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Pigeons Reading Answers

Bhaskar Das

Feb 3, 2026

Pigeons Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Pigeons Reading Answers has a total of 7 IELTS questions in total. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences, using words from the box below.

The candidate's understanding and assessment of academic and general texts are examined in the IELTS Reading Section. Using IELTS Reading Practice Questions, you can increase your vocabulary, sharpen your critical reading skills, and become more familiar with the various question types in reading tasks. Furthermore, practice enhances vocabulary and improves analytical reading skills, both of which are necessary for success. It's crucial to understand the guidelines for each question type and develop effective strategies to manage time and achieve excellent band scores.

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Pigeons Reading Answers

Topic:

Pigeons

In many cities around the world, feral pigeons are a dime a dozen. They roost on roofs, they coo from wires, and they peck outside bakeries, waiting for day-old hand-outs. Pigeons that bred for racing are birds of a fancier feather—and one buyer recently shelled out $1.4 million to add a little guy named Armando to their roster of winged competitors.

A Belgian breeder put Armando up for sale on the pigeon auction site PIPA, where several bidders scrambled to nab him. When bidding closed, Armando's price had inched above €1.2 million (more than $1.4 million, in U.S. dollars). Seven of Armando's offspring were also up for sale, and they'll fan out across Belgium, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, and China. Armando will head to China, too, where the sport of pigeon racing has boomed in recent years. On the mainland, where most forms of gambling are prohibited, pigeon racing gets a pass, and there are at least 100,000 pigeon breeders in Beijing alone, CNN reported.

Many wildlife groups and rehabilitators are fundamentally opposed to pigeon racing, arguing that the birds face a barrage of challenges before, during, and after the events, which sometimes span hundreds of miles. "We think this is a flawed situation right from the beginning," says Elizabeth Young, founding director of Palomacy, a pigeon rescue organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Young's group works with domestic pigeons who find themselves in the wild, including ones that were grounded during races, often because they were struck by hawks, outmatched by the wind, or ran out of energy.

From a purchaser's perspective, this bird had several things working in his favour, says Tim Heidrich, secretary of the National Pigeon Association, a bird fanciers' group. Armando has already soared past the competition in several long-distance races, and delivered sterling performances in Belgium, Heinrich says, where competition is stiff. Selecting a racing pigeon can be similar to selecting champion dogs or thoroughbred race horses, says Deone Roberts, sport development manager at the American Racing Pigeon Union. "Pedigree can be important for the owner who may be hoping for genetic transmission of the most desired qualities," Roberts says. Armando is also young enough to be bred several times over the years, Heidrich says, "thus maximizing the investment in him."

While other top birds have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past, and despite

Armando's bona fides" I think the price got very much out of hand," Heidrich writes in an email.

"You probably had a couple of billionaires bidding with their egos instead of their brains." Still,

Heidrich adds, "Like a great race horse, he's worth what someone is willing to pay."

Questions 8-14

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences, using words from the box below.

8. It is very common to see hordes of …………… pigeons in many cities around the world.

Answer: UNTAMED

Supporting statement: In many cities around the world, feral pigeons are a dime a dozen.

Keywords: cities, feral

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 1

Explanation: The text uses the word "feral," which is a synonym for "untamed" or living in a wild state despite being from domesticated stock.

9. Some people…………… pigeons for racing as these birds fetch very high prices.

Answer: BREED

Supporting statement: Pigeons that bred for racing are birds of a fancier feather—and one buyer recently shelled out $1.4 million

Keywords: racing, fancier feather

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 3

Explanation: The text specifies that birds are "bred for racing," particularly when discussing high-value birds like Armando.

10. Pigeon racing as a…………….. has greatly increased over the last few years.

Answer: SPORT

Supporting statement: Armando will head to China, too, where the sport of pigeon racing has boomed in recent years.

Keywords: Armando, sport

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 5

Explanation: The text explicitly refers to pigeon racing as a "sport" and notes that it has "boomed" (increased) recently.

11. In mainland China, many kinds of …………… are not permitted.

Answer: GAMBLING

Supporting statement: On the mainland, where most forms of gambling are prohibited, pigeon racing gets a pass

Keywords: mainland, prohibited

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 6

Explanation: The text uses the word "prohibited," which is a synonym for "not permitted," in reference to gambling.

12. The……………of a bird is seen to be important when it comes to selecting one for purchase.

Answer: LINEAGE

Supporting statement: Pedigree can be important for the owner who may be hoping for genetic transmission of the most desired qualities

Keywords: important, genetic transmission

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The text mentions "pedigree," which refers to the "lineage" or ancestral line of the bird.

13. In bidding for Armando, people were swayed more by their………….. rather than logic.

Answer: PRIDE

Supporting statement: You probably had a couple of billionaires bidding with their egos instead of their brains

Keywords: bidding, brains, instead of

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 3

Explanation: The word "egos" in the text corresponds to "pride," and "instead of their brains" corresponds to the lack of "logic."

14. There are several bodies that do not ………………….. pigeon racing as a sport.

Answer: SUPPORT

Supporting statement: Many wildlife groups and rehabilitators are fundamentally opposed to pigeon racing

Keywords: groups, opposed

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 1

Explanation: Being "fundamentally opposed" means these organisations do not "support" the activity.

List of Words

preferPrideLikebreedsport pastimesRacingSupportuntamedconceit heartfurrytrainspeeddomesticated gamblingtrack-recordspeculationlineagecompetitions

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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