Scientist David Hone Makes The Case For Zoos: Reading Passage

READING PASSAGE
Why zoos are good
SCIENTIST DAVID HONE MAKES THE CASE FOR ZOOS
In my view, it is perfectly possible for many species of animals living in zoos or wildlife parks to have a
quality of life as high as, or higher than, in the wild. Animals in good zoos get a varied and high-quality
diet with all the supplements required, and any illnesses they might have will be treated. Their movement
might be somewhat restricted, but they have a safe environment in which to live, and they are spared
bullying and social ostracism by others of their kind. They do not suffer from the threat or stress of
predators, or the irritation and pain of parasites or injuries. The average captive animal will have a greater
life expectancy compared with its wild counterpart, and will not die of drought, of starvation or in the jaws
of a predator. A lot of very nasty things happen to truly ‘wild’ animals that simply don’t happen in good
zoos, and to view a life that is ‘free’ as one that is automatically ‘good’ is, I think, an error. Furthermore,
zoos serve several key purposes.
Firstly, zoos aid conservation. Colossal numbers of species are becoming extinct across the world, and
many more are increasingly threatened and therefore risk extinction. Moreover, some of these collapses
have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected, or were simply discovered very late in the day. A species
protected in captivity can be bred up to provide a reservoir population against a population crash or
extinction in the wild. A good number of species only exist in captivity, with many of these living in zoos.
Still more only exist in the wild because they have been reintroduced from zoos, or have wild populations
that have been boosted by captive bred animals. Without these efforts there would be fewer species alive
today. Although reintroduction successes are few and far between, the numbers are increasing, and the
very fact that species have been saved or reintroduced as a result of captive breeding proves the value of
such initiatives.
Zoos also provide education. Many children and adults, especially those in cities, will never see a wild
animal beyond a fox or pigeon. While it is true that television documentaries are becoming ever more
detailed and impressive, and many natural history specimens are on display in museums, there really is
nothing to compare with seeing a living creature in the flesh, hearing it, smelling it, watching what it does
and having the time to absorb details. That alone will bring a greater understanding and perspective to
many, and hopefully give them a greater appreciation for wildlife, conservation efforts and how they can
contribute.
In addition to this, there is also the education that can take place in zoos through signs, talks and
presentations which directly communicate information to visitors about the animals they are seeing and
their place in the world. This was an area where zoos used to be lacking, but they are now increasingly
sophisticated in their communication and outreach work. Many zoos also work directly to educate
conservation workers in other countries, or send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their
knowledge and skills to those working in zoos and reserves, thereby helping to improve conditions and
reintroductions all over the world.
Zoos also play a key role in research. If we are to save wild species and restore and repair ecosystems we
need to know about how key species live, act and react. Being able to undertake research on animals in
zoos where there is less risk and fewer variables means real changes can be effected on wild populations.
Finding out about, for example, the oestrus cycle of an animal of its breeding rate helps us manage wild
populations. Procedures such as capturing and moving at-risk or dangerous individuals are bolstered by
knowledge gained in zoos about doses for anaesthetics, and by experience in handling and transporting
animals. This can make a real difference to conservation efforts and to the reduction of human-animal
conflicts, and can provide a knowledge base for helping with the increasing threats of habitat destruction
and other problems.
In conclusion, considering the many ongoing global threats to the environment, it is hard for me to see
zoos as anything other than essential to the long-term survival of numerous species. They are vital not just
in terms of protecting animals, but as a means of learning about them to aid those still in the wild, as well
as educating and informing the general population about these animals and their world so that they can
assist or at least accept the need to be more environmentally conscious. Without them, the world would
be, and would increasingly become, a much poorer place.
Questions 14-17
Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs, A-F.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
14 a reference to how quickly animal species can die out
15 reasons why it is preferable to study animals in captivity rather than in the wild
16 mention of two ways of learning about animals other than visiting them in zoos
17 reasons why animals in zoos may by healthier than those in the wild
Questions 18-22
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
In boxes 18-22 on you answer sheet, 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
18 An animal is likely to live longer in a zoo than in the wild
19 There are some species in zoos which can no longer be found in the wild.
20 Improvements in the quality of TV wildlife documentaries have resulted in increased numbers of zoo
visitors.
21 Zoos have always excelled at transmitting information about animals to the public.
22 Studying animals in zoos is less stressful for the animals than studying them in the wild.
Questions 23 and 24
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 23 and 24 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of the following are stated about zoo staff in the text?
A Some take part in television documentaries about animals

B Some travel to overseas locations to join teams in zoos.
C Some gets experience with species in the wild before taking up zoo jobs.
D Some teaches people who are involved with conservation projects.
E Some specialises in caring for species that are under threat.
Questions 25 and 26
Choose TWO letters, A-E
Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet.
Which TWO of these beliefs about zoos does the writer mention in the text?
A They can help children overcome their fears of wild animals.

B They can increase public awareness of environmental issues.
C They can provide employment for a range of professional people.
D They can generate income to support wildlife conservation projects.
E They can raise animals which can later be released into the wild.

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READING PASSAGE

Why zoos are good

SCIENTIST DAVID HONE MAKES THE CASE FOR ZOOS

Which paragraph contains the following information?

14 a reference to how quickly animal species can die out

In boxes 18-22 on you answer sheet, 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

18 An animal is likely to live longer in a zoo than in the wild

A Some take part in television documentaries about animals

Choose TWO letters, A-E

Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 on your answer sheet.

A They can help children overcome their fears of wild animals.

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