The impact of climate change on butterflies in Britain — IELTS Reading Answers

Forty years ago, there were fewer butterflies in Britain than at present.

“According to conservationists, populations of around two thirds of butterfly species have declined in Britain over the past 40 years.”

Populations of 'around two thirds of butterfly species have declined... over the past 40 years', so there were more butterflies then, not fewer.

Caterpillars are eaten by a number of different predators.

“Butterfly eggs develop into caterpillars and these insects, which are the second stage in a new butterfly’s lifecycle, consume vast quantities of plant material, and in turn act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals.”

Caterpillars 'act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals', which means several different predators eat them.

‘Phenology’ is a term used to describe a creature’s ability to alter the location of a lifecycle event.

“Scientists refer to the timing of such lifecycle events as ‘phenology’, so when an animal or plant starts to do something earlier in the year than it usually does, it is said to be ‘advancing its phenology’.”

Phenology refers to 'the timing of such lifecycle events', not to a creature altering the location of an event.

Some species of butterfly have a reduced lifespan due to spring temperature increases.

“In Britain, as the average spring temperature has increased by roughly 0.5°C over the past 20 years, species have advanced by between three days and a week on average, to keep in line with cooler temperatures.”

Earlier emergence linked to spring warming is discussed, but no species is said to have a shortened lifespan.

There is a clear reason for the adaptations that butterflies are making to climate change.

“Is this a sign that butterflies are well equipped to cope with climate change, and readily adjust to new temperatures? Or are these populations under stress, being dragged along unwillingly by unnaturally fast changes? The answer is still unknown, but a new study is seeking to answer these questions.”

Whether the adaptations show coping or stress is unresolved, because 'the answer is still unknown'.

The data used in the study was taken from the work of amateur butterfly watchers.

“First, the researchers pulled together data from millions of records that had been submitted by butterfly enthusiasts-people who spend their free time observing the activities of different species.”

Data came from 'millions of records... submitted by butterfly enthusiasts', people who watch butterflies in their free time.

“For these species, such as Britain’s tiniest butterfly, the dainty Small Blue, whose colonies are up to a hundred strong”

The Small Blue's 'colonies are up to a hundred strong', so the gap needs the plural 'colonies'.

“For these species, such as Britain’s tiniest butterfly, the dainty Small Blue, whose colonies are up to a hundred strong, some develop into butterflies early in spring,”

Some of these species 'develop into butterflies early in spring', so the gap is 'spring'.

“The beautiful High Brown Fritillary, often described as Britain’s most endangered butterfly, is in this group.”

The High Brown Fritillary is 'often described as Britain's most endangered butterfly', so the gap is 'endangered'.

“It is found only in coppiced woodland and limestone pavement habitats.”

It is found only in 'coppiced woodland and limestone pavement habitats', so the gap is 'habitats'.

“Many of Britain’s single-generation species show the capacity, in continental Europe, to add a second generation in years that are sufficiently warm.”

In 'continental Europe' single-generation species can add a second generation in sufficiently warm years.

“The White Admiral of southern England”

The example given is 'the White Admiral of southern England', so the gap needs 'southern'.

“This may be because the caterpillar exists solely on a diet of a plant called honeysuckle. But it is also likely to be due to climate change.”

The caterpillar exists 'solely on a diet of a plant called honeysuckle', so the gap is 'diet'.