Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
28 Sept 2026
A Temminck’s ground pangolin named Fikile clings to Phaliot Nkata, a pangolin minder at the Tikki Hywood Foundation in Zimbabwe. The organization has become a leader in rehabilitating these beguiling creatures. Photographs byMarcus Westberg
Saving Pangolins: The Quiet Night Animals of Africa
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) Pangolins carry their babies on their tails.
b) Pangolins can fly across high trees.
c) Pangolins swim in the ocean all day.
Ask:
(1) Do you know any animals that walk at night?
(2) How do animals protect themselves when they feel scared?
VOCABULARY
pangolin (/ˈpæŋ.ɡə.lɪn/, noun)
Meaning: A small mammal covered in hard scales that eats ants.
Example: The tiny pangolin walks slowly in the forest.
scale (/skeɪl/, noun)
Meaning: A hard plate that covers the body of some animals.
Example: The pangolin has a hard scale on its back.
roll (/rəʊl/, verb)
Meaning: To turn over and make a round shape like a ball.
Example: Cats often roll on the warm carpet.
protect (/prəˈtekt/, verb)
Meaning: To keep an animal or person safe from danger.
Example: Dogs protect our house every night.
helper (/ˈhel.pər/, noun)
Meaning: A person who gives care or aid to others.
Example: The kind helper gives food to the birds.
forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A large land area covered with many trees.
Example: Monkeys live high in the green forest.
The pangolin is a special animal in Africa. It walks at night. It looks like a small dragon. But it is not a reptile. Hard scales cover its whole body.
Pangolins eat ants and termites. They look for food in the forest. They use long tongues to catch insects. They are quiet and gentle. They do not bite people.
When a pangolin feels scared, it makes a ball. It can roll into a tight circle. Its hard scales protect it from big cats. Lions cannot bite the hard scales. But some people catch pangolins. This is unsafe for them.
Now, many helpers save these quiet animals. They rescue hurt pangolins in Africa. They take them to safe places. They teach children to love them. Pangolins can live safely in the green forest again.
Photographs byMarcus Westberg
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) What does a pangolin look like to you?
(2) Why do pangolins roll into a ball?
(3) What food do pangolins like to eat?
(4) Would you like to see a pangolin in a forest?
(5) How can people help small animals stay safe?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: forest / protect / roll / scales
The pangolin is a special animal in Africa. It walks at night. It looks like a small dragon. But it is not a reptile. Hard _______(1) cover its whole body.
Pangolins eat ants and termites. They look for food in the forest. They use long tongues to catch insects. They are quiet and gentle. They do not bite people.
When a pangolin feels scared, it makes a ball. It can _______(2) into a tight circle. Its hard scales _______(3) it from big cats. Lions cannot bite the hard scales. But some people catch pangolins. This is unsafe for them.
Now, many helpers save these quiet animals. They rescue hurt pangolins in Africa. They take them to safe places. They teach children to love them. Pangolins can live safely in the green _______(4) again.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the text?
a) Pangolins are dangerous animals that hunt lions in Africa.
b) Pangolins are special scaled animals that need help to stay safe.
c) Pangolins eat fish and swim in rivers all night.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Pangolins have soft fur on their backs. T/F
(2) Pangolins roll into a ball when they are scared. T/F
(3) Helpers in Africa take pangolins to safe places. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) Pangolins roll into a tight round circle.
b) Pangolins look for ants in the forest.
c) Helpers take pangolins back to safe places.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) pangolin
(2) scale
(3) roll
(4) protect
(5) helper
a) a person who gives aid or care
b) to turn over into a round shape
c) a hard plate covering an animal
d) a small scaled mammal that eats ants
e) to keep someone or something safe
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) The pangolin uses its hard _______ to stay safe from big animals.
a) feathers
b) scales
c) shoes
(2) Helpers try to _______ wild animals in the green forest.
a) protect
b) cook
c) paint
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the words: [A: scales] [B: Pangolins] [C: have] [D: on] [E: hard] [F: body. / their]
(2) Unscramble the words: [A: help] [B: People] [C: safe. / animals] [D: stay] [E: these]
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up: a
Section 1: (1) scales (2) roll (3) protect (4) forest
Section 2: b
Section 3: (1) False (2) True (3) True
Section 4: b, a, c
Section 5: (1)-d, (2)-c, (3)-b, (4)-e, (5)-a
Section 6: (1) b (2) a
Section 7: (1) B-C-E-A-D-F (Pangolins have hard scales on their body.) (2) B-A-E-C-D (People help these animals stay safe.)
Section 8: Open student answers.
Thank you for your feedback!