Bird watching – True/False/Not Given Questions

A.
Bird watching - or birding as it is commonly known - has long been of the most
popular pastimes internationally. No one knows just how far back in time it goes but
there are references to it in Shakespeare in the early 17th century, while the term
bird watching was coined in the early 20th century.

B.
In the early days it was mainly huntsmen who studied birds. It was not until the late
18th century that the modern pastime of observing birds for their aesthetic value
began. Gilbert White, the famed naturalist and zoologist, did much to popularize the
identification of birds through observation alone in his seminal work “The Natural
History and Antiquities of Selbourne”. He was certainly one the pioneers of the
fledgling science of ornithology – or the study of birds. He was among the first to
distinguish the similar-looking chiffchaff, willow warbler and wood warbler by means
of their song alone.

C.
During the Victorian era the academic science of ornithology gradually transformed
itself into the popular pastime of today. In the early 1800s, it was fashionable for the
wealthy to invest in vast egg collections, often by obtaining specimens from colonies.
Charles Darwin as the official naturalist aboard the Beagle was responsible for
collecting many eggs for the British Museum. In this era, it was also common for
birdwatchers also to shoot birds in order to study them more closely. By the turn of
the century, however, the emphasis shifted towards the protection of birds and the
observation of the birds in their natural habitat.

D.
The modern-day birdwatcher is frequently labelled a “twitcher”. In point of fact,
twitching is itself just one form of birdwatching. A twitcher is a birdwatcher who will
travel long distances to sight a rare bird that can be then checked off a list. The term
originated in the 1950s when, with the development of modern transport systems, it
became possible to travel long distances quickly to see a rare bird that a local
ornithologist had sighted. Aside from twitching, birdwatchers today are likely to be
involved in a whole array of activities including taking part in censuses of migratory
bird populations.

E.
The growth in popularity of bird watching has led to a bird watching industry. In some
regions, such as the Danube Delta in Romania, it is one of the primary sources of
tourism and there are several well-established holiday companies such as
Ornitholidays that specialise in bird watching holidays. Also, if you visit any large
book store, you will find shelves and shelves of books devoted to birds, with the
great classic being Where to Watch Birds by John Gooders.

F.
You do not, however, need to travel to far-flung destinations to take part, you can
begin bird watching in your garden or even in your own backyard if you are a city-
dweller. Just position a bird table in view of a window and, with the assistance of an
illustrated guide, in no time at all you will be able to learn how to distinguish birds by
their plumage and other behavioural characteristics. Of the 250 or so species that
can be seen regularly in Britain, however, only a small proportion, perhaps 25, are
likely to descend upon your garden. For the rest you must travel farther afield.

G.
To get the most from a day’s bird watching, visit one of the 2000 or so nature
reserves run by such organisations as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,
the county nature conservation trusts, the National Trust, the Wildfowl Trust and
many local authorities. Before setting out, consult your guidebook to find out what
species you are likely to see, and familiarise yourself with them. You may also find it
worthwhile joining your local bird watching society. Most societies organise visits to
nature reserves and sanctuaries.

H.
To identify birds by their plumage at long range or to study them close to, you need
binoculars with an eight or ten times magnification. However, even without them you
can learn how to recognise birds by their silhouettes and flight behaviour. However,
learning to identify birds from their songs and call-notes alone is one of the most
satisfying aspects of bird watching. It is no straightforward task, as many birds have
similar songs, some mimic others and at times they all seem to sing simultaneously
– especially at dawn.

I.
You will have little difficulty in recognising some of the more distinctive calls – the
plaintive “peee-wit” of a lapwing, the gentle”coo-coo” of a wood pigeon, or the
mournful “coor-li” of a curlew as it wings its way across a moor.

True: if the statement is true according to the passage

False: if the statement is false according to the passage
Not given: if the statement is not given in the passage

1. Gilbert White was the first ornithologist to study the willow warbler.

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given
2. Charles Darwin was a keen hunter of birds as well as being an ornithologist

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given

3. There are a variety of different types of bird watching

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given

4. Ornitholidays organises trips to the Danube Delta

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given

5. All you need to start bird watching is a backyard, a bird-table and a pair of
binoculars.

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given

6. The Royal Society for the protection of Birds is responsible for around 2000
nature reserves.

A. ? True

B. ? False
 C. ? Not given

7. If you join any birdwatching society, it will organise visits to a bird sanctuary

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given

8. It is easier to distinguish the calls of some birds than others

A. ? True

B. ? False

C. ? Not given