# The Dodo: From History to Extinction

IELTS Academic Listening - 10 questions - 11 minutes - Note completion

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 16, Test 4, Listening Part 4. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## The recording

9 minutes of audio. Practice it with the player on the page; the transcript is on the answers page.

## Questions

### Questions 31-40: Note completion

Complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

THE EXTINCTION OF THE DODO BIRD
The dodo was a large flightless bird which used to inhabit the island of Mauritius.
History
1507 - Portuguese ships transporting **(31)** _____ stopped at the island to collect food and water.
1638 - The Dutch established a **(32)** _____ on the island.
They killed the dodo birds for their meat.
The last one was killed in 1681.
Description
The only record we have is written descriptions and pictures (possibly unreliable).
A Dutch painting suggests the dodo was very **(33)** _____.
The only remaining soft tissue is a dried **(34)** _____.
Recent studies of a dodo skeleton suggest the birds were capable of rapid **(35)** _____.
It's thought they were able to use their small wings to maintain **(36)** _____.
Their **(37)** _____ was of average size.
Their sense of **(38)** _____ enabled them to find food.
Reasons for extinction
Hunting was probably not the main cause.
Sailors brought dogs and monkeys.
**(39)** _____ also escaped onto the island and ate the birds' eggs.
The arrival of farming meant the **(40)** _____ was destroyed.

[Practice online with a timer and instant marking](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-dodo-from-history-to-extinction) - [Answers and explanations](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-dodo-from-history-to-extinction/answers)