Surviving city life
Read Surviving city life and check the IELTS Reading answers. Ecologists often prefer to study plants and animals in exotic locations, but a growing number have turned their attention to the complex interactions of the wildlife that inhabits concrete jungles. Inner-city Sydney is the laboratory of…
Passage preview
Ecologists often prefer to study plants and animals in exotic locations, but a growing number have turned their attention to the complex interactions of the wildlife that inhabits concrete jungles. Inner-city Sydney is the laboratory of choice for a number of ecologists, and their research is timely. More than half the world’s human population resides in cities, and urban development continues to increase all over the world. By 2030, the United Nations projects five billion people will live in cities. Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli, a biologist at the University of Sydney, believes that ‘we need to understand how cities are changing the ecology of the systems they are built on, and how plants and animals are adapting to them’.
Vocabulary from this passage
8 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- impermeable adjective
Not allowing fluid or liquid substances to pass through a solid material or surface
The impermeable concrete surfaces in cities prevent rainwater from naturally absorbing into the underlying soil.
- infiltrate verb
To secretly or gradually enter or gain access to an organization, place, or natural environment
Exotic weed species gradually infiltrate native ecosystems through the urban storm-water drainage networks.
- invertebrate noun
An animal lacking a backbone or spinal column, such as an insect or a spider
The abundance of urban flora provides an ideal breeding ground for various insect invertebrates.
- omnivorous adjective
Feeding naturally on both plant and animal substances for nutritional energy and species survival
Omnivorous birds have a distinct evolutionary advantage in urban environments due to dietary flexibility.
- persist verb
To continue existing or occurring prolonged beyond the expected, normal, or reasonable time
Surprisingly, many native insect populations persist in highly developed urban environments despite heavy pollution.
- remnant noun
A small remaining quantity or surviving trace of something that was formerly much larger
Only small pockets of remnant bushland survive in the highly developed residential areas of Sydney.
- scavenge verb
To search for and collect usable items or food from discarded material and waste
Urban wildlife has adapted to scavenge through municipal waste to supplement their natural diet.
- unchecked adjective
Continuing to grow or increase without being restrained, controlled, or limited by external forces
The invasive weed populations grew unchecked after the natural predators were driven from the habitat.
Answers with explanations
- 14. vi
Paragraph A introduces why **ecologists** (natural scientists) are focusing their **research** on urban systems, aiming to understand how cities affect ecology. This best matches heading **vi**, 'Why natural scientists are interested in studying urban areas'.
- 15. iv
Paragraph B is entirely about the white ibis, which is nicknamed the **‘garbage turkey’** because it enjoys digging through **bins** and **street garbage**. This perfectly matches heading **iv**, 'A creature which likes rubbish'.
- 16. vii
Paragraph C describes how humans landscaping their gardens has created a **suitable environment** that encourages specific omnivorous birds, notably the noisy miner, while driving away smaller birds. This aligns with heading **vii**, 'Changes in the urban built environments encourage particular species'.
- 17. iii
Paragraph D lists various bugs (spiders, butterflies, and ants) that are flourishing in Sydney. In biological terms, while spiders are arachnids, they are grouped under 'invertebrates' here, and the heading broadly uses **Insects** to describe these small creepy-crawlies that **thrive** in urban areas, matching heading **iii**.
- 18. i
Paragraph E focuses entirely on the long-nosed bandicoot, a **small animal** (mammal) that is **venturing out** (expanding its territory) from the parks into suburban backyards. Heading **i** is the best match.
- 19. ii
Paragraph F explains how Sydney's concrete structure and storm-water systems are helping exotic (imported) plants, specifically **weeds**, to **infiltrate** and grow rapidly. This perfectly fits heading **ii**, 'The urban environment encouraging the spread of imported flora and fauna'.
- 20. D
Catherine Price (**D**) states that they **don't know** (it is not clear) whether the bandicoots are moving into the city due to an overflow or special survival traits. This matches the statement about uncertainty regarding why a small animal moves from its natural environment.
- 21. A
Dieter Hochuli (**A**) mentions that spiders are **fatter and fitter** (positively affected health) in the city and suggests this might be caused by the **urban heat** (hot weather).
- 22. C
Richard Major (**C**) explains that the way we design residential gardens provides a **suitable environment** for noisy miners (suiting them better) while causing the **decline of small birds**. This matches the statement.
- 23. A
Dieter Hochuli (**A**) emphasises the necessity (**vital** need) to **understand** how nature reacts and adapts to **urban settings** (cities).
- 24. cockroaches
The summary lists examples of non-native species successfully adapting to the city. Alongside rats (rodents), the text mentions **cockroaches** as another example of a non-native insect. The exact word for the gap is **cockroaches**.
- 25. concrete
The text explains that Michelle Leishman has proven that Sydney's drainage (storm-water) system and its huge stretches of **concrete** favour weed growth. **Concrete** correctly fills the gap as the material covering large areas.
- 26. chemicals
The summary notes that water gathers something as it moves from gardens/streets to the drainage network. The text explicitly says water (rain) **collects chemicals** which then enter the storm-water system. The answer is **chemicals**.