit.

 

10. The establishment of the Canadian EEZ


A) did not stop foreign fishermen from fishing the Grand Banks.
B) was not ratified by the United Nations.
C) temporarily stopped the overfishing of cod in the Grand Banks.
D) meant Canadian fishermen were excluded from fishing the Grand Banks.

 

 The Grand Banks Reading Answers with Explanations (8-10)

 

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.

 

8. C

 

Reference:

From paragraph B:  "While the area’s ‘official’ discovery is credited to John Cabot in 1497, English and Portuguese Vessels are known to have first sought out these waters prior to that, based upon reports they received from earlier Viking voyages to Newfoundland."

 

Explanation: This line indicates that the first English fishermen were informed about the fishing opportunities at the Grand Banks through reports from earlier Viking voyages. This means they did not discover the fishery themselves but acted on information from previous explorations. Hence, answer C is correct.
 

9. B

 

Reference: 


From paragraph B:  "However, it was not until John Cabot noted the waters’ abundance of sea life that the existence of these fishing grounds became widely known in Europe."

 

Explanation: This line indicates that John Cabot’s observations of the Grand Banks’ rich sea life led to the widespread knowledge of these fishing grounds in Europe. His reports were crucial in making the fishery well-known, leading to increased European interest and activity. Therefore, answer B is correct.

 

10. A

 

Reference: 


From paragraph D: “On the whole, the EEZ was very well received by fishermen in eastern Canada because it meant they could fish unhindered out to the limit without fear of competing with foreign fleets. “

 

Explanation: This line indicates that the establishment of the Canadian EEZ allowed Canadian fishermen to fish freely within the zone, but it did not prevent foreign fishermen from fishing in areas beyond the EEZ. The EEZ did not entirely stop overfishing but provided Canadian fishermen with a secure area to operate. Thus, answer A is correct.
 

Learn about IELTS Reading Vocabulary here! 

Questions and Answers 10-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
In boxes 24-26 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

 

11. Even now, cod stocks have shown no signs of recovery in the Grand Banks.
12. Initial efforts to extract oil from the Grand Banks' Hibernia oil field were unsuccessful
13. Oil exploration companies have to follow strict safety controls imposed by the Canadian government.

 

The Grand Banks Reading Answers with Explanations (10-13)

 

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.
     
11. False

 

Reference: 


From paragraph F:  "Over the last ten years, it has been noted that cod appear to be returning to the Grand Banks in small numbers."

 

Explanation: This line indicates that cod stocks are showing signs of recovery, contradicting the statement that there are no signs of recovery. The passage clearly states that, although the recovery is fragile and gradual, there is indeed a positive trend in the cod population, making the statement false.

 

12. True

 

Reference: 
 

From paragraph G:  "The vast Hibernia oil field was discovered in 1979, and following several years of aborted start-up attempts, the Hibernia megaproject began construction of the production platform and gravity base structures in the early 1990s. Production commenced on November 17, 1997, with initial production rates in excess of 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day from a single well."

 

Explanation: This line describes the early challenges and delays in the Hibernia oil field's development, confirming that initial efforts were unsuccessful. The passage explicitly notes that production only started after several years of aborted attempts, validating the statement about initial failures. Hence, the statement is true.

 

13. Not given

 

Reference: 


From paragraph: N/A

 

Explanation: The passage does not provide information about safety regulations related to oil exploration.

 

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FAQs

Q. How are the IELTS Reading scores calculated?

Ans. IELTS Reading scores are calculated based on the number of correct answers you provide. Each correct answer receives one mark, and these marks are then converted into a band score ranging from 1 to 9. This band score represents your reading proficiency level. Your final score is reported as a whole or half band to reflect your performance accurately.

Q. Can I write on the question paper during the test?

Ans. Yes, you are permitted to write on the question paper during the IELTS Reading test. This practice can assist in note-taking and locating information more efficiently. However, all answers must be transferred to the answer sheet for marking. Only the answers written on the answer sheet will be evaluated and scored.

Q. Are spelling and grammar important in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. Yes, spelling and grammar are important in the IELTS Reading test. Incorrect spelling can lead to loss of marks, especially in short answer questions. While grammar is less critical, proper spelling is essential to ensure that your answers are marked correctly. Attention to detail in spelling helps in achieving a higher score.