Monarch Butterflies - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 5 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
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Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Monarch Butterflies
Hibernation
Butterfly species adopt different hibernation patterns during their life cycle.
Butterflies named 'Banded Hair Freak' hibernate in the form of an 31
A species called 'Dapple White' accumulates 32 from larval stage.
Slow metabolism can help them to sort out some problems in winter.
A substance is produced in the blood which may function as 33
There are few predators because they can only survive in 34 weather.
Migration
Monarch butterflies move to 35 in winter.
To avoid cold temperature, they migrate to the south in large groups.
The survival skill can help them last for up to 36 during a long journey.
Monarch butterflies fly in the daytime and stay in 37 during night.
Researchers found out that they orient by flying along the 38
They also follow the direction of the 39 for navigational aid.
During migration, they mainly feed on flowers and cannot reproduce.
Recently the annual arrival of the monarchs can be a good interest to 40 in the region.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | egg | For example, the 'Banded Hair Freak' hardly hibernates in its full grown adult form, but as an egg | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that this specific type of butterfly stays as an egg during its winter rest (hibernation), rather than being a fully grown butterfly. Answer Explanation: The answer is an egg. An egg is the very first stage of life for many animals, like birds or insects, before they hatch. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'egg' because the transcript explains that different butterflies have different ways of sleeping through the winter (hibernating). Specifically, it mentions that the 'Banded Hair Freak' butterfly does not stay in its adult form during this time; instead, it spends that period as an egg. |
| Q32 | energy | And another species, the 'Dappled White', breathes during the winter in a crystallise stage, and during this time, it's able to draw on the energy it stimulated earlier on in its larval stage | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the 'Dappled White' butterfly uses the energy it saved from its baby stage (the larval stage) to survive the cold season. Answer Explanation: The answer energy means the power or stored fuel that a butterfly uses to stay alive during the winter. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is energy because the text explains how the 'Dappled White' butterfly uses resources it saved while it was a larva (the 'larval stage'). To 'accumulate' means to gather or save, and the transcript says the butterfly can 'draw on' or use the energy it gathered during that earlier time. |
| Q33 | anti-freeze / extra resistance | For instance, they develop a substance in their blood, usually in glycerol, or sorbitol, which serves as 'anti-freeze', thereby adding extra resistance against lower temperatures | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about butterflies making a special liquid in their blood. This liquid works like 'anti-freeze' or provides 'extra resistance' so that the butterflies can handle cold weather without dying. Answer Explanation: The answer means a chemical that keeps something from freezing, or having more power to survive the cold weather. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section about how butterflies survive winter. The speaker explains that some butterflies create a specific substance in their blood. This substance acts as 'anti-freeze' because it stops them from freezing, which gives them 'extra resistance' (the ability to withstand or fight) against very low temperatures. |
| Q34 | warm | Actually, there is a positive side about the cold weather, fewer predators exist around to cause problems, this is because they are actively mainly in warm weather | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that cold weather can be good because there are fewer predators (animals that eat others) around. This happens because these predators are mostly out and active during warm weather. Answer Explanation: The answer "warm" refers to a type of weather with higher temperatures that is needed for predators to be active. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "warm" because the transcript explains why cold weather is actually good for butterflies: there are not as many predators around to eat them. The speaker notes that these predators are mostly active when the weather is warm. |
| Q35 | North America | Many butterfly species are found in various zones of the world migrate, like 'the Red Admiral', a British butterfly which 'winters' in North Africa, but the 'Monarch Butterfly' is the sole example to do this in North America | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that while some butterflies move to places like North Africa to survive the winter, the Monarch butterfly is the only species that does this movement in North America. Answer Explanation: The answer is the part of the world where Monarch butterflies travel for the winter season. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is North America because the transcript identifies this as the specific region where the Monarch butterfly performs its winter migration. The speaker compares it to another butterfly species that goes to North Africa, explaining that the Monarch is the only one to carry out this behavior within the North America region. |
| Q36 | 6 months / six months | Normal generations only live for a maximum of 10 days, in fact the last migration generation, as reported, do for 6 months, which enables them to take such a long journey | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the specific group of butterflies that travels can live for 6 months, unlike regular ones that only live for 10 days. Answer Explanation: The answer 6 months is the amount of time that the special group of butterflies can live so they have enough time for their long trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the transcript compares normal butterflies to the ones that migrate. While normal butterflies only live for 10 days, the migration generation lives much longer. This longer life of 6 months is what makes it possible for them to survive the whole trip. Keywords like 'enables' and 'long journey' show that this time period is key to their survival during travel. |
| Q37 | trees | These huge teams of migrating monarchs only fly during daylight hours, and at night they usually have a rest in trees, again often in vast groups | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that throughout their journey, these large groups of butterflies fly only when it is day, but at night, they normally stay in trees to rest. Answer Explanation: The answer 'trees' refers to the place where Monarch butterflies sleep or stop to rest when the sun goes down. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'trees' because the transcript explains the daily schedule of Monarch butterflies during their migration. It notes that while they travel during the day when there is light, they stop to rest in trees once it becomes night. The phrase 'have a rest' is a synonym for 'stay' in this context, and 'daylight hours' corresponds to 'daytime'. |
| Q38 | rivers | It has been known for years that they find their way on the journey by following rivers, and there are a few these along their migratory route | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that for many years, people have known that Monarch butterflies stay on the right path during their long trip by following the flow of rivers. Answer Explanation: The answer 'rivers' refers to flowing bodies of water that the butterflies use as landmarks to guide them in the right direction. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'rivers' because the speaker mentions that researchers have known for a long time that these butterflies orient themselves and find their way during their trip by following the path of rivers. Since the task asks what they fly along to orient themselves, 'rivers' is the matching word. |
| Q39 | sun | However, the new research indicates they may also treat the sun as a navigational aid | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that recent studies suggest butterflies use the sun as a way to help them figure out which way to fly. Answer Explanation: The answer is the large, bright object in the sky that provides light and heat to the Earth during the day. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'sun' because the speaker explains how Monarch butterflies find their way when they travel long distances. While they have been known to follow rivers, newer studies show they also use the sun as a 'navigational aid,' which is a tool or help used to find the right direction. |
| Q40 | tourists | The Monarchs are anticipated with great interest within the region, and over recent years, there annual arrival has gained great popularity among tourists | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that in the area where the Monarchs fly to, many people who are traveling there are very excited to see them arrive every year. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to people who travel for fun or to visit new places. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tourists' because the speaker mentions that when the Monarch butterflies arrive at their destination in Mexico each year, many people visiting the area (tourists) show a great deal of interest in them. Key terms in the transcript include 'annual arrival' and 'popularity,' which explain why these visitors find the butterflies interesting. |
Transcript
We were required to do the investigation regarding survival strategies of particular animals, and I chose to study how the butterflies will do for survival when cold weather and food shortage could easily influence their life cycle.
I concentrated on a number of main strategies butterflies adopt to handle these harsh conditions: hibernation, and migration.
First let's talk about the hibernation, which means a long term sleep, in which an animal's metabolism slows to conserve strength.
Various butterfly species have formed different patterns of hibernation, at continuous periods of their life cycle.
For example, the 'Banded Hair Freak' hardly hibernates in its full grown adult form, but as an egg. And another species, the 'Dappled White', breathes during the winter in a crystallise stage, and during this time, it's able to draw on the energy it stimulated earlier on in its larval stage.
Though the slowing of the metabolism in hibernation functions with many of the difficulties faced in winter, it can't prevent them all.
In addition, some butterflies have extra plans for survival. For instance, they develop a substance in their blood, usually in glycerol, or sorbitol, which serves as 'anti-freeze', thereby adding extra resistance against lower temperatures.
Actually, there is a positive side about the cold weather, fewer predators exist around to cause problems, this is because they are actively mainly in warm weather.
So, now let's move on to the second type of survival strategy the butterflies used in winter: migration. That means moving to regions with a more suitable environment.
I'm going to start this topic with a detailed study about particular cases of migratory species, the 'Monarch Butterfly'.
Many butterfly species are found in various zones of the world migrate, like 'the Red Admiral', a British butterfly which 'winters' in North Africa, but the 'Monarch Butterfly' is the sole example to do this in North America.
At any stage of the life cycle, the Monarch cannot survive in the low winter temperatures, so when it gets cold, the Monarchs begin to gather in huge groups and fly south. They can travel up to 3,500 miles.
But only the last summer generation of Monarchs migrate. Normal generations only live for a maximum of 10 days, in fact the last migration generation, as reported, do for 6 months, which enables them to take such a long journey.
These huge teams of migrating monarchs only fly during daylight hours, and at night they usually have a rest in trees, again often in vast groups.
Research is now being exercised into what encourages them to reach the destination. It has been known for years that they find their way on the journey by following rivers, and there are a few these along their migratory route. However, the new research indicates they may also treat the sun as a navigational aid.
During this time, they are able to feed, mainly from a type of flower called 'milkweed', but they are not able to reproduce during this period.
The Monarchs 'hand in their lineage' to a particular region in Mexico, known as the 'Pier A Sequoia'.
The Monarchs are anticipated with great interest within the region, and over recent years, there annual arrival has gained great popularity among tourists.
However, their habitat is being increasingly threatened...