Read the following article from a website.
Wild pigs have spread across more than half of Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities, and the province now plans to move from small trapping projects to a full program to remove them. The animals dig up canola and wheat fields, damage riverbanks and can carry diseases that threaten the pork industry. The agriculture ministry will release its plan in April, and a public meeting in Melfort last week drew farmers, hunters and animal-welfare groups.
Vigdis Steinholt, an economist who studies the cost of animal disease, says every season of delay makes the job bigger. “A sow can have two litters a year, so a small group can become a few hundred animals in no time,” she said. “Crop damage claims have gone up every year the province has waited.” Steinholt wants whole family groups trapped at once, because pigs that escape a trap learn to avoid the next one.
Percival Tran, who speaks for a provincial animal-welfare society, accepts that the pigs must go but worries about the methods. “Nobody at our society wants these animals left on the land,” Tran said. “But shooting from helicopters in a hurry leaves animals wounded and frightens cattle and horses in nearby fields. If this program is rushed, the province will be defending a cruelty scandal instead of protecting its farms.” He wants independent observers present at every night hunt.
Ximena Talbot, the provincial wildlife manager, says the dispute is really about being ready. “We support moving quickly, but not before we have a full budget and clear rules for disposing of the carcasses,” she explained. “Rural municipalities are already paying for cleanup they never planned for. That bill will only grow if we start without rules.” Cyrus Thorvaldson, who raises cattle near Nipawin, says he wants farmers told in advance. “If a crew is shooting near my land at night, I need a phone call that afternoon. My animals panic, and they can break through a fence,” Thorvaldson said.
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given on the website.
Vigdis Steinholt believes that waiting another season would result in 2..
At present, Ximena Talbot sees 3..
This article would most likely appear in 4..
All of the people quoted seem to agree that the removal work 5..
The following is a comment by a visitor to the website page. Complete the comment by choosing the best option to fill in each blank.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: a provincial plan to remove wild pigs
Why this is correct: The province plans to move from small trapping projects to a full program to remove wild pigs. Every speaker reacts to this plan.
Passage Reference: the province now plans to move from small trapping projects to a full program to remove them
Tips: Find the subject that connects every quote in the article. An option can be mentioned in the text and still be a side detail rather than the main subject.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a disease outbreak on pork farms: The pigs can carry diseases, but no outbreak is reported.
- a new fee for farmers in the province: No new fee for farmers is mentioned in the article.
- a fund to repair damaged riverbanks: Riverbanks are only one kind of damage the pigs cause.
Correct Answer: a much larger herd to deal with
Passage Reference: A sow can have two litters a year, so a small group can become a few hundred animals in no time
Why this is correct: Steinholt says a sow can have two litters a year, so a small group grows to hundreds fast. Every season of delay makes the job bigger.
Tips: Look at what Steinholt says in her quotes. Keep the result Steinholt herself expects, and cross out results raised by someone else or by no one.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a public outcry over cruelty to the animals: A cruelty scandal is Tran’s warning about a rushed program.
- cattle breaking through farm fences: Panicked cattle are Thorvaldson’s worry about crews shooting nearby.
- fewer farmers reporting the animals: Nobody says farmers would stop reporting the animals.
Correct Answer: local councils paying costs they did not expect
Passage Reference: Rural municipalities are already paying for cleanup they never planned for.
Why this is correct: Talbot says rural municipalities are already paying for cleanup they never planned for.
Tips: Read every sentence Talbot says. Compare each option with Talbot’s words, and strike out any that she does not say herself.
Why the other options are wrong:
- trappers asking for higher pay: Nobody talks about what trappers are paid.
- crop damage claims going down: Steinholt says crop damage claims have gone up every year.
- farmers trapping the animals by themselves: Nobody says farmers are trapping the animals alone.
Correct Answer: a provincial news site for prairie readers
Passage Reference: a public meeting in Melfort last week drew farmers
Why this is correct: The story reports a provincial plan and a public meeting in Melfort. It is news for people in the province.
Tips: Look back at the article as a whole. Picture each publication in the options, and ask if it would run this exact story.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a cookbook of recipes for wild game: The article gives no recipes.
- a national journal of animal science: It reports views from a meeting, not research findings.
- a travel guide to the prairies: It gives no travel information.
Correct Answer: has to be planned and carried out with care
Passage Reference: Steinholt wants whole family groups trapped at once, because pigs that escape a trap learn to avoid the next one. ... If this program is rushed, the province will be defending a cruelty scandal instead of protecting its farms. ... not before we have a full budget and clear rules for disposing of the carcasses ... My animals panic, and they can break through a fence
Why this is correct: Steinholt wants whole groups trapped so none escape, and Tran warns against rushing. Talbot wants rules and a budget first, and Thorvaldson wants warning because his animals panic.
Tips: Read the words of each quoted person in turn. Keep an option only if Steinholt, Tran, Talbot and Thorvaldson would all accept it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- should use helicopters to move fast: Nobody asks for helicopters. Tran warns that rushed shooting from helicopters wounds animals.
- should trap whole family groups at once: Only Steinholt asks for whole family groups to be trapped at once.
- should begin only after farmers are warned: Only Thorvaldson asks for farmers to be told first.
Correct Answer: more than half
Passage Reference: Wild pigs have spread across more than half of Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities
Why this is correct: Wild pigs have spread across more than half of Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities.
Tips: You need a share of the province. Find how widely the article says the animals have spread.
Why the other options are wrong:
- about a quarter: The article gives a bigger share than a quarter.
- about a third: A third is not in the article. The share is larger.
- nearly all: The article does not say nearly all. It gives a smaller share.
Correct Answer: wheat
Passage Reference: The animals dig up canola and wheat fields
Why this is correct: The article says the animals dig up canola and wheat fields.
Tips: The commenter is repeating what the article says about damage to farms. Find the kinds of fields it names.
Why the other options are wrong:
- barley: Barley is not mentioned in the article.
- oat: Oats are not mentioned in the article.
- hay: Hay is not mentioned in the article.
Correct Answer: night hunt
Passage Reference: He wants independent observers present at every night hunt.
Why this is correct: Tran wants independent observers present at every night hunt.
Tips: Find the welfare spokesperson’s request about outside witnesses. Check where he wants them present.
Why the other options are wrong:
- helicopter flight: Tran talks about helicopters, but he asks for observers somewhere else.
- trap site: Trap sites come up in Steinholt’s comments, not in Tran’s request.
- land survey: Land surveys are not mentioned in the article.
Correct Answer: that afternoon
Passage Reference: I need a phone call that afternoon
Why this is correct: Thorvaldson says that if a crew is shooting near his land at night, he needs a phone call that afternoon.
Tips: The commenter means the farmer who raises cattle. Find when he wants the warning to come.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a week before: Thorvaldson does not ask for a week’s notice.
- the next morning: A call the next morning would come too late. Thorvaldson wants it earlier.
- a month ahead: Thorvaldson does not ask for a month’s notice.
Correct Answer: April
Passage Reference: The agriculture ministry will release its plan in April
Why this is correct: The agriculture ministry will release its plan in April.
Tips: Find when the province says its plan will be ready.
Why the other options are wrong:
- March: March is not mentioned in the article.
- May: May is not mentioned in the article.
- June: June is not mentioned in the article.
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