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About the Megafires of California Reading Passage
This passage is taken from Cambridge IELTS 9, Academic Test 1, Passage 3. It explores why wildfires in California have grown dramatically in size and intensity, focusing on the role of prolonged drought, changes in forest management policy, the suppression-versus-controlled-burn debate, and the spread of non-native vegetation. Key researchers and scientists cited include Richard Minnich and scientists from the U.S. Forest Service.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on the passage below.
The passage contains three question types: True/False/Not Given (Q1–7), Matching Features (Q8–11), and Sentence Completion (Q12–14).
The Megafires of California — Full Reading Passage
Paragraph A
Wildfires are becoming an increasing menace in the western United States, with scientists and forestry experts warning of a future of more and bigger fires. The 2007 fire season was particularly dangerous. More than 3,000 firefighters battled the massive Zaca fire near Santa Barbara, for example. This fire was not unusual in scale, but it did highlight the extraordinary cost of $120 million of combating such blazes. "There's no question the fires are getting bigger, and they are harder to put out," said Michael Bowman, a land use professor at the University of Montana.
Paragraph B
One reason fire researchers cite for the increase in fires is the decades-long policy of fire suppression. For nearly a century, the government tried to put out every wildfire as fast as possible. Fires that would have naturally burned through an area every few years were prevented from doing so. As a result, vegetation and brush built up over time, creating ideal conditions for larger, more intense fires.
Paragraph C
Another significant factor is drought. California and other western states have experienced a prolonged dry period. According to fire scientist Richard Minnich at the University of California, Riverside, the warming climate has extended fire seasons well beyond the traditional summer months. Dry weather dries out vegetation, turning it into combustible fuel. Minnich's research shows that fires in the chaparral zones of California behave very differently from fires in similar areas of Baja California in Mexico, where fires are not suppressed.
Paragraph D
Human activity has also played a key role. More people are living in or near fire-prone wildland areas, a pattern sometimes referred to as the wildland-urban interface. As communities expand into forested and brushland areas, the risk of fires starting accidentally increases. Power lines, vehicles, and deliberate arson are all contributors. Homes and infrastructure in these zones are difficult and expensive to protect, and evacuations are complex and dangerous.
Paragraph E
The vegetation of California is highly adapted to fire. Chaparral, the scrubby, drought-resistant vegetation common across much of California, has evolved to burn and regenerate. Its oils and resins make it particularly flammable. However, non-native grasses and plants introduced by human activity have altered fire behavior. These invasive species dry out earlier in the season and can carry fire into native plant communities that would not otherwise burn as readily.
Paragraph F
There is a growing body of opinion among fire scientists and ecologists that the best long-term solution is to allow more controlled burns. Prescribed fires can clear out years of accumulated dry undergrowth without the devastation of an uncontrolled blaze. Some Native American communities historically used fire this way to manage the land. However, controlled burning is controversial; it is politically unpopular, it risks escaping, and it temporarily worsens air quality in nearby communities.
Paragraph G
The problem is further complicated by the legacy of logging. In forested zones of California and the Pacific Northwest, past commercial logging removed large, fire-resistant trees and replaced them with dense stands of smaller trees that are far more susceptible to fire. These densely packed younger forests burn more intensely than old-growth forests would. Restoration efforts are underway, but they are slow and expensive.
Paragraph H
Fire management agencies face difficult trade-offs. Suppression costs enormous resources and does not solve the underlying problem of fuel accumulation. Controlled burns help, but require trained personnel, good weather windows, and significant preparation. Ultimately, many experts argue that the solution lies not with fire agencies alone but with better land use planning, construction standards in fire-prone areas, and sustained long-term funding for forest health programs. Without that, California's megafires are likely to keep getting bigger.
The Megafires of California Reading Questions and Answers
Questions 1–7 — True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? 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. Wildfires in the western United States are increasing in size and severity.
2. Fire suppression policies began after a particularly destructive fire season in the mid-20th century.
3. Richard Minnich has studied wildfires outside the United States.
4. The expansion of communities into forested areas increases the risk of fires starting.
5. Chaparral vegetation does not naturally recover after being burned.
6. Some experts believe that controlled burns are a useful long-term tool for managing fire risk.
7. Fire management agencies currently have adequate funding for forest health programs.
Questions 8–11 — Matching Features
Match each statement (8–11) with the correct paragraph (A–D). Write the correct letter A–D next to questions 8–11.
8. A specific individual's research is cited to explain how climate change affects fire seasons.
9. A specific fire event is used to illustrate the financial cost of fighting wildfires.
10. A long-standing government policy is identified as a cause of worsening fire conditions.
11. The movement of people into fire-prone zones is discussed as a contributing factor.
Questions 12–14 — Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN ONE WORD from the passage for each answer.
12. California's scrubby, drought-resistant plant cover, known as __________, has evolved to burn and then grow back.
13. Past commercial __________ in forested areas replaced fire-resistant trees with dense stands of smaller, more fire-prone trees.
14. Many experts say that sustained long-term __________ for forest health programs is essential to reducing the scale of future megafires.
