Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Wildlife & Nature Conservation 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals sharing their passionate views on the ethics of feeding wild animals in parks and how it disrupts their natural foraging instincts.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   warns that providing food can inadvertently draw animals into areas of high human traffic?

2   notes that certain types of food people offer are detrimental to an animal’s digestive system?

3   claims that feeding wild creatures prevents them from honing their essential survival skills?

4   admits to previously engaging in this activity before understanding the ecological consequences?

5   suggests that observing animals from a distance is a more respectful alternative?

6   mentions that human interference has made animals increasingly aggressive or demanding?

7   highlights the irony of people believing they are acting out of kindness?

8   observes that animals are losing their natural fear of humans, leading to potential dangers?

9   expresses frustration with visitors who ignore clear warning signs posted throughout the park?

10   suggests that the animal’s natural diet is superior to anything visitors could provide?

Wild at Heart: Why We Must Stop Feeding Park Animals

A Liam

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to gently intervene when I see tourists trying to hand-feed bread to the local duck population. They genuinely believe they are performing an act of charity, yet they are oblivious to the fact that white bread is essentially nutritional junk for waterfowl, often leading to severe health complications. When I was much younger, I was guilty of this too; I used to keep a bag of popcorn in my pocket specifically for the squirrels. It wasn’t until a park ranger explained how this disrupts their natural foraging instincts that I truly understood the damage I was causing. These creatures are perfectly capable of sustaining themselves on nuts, seeds, and berries—a far more suitable and energy-dense diet than anything we could possibly provide. We need to stop treating our parks like petting zoos.

B Chloe

My main issue is how this human interaction is actively rewriting animal behaviour in the most alarming ways. In our local park, the foxes have become incredibly bold, no longer displaying the natural wariness they should have towards humans. This loss of fear is a slippery slope; once an animal stops viewing us as a potential threat, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets bitten, which inevitably ends badly for the animal. Furthermore, I’ve witnessed how birds now swarm visitors the moment they unpack a lunch. They’ve essentially become dependent on handouts, which completely undermines their innate ability to hunt and gather. We aren’t doing them any favours; we are simply turning wild, independent beings into glorified beggars who lack the survival skills necessary for their own long-term welfare.

C Marcus

I spend a lot of time walking in the nature reserve, and the sheer level of arrogance displayed by some park-goers is staggering. Despite prominent signage explicitly stating “Do Not Feed the Wildlife,” you’ll regularly see people throwing scraps of crisps and biscuits at the local deer. It’s infuriating. Not only does this encourage the animals to approach busy roads where they risk being struck by vehicles, but it also creates a false sense of security. When we make ourselves the primary source of their food, we are essentially conditioning them to congregate in high-traffic human zones. It is a recipe for disaster. We should be content to simply observe them from afar, appreciating their presence without needing to physically intervene in their lives.

D Priya

The fundamental problem is that people don’t consider the bigger picture when they decide to share their snacks. I once saw a family offer a high-sugar candy bar to a raccoon, completely ignoring the complex, nutrient-rich diet it relies on in the wild. That kind of interference is not just thoughtless; it’s harmful. These animals have evolved over millennia to source exactly what they need from their immediate environment. When we force our processed, sugary leftovers on them, we’re interfering with a delicate balance. I’ve reached the point where I have to bite my tongue to avoid a confrontation when I see it happening. If we want these animals to thrive, we have to let them be wild. The most compassionate thing we can do is to leave them alone and allow nature to take its course.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four people describing the unique challenge of rehabilitating orphaned baby animals and ensuring they don’t become too attached to human caregivers.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions feeling somewhat absurd while carrying out their duties?

2   struggles immensely to hold back their urge to comfort the infants?

3   relies on the presence of older animals to teach the young ones how to behave?

4   acknowledges a previous error in judgment that hindered an animal’s release?

5   has to actively stop themselves from speaking during feeding times?

6   points out that their necessary aloofness could easily be misunderstood by observers?

7   uses artificial means to simulate the sounds of the creatures’ natural habitat?

8   was amazed by the speed at which the babies embraced their wild nature?

9   wears specific gear to conceal their human form from the orphans?

10   appreciates that the ultimate reward comes from the animals having absolutely no connection to them?

Keeping the Wild in Wildlife: The Challenge of Animal Rehabilitation

A Liam

When I started helping out at the fox sanctuary, I took it for granted that I’d be bottle-feeding cubs in my regular clothes. I couldn’t have been more wrong. To prevent them from associating humans with food, we have to wear elaborate, heavily scented camouflage suits and full face masks. At first, I felt utterly ridiculous stumbling around the enclosures looking like a walking bush. I genuinely questioned whether such extreme measures were strictly necessary. However, foxes are highly intelligent, and if they catch even a glimpse of a human face providing nourishment, their natural fear evaporates. The ultimate goal of rehabilitation is a successful release into the wild. It might sound strange, but the greatest thrill I get is when we open the transport cages and they dart into the undergrowth without casting a single glance back in our direction. That complete indifference proves we’ve done our job flawlessly.

B Maya

Taking care of orphaned badger cubs takes a massive emotional toll. As a volunteer, your immediate instinct when faced with a whimpering, frightened infant is to scoop it up and offer physical reassurance. Learning to deliberately ignore those heart-breaking cries for affection goes against every nurturing bone in my body. We are strictly forbidden from stroking or cuddling them, as physical contact quickly leads to habituation. To an outsider watching us work, our purely functional approach probably comes across as terribly cold and unfeeling. I’ve even had friends accuse me of being overly harsh when I describe our protocols. Nevertheless, we have to be cruel to be kind. An overly friendly badger wouldn’t survive a week in the wild, as it would likely approach humans who might mean it harm. Reminding myself of that harsh reality is the only way I manage to keep my distance during feeding time.

C Tariq

My involvement with orphaned deer fawns began with a rather steep learning curve. Several years ago, I foolishly chatted away to a fawn while nursing it, assuming my soothing voice would ease its stress. Unfortunately, the creature became so accustomed to human speech that it lost its essential flight response, meaning it could never be safely returned to the forest. I felt overwhelmingly guilty about that blunder. Nowadays, I enforce a rule of absolute silence in the nursery. It takes immense self-discipline to bite my tongue and refrain from uttering a single word while I work. To mask the inevitable noises of our footsteps and equipment, we have installed speakers that constantly broadcast audio tracks of rustling leaves, wind, and woodland birds. By flooding the barn with these simulated forest sounds, we ensure the fawns remain entirely oblivious to the voices of their human caretakers.

D Chloe

We specialise in rehabilitating orphaned squirrel kittens, and our most effective strategy doesn’t involve humans at all. Instead of them being hand-reared indefinitely by our staff, we aim to match the orphans with non-releasable adult squirrels who reside permanently at our centre. These surrogate mothers gracefully take over the parenting duties, teaching the youngsters crucial survival skills like foraging, climbing, and cracking nuts. This method drastically reduces their reliance on us. Although they are monitored from a distance using hidden cameras, we practically vanish from their lives once the foster process begins. What consistently blows me away is the sheer pace of their development. You would expect them to pine for the easy life of syringe feeding, but their innate instincts take over almost overnight. Watching them transform from helpless, dependent babies into fierce, independent foragers in a matter of days is truly a sight to behold.

Exercises:   123456