Gorilla and rabbit become best chums at US zoo

They seem an unlikely pair, but a gorilla and rabbit in America have become best of friends!

They both live in Erie Zoo in the state of Pennsylvania and are attracting quite a bit of attention.

Samantha, the 47-year-old gorilla, didn't take well to other gorillas like herself. So to stop her from getting lonely, zoo keepers introduced her to a small friend - a rabbit named Panda.

At first they introduced the two animals with some fencing between them, to see how they got on.

They hit it off and now Panda even comes over by Samantha's feet and nibbles some of her food.

Panda does have a place to get away to if Samantha did happen to ever react, but for the time being they are getting on very well!


Vocabulary
Match each words to its definition

attention / attracting / fencing / gorilla / introduced / nibbles

drawing something towards yourself
notice, thought or interest
large ape that comes from western Africa
brought two things together for the first time
structure that divides two areas, similar to a wall but made of wood or wire
eats something by taking a lot of small bites

True or false?

1. Gorillas and rabbits don’t usually live together.
2. Panda sometimes eats Samantha’s food.
3. Pennsylvania is in the United States.
4. Panda can’t escape if Samantha reacts.
5. The two animals were separated by a fence initially.
6. Samantha got on well with other gorillas.
7. No one is paying attention to the pair.
8. Zoo keepers brought the pair together.

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

1. unlikely
a)the same as likely
b)the same as friendly
c)the same as improbable

2. hit it off
a)the same as removed
b)the same as attacked
c)the same as got on

3. lonely
a)the same as isolated
b)the same as unassisted
c)the same as loved

4. getting
a)the same as taking
b)the same as becoming
c)the same as finding


KEY

attracting drawing something towards yourself
attention notice, thought or interest
gorilla large ape that comes from western Africa
introduced brought two things together for the first time
fencing structure that divides two areas, similar to a wall but made of wood or wire
nibbles eats something by taking a lot of small bites


1. True
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True

improbable
got on
isolated
becoming