2003 Heatwave Reading Answers:
The IELTS Reading passage 2003 Heatwave includes a total of 13 practice questions. These questions are based on the causes, effects, and measures to combat heat waves in various settings. The “2003 Heatwave Reading Answers” passage includes questions and answers on multiple-choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given. To complete the passage, students will get 20 minutes. The overall time for the
IELTS Reading test
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. Test-takers can read the complete reading to get valuable sample questions and answers for the reading section in the
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2003 Heatwave Reading Answers Passage
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers
Paragraph A:
According to scientists, the summer was the time when global warming finally was extremely apparent. It was a fact known to us, that the summer of 2003 was exceptional: the record high temperature was experienced by the British, wild and uncontrollable forest fires were seen in continental Europe, a massive number of deaths caused by heat was observed, and large rivers dried up to a stream. However, it is only becoming evident how remarkable it is.
Paragraph B:
In western and central Europe, the warmest recorded months were June, July, and August. And the countries Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, and Britain had experienced record national highs in temperature. And they were very warm for a long period of time. The Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia located in Norwich, which is considered to be one the world’s leading institutions for monitoring and analyzing temperature records; stated that a massive rectangular slab of earth from the west of Paris till northern Italy, including Switzerland and south of Germany, experienced an average temperature throughout the summer months above the long-term norm at 3.78°C.
Paragraph C:
Unless you are aware of the context, the excess may not seem like much, but once you are, you realize how huge it is. Nothing like this can be found anywhere in the past records. It is considered so remarkable that Professor Phil Jones, the CRU's director, is willing to speak openly - as few scientists have previously done - that the 2003 extreme may be directly linked, not to natural climate variation, but to global warming caused by human actions.
Paragraph D:
Up until now, meteorologists have been satisfied with the statement that recent rising temperatures are "consistent with predictions" of climate change. The CRU has credible temperature records for the big section of the map, which covers the area between 35-50N and 0-20E, which date back to 1781. Using the average summer temperatures documented between 1961 and 1990 as a baseline, deviations from the temperature standard, or "anomalies," over the entire block can be easily plotted. According to the graph, our climate is so variable that over the past two decades, there have been at least six anomalies in terms of extreme temperature, with the peaks on the curve representing extremely hot years with temperatures reaching or even exceeding 2°C. But nothing as close to 2003, when the anomaly was almost four degrees, has happened.
Paragraph E:
Professor Jones stated to The Independent, "It is seriously remarkable. In terms of statistics, it is extremely unusual. You wouldn't get this number if this sequence had a normal statistical distribution. The return period [how frequently it could be predicted to happen] would be around one in a thousand years. If we examine an excess of nearly four degrees over the average, probably approximately three degrees of that is caused by natural variability because we have experienced that in past summers. However, the final degree of it is probably brought on by global warming, which is brought on by human activity.
Paragraph F:
In some ways, climate scientists have long expected the summer of 2003. Until now, global warming was most apparent in winters that have been milder than in summers that have been significantly hotter. The United Nations warned last week that winter sports will disappear in Europe's lower-tier ski resorts because winters were warming very quickly. Nonetheless, the extremely hot summer had to come sooner or later, and it came this year.
Paragraph G:
The summer's scorching nights, particularly during the first half of August, were one of its most dramatic features. Between August 7 - August 14, the temperatures in Paris didn't drop under 23°C (73.4°F) at all. On August 11 and 12, the city experienced its warmest night on record when the temperature didn't fall below 25.5°C (77.9°F). On 13 August, Germany experienced its warmest-ever night at Weinbiet in the Rhine Valley, with a minimum of 27.6°C (80.6°F), and identical record-breaking temperatures was observed in Switzerland and Italy.
Paragraph H:
The high night-time temperatures may be linked to the 15,000 excess deaths in August in France than in previous years. The number gradually increased during the period of the initial 12 days of the month, reaching a peak of about 2,000 per day on the nights of 12–13 August, before dropping down drastically once the minimum temperatures dropped by approximately 5°C on August 14. The mortality rate increased by 70% in people between the ages of 75 to 94, who were the most affected.
Paragraph I:
The year as a whole is probably going to be the warmest for Britain, but even with the high-temperature record on August 10, the summer itself, which is defined as the months of June, July, and August, still trails 1976 and 1995, which had extended periods of extreme heat. At this stage, this year is on the path to being the third hottest ever recorded for the period of the global temperature record, which goes back to 1856, behind 1998 and 2002, however, if the records for October, November, and December were combined, it might jump to second place, Professor Jones continued. All ten of the hottest years in history have now occurred since 1990. Professor Jones has no doubts about the incredible nature of the 2003 summer in Europe. He continued, that the recorded temperatures were completely disproportionate to the previous record. That was the hottest summer in the last 500 years and perhaps much beyond that. It was very extraordinary.
Paragraph J:
A special study about it is currently being planned by his colleagues at the University of East Anglia's Tyndall Institute for Climate Change Research. The executive director of the center, Professor Mike Hulme, noted that this summer was unlike any other in terms of both the temperature extremes that were achieved and the variety and depth of the impacts of the extreme heat.
Paragraph K:
It will definitely have left its footprint on several countries, as to how they plan and strategize for climate change in the future, just as the 2000 floods have changed the way the Government is doing about flooding in the UK. Europe will experience similar effects from the 2003 heatwave.
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers Sample Questions
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers: Questions 1-6
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet, write:
-
YES if the statement agrees with the information given
-
NO if the statement contradicts the information given
-
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this
1. The summer of 2003 was the hottest summer in all of Europe’s history.
2. Switzerland experienced higher temperatures than Germany in 2003.
3. Professor Jones believes that part of the extreme heat in 2003 was caused by global warming.
4. France recorded the highest night-time temperatures in Europe during the 2003 heatwave.
5. The Climatic Research Unit has been keeping temperature records since 1961.
6. The 2003 summer heatwave affected future climate policies in European countries.
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers: Questions 7-8
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 7-8 on your answer sheet.
7. Which organization monitors temperature records and is based in Norwich?
8. In which country did 15,000 extra deaths occur during the heatwave?
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers: Questions 9-12
Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 9-12 on your answer sheet.
The summer of 2003 was marked by extreme heat and wildfires, with countries like (9) __________ and Germany experiencing record-breaking temperatures. The Climatic Research Unit stated that temperatures were (10) __________ higher than the long-term average in parts of Europe. Night-time temperatures were extremely high, particularly in cities such as (11) __________, where temperatures did not drop below 25.5°C. The heatwave caused an increase in mortality, especially in people aged (12) __________.
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers: Question 13
Choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D.
Write your answer in box 13 on your answer sheet.
13. According to Professor Jones, how often could a heatwave like the one in 2003 be expected to occur under normal conditions?
A. Every 10 years
B. Every 50 years
C. Every 500 years
D. Every 1000 years
2003 Heatwave Reading Answers with Explanations
Ans. 1. NO
Explanation:
“That was the hottest summer in the last 500 years and perhaps much beyond that.”
(Paragraph I).
The passage mentions it was the hottest summer in the last 500 years, not in all of Europe’s history.
Ans 2. NOT GIVEN
Explanation:
The passage mentions record temperatures in Switzerland and Germany but does not directly compare them to conclude which country experienced higher temperatures.
Ans 3. YES
Explanation:
“Professor Phil Jones…willing to speak openly…that the 2003 extreme may be directly linked…to global warming caused by human actions.”
(Paragraph C).
This confirms Professor Jones linked the heat to global warming.
Ans 4. NO
Explanation:
“Germany experienced its warmest-ever night at Weinbiet… with a minimum of 27.6°C (80.6°F).”
(Paragraph G).
The highest night-time temperature recorded was in Germany, not France.
Ans 5. NO
Explanation:
“The CRU has credible temperature records…which date back to 1781.”
(Paragraph D).
Temperature records began in 1781, not 1961.
Ans 6. YES
Explanation:
“It will definitely have left its footprint on several countries, as to how they plan and strategize for climate change in the future.”
(Paragraph K).
This confirms that the heatwave influenced future policies.
Ans 7. University of East Anglia
Explanation:
“The Climatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia.”
(Paragraph B).
The CRU, responsible for monitoring records, is part of this university.
Ans 8. France
Explanation:
“The high night-time temperatures may be linked to the 15,000 excess deaths in August in France.”
(Paragraph H).
France recorded 15,000 extra deaths during the heatwave.
Ans 9. Portugal, Switzerland
Explanation:
“…Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, and Britain had experienced record national highs in temperature.”
(Paragraph B).
Portugal and Switzerland are examples of affected countries.
Ans 10. 3.78°C
Explanation:
“…experienced an average temperature…above the long-term norm at 3.78°C.”
(Paragraph B).
The average temperature deviation was 3.78°C.
Ans 11. Paris
Explanation:
“Between August 7 - August 14, the temperatures in Paris didn’t drop under 23°C (73.4°F).”
(Paragraph G).
Paris experienced high night-time temperatures.
Ans 12. 75 to 94
–
Ans
Explanation:
“The mortality rate increased by 70% in people between the ages of 75 to 94.”
(Paragraph H).
This age group was majorly affected.
Ans 13. D (Every 1000 years)
Explanation:
“The return period…would be around one in a thousand years.”
(Paragraph E).
Professor Jones stated the heatwave would occur once in a thousand years.
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