How Does Climate Change Influence Global Economic Stability? Practice IELTS Reading Test

The IELTS Reading section is designed to assess a variety of reading skills, including how well you can understand the gist, skim, and scan texts, as well as your ability to identify specific information, understand logical arguments, and follow the development of an idea. One topic that has gained significant attention in past IELTS exams and is likely to appear in future tests due to its global relevance is climate change and its impact on global economic stability.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the topic “How Does Climate Change Influence Global Economic Stability?” and provide a comprehensive IELTS Reading practice test. We’ll also explore some key vocabulary, common grammatical structures, and offer tips to excel in this part of the IELTS exam.

Reading Practice Test

Passage: Climate Change and Global Economic Stability

Climate Change and Global Economic Stability

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. The rising global temperatures are causing more frequent and severe weather events, which have profound impacts on economic stability worldwide. The agricultural sector, for instance, is highly susceptible to climate variability, which can lead to crop failures and food shortages. Consequently, the economic ramifications can include increased prices and reduced access to food, which adversely affect the world’s poorest populations the most.

[1] The infrastructure sector is also at significant risk. Heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods can cause considerable damage to buildings, roads, and other key infrastructure, leading to costly repairs and reconstruction efforts. According to a report by the World Bank, the economic cost of climate-related infrastructure damage could reach trillions of dollars by mid-century.

Climate Change Impact on Infrastructure

[2] Furthermore, the insurance industry is grappling with the rising costs of claims related to climate-induced disasters. Insurers may have to increase premiums, making insurance less affordable for many people and businesses, which in turn can result in increased economic vulnerability.

[3] Another dimension to consider is the impact on labor productivity. Extreme temperatures, particularly heatwaves, can reduce workers’ efficiency in sectors like construction, agriculture, and outdoor services. Lower productivity directly translates to lower economic output and perpetuates the socio-economic challenges at the national level.

[4] Finally, climate change can also affect global financial markets. Investors are beginning to recognize the risks associated with climate change, leading to fluctuations in stock prices of companies whose business models are vulnerable to environmental regulations or climate impacts. This growing awareness is prompting a shift towards more sustainable investments, which while beneficial in the long run, might create short-term economic uncertainties.

In conclusion, climate change poses a multifaceted threat to global economic stability. From direct impacts on sectors like agriculture and infrastructure to broader implications for financial markets and labor productivity, the economic consequences of a changing climate are profound and far-reaching.

Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is one of the primary sectors affected by climate change according to the passage?
   a. Technology
   b. Agriculture
   c. Education
   d. Tourism

2. How does climate change impact infrastructure, as mentioned in the passage?
   a. By reducing labor costs
   b. By increasing material durability
   c. Through damage caused by weather events
   d. By decreasing the cost of construction materials

3. Which industry is dealing with the increasing costs of climate-related claims?
   a. Banking
   b. Insurance
   c. Real Estate
   d. Automobile

Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)

4. Climate change primarily benefits global economic stability.
5. The economic cost of climate-related infrastructure damage could reach trillions of dollars by mid-century.
6. Lower productivity due to extreme temperatures has minimal impact on economic output.

Matching Information

Match each sector with its corresponding impact mentioned in the passage.

Answer Keys

1. b. Agriculture – The passage specifies that climate change significantly affects the agricultural sector through crop failures and food shortages.
2. c. Through damage caused by weather events – The passage details how weather events like heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods damage infrastructure.
3. b. Insurance – The passage highlights how the insurance industry faces rising costs due to climate-related claims.
4. False – The passage consistently describes negative impacts on global economic stability.
5. True – This is explicitly stated in the passage by referencing the World Bank report.
6. False – The passage indicates that lower productivity due to extreme temperatures significantly impacts economic output.

Matching Information:

7. b. Crop failures and food shortages
8. d. Damage from heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods
9. a. Lower productivity and efficiency
10. c. Increased premiums and economic vulnerability

Lessons Learned

• Common Mistakes:
  • Misinterpreting the main idea or specific details of the passage.
  • Confusing similar-sounding terms or sectors.
  • Overlooking true/false/not given distinctions, especially for statements implying broad generalizations.

Vocabulary

Some challenging vocabulary from the passage includes:

• Susceptible (adj) /səˈsɛptɪbəl/: Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
• Ramifications (noun) /ˌræməfɪˈkeɪʃnz/: A consequence of an action or event, especially when complex or unwelcome.
• Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society.
• Grappling (verb) /ˈɡræplɪŋ/: Struggling or dealing with something.
• Perpetuate (verb) /pərˈpɛtʃuˌeɪt/: To make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely.
• Fluctuations (noun) /ˌfləktʃuˈeɪʃnz/: Variations in level, value, strength, etc, often related to the economy or prices.

Grammar Focus

• Relative Clauses:
  • Example: “The rising global temperatures are causing more frequent and severe weather events, which have profound impacts on economic stability worldwide.“
• Passive Voice:
  • Example: “The economic cost of climate-related infrastructure damage could reach trillions of dollars by mid-century.”

Tips for High IELTS Reading Scores

1. Skim and Scan:
   • Develop the ability to quickly locate information by scanning the text for keywords and skimming for main ideas.
2. Practice Various Question Types:
   • Familiarize yourself with different types of questions such as True/False/Not Given, Multiple Choice, and Matching Information.
3. Timing:
   • Allocate your time wisely. Spend about 20 minutes on each section to ensure you can complete all questions.

By practicing reading passages like the one above and understanding the impacts of climate change on global economic stability, you’ll be better prepared to tackle similar topics in your IELTS Reading test.