Ready for C1 p 159. Rats Live Among Us. Mediation. Word Formation

Your local area has recently been affected by a sharp increase in rat activity. While researching the issue, you came across an infographic presenting key facts and insights about urban rat populations. You decide to write a blog post expanding on the information provided.

Infographic:

Living Side by Side with Rats

Rats have long settled near humans

City growth fuels rat rise 

Cities offer food and warmth — Rats are drawn to the same rich foods humans enjoy.

Explosive reproduction — one pair can produce up to 15,000 offspring in a year.

Hard to control — Resistance to poison hinders efforts.

Sample answer:

Rats share our streets

For thousands of years, rats have chosen to live (0) ALONGSIDE humans. These opportunistic (1)____________(SURVIVE) have established their own colonies wherever people have camped, built villages or founded towns. And now that more and more people are shifting to cities, rat numbers have risen (2)______________ (ACCORD).

City life suits rats for a number of reasons. A key factor is the (3)______________(ACCESS) of fast food. Rats share human taste (4)______________(PREFER)  for fat and sugar, so whenever city dwellers (5)______________(PROPER)  dispose of food scraps such as an unwanted pizza slice or melting ice cream, rats will make the most of this free meal. Another factor is that cities generate considerable heat. Although the average life (6)___________(EXPECT) of a rat is only around twelve months, during that time, there can be up to 15,000 (7)______________(DESCEND)  stemming from a single pair when ample food and warmth create ideal breeding conditions.

With rats becoming increasingly (8)_____________(RESIST) to poisons, many cities are struggling to combat rodent population explosions. So far, no-one has come up with a viable solution.

KEY

1. survivors

2. accordingly

3. accessibility

4. preferences

5. improperly

6. expectancy

7. descendants

8. resistant