# Why zoos are good: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 14, Test 4, Reading Passage 2

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 14, Test 4, Reading Passage 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | B | some of these collapses have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected |
| 15 | E | where there is less risk and fewer variables |
| 16 | C | television documentaries are becoming ever more detailed and impressive, and many natural history specimens are on display in museums |
| 17 | A | any illnesses they might have will be treated |
| 18 | TRUE | The average captive animal will have a greater life expectancy compared with its wild counterpart |
| 19 | TRUE | A good number of species only exist in captivity |
| 20 | NOT GIVEN | While it is true that television documentaries are becoming ever more detailed and impressive |
| 21 | FALSE | This was an area where zoos used to be lacking |
| 22 | NOT GIVEN | Being able to undertake research on animals in zoos where there is less risk |
| 23 | B, D | send their animal keepers abroad to contribute their knowledge and skills to those working in zoos and reserves |
| 24 | B, D | Many zoos also work directly to educate conservation workers in other countries |
| 25 | B, E | so that they can assist or at least accept the need to be more environmentally conscious |
| 26 | B, E | Still more only exist in the wild because they have been reintroduced from zoos |

## Why these answers are right

**14. B.** You need a reference to the speed at which species die out. Paragraph B says some population collapses have been sudden, dramatic and unexpected, or were discovered very late. Sudden describes how quickly extinction can happen, so the information is in paragraph B.

**15. E.** The item asks why studying captive animals is better than studying wild ones. Paragraph E says research in zoos involves less risk and fewer variables, which allows real changes to be made for wild populations. Those are reasons to prefer the zoo setting, so the answer is E.

**16. C.** You need two other ways of learning about animals besides a zoo visit. Paragraph C names television documentaries and natural history specimens shown in museums, then argues that nothing compares with seeing a living animal, so paragraph C contains this information.

The why and the trap for questions 17 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/why-zoos-are-good/answers).

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