Why Zoos are Good Reading Answers

Jan 27, 2023

Why Zoos are Good Reading Answers contains a write up about the effectiveness of zoos. Why Zoos are Good Reading Answers contain a total of 6 paragraphs. Related to the paragraphs are 13 questions. Candidates in this IELTS Section will be shown various question types with clear instructions. The paragraphs contain information about the advantages of zoos. Also, why zoos are important and their effectiveness and efficiency. Also, the protection it provides to animals.

Why Zoos are Good Reading Answers is an IELTS Reading passage which comprises three types of questions: True/ False and not given, choose the correct option and associate the paragraph. Candidates are required to read each paragraph attentively and thoroughly. The interpretation of each paragraph is must. An overall theme of the paragraph is required to answer the questions. The important information must be remembered. Some information might not be given in paragraphs which must be marked as not given. To gain proficiency, candidates can practice from IELTS reading practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Why Zoos are Good Reading Answers

You should spend 20 minutes on questions 14-26 based on the given passage.

In my view, it is perfectly possible for many species of animals living in zoos or wildlife parks to have a quality of life as high as, or higher than, in the wild. Animals in good zoos get a varied and high-quality diet with all the supplements required, and any illnesses they might have will be treated. Their movement might be somewhat restricted, but they have a safe environment in which to live, and they are spared bullying and social ostracism by others of their kind. They do not suffer from the threat or stress of predators, or the irritation and pain of parasites or injuries. The average captive animal will have a greater life expectancy compared with its wild counterpart, and will not die of drought, of starvation or in the jaws of a predator. A lot of very nasty things happen to truly ‘wild’ animals that simply don’t happen in good zoos, and to view a life that is ‘free’ as one that is automatically ‘good’ is, I think, an error. Furthermore, zoos serve several key purposes.
Firstly, zoos aid conservation. Colossal numbers of species are becoming extinct across the world, and many more are increasingly threatened and therefore risk extinction. Moreover, some of these collapses have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected, or were simply discovered very late in the day. A species protected in captivity can be bred up to provide a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. A good number of species only exist in captivity, with many of these living in zoos. Still more only exist in the wild because they have been reintroduced from zoos, or have wild populations that have been boosted by captive bred animals. Without these efforts there would be fewer species alive today. Although reintroduction successes are few and far between, the numbers are increasing, and the very fact that species have been saved or reintroduced as a result of captive breeding proves the value of such initiatives.
Zoos also provide education. Many children and adults, especially those in cities, will never see a wild animal beyond a fox or pigeon. While it is true that television documentaries are becoming ever more detailed and impressive, and many natural history specimens are on display in museums, there really is nothing to compare with seeing a living creature in the flesh, hearing it, smelling it, watching what it does and having the time to absorb details. That alone will bring a greater understanding and perspective to many, and hopefully give them a greater appreciation for wildlife, conservation efforts and how they can contribute.
In addition to this, there is also the education that can take place in zoos through signs, talks and presentations which directly communicate information to visitors about the animals they are seeing and their place in the world. This was an area where zoos used to be lacking, but they are now increasingly sophisticated in their communication and outreach work. Many zoos also work directly to educate conservation workers in other countries, or send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their knowledge and skills to those working in zoos and reserves, thereby helping to improve conditions and reintroductions all over the world.
Zoos also play a key role in research. If we are to save wild species and restore and repair ecosystems we need to know about how key species live, act and react. Being able to undertake research on animals in zoos where there is less risk and fewer variables means real changes can be effected on wild populations. Finding out about, for example, the oestrus cycle of an animal of its breeding rate helps us manage wild populations. Procedures such as capturing and moving at-risk or dangerous individuals are bolstered by knowledge gained in zoos about doses for anesthetics, and by experience in handling and transporting animals. This can make a real difference to conservation efforts and to the reduction of human-animal conflicts, and can provide a knowledge base for helping with the increasing threats of habitat destruction and other problems.
In conclusion, considering the many ongoing global threats to the environment, it is hard for me to see zoos as anything other than essential to the long-term survival of numerous species. This was an area where zoos used to be lacking, but they are now increasingly sophisticated in their communication and outreach work. They are vital not just in terms of protecting animals, but as a means of learning about them to aid those still in the wild, as well as educating and informing the general population about these animals and their world so that they can assist or at least accept the need to be more environmentally conscious. A species protected in captivity can be bred up to provide a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild. A good number of species only exist in captivity, with many of these living in zoos.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 14-17:
The reading passage has six paragraphs, A-F. Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet

a reference to how quickly animal species can die out

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: Moreover, some of these collapses have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected, or were simply discovered very late in the day
Keywords: collapses, sudden, dramatic, unexpected
Keyword Location: Para B, lines 3-5
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been stated that some of the collapses were unexpected, spectacular, and sudden, or they were just discovered very late in the day. It is possible to breed up a species that is protected in captivity to serve as a reservoir population in the event of a population decline or extinction in the wild. There are numerous animals that can only be found in zoos or other similar facilities. So, the correct answer is B.

reasons why it is preferable to study animals in captivity rather than in the wild

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: Finding out about, for example, the oestrus cycle of an animal of its breeding rate helps us manage wild populations.
Keywords: undertake research, zoos, less risk, fewer variables, real changes, wild populations
Keyword Location: Para E, lines 3-4
Explanation:As per paragraph E, it has been mentioned that we can better manage wild populations by learning things like an animal's breeding rate or oestrus cycle. The ability to handle and transport animals, as well as knowledge of anesthetic dosages learned from working in zoos, support procedures like capturing and transferring at-risk or dangerous humans. So, the correct answer is E.

mention of two ways of learning about animals other than visiting them in zoos

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: it is true that television documentaries are becoming ever more detailed and impressive, and many natural history specimens are on display in museums
Keywords: documentaries, detailed, impressive, natural history specimens, museums
Keyword Location: Para C, lines 2-4
Explanation: The two ways to learn about animals are through television programs and natural history museums, as stated in Paragraph C. Even though natural history specimens are frequently on exhibit in museums and television programs are getting more and more intricate and amazing, nothing quite compares to actually seeing, hearing, and experiencing a living item in order to fully appreciate its subtleties. So, the correct answer is C as per the explanation provided for teh same.

reasons why animals in zoos may by healthier than those in the wild

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: Procedures such as capturing and moving at-risk or dangerous individuals are bolstered by knowledge gained in zoos about doses for anesthetics, and by experience in handling and transporting animals.
Keywords: Animals, good zoos, varied, high-quality diet, illnesses, will be treated
Keyword Location: Para A, lines 2-4
Explanation: As mentioned in paragraph A, animals kept in captivity are safer and have a higher quality of life when given the proper nourishment. Various diseases are also treated for them. Although their range of motion is limited, they live in a secure area and are protected from outside predators. Thus, the correct answer is A as per the explanation provided and the lines of paragraph A.

Questions 18-22:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage?
In boxes 18-22 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

An animal is likely to live longer in a zoo than in the wild

Answer: TRUE
Supporting sentence: A species protected in captivity can be bred up to provide a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild.
Keywords: perfectly possible, animals, zoos, wildlife parks, quality of life, higher, wild
Keyword Location: Para A, lines 1-2
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly mentioned that it is possible to breed up a species that is protected in captivity to serve as a reservoir population in the event of a population decline or extinction in the wild. Still others have populations in the wild that have been augmented by animals from captivity or have been reintroduced from zoos. Thus, the statement is True.

There are some species in zoos which can no longer be found in the wild.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting sentence: A good number of species only exist in captivity, with many of these living in zoos.
Keywords: good number, species, exist in captivity
Keyword Location: Para B, lines 5-6
Explanation: As per paragraph B, it has been clearly stated that there are numerous animals that can only be found in zoos or other similar facilities. Still others have populations in the wild that have been augmented by animals from captivity or have been reintroduced from zoos. So, the question statement is True.

Improvements in the quality of TV wildlife documentaries have resulted in increased numbers of zoo visitors.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation:There has been no relevant information given in the paragraph associated with the question statement. Hence, the correct answer is Not Given.

Zoos have always excelled at transmitting information about animals to the public.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting sentence: it is hard for me to see zoos as anything other than essential to the long-term survival of numerous species.
Keywords: area, zoos, lacking
Keyword Location: Para D, lines 3-5
Explanation: It is very evident from paragraph D that good communication has not always existed in zoos. It wasn't until much later, when sophisticated outreach and communication efforts were made. Nowadays, many zoos try to train conservationists in other nations or dispatch their animal keepers there to share their expertise. Thus, the question statement is contrary to the actual information. So, the answer is False.

Studying animals in zoos is less stressful for the animals than studying them in the wild.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: There has been no relevant information given in the paragraph associated with the question statement. Hence, the correct answer is Not Given.

Questions 23 and 24:
Choose TWO letters, A-E. Write the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of the following are stated about zoo staff in the text?

Question 23:

Some take part in television documentaries about animals
Some travel to overseas locations to join teams in zoos.
Some get experience with species in the wild before taking up zoo jobs.
Some teach people who are involved with conservation projects.
Some specialize in caring for species that are under threat.

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their knowledge and skills to those working in zoos and reserves.
Keywords: send, animal keepers, abroad
Keyword Location: Para D, lines 5-6
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been stated that several zoos send their animal keepers abroad to share their expertise with others working in zoos and reserves, helping to improve conditions and support reintroductions all across the world. Other zoos also work directly to train conservation workers in other nations. Thus, the correct answer is B.

Question 24:

Some take part in television documentaries about animals
Some travel to overseas locations to join teams in zoos.
Some get experience with species in the wild before taking up zoo jobs.
Some teach people who are involved with conservation projects.
Some specialize in caring for species that are under threat.

Answer: D
Supporting sentence: Many zoos also work directly to educate conservation workers in other countries, or send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their knowledge and skills to those working in zoos and reserves, thereby helping to improve conditions and reintroductions all over the world.
Keywords: educate conservation workers, other countries
Keyword Location: Para D, line 5-7
Explanation: As per paragraph D, it has been mentioned that many zoos either directly support the training of conservationists in other nations, or they send their animal keepers there to share their expertise with others working in zoos and reserves, helping to improve conditions and support reintroductions all over the world. So, the correct answer is D.

Questions 25 and 26:
Choose TWO letters, A-E. Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet. Which TWO of these beliefs about zoos does the writer mention in the text?

Question 25:

They can help children overcome their fears of wild animals.
They can increase public awareness of environmental issues.
They can provide employment for a range of professional people.
They can generate income to support wildlife conservation projects.
They can raise animals which can later be released into the wild.

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: Being able to undertake research on animals in zoos where there is less risk and fewer variables means real changes can be effected on wild populations.
Keywords: informing, population, accept the need, environmentally conscious
Keyword Location: Para F, lines 4-6
Explanation: As mentioned in paragraph F, zoos are important for more than just animal protection. They also provide a way for people to learn about animals to help those who are still in the wild and to educate and inform the general public about these animals as well as their world so that they can support conservation efforts or at the very least acknowledge the need for them. Thus, the correct answer is B.

Question 26:

They can help children overcome their fears of wild animals.
They can increase public awareness of environmental issues.
They can provide employment for a range of professional people.
They can generate income to support wildlife conservation projects.
They can raise animals which can later be released into the wild.

Answer: E
Supporting sentence: They are vital not just in terms of protecting animals.
Keywords: vital, protecting animals
Keyword Location: Para F, line 3-5
Explanation:As per paragraph F, it has been mentioned that they are essential not only for animal protection, but also for learning about them to help those that are still in the wild and educating and informing the general public about these animals and their environment so that they can support or at least accept the need to be more environmentally aware. So, the correct answer is E.

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