The Secret Life of Urban Wildlife Reading Answers

Aug 7, 2025

The Secret Life of Urban Wildlife Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Secret Life of Urban Wildlife Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the next question set, you have to fill in the blanks in no more than two words.

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 critical to comprehend the guidelines for every question type and create effective ways to manage time to receive excellent band scores.

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Topic:

THE SECRET LIFE OF URBAN WILDLIFE

A.Cities are often seen as concrete jungles—densely populated places where buildings replace trees, and traffic noise drowns out birdsong. Yet, amid the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, a surprisingly rich variety of wildlife has found a way to thrive. In fact, some animals are not just surviving in cities—they're adapting and even flourishing.

B.One of the most remarkable examples is the peregrine falcon. Traditionally nesting on cliff faces, these birds have found a perfect substitute in tall buildings and towers. They now patrol city skies across London, New York, and Delhi, preying on urban pigeons with astonishing agility. Similarly, raccoons in North America have developed impressive problem-solving abilities to access food from human sources, such as bins and pet doors.

C.Cities, despite their apparent hostility to wildlife, provide a consistent supply of food and shelter. Restaurants, markets, and homes generate large amounts of waste, much of which becomes an unintended buffet for opportunistic creatures. Moreover, urban heat islands—areas where city temperatures remain warmer than surrounding countryside a more stable environment for certain animals during colder months.

D.Perhaps more surprising is how some animals are evolving to suit their urban environments.

A study in Germany found that blackbirds living in cities sing at a higher pitch than their rural

counterparts to be heard over traffic. In another case, researchers observed that city-dwelling lizards in Puerto Rico have developed longer limbs and stickier toe pads, allowing them to climb smoother surfaces such as walls and glass windows.

E.However, not all adaptations are beneficial in the long run. Animals that become too dependent on humans for food can face issues when access is disrupted. Additionally, some species, like coyotes or monkeys, may pose safety concerns in residential areas. Urban environments can also increase the risk of vehicle collisions, exposure to pollutants, and loss of genetic diversity due to fragmented habitats.

F.In response, several cities are now promoting "coexistence strategies." Green roofs, wildlife corridors, and animal crossings are just a few ways urban planners are trying to balance development with conservation. Public education campaigns also help residents understand how to reduce conflicts with wildlife and appreciate the ecological benefits these animals bring, such as controlling pests or pollinating plants.

Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

1. Cities are not suitable for any form of wildlife to survive.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Yet, amid the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, a surprisingly rich variety of wildlife has found a way to thrive. In fact, some animals are not just surviving in cities—they're adapting and even flourishing."

Keywords: wildlife, adapting, flourishing

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that a rich variety of wildlife has found a way to thrive in cities and that some animals are not just surviving in cities, they're adapting and even flourishing, directly contradicting the statement that cities are not suitable for any wildlife.

2. Raccoons have shown the ability to adapt to urban challenges.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Similarly, raccoons in North America have developed impressive problem-solving abilities to access food from human sources, such as bins and pet doors."

Keywords: raccoons, problem-solving abilities, access food

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage states that raccoons have developed impressive problem-solving abilities to access food, which demonstrates their ability to adapt to urban challenges.

3. Urban environments offer a reliable supply of food to some animals.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Cities, despite their apparent hostility to wildlife, provide a consistent supply of food and shelter. Restaurants, markets, and homes generate large amounts of waste, much of which becomes an unintended buffet for opportunistic creatures."

Keywords: consistent supply of food, waste, buffet

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage clearly states that cities provide a consistent supply of food due to waste generated by human activities.

4. Peregrine falcons avoid cities because of traffic noise.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "Traditionally nesting on cliff faces, these birds have found a perfect substitute in tall buildings and towers. They now patrol city skies across London, New York, and Delhi, preying on urban pigeons with astonishing agility."

Keywords: falcon, perfect substitute, tall buildings,

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that peregrine falcons have found tall city buildings to be a perfect substitute for their traditional nesting sites and that they patrol city skies, directly contradicting the idea that they avoid cities. There is no mention of them avoiding cities due to traffic noise.

5. Urban heat islands can benefit some wildlife in winter.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "Moreover, urban heat islands—areas where city temperatures remain warmer than surrounding countryside a more stable environment for certain animals during colder months."

Keywords: urban heat islands, warmer, stable environment,

Keyword Location: Para C, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage explicitly states that urban heat islands provide a more stable environment for certain animals during colder months, which benefits them in winter.

6 . All species benefit equally from living in cities.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: "However, not all adaptations are beneficial in the long run….. Additionally, some species, like coyotes or monkeys, may pose safety concerns in residential areas… exposure to pollutants, and loss of genetic diversity due to fragmented habitats."

Keywords: beneficial, issues, safety concerns

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-3

Explanation: The passage details several negative consequences and risks for certain animals living in cities, including dependence on humans for food, safety concerns for some species, increased risk of collisions, exposure to pollutants, and loss of genetic diversity. This suggests that not all species benefit equally.

7. City lizards have developed physical changes to better adapt to urban surfaces.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: "In another case, researchers observed that city-dwelling lizards in Puerto Rico have developed longer limbs and stickier toe pads, allowing them to climb smoother surfaces such as walls and glass windows."

Keywords: city-dwelling lizards, longer limbs, stickier toe pads

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that city-dwelling lizards have developed longer limbs and stickier toe pads, which are physical changes that allow them to better adapt to urban surfaces.

Questions 8-13

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

8. Peregrine falcons use _________as a substitute for cliffs.

Answer: TALL BUILDINGS

Supporting statement: "Traditionally nesting on cliff faces, these birds have found a perfect substitute in tall buildings and towers."

Keywords: perfect substitute, tall buildings

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that peregrine falcons use tall buildings and towers as a substitute for cliffs.

9. Blackbirds in cities sing at a_________ as to compete with background noise.

Answer: HIGHER PITCH

Supporting statement: "A study in Germany found that blackbirds living in cities sing at a higher pitch than their rural counterparts to be heard over traffic.

Keywords: blackbirds, higher pitch, traffic

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage indicates that blackbirds in cities sing at a higher pitch to be heard over traffic.

10. Some city animals risk becoming too _________on human food sources.

Answer: DEPENDENT

Supporting statement: "Animals that become too dependent on humans for food can face issues when access is disrupted."

Keywords: dependent, human food sources

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 2

Explanation: The passage mentions that urban environments can lead to loss of genetic diversity due to fragmented habitats.

11. Urban environments may cause a drop in_________ due to divided habitats

Answer: GENETIC DIVERSITY

Supporting statement: "Urban environments can also increase the risk of vehicle collisions, exposure to pollutants, and loss of genetic diversity due to fragmented habitats."

Keywords: genetic diversity, fragmented habitats

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 5

Explanation: The passage mentions that urban environments can lead to loss of genetic diversity due to fragmented habitats.

12. Cities are designing________to allow wildlife to move safely.

Answer: WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

Supporting statement: "Green roofs, wildlife corridors, and animal crossings are just a few ways urban planners are trying to balance development with conservation."

Keywords: wildlife corridors, urban planners

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that wildlife corridors are being designed to allow wildlife to move safely.

13. Wildlife in cities may help by reducing pests and aiding in___________

Answer: POLLINATING PLANTS

Supporting statement: "Public education campaigns also help residents understand how to reduce conflicts with wildlife and appreciate the ecological benefits these animals bring, such as controlling pests or pollinating plants."

Keywords: controlling pests, pollinating plants

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 5

Explanation: The passage highlights that wildlife in cities may help by reducing pests and aiding in pollinating plants.

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