Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears: IELTS Reading Answers Explained

Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears is an IELTS Academic Reading passage about the biological adaptations, intelligence, and behavior of polar bears. It also shows how studying these animals may contribute to scientific and medical research.

For IELTS learners, the passage is useful for practicing True/False/Not Given questions and one-word completion tasks. To answer correctly, you need to recognize paraphrases, distinguish contradiction from missing information, and follow the word limit carefully.

Overview of Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears

Before checking the answers, it is helpful to understand the main ideas of the passage. It does not focus only on wildlife conservation but also examines what scientists can learn from polar bears.

The passage mainly discusses:

• how polar bears store large amounts of body fat;
• genetic adaptations related to cholesterol;
• how female polar bears maintain strong bones during long periods without food;
• the possible medical value of studying these adaptations;
• evidence of problem-solving, play, and emotional behavior in polar bears.

Understanding this structure makes it easier to locate information when answering the questions.

Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears Reading Answers

The first seven questions are True/False/Not Given, while Questions 8–13 require ONE WORD ONLY.

Instead of memorizing the answers, try to identify the evidence and paraphrases that lead to each one.

Detailed Answers for Questions 1–7

Questions 1–7 require you to compare each statement carefully with the information in the passage.

Question 1: FALSE

The statement suggests that the fat stored under a polar bear’s skin causes health problems. However, the passage explains that polar bears can carry a very thick layer of fat without suffering from the same obesity-related conditions that humans might experience.

Because the meaning is opposite, the answer is FALSE.

Key lesson: Choose FALSE when the passage clearly contradicts the statement.

Question 2: FALSE

The statement says that researchers compared different populations of polar bears. In fact, the study compares polar bears with brown bears, which are closely related but live in warmer environments.

The comparison described in the statement is therefore incorrect.

Question 3: NOT GIVEN

The passage mentions a comparison between the genetic structures of polar bears and brown bears. However, it does not say whether these researchers were the first people to conduct such a comparison.

Because this extra detail cannot be confirmed, the answer is NOT GIVEN.

Key lesson: Do not add information based on assumptions or outside knowledge.

Question 4: TRUE

The passage discusses a gene connected with the regulation of LDL, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

This supports the statement that polar bears have a genetic adaptation related to controlling this type of cholesterol, so the answer is TRUE.

Question 5: TRUE

Female polar bears can spend around six months without eating while they remain in their maternity dens before and after giving birth.

This directly matches the statement, making the answer TRUE.

Question 6: FALSE

The statement claims that female polar bears have weak bones when they leave their dens. The passage gives the opposite information: their bones remain relatively strong despite fasting, pregnancy, and feeding their young.

The answer is therefore FALSE.

Question 7: TRUE

Researchers believe that understanding how polar bears maintain bone strength may eventually help humans, especially people who spend long periods with limited physical movement.

Because the passage supports this idea, the answer is TRUE.

Detailed Answers for Questions 8–13

Questions 8–13 are completion questions. Each gap requires ONE WORD ONLY, so both meaning and grammar must be checked carefully.

Question 8: violent

Answer: violent

The passage describes an older view of polar bears as both unintelligent and aggressive. The adjective that completes the summary is violent.

Question 9: tool

Answer: tool

One polar bear used a branch deliberately to achieve a particular purpose. The branch therefore functioned as a tool.

This question tests your ability to recognize paraphrasing rather than simple word matching.

Question 10: meat

Answer: meat

The animal used the branch to reach some meat that it could not easily access.

The word also fits grammatically because meat is an uncountable noun.

Question 11: photographer

Answer: photographer

The passage describes a polar bear finding a way to approach a raised platform where a photographer was positioned.

The question requires you to follow the sequence of the bear’s actions.

Question 12: game

Answer: game

Polar bears were observed arranging and knocking over objects repeatedly. This behavior was compared to a game.

The example suggests that polar bears may engage in forms of play.

Question 13: frustration

Answer: frustration

After an unsuccessful hunting attempt, a polar bear displayed behavior that researchers interpreted as possible frustration.

The answer is a noun naming an emotional state.

Useful Vocabulary from Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears

Learning vocabulary from the passage can also improve your ability to recognize paraphrases in other IELTS Reading texts.

When learning these words, focus on synonyms and word families rather than memorizing definitions alone.

How to Approach This IELTS Reading Passage

A clear method can help you answer Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears more accurately.

First, read the questions and underline important keywords such as scientific terms, comparisons, dates, and strong words like first, only, or all. These can help you locate the relevant part of the passage.

For True/False/Not Given questions, remember:

• TRUE: The passage supports the statement.
• FALSE: The passage gives the opposite information.
• NOT GIVEN: The passage does not provide enough information.

The most important distinction is between FALSE and NOT GIVEN. FALSE requires a contradiction, while NOT GIVEN means the information is missing.

For completion questions, predict the type of word needed before searching. Ask whether the blank requires a noun, adjective, or verb. Then locate the relevant sentence and copy the exact word while following the instruction ONE WORD ONLY.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Matching words instead of meanings: IELTS often replaces words with synonyms or paraphrases.
  Example: Wrong: choosing an answer only because fat appears in both places → Correct: check whether the meaning is the same or opposite.
• Confusing FALSE with NOT GIVEN: Missing information does not mean the statement is false.
  Example: Wrong: assuming researchers were not the first because the passage does not say so → Correct: choose NOT GIVEN.
• Ignoring limiting words: Words such as first, only, all, and always can completely change the meaning of a statement.
• Breaking the word limit: If the instruction says ONE WORD ONLY, a two-word answer will not be accepted.
• Using outside knowledge: IELTS Reading answers must be based only on the passage.

See more:

• The Suggest Structure in English: Rules, Usage, and Examples
• English Vowels Explained: Definition, Types, and Correct Pronunciation

Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears is a useful passage for practicing careful reading, paraphrase recognition, and evidence-based answering. Pay particular attention to the difference between contradiction and missing information, and always follow the word limit in completion tasks.

Rather than memorizing the answer key, use each question to understand how IELTS transforms ideas through paraphrasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What question types appear in Why We Need to Protect Polar Bears?
The passage includes True/False/Not Given questions and one-word completion questions, testing both detailed reading and paraphrase recognition.

What is the main strategy for True/False/Not Given questions?
Choose TRUE for agreement, FALSE for direct contradiction, and NOT GIVEN when the passage does not provide enough information.

Should I memorize the answers to this passage?
No. It is more useful to study the evidence and paraphrases behind each answer so that you can apply the same skills to other IELTS Reading passages.

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