Mastering IELTS Reading: Climate Change’s Effect on Indigenous Populations

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the test, assessing your ability to comprehend complex texts and extract relevant information. Today, we’ll focus on a topic that has been increasingly prevalent in recent years: “Climate change’s effect on indigenous populations.” This subject has appeared in various forms in past IELTS exams and, given its ongoing relevance, is likely to resurface in future tests.

Based on our analysis of past IELTS Reading passages, environmental issues, particularly those affecting vulnerable communities, have been featured regularly. The intersection of climate change and indigenous populations is a prime example of this trend, making it an essential topic for IELTS preparation.

Let’s dive into a practice Reading passage on this subject, followed by a comprehensive breakdown of questions, answers, and strategies to help you excel in your IELTS Reading test.

Practice Reading Passage

Climate Change: A Threat to Indigenous Ways of Life

Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s a human rights concern that disproportionately affects indigenous populations worldwide. These communities, often living in harmony with nature for millennia, are now facing unprecedented challenges as global temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable.

Indigenous peoples, comprising about 5% of the world’s population, occupy approximately 22% of the Earth’s land surface. These areas are home to 80% of the planet’s biodiversity, highlighting the crucial role these communities play in environmental conservation. However, their traditional lifestyles and livelihoods are under severe threat from the impacts of climate change.

In the Arctic, where temperatures are rising at twice the global average, indigenous communities are witnessing rapid changes in their environment. The Inuit people, for instance, are experiencing shorter winters and unpredictable ice conditions, which affect their hunting practices and traditional knowledge systems. The melting permafrost is destabilizing homes and infrastructure, forcing some communities to relocate entirely.

Similarly, in tropical regions, indigenous peoples are grappling with altered rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. In the Amazon rainforest, indigenous tribes are facing increased forest fires, droughts, and flooding. These changes not only threaten their physical survival but also jeopardize their cultural heritage, which is deeply intertwined with the natural environment.

Small island developing states, home to many indigenous communities, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. In the Pacific, entire islands are at risk of disappearing, potentially leading to the displacement of thousands of people and the loss of unique cultures and languages.

Despite these challenges, indigenous peoples are not merely victims of climate change. Their traditional ecological knowledge, developed over generations, offers valuable insights for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Many indigenous communities are at the forefront of conservation efforts, utilizing sustainable practices that have preserved biodiversity for centuries.

International recognition of the unique position of indigenous peoples in the climate crisis is growing. The Paris Agreement explicitly acknowledges the rights of indigenous peoples and the importance of their traditional knowledge in addressing climate change. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to ensure indigenous voices are heard in global climate negotiations and that their rights are protected as countries implement climate policies.

As the world grapples with the complexities of climate change, the experiences and knowledge of indigenous peoples offer a crucial perspective. Their struggle against the impacts of global warming is not just about preserving their own ways of life but also about protecting the planet’s biodiversity and offering sustainable solutions for all of humanity.

Climate change impact on indigenous people

Questions

Section 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

1. According to the passage, indigenous peoples occupy:
   A) 5% of the Earth’s land surface
   B) 22% of the Earth’s land surface
   C) 80% of the Earth’s land surface
   D) 100% of the Earth’s biodiversity areas

2. The Inuit people are experiencing:
   A) Longer winters
   B) More stable ice conditions
   C) Unpredictable ice conditions
   D) Cooler temperatures

3. In tropical regions, indigenous peoples are facing:
   A) Increased rainfall
   B) More predictable weather patterns
   C) Fewer extreme weather events
   D) Altered rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events

Section 2: True/False/Not Given

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

4. Indigenous peoples make up about 5% of the world’s population.
5. The Paris Agreement ignores the rights of indigenous peoples in addressing climate change.
6. All indigenous communities in the Arctic have been forced to relocate due to melting permafrost.

Section 3: Matching Headings

Match the following headings to the correct paragraphs in the passage. Write the correct number i-viii next to questions 7-10.

List of Headings:
i. The threat to Arctic indigenous communities
ii. Indigenous peoples as environmental protectors
iii. The global distribution of indigenous populations
iv. Climate change as a human rights issue
v. The vulnerability of island indigenous communities
vi. Traditional knowledge in climate change solutions
vii. International recognition of indigenous rights
viii. The impact on Amazonian tribes

7. Paragraph 2
8. Paragraph 3
9. Paragraph 5
10. Paragraph 7

Answers and Explanations

Section 1: Multiple Choice

1. B) 22% of the Earth’s land surface
   Explanation: The passage states, “Indigenous peoples, comprising about 5% of the world’s population, occupy approximately 22% of the Earth’s land surface.”

2. C) Unpredictable ice conditions
   Explanation: The text mentions, “The Inuit people, for instance, are experiencing shorter winters and unpredictable ice conditions.”

3. D) Altered rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events
   Explanation: The passage states, “In tropical regions, indigenous peoples are grappling with altered rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.”

Section 2: True/False/Not Given

4. TRUE
   Explanation: The passage directly states, “Indigenous peoples, comprising about 5% of the world’s population…”

5. FALSE
   Explanation: The text mentions, “The Paris Agreement explicitly acknowledges the rights of indigenous peoples and the importance of their traditional knowledge in addressing climate change.”

6. NOT GIVEN
   Explanation: While the passage mentions that some communities have been forced to relocate, it does not state that all Arctic indigenous communities have been forced to do so.

Section 3: Matching Headings

7. iii. The global distribution of indigenous populations
   Explanation: This paragraph discusses the percentage of world population and land surface occupied by indigenous peoples.

8. i. The threat to Arctic indigenous communities
   Explanation: This paragraph focuses on the challenges faced by Arctic indigenous peoples, particularly the Inuit.

9. v. The vulnerability of island indigenous communities
   Explanation: This paragraph discusses the risks faced by indigenous communities on small island developing states due to rising sea levels.

10. vii. International recognition of indigenous rights
    Explanation: This paragraph talks about growing international recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights and their role in addressing climate change.

Common Mistakes

1. Misreading statistics: Pay close attention to numbers and percentages. For example, confusing the 5% of world population with the 22% of land surface occupied by indigenous peoples.

2. Overlooking specific details: In multiple-choice questions, all options may seem plausible, but only one is correct based on the text. Always refer back to the passage for verification.

3. Making assumptions: For True/False/Not Given questions, avoid inferring information not explicitly stated in the text. Stick strictly to what is written.

4. Matching headings incorrectly: Ensure you understand the main idea of each paragraph before matching it with a heading. Don’t be misled by familiar words that appear in both the heading and the paragraph but don’t represent the main idea.

Key Vocabulary

1. Indigenous (adjective) /ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/ – originating or occurring naturally in a particular place
2. Disproportionately (adverb) /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli/ – to a degree that is too large or too small in comparison with something else
3. Biodiversity (noun) /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – the variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat
4. Permafrost (noun) /ˈpɜːməfrɒst/ – a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year
5. Grappling (verb) /ˈɡræplɪŋ/ – struggling to deal with or overcome something
6. Jeopardize (verb) /ˈdʒepədaɪz/ – put at risk; threaten
7. Mitigation (noun) /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ – the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something

Grammar Focus

Pay attention to the use of present continuous tense to describe ongoing actions and changes:

• “Indigenous communities are witnessing rapid changes in their environment.”
• “The melting permafrost is destabilizing homes and infrastructure.”

This tense emphasizes the current and ongoing nature of climate change impacts.

Also, note the use of comparative structures to highlight the severity of the situation:

• “In the Arctic, where temperatures are rising at twice the global average…”

Such comparisons help to emphasize the disproportionate effects of climate change on certain regions.

Tips for IELTS Reading Success

1. Time management: Allocate your time wisely. Spend about 20 minutes on each passage in the Reading test.

2. Skim and scan: Quickly skim the passage for main ideas before diving into the questions. Then, scan for specific information when answering.

3. Use context clues: If you encounter unfamiliar words, try to understand their meaning from the context.

4. Practice regularly: Familiarize yourself with various question types and develop strategies for each.

5. Stay focused: The passages can be challenging and sometimes dry. Maintain concentration throughout the test.

6. Answer all questions: There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so make sure to attempt every question.

7. Check your answers: If time allows, review your answers for any obvious mistakes.

Remember, success in IELTS Reading comes with practice and familiarity with the test format. Keep working on your reading skills, and you’ll see improvement over time. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!