The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Answers

The IELTS Reading test assesses your ability to understand detailed information, identify main ideas, and recognize opinions or attitudes in academic texts. It requires sharp focus and strategic reading skills to answer all questions within the time limit.

This blog provides complete IELTS Reading Answers for the passage “The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre,” including detailed explanations, keyword locations, and expert tips to help you improve accuracy and boost your IELTS Reading band score. The question types found in this IELTS Reading passage are:

•  Matching Information
• Summary Completion

The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Passage

A It is one of the few places where you will be able to spot them all at the same time… the Arabian wolf, an African cheetah, an Arabian leopard, an oryx, a gazelle. These are just some of the animals, which, on the brink of extinction, are now getting a new lease of life thanks to the exemplary work being done at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah. Sharjah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The Breeding Centre’s expertise and facilities have made it a prime destination for illegally imported animals confiscated by UAE and Sharjah authorities. In the last four years, more than 900 mammals and reptiles and 969 birds have arrived at the centre, including 25 North African cheetahs, Houbara bustard and falcons, lions, a baby Nile crocodile and a Burmese python that was left in a rental car at the airport.

B The 25 cheetahs were all imported illegally into the UAE and were intercepted at the UAE harbour and airport entry points. They nearly all arrived malnourished, dehydrated and highly stressed after long voyages stuffed into boxes, crates and suitcases. Now they are bright and full of energy. The Centre’s efforts have also been rewarded when the first cheetah mating took place at the end of 2002. Playing matchmaker with these beautiful creatures is no easy task – successful breeding requires considerable patience and intimate knowledge of each animal’s personality, and it is the result of intensive and expert management of each animal within the group as well as of the group as a whole.

C Because this group was still young and inexperienced in courtship matters, the keepers had to make the introductions only after careful planning and management, much like the lead role in a Jane Austen novel. The female cheetahs were initially intimidated by the presence of the male; however, as they advance to oestrus, the roles are reversed and the male cheetah becomes too wary to approach during the female’s most receptive phase of the cycle. It is the responsibility of the keeper therefore to monitor each individual and to be able to respond to any indication from the cheetahs that the time is right for introducing a pair. The close bond that invariably develops between the keeper and the cheetahs enables the keeper to spot even the most subtle signs from the animals in their care. The trust between keeper and animal has also allowed the opportunity to study cellular changes in the sexual organs of the females during the hormonal cycles that occur prior to reproduction.

D The Breeding Centre’s cheetahs are also participants in the European breeding programme, which aims to ensure that the genetic diversity of this endangered species is maintained and expanded by breeding as many founder animals as possible to introduce new bloodlines into the captive population. In this way, the group held at the centre plays a very important role in the future health of the international captive population, as they are potentially all new founders. Also very important for the Sharjah Breeding Centre is the leopard-breeding programme

E The Arabian leopard, Panthera pardus nimr, is critically endangered around the world and particularly in the Arabian peninsula, where it was once found throughout the coastal mountain ranges. Activities like hunting, trapping and habitat destruction has reduced their range to a few isolated and fragmented populations in Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

F In the 1980s, a captive breeding programme was established near Muscat with the capture of three leopards in southwestern Oman. The breeding programme in the UAE was initiated by the Arabian Leopard Trust and started with the arrival of two mature specimens: a male Arabian leopard from Yemen and a female on breeding loan from Oman in 1995. The arrival of these two animals led to the construction of the Breeding Centre in which the leopard has played the role of flagship species.

G Today there are twelve leopards at the Breeding centre, eight of which have been born at the centre since the first cub in 1998. Once more, the secret to the centre’s success is the close relationship between animal and keeper. The leopard is usually shy and secretive with people around, but here they react positively to the presence of their keepers, approaching the fence so they can be talked to or scratched behind an ear.

H The bond is particularly important during the breeding season when keepers decide to introduce pairs to each other. Male leopards are known to have killed their partners on introduction, so it is essential for the keeper to understand the leopards’ behaviour to decide when it is safe to do so. The trust is also important if keepers need to enter dens to check on and monitor the cub’s growth. Leopard females have been known to kill their cubs if the dens have been disturbed, but the centre’s leopards are quite comfortable with the staff handling the new generation of cubs.

The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1- 8

Write:

A if the statement refers to cheetahs at the Breeding Centre.

B if the statement refers to leopards at the Breeding Centre.

C if the statement refers to both cheetahs and leopards at the Breeding Centre.

D If the statement refers to neither cheetahs nor leopards at the Breeding Centre.

Example Answer:

These animals are endangered C

1 These animals were smuggled into the UAE.

2 At first these animals did not adapt to life at the Sharjah Breeding Centre

3 These animals are regarded as the most important animal at the Centre.

4 Half of these animals were born at the Breeding centre.

5 These animals can be dangerous to one another.

6 The role of the keeper is vital in the breeding programme of these animals.

7 The first of these animals at the Breeding Centre was relatively young.

8 It is normally difficult for humans to approach these animals.

Questions 9 – 13

Complete the summary below.

Example Answer

The Sharjah Breeding Centre now has a __________ of variety animals including birds,…

SUMMARY

The Sharjah Breeding Centre now has a variety of animals including birds, mammals and (9) __________. As its name suggests, the Centre is primarily involved in breeding and (10) __________ the numbers of the species housed there whilst still maintaining the (11) _________ of bloodlines in order to retain genetic health. In spite of problems involving the complex (12) __________ of the animals, a fair amount of (13) __________ has been achieved with North African cheetahs and Arabian leopards.

reptiles  variety  Behaviour  success  creating

expanding  difficulty  diversity  action  habitat

season  fish  change  working  Programme

The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Answers with Explanation

Let’s now review the answers to the questions from the passage in the reading section, The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Answers, and assess your improvement for a high IELTS Reading band score!

1. Answer: A
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph B, Lines 2–3
   Answer Explanation: The passage states, “The 25 cheetahs were all imported illegally into the UAE and were intercepted at the UAE harbour and airport entry points.” This shows that the cheetahs in the breeding centre were smuggled into the UAE. Hence, the answer is A.

2. Answer: D
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph G, Lines 1–3
   Answer Explanation: It is mentioned that “Today there are twelve leopards at the Breeding Centre, eight of which have been born at the centre since the first cub in 1998. Once more, the secret to the centre’s success is the close relationship between animal and keeper.” There is no mention that the leopards failed to adapt initially. Hence, the answer is D.

3. Answer: B
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph F, Lines 4–6
   Answer Explanation: According to the passage, “The arrival of these two animals led to the construction of the Breeding Centre in which the leopard has played the role of flagship species.” This shows that the leopard is regarded as the most important animal at the Centre. Hence, the answer is B.

4. Answer: D
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph A, Lines 7–10
   Answer Explanation: The passage notes, “In the last four years, more than 900 mammals and reptiles and 969 birds have arrived at the centre...” However, it does not mention that half of these animals were born at the centre. Hence, the answer is D.

5. Answer: B
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph H, Lines 2–3
   Answer Explanation: It is written that “Male leopards are known to have killed their partners on introduction...” indicating that leopards can be dangerous to one another. Hence, the answer is B.

6. Answer: C
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph G, Lines 2–3
   Answer Explanation: The passage states, “Once more, the secret to the centre’s success is the close relationship between animal and keeper.” This suggests that the keeper’s role is vital in the breeding programme. Hence, the answer is C.

7. Answer: A
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph C, Lines 1–3
   Answer Explanation: The text mentions, “Because this group was still young and inexperienced in courtship matters...” Since Paragraph C continues from B, it implies that the first cheetahs were young when they arrived. Hence, the answer is A.

8. Answer: B
   Question Type: Matching Information
   Answer Location: Paragraph G, Lines 3–5
   Answer Explanation: According to the passage, “The leopard is usually shy and secretive with people around, but here they react positively to the presence of their keepers...” indicating that leopards are normally difficult for humans to approach. Hence, the answer is B.

9. Answer: reptiles
   Question Type: Summary Completion
   Answer Location: Paragraph A, Lines 7–10
   Answer Explanation: The passage notes, “More than 900 mammals and reptiles and 969 birds have arrived at the centre...” showing that the centre houses a variety of animals including reptiles. Hence, the answer is reptiles.

10. Answer: expanding
    Question Type: Summary Completion
    Answer Location: Paragraphs A–H
    Answer Explanation: The centre’s main goal is to breed and increase the number of rescued animals. Thus, it focuses on expanding the population of each species. Hence, the answer is expanding.

11. Answer: diversity
    Question Type: Summary Completion
    Answer Location: Paragraph D, Lines 1–4
    Answer Explanation: It is stated that the programme “aims to ensure that the genetic diversity of this endangered species is maintained...” which means the centre aims to preserve genetic diversity. Hence, the answer is diversity.

12. Answer: behaviour
    Question Type: Summary Completion
    Answer Location: Paragraphs C, G, and H
    Answer Explanation: These paragraphs discuss the complex behaviour of leopards and cheetahs and how keepers build trust to help them breed successfully. Hence, the answer is behaviour.

13. Answer: success
    Question Type: Summary Completion
    Answer Location: Paragraphs C, G, and H
    Answer Explanation: The same sections highlight the success of breeding programmes for both North African cheetahs and Arabian leopards. Hence, the answer is success.

Tips to Ace Different Types of Questions in the Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre - IELTS Reading Passage

Let us check out some quick IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to answer the types of questions in the Reading Answers.

Matching Information  

Matching Information questions ask you to locate specific facts or details in the passage and link them to statements or headings. Precision and careful reading are key to selecting the correct answer.

1. Scan for Keywords: Look for proper nouns, numbers, dates, or unique phrases in the question and locate them in the passage.
2. Understand Synonyms: The text may not use the exact words as the question; identify synonyms or paraphrased expressions.
3. Focus on Paragraphs: Often, each option is linked to a specific paragraph. Skim paragraphs for the main idea rather than reading word by word.
4. Check Context Carefully: Ensure the information matches the question exactly; sometimes similar statements appear but do not answer the question.
5. Eliminate Wrong Options: Cross out paragraphs or statements that clearly don’t match, which increases your chances of selecting the correct answer.

Summary Completion  

Summary Completion questions test your ability to identify key points and fill gaps using words from the passage. Grammar, context, and logical flow are essential.

1. Identify Keywords in the Summary: Highlight nouns, verbs, or phrases that indicate what kind of word (noun, verb, adjective) is needed.
2. Find the Relevant Paragraph: Skim the passage to locate where the summary’s ideas are discussed; focus only on that section.
3. Use the Correct Form of the Word: Check the grammar and sentence structure; often you need to change verb tense or use a noun/adjective form.
4. Pay Attention to Synonyms: The passage may use different words with the same meaning; don’t rely solely on exact wording.
5. Check for Logical Flow: Ensure the completed summary makes sense and maintains the sequence of ideas from the passage.

Mastering passages like “The Big Cats at the Sharjah Breeding Centre” requires practice, attention to detail, and effective keyword strategies. By reviewing the answers and expert tips shared in this blog, you can enhance your comprehension skills and approach the IELTS Reading test with greater confidence and precision. Keep practising with more IELTS Reading Recent Actual Tests  and answers on IELTSMaterial.com to improve your speed, accuracy, and overall performance.

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