Zoo Conservation Programmes Reading Answers
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The ‘Zoo Conservation Programmes’ Academic Reading Passage is a good resource for anyone who is preparing for the IELTS Reading test. This passage will help you understand what kind of reading passages you will encounter and the questions that you will be asked to solve.
By taking the ‘Zoo Conservation Programmes’ IELTS Reading Answer, you can acquaint yourself with the types of questions that you will be asked and the level of difficulty that you can expect.
The question types in this Reading Passage include:
- Yes/No/Not Given (Q. 1-7)
- Multiple Choice Questions (Q. 8-13)
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Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on questions 1-13, which are based on the Reading Passage below. |
Zoo Conservation Programmes
One of London Zoo’s recent advertisements caused me some irritation, so patently did it distort reality. Headlined “Without zoos, you might as well tell these animals to get stuffed”, it was bordered with illustrations of several endangered species and went on to extol the myth that without zoos like London Zoo these animals “will almost certainly disappear forever”. With the zoo world’s rather mediocre record on conservation, one might be forgiven for being slightly skeptical about such an advertisement.
Zoos were originally created as places of entertainment, and their suggested involvement with conservation didn’t seriously arise until about 30 years ago when the Zoological Society of London held the first formal international meeting on the subject. Eight years later, a series of world conferences took place, entitled “The Breeding of Endangered Species”, and from this point onwards conservation became the zoo community’s buzzword. This commitment has now been clearly defined in The World Zoo Conservation Strategy (WZGS, September 1993), which although an important and welcome document does seem to be based on an unrealistic optimism about the nature of the zoo industry.
The WZCS estimates that there are about 10,000 zoos in the world, of which around 1,000 represent a core of quality collections capable of participating in coordinated conservation programmes. This is probably the document’s first failing, as I believe that 10,000 is a serious underestimate of the total number of places masquerading as zoological establishments. Of course, it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective, I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.
The second flaw in the reasoning of the WZCS document is the naive faith it places in its 1,000 core zoos. One would assume that the caliber of these institutions would have been carefully examined, but it appears that the criterion for inclusion on this select list might merely be that the zoo is a member of a zoo federation or association. This might be a good starting point, working on the premise that members must meet certain standards, but again the facts don’t support the theory. The greatly respected American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) has had extremely dubious members, and in the UK the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland has occasionally had members that have been roundly censured in the national press. These include Robin Hill Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight, which many consider the most notorious collection of animals in the country. This establishment, which for years was protected by the Isle’s local council (which viewed it as a tourist amenity), was finally closed down following a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. As it was always a collection of dubious repute, one is obliged to reflect upon the standards that the Zoo Federation sets when granting membership. The situation is even worse in developing countries where little money is available for redevelopment and it is hard to see a way of incorporating collections into the overall scheme of the WZCS.
Even assuming that the WZCS’s 1,000 core zoos are all of a high standard complete with scientific staff and research facilities, trained and dedicated keepers, accommodation that permits normal or natural behavior, and a policy of cooperating fully with one another what might be the potential for conservation? Colin Tudge, author of Last Animals at the Zoo (Oxford University Press, 1992), argues that “if the world”s zoos worked together in cooperative breeding programmes, then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land vertebrates. This seems an extremely optimistic proposition from a man who must be aware of the failings and weaknesses of the zoo industry the man who, when a member of the council of London Zoo, had to persuade the zoo to devote more of its activities to conservation. Moreover, where are the facts to support such optimism?
Today approximately 16 species might be said to have been “saved” by captive breeding programmes, although a number of these can hardly be looked upon as resounding successes. Beyond that, about a further 20 species are being seriously considered for zoo conservation programmes. Given that the international conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, this is pretty slow progress, and a long way off Tudge’s target of 2,000.
Questions 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage? In boxes 1-7 write
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
- London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest.
- Zoos made an insignificant contribution to conservation up until 30 years ago.
- The WZCS document is not known in Eastern Europe.
- Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.
- No-one knew how the animals were being treated at Robin Hill Adventure Park.
- Colin Tudge was dissatisfied with the treatment of animals at London Zoo.
- The number of successful zoo conservation programs is unsatisfactory.
Questions 8-10
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 8-10 on your answer sheet.
8. What were the objectives of the WZCS document?
- to improve the caliber of zoos worldwide
- to identify zoos suitable for conservation practice
- to provide funds for zoos in underdeveloped countries
- to list the endangered species of the world
9. Why does the writer refer to Robin Hill Adventure Park?
- to support the Isle of Wight local council
- to criticise the 1981 Zoo Licensing Act
- to illustrate a weakness in the WZCS document
- to exemplify the standards in AAZPA zoos
10. What word best describes the writer’s response to Colin Tudges’ prediction on captive breeding programmes?
- disbelieving
- impartial
- prejudiced
- accepting
Questions 11-13
The writer mentions a number of factors that lead him to doubt the value of the WZCS document. Which THREE of the following factors are mentioned? Write your answers (A-F) in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.
List of Factors
- the number of unregistered zoos in the world
- the lack of money in developing countries
- the actions of the Isle of Wight local council
- the failure of the WZCS to examine the standards of the “core zoos”
- the unrealistic aim of the WZCS in view of the number of species “saved” to date
- the policies of WZCS zoo managers
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Zoo Conservation Programmes IELTS Reading Answers with Location and Explanation
Don’t miss the answer key for the Zoo Conservation Programmes IELTS Reading passage, complete with detailed explanations, and prepare to score a high IELTS Reading band score.
1. Answer: YES
Question Type: Yes/ No/Not Given Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 1, line 1
Answer explanation: In the first paragraph, the writer brings up the fact that “London Zoo’s recent advertisements” – ‘Without zoos, you might as well tell these animals to get stuffed’ – ‘distort reality’ (gives a misleading idea of the real issue) about conservation of endangered species of animals, and thereby, are ‘dishonest’. Hence, the answer is that the statement agrees with the views of the author.
2. Answer: YES
Question Type: Yes/ No/Not Given Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 1
Answer explanation: In the second paragraph it is mentioned that zoos were originally created as ‘places of entertainment.’ As a result, their serious ‘suggested involvement’ (insignificant contribution) with conservation did not arise ‘until about 30 years later.’ Hence, the answer is that the statement agrees with the views of the author.
3. Answer: NOT GIVEN
Question Type: Yes/ No/Not Given Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 2, last line
Answer explanation: The only mention of Eastern Europe in the passage is in the third paragraph when the writer says ‘I found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.’ So, any discussion relating to the WZCS document and Eastern Europe is not given.
4. Answer: NO
Question Type: Yes/ No/Not Given Question
Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 2
Answer explanation: The fourth paragraph discusses the second flaw of the WZCS, which is a ‘naive faith it places in its1,000 zoos.’ It is stated that WZCR is an important document (second paragraph), and so one would ‘assume that the calibre of the zoos’ would have been ‘carefully examined’ (inspected). But the reality is that ‘a member of a zoo federation or association’ can become a part of the ‘select list’. So, there is a doubt that the zoos are carefully inspected before placing them on the list. Hence, the statement contradicts the writer.
5. Answer: NO
Question Type: Yes/No/Not Given Question
Answer location: Paragraph 5, line 1
Answer explanation: The first sentence of the fifth paragraph begins with the idea that sometimes members of the WZCS are ‘roundly censured in the national press.’ One such example is the Robin Hill Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight (second sentence). For many years, it was protected by the local council in spite of having a ‘notorious’ reputation, until it was closed ‘following a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act, 1981’ (sixth sentence). So, people knew about the condition of the animals in the Robin Hill Adventure Park. Hence, the statement contradicts the writer.
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6. Answer: NO
Question Type: Yes/No/Not Given Question
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 3
Answer explanation: In the sixth paragraph, it is said that Colin Tudge argues ‘if the zoos worked together in cooperative breeding programmes, then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land vertebrates.’ According to the writer of this passage, this argument of Tudge seems to be ‘an extremely optimistic proposition’, and there is no sense of dissatisfaction. Hence, the statement contradicts the writer.
7. Answer: YES
Question Type: Yes/No/Not Given Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 1
Answer explanation: In the seventh paragraph, the writer informs that saving ‘approximately 16 species’ (successful) by the captive breeding programme ‘can hardly be looked upon as resounding successes’ (unsatisfactory). Moreover, it is added that, given that the international zoo conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, it is ‘a pretty slow progress’ and ‘had a long way off Tudge’s target of 2000’.
8. Answer: B
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 1
Answer explanation: In the third paragraph, the estimate of the WZCR is given, which ‘identifies’ 1,000 zoos out of 10,000 zoos in the world, which represent ‘a core quality collections’ and are capable of participating in ‘coordinated conservation programmes.’ Here, ‘identifies’, ‘zoo’ and ‘conservation’ are the keywords.
9. Answer: C
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1
Answer explanation: If you read through, a line in the said paragraph discusses the second flaw (weakness) of the WZCR document, which is ‘naive faith it places in its 1,000 core zoos’. So, in spite of being in the ‘select list’, the Robin Hill Adventure Park, had a ‘notorious’ reputation and was closed ‘following a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act, 1981’. Hence, the example of Robin Hill Adventure Park shows a weakness in the document.
10. Answer: A
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 7, line 1
Answer explanation: Few lines in the said paragraph convey that, the writer informs that saving ‘approximately 16 species’ by the captive breeding programme ‘can hardly be looked upon’ (disbelieving) as ‘resounding successes’. Moreover, he added that, given that the international zoo conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, it is ‘a pretty slow progress’ and ‘had a long way off Tudge’s target of 2000’. Here, the writer is uncertain about the slow progress compared to what Tudge had targeted.
11. Answer: A (A/D/E: in any order)
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 6, line 3
Answer explanation: In the sixth paragraph, the writer mentions that there are 1,000 core zoos that are ‘of high standard’ but even asks what is their ‘potential for conservation.’ He further mentions that Tudge’s argument – ‘if the zoos worked together in cooperative breeding programmes,’ then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land vertebrates- points out that there is a lack of cooperation among the zoos. As a result, the zoos remain unregistered. Tudge argues about this even when he is ‘aware of failings and weaknesses of the zoo industry’ and had to persuade the London Zoo ‘to devote more of its activities to conservation.’
12. Answer: D (A/D/E: in any order)
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1
Answer explanation: The fourth paragraph discusses the second flaw of the WZCS, that is a ‘naive faith it places in its 1,000 zoos’. It is stated that WZCR is an important document and welcome document, one would ‘assume that the calibre of the zoos would have been carefully examined’. But the reality is that only ‘a member of a zoo federation or association’ can become a part of the ‘select list’ and the facts mentioned in the document ‘don’t support the theory.’ There are some ‘dubious members’ like the Robin Hill Adventure Park. Thus, the author highlights that the WZCS had failed to examine the standards of the ‘core zoos.’
13. Answer: E (A/D/E: in any order)
Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions
Answer location: Paragraph 7, last line
Answer explanation: In the seventh paragraph, the writer informs that saving ‘approximately 16 species’ (number of species saved to date) by the captive breeding programme ‘can hardly be looked upon’ as ‘resounding successes.’ Moreover, he added that, given that the international zoo conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, it is ‘a pretty slow progress’ and ‘had a long way off Tudge’s target of 2000’ (unrealistic aim). So, the aim mentioned in the WZCS seems to be unrealistic now when compared to the actual number of species (16) that have been saved.
Tips for Answering the Question Types in Zoo Conservation Programmes Reading Answers
Now let’s get started with the tips for each question type. It’ll help you understand how to approach the problem.
Yes/No/Not Given Questions
Similar to the True/False/Not given questions, Yes/No/Not given questions also have various statements. But here you are asked to agree or disagree with the statement based on the opinion of the author.
Multiple Choice Questions
IELTS reading multiple choice questions have about 3-4 options from which we have to choose our answer. This might be in the form of a question & answer type or a choose a correct ending to a sentence type. These answers appear in chronological order according to the passage.
Read the passage below and answer questions 16-28. Beyond the questions, you will find the answers along with the location of the answers in the passage and the keywords that help you find out the answers.
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