Question 40·Easy·Central Ideas and Details
The following text is from a magazine article about migratory birds.
Each autumn, thousands of shorebirds leave their northern breeding grounds and head south along routes that span entire continents. Although the journey is arduous, the birds have evolved a simple strategy that greatly increases their odds of survival: they time their flights so that they arrive at coastal wetlands precisely when these habitats are richest in food. In these temporary havens, the birds gorge on tiny crustaceans and worms, doubling their body weight in just a few days. The extra fat serves as fuel, allowing the travelers to cross vast stretches of open ocean without stopping. For the birds, a wetland is more than a resting place—it is a refueling station essential to the success of their long-distance voyage.
According to the passage, why are coastal wetlands important to migratory shorebirds?
For “According to the passage” questions, first underline the key task word (such as why, how, or what). Then quickly locate and reread the sentence or two that directly address that task. Put the author’s point into your own simple words, and only then look at the answer choices. Eliminate any option that brings in ideas not mentioned in the passage or that focuses on different details than the part you reread. Choose the option that most closely matches your paraphrase, even if it uses different wording.
Hints
Find where wetlands are described
Reread the part of the passage that specifically talks about what happens when the birds reach the coastal wetlands.
Focus on what the birds do there
Pay close attention to the verbs describing the birds’ actions in the wetlands (for example, how they eat) and what results from those actions.
Look for cause and effect
Ask yourself: What does the passage say happens in the wetlands that helps the birds with the rest of their long journey?
Eliminate answers not supported by the text
Check each answer against the passage. If the passage never mentions something (like a certain season, protection, or nesting), eliminate that choice.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking
The question asks: According to the passage, why are coastal wetlands important to migratory shorebirds? This is a detail question. You must find the specific reason given in the passage, not make guesses based on outside knowledge.
Locate the key sentences about wetlands
Look at the sentences that directly describe what happens when the birds reach the wetlands:
- They “arrive at coastal wetlands precisely when these habitats are richest in food.”
- “In these temporary havens, the birds gorge on tiny crustaceans and worms, doubling their body weight in just a few days.”
- “The extra fat serves as fuel, allowing the travelers to cross vast stretches of open ocean without stopping.”
- “For the birds, a wetland is more than a resting place—it is a refueling station essential to the success of their long-distance voyage.”
Put the passage’s idea into your own words
Summarize those lines: The wetlands have lots of food. The birds eat a lot there and gain extra fat. That fat becomes fuel that lets them continue their long trip without stopping. So the main importance of wetlands is tied to food and energy for the journey, not to living there year-round.
Match the summary to the answer choices
Now compare each choice with your summary:
- Choices A, C, and D talk about protection, climate, or nesting, none of which the passage mentions.
- Choice B says the wetlands “supply abundant food” that lets the birds “build up energy for the next stage of their journey,” which exactly matches the idea of a rich food source and fuel for the long flight.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
B) The wetlands supply abundant food that enables the birds to build up energy for the next stage of their journey.