IELTS Academic Reading # 3 - Zoo Conservation Programmes

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 16-28 which are based on Reading Passage below.

Zoo Conservation Programmes

One of London Zoo’s recent advertisements caused me some irritation, so patently did it distort reality. Headlined “Without zoos, you might as well tell these animals to get stuffed”, it was bordered with illustrations of several endangered species and went on to extol the myth that without zoos like London Zoo these animals “will almost certainly disappear forever”. With the zoo world’s rather mediocre record on conservation, one might be forgiven for being slightly sceptical about such an advertisement.

Zoos were originally created as places of entertainment, and their suggested involvement with conservation didn’t seriously arise until about 30 years ago, when the Zoological Society of London held the first formal international meeting on the subject. Eight years later, a series of world conferences took place, entitled “The Breeding of Endangered Species”, and from this point onwards conservation became the zoo community’s buzzword. This commitment has now been clear defined in The World Zoo Conservation Strategy (WZCS, September 1993), which although an important and welcome document does seem to be based on an unrealistic optimism about the nature of the zoo industry.

The WZCS estimates that there are about 10,000 zoos in the world, of which around 1,000 represent a core of quality collections capable of participating in coordinated conservation programmes. This is probably the document’s first failing, as I believe that 10,000 is a serious underestimate of the total number of places masquerading as zoological establishments. Of course, it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective, I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.

The second flaw in the reasoning of the WZCS document is the naive faith it places in its 1,000 core zoos. One would assume that the calibre of these institutions would have been carefully examined, but it appears that the criterion for inclusion on this select list might merely be that the zoo is a member of a zoo federation or association. This might be a good starting point, working on the premise that members must meet certain standards, but again the facts don’t support the theory. The greatly respected American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA) has had extremely dubious members, and in the UK the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland has

Occasionally had members that have been roundly censured in the national press. These include Robin Hill Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight, which many considered the most notorious collection of animals in the country. This establishment, which for years was protected by the Isle’s local council (which viewed it as a tourist amenity), was finally closed down following a damning report by a veterinary inspector appointed under the terms of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. As it was always a collection of dubious repute, one is obliged to reflect upon the standards that the Zoo Federation sets when granting membership. The situation is even worse in developing countries where little money is available for redevelopment and it is hard to see a way of incorporating collections into the overall scheme of the WZCS.

Even assuming that the WZCS’s 1,000 core zoos are all of a high standard complete with scientific staff and research facilities, trained and dedicated keepers, accommodation that permits normal or natural behaviour, and a policy of co-operating fully with one another what might be the potential for conservation? Colin Tudge, author of Last Animals at the Zoo (Oxford University Press, 1992), argues that “if the world”s zoos worked together in co-operative breeding programmes, then even without further expansion they could save around 2,000 species of endangered land vertebrates’. This seems an extremely optimistic proposition from a man who must be aware of the failings and weaknesses of the zoo industry the man who, when a member of the council of London Zoo, had to persuade the zoo to devote more of its activities to conservation. Moreover, where are the facts to support such optimism?

Today approximately 16 species might be said to have been “saved” by captive breeding programmes, although a number of these can hardly be looked upon as resounding successes. Beyond that, about a further 20 species are being seriously considered for zoo conservation programmes. Given that the international conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, this is pretty slow progress, and a long way off Tudge’s target of 2,000.


Questions 16-22
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage?

In boxes 16-22 write-

    YES     if the statement agrees with the writer
    NO     if the statement contradicts the writer
    NOT GIVEN   if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Example: London Zooís advertisements are poorly presented.   Answer: NOT GIVEN

16.    London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest.
17.    Zoos made an insignificant contribution to conservation up until 30 years ago.
18.    The WZCS document is not known in Eastern Europe.
19.    Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.
20.    No-one knew how the animals were being treated at Robin Hill Adventure Park.
21.    Colin Tudge was dissatisfied with the treatment of animals at London Zoo.
22.    The number of successful zoo conservation programmes is unsatisfactory.

Questions 23-25
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 23-25 on your answer sheet.

23.  What were the objectives of the WZCS document?
     A.    to improve the calibre of zoos worldwide
     B.    to identify zoos suitable for conservation practice
     C.    to provide funds for zoos in underdeveloped countries
     D.    to list the endangered species of the world

24.  Why does the writer refer to Robin Hill Adventure Park?
     A.    to support the Isle of Wight local council
     B.    to criticise the 1981 Zoo Licensing Act
     C.    to illustrate a weakness in the WZCS document
     D.    to exemplify the standards in AAZPA zoos

25.  What word best describes the writer’s response to Colin Tudges’ prediction on captive breeding programmes?
    A.    disbelieving
    B.    impartial
    C.    prejudiced
    D.    accepting

Questions 26-28
The writer mentions a number of factors which lead him to doubt the value of the WZCS document Which THREE of the following factors are mentioned?
Write your answers (A-F) in boxes 26-28 on your answer sheet.

List of Factors:
A.  the number of unregistered zoos in the world
B.  the lack of money in developing countries
C.  the actions of the Isle of Wight local council
D.  the failure of the WZCS to examine the standards of the “core zoos”
E.  the unrealistic aim of the WZCS in view of the number of species “saved” to date
F.  the policies of WZCS zoo managers

 
 
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For the answer explanation visit - Answer Explanation: Zoo Conservation Programmes

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.70 (94 Votes)

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Jay
...which many considered the most notorious collection of animals in the country.
Farooq
You can copy the text and can make your own pdf, simple ;-)
Duyen
Can anyone help me with the question 20? I've carefully read the explanation but I can't see any relevance to this question. Thank you in advance!
Grace
We are really thankful for this website. Keep up with the good work IELTS Mentor team. However, except in certain tasks, explanations were not given for the rest. If you can do something for this, it would be very much beneficial. Thanks.
Sandeep
"Given that the international conference at London Zoo was held 30 years ago, this is pretty slow progress, and a long way off Tudge’s target of 2,000." - this line clearly states that the proposition given by Tudge's will be practically a very slow process. So it's is very difficult to believe in Tudge's proposition.
Gouri
Hi, I am preparing for IELTS test. I feel the reading module is more difficult than other modules. I took a long time to solve a section and even after that, I am not able to score high. I am confused sometimes. Can you please help me on how I can make my reading better.
Dhara
I am facing some troubles in reading. I'm finding this section too hard.
Tammoc
1. dishonest = caused me some irritation, distort reality.2. made an insignificant contribution to conservation = didn’t seriously arise 3. Not mentioned because the writer is in a year of working in Eastern Europe and discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis.
Rihhana
Please give me the summary of this reading passage.
Um
Actually, you can't... guys.
Aman
How can I download this page as a pdf file for prints or photostat? Please help.
Sanjeev Mishra
At the end of the paragraph, there is a line "Moreover, where are the facts to support such optimism?". It shows that author did not find any facts or data to support the prediction by Colin Tudge. So the answer is 'disbelieving'.
Sanjeev Mishra
I think in the line "Of course, it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective, I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis" it did not mention anything about WZCS. The author had found the point himself. So the answer will be 'Not Given'.
Sanjeev Mishra
I think in question number 18, the author has found the point by himself, not from WZCS. So, I think that the answer will be 'Not Given'.
Diksha
Please give explanations of answers.
Mamun
Where is the explanation of answers?? I need an explanation of those.
Victor
I have no doubt that all the answers are correct except number 1. It's slightly confusing.
Anoop Thomas
This commitment has now been clearly defined in The World Zoo Conservation Strategy (WZGS, September 1993). Here, IELTS - mentor mention inside the bracket is WZGS instead of WZCS. It has caused me answer a question incorrectly!
Emma Yu
I have a question about the answer to question 18. Why it is NOT GIVEN? The last sentence of paragraph 3, mentions: "Of course, it is difficult to get accurate data but, to put the issue into perspective, I have found that, in a year of working in Eastern Europe, I discover fresh zoos on almost a weekly basis." So I don't understand why it is "NOT GIVEN". Can anyone explain this?

Context keywords for answer:

16. dishonest= distort reality.
17. insignificant= did not seriously arise.
18. HAVE DOUBT
19. but... the criterion... merely be..., deny the question, even we could find "carefully examined" in the sentence before "but...".
20. roundly censured in the national press, deny "no-one knew".
21. Just mention he persuaded more devote..., didn't mention anything about "dissatisfied".
22. hardly be looked upon as resounding successes= unsatisfactory.

Alex
I did not understand the question 25. Can somebody help me?
Yasir
Q19 Zoos in the WZCS select list were carefully inspected.I think the answer should be NG. Can anyone tell be how it is NO?
Preet
It's advertisements and not advertisement... Hence plural and not singular in the question... So I also believe that it should be Not Given...
Navjot
Reading is really my miserable part... Everyday pissing me off... So disappointed...
Dr. Saeed
Congrats Adam. Thanks for your advice.
Sapna
Congrats!! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Adam
Dear All, I have passed IELTS UKIV for the second time, and I would like to share my experience with you regarding the reading part.

First of all, the time that is given for reading's part is 60 minutes exactly with three passages and you have to divide this time on the 3 passages (20 minutes for each passage). Bear in mind that you will not be able to read all the texts in the passage; it's lengthy and you just need to look through the passage. By this, I mean that you have to make quick skimming. In addition, each passage has 10 questions & you have to answer them all. Some of the questions are easy, for some of them you need to be very careful to deal with them, those are tricky questions.

In conclusion, I advise everyone just to keep practising, practising and practising. This the only solution for the limited time that is given in the exam. The more you practise, the more you will get points.

Hema
Vocabularies are very hard to learn! Moreover, each paragraph has its own vocabulary. So can anyone help me to overcome this issue? Thanks in advance.
Rowan
Dear, maybe I do not have enough experience in IELTS, so I could not find the right answer for the first time (16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 25, 27 numbered questions). Could you please give me advice what to do to upgrade my level. Thanking you !)
Lala
Second or third. Usually, the longer passage is the last one.
Shreya
I believe Vijay is correct... it should be 'NG', since the passage refers to 1 ad and not all of them.
Aseel
Where will this reading passage be in the actual IELTS test? First, second or the last one?
Adeel
Please, can you tell me briefly?
Sana
How come you can't find questions 23-25. They are prominently visible.
IELTS Mentor
Those reading passages were taken from the real IELTS tests.
Jalil Damirchiyev
Sorry guys, don't know if it is a real academic reading or not? I think it's little easier and is it the full reading passage?
Satvinder Singh
Vijay said :
I think the first question: London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest is a very broad statement. In this case, the author mentions of "one specific" advertisement from the zoo and it is incorrect to broadly classify all the advertisements from London Zoo as dishonest. I think the answer to that question should be 'NG'
The answer is in the very 1st line itself; "So patently did it distort reality." Keep it real and simple.

Vijay
I think the first question: London Zoo’s advertisements are dishonest is a very broad statement. In this case, the author mentions of "one specific" advertisement from the zoo and it is incorrect to broadly classify all the advertisements from London Zoo as dishonest. I think the answer to that question should be 'NG'.
Tulipe
London zoo's (singular) only one even in the question.