READING PRACTICE [4.0-5.
0]
Note Completion
LEAD-IN
1. Do the two underlined words in each sentence have a similar meaning or the opposite meaning?
Use a dictionary if necessary.
1. A predator catches and eats its prey.
2. A group of dolphins is called a pod.
3. Environmentalists work for the conservation and protection of the planet.
4. Only a few baby turtles survived; all the others died.
5. Mothers have an automatic desire to protect their babies; keeping them safe is instinctive
behaviour.
SKIM READING
2. Skim read the text in ONE minute and check your answers to exercise 1.
OUR FRIENDS AND PROTECTORS
A. When asked their favourite animals, many people answer 'dolphins'. They are known as friendly,
intelligent creatures that have a special relationship with humans. For example, dolphins can tell
when a woman is pregnant. They can also tell when someone is in trouble. No one is really sure why
this is the case. Experts think they may understand that humans are similar to them and try to
protect them from predators and other dangers. Dolphins' protection of humans might not be just
automatic or instinctive: they may actively decide to help in certain situations.
B. There are many stories about dolphins protecting humans from sharks. Wildlife filmmaker Hardy
Jones was filming a group of dolphins, when a large shark swam towards him ready to attack. Four
dolphins came to his rescue and drove the shark away. Perhaps they could tell he was a person who
cared very much about dolphins. In fact, Jones was a well-known campaigner against the killing of
dolphins. In another incident, in 2004, in New Zealand, four people were saved from a great white
shark by a pod of dolphins. The dolphins herded the swimmers into a group and formed a protective
ring around them. As they had not yet seen the shark, one of them tried to swim away. He couldn't
get away, because every time he tried, he was pushed back inside the ring by the dolphins.
C. Dolphins don't only save humans from sharks, but protect them in other situations too. A scuba
diver was hit by a boat near the Channel Islands (between England and France) in 2006. The man was
unconscious, but survived 56 hours in the water, watched over by a pod of about 150 dolphins. In
2014, dolphins again came to the help of a human. Joey Trevino was losing hope. He had been in the
sea for 24 hours after his boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico. He felt he couldn't keep going any more. A
friendly dolphin approached him and gently pushed him, as if to say 'don't give up'. That moral
support and encouragement may have saved Trevino's life.
D. Dolphins have also been known to help other species. In New Zealand, two pygmy sperm whales
were in difficulty next to a sand bank. People were trying their best to get them back out to sea, but
the whales couldn't find their way past the sand bank. After several hours of failed attempts, they
Ms. Tien Lai IELTS
READING PRACTICE [4.0-5.0]
were ready to give up. Along came 'Moko', a bottlenose dolphin, who seemed to communicate with
the whales and led them to a channel which took them back to the ocean.
E. Whales have also been known to protect both humans and other mammals. In California, in 2012,
a BBC Planet Earth film crew filmed a group of humpback whales who were protecting migrating grey
whales from attacks by orcas (killer whales) over a period of at least seven hours. In China, Yang Yun
applied for a job training whales at Polar Land in the city of Harbin. For the 'interview' she had to dive
down as far as possible in the seven-metre deep pool. When she was about five metres down, Yang
Yun found she couldn't move her legs due to the freezing temperatures. Two beluga whales, Mila and
Nicola, sensed that she was in trouble. Mila gripped Yang Yun's leg in her mouth and pushed Yun to
the surface, saving her life.
F. Stories of marine mammals helping humans -and each other - date back to Ancient Greece.
Although we may never be sure why they help us, many people feel that it is a good reason for us to
do whatever we can to protect them.
NOTES COMPLETION
3. Read paragraph B in detail. Then match the words and phrases 1-5 from paragraph B with words
and phrases a-e which have similar meanings.
1. filming a. saved the life of
2. came to his rescue b. famous
3. well-known c. videoing
4. against the killing of d. group (of dolphins)
e. for the protection of
5. pod
4. Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.
A pod of dolphins saved the life of a man called 1____________________, while he was videoing
them. The man was a famous 2____________________ for the protection of dolphins.
Which paragraph did you need to read in detail to complete the notes above? Did you need to read
the whole paragraph?
5. Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
Orcas were trying to catch and hurt a group of 1____________________ who were travelling from
one place to another. The migrating whales were helped by 2____________________. The whole
incident lasted more than 3____________________ Beluga whales helped a diver who couldn't get
to the surface. Because of the icy waters she was unable to 4____________________. One of the
whales saved her life by taking hold of her 5____________________ and giving her a push upwards.
Which paragraph did you need to read?
Ms. Tien Lai IELTS
