# Return of the elm: reintroducing the beloved tree to Britain: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 1, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 1, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | C | opportunities are limited as the number of these mature survivors is relatively small |
| 15 | G | For her, the environmental case for reintroducing elm is strong. ... Others are more wary. |
| 16 | B | a second epidemic was triggered by shipments of elm from Canada |
| 17 | E | Strong winds from the sea make it difficult for the determined elm bark beetle to attack |
| 18 | C | Once the trunk of the elm reaches 10-15 centimetres or so in diameter |
| 19 | B | The effects are very quick |
| 20 | A | Sometimes the best thing you can do is just give nature time to recover |
| 21 | B | I don't see how it can be entirely down to luck. |
| 22 | C | as the threat is right on our doorstep |
| 23 | A | You look at old photographs from the 1960s and it's only then that you realise the impact |
| 24 | oak | elm ran a close second to oak as the hardwood tree of choice in Britain and was in many instances the most prominent tree in the landscape. |
| 25 | flooring | it was planted more widely and its wood was used for items such as storage crates and flooring. |
| 26 | keel | It was also suitable for items that experienced high levels of impact and was used to build the keel of the 19th-century sailing ship Cutty Sark as well as mining equipment. |

## Why these answers are right

**14. C.** Section C, in its second part, says researchers want to study the surviving mature elms but opportunities are limited because these survivors are relatively few. Limited opportunities for study are the research problems the question describes, so the answer is C.

**15. G.** In section G, Russell argues that the environmental case for bringing elms back is strong, while Elliot and the Woodland Trust are more wary and prefer to let survivors recover. Two opposing positions on reintroduction make this the difference of opinion, so G is correct.

**16. B.** Section B explains that the second epidemic was triggered by shipments of elm logs from Canada whose bark carried the beetles. That is how the disease arrived in Britain, so the information is in section B.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/return-of-the-elm-reintroducing-the-beloved-tree-to-britain/answers).

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