Effects of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases: An IELTS Reading Practice Test

The IELTS Reading section is one of the critical components of the IELTS exam, designed to test your ability to comprehend, infer, and extract key details from written texts. Topics related to climate change and public health are increasingly common in the IELTS Reading section due to their relevance in current global discussions.

Given the rising importance of understanding the impact of climate change on public health, there’s a good chance you might encounter similar topics in future IELTS tests. Below, we explore the effects of climate change on infectious diseases through an IELTS Reading practice test, complete with questions and answers.

Practice Reading Test on “Effects of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases”

Reading Passage: Medium Text

What Are The Effects Of Climate Change On Infectious Diseases?

Climate change has emerged as a significant factor influencing the spread and intensity of infectious diseases worldwide. Global warming, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are creating conditions that favor the proliferation of infectious agents and vectors.

Firstly, warmer temperatures can extend the geographic range of many vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, that transmit infectious diseases. For instance, diseases like malaria and dengue fever, historically confined to tropical regions, are now appearing in more temperate areas. This is due to the expanded habitats conducive to mosquito breeding.

Climate Change and Infectious Diseases

Secondly, changes in precipitation can affect the lifecycle of vectors and pathogens. Increased rainfall can lead to the accumulation of stagnant water, providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Conversely, droughts can force vectors into closer contact with human populations as they search for water, leading to the spread of diseases like West Nile virus.

Furthermore, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and floods can disrupt water and sanitation systems, leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrheal diseases. Displacement of populations during such events also increases the risk of infectious diseases spreading rapidly in crowded settings with inadequate healthcare.

Lastly, changes in climate can impact human behavior, prompting migration and altering patterns of agriculture. These shifts can place previously unexposed populations at risk for new infectious diseases, as seen with the spread of tick-borne encephalitis in Europe due to habitat changes induced by warmer winters.

In conclusion, the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases is complex and multifaceted, requiring comprehensive strategies to mitigate risks and protect public health.

Questions and Answers

Questions

1. Multiple Choice

   • According to the passage, how has climate change affected the range of vectors like mosquitoes?
     • A. They have decreased in number.
     • B. They have remained in tropical areas.
     • C. They have expanded into temperate regions.
     • D. They have become extinct.

2. Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)

   • A. Climate change causes diseases to become extinct.
   • B. Increased rainfall leads to more breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
   • C. Droughts have no effect on the spread of diseases.

3. Matching Information

   • Match the following statements with the corresponding paragraph numbers in the reading passage:
     • i. The effect of hurricanes and floods on waterborne diseases.
     • ii. Impact of human migration on disease spread.
     • iii. Extension of mosquito habitats due to warmer temperatures.

4. Short-answer Questions

   • Name two infectious diseases mentioned in the passage that have spread to temperate regions.
   • What natural event is associated with the spread of cholera?

Answers

1. Multiple Choice:

   • C. They have expanded into temperate regions.

2. Identifying Information:

   • A. Not Given
   • B. True
   • C. False

3. Matching Information:

   • i. Paragraph 3
   • ii. Paragraph 4
   • iii. Paragraph 2

4. Short-answer Questions:

   • Two infectious diseases: Malaria, Dengue fever.
   • Natural event: Hurricanes and floods.

Common Mistakes and Tips

Frequent Errors:

1. Failing to pinpoint keywords that can guide you to the exact section of the text where the answer lies.
2. Misinterpreting the scope of the question, leading to incorrect answers.
3. Overlooking the significance of transitional phrases that indicate cause and effect relationships.

Tips for Improvement:

• Practice skimming and scanning techniques to quickly locate relevant information.
• Pay attention to qualifying words like “often,” “might,” “can,” which can change the meaning of statements.
• Ensure you understand the context around the keywords to avoid superficial matching of words.

Vocabulary and Grammar Focus

Key Vocabulary:

1. Vector (noun) /ˈvɛktər/: An organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.
2. Proliferation (noun) /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/: Rapid increase in numbers.
3. Conducive (adjective) /kənˈdusɪv/: Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.

Grammar Structures:

1. Cause and Effect Constructions: “Due to,” “leading to,” “resulting in.”
   • Example: “Changes in precipitation can affect the lifecycle of vectors and pathogens, leading to the spread of diseases.”
2. Comparative and Superlative Forms: “Warmer,” “more temperate.”
   • Example: “Warmer temperatures can extend the geographic range of many vectors.”

Recommendations for Improvement

To excel in the Reading section:

• Regularly read articles on current global issues like climate change to familiarize yourself with the context and vocabulary.
• Practice past IELTS reading sections and focus on your timing to improve both speed and accuracy.
• Engage in discussions or write summaries of articles to enhance comprehension and retention of key information.

By conscientiously preparing and practicing with realistic IELTS reading passages, such as the one provided here, you can enhance your comprehension skills and boost your confidence for the actual test.