TOEFL Academic Reading — 25 Questions

Wetlands include marshes, swamps, peatlands, and other environments in which water strongly influences soil and biological communities. They perform several ecological functions. During heavy rainfall, some wetlands temporarily store water and can reduce downstream flooding. Wetland plants and soils may also trap sediments and transform certain nutrients, affecting water quality. In addition, wetlands provide habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, insects, and specialized plants. For much of modern history, many wetlands were drained because they were viewed as unproductive or as obstacles to agriculture and construction. Ecologists now recognize that losing wetlands can remove services that would otherwise be expensive to replace with engineered infrastructure. Nevertheless, wetland restoration is not simply a matter of adding water to a low-lying area. Successful projects must consider hydrology, soil chemistry, plant communities, surrounding land use, and the sources of water entering the site. Restored wetlands can recover important functions, but they may not become identical to the ecosystems that existed before disturbance. For this reason, scientists evaluate restoration using multiple indicators over long periods rather than relying on appearance alone.
What is the main idea of the passage?

In regions where trees experience strong seasonal changes, many species form one visible growth ring each year. The width and density of these rings can preserve information about environmental conditions during the growing season. A wide ring may indicate favorable conditions, such as sufficient moisture and moderate temperatures, whereas a narrow ring can reflect drought, cold, competition, or other stresses. Scientists who reconstruct past climate from tree rings do not usually rely on a single tree. They compare overlapping ring patterns from many living and dead trees, a method known as cross-dating. Cross-dating helps researchers assign each ring to the correct calendar year and identify missing or false rings. Even then, ring width cannot be interpreted as a simple thermometer or rain gauge. Growth is influenced by multiple factors, and different species respond differently to temperature and precipitation. To strengthen climate reconstructions, researchers calibrate tree-ring measurements against modern weather records and often compare them with other evidence such as lake sediments, ice cores, and historical documents. When several independent records show similar patterns, confidence in the reconstruction increases.
Why can a narrow ring not automatically be interpreted as evidence of drought?

Migration allows animals to exploit resources that vary across space and time. Birds may travel between breeding and wintering grounds, while some fish move between freshwater and marine environments. The benefits of migration can be substantial, but so are the costs. Long journeys require energy and may expose animals to predators, storms, unfamiliar habitats, and human-made obstacles. Migratory behavior is guided by a combination of inherited tendencies and environmental cues. Day length, temperature, food availability, and social information can all influence when movement begins. Navigation mechanisms differ among species. Some animals use the position of the Sun or stars, while others detect Earth’s magnetic field or recognize landmarks. Because migration depends on conditions at multiple locations, habitat loss at a single stopover site can affect populations that spend most of the year elsewhere. Conservation biologists therefore increasingly emphasize the protection of connected networks of habitats rather than isolated reserves. Climate change adds another complication by altering the timing of seasonal events. If insects emerge earlier in spring but migratory birds do not adjust their arrival time, the birds may miss a critical food peak.
Select TWO navigation methods mentioned in the passage.

Wetlands include marshes, swamps, peatlands, and other environments in which water strongly influences soil and biological communities. They perform several ecological functions. During heavy rainfall, some wetlands temporarily store water and can reduce downstream flooding. Wetland plants and soils may also trap sediments and transform certain nutrients, affecting water quality. In addition, wetlands provide habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, insects, and specialized plants. For much of modern history, many wetlands were drained because they were viewed as unproductive or as obstacles to agriculture and construction. Ecologists now recognize that losing wetlands can remove services that would otherwise be expensive to replace with engineered infrastructure. Nevertheless, wetland restoration is not simply a matter of adding water to a low-lying area. Successful projects must consider hydrology, soil chemistry, plant communities, surrounding land use, and the sources of water entering the site. Restored wetlands can recover important functions, but they may not become identical to the ecosystems that existed before disturbance. For this reason, scientists evaluate restoration using multiple indicators over long periods rather than relying on appearance alone.
How can some wetlands reduce downstream flooding?

Migration allows animals to exploit resources that vary across space and time. Birds may travel between breeding and wintering grounds, while some fish move between freshwater and marine environments. The benefits of migration can be substantial, but so are the costs. Long journeys require energy and may expose animals to predators, storms, unfamiliar habitats, and human-made obstacles. Migratory behavior is guided by a combination of inherited tendencies and environmental cues. Day length, temperature, food availability, and social information can all influence when movement begins. Navigation mechanisms differ among species. Some animals use the position of the Sun or stars, while others detect Earth’s magnetic field or recognize landmarks. Because migration depends on conditions at multiple locations, habitat loss at a single stopover site can affect populations that spend most of the year elsewhere. Conservation biologists therefore increasingly emphasize the protection of connected networks of habitats rather than isolated reserves. Climate change adds another complication by altering the timing of seasonal events. If insects emerge earlier in spring but migratory birds do not adjust their arrival time, the birds may miss a critical food peak.
What mismatch does the passage describe as a possible climate-change problem?