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Why we need to protect polar bears reading answers
Author
19-09-2025
Answers Verified By
Senior IELTS Trainer | Content Creator
Check why we need to protect polar bears reading answers, in the table below:
Solution For: Why we need to protect polar bears
| 1. False | 8. Violent |
| 2. False | 9. Tool |
| 3. Not Given | 10. Meat |
| 4. True | 11. Photographer |
| 5. True | 12. Game |
| 6. False | 13. Frustration |
| 7. True |
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Why we need to protect polar bears reading passage
Read the below given academic reading passage carefully to give correct answers for the questions. And, verify your solutions with why we need to protect polar bears reading answers with location.
Why we need to protect polar bears
Polar bears are being increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, but their disappearance could have far-reaching consequences. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimetres of fat underneath their skin. Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.
A 2014 study by Shi Ping Liu and colleagues sheds light on this mystery. They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears. This allowed them to determine the genes that have allowed polar bears to survive in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) – a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol. In humans, mutations of this gene are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart disease in humans.
The genome of the polar bear may also provide the solution for another condition, one that particularly affects our older generation: osteoporosis. This is a disease where bones show reduced density, usually caused by insufficient exercise, reduced calcium intake or food starvation. Bone tissue is constantly being remodelled, meaning that bone is added or removed, depending on nutrient availability and the stress that the bone is under. Female polar bears, however, undergo extreme conditions during every pregnancy. Once autumn comes around, these females will dig maternity dens in the snow and will remain there throughout the winter, both before and after the birth of their cubs. This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive, depleting their own calcium and calorie reserves. Despite this, their bones remain strong and dense.
Physiologists Alanda Lennox and Allen Goodship found an explanation for this paradox in 2008. They discovered that pregnant bears were able to increase the density of their bones before they started to build their dens. In addition, six months later, when they finally emerged from the den with their cubs, there was no evidence of significant loss of bone density. Hibernating brown bears do not have this capacity and must therefore resort to major bone reformation in the following spring. If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.
The medical benefits of the polar bear for humanity certainly have their importance in our conservation efforts, but these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. We tend to want to protect animals we think are intelligent and possess emotions, such as elephants and primates. Bears, on the other hand, seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent. And yet anecdotal evidence from the field challenges those assumptions, suggesting for example that polar bears have good problem-solving abilities. A male bear called GoGo in Tennoji Zoo, Osaka, has even been observed making use of a tool to manipulate his environment. The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach. Problem-solving ability has also been witnessed in wild polar bears, although not as obviously as with GoGo. A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get to a photographer standing on a platform four metres high.
In other studies, such as one by Alison Ames in 2008, polar bears showed deliberate and focused manipulation. For example, Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game. The study demonstrates that bears are capable of agile and thought-out behaviours. These examples suggest bears have greater creativity and problem-solving abilities than previously thought.
As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow – seemingly out of frustration – when they have just missed out on a kill. Moreover, polar bears can form unusual relationships with other species, including playing with the dogs used to pull sleds in the Arctic. Remarkably, one hand-raised polar bear called Agee has formed a close relationship with her owner Mark Dumas to the point where they even swim together. This is even more astonishing since polar bears are known to actively hunt humans in the wild.
If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential breakthroughs in human medicine, but more importantly, the disappearance of an intelligent, majestic animal.
Why we need to protect polar bears IELTS reading questions
From the 14 different IELTS reading question types, you’ll be asked at least 2-3 types of questions for each passage. This why we need to protect polar bears reading answers carries two types of questions namely:
- IELTS reading true/false/not given
- IELTS reading table completion
Questions 1 – 7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Polar bears suffer from various health problems due to the build-up of fat under their skin.
2. The study done by Liu and his colleagues compared different groups of polar bears.
3. Liu and colleagues were the first researchers to compare polar bears and brown bears genetically.
4. Polar bears are able to control their levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol by genetic means.
5. Female polar bears are able to survive for about six months without food.
6. It was found that the bones of female polar bears were very weak when they came out of their dens in spring.
7. The polar bear’s mechanism for increasing bone density could also be used by people one day.
Read IELTS reading true false not given to understand the question type well
Questions 8 – 13
Complete the table below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
Reasons why polar bears should be protected
People think of bears as unintelligent and 8 ________________
However, this may not be correct. For example:
● In Tennoji Zoo, a bear has been seen using a branch as a 9 ________________
This allowed him to knock down some 10 ___________________
● A wild polar bear worked out a method of reaching a platform where a 11 ____________ was located.
● Polar bears have displayed behaviour such as conscious manipulation of objects and activity similar to a 12 _________________
Bears may also display emotions. For example:
● They may make movements suggesting 13 ____________ if disappointed when hunting.
● They may form relationships with other species.
Check out IELTS reading note completion to perform well
Why we need to protect polar bears reading answers with explanation
Make use of the given why we need to protect polar bears IELTS reading answers with explanations to correct your mistakes.
1. Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 1, third line - Humans with comparative levels of adipose tissue would be considered obese and would be likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.
Explanation: It was clearly mentioned in this line that polar bears don't get any health problems due to the fat under the skin.
2. Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 2, second line - They compared the genetic structure of polar bears with that of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears.
Explanation: In this line, it states that they compared the polar bears with brown bears, not different groups of polar bears. Hence, it is a false statement.
3. Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: This statement was not given in any of the paragraphs of the passage.
4. Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 2, fourth line - Liu and his colleagues found the polar bears had a gene known as APoB, which reduces levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), a form of ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Explanation: This line clearly shows that the polar bears have the ability to reduce the bad cholesterol.
5. Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 3, sixth line - This process results in about six months of fasting, where the female bears have to keep themselves and their cubs alive.
Explanation: The answer is pretty straightforward that the female bears survive without food for six months.
6. Answer: FALSE
Location: Paragraph 3, last line - Despite depleting their own calcium, and calorie reserves, their bones remain strong and dense.
Explanation: In this line it is given that the polar bears bones remain strong despite calcium and calorie loss.
7. Answer: TRUE
Location: Paragraph 4, last line - If the mechanism of bone remodelling in polar bears can be understood, many bedridden humans, and even astronauts, could potentially benefit.
Explanation: In this line, it is said that the mechanism of bone remodelling can be used by humans if understood.
8. Answer: Violent
Location: Paragraph 5, fourth line - Bears seem to be perceived as stupid and in many cases violent.
Explanation: The line is so direct and it has the word stupid which is the synonym of unintelligent. Hence the answer is violent.
9. Answer: Tool
Location: Paragraph 5, sixth line - A male polar bear called GoGo in Tennoji Zoo, Osaka, has been observes making use of a tool to manipulate his environment.
Explanation: In this line it states that the bear used a tool to manipulate and hence the answer is tool.
10. Answer: Meat
Location: Paragraph 5, seventh line - The bear used a tree branch on multiple occasions to dislodge a piece of meat hung out of his reach.
Explanation: This line shows that using the tree branch bears knocks down some meat.
11. Answer: Photographer
Location: Paragraph 5, last line - A calculated move by a male bear involved running and jumping onto barrels in an attempt to get a photographer standing on a platform four metres high.
Explanation: This line shows that there was a photographer located on the platform.
12. Answer: Game
Location: Paragraph 6, second line - Ames observed bears putting objects in piles and then knocking them over in what appeared to be a game.
Explanation: This line shows that bears undergo manipulation of objects which is similar to a game.
13. Answer: Frustration
Location: Paragraph 7, first line - As for emotions, while the evidence is once again anecdotal, many bears have been seen to hit out at ice and snow, seemingly out of frustration, when they have just missed out on a kill.
Explanation: In this line, it is given that when bears missed to kill, it turns out to be frustrated.
Cambridge 16 test 1 reading passage 2 - The step pyramid of djoser
14. iv
15. vii
16. ii
17. v
18. i
19. viii
20. vi
21. city
22. priests
23. trench
24. location
25 & 26: B and D
Check the step pyramid of djoser reading answers with explanation
Cambridge 16 test 1 reading passage 3 - The future of word reading answers
27. B
28. D
29. C
30. D
31. G
32. E
33. C
34. F
35. B
36. A
37. C
38. A
39. B
40. C
Check the other reading passages
Below are the other reading passages you need to practice:
Conclusion
Hope this article delivers the ‘why we need to protect polar bears reading answers’ with a clear explanation to make you understand better.
About Author Arivarasi
Arivarasi is an experienced author with expertise in the study abroad industry and preparing test materials for exams like IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, SAT, PTE, etc. She stays up-to-date with university and college requirements for international students which allows her to provide guidance on course selection, documents like SOP, LOR, and scholarship opportunities. She has written numerous articles on study abroad exams, destinations, universities & colleges requirements, admission procedures, and the entire process of studying abroad. Collaborating with industry experts and counselors, she crafts informative articles that make students take the right decisions.
Kanan.co is a trusted study abroad consultancy offering comprehensive services, resources, and solutions for students and education institutions. We support students at every stage of their global education journey, ensuring a smooth and guided experience. Along with test preparation for IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, and SAT, we provide expert services such as SOP writing, visa guidance, accommodation support, scholarship assistance, and education loan support. Our expertise and commitment to excellence make us a reliable partner for students pursuing international education.
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