Talk Icon

Practice 100+ speaking topics!

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

Get App

leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

updated at

Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

In the IELTS Reading section, your reading comprehension skills are rigorously tested. Lasting for 60 minutes, this segment comprises three passages, each accompanied by a series of questions in various formats like multiple choice, matching headings, and True/False/Not Given. Success in this section hinges on your ability to grasp key information, discern main ideas, and infer meaning from context.
 

To ace the IELTS Reading section, adopt effective reading strategies such as skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific details. Regular practice with sample questions and exposure to different question types will sharpen your skills for test day.
 

Prepare for an enlightening exploration of "Bring Back the Big Cats," an insightful look into the efforts to reintroduce large feline species into their natural habitats. Delve into the ecological benefits, challenges, and strategies involved in these conservation projects through engaging passages and accompanying questions, enriching your understanding of how these magnificent creatures can be restored to the wild.

On this page

Arrow right
Slider image

1. Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam. 

Slider image

2. Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Bring Back the Big Cats

More for you

Boost your IELTS Reading score

Book Free Reading class arrow right

See how to score 8+ in Speaking. 

 

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Speaking test.

Learn More arrow right
3/3
1.

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 

 

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Passage


 

Paragraph A 

John Vesty says that the time for returning vanished native animals to Britain has arrived. Around 598 AD, there is a poem that describes the hunting of a mystery animal called Llewyn. What is it? Nothing got fitted until 2006, an animal bone was found in the Kinsey Cave in northern England, dating the same period. Until this discovery, the lynx, which is a large spotted cat with tassel-led ears, was assumed to have died in Britain at least 6000 years ago. It happens before the inhabitants of these islands do farming. But in 2006, in Yorkshire and Scotland, it is evident that the lynx and mysterious Llewyn both are the same. If so, the estimated extinction date of tassel-eared cats is 5000 years.

 

Paragraph B

However, in British culture, this is not the last glimpse of the animal. A 9th-century stone cross from the Isle of Eigg shows along the deer, pig, aurochs, a speckled cat with tasselled ears is pursued by a mounted hunter. We are sure that the animal’s backside hasn't been damaged over time as the lynx’s stubby tail is unmistakable. It’s difficult to know about the creature even without this feature. Now, lynx has become the totemic animal of a movement that transforms British environmentalism - rewilding. 

 

Paragraph C

Rewilding is the huge restoration of damaged ecosystems. It involves replacing the trees to areas that have been stripped, making seabed parts to recover from trawling and dredging and making rivers to freely flow. These things are to bring back the missing species. In modern ecology, one of the top findings is ecosystems without large predators which behave differently than those that retain them. Some drive dynamic processes that resonate the complete food chain and provide niches for hundreds of species that might struggle to survive. The killers will turn as life bringers.

 

Paragraph D

For British conservation, these findings give a great challenge, which is often selected as arbitrary assemblages of plants and animals by putting huge effort and investment to prevent them from changing. As the jar of pickles, it has preserved the living world by not letting anything in and out and keeping nature in an arrested state. But ecosystems are not only based on the collection of species, it also depends on the dynamic and changing relationship between them. The dynamism often varies based on the large predators.

 

Paragraph E

When it comes to sea, it is even greater, the larger areas of commercial fishing need to be protected. 18th century literature describes that the vast shoals of fish are chased by fin and sperm whales within sight of the English shore. This method will greatly increase catches in the surrounding seas; the fishing industry’s insistence on clearing every seabed without leaving any breeding reserves couldn’t be damaging to its own interests.

 

Paragraph F

Rewilding is one of the rare examples of environmental movement where campaigners communicate what they are for rather than what they are against. The reason for enthusiasm for rewilding is spreading fastly in Britain, is to create a more inspiring vision than the green movements’ promise of Follow us and the world will be less awful than it would be.

 

Paragraph G

There will be no threat to human beings by the lynx: there is no instance of a lynx preying on people. It is a specialist predator of roe deer that has exploded in Britain in recent decades which holds back the intensive browsing and planning to re-establish forests. It will also winkle out sika deer, an exotic species that is impossible for human beings to control as it hides in impenetrable plantations of young trees. Reintroducing this predator comes with the aim of bringing back the forests to the parts of our bare and barren uplands. The lynx needs deep cover thus giving little risk to sheep and other livestock which need to be in a condition of farm subsidies that are kept out of the woods.

 

Paragraph H

Several conservationists suggested that the lynx can be reintroduced within 20 years in the recent trip of the Cairngorm Mountains. If trees return to the bare hills anywhere in Britain, the big cats will follow. If it is seen from the perspective of anywhere else in Europe, there will be nothing extraordinary about the proposals. Now, the lynx has been reintroduced to the Mountains, Alps in eastern France and mountains in Germany and re-established in many places. Since 1970, the European population has tripled to nearly 10, 000. Like wolves, bears, pigs, bison, moose and other species, the lynx will spread as farming, left the hills and then people discover that it is much needed to protect wildlife than to hunt it as tourists will pay to see it. Large scale rewilding will happen everywhere except Britain.

 

Paragraph I
Here, there are many changes in attitudes. Conservationists started to accept the jar model is failing even on its own terms. Projects like Trees for life in the Highlands give hints of what is expected to come. There is an organisation set up that seeks to catalyse the rewilding of land and sea across Britain, its aim is to reintroduce the rarest species to British ecosystems: hope.

2.

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Bring Back the Big Cats

Questions and Answers 1-5
  • Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

 

 

1. What did the discovery of animal bone say about the lynx?

 

  1. It has distinctive physical appearance
  2. The spread of farming is linked to its extinction
  3. It survived in Britain longer than the prediction
  4. Thousand years ago it disappeared from Britain

 

2. What does the writer point out about the large predators?

 

  1. Biodiversity will increase by its presence
  2. It will create damage to the ecosystems
  3. Based on the environment, their behaviour might change
  4. Only in their native places they should be reintroduced.

 

3. What is suggested by the writer about British conservation?

 

  1. The target was missed to achieve
  2. The path has begin to change
  3. The misguided approach was held
  4. It targeted only the most widespread species.

 

4. Protecting the large are of sea from commercial fishing will end up in

 

  1. Loss for the fishing industry
  2. Benefits for the fishing industry
  3. Opposition from the fishing industry
  4. Changes in techniques in fishing industry

 

5. What is the difference between rewilding from other campaigns according to the writer?

 

  1. The message is appealing and positive.
  2. The objective is achievable
  3. Supporters are more involved
  4. It is based on the scientific principles

 

 

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Answers with Explanations (1-5)

 

Question Type: Multiple Choice 

 

Multiple Choice questions in the IELTS reading test present you with a question followed by a set of options from which you must choose the correct answer. Typically, there are three or four options to choose from. You must carefully read the question and each option before selecting the correct answer.
 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • You must comprehend the passage to select the most accurate option.
  • Efficient skimming and scanning help locate relevant information quickly.
  • Some options may be designed to mislead you, so it's crucial to base your choice on evidence from the passage.
  • Multiple-choice questions can be time-consuming if you dwell on each option too long. Manage your time wisely to ensure you can attempt all questions.

 

 

1. C - It survived in Britain longer than the prediction

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph A

Until this discovery, the lynx which is a large spotted cat with tassel-led ears was assumed to have died in Britain at least 6000 years ago.

 

Explanation

This line confirms that the lynx survived in Britain much longer than previously thought, pushing back the extinction date by thousands of years.


 

2. A - Biodiversity will increase by its presence

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph C

In modern ecology, one of the top findings is ecosystems without large predators which behave differently than those that retain them. Some drive dynamic processes that resonate the complete food chain and provide niches for hundreds of species that might struggle to survive.
 

Explanation

This passage indicates that the presence of large predators fosters dynamic processes that enhance biodiversity.


 

3. C - The misguided approach was held

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph D

For British conservation, these findings give a great challenge, which is often selected as arbitrary assemblages of plants and animals by putting huge effort and investment to prevent them from changing.
 

Explanation

This line suggests that British conservation efforts have been misguided by focusing on maintaining arbitrary assemblages of species rather than allowing natural changes.


 

4. B - Benefits for the fishing industry

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph E
This method will greatly increase catches in the surrounding seas.

 

Explanation

Protecting large areas from commercial fishing is suggested to ultimately benefit the fishing industry by increasing fish populations in adjacent areas.


 

5. C - Supporters are more involved

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph F

The reason for enthusiasm for rewilding is spreading fastly in Britain is to create a more inspiring vision than the green movements’ promise of Follow us and the world will be less awful than it would be.

 

Explanation

This indicates that rewilding generates more enthusiasm and involvement from supporters by presenting a positive and inspiring vision.

Questions and Answers 6-9
  • Complete the summary below
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

 

 

The advantages of reintroducing the lynx to Britain are many. There is no such evidence that lynx put 6) ______________  in danger which would reduce the population of 7) ____________ which increased rapidly in the recent decades. It gives only minimum threat to 8) ___________, if it were kept away from the lynx habitats. Further, the reintroduction concept has been linked with initiatives to return native 9) ____________  to certain places of the country.

 

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Answers with Explanations (6-9)

 

Type of Question: Summary Completion

 

Summary completion questions provide a summary of part of the reading passage with several blanks. Your task is to fill in these blanks with appropriate words or phrases from the passage. The summary may cover a whole passage or a part of it, focusing on key points and main ideas.

 

How to best answer this question:

 

  • Quickly skim the passage to get an idea of its main ideas and structure.
  • Focus on keywords in the summary and look for them or their synonyms in the passage.
  • Carefully read the instructions to know the word limit and any specific guidelines.
  • Identify the part of the passage related to the summary. This often involves scanning for keywords or phrases.
  • Ensure the words you choose fit grammatically and contextually within the summary.
  • After filling in the blanks, review the summary to ensure it makes sense and adheres to the word limit.


 

6. People

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G

There will be no threat to human beings by the lynx: there is no instance of a lynx preying on people.

 

Explanation

The passage states that there is no evidence of lynx posing a threat to humans.


 

7. Wild animals

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G

It is a specialist predator of roe deer that has exploded in Britain in recent decades.

 

Explanation

The lynx preys on roe deer, which have seen a rapid increase in population in recent decades.


 

8. Farm animals

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph G
The lynx needs deep cover thus giving little risk to sheep and other livestock which need to be in a condition of farm subsidies that are kept out of the woods.
 

Explanation

The lynx poses minimal risk to farm animals if they are kept away from lynx habitats.


 

9. Trees

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H

If trees return to the bare hills anywhere in Britain, the big cats will follow.
 

Explanation

The reintroduction of lynx is linked to initiatives to return native trees to certain areas of Britain.

Questions and Answers 10-14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 11-14 on your 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 in the passage

 

 

10. Reintroducing the lynx is done by the Britain which is the first European country
 

11. The conservationists' expectations have increased due to the huge population growth of European lynx since 1970.
 

12. The habitat of lynx in Europe extended based on the changes in agricultural practices.
 

13. Reintroduction of species has commercial advantage
 

14. The jar of pickle models has come into acceptance by the conservationists.

 

 

Bring Back the Big Cats Reading Answers with Explanations (10-14)

 

Question Type: True/False/Not Given

 

In this task, you are presented with a statement, and your task is to determine if it agrees with the information in the passage (True), contradicts the information in the passage (False), or if there is insufficient information in the passage to decide (not given).
 

How to best answer the question:

 

  • Read the statement carefully to ensure you understand exactly what it is saying. 
  • Pay attention to details such as dates, numbers, and specific information.
  • Scan the passage to find the section where the relevant information is likely to be located. 
  • Focus on finding evidence that either supports or contradicts the statement.
  • True: If the statement agrees with the information in the passage.
  • False: If the statement contradicts the information in the passage.
  • Not Given: If there is no information in the passage that confirms or contradicts the statement.

 

 

10. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H

Now, the lynx has been reintroduced to the Mountains, Alps in eastern France and mountains in Germany and re-established in many places.

 

Explanation

The passage states that the lynx has been reintroduced to other European countries, not just Britain.


 

11. Not Given

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph 

NA
 

Explanation
The passage does not provide information about the expectations of conservationists regarding the European lynx population growth since 1970.


 

12. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H

The lynx will spread as farming, left the hills and then people discover that it is much needed to protect wildlife than to hunt it as tourists will pay to see it.

 

Explanation

The passage indicates that changes in agricultural practices have led to the expansion of lynx habitat in Europe.


 

13. True

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph H

People discover that it is much needed to protect wildlife than to hunt it as tourists will pay to see it.

 

Explanation

The passage suggests that reintroducing species, such as the lynx, has commercial advantages, as tourists are willing to pay to see them.


 

14. False

 

Reference:

 

Paragraph I
Conservationists started to accept the jar model is failing even on its own terms.

 

Explanation

The passage states that conservationists have started to reject the "jar model," not accept it.

ielts logo

Get the IELTS Prep App

Star rating icon

4.2

1M+ Installs

app download banner image

Get the app link on your phone

+91

Or download app from

google play storeapp store

Next Up

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now Read now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now Read now

Top Reading Samples with Answers

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

FAQs

Q. Should I read the entire passage before answering questions?

Ans. It depends on your reading strategy. Some candidates prefer to skim the passage first, while others read it more thoroughly. Experiment with both methods to see which works best for you. Skimming can give you a quick overview, while reading thoroughly may help you grasp more nuanced details.

Q. How can I improve my vocabulary for the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. To enhance your vocabulary, engage in extensive reading across various topics. Note down unfamiliar words and their meanings, and use vocabulary-building resources such as flashcards or apps. Focus on learning academic and topic-specific vocabulary relevant to the IELTS test.

Q. What should I do if I don't understand a word or phrase in the passage?

Ans. If you encounter an unfamiliar word or phrase, try to deduce its meaning from the surrounding context. Look for clues in nearby sentences or paragraphs that might elucidate its significance. If you're still uncertain, skip it and continue reading, as understanding the broader context of the passage can sometimes clarify the meaning of unfamiliar terms.