Task 1: The diagram below show the development of the horse over a period of 40 million years. The evolution of the horse, with particular emphasis on the changing foot structure.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparison where relevant.

IELTS Examiner 1
The development of the horse from 40 million years ago is illustrated in the given diagram. Overall, the species has more than doubled in size and especially the foot has completely changed its structure from being five toed to having a hoof.
The foot itself has evolved dramatically from 40 million years ago being multi-toed, not dissimilar to a primates hand perhaps, to having three toes 10 million years later, with the central one being slightly reminiscent of a modern hoof, though much smaller. Then only minor changes had happened up to 15 million years back before the foot became the hoof we are so familiar with, consisting of a single rounded protective outer bone structure with a radically different lower leg bone arrangement, now having only 4 bones, which supports the greatly increased load.
Although the primitive Eohippus horse is quite small in size, the rest of the features, which include the tail, neck and head, (with the exceptions of the foot and the presence of a light fur covering) are quite familiar to us.
- illustrate (verb) : mô tả
- species (noun): loại, giống loài
- hoof (số nhiều: hooves) (noun) : móng guốc của các loài vật (như bò, ngựa, hươu…)
- evolved dramatically : phát triển vượt bậc
- multi-toed : nhiều ngón chân
- dissimilar (adj) : khác nhau/ không đồng dạng
- a primates hand (noun) : một chi trước của linh trưởng
- reminiscent (adj) : làm cho nhớ lại, gợi nhớ đến
- consisting of : bao gồm
- radically (adv) : hoàn toàn, triệt để
- load (verb) : tải được trên lưng
- primitive (adj) : nguyên thủy
- light fur covering : phủ một lớp lông mỏng
IELTS Examiner 2
The given picture exhibits various steps of horse evolution over a 40-million-year period. Overall, there are two main changes: firstly, the overall size of the animal has increased quite substantially; secondly, the shape and structure of the hooves shows major adaptation.
40 million years ago before the modern horse existed, there was the Eohippus. This organism was spotted, about the size of a large dog, and had what appears to be four distinct toes on its feet. 10 million years later the Mesohippus appeared and was much larger than the Eohippus. It also did not have spots and only had three toes per foot. Approximately fifteen million years ago, the Merychippus evolved and it is with this life form that the resemblance to the modern horse begins to become apparent. The Merychippus has longer, more muscular legs but still possesses feet with three toes; however, the middle toe is shorter than that of its predecessor. Finally, the modern-day horse makes an appearance. This animal is vastly different from its ancestors because it is much taller; with longer legs, a more robust neck, longer mane, and most notably what appears to be a single toe in the form of a hoof.
- exhibit (verb) : trưng bày
- evolution (noun): sự tiến hóa
- hoof (số nhiều: hooves) : móng guốc của các loài vật (như bò, ngựa, hươu…)
- adaptation (noun) : sự điều chỉnh, sự thích ứng
- organism (noun) : cơ thể/sinh vật
- distinct (adj) : riêng biệt
- approximately (adv) : xấp xỉ
- evolve (verb) : phát triển, tiến hóa
- resemblance (noun) : sự tương đồng, sự giống nhau
- apparent (adj) : rõ ràng, hiển nhiên
- muscular (adj) : cơ bắp rắn chắc, vạm vỡ
- possess (verb) : sở hữu
- predecessor (noun) : tiền nhiệm, người đi trước
- ancestor (noun) : tổ tiên
- robust (adj) : tráng kiện, khỏe mạnh
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