I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.

I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2- to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.

I examined the chick and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree.

The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.

Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.

A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.

Questions:
question_stem: What is unavoidable in the author's rescue work according to paragraph 1?
choices: tag: A
text: Efforts made in vain.

tag: B
text: Getting injured in his work.

tag: C
text: Feeling uncertain about his future.

tag: D
text: Creatures forced out of their homes.
answer_key: A

question_stem: Why was the author called to Muttontown?
choices: tag: A
text: To rescue a woman.

tag: B
text: To take care of a woman.

tag: C
text: To look at a baby owl.

tag: D
text: To cure a young owl.
answer_key: C

question_stem: What made the chick calm down?
choices: tag: A
text: A new nest.

tag: B
text: Some food.

tag: C
text: A recording.

tag: D
text: Its parents.
answer_key: A

question_stem: How would the author feel about the outcome of the event?
choices: tag: A
text: It's unexpected.

tag: B
text: It's beautiful.

tag: C
text: It's humorous.

tag: D
text: It's discouraging.
answer_key: B