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Bài đọc How Does The Biological Clock Tick IELTS Reading
How does the biological clock tick?
A Our life span is restricted. Everyone accepts this as ‘biologically’ obvious. ‘Nothing lives for ever!’ However, in this statement we think of artificially produced, technical objects, products which are subjected to natural wear and tear during use. This leads to the result that at some time or other the object stops working and is unusable (‘death’ in the biological sense). But are the wear and tear and loss of function of technical objects and the death of living organisms really similar or comparable?
B Our ‘dead’ products are ‘static’, closed systems. It is always the basic material which constitutes the object and which, in the natural course of things, is worn down and becomes ‘older’. Ageing in this case must occur according to the laws of physical chemistry and of thermodynamics. Although the same law holds for a living organism, the result of this law is not inexorable in the same way. At least as long as a biological system has the ability to renew itself it could actually become older without ageing; an organism is an open, dynamic system through which new material continuously flows. Destruction of old material and formation of new material are thus in permanent dynamic equilibrium. The material of which the organism is formed changes continuously. Thus our bodies continuously exchange old substance for new, just like a spring which more or less maintains its form and movement, but in which the water molecules are always different.
C Thus ageing and death should not be seen as inevitable, particularly as the organism possesses many mechanisms for repair. It is not, in principle, necessary for a biological system to age and die. Nevertheless, a restricted life span, ageing, and then death are basic characteristics of life. The reason for this is easy to recognise: in nature, the existent organisms either adapt or are regularly replaced by new types. Because of changes in the genetic material (mutations) these have new characteristics and in the course of their individual lives they are tested for optimal or better adaptation to the environmental conditions. Immortality would disturb this system – it needs room for new and better life. This is the basic problem of evolution.
D Every organism has a life span which is highly characteristic. There are striking differences in life span between different species, but within one species the parameter is relatively constant. For example, the average duration of human life has hardly changed in thousands of years. Although more and more people attain an advanced age as a result of developments in medical care and better nutrition, the characteristic upper limit for most remains 80 years. A further argument against the simple wear and tear theory is the observation that the time within which organisms age lies between a few days (even a few hours for unicellular organisms) and several thousand years, as with mammoth trees.
E If a life span is a genetically determined biological characteristic, it is logically necessary to propose the existence of an internal clock, which in some way measures and controls the ageing process and which finally determines death as the last step in a fixed programme. Like the life span, the metabolic rate has for different organisms a fixed mathematical relationship to the body mass. In comparison to the life span this relationship is ‘inverted’: the larger the organism the lower its metabolic rate. Again this relationship is valid not only for birds, but also, similarly on average within the systematic unit, for all other organisms (plants, animals, unicellular organisms).
F Animals which behave ‘frugally’ with energy become particularly old, for example, crocodiles and tortoises. Parrots and birds of prey are often held chained up. Thus they are not able to ‘experience life’ and so they attain a high life span in captivity. Animals which save energy by hibernation or lethargy (e.g. bats or hedgehogs) live much longer than those which are always active. The metabolic rate of mice can be reduced by a very low consumption of food (hunger diet). They then may live twice as long as their well fed comrades. Women become distinctly (about 10 per cent) older than men. If you examine the metabolic rates of the two sexes you establish that the higher male metabolic rate roughly accounts for the lower male life span. That means that they live life ‘energetically’ – more intensively, but not for as long.
G It follows from the above that sparing use of energy reserves should tend to extend life. Extreme high performance sports may lead to optimal cardiovascular performance, but they quite certainly do not prolong life. Relaxation lowers metabolic rate, as does adequate sleep and in general an equable and balanced personality. Each of us can develop his or her own ‘energy saving programme’ with a little self-observation, critical self-control and, above all, logical consistency. Experience will show that to live in this way not only increases the life span but is also very healthy. This final aspect should not be forgotten.
Questions 1-6
Reading Passage 3 has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-G from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i The biological clock
ii Why dying is beneficial
iii The ageing process of men and women
iv Prolonging your life
v Limitations of life span
vi Modes of development of different species
vii A stable life span despite improvements
viii Energy consumption
ix Fundamental differences in ageing of objects and organisms
x Repair of genetic material
| Example Paragraph A | Answer V |
Questions 7-10
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS
from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.
Objects age in accordance with principles of 7 and of 8
Through mutations, organisms can 9 better to the environment
10 would pose a serious problem for the theory of evolution
Questions 11-14
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Điểm số của bạn là % - đúng / câu
Đáp Án How Does The Biological Clock Tick Reading Answers
| 1. ix | 8. thermodynamics |
| 2. ii | 9. adapt |
| 3. vii | 10. immortality |
| 4. i | 11. NO |
| 5. viii | 12. YES |
| 6. iv | 13. NOT GIVEN |
| 7. physical chemistry | 14. YES |
Giải chi tiết How Does The Biological Clock Tick IELTS Reading
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Questions 1-7: Dạng MATCHING HEADINGS Cách làm:
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1 Paragraph B Thông tin trong đoạn B nói rõ đồ vật là “static, closed systems” (hệ đóng, tĩnh) nên bị “worn down”. Còn sinh vật là “open, dynamic system”, luôn đổi chất: “new material continuously flows”, “destruction…formation…dynamic equilibrium”. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là ix. Fundamental differences in ageing of objects and organisms |
…It is always the basic material which constitutes the object and which, in the natural course of things, is worn down and becomes ‘older’.....the result of this law is not inexorable in the same way. At least as long as a biological system has the ability to renew itself it could actually become older without ageing; an organism is an open, dynamic system through which new material continuously flows…Thus our bodies continuously exchange old substance for new... |
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2 Paragraph C Đoạn C khẳng định lão hóa và chết không hẳn tất yếu vì có cơ chế sửa chữa (“many mechanisms for repair”). Nhưng vẫn cần chết vì tiến hóa: sinh vật được thay thế bằng loại mới tốt hơn. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là ii. Why dying is beneficial |
…Thus ageing and death should not be seen as inevitable, particularly as the organism possesses many mechanisms for repair…Immortality would disturb this system - it needs room for new and better life. This is the basic problem of evolution… |
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3 Paragraph D Đoạn D nói rằng tuổi thọ đặc trưng của mỗi loài khá ổn định, và con người dù y tế/dinh dưỡng tốt hơn thì giới hạn tuổi thọ vẫn gần như không đổi (đa số vẫn quanh 80). ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là vii. A stable life span despite improvements |
…within one species the parameter is relatively constant…the average duration of human life has hardly changed in thousands of years…developments in medical care and better nutrition… the characteristic upper limit… remains 80 years… |
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4 Paragraph E Đoạn E nói: nếu tuổi thọ là do gen quyết định, thì phải có một “đồng hồ bên trong” để đo và điều khiển quá trình già đi, và cuối cùng ra lệnh chết như một chương trình cố định. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là i. The biological clock |
…If a life span is a genetically determined biological characteristic… propose the existence of an internal clock… measures and controls the ageing process…and which finally determines death as the last step in a fixed programme… |
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5 Paragraph F Đoạn F đưa nhiều ví dụ cho thấy: loài/nhóm nào tiêu hao ít năng lượng (metabolic rate thấp, hoạt động ít, ngủ đông, ăn ít) thì sống lâu hơn. Tức là đoạn này xoay quanh mức tiêu thụ năng lượng. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là viii. Energy consumption |
…Animals which behave ‘frugally’ with energy become particularly old…Animals which save energy by hibernation… live much longer…If you examine the metabolic rates…the higher male metabolic rate roughly accounts for the lower male life span… |
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6 Paragraph G Đoạn G là phần kết luận + lời khuyên: nếu bạn tiết kiệm năng lượng (giảm metabolic rate) bằng cách ngủ đủ, thư giãn, sống cân bằng… thì có xu hướng sống lâu hơn và còn tốt cho sức khỏe. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là iv. Prolonging your life |
…sparing use of energy reserves should tend to extend life…Relaxation lowers metabolic rate, as does adequate sleep…Each of us can develop… an ‘energy saving programme’…to live in this way… increases the life span… also very healthy… |
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Questions 7-10: Dạng Summary Completion without a wordlist Cách làm:
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Objects age in accordance with principles of 7___ and of 8___ Từ cần điền là tên lĩnh vực khoa học Trong bài đọc nói về đồ vật (objects) già đi theo các quy luật khoa học, và nêu rõ 2 lĩnh vực. ⇒ Đáp án đúng là physical chemistry |
…Ageing in this case must occur according to the laws of physical chemistry and of thermodynamics… |
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Objects age in accordance with principles of 7___ and of 8___ Từ cần điền là tên lĩnh vực khoa học Câu có cấu trúc “principles of 7 and of 8” nên 8 cũng là một lĩnh vực/khoái niệm khoa học. Trong Paragraph B, tác giả viết rõ đồ vật già đi theo luật của physical chemistry và thermodynamics. Vì 8 đứng sau “and of …” nên đáp án chính là từ thứ hai trong cặp đó. ⇒ Đáp án đúng là thermodynamics |
…Ageing in this case must occur according to the laws of physical chemistry and of thermodynamics… |
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Through mutations, organisms can 9___ better to the environment Từ cần điền là động từ Bài đọc nói rõ rong tự nhiên, sinh vật hoặc thích nghi hoặc bị thay thế. Sự thay đổi gen (mutations) tạo đặc điểm mới giúp chúng adapt tốt hơn với môi trường. ⇒ Đáp án đúng là adapt |
..the existent organisms either adapt or are regularly replaced by new types...Because of changes in the genetic material (mutations) these have new characteristics... |
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10___ would pose a serious problem for the theory of evolution Từ cần điền là danh từ, từ cần một “thứ gì đó” (một khái niệm/sự việc) làm chủ thể gây ra vấn đề cho thuyết tiến hoá Bài đọc khẳng định bất tử sẽ làm rối hệ thống tiến hoá vì tiến hoá cần sự thay thế và “chỗ trống” cho dạng sống mới tốt hơn. ⇒ Đáp án đúng là Immortality |
Immortality would disturb this system - it needs room for new and better life…This is the basic problem of evolution… |
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Questions 11 - 13: Dạng TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN & YES/NO/NOT GIVEN Cách làm:
Chọn đáp án bằng cách lần lượt trả lời 2 câu hỏi:
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11 The wear and tear theory applies to both artificial objects and biological systems.
⇒ Đáp án chính xác là NO |
But are the wear and tear and loss of function of technical objects and the death of living organisms really similar or comparable?...Our ‘dead’ products are ‘static’, closed systems…the result of this law is not inexorable in the same way....has the ability to renew itself … an organism is an open, dynamic system… |
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12 In principle, it is possible for a biological system to become older without ageing.
⇒ Đáp án chính xác là YES |
…At least as long as a biological system has the ability to renew itself it could actually become older without ageing; an organism is an open, dynamic system through which new material continuously flows… |
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13 Within seven years, about 90 per cent of a human body is replaced as new.
⇒ Đáp án chính xác là NOT GIVEN |
The material of which the organism is formed changes continuously…Thus our bodies continuously exchange old substance for new… |
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14 Conserving energy may help to extend a human’s life.
Bài đọc nói rõ nếu tiết kiệm năng lượng (dùng “energy reserves” một cách tiết kiệm / giảm metabolic rate) thì sẽ có xu hướng kéo dài tuổi thọ, điều này giống hệt với thông tin trong bài đọc. ⇒ Đáp án chính xác là YES |
…sparing use of energy reserves should tend to extend life… |
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