Table of Contents
Passage
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 a 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 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 reedbedsites 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 then 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.
F. The final phase of 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 fledgingand 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.
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 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 transectshave been established. Otter and brown-hare occur on the site as does the rare plant, pillwort.
Questions
Questions14-20
The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-H
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
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-Hfrom the list below.
Write the correct number, i-viii, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.
14 Paragraph A
15 Paragraph B
16 Paragraph C
17 Paragraph D
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?
Questions 27
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 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 UK.
Answers
Below are the answers, key words, synonyms and full explanations for the IELTS Reading passage Saving the British Bitterns (Passage 2, Questions 14–27).
Questions 14–20: Matching Headings (paragraphs A, B, C, D, F, G, H)
14. Paragraph A
Answer: ii (fluctuation in bittern number)
Key words: extinct in the UK by 1886 … numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming males in the 1950s, falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s
Synonyms: fluctuation in numbers = extinct, then rose to a peak, then fell = “Breeding bitterns became extinct … numbers rose to a peak … falling to fewer than 20 by the 1990s”
Explanation: Paragraph A charts the ups and downs of bittern numbers over time → ii.
15. Paragraph B
Answer: v (Began in calculation of the number)
Key words: Our first challenge was to develop standard methods to monitor their numbers … a method to count them
Synonyms: began by calculating the number = first developed methods to monitor/count them = “Our first challenge was to develop standard methods to monitor their numbers … we developed a method to count them”
Explanation: Paragraph B is about the first step — working out how to count the birds → v.
16. Paragraph C
Answer: i (research findings into habitats and decisions made)
Key words: understanding of the habitat needs … broad recommendations on how to manage and rehabilitate reedbeds … funding was provided
Synonyms: research findings into habitats and decisions = habitat research leading to management recommendations and funding = “Our first direct understanding of the habitat needs … recommendations on how to manage and rehabilitate reedbeds … were made, and funding was provided”
Explanation: Paragraph C reports habitat research and the decisions/recommendations made from it → i.
17. Paragraph D
Answer: viii (research into the reedbed)
Key words: we radio-tracked male bitterns … clear preferences for feeding in the wetter reedbed margins … female bitterns preferred to nest in areas of continuous vegetation
Synonyms: research into the reedbed = radio-tracking to find preferred reedbed feeding and nesting areas = “we radio-tracked male bitterns … This showed clear preferences for feeding in the wetter reedbed margins”
Explanation: Paragraph D details fine-scale research on how bitterns use the reedbed → viii.
18. Paragraph F
Answer: vi (importance of food)
Key words: Many chicks did not survive to fledging and starvation was found to be the most likely reason … healthy native fish populations
Synonyms: importance of food = chicks died of starvation, so healthy fish supply matters = “starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise … recommendations on habitat and water conditions to promote healthy native fish populations”
Explanation: Paragraph F shows why food (fish) is critical to chick survival → vi.
19. Paragraph G
Answer: iii (protect the young bittern)
Key words: radio-tagged young bitterns were found to seek out new sites … A second EU LIFE funded project aims to provide these suitable sites
Synonyms: protect the young bittern = securing suitable new sites for young birds to settle and breed = “Once independent, radio-tagged young bitterns were found to seek out new sites … A network of 19 sites … will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population”
Explanation: Paragraph G is about safeguarding the independent young birds by providing new sites → iii.
20. Paragraph H
Answer: iv (international cooperation works)
Key words: success has only been achieved through the trust, hard work and dedication of all the managers, owners and wardens of sites
Synonyms: cooperation works = success achieved through the combined effort of many managers, owners and wardens = “success has only been achieved through the trust, hard work and dedication of all the managers, owners and wardens of sites that have implemented … management”
Explanation: Paragraph H credits the rise to 55 males to the cooperation of many people and organisations → iv.
Questions 21–26: Short Answer (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER)
21. When did the bittern reach its peak of numbers?
Answer: (the) 1950s
Key words: numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s
Synonyms: reached its peak = rose to a peak of about 70 males in the 1950s = “numbers rose to a peak of about 70 booming (singing) males in the 1950s”
Explanation: Bittern numbers peaked in the 1950s → 1950s.
22. How does the author describe the bittern’s character?
Answer: shy
Key words: Bitterns have cryptic plumage and a shy nature
Synonyms: character = a shy nature = “Bitterns have cryptic plumage and a shy nature, usually remaining hidden within the cover of reedbed vegetation”
Explanation: The bittern is described as shy → shy.
23. What is the main cause of the bittern chick’s death?
Answer: starvation
Key words: starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise
Synonyms: main cause of death = starvation (the most likely reason for their demise) = “Many chicks did not survive to fledging and starvation was found to be the most likely reason for their demise”
Explanation: Most chicks died of starvation → starvation.
24. What is the main food for the bittern chick?
Answer: (native) fish
Key words: The fish prey fed to chicks was dominated by those species penetrating into the reed edge
Synonyms: main food = the fish prey fed to chicks = “The fish prey fed to chicks … recommendations … to promote healthy native fish populations”
Explanation: Chicks are fed mainly on fish → fish.
25. What system secures the stability of the bittern population?
Answer: partnership project / network (of sites)
Key words: A network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population
Synonyms: system that secures stability = a network of sites from a partnership project securing a sustainable population = “A network of 19 sites developed through this partnership project will secure a more sustainable UK bittern population”
Explanation: A network of sites created by a partnership project secures the population → partnership project / network of sites.
26. Besides the bittern and rare vegetation, which mammals does the protection plan benefit?
Answer: otter and brown-hare
Key words: Otter and brown-hare occur on the site as does the rare plant, pillwort
Synonyms: mammals that benefit besides bittern and rare plant = otter and brown-hare (alongside the rare plant pillwort) = “Otter and brown-hare occur on the site as does the rare plant, pillwort”
Explanation: Besides the bittern and the rare plant, the site benefits the otter and brown-hare → otter and brown-hare.
Question 27: Multiple Choice
27. What is the main purpose of this passage?
Answer: B (Cooperation can protect an endangered species)
Key words: 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
Synonyms: cooperation can protect an endangered species = science plus the combined effort of many people saved the bittern = “Although science has been at the core … success has only been achieved through the trust, hard work and dedication of all the managers, owners and wardens”
Explanation: The passage shows how research and the joint effort of many organisations rescued an endangered bird → B.
Answer Key (Quick Reference)
| Q | Answer | Q | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | ii | 21 | (the) 1950s |
| 15 | v | 22 | shy |
| 16 | i | 23 | starvation |
| 17 | viii | 24 | (native) fish |
| 18 | vi | 25 | partnership project / network of sites |
| 19 | iii | 26 | otter and brown-hare |
| 20 | iv | 27 | B |
