Homework

 For homework, please listen and read the transcript about Spectacled Bears and fill the gaps in the sentences. 

Questions 9–18

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation, talking about the spectacled bear. For each question, write the correct answer in the gap. Write a word or short phrase.

Spectacled Bears

Angela says that it was the  of the spectacled bear that first interested her.

Angela mentions that the bear’s markings can be found on its  as well as its eyes and cheeks.

Angela is pleased by evidence that spectacled bears have been seen in  areas of Argentina.

Angela says the bears usually live in  though they can also be found in other places.

Spectacled bears behave differently from other types of bear during , which Angela finds surprising.

Angela is upset that  are the biggest danger to spectacled bears.

Angela says that spectacled bears usually eat  and tree bark.

Bears climb trees and make a , which fascinated Angela.

When bears eat meat, they much prefer  although they do eat other creatures.

One man has produced an amusing  about the time he spent studying the bears.

Transcript starts here

You will hear a woman called Angela Thomas, who works for a wildlife organisation,

talking about the spectacled bear. For each question, write the correct answer in the

gap. Write a word or short phrase.

You now have forty-five seconds to look at Part Two and you’ll also have one minute to

check your answers at the end of Part Two.

Pause 45"

FX ***

Thanks for inviting me tonight. As you know, my main interest is in conservation and I’m lucky

enough to work with lots of different organisations looking after animals both in captivity and in

the wild. I’d been fascinated by all kinds of bears for a long time before I started working in

this field. But it was the spectacled bear that really attracted me – some people find it

appealing because of its size and shape, and it’s less well-known than other types of bear, but

for me I thought it was such a great name! It comes from the patches of yellowish fur around

the bear’s eyes which grow in a sort of circle shape, like glasses, although these golden

markings vary greatly from one bear to another and may not be limited to the eyes – they can

extend as far as the bear’s cheeks or even chest.

I’d like to explain what we know about this bear, and why I find it so fascinating. It’s the only

survivor of a type of bear that once ranged across America during the last Ice Age. We

thought that it was only found in certain places in Venezuela and Chile, but I was thrilled to

read some reports that suggested it might also be living in northern parts of Argentina and

eastern Panama.

It’s quite difficult to find spectacled bears in the wild because they are quite shy animals, and

tend to live in a wide variety of habitats, which can range from dry coastal deserts to high

mountain areas above 4000 meters. They are most commonly found in forests, though. Being

such timid animals they tend to come out at night, which is another thing that makes them

difficult to see, though, like me, you may be surprised to learn that they don’t sleep all through

the winter as many other types of bear do.

We’re not sure about the actual number of spectacled bears that remain in the wild, but it’s

been estimated that there are only about 2400 still around. The bears are endangered not so

much because they are hunted by other animals, but what I find really sad is the fact that

humans destroy their habitat. Spectacled bears are quite small compared with other bears,

and of course they do have other enemies – these mostly include mountain lions and jaguars

– but they remain a smaller threat.

We’re not sure about the actual number of spectacled bears that remain in the wild, but it’s

been estimated that there are only about 2400 still around. The bears are endangered not so

much because they are hunted by other animals, but what I find really sad is the fact that

humans destroy their habitat. Spectacled bears are quite small compared with other bears,

and of course they do have other enemies – these mostly include mountain lions and jaguars

– but they remain a smaller threat.

The bears are primarily vegetarian, and their normal diet is tree bark and berries. On rare

occasions though they eat honey, which I thought was just something in children’s books. I

was interested to find that they are incredibly good climbers, and one thing I found really funny

is that they’ve been known to sit up a tree for days – they make a platform – why? – I couldn’t

guess, but they’re waiting for fruit to ripen so they can eat it! It’s quite surprising that although

they rarely eat meat they have extremely strong jaws and wide, flat teeth. Very occasionally

they do eat meat – something like birds or insects though they like small mice best if they can

get them!

We’re really trying to make people more aware of the bears, and we’ve made a television

series about one man’s efforts to make people understand the dangers facing the animals. He

spent a long time in Peru studying them, and has published a very funny diary of his time

there. I hope everyone will read it, and support our efforts to help these fascinating creatures!

So are there any questions?