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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Prüfungsteil B: Leseverstehen

La Digue: The Seychelles' tropical biking paradise

1
La Digue is arguably one of the most well-known of the 115 islands in the Seychelles. It attracts
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thousands of tourists each year to Anse Source d'Argent, often called the most photographed
3
beach in the world [...]. On a smaller scale, bird watchers from all over come to witness the
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rare sighting of the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher bird, an endangered species endemic
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to the Seychelles. But perhaps the island's less well-known marvel is its lack of cars, and how
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the Digueois have managed to limit traffic in order to protect the pristine beauty of their 10 sq
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km territory.
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With a population of only about 3,000, the Digueois pride themselves on using the bicycle as
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their main form of transport, unlike the bigger neighbouring islands of Mahé and Praslin, which
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have seen more urban growth. For locals, a car is unnecessary and moving with bicycles has
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always been a way of life. "From a small age, my brother used to try and teach us how to ride
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the bike. They hold the seat and you're thinking they are holding, then let you go and then you
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fall, and you lose your knees. And that's how you learn to ride a bike," said Florie Marie, a La
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Digue resident. [...] Tourists also partake in the local tradition, renting bikes to explore the
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island. "La Digue is known to be a bicycle island. So, you will get clients wanting to travel by
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car to the beach, but the majority, they want bicycles," said Travis Mills, who owns a bicycle-
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rental company on La Digue.
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The island's current vehicle count is 60, a sizable increase from the 10 it had in the '80s when
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only wealthy families could afford to own cars. But it is still a small number, one that is partly
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tied to the difficulties of individual vehicle ownership here: no cars are allowed unless they
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provide a public service. However, the rise in tourism construction and the necessary vehicles
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that come with that work has set alarm bells ringing, especially with locals. "With more vehicles
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on La Digue, that aspect of tranquillity, quietness, relaxedness will no longer be there. And that
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will definitely have a great impact on La Digue itself, its tourism, its environment, and its
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ecosystem," said Patrick Andre, the Seychelles' Principal Secretary of Transport.
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Conservationists caution that further development could impact the natural habitat of
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endangered species on the island, such as the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher [...].
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Since 2008, conservationists have transported a few dozen flycatchers to neighbouring islands
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through a breeding programme that would ensure this rare bird species has additional suitable
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habitats. La Digue has now placed a moratorium on building new tourism establishments until
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2023, in an effort to preserve the local natural resources. "If we really want La Digue to remain
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one of the gems of Seychelles, we have to be able to, at this point, start controlling, monitoring
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development on the island,” said Sherin Francis, Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism
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Board. Similarly, the ban of private vehicle ownership, as well as discussions on phasing out
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all fuel-dependent vehicles and expanding more traditional forms of transport (there's only one
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ox-cart operator left on the island), have become part of the goal to turn La Digue into the eco-
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capital of Seychelles.

https://www.bbc.com/ (13.08.2024)

Worksheet

While working on the tasks only use the information from the text.

La Digue: The Seychelles' tropical biking paradise

1.

Match the paragraphs (1-4) with the headings (A-F).

There are two more headings than you need.

A.

The importance of bikes

B.

Steps to protect La Digue

C.

Special features of the island

D.

Banning tourists from La Digue

E.

Concerns about the island's future

F.

The lost paradise of the Seychelles

paragraph

1 (ll. 1-7)

2 (ll. 8-17)

3 (ll. 18-27)

4 (ll. 28-37)

heading

4 BE

2.

Read the first paragraph (ll. 1-7) and tick the three correct boxes.

La Digue ...

a)

is a famous part of the Seychelles.

b)

is home to a picturesque beach.

c)

restricts the number of bird watchers.

d)

serves as a habitat for a rare bird.

e)

forbids cars in some areas.

3 BE

3.

Complete each of the following sentences with the exact phrase from the second paragraph (ll. 8-17). Do not use more than three words per gap.

The inhabitants are proud of a) ___________________________________ more than any other vehicle. For them, using a car b) __________________________________. To discover La Digue, most of the visitors follow c) ___________________________________, too.

3 BE

4.

Read the third paragraph (ll. 18-27).

Find out whether the following statements are true or false.

Give evidence for your answer. Tick the correct boxes and write the first five words of the sentence which supports your answer.

true

false

evidence

a) In the past, there were slightly more cars.

b) An increase in traffic will risk the calm atmosphere.

c) Environmentalists warn that tourism might cause problems for animals and plants.

3 BE

5.

Read the last paragraph (ll. 28-37).

Which phrase completes each sentence best? Tick a), b), or c).

5.1 Since 2008 ...

a)

one specific bird species has been endangered.

b)

some flycatchers have been taken to new homes.

c)

conservationists have demanded a ban on tourism.

5.2 Until 2008 ...

a)

new forms oftransport should be introduced.

b)

there is a ban on establishing new tourist facilities.

c)

the consumption of natural resources should be reduced.

2 BE

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