White Storks Back In Britain After Hundreds Of Years — IELTS Reading Answers

Section A

“Yet their association with rebirth also meant they became a symbol of rebellion.”

Heading vii fits Section A's point that storks' link with rebirth made them 'a symbol of rebellion'.

Section B

“These young storks are part of a project to return the species to Britain, inspired by reintroductions in European countries that more than reached their target.”

Heading i matches Section B, which introduces 'a project to return the species to Britain'.

Section C

“In the face of reports of unrelenting ecological loss (the UN estimates a million species are on the brink of extinction globally), the white stork’s return is refreshing news.”

Heading vi suits Section C: against 'unrelenting ecological loss', 'the white stork's return is refreshing news'.

Section D

“Support from conservation bodies has been surprisingly difficult to obtain; some were hard-pressed with their own initiatives, while others were simply reluctant to stick their necks out.”

Heading iii fits Section D: 'support from conservation bodies has been surprisingly difficult to obtain'.

Section E

“Where storks have been reintroduced, they are greeted with great happiness and some historical stork festivals have been restored.”

Heading viii matches Section E, where storks are 'greeted with great happiness' and 'historical stork festivals have been restored'.

Section F

“A driving motivation behind the project in the UK is the aspiration that the storks’ return will spark feelings of empathy and affection from townspeople who see their nests on rooftops.”

Heading ii fits Section F, which hopes storks will 'spark feelings of empathy and affection from townspeople'.

“a pair of white storks built an untidy nest of sticks in the top branches of a huge oak”

The gap names nesting material; a pair built 'an untidy nest of sticks in the top branches of a huge oak'.

“The fact that they were infertile and did not hatch was not too disappointing.”

The adjective describes the eggs; 'the fact that they were infertile and did not hatch' was not too disappointing.

“These young storks are part of a project to return the species to Britain, inspired by reintroductions in European countries that more than reached their target. Imported from Poland”

The gap names the source country; the young storks were 'imported from Poland'.

“Other birds have already shown strong loyalty to the site.”

A noun for faithfulness to the site is needed; other birds 'have already shown strong loyalty to the site'.

In Section A, we learn that in the past people thought white storks

1. Arepresented the deep snow and cold days of winter.
2. Bhad the power to ensure that babies were born safely.
3. Cwere a speciality that only the very rich were allowed to eat.
4. Dmight be used to encourage people to get rid of the monarchy.correct

“Yet their association with rebirth also meant they became a symbol of rebellion. Shortly after the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, while storks were rare but surviving, parliament debated putting greater effort into destroying them entirely for fear they might inspire republicanism.”

Option D: parliament feared the birds 'might inspire republicanism', so they were linked with removing the monarchy.

The Sussex Wildlife Trust committee was unwilling to support the storks because

1. Ait thought there might not be any safe breeding places locally.
2. Bit worried whether they would survive in Britain long enough.
3. Cit was unsure that they were actually a native species.correct
4. Dit had too many other worthy projects to support.

“the committee of the Sussex Wildlife Trust raised doubts about the stork ever having been a British bird.”

Option C: the committee 'raised doubts about the stork ever having been a British bird', questioning its native status.

What has been one effect of stork reintroductions in Europe?

1. AA variety of measures have been taken to create nesting sites.correct
2. BChanges have been made to the routes of some major roads.
3. CSpecial shelters have been made to protect the birds in bad weather.
4. DSome people have strengthened their roofs to support the birds’ weight.

“The Spanish erect poles for nests along their motorways, and in Alsace householders install cartwheels for storks to build nests on their roofs.”

Option A: Spain erects nest poles along motorways and Alsace householders install cartwheels, varied ways of providing nests.