Saving The British Bitterns Reading Answers

Dec 5, 2022

Saving The British Bitterns Reading Answers contains nine passages and 14 different types of questions. Candidates will be shown various question types with clear instructions in this IELTS Section. Reading Answers comprises three types of questions: Matching heading, sentence completion, and Choose the correct option. For the Matching heading, candidates need to thoroughly go through each passage. For sentence completion, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords and understand the concept. To choose the correct option, candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage and understand the statement provided.

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Reading Passage Question

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.
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 local survival of males from one year to the next
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.
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.
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 reed bed 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.
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 fledging 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
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.
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 bitter 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) has been cleaned out.
Bitterns now regularly winter on the site, 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 breeds, as well as a good number of reedbed passerines including reed bunting, reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers. Numbers of wintering shovelers 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 site as does the rare plant. Pillwort.

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-20:

The reading passage has seven 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:

research findings into habitats and decisions made
fluctuation in bittern number
protect the young bittern
international cooperation works
Began in the calculation of the number
importance of food
research has been successful.
research into the reedbed
reserve established holding bittern in winter

Paragraph A
Paragraph B
Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph F
Paragraph G
Paragraph H

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.
Explanation: The growing population of the bitterns fluctuated from 1886 to the late 1990s.

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: Counting the actual number of bitterns present was the first task at hand.

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: After conducting research on bittern habitats, decisions were made in accordance with its suggestions.

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: The vegetation of the reedbed was the subject of extensive research.

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: Understanding the connection among food and the sustainability of the bitterns was crucial to the investigation.

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: Securing the population of juvenile bitterns was the major objective.

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 UK's bittern population has increased once again as a result of international cooperation among various stakeholders.

Questions 21-26:
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

When did the bird of bitten reach its peak of number?
What does the author describe the bittern’s character?
What is the main cause for the chick bittern’s death?
What is the main food for chick bittern?
What system does it secure for the stability of the bittern’s population?
Besides bittern and rare vegetation, what mammal does the plan benefit?

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: The male bitterns' recolonization was the main factor driving the peak bittern population in the UK in 1950.

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: In general, bitterns are extremely shy by nature and frequently hide from our gaze in the dense vegetation.

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 main reason why chick bitterns die is malnutrition, which is brought on by a lack of their natural meals 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: Fish are the primary source of prey for the chick bittern.

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 Bittern population was saved and stabilized thanks to partnership projects, networking, and cooperation between different sites. Moreover, the coming together of many people.

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: Along with the bittern chicks, the expansion and maintenance of the otter and brown hare populations benefited greatly from the restoration of natural habitat.

Questions 27:

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write your answers in boxes 27 on your answer sheet.

Question 27. What is the main purpose of this passage?

Main characteristic of a bird called bittern.
Cooperation can protect an endangered species.
The difficulty of accessing information about a bittern's habitat and diet.
To save wetland and reed beds in the UK.

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 demonstrates that we can only work together to save an endangered species. Additionally bring back any flora and wildlife that are on the edge of extinction via cooperation and shared responsibility.

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