IELTS Reading Practice: The Effects of Climate Change on Sea Levels

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 become increasingly prevalent in recent years: “The effects of climate change on sea levels.” This subject has appeared frequently in past IELTS exams and, given its ongoing relevance, is likely to feature in future tests as well.

As we delve into this practice exercise, remember that the key to success in IELTS Reading lies in careful analysis, time management, and familiarity with various question types. Let’s explore this pressing environmental issue while honing your reading skills.

Climate change impact on sea levels

Practice Test: The Rising Tide – Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Reading Passage

Climate change, primarily driven by human activities, is causing significant alterations to our planet’s systems. One of the most alarming consequences is the rise in global sea levels, which poses a severe threat to coastal communities and ecosystems worldwide.

The primary factors contributing to sea level rise are thermal expansion of the oceans and the melting of land-based ice, such as glaciers and ice sheets. As global temperatures increase, the ocean absorbs much of this heat, causing water molecules to expand and occupy more space. This thermal expansion is responsible for about one-third of observed sea level rise.

The melting of land-based ice is the other major contributor. As temperatures warm, glaciers and ice sheets in places like Greenland and Antarctica are losing mass at an accelerating rate. When this ice melts, it adds water to the oceans, further raising sea levels. Unlike sea ice, which is already floating and doesn’t contribute significantly to sea level rise when it melts, land-based ice has a substantial impact.

The rate of sea level rise has been increasing over the past century. During the 20th century, the global mean sea level rose by about 15-20 centimeters. However, satellite measurements since the 1990s show that the rate has increased to about 3.3 millimeters per year, which is nearly double the rate observed throughout most of the 20th century.

The consequences of rising sea levels are far-reaching and potentially devastating. Low-lying coastal areas and small island nations are particularly vulnerable. Higher sea levels lead to more frequent and severe flooding, erosion of coastlines, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers. These effects can displace communities, damage infrastructure, and harm ecosystems.

Major coastal cities around the world are at risk. For instance, by 2050, areas currently home to 300 million people could fall below the elevation of average annual coastal floods. This could lead to large-scale migration and significant economic impacts.

Efforts to mitigate the effects of sea level rise include both adaptation and mitigation strategies. Adaptation involves preparing coastal communities for the changes ahead, such as building sea walls, implementing early warning systems, and in some cases, planned relocation. Mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow the pace of climate change and, consequently, sea level rise.

The future trajectory of sea level rise depends largely on how quickly and effectively the global community can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even if we were to stop all emissions today, sea levels would continue to rise for some time due to the long-lasting effects of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere and the slow response of oceans and ice sheets to warming.

In conclusion, the rise in sea levels due to climate change presents one of the most significant challenges of our time. It requires immediate, coordinated action on a global scale to both prepare for the inevitable changes and work towards minimizing future impacts.

Questions

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

1. Thermal expansion of oceans accounts for approximately one-third of observed sea level rise.
2. Sea ice melting is a major contributor to sea level rise.
3. The rate of sea level rise in the 21st century is about twice that of the 20th century.
4. All coastal cities will be completely submerged by 2050.
5. Adaptation strategies for sea level rise include building sea walls.

Multiple Choice

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

6. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a major factor contributing to sea level rise?
   A) Thermal expansion of oceans
   B) Melting of glaciers
   C) Melting of ice sheets
   D) Melting of sea ice

7. The passage states that by 2050:
   A) 300 million people will be displaced
   B) Areas home to 300 million people could be at risk of annual flooding
   C) 300 million people will migrate to higher ground
   D) Coastal flooding will only affect 300 million people

Matching Headings

Match the following headings to the correct paragraphs in the passage. Write the correct number (i-vii) next to the paragraph number (8-10).

i. Future projections and global action
ii. Causes of sea level rise
iii. Historical and current rates of sea level rise
iv. Impacts on coastal areas and populations
v. Adaptation and mitigation strategies
vi. The science of climate change
vii. Economic consequences of rising seas

8. Paragraph 4
9. Paragraph 5
10. Paragraph 7

Summary Completion

Complete the summary below using words from the box.

glaciers emissions flooding erosion ecosystems
adaptation vulnerable intrusion migration mitigation

Rising sea levels pose significant threats to coastal areas, including more frequent (11)____, coastal (12)____, and saltwater (13)____. Low-lying coastal regions and small island nations are particularly (14)____. These effects can lead to displacement of communities, damage to infrastructure, and harm to (15)____. Strategies to address sea level rise include both (16)____ measures, such as preparing communities, and (17)____ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (18)____.

Answer Key and Explanations

1. TRUE
   Explanation: The passage states, “This thermal expansion is responsible for about one-third of observed sea level rise.”

2. FALSE
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “Unlike sea ice, which is already floating and doesn’t contribute significantly to sea level rise when it melts, land-based ice has a substantial impact.”

3. TRUE
   Explanation: The passage notes that the rate of sea level rise in recent decades is “nearly double the rate observed throughout most of the 20th century.”

4. NOT GIVEN
   Explanation: While the passage mentions risks to coastal cities, it doesn’t state that all coastal cities will be completely submerged by 2050.

5. TRUE
   Explanation: The passage lists “building sea walls” as one of the adaptation strategies.

6. D
   Explanation: The passage explicitly states that sea ice melting doesn’t contribute significantly to sea level rise.

7. B
   Explanation: The passage states, “by 2050, areas currently home to 300 million people could fall below the elevation of average annual coastal floods.”

8. iii
   Explanation: This paragraph discusses the historical rate of sea level rise in the 20th century and the current rate observed since the 1990s.

9. iv
   Explanation: This paragraph outlines the consequences of sea level rise on coastal areas and populations.

10. v
    Explanation: This paragraph describes adaptation and mitigation strategies to address sea level rise.

11. flooding

12. erosion

13. intrusion

14. vulnerable

15. ecosystems

16. adaptation

17. mitigation

18. emissions

Explanation: These answers can be found directly in the passage, particularly in paragraphs 5 and 7.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Misinterpreting “Not Given”: Remember, if the information isn’t explicitly stated in the passage, even if you think it’s true, the answer is “Not Given.”

2. Overlooking key qualifiers: Pay attention to words like “some,” “most,” “often,” which can change the meaning of a statement.

3. Falling for distractors in multiple-choice questions: Always refer back to the passage and choose the option that best matches the information given.

4. Rushing through the summary completion: Make sure your chosen words fit grammatically and logically in the context of the summary.

5. Mismatching headings: Read the entire paragraph carefully before selecting a heading, as the main idea might not be in the first sentence.

Key Vocabulary

• Thermal expansion: /ˈθɜːrməl ɪkˈspænʃən/ (noun) – The increase in volume of a material as it gets warmer
• Glaciers: /ˈɡlæsiərz/ (noun) – Large masses of ice that move slowly over land
• Erosion: /ɪˈrəʊʒən/ (noun) – The gradual destruction of something by natural forces such as water, wind, or ice
• Mitigation: /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ (noun) – The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something
• Aquifers: /ˈækwɪfərz/ (noun) – Underground layers of rock that can hold water

Grammar Focus

Pay attention to the use of conditional sentences in the passage, particularly the second conditional:

“Even if we were to stop all emissions today, sea levels would continue to rise for some time.”

This structure (If + past simple, would + infinitive) is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the present or future.

Tips for Success

1. Practice active reading: Engage with the text by predicting what might come next and asking yourself questions as you read.

2. Improve your time management: Allocate your time wisely between reading the passage and answering questions.

3. Expand your vocabulary: Regularly learn new words related to environmental topics, as these are common in IELTS Reading tests.

4. Practice various question types: Familiarize yourself with all IELTS Reading question formats to improve your speed and accuracy.

5. Stay informed about current events: Topics like climate change are popular in IELTS, so keeping up with news can give you an advantage.

Remember, success in IELTS Reading comes with consistent practice and a strategic approach. Keep working on your skills, and you’ll see improvement over time.

For more practice on environmental topics, you might find these articles helpful:

• Effects of Global Warming on Local Economies
• Effects of Climate Change on Natural Disasters
• Effects of Rising Sea Levels on Coastal Cities

Good luck with your IELTS preparation!