IELTS Reading: A-Z Guide to Spot the Difference Questions

In biology, the boundaries between species are sometimes more fragile than we might think. The reading passage “Spot the Difference” takes us into an intriguing scientific debate regarding the classification of the Clouded Leopard, while using the example of the Polar Bear to highlight the “confusion” that genetic analysis can introduce into conservation efforts.

This article from the ECE language center provides the full reading passage, a vocabulary breakdown, and a detailed explanation for each answer.

Reading Passage

Spot the Difference

A. Taxonomic history has been made this week, at least according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a conservation group. Scientists have described a new species of clouded leopard from the tropical forests of Indonesia with spots (or “clouds”, as they are poetically known; smaller than those of other clouded leopards, with fur a little darker and with a double as opposed to a “partial double” stripe down its back.

B. However, no previously unknown beast has suddenly leapt out from the forest. Instead, some scientists have proposed a change in the official taxonomic accounting system of clouded leopards. Where there were four subspecies there will likely now be two species. A genetic analysis and a closer inspection of museum specimens’ coats published in Current Biology has found no relevant difference between three subspecies described 50 years ago from continental Asia and from the Hainan and Taiwan islands. The 5,000 – 11,000 clouded leopards on Borneo, the 3,000 – 7,000 on Sumatra, and the remaining few on the nearby Batu islands can now, the authors say, claim a more elevated distinction as a species.

C. What this actually means is fuzzy and whether it is scientifically important is questionable. In any case, biologists do not agree what species and subspecies are. Creatures are given Latin first and second names (corresponding to a genus and species) according to the convention of Carl von Linné, who was born 300 years ago this May. But Linneaus, as he is more commonly known, thought of species as perfectly discrete units created by God. Darwinism has them as mutable things, generated gradually over time by natural selection. So, delineating when enough variation has evolved to justify a new category is largely a matter of taste.

D. Take ants and butterflies. Ant experts have recently been waging a war against all types of species subdivision. Lepidopterists, on the other hand, cling to the double barrel second names from their discipline’s 19th-century tradition, and categorise many local subclasses within species found over wide areas. Thus, it would be futile – if one were so inclined – to attempt to compare the diversity of ant and butterfly populations.

E. The traditional way around the problem is to call a species all members of a group that share the same gene pool. They can mate together and produce fertile offspring. Whether Indonesian clouded leopards can make cubs with continental ones remains unknown but seems probable. Instead, the claim this week is that genetics and slight differences in fur patterning are enough to justify rebranding the clouded leopard as two significant types. Genetically, that makes sense if many DNA variations correlate perfectly between members of the two groups. The authors did find some correlation, but they looked for it in only three Indonesian animals. A larger sample would have been more difficult.

F. One thing is abundantly clear: conservationists who are trying to stop the destruction of the leopards’ habitat in Borneo and Sumatra see the announcement of a new species of big cat as a means to gain publicity and political capital. Upgrading subspecies to species is a strategy which James Mallet, of University College London, likes to call species inflation. It is a common by-product of genetic analysis, which can reveal differences between populations that the eye cannot. Creating ever more detailed genetic categories means creating smaller and increasingly restricted populations of more species. The trouble is that risks devaluing the importance of the term “species”.

G. The problem of redefining species by genetics is the creation of taxonomic confusion, a potentially serious difficulty for conservationists and others. The recent proposal to add the polar bear to the list of animals protected under America’s Endangered Species Act is an example. That seems all well and good. However, study the genetics and it transpires that polar bears are closer to some brown bears, than some brown bears are to each other. Go by the genes and it seems that the polar bear would not count as a species in its own right (and thus might not enjoy the protection afforded to species) but should be labelled a subspecies of the brown bear.

Questions 1 – 4 (Matching Paragraphs)

The text has 7 paragraphs (A – G).

Which paragraph contains each of the following pieces of information?

1. How it is generally accepted that different species are named

2. The reason that conservationists are happy with the apparent discovery of a new species of leopard

3. How genes could cause a potential problem for conservationists

4. Some scientists want to change the way clouded leopards are classified into species and subspecies.

Questions 5 – 8 (Sentence Completion)

Complete the following sentences using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each gap.

5. It is difficult to decide exactly when there is enough _______ to say an animal is a new species.

6. It is _______ to compare the number of species of ant and butterfly.

7. Generally, animals of the same species can make _______ together.

8. Some scientists claim that genetics has led to _______ rather than the actual discovery of new species.

Questions 9 – 13 (TRUE/ FALSE/ NOT GIVEN)

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

9. The possible new species of leopard appears different in two ways.

10. Darwinism created a problem with how species are defined.

11. Lepidopterists study ants.

12. Scientists are going to study more clouded leopards in Indonesia.

13. The writer believes that polar bears are not a species in their own right.

Summary of “Spot the Difference”

This reading is a scientific essay discussing the controversies and complexities involved in animal classification, with a focus on the clouded leopard.

• Paragraph A: Introduces the main event: Scientists have announced a new species of clouded leopard in Indonesia, noting distinct physical characteristics (smaller spots, darker fur).

• Paragraph B: Explains that this is not the discovery of a new animal, but rather a reclassification. Based on genetic analysis and coat patterns, the clouded leopard is being split from four subspecies into two distinct species (continental and island).

• Paragraph C: Raises the issue of ambiguity in the definition of “species.” The author compares the views of Linnaeus (species as fixed) and Darwin (species as mutable), showing that drawing the line for a new species often depends on the scientist’s personal perspective.

• Paragraph D: Provides a comparison between two groups of experts: Ant experts (who prefer lumping species) and Lepidopterists (who prefer splitting them). This shows that comparing biodiversity across different groups is futile because classification standards are inconsistent.

• Paragraph E: Discusses traditional classification standards (the ability to mate and produce fertile offspring) versus new methods (based on genes and morphology). The author also points out the limitation of the clouded leopard study: the sample size was too small.

• Paragraphs F & G: Discuss the downsides of genetic-based classification. It can lead to “species inflation” and “taxonomic confusion.” A prime example is the Polar Bear: if analyzed purely by genes, they are very close to brown bears and could be considered the same species, potentially stripping them of special protection status.

Key Vocabulary Summary

• Taxonomic (adj): Relating to classification.

In the text: “official taxonomic accounting system.”

• Subspecies (n): A taxonomic category that ranks below species.

In the text: “Where there were four subspecies there will likely now be two species.”

• Genetic analysis (n.p): The study of genetic material.

In the text: “A genetic analysis… has found no relevant difference…”

• Discrete (adj): Distinct, separate.

In the text: “…species as perfectly discrete units…”

• Mutable (adj): Liable to change.

In the text: “Darwinism has them as mutable things…”

• Delineating (v): Describing or portraying precisely; determining the boundaries of.

In the text: “…delineating when enough variation has evolved…”

• Futile (adj): Pointless or useless.

In the text: “…it would be futile… to attempt to compare…”

• Gene pool (n.p): The set of all genes in a population.

In the text: “…members of a group that share the same gene pool.”

• Fertile offspring (n.p): Offspring capable of reproducing.

In the text: “They can mate together and produce fertile offspring.”

• Correlation (n): A mutual relationship or connection.

In the text: “The authors did find some correlation…”

• Taxonomic confusion (n.p): Disorder or ambiguity in classification.

In the text: “The problem… is the creation of taxonomic confusion…”

• Transpires (v): Becomes known; turns out.

In the text: “…it transpires that polar bears are closer to some brown bears…”

Answers and Detailed Explanations

Questions 1 – 4 (Matching Paragraphs)

1. Answer: C

• Question: How it is generally accepted that different species are named.

• Evidence (Paragraph C): “…according to the convention of Carl von Linné…”

• Explanation: Paragraph C explains the Latin naming convention (Linnaeus).

2. Answer: F

• Question: The reason that conservationists are happy with the apparent discovery of a new species of leopard.

• Explanation: Paragraph F explains that announcing a new species (“species inflation”) helps gain publicity and political capital, which pleases conservationists.

3. Answer: G

• Question: How genes could cause a potential problem for conservationists.

• Evidence (Paragraph G): “The problem of redefining species by genetics is the creation of taxonomic confusion, a potentially serious difficulty for conservationists…”

• Explanation: Paragraph G clearly states that using genetics creates confusion, which affects the protection of species (like the Polar Bear).

4. Answer: B

• Question: Some scientists want to change the way clouded leopards are classified.

• Evidence (Paragraph B): “Instead, some scientists have proposed a change in the official taxonomic accounting system…”

Questions 5 – 8 (Sentence Completion)

5. variation (Paragraph C: “delineating when enough variation has evolved…”)

6. futile (Paragraph D: “it would be futile… to attempt to compare…”)

7. fertile offspring (Paragraph E: “produce fertile offspring.”)

8. species inflation (Paragraph F/G – context regarding the increase in species count due to genetics).

Questions 9-13 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN)

9. FALSE

• Question: The new leopard species appears different in two ways.

• Evidence (Paragraph A): “…spots… smaller… fur a little darker… and with a double… stripe…”

• Explanation: Three differences are listed.

10. TRUE

• Question: Darwinism created a problem with how species are defined.

• Evidence (Paragraph C): “Darwinism has them as mutable things… So, delineating… is largely a matter of taste.”

• Explanation: The “mutable” nature of species in Darwinism makes defining boundaries difficult.

11. FALSE

• Question: Lepidopterists study ants.

• Evidence (Paragraph D): “Ant experts… Lepidopterists, on the other hand…”

• Explanation: These two groups are contrasted. Lepidopterists study butterflies.

12. NOT GIVEN

• Question: Scientists are going to study more clouded leopards in Indonesia.

• Evidence (Paragraph E): “…A larger sample would have been more difficult.”

• Explanation: The text mentions that a larger sample would be difficult, but does not state whether they “will” conduct further studies.

13. NOT GIVEN

• Question: The writer believes that polar bears are not a species in their own right.

• Evidence (Paragraph G): “Go by the genes and it seems that the polar bear would not count as a species in its own right…”

• Explanation: The author is presenting the consequences of genetic classification, not stating their own personal belief. The example illustrates “taxonomic confusion.” Therefore, we cannot conclude the author’s personal belief.

Conclusion

The reading “Spot the Difference” demonstrates that taxonomic science is not rigid but constantly evolving. The shift from morphological to genetic standards is opening new insights while creating controversial gray areas, as seen with the clouded leopard and polar bear. We hope this detailed explanation from ECE helps you master specialized vocabulary and understand how to handle complex scientific perspectives in the IELTS Reading test.