Saving the British Bitterns IELTS Reading Passage with Answers
Reading Passage 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-27 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Saving the British Bitterns
A
Breeding bitterns became extinct in the UK by 1886 but, following re-colonisation early last century, numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s. In the late 1980s, it was clear that the bittern was in trouble, but there was little information on which to base recovery actions.
B
Bitterns have cryptic plumage and shy nature, usually remaining hidden within the cover of reedbed vegetation. Our first challenge was to develop standard methods to monitor their numbers. The boom of the male bittern is its most distinctive feature during the breeding season, and we developed a method to count them using the sound patterns unique to each individual. This not only allows us to be much more certain of the number of booming males in the UK but also enables us to estimate the local survival of males from one year to the next.
C
Our first direct understanding of the habitat needs of breeding bitterns came from comparisons of reedbed sites that had lost their booming birds with those that retained them. This research showed that bitterns had been retained in reedbeds where the natural process of succession, or drying out, had been slowed through management. Based on this work, broad recommendations on how to manage and rehabilitate reedbeds for bitterns were made, and funding was provided through the EU LIFE Fund to manage 13 sites within the core breeding range. This project, though led by the RSPB, involved many other organisations.
D
To refine these recommendations and provide fine-scale, quantitative habitat prescriptions on the bitterns’ preferred feeding habitat, we radio-tracked male bitterns on the RSPB’s Minsmere and Leighton Moss reserves. This showed clear preferences for feeding in the wetter reedbed margins, particularly within the reedbed next to larger open pools. The average home range sizes of the male bitterns we followed (about 20 hectares) provided a good indication of the area of reedbed needed when managing or creating habitat for this species. Female bitterns undertake all the incubation and care of the young, so it was important to understand their needs as well. Over the course of our research, we located 87 bittern nests and found that female bitterns preferred to nest in areas of continuous vegetation, well into the reedbed, but where water was still present during the driest part of the breeding season.
E
The success of the habitat prescriptions developed from this research has been spectacular. For instance, at Minsmere, booming bittern numbers gradually increased from one to 10 following reedbed lowering, a management technique designed to halt the drying out process. After a low point of 11 booming males in 1997, bittern numbers in Britain responded to all the habitat management work and started to increase for the first time since the 1950s. ieltsxpres s
F
The final phase of the research involved understanding the diet, survival and dispersal of bittern chicks. To do this we fitted small radio tags to young bittern chicks in the nest, to determine their fate through to fledge and beyond. Many chicks did not survive to fledging and starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise. The fish prey fed to chicks was dominated by those species penetrating into the reed edge. So, an important element of recent studies (including a PhD with the University of Hull) has been the development of recommendations on habitat and water conditions to promote healthy native fish populations.
G
Once independent, radio-tagged young bitterns were found to seek out new sites during their first winter; a proportion of these would remain on new sites to breed if the conditions were suitable. A second EU LIFE funded project aims to provide these suitable sites in new areas. A network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population with successful breeding outside of the core area, less vulnerable to chance events and sea-level rise. I E L T S X P R E SS
H
By 2004, the number of booming male bitterns in the UK had increased to 55, with almost all of the increase being on those sites undertaking management based on advice derived from our research. Although science has been at the core of the bittern story, success has only been achieved through the trust, hard work and dedication of all the managers, owners and wardens of sites that have implemented, in some cases very drastic, management to secure the future of this wetland species in the UK. The constructed bunds and five major sluices now control the water level over 82 ha, with a further 50 ha coming under control in the winter of 2005/06. Reed establishment has principally used natural regeneration or planted seedlings to provide small core areas that will in time expand to create a bigger reed area. To date, nearly 275,000 seedlings have been planted and reed cover is extensive. Over 3 km of new ditches have been formed, 3.7 km of the existing ditch have been re-profiled and 2.2 km of old meander (former estuarine features) have been cleaned out.
I
Bitterns now regularly winter on the site with some indication that they are staying longer into the spring. No breeding has yet occurred but a booming male was present in the spring of 2004. A range of wildfowl breed, as well as a good number of reedbed passerines including reed bunting, reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers. Numbers of wintering shoveler have increased so that the site now holds a UK important wintering population. Malltraeth Reserve now forms part of the UK network of key sites for water vole (a UK priority species) and 12 monitoring transects have been established. Otter and brown-hare occur on the sites as does the rare plant, pillwort.
Questions 14-20
The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-H from the list below.
Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i research findings into habitats and decisions made
ii fluctuation in bittern number
iii protect the young bittern
iv international cooperation works
v Began in calculation of the number
vi importance of food
vii Research has been successful
viii research into the reedbed
ix reserve established holding bittern in winter
14 Paragraph A
15 Paragraph B
16 Paragraph C
17 Paragraph D
Example
Paragraph A vii
18 Paragraph F
19 Paragraph G
20 Paragraph H
Questions 21-26
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
21 When did the bird of bitten reach its peak of number?
22 What does the author describe the bittern’s character?
23 What is the main cause for the chick bittern’s death?
24 What is the main food for chick bittern?
25 What system does it secure the stability for bittern’s population?
26 Besides bittern and rare vegetation, what mammal does the protection plan benefit?
Question 27
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in box 27 on your answer sheet.
27 What is the main purpose of this passage?
A Main characteristic of a bird called bittern.
B Cooperation can protect an endangered species.
C The difficulty of access information of bittern’s habitat and diet.
D To save wetland and reedbed in the UK.
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Saving the British Bitterns IELTS Reading Answers
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14. ii
15. v
16. i
17. viii
18. vi
19. iii
20. iv
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21. 1950s
22. (being) shy/shyness
23. starvation
24. (native) fish
25. partnership project/ network (of sites)/ partnership project network
26. Otter and brown-hare
27. B
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Saving the British Bitterns IELTS Reading Answers Explanation
Question 14.
Answer: (II) Fluctuation in bittern number
Supporting sentence: Breeding bitterns became extinct in the UK by 1886 but, following re-colonisation early last century, numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s.
Keywords: breeding bitterns, extinct, numbers, rose
Keyword location: Section A, 1st line. ielts xpress
Explanation: From 1886 to the late 1990s the population growth of the bitterns kept fluctuating.
Question 15.
Answer: (V) Began in calculation of the number
Supporting sentence: Our first challenge was to develop standard methods to monitor their numbers.
Keywords: methods, monitor, numbers
Keyword location: Section B, 1st line.
Explanation: The first task in hand was to determine the actual numbers of bitterns present.
Question 16.
Answer: (I) Research findings into habitats and decisions made
Supporting sentence: This research showed that bitterns had been retained in reedbeds where the natural process of succession, or drying out, had been slowed through management. Based on this work, broad recommendations on how to manage and rehabilitate reedbeds for bitterns were made, and funding was provided.
Keywords: research, rehabilitate, recommendations, funding, provided
Keyword location: Section C, 2nd line.
Explanation: A research was conducted on the habitats of bitterns and decisions were taken based on its recommendations.
Question 17.
Answer: (VIII) Research into the reedbed
Supporting sentence: To refine these recommendations ….we radio-tracked …Over the course of our research…. well into the reedbed.
Keywords: research, reedbed, radio-tracked
Keyword location: Section D, 4th line.
Explanation: A large scale research was done on the reedbed vegetation.
Question 18.
Answer:(VI) Importance of food
Supporting sentence: The final phase of research involved understanding the diet, survival and dispersal of bittern chicks.
Keywords: understanding, diet, survival
Keyword location: Section F, 1st line.
Explanation: An important part of the research was to understand the link between food and the sustainability of the bitterns.
Question 19.
Answer: (III) Protect the young bittern
Supporting sentence: Once independent, radio-tagged young bitterns were found to seek out new sites during their first winter; a proportion of these would remain on new sites to breed if the conditions were suitable…. secure a more sustainable UK bittern population with successful breeding outside of the core area.
Keywords: young, bitterns, secure, breed, sustainable, population
Keyword location: Section G, 2nd line.
Explanation: The main goal was to secure the population of young bitterns.
Question 20.
Answer:(IV) International cooperation works
Supporting sentence: Although science has been at the core of the bittern story, success has only been achieved through the trust, hard work and dedication of all the managers, owners and wardens of sites that have implemented it.
Keywords: trust, hard work, dedication, all, managers, owners, wardens
Keyword location: Section H, 2nd line.
Explanation: The international cooperation between various stakeholders led to the revival in the population growth of bitterns across the UK. ieltsxpress
Question 21.
Answer: 1950s
Supporting sentence: Breeding bitterns became extinct in the UK by 1886 but, following re-colonisation early last century, numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s.
Keywords:1950, rose, peak
Keyword location: Section A, 1st line.
Explanation: In the year 1950, the population of bitterns in the UK was at its peak led by the re-colonisation by the male bitterns.
Question 22.
Answer: (BEING) SHY/ SHYNESS.
Supporting sentence: Bitterns have cryptic plumage and a shy nature, usually remaining hidden within the cover of reedbed vegetation.
Keywords: shy, nature, remaining, hidden
Keyword location: Section B, 1st line.
Explanation: The bitterns in general are extremely shy in nature often hiding from our gaze, in the thick cover of the plants.
Question 23.
Answer:STARVATION
Supporting sentence: Many chicks did not survive to fledging and starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise.
Keywords:did not survive, starvation, demise
Keyword location: Section F, 2nd line.
Explanation: The leading cause of death among the chick bitterns is starvation caused due to the lack of their natural foods like fish.
Question 24.
Answer: NATIVE (FISH)
Supporting sentence: The fish prey fed to chicks was dominated by those species penetrating into the reed edge.
Keywords: fish, prey, chicks
Keyword location: Section F, 2nd line.
Explanation: The main food of prey that is fed to the chick bittern are fishes.
Question 25.
Answer: PARTNERSHIP PROJECT/ NETWORK (OF SITES)/ PARTNERSHIP PROJECT NETWORK
Supporting sentence: A network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population with successful breeding outside of the core area, less vulnerable to chance events and sea level rise.
Keywords:network, partnership, project, successful, breeding, less, vulnerable
Keyword location: Section G, 2nd line.
Explanation: The partnership projects, networking, and the cooperation between various sites and the coming together of many people led to save and stabilise the bittern population.
Question 26.
Answer: OTTER AND BROWN – HARE
Supporting sentence: Otter and brown-hare occur on the site as does the rare plant.
Keywords:otter, brown hare, occur, besides, rare, plant
Keyword location: Section I, 4th line.
Explanation: Besides the bittern chicks, the restoration of natural habitat also benefited the growth and sustain the population of otters and brown hare to a great extent.
Question 27. What is the main purpose of this passage?
Answer: (B) Cooperation can protect an endangered species.
Supporting sentence: A network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population with successful breeding outside of the core area, less vulnerable to chance events and sea-level rise.
Keywords:partnership, network, successful, breeding, less, vulnerable
Keyword location: Section G, 2nd line.
Explanation: The text shows that only through cooperation and shared responsibility can we come together to protect an endangered species and bring back any flora and fauna on the verge of extinction. ieltsxpress
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