The passage establishes that meerkats live in organized communities called troops. It notes that different troops follow unique daily habits; for example, one group will rise early, while a neighboring group emerges much later. This confirms answer (1) .
The summary alters "rise" or changing behaviors over time to a localized verb. innovative
While there are a few variations of meerkat-related texts in IELTS prep, the most common one features research conducted by Dr. Alex Thornton from the University of Cambridge. Studocu Vietnam Summary of the "Meerkat Study" Text
Does the guard act out of pure altruism or self-interest?
Identified as the meerkats' favorite food used in the experiment. Study location meerkat study ielts reading answers
The researchers conducted an experiment where the meerkats had to try to open a container. If they did, they were awarded with a (3) __________. However, they also found that the meerkats never learned that it was the (4) __________ part of the container that they needed to open.
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I will structure the article to target the keyword "meerkat study ielts reading answers". The article will include an introduction, a sample passage (based on the Studocu text), common question types and answers (inferred from the exercises I found), a detailed answer key with explanations, and tips for tackling such passages. I will cite the sources I have, like the Studocu page and the WordReference forum. I will also mention the 2025 reading test from TalkFirst.
The primary scientific question behind the study was whether meerkats simply copy behavioral patterns instinctively or if they are actively taught traditions. Dr. Alex Thornton's team set up an experiment involving a transparent container containing a scorpion (a meerkat's favorite food) sealed with an opaque lid. The animals had to figure out how to open it to reach the reward. Key Questions & Answers Explained The passage establishes that meerkats live in organized
Reproductive suppression is another striking feature. In each mob, a dominant alpha female produces 80% of litters; subordinates assist in pup-rearing but rarely breed. Hormonal analysis revealed that subordinate females experience elevated stress cortisol, which suppresses ovulation. However, when alpha females were experimentally removed, subordinates began reproducing within weeks, confirming that social control, not mere infertility, drives this system.
: Often referring to the age of meerkats involved in certain social roles. : Relating to foraging tasks. : Regarding their rising times or desert conditions. aggressively : Describing behavior toward rivals or predators. location/concentrations
| Question | Answer | Explanation | |----------|--------|-------------| | 1 | | Paragraph B: “different frequencies for aerial versus terrestrial threats” → warns against both. | | 2 | False | Paragraph C: “tracked 14 mobs” → more than ten. | | 3 | False | Paragraph D: “subordinates began reproducing within weeks” → they can breed if alpha removed. | | 4 | True | Paragraph E: “smaller mobs had higher juvenile mortality (57% vs. 22% in large mobs)”. | | 5 | True | Paragraph F: “benefits … consistently outweigh costs, as modelled by Hamilton’s rule (rB > C)”. | | 6 | G | “informs organisational psychology … corporate risk management strategies” → business practices. | | 7 | C | “teaching, once considered uniquely human, occurs in meerkats … ‘scaffolding’ behaviour”. | | 8 | D | “elevated stress cortisol, which suppresses ovulation”. | | 9 | E | “correlates with rainfall variability … smaller mobs had higher juvenile mortality”. | | 10 | inclusive fitness | Paragraph B: “inclusive fitness theory resolves this paradox”. | | 11 | scaffolding | Paragraph C: “This ‘scaffolding’ behaviour increased pup survival”. | | 12 | body mass | Paragraph F: “reduces helper body mass by 12%”. | | 13 | terrestrial alarms | Paragraph G: “broadcasting terrestrial alarms deters meerkats from crossing roads”. |
Do not just match words blindly. For Question 4, the text mentions both transparent and opaque . Reading carefully reveals that they attacked the wrong side, meaning they failed to understand the importance of the surface . Core IELTS Vocabulary Learned from This Study The summary alters "rise" or changing behaviors over
The exam will not use the same words as the passage. For example:
Mastering the passage is a major milestone for candidates targeting a Band 7.0 or higher in the IELTS Reading module. This frequently used academic reading text focuses on animal behavior and problem-solving, introducing complex scientific terminology and sophisticated structural shifts.
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