The Wild Side of Town Reading Answers

Dec 31, 2022

The Wild Side of Town Reading Answers is a topic of discussion about the early wildlife of Britain. The given IELTS topic has originated from the book named “Target Band 7 IELTS Academic Module - How to Maximize Your Score (Fourth Edition)”. The topic named The Wild Side of Town Reading Answers comes with 14 sets of questions. Four different sorts of questions that this topic includes are, True/False/Not Given, No more than three words, choose the correct letters, and choose the correct answer. The candidates should read thoroughly the IELTS reading passage in order to recognize the synonyms and identify the keywords and for answering the questions below. Similar kinds of topics like The Wild Side of Town Reading Answers are included in the IELTS reading practice papers, which the candidates can take into their consideration for performing a good score in this section.

Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

The Wild Side of Town Reading Answers

The past half century has seen an interesting reversal in the fortunes of much of Britain's wildlife. Whilst the rural countryside has become poorer and poorer, wildlife habitat in towns has burgeoned. Now, if you want to hear a deafening dawn chorus of birds or familiarise yourself with foxes, you can head for the urban forest.

Whilst species that depend on wide open spaces such as the hare, the eagle and the red deer may still be restricted to remote rural landscapes, many of our wild plants and animals find the urban ecosystem ideal. This really should be no surprise, since it is the fragmentation and agrochemical pollution in the farming lowlands that has led to the catastrophic decline of so many species.

By contrast, most urban open spaces have escaped the worst of the pesticide revolution, and they are an intimate mosaic of interconnected habitats. Over the years, the cutting down of hedgerows on farmland has contributed to habitat isolation and species loss. In towns, the tangle of canals, railway embankments, road verges and boundary hedges lace the landscape together, providing first-class ecological corridors for species such as hedgehogs, kingfishers and dragonflies.

Urban parks and formal recreation grounds are valuable for some species, and many of them are increasingly managed with wildlife in mind. But in many places, their significance is eclipsed by the huge legacy of post-industrial land demolished factories, waste tips, quarries, redundant railway yards and other so-called ‘brownfield’ sites. In Merseyside, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands, much of this has been spectacularly colonised with birch and willow woodland, herb-rich grassland and shallow wetlands. As a consequence, there are song birds and predators in abundance over these once-industrial landscapes.

There are fifteen million domestic gardens in the UK. and whilst some are still managed as lifeless chemical war zones, most benefit the local wildlife, either through benign neglect or positive encouragement. Those that do best tend to be woodland species, and the garden lawns and flower borders, climber-covered fences, shrubberies and fruit trees are a plausible alternative. Indeed, in some respects, gardens are rather better than the real thing, especially with exotic flowers extending the nectar season. Birdfeeders can also supplement the natural seed supply, and only the millions of domestic cats may spoil the scene.

As Britain’s gardeners have embraced the idea of ‘gardening with nature’, wildlife’s response has been spectacular. Between 1990 and the year 2000. the number of different bird species seen at artificial feeders in gardens increased from 17 to an amazing 81. The BUGS project (Biodiversity in Urban Gardens in Sheffield) calculates that there are 25.000 garden ponds and 100.000 nest boxes in that one city alone.

We are at last acknowledging that the wildlife habitat in towns provides a valuable life support system. The canopy of the urban forest is filtering air pollution, and intercepting rainstorms, allowing the water to drip more gradually to the ground. Sustainable urban drainage relies on ponds and wetlands to contain storm water runoff, thus reducing the risk of flooding, whilst reed beds and other wetland wildlife communities also help to clean up the water. We now have scientific proof that contact with wildlife close to home can help to reduce stress and anger. Hospital patients with a view of natural green space make a more rapid recovery and suffer less pain.

Traditionally, nature conservation in the UK has been seen as marginal and largely rural. Now we are beginning to place it at the heart of urban environmental and economic policy. There are now dozens of schemes to create new habitats and restore old ones in and around our big cities. Biodiversity is big in parts of London. thanks to schemes such as the London Wetland Centre in the south west of the city.

This is a unique scheme masterminded by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to create a wildlife reserve out of a redundant Victorian reservoir. Within five years of its creation, the Centre has been hailed as one of the top sites for nature in England and made a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It consists of a 105-acre wetland site, which is made up of different wetland habitats of shallow, open water and grazing marsh. The site attracts more than 104 species of bird, including nationally important rarities like the bittern.

We need to remember that if we work with wildlife, then wildlife will work for us and this is the very essence of sustainable development.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-19

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 313?
In boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet 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

There is now more wildlife in UK cities than in the countryside.
Rural wildlife has been reduced by the use of pesticides on farms.

In the past, hedges on farms used to link up different habitats.
New urban environments are planned to provide ecological corridors for wildlife.
Public parks and gardens are being expanded to encourage wildlife.
Old industrial wastelands have damaged wildlife habitats in urban areas.

Question:

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: No particular information regarding this sentence is available in the passage. So, this statement is not valid.

Question:

Answer: TRUE
Supporting sentence: By contrast, most urban open spaces have escaped the worst of the pesticide revolution, and they are an intimate mosaic of interconnected habitats.
Keyword: urban, escaped, pesticide revolution
Keyword location: line 1, paragraph 3
Explanation: According to the first line of paragraph 3, most of the urban wildlife got reduced in terms of pesticides. They were a cozy patchwork of attached dwellings. So, the statement can be pointed as a TRUE statement.

Question:

Answer: TRUE
Supporting sentence: Over the years, the cutting down of hedgerows on farmland has contributed to habitat isolation and species loss.
Keyword: hedgerows, farmland, habitat isolation
Keyword location: line 2, paragraph 3
Explanation: The second line of paragraph 3 implies that species extinction and habitat isolation have been made worse over time by the removal of hedgerows from farms. Hence, the statement is TRUE.

Question:

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: No relevant information is provided in the passage regarding this statement. So, it is a statement that is not valid.

Question:

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: No justified information has been provided in the passage to prove this passage's validation. Therefore, it is a void statement.

Question:

Answer: FALSE
Supporting sentence: As a consequence, there are song birds and predators in abundance over these once-industrial landscapes.
Keyword: song birds, abundance, once-industrial landscapes
Keyword location: last line, paragraph 4
Explanation: Songbirds and predators can be found in large numbers over these formerly industrial environments. Therefore, the option is regarded as FALSE.

Questions 20-23
Answer the questions below, using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 20-23 on your answer sheet.

Which type of wildlife benefits most from urban gardens?
What type of garden plants can benefit birds and insects?
What represents a threat to wildlife in urban gardens?
At the last count, how many species of bird were spotted in urban gardens?

Question:

Answer: woodland species
Supporting sentence: Those that do best tend to be woodland species, and the garden lawns and flower borders, climber-covered fences, shrubberies and fruit trees are a plausible alternative.
Keyword: woodland species, garden lawns, plausible alternative.
Keyword location: line 2, paragraph 5
Explanation: Within private homes, there are fifteen million gardens and while some are still treated like dead chemical battle zones, most are managed in ways that are beneficial to the local fauna, whether that be through benign neglect or constructive encouragement. The best-performing ones are typically woodland species. However, shrubbery and fruit trees are a viable option to garden lawns and flower borders, fences covered in climbers, and fences with shrubs.

Question:

Answer: exotic flowers
Supporting sentence: Indeed, in some respects, gardens are rather better than the real thing, especially with exotic flowers extending the nectar season
Keyword: exotic flowers, nectar season
Keyword location: paragraph 5, line 3
Explanation: As an alternative, garden lawns and flower borders, fences covered in climbers, shrubs, and fruit trees are a viable option. Those that thrive tend to be woodland species. The nectar season is extended by exotic flowers, thus in some ways, gardens are actually superior to nature. The only domestic cats that could ruin the view are the millions who use birdfeeders to supplement the natural seed supply.

Question:

Answer: (domestic) cats
Supporting sentence: Birdfeeders can also supplement the natural seed supply, and only the millions of domestic cats may spoil the scene.
Keyword: domestic cats, spoil, scene
Keyword location: paragraph 5, last line
Explanation: The only domestic cats that could ruin the view are the millions who use birdfeeders to supplement the natural seed supply.

Question:

Answer: 81
Supporting sentence: Between 1990 and the year 2000 the number of different bird species seen at artificial feeders in gardens increased from 17 to an amazing 81
Keyword: bird species, increased, 81
Keyword location: line 2, paragraph 6
Explanation: At artificial bird feeders in gardens, there were 17 different species of birds in 1990; by 2000, there were an astounding 81 different species. 25.000 garden ponds and 100.000 nest boxes are estimated to exist in Sheffield alone, according to the BUGS project (Biodiversity in Urban Gardens).

Question 24-26

Choose THREE letters A-G.
Write your answers in boxes 24-26 on your answer sheet.

In which THREE ways can wildlife habitats benefit people living in urban areas?

They can make the cities greener.
They can improve the climate.
They can promote human well-being.
They can extend the flowering season.
They can absorb excess water.
They can attract wildlife.
They can help clean the urban atmosphere.

Question:

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: The canopy of the urban forest is filtering air pollution, and intercepting rainstorms, allowing the water to drip more gradually to the ground.
Keyword: canopy, intercepting, gradually to the ground
Keyword location: line 2, paragraph 7
Explanation: The urban forest's canopy traps rainstorms and filters air pollution, allowing water to seep to the ground more gradually.

Question:

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: Sustainable urban drainage relies on ponds and wetlands to contain stormwater runoff, thus reducing the risk of flooding, whilst reed beds and other wetland wildlife communities also help to clean up the water.
Keyword: ponds and wetlands, stormwater, risk of flooding
Keyword location: paragraph 7, line 3
Explanation: Ponds and wetlands are essential to sustainable urban drainage because they hold back stormwater runoff and lessen the risk of floods. Reed beds and other wetland wildlife communities also help to purify the water.

Answer: G
Supporting sentence: Hospital patients with a view of natural green space make a more rapid recovery and suffer less pain.
Keyword: Hospital patients, natural green, rapid recovery
Keyword location: last line, paragraph 7
Explanation: Patients who have a view of a natural green area while in the hospital heal faster and experience less pain.

Question 27

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

The writer believes that sustainable development is dependent on

urban economic policy.
large restoration schemes.
active nature conservation.
government projects.

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: We need to remember that if we work with wildlife, then wildlife will work for us and this is the very essence of sustainable development.
Keyword: wildlife, essence, sustainable development.
Keyword location: paragraph 10
Explanation: Paragraph 10 in the passage implies that the key to sustainable development is to keep in mind that if we cooperate with nature, wildlife will cooperate with us.

Read More IELTS Reading Samples