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4 Sept 2026
The Sea Nomads with Super Free-Diving Powers
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) People who live on houseboats in Southeast Asia.
b) Divers who use large metal oxygen tanks.
c) Scientists building sub-marines for ocean exploration.
Ask:
(1) Do you like swimming underwater in the sea?
(2) How long can you hold your breath underwater?
VOCABULARY
nomad (/ˈnəʊ.mæd/, noun)
Meaning: A person who moves from place to place instead of living in one fixed home.
Example: The Bajau nomad lives on a small wooden boat on the blue ocean.
dive (/daɪv/, verb)
Meaning: To jump or swim down deep into the water.
Example: Children love to dive into the cool swimming pool on hot summer days.
spleen (/spliːn/, noun)
Meaning: An organ inside the human body that helps clean red blood cells.
Example: A bigger spleen helps holding oxygen for a longer time underwater.
breath (/breθ/, noun)
Meaning: The air that you take into your lungs and send out again.
Example: Take a deep breath before you jump into the cold sea water.
spear (/spɪə/, noun)
Meaning: A long wooden stick with a sharp point used for catching fish.
Example: The fisherman holds a long wooden spear to catch fish in the water.
oxygen (/ˈɒk.sɪ.dʒən/, noun)
Meaning: The invisible gas in the air that all humans need to live.
Example: Our bodies need clean oxygen to keep running and growing strong.
The Bajau people live in Southeast Asia. Many live on houseboats in the sea. They are famous sea nomads. They swim every day to catch fish for food.
Bajau divers do not use oxygen tanks. They dive deep into the water with simple wooden goggles and a wooden spear. They can hold their breath for a very long time.
Scientists studied these amazing sea people. They looked at the bodies of Bajau divers. They found something very special. Bajau people have a larger spleen than other humans.
The spleen is an organ inside your body. When you swim deep, your spleen squeezes. It sends fresh red blood cells into your body. This blood carries extra oxygen.
Because of this extra oxygen, Bajau divers stay underwater for up to thirteen minutes. Their bodies adapted to life in the ocean over many years. They are super divers!
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Would you like to live on a boat in the ocean?
(2) Why do Bajau people dive into the sea every day?
(3) What equipment do Bajau divers use when swimming?
(4) How does a larger spleen help someone swim underwater?
(5) What other ocean animals are good at holding their breath?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: breath / dive / nomad / oxygen
The Bajau people live in Southeast Asia. Many live on houseboats in the sea. They are famous sea _______(1)s. They swim every day to catch fish for food.
Bajau divers do not use oxygen tanks. They _______(2) deep into the water with simple wooden goggles and a wooden spear. They can hold their _______(3) for a very long time.
Scientists studied these amazing sea people. They looked at the bodies of Bajau divers. They found something very special. Bajau people have a larger spleen than other humans.
The spleen is an organ inside your body. When you swim deep, your spleen squeezes. It sends fresh red blood cells into your body. This blood carries extra _______(4).
Because of this extra oxygen, Bajau divers stay underwater for up to thirteen minutes. Their bodies adapted to life in the ocean over many years. They are super divers!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this news story?
a) Bajau people have larger spleens that help them dive deep without oxygen tanks.
b) Scientists are making new wooden goggles for swimming in the sea.
c) Houseboats are the most popular homes in Southeast Asia today.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) Bajau divers use heavy metal oxygen tanks to breathe underwater. T/F
(2) The Bajau people have a larger spleen than most other humans. T/F
(3) A squeezed spleen releases extra red blood cells into the body. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put these events in order from 1 to 3:
( ) The squeezed spleen pushes extra oxygen-rich blood cells into the body.
( ) The Bajau diver takes a deep breath and dives deep into the ocean water.
( ) Scientists study Bajau divers and discover their larger spleens.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
(1) nomad
(2) dive
(3) spleen
(4) spear
(5) oxygen
a) A long stick with a sharp point for catching fish.
b) An organ in your body that holds extra red blood cells.
c) A person who travels around without a single home.
d) The invisible gas in the air that humans breathe.
e) To swim downwards deep under the water surface.
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) Bajau divers do not use _______ tanks when they swim in the sea.
a) oxygen
b) petrol
c) water
(2) A larger _______ helps the body send oxygen to the muscles underwater.
a) tooth
b) spleen
c) finger
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble these words to make a complete sentence:
A) live / B) sea / C) houseboats / D) Bajau / E) on
(2) Unscramble these words to make a complete sentence:
A) hold / B) can / C) breath / D) they / E) their
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer:a) People who live on houseboats in Southeast Asia.
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Answers:(1) nomad (2) dive (3) breath (4) oxygen
Section 2: Main Idea Answer:a) Bajau people have larger spleens that help them dive deep without oxygen tanks.
Section 3: True or False Answers:(1) False (2) True (3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order Answers:
(2) The squeezed spleen pushes extra oxygen-rich blood cells into the body.
(1) The Bajau diver takes a deep breath and dives deep into the ocean water.
(3) Scientists study Bajau divers and discover their larger spleens.
Section 5: Vocab Match Answers:(1) c (2) e (3) b (4) a (5) d
Section 6: Discussion Builder Answers: (1) a) oxygen (2) b) spleen
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Answers:
(1) D - A - E - C - B (Bajau live on sea houseboats / Bajau live on houseboats in sea)
(2) D - B - A - E - C (They can hold their breath)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Sample Answers:
(1) Yes, because living on the water sounds fun and full of adventures.
(2) They dive every day to catch fresh fish and food for their family.
(3) They use simple wooden goggles and wooden spears.
(4) A larger spleen holds extra red blood cells to give oxygen underwater.
(5) Dolphins, whales, and seals can hold their breath for a very long time.
Thank you for your feedback!