Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
3 Aug 2026
Image Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative
Exciting New Species Discovered in South America
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) A new cat that lives in trees in high mountains
b) A large dog that lives in dark ocean caves
c) A blue bird that sleeps under the sand
Ask:
(1) Do you like learning about new wild animals?
(2) Where do you think wild cats live?
VOCABULARY
Discover
(verb)
Species
(noun)
Animal
(noun)
Forest
(noun)
Mountain
(noun)
Spot
(noun)
Meaning: To find something for the first time.
Example: Scientists discover new creatures every year.
Meaning: A specific group of animals or plants that are the same.
Example: The clouded-tiger cat is a new animal species.
Meaning: A living creature that is not a human or plant.
Example: A tiger cat is a small wild animal.
Meaning: A large area with many trees and plants.
Example: The wild cat lives in a green forest.
Meaning: A very high hill with steep rocks.
Example: The scientist climbed a high mountain to find the cat.
Meaning: A small round mark or pattern of colour.
Example: The cat has dark spots on its soft fur.
Did you know that scientists are still finding new animals today? In 2024, scientists found more than two hundred new animal species around the world!
One very exciting new animal is the clouded-tiger cat. A clever cat expert named De Oliveira found this small cat in the high Andes mountains in South America. He used hidden camera traps in the forest to take pictures of it. He looked for this cat for fifteen years after reading an interesting email about it!
The clouded-tiger cat is about the same size as a normal house cat, but it is special. It has dark spots on its coat, thick soft fur, and a very long tail. It also moves differently from other wild cats. It climbs high trees and stays safe in the quiet forest.
Sadly, this beautiful small cat is in danger because its forest home is disappearing. Scientists want to help protect this new species and keep its mountain home safe for the future.
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Would you like to explore high mountains to find new animals?
2. Why do you think the clouded-tiger cat climbs high trees?
3. What is your favourite wild animal species?
4. How can people help protect rare forest animals?
5. Why is it exciting when scientists discover a new creature?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: forest, mountain, species, spots
Did you know that scientists are still finding new animals today? In 2024, scientists found more than two hundred new animal _______(1) around the world!
One very exciting new animal is the clouded-tiger cat. A clever cat expert named De Oliveira found this small cat in the high Andes _______(2) in South America. He used hidden camera traps in the forest to take pictures of it. He looked for this cat for fifteen years after reading an interesting email about it!
The clouded-tiger cat is about the same size as a normal house cat, but it is special. It has dark _______(3) on its coat, thick soft fur, and a very long tail. It also moves differently from other wild cats. It climbs high trees and stays safe in the quiet _______(4).
Sadly, this beautiful small cat is in danger because its forest home is disappearing. Scientists want to help protect this new species and keep its mountain home safe for the future.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) Scientists found a new small wild cat species in the mountains in 2024.
b) All wild cats live in house gardens with humans.
c) Cameras do not work high up in cold mountains.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
Scientists discovered over two hundred new species in 2024. T/F
The clouded-tiger cat is much bigger than a house cat. T/F
The clouded-tiger cat is in danger because its forest home is disappearing. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) De Oliveira set up hidden camera traps in mountain forests.
b) De Oliveira received an email about a special wild cat.
c) Scientists declared the clouded-tiger cat a new species in 2024.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. Discover
2. Forest
3. Mountain
4. Spot
5. Animal
a) A living creature like a cat or dog.
b) A small round mark of colour on fur.
c) To find something for the first time.
d) A very high, rocky part of the land.
e) A large land area covered with many trees.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. Scientists used cameras in the forest to _______ photos of the rare cat.
a) take
b) run
c) sleep
2. We must _______ mountain forests so wild animals do not lose their homes.
a) eat
b) protect
c) forget
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. A) found B) expert C) cat D) new E) a cat.
2. A) live B) cats C) high D) in mountain E) forests
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
Answer: a) A new cat that lives in trees in high mountains
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) species
(2) mountain
(3) spots
(4) forest
Section 2: Main Idea
Answer: a
Section 3: True or False
T
F
T
Section 4: Put Events in Order
b
a
c
Section 5: Vocab Match
c
e
d
b
a
Section 6: Discussion Builder
a
b
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
B - A - E - D - C (A cat expert found a new cat.)
B - A - E - D - C (Cats live in high mountain forests.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own response.
Thank you for your feedback!