# Flying tortoises: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 12, Test 3, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 12, Test 3, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | v | the islands were colonised by one or more tortoises from mainland South America |
| 2 | iii | This historical exploitation was then exacerbated when settlers came to the islands. |
| 3 | viii | In 1989, work began on a tortoise-breeding centre just outside the town of Puerto Villamil |
| 4 | i | if people wait too long after that point, the tortoises eventually become too large to transport. |
| 5 | iv | gathered around a table in a small cafe in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz to work out more ambitious reintroduction. |
| 6 | vi | a group of volunteers from the breeding centre worked around the clock to prepare the young tortoises for transport. |
| 7 | ii | one tiny tortoise came across a fully grown giant who had been lumbering around the island for around a hundred years. |
| 8 | pirates | From the 17th century onwards, pirates took a few on board for food |
| 9 | food | the tortoises were taken on board these ships to act as food supplies during long ocean passages. |
| 10 | oil | Sometimes, their bodies were processed into high-grade oil. |
| 11 | settlers | exacerbated when settlers came to the islands. They hunted the tortoises |
| 12 | species | They also introduced alien species |
| 13 | eggs | that either prey on the eggs and young tortoises or damage or destroy their habitat. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. v.** Paragraph A describes the island landscape and then how tortoises first reached the Galápagos from South America, spread across the islands and grew huge without predators. The main idea is tortoises arriving and settling, which matches heading v, tortoises populate the islands.

**2. iii.** Paragraph B lists everything that cut tortoise numbers: pirates, whaling ships taking around 200,000 animals, settlers hunting them and clearing habitat, and introduced animals and plants. A run of harmful events fits heading iii, developments to the disadvantage of tortoise populations.

**3. viii.** After saying only 11 subspecies survive, paragraph C reports that work began in 1989 on a breeding center to protect Isabela's tortoises, and that its program succeeded. Describing when and how protection began matches heading viii, the start of the conservation project.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/flying-tortoises/answers).

[Practice Flying tortoises](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/flying-tortoises)