IELTS Reading: Britain’s Butterflies
The impact of climate change on butterflies in Britain
According to conservationists, populations of around two thirds of butterfly species have declined in Britain over the past 40 years. (Q1) (Note: 40 years ago there were MORE butterflies, not fewer). Butterfly eggs develop into caterpillars… and in turn act as prey for (Q2) birds as well as bats and other small mammals.
Butterflies prefer outdoor conditions to be ‘just right’… Scientists refer to the timing of such lifecycle events as ‘phenology’, so when an animal or plant starts to do something (Q3) earlier in the year than it usually does, it is said to be ‘advancing its phenology’.
In Britain, as the average spring temperature has increased by roughly 0.5°C over the past 20 years, species have advanced by between three days and a week on average… Is this a sign that butterflies are well equipped… or are they under stress? (Q5) The answer is still unknown.
The researchers pulled together data from millions of records that had been submitted by (Q6) butterfly enthusiasts – people who spend their free time observing…
Analyzing the trends… species with more flexible lifecycles were more likely to benefit. For these species, such as Britain’s tiniest butterfly, the dainty Small Blue, whose (Q7) colonies are up to a hundred strong, some develop into butterflies early in (Q8) spring…
Other species are less flexible… The beautiful High Brown Fritillary, often described as Britain’s most (Q9) endangered butterfly, is in this group. It is found only in coppiced woodland and limestone pavement (Q10) habitats.
Many of Britain’s single-generation species show the capacity, in continental (Q11) Europe, to add a second generation in years that are sufficiently warm.
The White Admiral of (Q12) southern England… has shown a considerable decline. This may be because the caterpillar exists solely on a (Q13) diet of a plant called honeysuckle.
Questions 1–6 (T / F / NG)
Questions 7–13 (One Word Only)
The Small Blue:
7. lives in large
8. first appears at the start of
The High Brown Fritillary:
9. is considered to be more than other species
10. its caterpillars occupy a limited range of
The Silver-studded Blue:
11. reproduces twice a year in warm areas of
The White Admiral:
12. is found in areas of England
13. reasons for decline: climate change and the of the caterpillar
20 Useful Vocabulary (Britain's Butterflies)
1. Conservationist (Noun)
Nhà bảo tồn, người bảo vệ môi trường thiên nhiên.
"According to conservationists, populations of around two thirds of butterfly species have declined..."
2. Decline (Verb)
Suy giảm, sụt giảm.
"...populations of around two thirds of butterfly species have declined in Britain..."
3. Caterpillar (Noun)
Sâu bướm.
"Butterfly eggs develop into caterpillars..."
4. Prey (Noun)
Con mồi.
"...and in turn act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals."
5. Mammal (Noun)
Động vật có vú.
"...and in turn act as prey for birds as well as bats and other small mammals."
6. Phenology (Noun)
Vật hậu học (khoa học nghiên cứu ảnh hưởng của khí hậu đến chu kỳ sống của sinh vật).
"Scientists refer to the timing of such lifecycle events as ‘phenology’..."
7. Advance (Verb)
Đẩy lên sớm hơn, làm cho xảy ra sớm hơn.
"...it is said to be ‘advancing its phenology’."
8. Roughly (Adverb)
Khoảng chừng, xấp xỉ.
"...as the average spring temperature has increased by roughly 0.5°C over the past 20 years..."
9. Equipped (Adjective)
Được trang bị (kỹ năng, khả năng để đối phó).
"Is this a sign that butterflies are well equipped... or are they under stress?"
10. Enthusiast (Noun)
Người đam mê, người nhiệt huyết với một sở thích.
"...records that had been submitted by butterfly enthusiasts..."
11. Observe (Verb)
Quan sát, theo dõi.
"...people who spend their free time observing..."
12. Flexible (Adjective)
Linh hoạt, dễ thích nghi.
"...species with more flexible lifecycles were more likely to benefit."
13. Tiniest (Adjective)
Nhỏ bé nhất (so sánh nhất của tiny).
"For these species, such as Britain’s tiniest butterfly..."
14. Colony (Noun)
Bầy, đàn, quần thể (động vật sống cùng nhau).
"...whose colonies are up to a hundred strong..."
15. Endangered (Adjective)
Bị nguy hiểm, có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng.
"...often described as Britain’s most endangered butterfly..."
16. Coppiced (Adjective)
Được đốn tỉa (cây cối trong rừng để kích thích chồi non).
"It is found only in coppiced woodland..."
17. Habitat (Noun)
Môi trường sống tự nhiên.
"...and limestone pavement habitats."
18. Capacity (Noun)
Khả năng, năng lực.
"Many of Britain’s single-generation species show the capacity... to add a second generation..."
19. Considerable (Adjective)
Đáng kể, lớn lao.
"...has shown a considerable decline."
20. Solely (Adverb)
Duy nhất, chỉ đơn thuần là.
"This may be because the caterpillar exists solely on a diet of a plant called honeysuckle."