Great Migrations

Animal migration, however it is defined, is far more than just the movement of animals. It can loosely be described as travel that takes place at regular intervals - often in an annual cycle - that may involve many members of a species, and is rewarded only after a long journey. It suggests inherited instinct. The biologist Hugh Dingle has identified five characteristics that apply, in varying degrees and combinations, to all migrations. They are prolonged movements that carry animals outside familiar habitats; they tend to be linear, not zigzaggy; they involve special behaviours concerning preparation (such as overfeeding) and arrival; they demand special allocations of energy. And one more: migrating animals maintain an intense attentiveness to the greater mission, which keeps them undistracted by temptations and undeterred by challenges that would turn other animals aside.

An arctic tern, on its 20,000 km flight from the extreme south of South America to the Arctic circle, will take no notice of a nice smelly herring offered from a bird-watcher's boat along the way. While local gulls will dive voraciously for such handouts, the tern flies on. Why? The arctic tern resists distraction because it is driven at that moment by an instinctive sense of something we humans find admirable: larger purpose. In other words, it is determined to reach its destination. The bird senses that it can eat, rest and mate later. Right now it is totally focused on the journey; its undivided intent is arrival.

Questions 19-22

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.

Write the correct letter, A-G. in boxes 19-22 on your answer sheet

19. According to Dingle, migratory routes are likely to

20. To prepare for migration, animals are likely to

21. During migration, animals are unlikely to

22. Arctic terns illustrate migrating animals’ ability to

A. be discouraged by difficulties.

B. travel on open land where they can look out for predators.

C. eat more than they need for immediate purposes.

D. be reeated daily.

E. ignore distractions.

F. be governed by the availability of water.

G. follow a straight line.