Animals & Environment
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26 Sept 2026
(Credit: Alamy)
The Science of Moby Dick: Why Sperm Whales Use Their Heads as Weapons
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) Sperm whales hit their heads together in the ocean.
b) Sperm whales wear helmets when swimming.
c) Sperm whales live on land inside big caves.
Ask:
(1) Have you ever seen a whale on television or in a book?
(2) Why do you think some sea animals have very large bodies?
VOCABULARY
ocean (/ˈəʊ.ʃən/, noun)
Meaning: A very large area of salt water that covers most of the Earth.
Example: The blue whale swims happily in the big ocean.
huge (/hjuːdʒ/, adjective)
Meaning: Very, very large in size.
Example: The sperm whale has a huge head.
camera (/ˈkæm.rə/, noun)
Meaning: A machine used to take pictures or make videos.
Example: The scientist took a photo with her camera.
protect (/prəˈtekt/, verb)
Meaning: To keep a person or animal safe from harm.
Example: A bicycle helmet helps to protect your head.
brain (/breɪn/, noun)
Meaning: The organ inside your head that controls thinking and feeling.
Example: Your brain helps you think and learn new words.
water (/ˈwɔː.tə/, noun)
Meaning: The clear liquid that fills rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Example: Fish spend their entire lives swimming in water.
Sperm whales live in the ocean. They are huge animals. They swim in deep water. These whales have very large heads. A whale head is forty percent of its body. Scientists look at sperm whales today. They use cameras on flying drones.
The cameras show something new. Young sperm whales are bumping their big heads together. They push each other in the water. They play and hit head to head. This is like a game for young whales. It is a headbutt!
Why do they do this? Scientists think it is practice. The whales learn how to fight for the future. Thick cushions of oil inside the head protect the brain. The oil absorbs the big hits. The brain stays very safe.
Long ago, sailors saw whales hit wooden boats. A famous story called Moby Dick tells about a big whale. Now we see real video of this action. Sperm whales use their massive heads as natural weapons.
The spermaceti organ contains up to 418 gallons (1,900 litres) of a fatty and waxy liquid called "spermaceti", highly prized by 19th-Century whalers (Credit: BBC/ Serenity Strull)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you like learning about ocean animals?
2. Why do you think young whales play games together?
3. What other animals use their heads to hit or push?
4. Would you like to fly a drone camera over the ocean?
5. How can oil inside a whale's head keep it safe?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: brain, camera, ocean, protect
Sperm whales live in the _______(1). They are huge animals. They swim in deep water. These whales have very large heads. A whale head is forty percent of its body. Scientists look at sperm whales today. They use a _______(2) on flying drones.
The cameras show something new. Young sperm whales are bumping their big heads together. They push each other in the water. They play and hit head to head. This is like a game for young whales. It is a headbutt!
Why do they do this? Scientists think it is practice. The whales learn how to fight for the future. Thick cushions of oil inside the head _______(3) the brain. The oil absorbs the big hits. The _______(4) stays very safe.
Long ago, sailors saw whales hit wooden boats. A famous story called Moby Dick tells about a big whale. Now we see real video of this action. Sperm whales use their massive heads as natural weapons.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the story?
a) Scientists use drones to record young sperm whales hitting their heads together.
b) Whales like to sleep in deep water during the cold night.
c) Sailors build big wooden boats to travel around the world.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. A sperm whale's head is forty percent of its body. T/F
2. Scientists use submarines to see the young whales play. T/F
3. Oil inside the whale's head helps to keep its brain safe. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) Oil inside the head absorbs the hit to keep the brain safe.
b) Scientists fly drones with cameras over the deep ocean.
c) Drones record young whales bumping their big heads together.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. ocean
2. huge
3. camera
4. protect
5. brain
a) a tool used to record videos or photos
b) to keep someone or something safe
c) the organ inside the head used for thinking
d) a massive area of salt water
e) extremely big in size
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. Young whales hit their heads because they are ________ for adult life.
a) practising
b) sleeping
2. The thick oil acts like a cushion to ________ the whale's head.
a) hurt
b) guard
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. Unscramble: (A) live (B) Sperm whales (C) deep ocean (D) in the (E) water.
2. Unscramble: (A) protect (B) Oil cushions (C) the whale's (D) sensitive brain (E) inside the head.
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: a
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
1) ocean
2) camera
3) protect
4) brain
Section 2: Main Idea
a
Section 3: True or False
1. True
2. False
3. True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
1. b (Scientists fly drones with cameras over the deep ocean.)
2. c (Drones record young whales bumping their big heads together.)
3. a (Oil inside the head absorbs the hit to keep the brain safe.)
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-d, 2-e, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. a (practising)
2. b (guard)
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. B-A-D-C-E (Sperm whales live in the deep ocean water.)
2. B-A-C-D-E (Oil cushions protect the whale's sensitive brain inside the head.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student's own answers.
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