Page 64 - On Screen Leaflet

Multiple choice
Preparing for the task
a) Read the question and possible answers
below. Then read the first paragraph of the
text. Pay attention to the underlined
words/phrases.
1 The ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ takes place
because wildebeest
A are looking for food.
B have a natural instinct to keep moving.
C need to increase their numbers.
D are looking for a place to give birth.
b) Which is the correct answer? How has the
information been paraphrased?
1
Every year after the rainy season, one of the most
incredible spectacles in the natural world takes place in
East Africa. One and a half million wildebeest (Africa’s
famous large antelope) gather up their young and begin
a 2,800 km trek across the plains of the Serengeti and
Maasai Mara in search of food and water. This annual
migration, which has been dubbed the ‘Greatest Show on
Earth’, is the largest mass movement of terrestrial
mammals on the planet.
The journey to find fresh, juicy grass is a dangerous
one. Wildebeest must cross crocodile-infested rivers,
survive strong currents, and escape the jaws of predators
during their trek from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the
greener pastures of the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Waterways are terrifying to wildebeest for two
reasons. First, because of the animals’ fear of the water
itself and the crocodiles that live within it. Second,
because water generally means vegetation and predators
such as lions and leopards lie in wait for wildebeest in
bushes as they enter and exit waterways. Wildebeest
have an inbuilt instinct to move in a certain direction,
though. Thus, they will cross rivers despite their terror.
The most treacherous part of the wildebeests’ entire
journey is the crossing of the Mara River. Many lose their
lives in the Mara either by
drowning or in the jaws
of hungry crocodiles, but
there are other dangers too. In 2007, approximately
10,000 wildebeest drowned trying to cross the Mara River
due to unusually strong currents.
The sheer number of wildebeest and the drama of
the crossings makes the Mara River the most popular spot
for tourists who travel to Africa to witness the Great
Migration. Interestingly, when wildebeest arrive on the
banks of the Mara they do not cross it immediately.
Instead, they gather, waiting to cross. For days their
numbers build up, and for no apparent reason, they turn
and wander away from the water’s edge. Finally, one
brave wildebeest steps forward and takes the first plunge
into the river. This sets off a stampede, with every animal
for itself, swimming and fighting to get to the other side.
The animals that survive the Mara River crossing find
themselves in the Maasai Mara plains, and it’s time to
feast on the juicy grass. Zebras, which join the wildebeest
in their migration, form an excellent partnership with
them. Zebras travel ahead of the wildebeest and, as they
prefer long grass, take the first course, trimming it neatly
for their friends at the back, who like it nice and short.
The wildebeest remain on the Mara grasslands until
the grass is gone. Then, they make their return trip back
to the Serengeti to mate during the rainy season. The
Serengeti is their breeding ground. By the time they
arrive there, the grass will once again be green and lush.
And so the cycle will begin again.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
16
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