Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.
Think of an endangered species. What comes to mind? The giant panda and the blue whale? And what do these creatures all have in common? They’re known as “charismatic megafauna”, in other words, large species of animals which appeals to a lot of people. However, less well-known or “exciting” creatures are far more likely to actually become extinct because they don’t get enough attention from researchers.
The Ugly Animal Preservation Society’s mascot is the blobfish, voted the world’s ugliest animal. [I] With its tiny eyes, big mouth and slimy pink body it’s far from attractive. [II] As a result, it has tiny fins and no skeleton, which keeps it from being crushed by the water pressure. [III] Unfortunately, when fishing boats sweep the ocean floor, looking for other fish and crustaceans, these fish can get swept into the nets accidentally, which is causing their numbers to drop. [IV]
The California condor is another accidental victim of human activity. These huge birds with bald heads and big beaks weigh up to fourteen kilos, have a wingspan of up to two metres and can live as long as sixty years. They play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on dead animals, thus preventing the spread of disease. Reintroduced into the wild after becoming extinct, other than in captivity, they are now under threat once more because of chemical pesticides introduced into the food chain and lead poisoning from the ammunition used to kill the animals they feed on.
Other creatures become endangered precisely because people find them ugly. Take the aye-aye for example. Found only on the island of Madagascar, the aye-aye is the world’s largest nocturnal primate. During the day they sleep in nests in the trees, coming out to hunt at night. They are solitary creatures, furry, but strange looking, with big eyes, large ears and long, thin, pointed fingers. The middle finger is particularly thin, and they use it to gently knock on trees. Then they reach into the tree and pull out any insects that respond to the knocking.
Unfortunately, the way they look means that they are traditionally considered an omen of bad luck. Some people even believe that if they point that thin middle finger at someone, they will die. As a result, they are often killed, even though, like many endangered species, they are now protected by law.
(Adapted from High Note by Rachael Roberts and Caroline Krantz)