Shadowing Practice: Research in the area around the Chembe Bird Sanctuary: Đề thi IELTS LISTENING (practice test) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Part 4.
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Part 4.
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You will hear part of an environmental science lecture about the impact of birds of prey on a farming community in Africa.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.
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Thank you.
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Thank you. to 40.
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We've been looking at different types of conflicts that may arise between wildlife and humans at the boundaries of protected areas,
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such as national parks and animal sanctuaries.
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I'd like to illustrate this by telling you about some research
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that I've been involved in recently in the Central African country of Zambia in the area around the Chembe Bird sanctuary,
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which contains over 300 of the listed birds of Zambia.
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These include a number of birds of prey,
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such as eagles, hawks and owls,
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that live by hunting and killing other birds and animals.
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Now, most of the people living in the local communities near to the bird sanctuary are small-scale farmers,
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and these birds of prey provide important social and ecological benefits to them.
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For example, a lot of damage can be caused to farmers' crops by rodents,
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such as rats, which would consume the crops as they grow in the fields,
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as well as after harvesting if they weren't hunted and killed by the birds.
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And the predatory habits of these birds also protect farmers in other ways.
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For example, a major danger to rural workers is snakes,
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whose bite may be dangerous or even fatal,
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and birds of prey have a major role in keeping their populations under control.
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Local people have always been aware of these benefits,
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and for years, even before the sanctuary was opened in 1973,
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the birds played a key role in the culture of the region.
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However, more recently, the sanctuary
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and its birds have also become increasingly important to the community in economic terms
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because at present after a relatively slow start
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tourism has become an important source of revenue for them however
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although these birds of prey are protected by the government their numbers are falling some of these deaths are accidental
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fatalities occur when birds are light on roads to catch and eat their prey and are hit by fast moving traffic.
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Drivers in Zambia have to take special care at night,
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as birds may regard the quieter roads as safe places to sleep.
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Accidental deaths may also occur if these birds fly close to high-voltage power lines,
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as they may be electrocuted.
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This is a particular danger in the heavy rain,
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which can occur in the region in the months from December to April.
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And local farmers also pose a threat to these birds.
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As well as growing crops,
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small-scale farmers in the area also rear chickens.
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These provide food for the farmer's families,
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as well as being an important source of income.
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But they're also an easy target for birds of prey,
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and so farmers may shoot these birds,
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which is illegal but understandable,
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or they may poison the birds,
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which again is illegal and can have negative effects on the ecosystem.
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So how else can farmers protect their chickens from birds of prey?
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Some people believe that to prevent the predators from settling near the area where the chickens are kept,
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it's best to keep this area free from vegetation.
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But in fact, this is counterproductive,
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as it means the chickens have no cover to hide in,
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and they'll be easier for the birds to see.
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Another possibility would be to prevent the chickens from going outside at all
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And to keep them safe from predators inside a building
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But this would cost far too much to be a practical solution
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Nearly all the farmers reported that they spent a lot of time
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and effort Trying to frighten off the birds of prey without actually harming them
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Most of the farmers had at least one dog and said this was a big help at scaring away the predators.
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Some of the farmers also reported that during the breeding season,
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when the chickens were particularly vulnerable,
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they encouraged their children to watch over the chickens
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and to hit pans with a metal spoon so
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that the resulting noise would succeed in driving away birds that were trying to seize the young chicks.
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None of these methods was 100% effective,
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so as a result, the village people told us that rather than just using one method,
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they were forced to use a combination for them to have any effect.
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And even so, these birds of prey remain a major threat to the chickens' survival and cause considerable economic loss to farmers.
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So, we looked at the possibility of a longer-term solution to...
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That is the end of part four.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part four.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

The lecture featured in this video provides an engaging context for improving your English speaking skills, especially in the areas of environmental science and community dynamics. By practicing with this material, learners can deepen their understanding of how language is used to discuss complex topics like wildlife conservation and its impact on local economies. Speaking along with the video will also help enhance your articulation and fluency. As you shadow the speaker, pay attention to the nuances in intonation and rhythm, which are vital for effective communication. The context of farmers interacting with birds of prey offers excellent vocabulary and phrases that can elevate your English proficiency. For those interested in thematic vocabulary relevant to environmental issues, this video is a perfect choice to improve English pronunciation.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In this lecture, several key grammatical structures highlight the speaker’s points effectively:

  • Present Simple Tense: The speaker uses this tense to present facts and habitual actions, as illustrated by phrases like "birds of prey provide important social and ecological benefits." This structure is essential for learners to convey established information and truths.
  • Complex Sentences: The use of complex sentences, such as “although these birds of prey are protected by the government, their numbers are falling,” showcases how to express contrast and condition, crucial for advanced vocabulary flow.
  • Passive Voice: The speaker mentions, “accidental deaths may also occur,” using the passive voice to emphasize the action rather than the subject. Mastering this structure allows for nuanced expression in both spoken and written English.
  • Modal Verbs: The phrase “farmers may shoot these birds” incorporates modal verbs to express possibility and necessity. Understanding modals is key to mastering English nuances and softening statements.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As learners practice shadowing this lecture, they might encounter specific pronunciation challenges:

  • Birds of Prey: The phrase “birds of prey” can be tricky due to the blending of sounds. Focus on the ‘d’ in “birds” and how it flows into the ‘o’ of “of.” Practicing this will help improve English pronunciation.
  • Electrocution: This term might be difficult at first due to its length and syllable stress. Break it down: "e-lec-tro-cu-tion," emphasizing each syllable.
  • Community: The stress falls on the second syllable: com-MU-nity. Proper stressing of this word is essential for clear communication.

To further enhance your learning, listen carefully to how the speaker emphasizes key points and practices using local accents where relevant. Leveraging resources like this lecture is an effective way to learn English with YouTube, and integrating shadow speaking can make the learning process both fun and impactful through shadowspeak techniques.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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