Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 20 to 26.
DANGEROUS JOURNEY
It's an astounding feat: Every summer, three billion birds of some 300 species-songbirds, waterbirds, and many others- migrate from northern Africa to Europe and Asia. In the winter, they return to Africa’s warmer shores. As they travel from one place to another, they navigate using the sun, the stars, smells, and land forms to help them find their way.
Both large and small birds travel thousands of kilometers, often stopping at locations along the way to rest. In late fall in the northern hemisphere, for example, golden orioles fly from northern to southern Europe, and then cross the Mediterranean Sea into Africa. The birds often stop at different oases in northern Africa before flying almost 1,600 kilometers (over 1,000 miles) across the Sahara Desert and then on to central and southern Africa.
The birds migration is long and difficult, and some of the animals inevitably die during each trip. However, it is not this twice-a-year journey that poses the greatest risk to these animals. The main threat to the birds' survival comes from human hunters. All over the Mediterranean, millions of migrating birds are killed for food, profit, and sport every year. As a result, bird populations are dropping all over the region.
In nations along the Mediterranean, many migratory birds are illegally trapped or shot. In addition to traps, hunters also use electronic calls to catch birds. This tool, which a hunter can operate from a cell phone, mimics bird sounds and is very effective in attracting the animals-so effective that in some countries, bird populations have plummeted. “There are no birds," says one Albanian man. "We walk for hours without seeing any. It's really scary." Some hunters also use nets to capture birds as they fly close to the sea. The nets are high-going from ground level to just over 3 meters (11 feet)- and invisible to the birds, allowing hunters to trap hundreds of birds at a time.
Working for Change
Countries all over the Mediterranean are aware that bird populations are in danger, and many are working to address this problem. In the European Union, hunting migratory birds is illegal in some countries, while in others, it is strictly controlled-the birds can only be hunted at a certain time of year. This hasn’t completely stopped bird poaching in Europe, but more nature-protection groups are making sure that laws are obeyed. The organization WWW Italy, for example, works with volunteers to stop poachers and destroy birdsong devices that attract birds. This has been successful in many places throughout the country. Sicily, for example, was once a hot spot for illegal bird hunting. Today, it has mostly eliminated poaching, and birdwatching is becoming popular on the island.
Across the Mediterranean, another group-Nature Conservation Egypt-is working to increase protection of its country’s natural scenery and wildlife, including its migratory birds. As part of a current project, the organization is trying to promote activities such as eco-tourism along the coasts. The hope is that, as more tourists come to visit
protected natural areas, there will be an incentive to care for the birds and their habitats. If this happens, say conservationists, bird populations will quickly return to normal.
Wildlife organizations around the Mediterranean are helping to bring about change. Hunting bans are working, says Martin Schneider-Jacoby, a bird specialist for the German organization EuroNatur. But there is still more to do. Conservationists hope to stop hunting and restore bird habitats all over the Mediterranean. If this can be done, the birds' numbers will increase. There’s a long way to go. Schneider-Jacoby says, but like an oasis in the desert after a long journey, there is hope.
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