Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
9 Jul 2026
In this photo provided by Sam Volker Photography, Neil the Seal, a 1,000 kg (2,200 pound) elephant seal, moves through an area with traffic cones and bollards in Tasmania, Australia, June 27, 2026. (Sam Volker Photography via AP)
Neil the Famous Elephant Seal Causes Chaos in Tasmania
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A giant sea seal that blocks city roads in Australia
b) A small penguin that lives inside an Australian library
c) A clever dolphin that can paint beautiful pictures
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen a large seal or sea animal?
(2) What problems can wild animals cause if they visit a town?
VOCABULARY
Coast
(noun)
Famous
(adjective)
Heavy
(adjective)
Block
(verb)
Safe
(adjective)
Town
(noun)
The land next to or close to the sea.
Example: The seal swam to the coast to rest.
Known by many people.
Example: Neil is a famous seal with many fans online.
Weighing a lot.
Example: The large animal is very heavy.
To stop something from moving past.
Example: Do not block the road with your car.
Not in danger.
Example: It is important to keep a safe distance.
A place where people live that is larger than a village.
Example: Neil visited a small town in Australia.
Neil is a famous southern elephant seal. He lives in the sea near Australia. Twice a year, Neil swims to the coast of Tasmania. He likes to rest in a small town. Neil is five years old now. He is very heavy. He weighs 1,000 kilograms! This is the same weight as a small car. Neil likes to play, but he causes problems. He lies down in the middle of the road. He can block the traffic. Neil also bumps into cars and breaks fences. Many people love Neil. He has 1.4 million followers on TikTok. People travel to see him. But wildlife experts say Neil is a wild animal. They ask people to stay far away. Visitors must keep a safe distance so everyone stays happy.
Listen
In this photo provided by Sam Volker Photography, Neil the Seal, a 1,000 kg (2,200 pound) elephant seal, rests against a sign post as moves through an area in Tasmania, Australia, on June 27, 2026. (Sam Volker Photography via AP)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Would you like to see Neil the seal in your town? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think Neil likes to lie down in the middle of roads?
3. Is a small car heavier or lighter than a 1,000-kilogram seal?
4. Why should people avoid getting too close to wild animals?
5. What is your favourite sea animal, and where does it live?
6. How can social media apps like TikTok help or hurt wild animals?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: block, coast, famous, heavy
Neil is a _______(1) southern elephant seal. He lives in the sea near Australia. Twice a year, Neil swims to the _______(2) of Tasmania. He likes to rest in a small town. Neil is five years old now. He is very _______(3). He weighs 1,000 kilograms! This is the same weight as a small car. Neil likes to play, but he causes problems. He lies down in the middle of the road. He can _______(4) the traffic. Neil also bumps into cars and breaks fences. Many people love Neil. He has 1.4 million followers on TikTok. People travel to see him. But wildlife experts say Neil is a wild animal. They ask people to stay far away. Visitors must keep a safe distance so everyone stays happy.
Section 2: Main Idea
Which sentence best describes the main idea of the article?
a) A heavy seal named Neil visits Tasmanian towns and needs space from fans.
b) People in Tasmania are building fences to protect a small seal colony.
c) TikTok stars are travelling to Australia to swim with elephant seals.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
Neil is a five-year-old elephant seal. T/F
Neil weighs less than a standard bicycle. T/F
Experts want people to stay close to Neil for photographs. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the events in the correct order from 1 to 3.
a) Neil lies down in the middle of the road and blocks the local traffic.
b) Neil swims away from the open sea and arrives at the coast of Tasmania.
c) Wildlife experts ask visitors to keep a safe distance from the wild seal.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. Coast
2. Famous
3. Heavy
4. Block
a) Weighing a lot and difficult to lift
b) To stop movement or close a path
c) The area where land meets the sea
d) Well-known by a large number of people
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.
1. The local roads were closed because a large seal decided to _______ the path.
a) swim b) block c) save d) look
2. Neil became very _______ after millions of people watched his videos online.
a) famous b) heavy c) safe d) small
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Unscramble the words to make complete sentences.
1. A) famous B) a C) seal D) Neil E) is
2. A) must B) people C) away D) stay E) far
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
Answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
famous
coast
heavy
block
Section 2: Main Idea
Answer: a
Section 3: True or False
True
False
False
Section 4: Put Events in Order
2, 1, 3
Section 5: Vocab Match
1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - a, 4 - b
Section 6: Discussion Builder
b
a
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Neil is a famous seal. (D, E, B, A, C)
People must stay far away. (B, A, D, E, C)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student answers will vary.
Thank you for your feedback!