Save the Turtles IELTS Reading: Vocabulary & Detailed Answer Key

The topic of the environment & wildlife conservation is a “classic” theme in IELTS Reading. The passage “Save the Turtles” not only provides fascinating biological insights into Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles but also serves as an excellent exercise for honing your Matching Headings and Short Answer Question skills.

This article from ECE Language Center will help you navigate the challenges of this passage with a full translation, vocabulary analysis, and detailed explanations for every answer.

IELTS Reading Passage: Save The Turtles

Paragraph A Leatherback turtles follow the general sea turtle body plan of having a large, flattened, round body with two pairs of very large flippers and a short tail. Like other sea turtles, the leatherback’s flattened forelimbs are adapted for swimming in the open ocean. Claws are absent from both pairs of flippers. The Leatherback’s flippers are the largest in proportion to its body among extant sea turtles. Leatherback’s front flippers can grow up to 2.7 meters (9 ft) in large specimens, the largest flippers (even in comparison to its body) of any sea turtle. As the last surviving member of its family, the leatherback turtle has several distinguishing characteristics that differentiate it from other sea turtles. Its most notable feature is that it lacks the bony carapace of the other extant sea turtles.

Paragraph B During the past month, four turtles have washed up along Irish coasts from Wexford to Kerry. These turtles are more typical of warmer waters and only occur in Irish waters when they stray off course. It is likely that they may have originated from Florida, America. Two specimens have been taken to the Coastal and Marine Resources Centre (stored at the National Maritime College), University College Cork, where a necropsy (post-mortem for animals) will be conducted to establish their age, sex, and their exact origin. During this same period, two leatherback turtles were found in Scotland, and a rare Kemp’s Ridley turtle was found in Wales, thus making it an exceptional month for stranded turtles in Ireland and the UK.

Paragraph C Actually, there has been extensive research conducted regarding the sea turtles’ abilities to return to their nesting regions and sometimes exact locations from hundreds of miles away. In the water, their path is greatly affected by powerful currents. Despite their limited vision and lack of landmarks in the open water, turtles are able to retrace their migratory paths. Some explanations of this phenomenon have found that sea turtles can detect the angle and intensity of the earth’s magnetic fields.

Paragraph D However, Loggerhead turtles are not normally found in Irish waters, because water temperatures here are far too cold for their survival. Instead, adult loggerheads prefer the warmer waters of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and North America’s east coast. The four turtles that were found have probably originated from the North American population of loggerheads. However, it will require genetic analysis to confirm this assumption. It is thought that after leaving their nesting beach as hatchlings (when they measure 4.5 cm in length), these tiny turtles enter the North Atlantic Gyre (a giant circular ocean current) that takes them from America, across to Europe (Azores area), down towards North Africa, before being transported back again to America via a different current. This remarkable round trip may take many years, during which these tiny turtles grow by several centimetres a year. Loggerheads may circulate around the North Atlantic several times before they settle in the coastal waters of Florida or the Caribbean.

Paragraph E These four turtles were probably on their way around the Atlantic when they strayed a bit too far north from the Gulf Stream. Once they did, their fate was sealed, as the cooler waters of the North East Atlantic are too cold for loggerheads (unlike leatherback turtles, which have many anatomical and physiological adaptations to enable them to swim in our seas). Once in cool waters, the body of a loggerhead begins to shut down as they get ‘cold stunned’, then get hypothermia and die.

Paragraph F Leatherbacks are in imminent danger of extinction. A critical factor (among others) is the harvesting of eggs from nests. Valued as a food delicacy, Leatherback eggs are falsely touted to have aphrodisiacal properties in some cultures. The leatherback, unlike the Green Sea turtle, is not often killed for its meat; however, the increase in human populations coupled with the growing black market trade has escalated their egg depletion. Other critical factors causing the leatherbacks’ decline are pollution such as plastics (leatherbacks eat this debris thinking it is jellyfish), fishing practices such as longline fishing and gill nets, and development in habitat areas. Scientists have estimated that there are only about 35,000 Leatherback turtles in the world.

Paragraph G We are often unable to understand the critical impact a species has on the environment—that is, until that species becomes extinct. Even if we do not know the role a creature plays in the health of the environment, past lessons have taught us enough to know that every animal and plant is one important link in the integral chain of nature. Some scientists now speculate that the Leatherback may play an important role in the recovery of diminishing fish populations. Since the Leatherback consumes its weight in jellyfish per day, it helps to keep jellyfish populations in check. Jellyfish consume large quantities of fish larvae. The rapid decline in Leatherback populations over the last 50 years has been accompanied by a significant increase in jellyfish and a marked decrease in fish in our oceans. Saving sea turtles is an international endeavor.

Questions

Question 1-6: Matching Headings

Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs B-G from the list of headings below. Write appropriate numbers (i-x) in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

NB: There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them all.

List of Headings

i. Sea turtles are found in unusual locations

ii. Unique features of the Leatherbacks

iii. The Leatherback’s contribution

iv. Methods used for routes tracking

v. Predict the migration routes

vi. Remains multiplicity within the species

vii. The progress of hatching

viii. The fate of the lost turtles

ix. How trips are supposed to look

x. Factors leading to population decline

1. Paragraph B

2. Paragraph C

3. Paragraph D

4. Paragraph E

5. Paragraph F

6. Paragraph G

Question 7-13: Short Answer Questions Choose words from the passage to answer the questions 7-13. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

7. How many Leatherback turtles are there in the world?

8. What is the most noticeable difference between other sea turtles and leatherbacks?

9. What causes leatherback turtles to die in Irish waters?

10. Where did the four turtles probably come from?

11. By which means can sea turtles retrace their migratory paths?

12. For what purpose are Green Sea turtles killed by people?

13. What kind of species will benefit from a decline in Leatherback populations?

Detailed Summary

Paragraph A: Unique biological characteristics of the Leatherback turtle

• The author describes the physical appearance of the leatherback: a large, flattened, round body with two pairs of very large flippers and a short tail.

• Their front flippers are the largest among all sea turtle species (reaching up to 2.7m in length).

• Key difference: The leatherback is the only species that lacks a bony carapace compared to other extant sea turtles.

Paragraph B: Unusual turtle stranding events in Ireland and the UK

• Recently, four turtles washed up on the Irish coast. This is an unusual phenomenon as they typically inhabit warmer waters (like Florida, USA) and only appear here when they stray off course.

• Scientists at University College Cork are conducting a necropsy to determine their age, sex, and origin.

• During the same period, turtles were also found in Scotland and Wales, making this an “exceptional” month for strandings.

Paragraph C: Remarkable navigation and migration abilities

• Despite limited vision and no landmarks in the open ocean, sea turtles can navigate back to nesting sites hundreds of miles away.

• Research indicates they can detect the angle and intensity of the Earth’s magnetic fields to orient themselves, helping them retrace their migratory paths despite strong ocean currents.

Paragraph D: Migration cycle around the North Atlantic

• Loggerhead turtles do not typically live in the cold Irish sea, preferring warmer waters (Mediterranean, Caribbean).

• The stray turtles likely originated from North America.

• Migration cycle: When hatched (4.5cm long), young turtles enter the North Atlantic Gyre. This current carries them from the USA -> Europe -> North Africa -> back to the USA. This round trip takes many years, during which the turtles grow.

Paragraph E: The tragic fate of lost turtles

• Explains why the four turtles in Paragraph B died: They were migrating around the Atlantic but strayed too far north, out of the warm Gulf Stream.

• Upon reaching the cold North East Atlantic, the Loggerhead’s body becomes cold stunned, leading to hypothermia and death.

• Note: Leatherbacks have special anatomical adaptations to handle cold better, but Loggerheads do not.

Paragraph F: Threats leading to extinction

• Leatherbacks are on the verge of extinction (only about 35,000 left).

• Main causes:

  1. Egg harvesting: Eggs are stolen for the black market due to false rumors about aphrodisiac properties.

  2. Pollution: Turtles eat plastic debris, mistaking it for jellyfish (their main food).

  3. Fishing: Getting caught in fishing nets or longlines.

Paragraph G: Important ecological role (Food chain)

• The passage emphasizes that every species is an essential link.

• Ecological relationship: Leatherbacks consume large amounts of jellyfish daily -> Helping to control jellyfish populations.

• Consequences of decline: Fewer turtles -> More jellyfish -> Jellyfish eat more fish larvae -> Significant decrease in ocean fish populations.

• Conclusion: Saving sea turtles is an international mission to protect fish stocks.

Key Vocabulary & Grammar

Vocabulary Highlights

• Carapace (n): The hard upper shell of a turtle.

Context: “It lacks the bony carapace…”

• Flipper (n): The broad, flat limb used for swimming.

Context: “The Leatherback’s flippers are the largest…”

• Necropsy (n): An autopsy performed on an animal.
• Hypothermia (n): A condition of having an abnormally low body temperature.

Context: “get hypothermia and die”

• Aphrodisiac (n): A substance that increases sexual desire.

Context: “…falsely touted to have aphrodisiacal properties…”

• Integral (adj): Essential or necessary for completeness.

Context: “integral chain of nature”

• Extant (adj): Still in existence; surviving.

Context: “other extant sea turtles.”

Grammar Analysis

1. Concession with “Despite”:

• Original: “Despite their limited vision, and lack of landmarks in the open water, turtles are able to retrace their migratory paths.”

• Analysis: Despite + Noun Phrase, Main Clause.

• Meaning: Highlights the extraordinary navigation ability of turtles despite difficult conditions.

2. Passive Voice with Reporting Verbs:

• Original: “It is thought that after leaving their nesting beach… these tiny turtles enter the North Atlantic Gyre…”

• Analysis: It is + V3 (thought/believed/said) + that + Clause.

• Meaning: Used to present scientific hypotheses or general knowledge that is not 100% certain.

3. Reduced Relative Clause:

• Original: “…pollution such as plastics (leatherbacks eat this debris thinking it is jellyfish…”

• Analysis: Full form is “…thinking (that) it is jellyfish”.

• Meaning: Turtles eat plastic debris because they think it is jellyfish.

Answers & Explanations

Questions 1-6: Matching Headings

1. Paragraph B: i. Sea turtles are found in unusual locations

• Explanation: Paragraph B discusses four turtles washing up on the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. The author emphasizes that these are cold waters, not their typical habitat (more typical of warmer waters… stray off course).

• Keywords: Ireland, Scotland, stray off course, exceptional month.

2. Paragraph C: iv. Methods used for routes tracking

• Explanation: Paragraph C explains how sea turtles find their way back (retrace their migratory paths) despite limited vision. The method mentioned is sensing the Earth’s magnetic fields (detect earth’s magnetic fields).

• Keywords: retrace, migratory paths, detect, magnetic fields.

3. Paragraph D: ix. How trips are supposed to look

• Explanation: Paragraph D details the “circular” route (round trip) of young turtles: USA -> North Atlantic current -> Europe -> North Africa -> USA.

• Keywords: round trip, North Atlantic Gyre, America, Europe, North Africa.

4. Paragraph E: viii. The fate of the lost turtles

• Explanation: Paragraph E discusses the fate of turtles that have strayed too far. Their outcome is being cold stunned (cold stunned), getting hypothermia (hypothermia), and dying (die).

• Keywords: fate was sealed, die, shut down.

5. Paragraph F: x. Factors leading to population decline

• Explanation: Paragraph F lists the causes for the Leatherback’s extinction risk: egg harvesting (harvesting of eggs), black market trade, plastic pollution (pollution), and fishing practices (fishing practices).

• Keywords: danger of extinction, decline, critical factors.

6. Paragraph G: iii. The Leatherback’s contribution

• Explanation: Paragraph G discusses the ecological role of the Leatherback. They eat jellyfish (consumes jellyfish), helping to control jellyfish populations, thereby protecting fish larvae (help fish populations).

• Keywords: role, recovery, keep jellyfish in check.

Questions 7-13: Short Answer Questions

7. 35,000

• Question: How many Leatherback turtles are there in the world?

• Location: End of Paragraph F: “Scientists have estimated that there are only about 35,000 Leatherback turtles in the world.”

8. The bony carapace / (Its) bony carapace

• Question: What is the most noticeable difference between other sea turtles and leatherbacks?

• Location: End of Paragraph A: “Its most notable feature is that it lacks the bony carapace of the other extant sea turtles.”

9. Cold water / Temperature

• Question: What causes leatherback turtles to die in Irish waters?

• Location: Paragraph E: “…the cooler waters of the North East Atlantic are too cold… get hypothermia and die.”

10. Florida, America / The North American

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