TEST 2

Outcomes (Advanced)
Reading Test 2

Task 1 (7 x 1 mark = 7 marks)

Read the following texts and match them to the most suitable MARK
heading from the list supplied. Each heading can only be used
ONCE. There are three headings you will not need. Text 0 is an
example.

GREATER BAMBOO LEMUR

More and more of the world’s wildlife is becoming endangered each year. One endangered species is the
Greater Bamboo Lemur from Madagascar

Text 0
The Greater Bamboo Lemur is found in the south-central eastern parts of Madagascar in dense
woodlands and lives in the canopy of the trees. The population used to be widespread across the
island but today it is limited to these areas and to the region’s national parks. Recently the population
has started to expand into the wetlands of the Torotorofotsy area of Madagascar, 400 kilometres north
of their usual location.

Text 1
The Greater Bamboo Lemur has the strongest teeth of any lemur and is the largest mammal of its
kind. It can be identified by its distinctive pale grey or white ears. The lemur has a dense brown fur,
covering its round body and a uniquely wide set of nostrils. These give the face of the lemur a more
rounded appearance.

Text 2
The Greater Bamboo Lemur has a relatively long tail and long back legs for leaping vertically amongst
the trees of its forest habitat. Its teeth are incredibly strong and are capable of gnawing through large
pieces of bamboo and the bark of trees. It is also known to move around on all four legs, which give it
great flexibility of movement and the ability to grip onto trees with ease.

Text 3
The species eats the bark from the giant bamboo plants found in Madagascar. It eats in quite a
destructive way, by using its powerful teeth to strip away the bark. The lemur will eat all the bark from
the bamboo, its newly grown roots and also the leaves. It can eat the young parts of the leaves with
no ill-effects and, unlike other bamboo lemurs, this species will forage for other vegetation such as
fruit, mushrooms and flowers.

Text 4
Little is known about the social structure of this lemur, but group sizes are thought to be around 4-7.
The travelling range of the species can extend for several kilometres across the national parks and
forests. It is most active at dawn and dusk, but also moves around during the night. Its only confirmed
predator is the Fossa, a small wild cat, but is also thought to be the prey of large birds which attack
with their sharp talons.

© 2013 National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning. PHOTOCOPIABLE

 Text 5
Like many of Madagascar's unique species, the Greater Bamboo Lemur is being threatened from a
number of angles. Rainforests are being cleared by fire to make way for farmland. As the lemurs rely
on the giant bamboo trees found in these rainforests, they are especially vulnerable to the destruction
of their habitat. In addition, Greater Bamboo Lemurs are sometimes hunted for food, despite being
legally protected by the Madagascan government.

Text 6
Unfortunately, the Greater Bamboo Lemur is threatened with habitat degradation even within
protected areas. However, recently the WWF started to fund a project that will enable local people to
manage the forest areas so that natural resources are replaced and the ecosystem can continue to
thrive, with enough food is available for the lemurs. Several individuals have been taken into captivity
in Europe, but there has been no coordinated captive breeding programme yet.

Text 7
The lemur has been given the highest priority rating on the world’s endangered list and plans have
been recommended, so that further research into the ecosystem and behaviour of the species will
carried out as a matter of urgency, and a captive breeding programme should soon be established in
Madagascar to safeguard against the lemur’s possible extinction in the wild.

A Threats TEXT LETTER

B Mating habits ü
0 G
C Abilities
1 K
D Future plans

E Predators 2 C

F Conservation efforts 3 I
G Animal’s habitat
4 E
H Evolution
5 A
I Foraging for food

J Symbolic significance 6 F

K Unique features D
7

© 2013 National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage Learning. PHOTOCOPIABLE