2017年8月19日雅思阅读考试回忆及解析

　　F) The plight of the British otter was recognised in the early 60s, but it wasn’t until the late 70s that the chief cause was discovered. Pesticides, such as dicldrin and aldrin, were first used in 1955 in agriculture and other industries--these chemicals are very persistent and had already been recognised as the muse of huge declines in the population of peregrine falcons, sparrow hawks and oilier predators. The pesticides entered the river systems and the food chain-micro-organisms. fish and finally otters, with every step increasing the concentration of the chemicals. From 1962 the chemicals were phased out, but while some species recovered quickly, otter numbers did not and continued to fall into the 80s. This was probably mainly to habitat destruction and road deaths. Acting on populations fragmented by the sudden decimation in the 50s and 60s, the loss of just a handful of otters in one area can make an entire population unviable and spoil the end.

　　G) Otter numbers are recovering all around Britain--populations arc growing again in the few areas where they had remained and have expanded from those areas into the rest of the country. This is almost entirely due to law and conservation efforts, slowing down and reversing the destruction of suitable otter habitat and reintroductions from captive breeding programs. Releasing captive-bred otters is seen by many as a last resort. The argument runs that where there is no suitable habitat for them they will not survive after release and when there is suitable habitat, natural populations should be able to expand into the area. However, reintroducing animals into a fragmented and fragile population may add just enough impetus for it to stabilise and expand, rather than die out. This is what the Otter Trust accomplished the 1980s. The Otter Trust has now finished its captive breeding program entirely. Great news because it means it is no longer needed.

　　参考答案：

　　段落信息配对题：

　　1. A description of how otters regulate vision underwater B

　　2. The fit-for-purpose characteristics of otter’s body shape C

　　3 A reference to an underdeveloped sense A

　　4 An explanation of why agriculture failed in otter conservation efforts F

　　5 A description of some of the otter’s social characteristics C

　　6 A description of how baby otters grow D

　　7 The conflicted opinions on how to preserve otters F

　　8 A reference to a legislative act G

　　9 An explanation of how otters compensate for heat loss A

　　简答题：

　　10 What affects the outer fur of otters? salt

　　11 What skill is not necessary for Asian short-clawed otters? swimming

　　12 Which type of otters has the shortest range? costal otter

　　13 Which type of animals do otters hunt occasionally? moles

　　(答案仅供参考)