Reading
Questions
☐ A
☐ C
Next Question
Next Reading
Reading 1/2:
Read the following passage, and choose the letter of your answer from the choices given.
Passage 3
Chinstrap Penguin Population in The Last 50 Years
The chinstrap penguin has a cap of black plumage, a white face, and a continuous band of black feathers extending
from one side of the head to the other, the "chinstrap." The northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula, several Antarctic
and sub-Antarctic islands, and the uninhabited Balleny Islands between Antarctica and New Zealand are the habitats of
the species.
Antarctic penguin colonies in some parts of the Antarctic have declined over the last 50 years, mostly because of
climate change, researchers say. The colonies of chinstrap penguins, also known as ringed or bearded penguins, have
dramatically dropped since they were last surveyed almost 50 years ago, scientists discovered.
Just the days after temperatures hit an all-time high in the Antarctic with 18.3 Celsius (64.94 Fahrenheit) recorded on
February 6, the latest study is published. The previous high 17.5 C (63.5 F) was recorded in March 2015. Scientists
recorded the temperature at Argentina's Esperanza research station, according to the meteorological agency of the
country.
The reduced sea ice and warmer oceans due to climate change have led to less krill, the main component of the
penguins' diet. "Climate change is probably the underlying factor, and the effects are rippling through the food chain."
Strycker said. "Penguins, seals, and whales all depend on krill, which depends on ice. So if climate change affects the
ice, that impacts on everything else." Heather J. Lynch, associate professor of ecology and evolution at New York's
Stony Brook University and one of the expedition's research leads, said: "Such significant declines in penguin numbers
suggest that the Southern Ocean's ecosystem has fundamentally changed in the last 50 years and that the impacts of
this are rippling up the food web to species like chinstrap penguins." She added that "while several factors may have a
role to play. all the evidence we have pointed to climate change as being responsible for the changes we are seeing.
However, some good news was also there, as the researchers reported an increase in the gentoo penguin's population
in neighboring colonies, beyond Elephant Island. "It's interesting, as a tale of two penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula."
said Strycker. "Gentoo is a species from further north and they appear to be colonizing the area and are actually
increasing in numbers."
The Greenpeace ship Esperanza has been documenting the threat to the oceans worldwide and taking the scientists
for travelling abroad. For the first time, the Low Island in the South Shetland Islands, north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
has been surveyed properly. The manual and drone techniques are used by the researchers, from Stony Brook and
Northeastern University in Boston, to survey a series of significant but relatively unknown colonies of chinstrap penguin
here. The results are, however, not yet available. Greenpeace has been campaigning for the three Antarctic
sanctuaries that it would establish to offer protection to many of the colonies surveyed. These would be off-limits to
humans.
Louisa Casson, Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner, said in a statement: "Penguins are an iconic species, but this new
research shows how the climate emergency is decimating their numbers and having far-reaching impacts on wildlife in
the most remote corners of Earth. This is a critical year for our oceans. "Governments must respond to the science and
agree on a strong Global Ocean Treaty at the United Nations this spring that can create a network of ocean
sanctuaries to protect marine life and help these creatures adapt to our rapidly changing climate."
1) What has been the most significant factor responsible for the decline in the population of Antarctic penguins?
long-term change of temperature that causes sea ice to melt
