Watch the birdie! Step 3
Please note your answers to the following questions before you read the text, and then again afterwards! Explanations are given after the second attempt!
Do you think …..?
1 Birds living in major cities sing ……………… forest birds of the same species.
- A songs at exactly the same speed as
- B faster songs than
2 Country birds’ singing is ……… that of birds in cities.
- A just as pleasant (or unpleasant) as
- B less pleasant than
- C more pleasing than
3 Birds in the country sing ……… birds in cities.
- A more quietly than
- B at just the same volume as
- C more loudly than
4 Birds living in major cities sing ………….. birds in their more usual rural habitat.
- A higher-pitched songs than
- B lower-pitched songs than
- C identical songs to those of
5 Birds living in major cities sing ………….. birds of the same species living in the country.
- A the same songs as
- B shorter songs than
- C longer songs than
6 Singing is …………..
- A of equal importance for male and female birds.
- B more important for female birds than male.
- C more important for male birds than female.
7 Urban birdsong varies according to which European city the birds live in.
- A Yes, definitely.
- B Yes, and it might pick up a different accent, too!
- C No.
8 Do you consider city birds actually learn to sing a more varied range of songs than rural ones?
- A Yes
- B No
9 City life makes birds change their tunes.
- A Of course not, I’ve never heard such a ridiculous idea in my life!
- B Pull the other one! (ie, You’re joking!)
- C No, government cuts in music tuition have resulted in many birds being tone-deaf these days.
- D Yes, it’s as a result of the noise and stress of modern living.
10 Which of these birds is said to have the most complex and beautiful birdsong?
- A The great tit
- B The house finch
- C The song sparrow
- D The nightingale
- E The robin