I. Reading

Read an article and choose the correct item to complete the sentences (1-10).

John Muir commented that every time he saw a grizzly bear the wilderness got bigger. Others faced with such an encounter might readily agree with the Scottish-born American naturalist who explored large parts of the western United States. Yet today's predators are smaller than those of the past, and the reason seems to have something to do with the speed of their prey.

Large predators gain tremendous benefits from being big. Killing other animals and protecting or stealing a carcass from others tends to be easier since their teeth and claws are larger. Handling struggling prey is safer as the larger predator has less trouble holding the prey firmly and preventing it from striking out at the hunter's vital organs. These attributes were even more important in the past since life was tougher for predators then.

A new study, however, reveals that excessive size can interfere with predators' hunting. Daniel MacNulty of the University of Minnesota and his colleagues have found that for predators which need to run after their prey, being big can be more of a hindrance than a help. Using a combination of radio-tags and direct observations, the researchers analyzed ninety-four wolves as they hunted elk in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. They made a detailed record of their hunting and kills between 1995 and 2003. The researchers reported in the Journal of Animal Ecology that although on the whole big animals are indeed better at handling and killing prey, the largest wolves struggled in the chase.

Taken from "Hunting Restrictions", The Economist

1. A new study has found that large predators have all of the following benefits EXCEPT

1. the ability to take dead animals from other predators;

2. the ability to restrain other animals;

3. larger teeth and claws;

4. the ability to run after prey at great speeds.

2. The Scottish-born American naturalist explored large parts of...

1. the western United States;

2. the eastern United States;

3. the northern United States;

4. the southern United States.

3. Over time predators have become...

1. faster;

2. slower;

3. smaller

D) larger.

4. Daniel MacNulty has determined that...

1. larger predators that chase prey are at a disadvantage;

2. larger predators are always at a disadvantage;

3. larger predators are at a disadvantage when they must fight prey;

4. larger predators that cannot follow prey are at a disadvantage.

5 Large predators gain tremendous benefits from being

1. small;

2. fast;

3. big;

D) slow.

6. Using a combination of radio-tags and direct observations, the researchers analyzed

1. wolves;

2. bears;

3. lions;

D) tigers.

7. Researchers examined the ...

1. height of grizzly bears compared to the size of the forest.

2. hunting patterns of wolves in Minnesota

3. running patterns of elk

4. success of wolves hunting elk

8. The researchers analyzed animals as they hunted elk in

A) Yellowstone National Park

B) Guiana Amazonian Park

C) Eifel National Park

D) Ainos National Park

9. The researchers reported in the

1. Journal of Natural World

2. Journal of Animal Ecology

3. Journal of Planet World

4. Journal of Animal World

10. In the past...

1. predators had a more difficult time

2. predators were smaller and ran faster

3. prey was not as skilled

4. there were fewer carnivores.