Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
15 Oct 2026
An Elephant's Sad Goodbye Wins the World's Top Wildlife Photo Prize
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) An elephant is carrying a baby elephant.
b) An elephant is drinking water in a big lake.
c) An elephant is eating fruit in a green forest.
Ask:
(1) What do you know about elephants?
(2) Do you like photos of animals? Why?
VOCABULARY
baby (/ˈbeɪbi/, noun)
Meaning: A very young person or animal.
Example: My aunt has a new baby boy.
trunk (/trʌŋk/, noun)
Meaning: The long nose of an elephant.
Example: The elephant drinks water with its trunk.
tusk (/tʌsk/, noun)
Meaning: A long, white tooth on an elephant's face.
Example: This elephant has one big tusk.
sand (/sænd/, noun)
Meaning: Tiny yellow pieces of rock on a beach or in a desert.
Example: I make a castle with sand at the beach.
river (/ˈrɪvə/, noun)
Meaning: A long line of water that moves across the land.
Example: Ducks are swimming in the river.
family (/ˈfæməli/, noun)
Meaning: A group of people or animals who live together and love each other.
Example: My family eats dinner together.
sad (/sæd/, adjective)
Meaning: Not happy.
Example: I feel sad when my friend is ill.
photo (/ˈfəʊtəʊ/, noun)
Meaning: A picture you take with a camera.
Example: Dad takes a photo of my cat.
A man from Italy loves elephants. His name is Federico Veronesi. He takes photos of wild animals. Today, his photo is the best wildlife photo in the world! It wins a very big prize.
The photo is black and white. It shows a big elephant in Namibia. Namibia is a country in Africa. The elephant is walking in a dry river. There is no water. There is only sand.
The elephant is carrying a dead baby elephant. She holds the baby with her trunk and her tusk. She does not leave the baby. It is a very sad photo.
How does Federico find the elephant? First, he sees long lines in the sand. Next, he follows the lines. Then, he finds the elephant family.
Scientists study elephants. Elephants live in big families. They help each other. When an elephant dies, the family often stays near the body. They touch it with their trunks. Some scientists think elephants feel sad, like people.
Now the photo is in a museum in London. Many people come to see it.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. How does the elephant feel? Why?
2. What colour is the photo?
3. Do you like elephants? Why?
4. How do you help your family?
5. Do you want to see the photo in London? Why?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: family, sad, sand, trunk
A man from Italy loves elephants. His name is Federico Veronesi. He takes photos of wild animals. Today, his photo is the best wildlife photo in the world! It wins a very big prize.
The photo is black and white. It shows a big elephant in Namibia. Namibia is a country in Africa. The elephant is walking in a dry river. There is no water. There is only _______(1).
The elephant is carrying a dead baby elephant. She holds the baby with her _______(2) and her tusk. She does not leave the baby. It is a very sad photo.
How does Federico find the elephant? First, he sees long lines in the sand. Next, he follows the lines. Then, he finds the elephant _______(3).
Scientists study elephants. Elephants live in big families. They help each other. When an elephant dies, the family often stays near the body. They touch it with their trunks. Some scientists think elephants feel _______(4), like people.
Now the photo is in a museum in London. Many people come to see it.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
a) A photo of an elephant and her baby wins a big prize.
b) Elephants like to swim in big rivers.
c) A man from Italy buys a new camera.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Federico Veronesi is from Italy. T/F
2. The elephant is walking in a big lake. T/F
3. The photo is black and white. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Write 1, 2 or 3 next to each event.
a) Federico finds the elephant family. ____
b) Federico sees long lines in the sand. ____
c) Federico follows the lines. ____
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. trunk
2. tusk
3. sand
4. photo
5. family
a) A picture you take with a camera.
b) The long nose of an elephant.
c) A mum, a dad, brothers and sisters together.
d) Tiny yellow pieces of rock in a desert.
e) A long, white tooth on an elephant's face.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. The elephant holds the baby with her ______.
a) trunk b) foot c) tail
2. Some scientists think elephants feel ______, like people.
a) hungry b) sad c) cold
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. A) river. B) is walking C) The elephant D) a dry E) in
____________________________________________
2. A) the lines B) the sand. C) Federico D) in E) follows
____________________________________________
ANSWER KEY
Answer Key
Warm Up
a) An elephant is carrying a baby elephant.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) sand, (2) trunk, (3) family, (4) sad
Section 2: Main Idea
a) A photo of an elephant and her baby wins a big prize.
Section 3: True or False
1. True
2. False (She is walking in a dry river.)
3. True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
b, c, a (He sees the lines, follows the lines, then finds the family.)
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-b, 2-e, 3-d, 4-a, 5-c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a) trunk
2. b) sad
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C, B, E, D, A: The elephant is walking in a dry river.
2. C, E, A, D, B: Federico follows the lines in the sand.
Section 8: Discussion Questions (sample answers; answers will vary)
1. She feels sad because her baby is dead.
2. It is black and white.
3. Yes, I like elephants because they are big and kind.
4. I help my mum. I tidy my room.
5. Yes, I do. I want to see the elephant.
Thank you for your feedback!