# Kapapo, the endangered bird - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2024.9.19Asia - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/5df71967-88e8-4d22-8206-c6243b457602（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:01,140 The kakapo is a giant, green, flightless bird. A native of New Zealand, it had, indeed still has, a great deal of cultural and traditional significance to the Maori people who hunted it for food. It was plucked and eaten, and its feathers were individually woven into items of clothing, which were handed down through generations, creating a link with ancestors. Its skin was also used to create garments for the wives and daughters of leading chiefs. 00:00:33,540 Apart from the Maori people, in those early days, its only predator was the eagle, which was native to New Zealand. 00:00:41,420 The kakapo's feathers acted as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with their surroundings, and in this way, a balance was maintained. 00:00:51,020 Things changed in the eighteen hundreds when gold was discovered in New Zealand. 00:00:56,380 Along with Europeans seeking gold came animals like mice, which undermined the kakapo's natural environment and caused competition for food. By nineteen thirty-four, the main place kakapo could be found was in museums around the world. 00:01:14,560 Today, thanks to our kakapo recovery program, a unique system of monitoring and protection, there are now over one hundred kakapo living in New Zealand. 00:01:25,300 Firstly, let me tell you about the way in which we locate and monitor each kakapo. In the early days of research, the birds were located by dogs, which had been specially taught to do this. But these days, we are able to check up on all the birds by electronic means using a logging system known as the SNARC. Yes, an odd name, isn't it? Anyway, it's a black box that houses a computer. When we designed it, we realized it needed to be portable, so it could be carried around easily by any of the researchers or volunteers. 00:02:00,220 They take the SNARC and leave it in the specific part of the forest where the kakapo dwell. Each kakapo has already been fitted with a transmitter. Catching them so they can be fitted is relatively easy to do, as there are not many kakapo, and they are quite easy to trap. But actually fitting the transmitter can be quite a difficult task. 00:02:22,820 Originally, scientists attached the transmitter under one of its wings, but it could be easily dislodged. They had the same problem with the bird's foot. It is now attached to its leg, which has proven to be more successful. We can then use the transmitter to keep track of each kakapo, and the SNARC records the movements of birds within a ten-meter radius and stores the memory. 00:02:49,880 Even though we feel we are winning the fight against extinction, we have had some quite difficult moments in the past. For example, in nineteen ninety-eight, we discovered Codfish Island had experienced a sharp decline in kakapo numbers, so we went in and investigated. We thought that perhaps stoats had reached the island and were eating the kakapos. But when we got there, we found the place had literally become overrun by rats. This required drastic action. We were left with no alternative but to get rid of them. After getting volunteers to help with the removal of all wildlife from the island, including the kakapos, we arranged for a helicopter to start the huge job of spreading poison. Within a couple of months, we were able to safely reinstate the kakapo in their previous habitat on the island. 00:03:41,800 Another disaster occurred in two thousand and four on Chalky Island. Within a few days of establishing a colony of kakapo on the island, we found, to our dismay, that we had lost five birds. It was devastating. The reason for the deaths was unknown for months. We investigated a number of possible causes: bacteria in the soil, blood poisoning, even germs on the hands of the volunteers. It was later revealed to simply be a virus, but we weren't sure how to treat it. 00:04:13,400 Over a period of time, we were able to develop a treatment that worked, but we have since found that the recovering birds, which make up a large number of the kakapo population there, aren't fertile anymore, which is a devastating blow. 00:04:31,140 That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers to part four. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. History of the Kakapo The Maori people used its feathers and 31_____ to make clothes. History of the Kakapo The Maori people used its feathers and 31_____ to make clothes. **答案**：skin 原文定位：Its skin was also used to create garments for the wives and daughters of leading chiefs 同义替换：「make」↔「create」 ### 32. Threats: early times-hunted by both man and the 32_____ . Threats: early times-hunted by both man and the 32_____ . **答案**：eagle 原文定位：Apart from the Maori people, in those early days, its only predator was the eagle 同义替换：「hunted」↔「predator」；「man」↔「people」；「times」↔「days」 ### 33. 1800s - had to compete with introduced species after gold was discovered From 1934, kakapo were mostly seen only in 33_____ . 1800s - had to compete with introduced species after gold was discovered From 1934, kakapo were mostly seen only in 33_____ . **答案**：museums 原文定位：By nineteen thirty-four, the main place kakapo could be found was in museums around the world 同义替换：「seen」↔「found」；「mostly」↔「main」 ### 34. Locating and monitoring the kakapo Kakapo were originally found using 34_____ that were trained for this purpose. Locating and monitoring the kakapo Kakapo were originally found using 34_____ that were trained for this purpose. **答案**：dogs 原文定位：In the early days of research, the birds were located by dogs, which had been specially taught to do this 同义替换：「originally」↔「in the early days」；「found」↔「located」；「trained」↔「taught」 ### 35. Now, Kakapo are monitored electronically using a black box that has to be 35_____”. Now, Kakapo are monitored electronically using a black box that has to be 35_____”. **答案**：portable 原文定位：When we designed it, we realized it needed to be portable, so it could be carried around easily by any of the researchers or volunteers 同义替换：「has to」↔「needed to」 ### 36. The snark is placed in the 36_____ . The snark is placed in the 36_____ . **答案**：forest 原文定位：They take the SNARC and leave it in the specific part of the forest where the kakapo dwell 同义替换：「placed」↔「leave」 ### 37. The kakapo was a transmitter on its 37_____ . The transmitter lets the snark record the kakapo`s movements. The kakapo was a transmitter on its 37_____ . The transmitter lets the snark record the kakapo`s movements. **答案**：leg 原文定位：It is now attached to its leg, which has proven to be more successful 同义替换：「on」↔「attached」 ### 38. Past problems Codish island Declining numbers were caused by the 38_____ . Past problems Codish island Declining numbers were caused by the 38_____ . **答案**：rats 原文定位：We found the place had literally become overrun by rats 同义替换：「caused」↔「overrun」 ### 39. A 39_____ was used to scatter poison. A 39_____ was used to scatter poison. **答案**：helicopter 原文定位：We arranged for a helicopter to start the huge job of spreading poison 同义替换：「scatter」↔「spreading」 ### 40. Chalkie island Kakapo were dying due to a sickness caused by a 40_____. Kakapo on the island are now healthy but many are no longer fertile. Chalkie island Kakapo were dying due to a sickness caused by a 40_____. Kakapo on the island are now healthy but many are no longer fertile. **答案**：virus 原文定位：It was later revealed to simply be a virus, but we weren't sure how to treat it 同义替换：「sickness」↔「deaths」；「caused by」↔「revealed to simply be」；「dying」↔「lost」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。