Wildlife & Conservation Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on wildlife habitats, endangered species, animal behaviour, ecology and conservation vocabulary. B1–B2 level. No sign-up required.
Wildlife & Conservation — FAQ
An endangered species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. The IUCN Red List classifies species from Least Concern through Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered. Examples include the Amur leopard, Sumatran orangutan, and black rhinoceros. Understanding these terms is essential for B1–B2 texts on nature and science.
A habitat is the specific natural environment where a particular species lives — it provides food, water, shelter and space (e.g., a coral reef is a habitat for clownfish). An ecosystem is broader: it includes all living organisms in an area together with the non-living physical environment and their interactions. A single ecosystem can contain many different habitats.
Biodiversity (biological diversity) refers to the variety of life on Earth — all species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms, the genetic differences within species, and the variety of ecosystems they form. High biodiversity makes ecosystems more resilient. Scientists use it as a key measure of ecosystem health.
The main threats are: habitat loss and fragmentation (deforestation, urbanisation, agriculture), climate change (altering temperatures, seasons and sea levels), overexploitation (unsustainable hunting and fishing), pollution (plastics, pesticides, industrial chemicals), and invasive species (non-native organisms that outcompete or prey on native species). These threats often interact.
A predator hunts and kills other animals for food. Prey is the animal that is hunted and eaten. A lion is a predator; a zebra is its prey. Many animals are both — a frog eats insects (predator) but is eaten by herons (prey). The predator-prey relationship is fundamental to food chains and ecosystem balance.
A migratory animal moves seasonally from one region to another — typically to find food, breed, or escape harsh weather. Arctic terns migrate roughly 70,000 km each year between the Arctic and Antarctic. Migratory species include many birds, whales, monarch butterflies, wildebeest, and salmon. Their conservation requires international cooperation across multiple countries.
Poaching is the illegal hunting or killing of wild animals for commercial profit — elephants for tusks, rhinoceroses for horns, tigers for skins, pangolins for scales. It is a major driver of species decline and is linked to organised crime. Most countries punish poaching with heavy fines or imprisonment, but enforcement is difficult in remote areas.
A food chain is a linear sequence showing who eats whom: grass → grasshopper → frog → snake → hawk. A food web shows complex, interconnected feeding relationships among many species. Most animals eat more than one type of food and are eaten by more than one predator, so food webs more accurately represent how energy flows through an ecosystem.
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild animal and plant species and their habitats to ensure they survive for future generations. Efforts include establishing protected areas (national parks, marine reserves), anti-poaching patrols, captive breeding programmes, habitat restoration, and environmental education.
Key behaviour vocabulary: nocturnal (active at night), diurnal (active during the day), territorial (defending an area), solitary (living alone), gregarious (living in groups), carnivore (meat-eater), herbivore (plant-eater), omnivore (eats both), scavenger (feeds on dead animals), camouflage (blending into surroundings), hibernation (winter sleep), and migration (seasonal movement).