Dindim: the penguin

Watch the video about Dindim the penguin and say what the following things refer to.

1. Joao Pereiro de Souza
2. Rio de Janeiro
3. 2011
4. a week
5. 4 months
6. coast of Argentina and Chile
7. 5000 miles
8. June and February

Key to video

1. Joao Pereiro de Souza: the man who found the penguin
2. Rio de Janeiro: the village where Dindim was found was near here.
3. 2011: the year the penguin was found.
4. a week: how long it took to clean the oil off the penguins’ feathers.
5. 8 months: the time the penguin spent with Mr Pereira
6. coast of Argentina and Chile: where the penguin swims to when it leaves Mr Pereira.
7. 5000 miles: how far the penguin swims to return to Mr. Pereira.
8. June and February: the months that the penguin arrives to see Mr.Pereira and then leaves

Lost baby elephant wanders into house in South Africa

She walked for thirty miles and ended up at a game reserve in Zululand, where she tapped on the door.

Francoise Malby Anthony, who lives in the house, said she looked hungry and thirsty when she first turned up.

They fed her and named her Tom, while park rangers from the reserve, went out to search for her Mum.

They managed to track down Tom's herd in the reserve and reunited the lost elephant with its family.

True or False?

1. The elephant's family lived in the reserve.

2. The rangers found the baby elephant's family.

3. Elephants normally live in houses.

4. The baby elephant needed food when she arrived at the house.

5. The house was not in the game reserve.

6. The elephant had no food until she was reunited with her family.

7. The little elephant travelled a long way before she was found.

8. The elephant broke down the door.

Match each word to its definition

game / ranger / reserve / reunited / separated / wandered

place where wild animals and plants live and are protected

someone whose job is to look after a forest or a park

walked or moved slowly without any purpose

when people or animals meet again after being apart for a long time

when things that are normally together are far apart from each other

wild animals that are sometimes hunted for sport or food

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1.         tapped

a)         the same as shouted

b)         the same as rang

c)         the same as knocked

2.         search

a)         the same as find

b)         the same as look

c)         the same as call

3.         lives

a)         the same as visits

b)         the same as leaves

c)         the same as resides

4.         thirsty

a)         the same as dry

b)         the same as starved

c)         the same as wet

KEY

True or false?

1.True

2.True

3.False

4.True

5.False

6.False

7.True

8.False

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1.c)   knocked

2.b)   look

3.c)   resides

4.a)   dry

 Vocabulary

game                wild animals that are sometimes hunted for sport or food

ranger               someone whose job is to look after a forest or a park

reserve              place where wild animals and plants live and are protected

reunited            when people or animals meet again after being apart for a long time

separated         when things that are normally together are far apart from each other

wandered          walked or moved slowly without any purpose

Is Lydia the Atlantic great white shark pregnant?

            Scientists studying Lydia, the first great white shark to be seen crossing from one side of the Atlantic to the other, believe she may be pregnant.

            Lydia was tagged off the Florida coast last year, allowing scientists to follow her movements via satellite.  At the weekend she crossed the boundary between the east and west Atlantic ocean.

            Chris Fischer is studying the shark. He told the BBC Lydia is heading to the Mediterranean sea to give birth.

            Since she was tagged in March 2013 the great white has travelled more than 30,500 kilometres or 19,000 miles.

True or false?

1. Lydia is being tracked from space.

2. Lydia is in the Mediterranean.

3. Lydia is a female shark.

4. Lydia has given birth.

5. Scientists are able to follow the shark.

6. Lydia was in the middle of the Atlantic at the weekend.

7. The shark is travelling from the Mediterranean to Florida.

8. Great white sharks cannot travel long distances.

Match the words below to their definitions

believe / boundary / movements / pregnant / assessment / satellite / tagged                     

                       

changes of position

piece of equipment in space that travels around the earth

think something is true

when an animal is carrying unborn children inside it

when something is attached to an animal so that people know where it is

where two different areas meet

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. studying

a) the same as ignoring

b) the same as examining

c) the same as helping

2. allowing

a) the same as stopping

b) the same as letting

c) the same as asking

3. travelled

a) the same as rested

b) the same as journeyed

c) the same as returned

4. via

a) the same as past

b) the same as before

c) the same as using

KEY

True or false

1. True

2. False

3. True

4. False

5. True

6. True

7. False

8. False

Vocabulary

believe              think something is true

boundary          where two different areas meet

movements       changes of position

pregnant           when an animal is carrying unborn children inside it

satellite            piece of equipment in space that travels around the earth

tagged              when something is attached to an animal so that people know where it is

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. b) the same as examining

2. b) the same as letting

3. b) the same as journeyed

4. c) the same as using

Baby turtle washed up after storms

      A baby turtle washed ashore during the recent storms is recovering in a special tank at Bristol Aquarium. The loggerhead turtle was found by a member of the public at Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire.

    Nicknamed 'Stormy', the turtle is 17cm (6.7in) long and is thought to have begun life in the Caribbean or Mexico.

     Bristol Aquarium, says Stormy "was very poorly indeed" when he arrived, but they are "cautiously optimistic" he will make a full recovery. The man who found Stormy last Thursday contacted a local animal rescue group which gave the turtle some treatment before transporting him to Bristol on Friday.

     Young loggerheads migrate with the warmer waters of the Atlantic circulating in a current of water known as the North Atlantic Gyre which is rich in their favourite food of jellyfish and squid. But, it is thought, on this occasion a severe storm pushed the baby turtle further and further north.

True or false?

1. The turtle was caught in a storm.

2. A child found the turtle.

3. Stormy is unlikely to recover.

4. The turtle was found in Bristol.

5. Loggerhead turtles usually live in warm water.

6. The rescue group looked after the turtle.

7. The turtle was too far north.

8. Turtles are the favourite food of jellyfish.

Match the words below to their definitions

aquarium / contacted / current / migrate / nickname / public

all of the ordinary people who live in a place

building where fish are kept so that people can see them

friendly name that people use instead of your real name

got in touch with someone by phoning them or sending them an email

natural flow of water

when an animal moves from one place to another place because of the time of year

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. optimistic

a) the same as worried

b) the same as thankful

c) the same as hopeful

2. poorly

a) the same as cheap

b) the same as sick

c) the same as healthy

3. severe

a) the same as sudden

b) the same as bad

c) the same as quiet

4. begun

a) the same as started

b) the same as finished

c) the same as continued

KEY

True or false

1. True

2. False

3. False

4. False

5. True

6. True

7. True

8. False

Vocabulary

aquarium building where fish are kept so that people can see them

contacted got in touch with someone by phoning them or sending them an email

current natural flow of water

migrate when an animal moves from one place to another place because of the time of year

nickname friendly name that people use instead of your real name

public all of the ordinary people who live in a place

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. c) the same as hopeful

2. b) the same as sick

3. b) the same as bad

4. a) the same as started

Charity hires hedgehog babysitters

            Poorly hedgehogs in Worcestershire are having their prickles protected - by a group of caring hedgehog nannies!

            Over 200 injured hedgehogs are rescued by Willows Hedgehog Rescue every year. But the volunteers there can't look after them all day, so they've recruited nannies to babysit the recovering hedgehogs during the day.

            Not just anybody can be a hedgehog nanny. Caring for baby hoglets takes a lot of patience and the right equipment.

            Hedgehog helper Charlie told Newsround: "If you see a hedgehog out during the day, you should speak to your local rescue centre."

            So what kind of person makes the perfect hedgehog nanny? "Somebody patient, caring with a love of wildlife" "You'll need to get your hands dirty too - hedgehogs need to go to the toilet!" said Charlie.

True or false?

1.  Volunteers are not available 24 hours a day.

2.  Hedgehogs are soft and silky.

3.  All of the hedgehogs are adults.

4.  You need the right temperament to be a hedgehog nanny.

5.  Anyone can become a hedgehog nanny.

6.  Willows Hedgehog Rescue is located in Worcestershire.

7.  Hedgehogs are sometimes seen during the day.

8.  The charity does not have any volunteers.

Match the words below to their definitions

injured / nanny / patience / poorly / recruit / rescue                      

1. woman who is paid to look after a family's children

2. hurt or physically harmed

3. ability to wait or to continue doing something without becoming annoyed

4. ill or weak

5. persuade someone to work for a company or an organization

6. help someone or something out of a dangerous or unpleasant situation

What is the missing word?

1.  -_____________for baby hoglets takes a lot of patience.

2.  Hedgehogs need to go to the____________!

3.  They’ve recruited nannies to_____________the recovering hedgehogs.

4.  You should speak to your___________rescue centre.

KEY

True or false

1.True

2.False

3.False

4.True

5.False

6.True

7.True

8.False

Vocabulary

nanny               woman who is paid to look after a family's children

injured hurt or physically harmed

patience           ability to wait or to continue doing something without becoming annoyed

poorly              ill or weak

recruit              persuade someone to work for a company or an organization

rescue              help someone or something out of a dangerous or unpleasant situation

Missing words

1.caring

2.toilet

3.babysit

4.local

UK's 'oldest cat' turns 27-years-old

A cat from Bedford in England has just celebrated his 27th birthday, amazing his owners.

            Waddy was a "very poorly" kitten when he was chosen by owner Ann Munday from a veterinary surgery in 1986. With the vets' help, Mrs Munday said she nursed him back to health and from then "he has gone from strength to strength".

            The surgery which still treats the cat has verified his age as 27-years-old.

Record-breaking cats

            It's unusual for cats to live into their 20s.

            In 2007, a cat in Shropshire called Pussywillow, aged 26, was claimed to be the oldest in Britain, but the world record for the oldest cat ever, was set by Creme Puff who lived with her owner in Texas, USA, until her death in 2005 at the age of 38.

Match the words below to their definitions

celebrated / claimed / record / surgery / verified / veterinary

publicly acknowledged a significant or happy day or event

place where you go to ask advice or receive treatment from a doctor

proved that something exists or is true

said something was true without proving it

most extreme or remarkable example ever

connected with taking care of the health of animals 

True or false?

1.  Waddy is male cat.

2.  There has never been a cat that is older than Waddy.

3.  A cat named Shropshire lived until the age of 26.

4.  Cats don't often live past 20.

5.  Creme Puff lived in Britain.

6.  Anne Munday owned Pussywillow.

7.  The oldest cat was American.

8.  Anne Munday is married.

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. amazing

a) the same as worrying

b) the same as confusing

c) the same as astonishing

2. unusual

a) the same as common

b) the same as unfortunate

c) the same as rare

3. poorly

a) the same as sickly

b) the same as cheap

c) the same as bad

4. chosen

a) the same as bought

b) the same as selected

c) the same as found

KEY

celebrated             publicly acknowledged a significant or happy day or event

surgery                  place where you go to ask advice or receive treatment from a doctor

verified                  proved that something exists or is true

claimed                 said something was true without proving it

record                   most extreme or remarkable example ever

veterinary              connected with taking care of the health of animals

True or false?

1. True

2. False

3. False

4. True

5. False

6. False

7. True

8. True

Which word or phrase means the same as the one in italics?

1. astonishing

2. rare

3. sickly

4. selected

Dolphins 'whistle to find loved ones'

            Dolphins mimic the sounds of their loved ones to find them, according to new research.

            Scientists from Scotland and America studied the whistles of wild and captive dolphins. They found that those who copied each other's sounds were mothers and their offspring, and adult males who'd known each other for a long time.

            The findings suggest that mimicking whistles is done by dolphins who want to be reunited with each other. It's already known that dolphins develop their own individual whistle which describes their identity.

            Scientists also found that there were slight changes in the copied versions of whistles, which could be to avoid confusing other dolphins who might be listening.

           

Match the words below to their definitions

captive / confusing / identity / research / reunited / versions

detailed study of a subject

when an animal is kept in a closed area that they cannot leave

brought together again

characteristics of an person or animal that make them unique

particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing

mixing up two separate things or people in your mind, imagining that they are the same

True or false?

1.  All dolphin whistles are the same.

2.  Some of the scientists came from America.

3.  Dolphins only copy the whistles of dolphins they know.

4.  All of the scientists came from Scotland.

5.  Only male dolphins copy whistles.

6.  Every dolphin has their own whistle.

7.  No one knew that dolphins whistled before this research.

8.  All of the dolphins studied were mothers.

Same or Different?

1. mimic

a) the same as follow

b) the same as copy

c) the same as ignore

2. findings

a) the same as results

b) the same as guesses

c) the same as questions

3. slight

a) the same as large

b) the same as similar

c) the same as small

4. offspring

a) the same as parents

b) the same as sisters

c) the same as children

KEY

research               detailed study of a subject

captive                  when an animal is kept in a closed area that they cannot leave

reunited                                brought together again

identity                   characteristics of an person or animal that make them unique

versions                particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing

confusing             mixing up two separate things or people in your mind, imagining that they are the same

True or false?

1. False

2. True

3. True

4. False

5. False

6. True

7. False

8. False

Same or Different?

1. copy

2. results

3. small

4. children

Shetland that moon-walks to Fleetwood Mac is an internet smash

An advert for mobile internet firm 3, which sees a pony tapping its hooves to Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac, has been lauded as 'the best thing ever' by fans on Twitter.

The clip has had more than two million YouTube hits in less than a week.

Mrs Williamson, 42, who runs the Benston stud farm on Shetland, said she was amazed at the five-year-old's new found fame.

Mrs Williamson was approached last year to supply the ponies for the advert, which was filmed on the cliffs of Eshaness on the islands. She said: 'The reaction has been incredible, we have had phone calls and emails from all over the world.’

'Socks just loves attention and I think that's why he was picked out to be the star.’  'It's gone viral now with millions of people watching him but he is blissfully unaware and is keeping his hoofs firmly on the ground.'

Socks was prepared for his starring role for two weeks by local animal trainer Elaine Tait, who told how she taught him to 'moonwalk' by giving him carrots as gifts.  She said: 'Since I only had two weeks in order to get Socks ready to moonwalk, I had to work quickly to gain his trust.’

One of Mrs Williamson's other ponies, Hugh, also starred on the advert.

However, she insisted that despite his fame she will not be selling Socks. She added: 'He has never been for sale and I won't be selling him no matter what the price.  'He's a very special little pony.'

Answer these questions in your own words.
1   Who are they?
a)    Hugh
b)    Elaine Tait
c)    Socks
d)    Mrs Williamson
e)    Fleetwood Mac

2   Where does the pony live?
3   Which part of the island was used to film the video?
4   What has happened to the video on Youtube?
5   How have fans contacted Mrs Williamson?

Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a)   Mrs Willamson said she was amazed at the five-year-old’s new found fame but that she would not be selling Socks.

      “I ………………………………… but I …………………………………..” said Mrs Williamson

b)   Mrs Williamson was approached by the producers last year to supply the ponies for the advert, which was filmed on the cliffs of Eshaness.

       The producers ………………………………………….. to supply the ponies for the advert and they …………………………….. on the cliffs of Eshaness.

c)   Socks just loves attention and that’s why he was picked out to be the star.

      Since Socks ………………………………………………………………. the star.

You can make your own version of the pony mixer. Here

Shetland that moon-walks to Fleetwood Mac is an internet smash

Key
1
a)  Hugy is another pony from the Benston stud farm who was in the advertisement.
b)  Elaine Tait trains animals and lives nearby.
c)  Socks is the pony who dances in the video.
d)  Mrs Williamson is the manager of the farm where Socks lives.
e)  Fleetwood Mac sing the song used in the advert.

2   The pony lives on a stud farm on the island of Shetland.
3   They used the cliffs of Eshaness.
4   The video has been seen by millions of people – over 2 million visits in less than a week.
5   They have phoned and emailed her from all around the planet.

Rewriting

a)    “I am amazed at the five-year-old’s new found fame but I will not be selling Socks” said Mrs Williamson

b)  The producers approached Mrs Williamson to supply the ponies for the advert and they filmed it on the cliffs of Eshaness.

c)   Socks just loves attention and that’s why he was picked out to be the star.

      Since Socks just loves attention, he was picked out to be the star.