Studying Black Bears
After years studying North America's black bears in the
(0) .... way wildlife biologist Luke Robertson felt no closer to understanding the creatures. He realised that he had to
(1) .... their trust. Abandoning scientific detachment, he took the daring step of forming relationships with the animals, bringing them food to gain their acceptance.
The
(2) .... this has given him into their behaviour has allowed him to dispel certain myths about bears.
(3) .... to popular belief, he contends that bears do not
(4) .... as much for fruit as previously supposed. He also
(5) .... that they are ferocious. He says that people should not be
(6) .... by behaviour such as swatting paws on the ground as this is a defensive rather than an aggresive act.
However, Robertson is no sentimentalist. After devoting years of his life to bears, he is under no
(7) .... about their feelings for him. It is clear that their interest in him does not
(8) .... beyond the food he brings.
(Source: CAE Handbook. Reproduced with permission from Cambridge English)