Animals & Environment
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18 Oct 2026
Not all the the snakes and lizards were alive, officials said. German Customs
Snakes in a Suitcase! More Than 90 Reptiles Found at a German Airport
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) Snakes hidden in socks
b) A cat sleeping on a train
c) A lion driving a car
Ask:
(1) Do you like snakes and lizards? Why or why not?
(2) What do you put in your suitcase when you travel?
VOCABULARY
airport (/ˈeə.pɔːt/, noun)
Meaning: A place where planes go up into the sky and come down.
Example: We go to the airport to fly to Spain.
suitcase (/ˈsuːt.keɪs/, noun)
Meaning: A big bag with a handle for your clothes when you travel.
Example: My suitcase is red and blue.
snake (/sneɪk/, noun)
Meaning: A long animal with no legs.
Example: The green snake is sleeping in the sun.
lizard (/ˈlɪz.əd/, noun)
Meaning: A small animal with four legs, a long tail and dry skin.
Example: The lizard is sitting on a hot rock.
bottle (/ˈbɒt.əl/, noun)
Meaning: A tall container for drinks or shampoo.
Example: I have a bottle of water in my bag.
nervous (/ˈnɜː.vəs/, adjective)
Meaning: A little bit scared or worried.
Example: I am nervous before my swimming test.
sock (/sɒk/, noun)
Meaning: Soft clothing you wear on your foot.
Example: My socks are yellow today.
safe (/seɪf/, adjective)
Meaning: Not in danger.
Example: The kitten is safe in its basket.
A man is at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany. He has a big suitcase. He is very nervous. Customs officers stop him. Customs officers check bags at the airport.
They open his suitcase. What is inside? Clothes? No! Snakes and lizards! There are 37 snakes and 55 lizards. Some snakes are dangerous. They can bite.
The animals are in small bottles. Some are in plastic boxes. Some are inside socks! The animals are hot, hungry and scared. Some animals are not alive.
The man is from Mexico. He says the animals are for a friend. The officers say no. The man cannot stay in Germany. He is flying back to Istanbul in Turkey.
Now the animals are safe. They are living at a snake farm in Germany. People there are giving them food and water.
The officers are happy. They are saving many animals. Snakes and lizards are not toys. Wild animals belong in nature, not in suitcases!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. Why is the man nervous?
2. Where are the animals in the suitcase?
3. Is it OK to put animals in a suitcase? Why?
4. What is your favourite animal? Where does it live?
5. How can we help wild animals?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: bottles, nervous, safe, suitcase
Read the article and complete the gaps with words from the Word Bank.
A man is at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany. He has a big _______(1). He is very _______(2). Customs officers stop him. Customs officers check bags at the airport.
They open his suitcase. What is inside? Clothes? No! Snakes and lizards! There are 37 snakes and 55 lizards. Some snakes are dangerous. They can bite.
The animals are in small _______(3). Some are in plastic boxes. Some are inside socks! The animals are hot, hungry and scared. Some animals are not alive.
The man is from Mexico. He says the animals are for a friend. The officers say no. The man cannot stay in Germany. He is flying back to Istanbul in Turkey.
Now the animals are _______(4). They are living at a snake farm in Germany. People there are giving them food and water.
The officers are happy. They are saving many animals. Snakes and lizards are not toys. Wild animals belong in nature, not in suitcases!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story? Circle a, b or c.
a) A man has a pet snake at home.
b) Officers find many snakes and lizards in a man's suitcase at an airport.
c) A snake farm in Germany is looking for new animals.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
Read the statements. Circle T (True) or F (False).
1. The man is very happy. T/F
2. Some animals are inside socks. T/F
3. The animals are living at a zoo now. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Write 1, 2 or 3 next to each event.
a) The officers open the suitcase. ____
b) The animals go to a snake farm. ____
c) A nervous man is at the airport. ____
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. airport
2. suitcase
3. lizard
4. nervous
5. safe
a) not in danger
b) a big bag for your clothes when you travel
c) a little bit scared or worried
d) a place where planes go up and come down
e) a small animal with four legs and a long tail
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. The animals are sad because they are inside _______ bottles.
a) big b) small c) blue
2. Wild animals belong in _______, not in suitcases.
a) nature b) shops c) cars
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Put the parts in the correct order to make a sentence from the story.
1. A) nervous B) The man C) at the airport. D) is E) very
______________________________________________
2. A) a snake farm. B) safe C) The snakes D) at E) are
______________________________________________
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
a) Snakes hidden in socks
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) suitcase
(2) nervous
(3) bottles
(4) safe
Section 2: Main Idea
b) Officers find many snakes and lizards in a man's suitcase at an airport.
Section 3: True or False
1. False – he is very nervous.
2. True
3. False – they are living at a snake farm.
Section 4: Put Events in Order
c = 1, a = 2, b = 3 (A nervous man is at the airport. → The officers open the suitcase. → The animals go to a snake farm.)
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. airport – d) a place where planes go up and come down
2. suitcase – b) a big bag for your clothes when you travel
3. lizard – e) a small animal with four legs and a long tail
4. nervous – c) a little bit scared or worried
5. safe – a) not in danger
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. b) small
2. a) nature
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. B – D – E – A – C: The man is very nervous at the airport.
2. C – E – B – D – A: The snakes are safe at a snake farm.
Section 8: Discussion Questions (model answers)
1. He is nervous because he has snakes and lizards in his suitcase.
2. They are in bottles, plastic boxes and socks.
3. No, it is not OK because the animals are scared and hungry.
4. My favourite animal is a tiger. It lives in the forest.
5. We can leave them in nature and keep their homes clean.
Thank you for your feedback!