ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

BIRD MIGRATION

Words

Look for thefoUnwing words as you read the passage. Match each
word with its correct definition.

Words Definitions
1. aspect A. n .• type; a basic group in
biological classill.cation
2 . breed
B. v·., to live under difficult
3. diurnal
conditions
4. endure
c. n .• a priority; an urgent need
5. evolve
D. n., a part or feature
6. fascinate
E. v.. to interest greatly
7. feat
F. n .• a person who watches
8. fuel something
9. hemisphere
G. v., to provide energy
10. imperative
H. v., to live in
1 1 . inhabit
I. adj .. active during the day
12. migration
J. n .. a difficult act or achievement
1 3. navigation
K. n .. movement from one place
14 . nocturnal to another
15. observer L. v., to reproduce
1 6. obscure M. adj . • active at night
1 7 . optimal N. adj. , unprotected from the wind
1 8. species 0. v., to make difficult to see
19. stray P. v., to leave the correct route;
20. windswept become separated from the
group

Q. adj .. best, most favorable1

R n .. finding the way from one
place to another
s. n. , one half of the Earth; also,
one half of a sphere
T. v., to develop gradually

lBrE: favourable

18
 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

Reading

Bird Migration

Migration is the regular movement of animals between their breeding

grounds and the areas that they inhabit during the rest of the year.
Many types of animals migrate, but bird migration in particular has fas­
cinated observers for centuries. Migration is an excellent example of how
nature has responded to the biological imperative for species to evolve
and spread out into all possible ecological niches that can provide the
conditions necessary for species to breed and raise young.
The most common form of bird migration involves traveltng1 to higher
latitudes to breed during the warm season and then returning to lower
latitudes during the nonbreedtng period. This form of migration allows
birds to breed tn areas that provide optimal conditions for nesting and
feeding their young. Because of the way in which the continents are sit­
uated upon Earth, migration of this type takes place prtmartly into the
higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. No land birds are known
to migrate into the higher latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere; only
species of seabirds migrate to the Southern Hemisphere to breed.
Although most bird migration takes place between the lower and
higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, many species are transe­
quatortal, living in the Northern Hemisphere during the breeding season
and in the Southern Hemisphere during the remainder of the year. A
well-lmown example of transequatorial migration is the arctic tern. This
tern, which breeds in the arctic regions and winters in antarctic waters,
travels 24,000 miles a year durtng migration.
Not all migration is long distance. Some species exhibit altitudinal
migration. Their breeding areas are in higher elevations, near or at the
peaks of mountains, and they spend the nonbreedingseason 1n neighbor­
tng2 valleys or other nearby low country. nus variety of migration is typi­
cal of many grouse species, including the ptarmigan, a type of arctic
grouse. Many rock pt:anntgan never leave the high arctic tundra, spend­
ing their breedingseason atop windswept arctic peaks and the winter sea­
son in nearby valleys, enduring some of the coldest conditions on Earth.
Durtng migration, most birds fly for a limited period each day, proba­
bly about six to eight hours, typically flying distances of several hundred
miles. Some birds, however, undertake much longer flights when their
routes include crossing large bodies of water or other geographic fea­
tures such as deserts and mountains. For example, many species regu­
larly cross the Gulf of Mexico, a trip that requires a continuous flight of
more than 1,000 miles and takes from twenty-four to thirty-six hours or
longer. An extreme example of nonstop bird migration is done by the

1 BrE: travelling
2BrE: neighbouring

11
 o --· ..... -
-- ---

miles from Alaska to New Zealand each year. At the start of its trip,
about 55 percent3 of its body weight is made up of the fat necessary to
fue.l this amazing journey.
How birds manage to unerringly travel between distant locations is
one aspect that has fascinated obsetvers for centurtes. Modem-day
researchers have attempted to understand this feat. Most studies have
found that migratory birds all have some ability to navigate and an
innate drive to travel in a particular direction. Nocturnal migrants, those
species that travel at night, seem to take their navigational cues from
the stars. When the stars are obscured by clouds, nocturnal migrants
may become confused and return to land or stray off course. Diurnal
migrants, those migrating during the day, take their cues from the loca­
tion of the sun. In addition, diurnal migrants have also been shown to
use geographic features such as mountain ranges or seacoasts as other
cues for navigation. Because the stars and the sun move constantly over
the course of twenty-four hours, this suggests that migrating birds also
have some sense of time.

Answer the questions about Bird Migration.

Questions 1-4

Do the following statements agree with the information in the

reading passage?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage.

1. Transequatorial birds cross from one hemisphere to the

other when they migrate.

__ 2 . Many migratory birds breed in the Southern Hemisphere.

3 . Migrating birds spend the warm months where conditions

for breeding are optimal.

__ 4 . Many birds fail in their migration because they do not have

enough body fat to fuel the journey.

3BrE: per cent

20
 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

Questions 5-8

Look at the following descriptions of migratory habits.

Match each type of bird with the correct description.
Write the correct letter, A or B.
A Diurnal species of birds
B Nocturnal species of birds

__ 5. They navigate by looking at the sun.

__ 6. They navigate by looking at the stars.

__ 7. They may stop flying when clouds obscure the sky.

__ 8. They navigate by looking at landforms.

My Words

I
Write the words that are new tD you. Look them up In the dictionary
. and write their deflnttiDns.

Words Definitions

21
ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Word Families

noun evolution Our research plans have gone

through many evolutions and
are now quite different from our
original plans.
----
-
--

verb evolve Scientists believe that birds

evolved from dinosaurs.

acijectlve evolutionary Through the evolutlonacy process,

birds have developed adaptations
that allow them to survive in
ditierent envtronrrtents.

noun fascination Hts fascination with birds is not

hard to understand, because there
are several bird-watchers in his
family.

verb fascinate The study of the lives of birds

fascinates many people.

adJective fascinating The study of birdsong is a

fascinating subject.

DOUD migration Bird migration generally takes

place twtce a year. in the spring
and autumn.

DOUD migrant Migrants stop to rest several times

during their journey.

verb migrate Some birds migrate thousands of

miles to reach their summer
breeding grounds.

adJective migratory Scientists study the habits of

mtgratocy birds.

22
 UNIT 1 : THE NATURAL WORLD

noun navigation Birds use the sun, stars, and

landforms for navigation.

noun navigator Migratory birds are amazing

navigators.

verb navigate Birds navigate by looking at the

sun and stars.

adjective navigational Migratory bfrds are born with

navigational skills; they don't have
to learn them.

noun observation We can leant a great deal about

the lives of birds through simple
obseiVatlon.

noun observer If birds become aware of the

presence of an observer, they
quickly fly away.

verb observe Many people obseiVe birds as a

hobby.

atijective observant You have to be reaJly obsexvant

to spot most types of blrds.

23
ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS

Word Family Practice

I
Clwose the correct wordfamily memberfrom the list below to
complete each blank.

Birds are 1 . . . . . . . . . . to many people, and bird watching is a popular

hobby. The best time to watch birds is in the early morning, because

birds are usually very active at that time of day. The 2 . . . . . . . . must keep
. .

still and quiet in order not to frighten the birds away. If you llve in a part

of the world where 3 . . . . . . birds spend their breeding season, then you
. . . .

willhave the opportunity to see nest-building activity. Over the ages, dif-
ferent species of birds have 4 . . . . . . . . with different types of nest-building
. .

skills. It makes an interesting study to look at the different types of nests

built by birds and to watch them as they build their nests. After the

breeding season is over and the babies have left the nest, it is time for

the birds to head for warmer parts of the world to spend the winter

months. Birds 5 . . . . . . . . to their winter feeding grounds, using the stars

. .

or the sun as their guide.

1. fascination fascinate fascinating

2. observation observer observe

3. migration migrate migratory

4. evolution evolved evolutionary

5. navigation navigate navigational

24
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
BIRD MIGRATION 2
A
Birds have many unique design features that enable them to perform such amazing feats of endurance. They are
equipped with lightweight, hollow bones, intricately designed feathers providing both lift and thrust for rapid
flight, navigation systems superior to any that man has developed, and an ingenious heat conserving design that,
among other things, concentrates all blood circulation beneath layers of warm, waterproof plumage, leaving them
fit to face life in the harshest of climates. Their respiratory systems have to perform efficiently during sustained
flights at altitude, so they have a system of extracting oxygen from their lungs that far exceeds that of any other
animal. During the later stages of the summer breeding season, when food is plentiful, their bodies are able to
accumulate considerable layers of fat, in order to provide sufficient energy for their long migratory flights.
B
The fundamental reason that birds migrate is to find adequate food during the winter months when it is in short
supply. This particularly applies to birds that breed in the temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern
Hemisphere, where food is abundant during the short growing season. Many species can tolerate cold
temperatures if food is plentiful, but when food is not available they must migrate. However, intriguing questions
remain.
C
One puzzling fact is that many birds journey much further than would be necessary just to find food and good
weather. Nobody knows, for instance, why British swallows, which could presumably survive equally well if they
spent the winter in equatorial Africa, instead of several thousands of miles further to their preferred winter home
in South Africa Cape Province. Another mystery involves the huge migrations performed by arctic terns and
mudflat-feeding shorebirds that breed close to Polar Regions. In general, the further north a migrant species
breeds, the further south it spends the winter. For arctic terns, this necessitates an annual round trip of 25,000
miles. Yet, en route to their final destination in far-flung southern latitudes, all these individuals overfly other
areas of seemingly suitable habitat spanning two hemispheres. While we may not fully understand birds’ reasons
for going to particular places, we can marvel at their feats.
D
One of the greatest mysteries is how young birds know how to find the traditional wintering areas without parental
guidance. Very few adults migrate with juveniles in tow, and youngsters may even have little or no inkling of
their parents’ appearance. A familiar example is that of the cuckoo, which lays its eggs in another species’ nest
and never encounters its young again. It is mind-boggling to consider that, once raised by its host species, the
young cuckoo makes its own way to ancestral wintering grounds in the tropics before returning single-handedly
to northern Europe the next season to seek out a mate among its own kind. The obvious implication is that it
inherits from its parents an inbuilt route map and direction-finding capability, as well as a mental image of what
another cuckoo looks like. Yet nobody has the slightest idea as to how this is possible.

E
Mounting evidence has confirmed that birds use the positions of the sun and stars to obtain compass directions.
They seem also to be able to detect the earth’s magnetic field, probably due to having minute crystals of magnetite
in the region of their brains. However, true navigation also requires an awareness of position and time, especially
when lost. Experiments have shown that after being taken thousands of miles over an unfamiliar landmass, birds
are still capable of returning rapidly to nest sites. Such phenomenal powers are the product of computing several
sophisticated cues, including an inborn map of the night sky and the pull of the earth’s magnetic field. How the
birds use their ‘instruments’ remains unknown, but one thing is clear: they see the world with a superior sensory
perception to ours. Most small birds migrate at night and take their direction from the position of the setting sun.
however, as well as seeing the sun go down, they also seem to see the plane of polarized light caused by it, which
calibrates their compass. Traveling at night provides other benefits. Daytime predators are avoided and the danger
of dehydration due to flying for long periods in warm, sunlit skies is reduced. Furthermore, at night the air is
generally cool and less turbulent and so conducive to sustained, stable flight.
F
Nevertheless, all journeys involve considerable risk, and part of the skill in arriving safely is setting off at the
right time. This means accurate weather forecasting, and utilizing favorable winds. Birds are adept at both, and,
in laboratory tests, some have been shown to detect the minute difference in barometric pressure between the
floor and ceiling of a room. Often birds react to weather changes before there is any visible sign of them.
Lapwings, which feed on grassland, flee west from the Netherlands to the British Isles, France and Spain at the
onset of a cold snap. When the ground surface freezes the birds could starve. Yet they return to Holland ahead of
a thaw, their arrival linked to a pressure change presaging an improvement in the weather.
G
In one instance a Welsh Manx shearwater carried to America and released was back in its burrow on Skokholm
Island, off the Pembrokeshire coast, one day before a letter announcing its release! Conversely, each autumn a
small number of North American birds are blown across the Atlantic by fast-moving westerly tail winds. Not only
do they arrive safely in Europe, but, based on ringing evidence, some make it back to North America the following
spring, after probably spending the winter European migrants in sunny African climes.

Questions 14-20
Reading passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-x, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

List of headings
i The best moment to migrate
ii The unexplained rejection of closer feeding ground
iii The influence of weather on the migration route
iv Physical characteristics that allow birds to migrate
v The main reason why birds migrate
vi The best wintering grounds for birds
vii Research findings on how birds migrate
viii Successful migration despite the trouble of wind
ix Contrast between long-distance migration and short-distance migration
x Mysterious migration despite lack of teaching

14 Paragraph A
15 Paragraph B
16 Paragraph C
17 Paragraph D
18 Paragraph E
19 Paragraph F
20 Paragraph G
Questions 21-22
Choose TWO letters, A-E
Write the correct letters in boxes 21 and 22 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of the following statements are true of bird migration?
A Birds often fly further than they need to.
B Birds traveling in family groups are safe.
C Birds flying at night need less water.
D Birds have much sharper eyesight than humans.
E Only shorebirds are resistant to strong winds.
Questions 23-26
Complete the sentences below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
Write your answers in boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet.
23 It is a great mystery that young birds like cuckoos can find their wintering grounds without
……………………..
24 Evidence shows birds can tell directions like a ……………….. by observing the sun and the stars.
25 One advantage for birds flying at night is that they can avoid contact with ………………..
26 Laboratory tests show that birds can detect weather without ………………. signs.