The Threat to Grizzly Bears of Alberta Reading Answers

Bhaskar Das

Jan 6, 2025

The Threat to Grizzly Bears of Alberta Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions set, you have to choose a correct answer by using the information in the text to match the people (listed with their initials) with their opinions given in the passage. In the next question set, you have to complete the summary by filling in the blanks after choosing the correct word from the passage with the help of the table provided.

The IELTS Reading section is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to assess a candidate's ability to comprehend and analyze different types of passages. In this passage The Threat to Grizzly Bears of Alberta Reading Answers you will engage with a series of IELTS reading practice questions that simulate real test scenarios. These questions are aimed at improving your skills in identifying key ideas, extracting specific information, and making inferences. Whether you are preparing for the Academic or General Training module, practicing these IELTS reading questions will help you become familiar with the format and boost your confidence for the actual test.

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Section 1

THE THREAT TO GRIZZLY BEARS OF ALBERTA

The grizzly is known as the most dangerous of bears. However the grizzly is under threat in its natural homeland. The Canadian province of Alberta used to be a particular stronghold for the grizzly but a report is due to be released shortly which shows this is no longer true.The report shows the grizzly bear population has decreased since 1988. Previously. the, government claimed the number of grizzly bears in Alberta had almost doubled since 1988, climbing to almost 850 grizzlies on lands managed by the province. "This report reveals that the government had overestimated the population by almost 100 percent and as a result has been completely mismanaging this sensitive species for at least 15 years," says Grizzly Bear Alliance Program Director Dr. Tracey Henderson. An estimate released in 2003 indicates there are about 675 grizzlies remaining in Alberta, mostly restricted to the wildest parts of the western mountains and foothills.

At one time there may have been 6000 grizzlies in what is now Alberta. Abraham Styles, an 18th century Albertan gold prospector, wrote of his fear of encounters with numerous bears in the summer months. With the coming of settlement, agriculture and thousands of people, most of the grizzlies did not survive. During the 1800s, increasing numbers of fur traders. explorers and settlers, armed with improved firearms, began the demise of bears throughout the south eastern parklands and the foothills of south western Alberta.Grizzlies were shot because Of the danger they represented, as well as for sport and their fur and because early settlers could not tolerate so large a carnivore, peaceful though it was when not surprised or injured. And so. the grizzly disappeared from much of Alberta.

Now there is a call for the yearly spring hunt of grizzlies to be stopped by the new government. 'Minister Coutts is expected to announce in the next few days whether Alberta's spring grizzly bear hunt will go ahead or not," says AWA Conservation Specialist. Nigel Douglas. "We hope that a switch Of Minister will bring about a more enlightened attitude to the Plight Of Alberta's troubled grizzlies." Government seems less worried. There is no doubt about it - urbanisation and the activities that come with it are challenges for managing bears and other wildlife,' said previous Minister Mike Cardinal. "However studies show that Alberta is doing an excellent job in dealing with human population growth and bear management." The expansion of human movement is and always has been a major threat to bears. "Most knowledgeable scientists will agree that the grizzly bear in Alberta is on a slow slide to extinction. If the government wants to reverse this trend, they need to sincerely and effectively control the human activity that threatens bears, protect the grizzly bear habitat vital to the species survival and stop the hunt" says Dr. Paul Paquet, an Edmonton environmentalist.

You would think that there was enough land for all out there in the wilderness but the problem is a clash of interests. The highest quality bear habitat, constituting less than 20 percent Of the region, is predominately found in valley bottom riparian areas. Unfortunately, valley bottoms are also preferred by humans for travel corridors, utility corridors, towns and recreational developments. Landscape ecologist Brad Stelfox also points out that “ the average Albertan should not be able to drive everywhere, all the time, for all reasons. The long-term prospect for Alberta grizzly bears, and other sensitive species, is bleak with the government's approach to managing roads and the related human activities. Roads are the single most destructive human force in the Alberta wilds’’ Roads destroy and fragment habitat, cause mortality sinks, affect wildlife distribution and movement patterns and are significant sources of sediment that destroys fish habitat. They also provide access for humans resulting in increased resource extraction and both legal and illegal hunting and fishing. Roads destroy wilderness and threaten those species that depend on wilderness for survival. Many fish, bird, mammal, and even plant species are affected. Industry seems willing to help. Shane Kelis, a representative from both the Oil and gas and timber industries has publicly stated that ‘we are willing to take out roads and manage access in a better way but we need the government's help and this hasn't happened.' The long-term prospects for Alberta's grizzly bears and other sensitive species are bleak unless there are radical changes in the Government's approach to managing roads and the related human activities. "The best ecological data suggests that grizzly bear numbers are declining on a scale similar to the decline Of Siberian tigers,' says World Wildlife Fund spokesperson Peter Lee. If the Alberta wilderness is to survive as a functional ecosystem for the grizzly, someone must stop the cancer-like growth of roads that has, and continues to, occur unbridled throughout the region or the day will come when the magnificent grizzlies no longer wander the mountains and foothills of Aberta’s wilderness.

Questions 28-34

Use the information in the text to match the people (listed with their initials) with their

opinions (questions 28 - 34) given in the text.

Write the appropriate initials from the box on your answer sheet in boxes 28 - 34.

ND Nigel DouglasAS Abraham StylesTH Tracey HendersonPP Paul PaquetBS Brad StelfoxMC Mike CardinalPL Peter LeeSK Shane Kelis

28. Feels that current measures for grizzlies are working in the face of a difficult problem.

Answer: MC

Supporting statement:There is no doubt about it - urbanisation and the activities that come with it are challenges for managing bears and other wildlife,' said previous Minister Mike Cardinal.

Keywords: challenges, bears

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 6

Explanation: The previous minister Mike Cardinal made a statement that the ongoing urbanisation and development activities done by the government have made a big impact on the grizzlies and other wildlife in the area. The measures which were previously used by the people to control the population of bears have also made the situation no better. The ongoing struggle to maintain a better environment and to ensure the survival of the bears alongside the development going on hand is proving to be a difficult task.

29. Represents people who wish to help but who are not getting the assistance they need.

Answer: SK

Supporting statement: Shane Kelis, a representative from both the Oil and gas and timber industries has publicly stated that 'we are willing to take out roads and manage access in a better way but we need the government's help and this hasn't happened.'

Keywords: roads, help

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 15-16

Explanation: According to the passage it is clearly stated that Shane Kelis who is a representative for the oil, gas and timber industries announced publicly that the industries are willing to manage their access to the roads that goes along the wildlife area for the industrial work. But they have openly stated that they are unable to do so as the government has shown no interest to make anything better to ensure the safety of both humans and bears in the concerned area.

30. Believes that the grizzly will disappear if things don't change.

Answer: PP

Supporting statement:protect the grizzly bear habitat vital to the species survival and stop the hunt" says Dr. Paul Paquet, an Edmonton environmentalist.

Keywords: habitat, survival

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 12

Explanation: The rising human population and their settlement that requires more area to be urbanised for living leads them to cut down the forest for resources and space which in turn threatens the grizzly bears in their natural habitat. The uprising human activities disturb the bear's course of living. More and more bears are forced to leave their place which causes them to go near the human settlement in search of food and shelter. This creates life-threatening conditions for both the bear and the humans. As a result humans hunt them for their own safety this causes a decline in the population of the grizzly’s so Dr. Paul Paquet, an Edmonton environmentalist, has stated that human activities need to be controlled as it will ultimately lead to the extinction of the grizzly species.

31. Criticises government care and statistics concerning the grizzly bear in Alberta.

Answer: TH

Supporting statement: the government had overestimated the population by almost 100 percent and as a result has been completely mismanaging this sensitive species for at least 15 years," says Grizzly Bear Alliance Program Director Dr. Tracey Henderson

Keywords: government, mismanaging

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 7- 8

Explanation: In the passages it is stated by Dr.Tracey Henderson a Grizzly Bear Alliance Program Director that the government had made a mistake in estimating the grizzlies population by 100 percent which resulted in a total mismanagement of the species life for the past 15 years resulting in a decline in the grizzly bear in Alberta.

32. Compares the plight of the grizzly to another endangered animal.

Answer: PL

Supporting statement:"The best ecological data suggests that grizzly bear numbers are declining on a scale similar to the decline Of Siberian tigers,' says World Wildlife Fund spokesperson Peter Lee.

Keywords: decline, wildlife

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 20

Explanation: The spokesperson Peter Lee in the passage has made a striking comparison between two wildlife animals one being the Grizzly bears and other being the Siberian tigers on the basis of the ecological data. According to him both the species are facing life harming crises caused by human activities. It is also evident throughout the passage that the development done by humans has done significant harm to the wildlife.

33. Hopes a different government will lead to a better approach to the grizzly issue.

Answer: ND

Supporting statement:Now there is a call for the yearly spring hunt of grizzlies to be stopped by the new government.

Keywords: stopped, new

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 1

Explanation: The AWA conservation specialist Nigel Douglas has made a comment that the new government might be able to change the devastating plight of the grizzlies by implementing a stop at the yearly spring hunt of grizzlies still it is not clear whether this will be done or not until Minister Coutts announce in the next few days. Although there is hope that a change in the Minister will uplift the conditions of the Grizzlies bears.

34. Points to transport issues as the root of the problem.

Answer: BS

Supporting statement: The long-term prospect for Alberta grizzly bears, and other sensitive species, is bleak with the government's approach to managing roads and the related human activities. Roads are the single most destructive human force in the Alberta wilds’’

Keywords: managing,destructive

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 8

Explanation: In the Passage according to a landscape ecologist Brad Stelfox that the roads that go through the wild for human conveniences are the single most destructive human force in the Alberta wilds’’ they destroy and fragment habitat, cause mortality sinks, affect wildlife distribution and movement patterns and are significant sources of sediment that destroys fish habitat. Roads destroy wilderness and threaten those species that depend on wilderness for survival. They also provide access for humans resulting in increased resource extraction and both legal and illegal hunting and fishing. So the government should manage the roads and their network in such a way that little to no harm is done to nearby wildlife.

Questions 35 — 40

Choose your answers from the box below the summary.

Natural Success Difficulty
Variety Hides Diversity
Administration Threatened Despite
Frequent Working Modification
Habitat Season Fish

Canadian government claims, the future Of grizzly bears is (35)_______ in Alberta, one

of its traditional natural habitats.

Answer: Threatened

Supporting statement: However the grizzly is under threat in its natural homeland. The Canadian province of Alberta used to be a particular stronghold for the grizzly

Keywords: threat, natural

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that the grizzly bears are under threat in their own homeland where once they had a stronghold and flourished in population.

Over the last 200 years grizzlies have been hunted because of their threat to humans, for sport and for their (36)________.

Answer: Hides

Supporting statement: Alberta.Grizzlies were shot because of the danger they represented, as well as for sport and their fur and because early settlers could not tolerate so large a carnivore

Keywords: danger, carnivore

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 7-8

Explanation: According to the passage humans have been hunting the bears for a long time for their fur, as a sport to kill time or mainly due to the danger or threat they bore against humans as the early settlers could not contain or manage such a large carnivore animal around them.

Environmentalists are hoping that a change in government will mean a(37)______ in hunting laws as the present government seems satisfied that there is no danger.

Answer: Modification

Supporting statement: If the government wants to reverse this trend, they need to sincerely and effectively control the human activity that threatens bears, protect the grizzly bear habitat vital to the species survival and stop the hunt"

Keywords: control, threatens

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 11-12

Explanation: In the passage it is evident that a change in the government will make way for new laws to be implemented in the area to stop the killing of the grizzly bear and to improve the declining population of the species.

The main problem is that, despite there being a lot of land available, humans and bears both (38)_________ the same areas: valley bottoms.

Answer: Frequent

Supporting statement:The highest quality bear habitat, constituting less than 20 percent Of the region, is predominately found in valley bottom riparian areas. Unfortunately, valley bottoms are also preferred by humans

Keywords: valley, bottom

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 3

Explanation: In the passage it is given that the bears and humans both use the same place, mainly the valley bottom; the humans use them for travel corridors, utility corridors, towns and recreational developments. The Bears use that place as their habitat so the use of the same place by the both leads to many difficulties for both.

The spread of roads in these areas is the worst factor affecting the bears and other wildlife. (39) __________resource businesses want to help but blame government for not taking the initiative.

Answer: Natural

Supporting statement: ‘we are willing to take out roads and manage access in a better way but we need the government's help and this hasn't happened.'

Keywords: manage, better

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 15-16

Explanation: The given passage informs us that the industries operating there are willing to manage and change the way they use the roads to control the rising risk to the bears species living there but the government has shown no interest to do take any actions regarding the same so the industries believe that the government is to blame for the current condition of the Grizzlies.

To safeguard the grizzlies' future, the growth and (40)________ Of Alberta's road networks must be changed.

Answer: Administration

Supporting statement: there are radical changes in the Government's approach to managing roads and the related human activities.

Keywords: radical, approach

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 18

Explanation: The passage clearly states that the government must take strict action in order to ensure that the roads network and the related human activities must be changed and improved to ensure the safety of Alberta's grizzly bears and other sensitive species living there.

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