The Zebra’s Long Walk Across Africa — IELTS Reading Answers

Section A

“On average their journey involves an exhausting round-trip of 588 km — between the Makgadikgadi salt pan area and the Okavango river — making it second only to the great trek undertaken by the zebra herds in the Serengeti National Park”

Section A matches vi: the 'exhausting round-trip of 588 km' between the salt pan and the Okavango river gives the scale of the migration.

Section B

“For her study, Hattie had planned to compare the small-scale movement patterns of 11 different zebra herds in the area”

Section B matches viii: Hattie 'had planned to compare the small-scale movement patterns of 11 different zebra herds', describing the study's scope.

Section C

“This raised the question: why, despite a plentiful supply of food and water, were the zebras being drawn eastwards to the salt pans? Even more difficult to understand was what made six of the groups travel so far, while the other five remained by the Okavango”

Section C matches iv: the findings 'raised the question' of why zebras were 'drawn eastwards to the salt pans' despite plentiful food and water.

Section D

“One of the migration tracks went from the Okavango to Makgadikgadi. But in the late 1960s, giant fences were put up to stop foot and mouth and other diseases spreading between wildlife and domestic cattle”

Section D matches ii: 'giant fences were put up to stop foot and mouth ... spreading', man-made barriers cutting across the migration track.

Section E

“This prompts another question: it has always been assumed that the young of social herbivores like zebras learn migratory behaviour from their parents, so how did the latest generation learn when and where to go”

Section E matches ix: it asks 'how did the latest generation learn when and where to go', the puzzle of how migration is passed on.

Section F

“Hattie's data points to the conclusion that there are several zebra populations adopting different behaviour”

Section F matches vii: 'there are several zebra populations adopting different behaviour', a contrast between groups.

Section G

“Zebras are a vital part of the food chain: understanding their migration in turn helps us to interpret the movements of their predators, and Hattie's research has shed light on the impact of fences on migratory animals”

Section G matches x: understanding the migration 'helps us to interpret the movements of their predators' and shows 'the impact of fences', its wider value.

“Hattie Bartlam, a researcher, discovered this migration while she was tracking zebra groups, officially known as harems, by the Okavango river for her PhD”

The gap is the official name for zebra groups, described as 'tracking zebra groups, officially known as harems'.

“Each harem consists of a stallion and his seven or eight mares with juvenile foals”

The gap names the females in a harem: 'Each harem consists of a stallion and his seven or eight mares with juvenile foals'.

“There is no loyalty between zebras beyond this social group, though harems often gather together into so-called herds”

The gap is what harems form when they gather: 'harems often gather together into so-called herds'.

How did Hattie feel when she heard some of the zebras had travelled so far?

1. Aannoyed because she would have to follow them to Makgadikgadi
2. Bdisappointed that not all of them made it back to Okavango
3. Cfrustrated as the rains had made the roads unusable
4. Dunsure as to their real motivation for goingcorrect

“This raised the question: why, despite a plentiful supply of food and water, were the zebras being drawn eastwards to the salt pans”

Option D matches: the sight of zebras heading east despite 'a plentiful supply of food and water' left her asking why, so she was unsure of their motivation.

When describing the different Botswana zebra populations, the writer indicates

1. Ahis admiration for the ones who migrate the furthest distance.correct
2. Bhis sympathy for the ones who stay by the Okavango River.
3. Chis disbelief that those by the Boteti have difficulty finding food.
4. Dhis anxiety that their migration patterns may not be able to continue.

“But the price they pay is an extraordinary journey across Botswana”

Option A matches: 'the price they pay is an extraordinary journey across Botswana', a phrase showing admiration for the longest-distance migrants.

What does the writer suggest in the final paragraph?

1. AToo much time has been wasted on research into the predators like lions.
2. BIt is sometimes necessary to go against the trend in research matterscorrect
3. CResearch will result in a ban on fences in areas where zebras live.
4. DResearch into animals which are not endangered will increase.

“She explains that it is easier to get funding to study exciting animals like lions. Crucial as that undoubtedly is, she believes that herbivores like zebras are key to understanding any ecosystem”

Option B matches: funding goes to 'exciting animals like lions', yet she believes 'herbivores like zebras are key', a stance against the research trend.