1- In pairs, look at the photos on the right. What do you think all these creatures have in common?
They are all endangered.
2- Read the article quickly and find two things the creatures have in common.
They are all endangered. They are less known, considered not ‘exciting’ or not beautiful enough to get as much media coverage as other species.
3 Read the article again. In which paragraph does the author …
1 A tell us what kind of creatures get the least funding in terms of research and preservation?
2 C tell us about a creature whose body is perceived as useful by some humans?
3 D mention a belief that a particular creature might be a good/bad sign?
4 B explain how a creature’s physical features protect it from an extreme environment?
5 A explain why wildlife conservation institutions often choose certain animals to represent them?
6 C describe an animal that is very different from others in its class?
4 Write the highlighted words from the article under the correct heading.
Animals:
invertebrates, crustaceans, mammals, reptile, primate
Parts of the body:
backbone, fi ns skeleton, scales
Adjectives to describe a creature:
slimy, marine, cuddly, nocturnal, solitary, furry
5 Complete the collocations from the article with the correct words from the box.
| critically extinct natural |
1 Animals that are classified as ‘endangered’ are at risk of becoming extinct.
2 Tigers – the largest living cats on Earth – are at the top of their food chain so they have no natural predators.
3 The orangutan and black rhino are critically endangered which means they are facing a very high risk of extinction.
6 Complete the short texts below with words from Exercises 4 and 5.
| The blue whale is the largest (and noisiest) animal on the planet, but with less than 25,000 of these creatures left, they are critically 1 endangered. Blue whales are 2 solitary. animals, preferring to travel alone or in small groups. "They have few natural 3 predators other than man. |
| Until 2008, the tiny pygmy tarsier was assumed to be 4 extinct. The animals look very cute and 5 cuddly, with what looks like a permanent smile. |
7 SPEAKING In groups, discuss the statistic. What can be done about the situations?
| Since 1978, over 100 Arabian oryxes have been bred in captivity in Jordan. How could this species be reintroduced to the wild? |
Students’ own answers