Animals & Environment
Select a Level
NEW
5 Oct 2026
Bears entered populated areas in more than 40 Russian regions this year, but one Siberian region recorded the highest death toll. Telegram / @krasnoyarsk_smi & Telegram / @irkutsk_smi
Wild Bears Search for Food in Populated Areas in Russia
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) Bears sleeping in autumn
b) Bears searching for food near towns
c) Bears swimming in the ocean
Ask:
(1) What wild animals live in your country?
(2) Why do you think bears need extra food in autumn?
VOCABULARY
forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees.
Example: The brown bear walked quietly through the green forest.
autumn (/ˈɔː.təm/, noun)
Meaning: The season of the year between summer and winter.
Example: In autumn, leaves turn yellow and bears prepare to sleep.
travel (/ˈtræv.əl/, verb)
Meaning: To go from one place to another place.
Example: The animals travel towards the river to drink water.
smell (/smel/, verb)
Meaning: To notice an odour with your nose.
Example: Bears can smell sweet berries from far away.
protect (/prəˈtekt/, verb)
Meaning: To keep someone or something safe from danger.
Example: Rangers work hard to protect animals in the wild.
safe (/seɪf/, adjective)
Meaning: Not in danger or likely to be hurt.
Example: It is important to keep a safe distance from wild animals.
In Russia, large brown bears live in giant green forests. Autumn is a very busy season for these wild animals. Soon, cold winter comes, and the bears sleep for many long months. To prepare, bears must eat a lot of rich food every day. They love to eat sweet berries, nuts, and fresh fish from cold rivers.
Sometimes, it is hard for bears to find enough food in the forest. When this happens, some bears travel towards small towns. The clever bears look for food near human homes and quiet gardens. They can smell fruit, vegetables, and food leftovers from very far away.
Local experts want everyone to stay safe. They ask local people to keep their bins closed and store food inside strong houses. Forest rangers watch the trees carefully to protect the animals and local families. Children learn to respect nature and keep a safe distance from wild bears. Nature is beautiful when people and animals live safely together.
A brown bear strolls through Norilsk in Krasnoyarsk region in May 2022. The region, home to one of Russia's largest brown bear populations, saw seven fatal bear attacks in September alone. IrinaYarinskaya/AFP/Getty Images
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What do brown bears like to eat in autumn?
2. Why do bears need to eat extra food before winter arrives?
3. Where do some bears go when food is hard to find in the forest?
4. How can local families keep their homes safe from bears?
5. Why is it important to respect wild animals in nature?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: autumn, protect, smell, travel
In Russia, large brown bears live in giant green forests. _______(1) is a very busy season for these wild animals. Soon, cold winter comes, and the bears sleep for many long months. To prepare, bears must eat a lot of rich food every day. They love to eat sweet berries, nuts, and fresh fish from cold rivers.
Sometimes, it is hard for bears to find enough food in the forest. When this happens, some bears _______(2) towards small towns. The clever bears look for food near human homes and quiet gardens. They can _______(3) fruit, vegetables, and food leftovers from very far away.
Local experts want everyone to stay safe. They ask local people to keep their bins closed and store food inside strong houses. Forest rangers watch the trees carefully to _______(4) the animals and local families. Children learn to respect nature and keep a safe distance from wild bears. Nature is beautiful when people and animals live safely together.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this article?
a) Bears love swimming in deep rivers during summer.
b) Bears are looking for food near towns, and people are learning to stay safe.
c) Children are building houses for wild bears in Russia.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Brown bears sleep for many long months during winter. T/F
2. Bears only eat food from human gardens in autumn. T/F
3. Forest rangers ask people to keep their bins closed. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
( ) Bears look for food near human homes and gardens.
( ) Autumn arrives, and bears need extra food before winter.
( ) People close their bins to keep animals and families safe.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. forest
2. autumn
3. travel
4. smell
5. protect
a) To go from one place to another
b) To keep safe from harm
c) A large area covered with trees
d) To notice an odour with your nose
e) The season before winter
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) In autumn, bears need to eat lots of food to _______ for winter.
a) prepare
b) sleep
c) run
(2) People must keep their bins closed to keep their homes _______.
a) noisy
b) safe
c) cold
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) A) live / B) brown bears / C) giant / D) in / E) forests
(2) A) food / B) smell / C) can / D) bears / E) far away
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: b) Bears searching for food near towns
Section 1 Answers: (1) Autumn, (2) travel, (3) smell, (4) protect
Section 2 Answer: b) Bears are looking for food near towns, and people are learning to stay safe.
Section 3 Answers: 1. T, 2. F, 3. T
Section 4 Answers: 2, 1, 3
Section 5 Answers: 1-c, 2-e, 3-a, 4-d, 5-b
Section 6 Answers: (1) a, (2) b
Section 7 Answers: (1) B-A-D-C-E (Brown bears live in giant forests.), (2) D-C-B-A-E (Bears can smell food far away.)
Section 8 Answers: Student's own answers based on the article (e.g., 1. Sweet berries, nuts, and fresh fish. 2. To build energy for winter sleep. 3. Towards small towns and gardens. 4. By keeping bins closed and food indoors. 5. To keep humans and animals safe together.)
Thank you for your feedback!