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Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 19 Sept 2026 Driving Across Madagascar to Protect the World's Last Lemurs Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A long road trip across an island b) A fast train going through mountains c) A boat journey in the cold ocean Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a photo of a lemur? (2) Why is it important to protect wild animals? VOCABULARY island (/ˈaɪlənd/ , noun) Meaning: A piece of land with water all around it. Example: Madagascar is a huge island in the ocean. lemur (/ˈliːmər/ , noun) Meaning: A small animal with a long tail that lives in trees. Example: The striped lemur sits in the tall tree. forest (/ˈfɒrɪst/ , noun) Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees. Example: Many wild animals live inside the green forest. drive (/draɪv/ , verb) Meaning: To control a car or truck and move forward. Example: We drive down the long road every day. guide (/ɡaɪd/ , noun) Meaning: A person who shows the way to visitors. Example: The friendly guide helps us find the hidden animals. protect (/prəˈtekt/ , verb) Meaning: To keep someone or something safe from danger. Example: Local people work hard to protect the animals. Madagascar is a very large island in the ocean. It has green forests and rare animals. Drivers take a big car on a very long road trip across the country. They drive two thousand five hundred kilometres. The roads are rough and full of mud. The travellers want to see wild lemurs in the trees. Lemurs only live on this special island. Some lemurs have long striped tails. Other lemurs jump high between the branches. A local guide helps the travellers in the national park. The guide knows where the small animals sleep. Today, many lemurs need help because the trees are disappearing. People cut down forests for wood. Now, local rangers protect the trees and build safe parks. Visitors learn how to care for nature. The trip shows that everyone must help save these special animals. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Where is Madagascar located? (2) How do travellers move across the long island? (3) Which animal only lives on this special island? (4) Why are the forests disappearing today? (5) How can local guides help visitors in the park? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: drive, forest, guide, protect Madagascar is a big island with a green _______(1). Travellers _______(2) a car on a long muddy road. A helpful _______(3) shows them where the animals live. Local people work hard to _______(4) the rare lemurs from danger. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) Learning how to drive a fast car on smooth roads. b) Travelling across Madagascar to see and protect lemurs. c) Building new houses near big cities in Africa. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) Madagascar is a small city with no trees. T/F (2) Travellers drive two thousand five hundred kilometres on their trip. T/F (3) Lemurs live in many different countries around the world. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) A guide shows the travellers where the lemurs sleep. ( ) Travellers start a long road trip across Madagascar. ( ) Rangers work to protect the remaining forest trees. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) island (2) lemur (3) forest (4) drive (5) protect a) To keep something safe from harm b) Land surrounded by water c) To control a vehicle moving on a road d) An animal with a long tail that lives in trees e) A large place full of trees and plants USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) The travellers _______ across the island to find wild animals. a) drove b) driving (2) Local guides _______ visitors how to keep the forest safe. a) shows b) show Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) Unscramble: A) lemurs / B) in / C) live / D) tall / E) trees (2) Unscramble: A) We / B) must / C) protect / D) wild / E) animals SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a) A long road trip across an island Section 1: (1) forest, (2) drive, (3) guide, (4) protect Section 2: b) Travelling across Madagascar to see and protect lemurs. Section 3: (1) False, (2) True, (3) False Section 4: 2, 1, 3 Section 5: (1)-b, (2)-d, (3)-e, (4)-c, (5)-a Section 6: (1) a, (2) b Section 7: (1) A-C-B-D-E (Lemurs live in tall trees.), (2) A-B-C-D-E (We must protect wild animals.) Section 8: Open student answers exploring location, transport, wildlife, deforestation, and conservation role. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 21 Sept 2026 Swiftiephylus taylorae (shown) is one of four newly described plant bug species named after influential singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Sarah Schroeder Scientists Name New Beetle After Pop Star Taylor Swift 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) A beetle with red legs b) A new beetle named after a singer c) A beetle that makes music Ask: (1) Do you like listening to pop music? (2) Would you like an insect named after you? VOCABULARY beetle (/ˈbiː.təl/ , noun) Meaning: An insect with hard wings. Example: Look at that tiny beetle on the green leaf! scientist (/ˈsaɪən.tɪst/ , noun) Meaning: A person who studies nature and animals. Example: The scientist looks at small bugs today. forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/ , noun) Meaning: A large place full of trees. Example: Many wild bugs live in the dark forest. special (/ˈspeʃ.əl/ , adjective) Meaning: Not common or ordinary. Example: Today is a special day for the young fan. favourite (/ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt/ , adjective) Meaning: The person or thing you like best. Example: Taylor Swift is her favourite pop singer. brown (/braʊn/ , adjective) Meaning: Having a colour like earth or chocolate. Example: The tiny bug has small brown legs. Scientists find a new insect in the forest. It is a tiny brown millipede beetle. It lives under big green leaves. It eats old wood and dirt. The bug is small, but it is very special. Dr Derek Hennen is a clever scientist. He loves animals and nature. He also loves music. His favourite singer is Taylor Swift. He listens to her happy pop songs every day at work. Dr Hennen wants to say thank you to the famous singer. So, he gives the bug a funny name. He calls it Nannaria swiftae. Now, Taylor Swift has a special bug! People are very happy about this fun news story. Bugs are very important for our green planet Earth. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Which singer do you like best? (2) Why are bugs important for our world? (3) Would you like to work in a forest? (4) What name would you give to a new beetle? (5) Do you like looking for insects in the garden? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: beetle, favourite, forest, scientist Scientists find a new insect in the _______(1). It is a tiny brown millipede _______(2). It lives under big green leaves. It eats old wood and dirt. The bug is small, but it is very special. Dr Derek Hennen is a clever _______(3). He loves animals and nature. He also loves music. His _______(4) singer is Taylor Swift. He listens to her happy pop songs every day at work. Dr Hennen wants to say thank you to the famous singer. So, he gives the bug a funny name. He calls it Nannaria swiftae. Now, Taylor Swift has a special bug! People are very happy about this fun news story. Bugs are very important for our green planet Earth. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this news story? a) A scientist names a new beetle after a famous pop singer. b) Taylor Swift goes to a forest to catch bugs. c) Scientists build a big house for millipedes. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) The new insect lives under green leaves. T/F (2) Dr Hennen hates listening to pop music. T/F (3) The bug is named Nannaria swiftae. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order ( ) Dr Hennen chooses the name Nannaria swiftae for the bug. ( ) Scientists discover a new tiny millipede in the forest. ( ) Dr Hennen listens to his favourite music at work. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. beetle 2. scientist 3. forest 4. favourite 5. special a) a person who studies nature b) a small insect with hard wings c) not ordinary or common d) a large place with many trees e) liked more than all others USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) A scientist is a person _______ studies nature. a) who b) where (2) The tiny bug lives _______ old wood and leaves. a) under b) on top Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) A. lives / B. insect / C. small / D. forest / E. in the (2) A. doctor / B. pop music / C. listens to / D. favourite / E. his SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: b) A new beetle named after a singer Section 1: Fill in the Gaps (1) forest (2) beetle (3) scientist (4) favourite Section 2: Main Idea a Section 3: True or False (1) T (2) F (3) T Section 4: Put Events in Order 3, 1, 2 Section 5: Vocab Match 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-e, 5-c Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) a (2) a Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) C-B-A-E-D (Small insect lives in the forest.) (2) A-C-E-D-B (Doctor listens to his favourite pop music.) Section 8: Discussion Questions Student's own answers. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 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) Share Lesson 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? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. 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. SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP 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. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 16 Sept 2026 In places with a lot of artificial light, birds like this Northern cardinal sing an extra 50 minutes on average. That includes about 18 minutes more in the morning and 32 minutes more in the evening. Ser Amantio di Nicolao/Wikimedia Commons City Lights Make Birds Sing Longer Songs at Night Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Birds sing longer in bright city areas. b) Birds stop singing completely in cities. c) Birds wear tiny glasses to see lights. Ask: (1) Do you hear birds near your house at night? (2) Why do you think street lights stay on when it is dark? VOCABULARY bright (/braɪt/ , adjective) Meaning: Full of strong light that is easy to see. Example: The bright street light shines outside my window at night. lamp (/læmp/ , noun) Meaning: A tall light post on a street or a light inside a home. Example: A tall lamp helps people see the dark road. sleep (/sliːp/ , verb) Meaning: To rest your body and mind with your eyes closed. Example: Little birds need to sleep when the sun goes down. song (/sɒŋ/ , noun) Meaning: Musical sounds made by a voice or a bird. Example: The robin sings a sweet song in the green tree. town (/taʊn/ , noun) Meaning: A place with many houses, shops, and roads where people live. Example: Our small town has bright lights on every street. wake (/weɪk/ , verb) Meaning: To stop sleeping and open your eyes. Example: The birds wake up early when they see light. Many wild birds live in our big city parks and garden spaces. They usually eat small bugs and sing happy songs during the sunny day. At night, big city streets are very bright. Yellow street lamps stay on for many hours. This strong extra light changes how local birds behave. Scientists look at wild birds in different towns. They see that night lights trick the birds. The birds think the morning sun is coming up very early. So, these small birds wake up in the dark. They sing their daily songs for a longer time. They do not get enough good rest at night. People can help these songbirds today. We can turn off extra outdoor lamps late at night. Then, wild birds can sleep well until morning. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you prefer sleeping in a dark room or a bright room? 2. What time do birds start singing near your home? 3. Why do wild animals need good sleep every night? 4. How can people make towns quieter and darker at night? 5. Should we turn off street lights late at night? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: bright, lamp, sleep, wake Many wild birds live in our big city parks and garden spaces. They usually eat small bugs and sing happy songs during the sunny day. At night, big city streets are very _______(1). Yellow street _______(2) stay on for many hours. This strong extra light changes how local birds behave. Scientists look at wild birds in different towns. They see that night lights trick the birds. The birds think the morning sun is coming up very early. So, these small birds _______(3) up in the dark. They sing their daily songs for a longer time. They do not get enough good _______(4) at night. People can help these songbirds today. We can turn off extra outdoor lamps late at night. Then, wild birds can sleep well until morning. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) Street lights help birds catch bigger bugs at night. b) Bright night lights make birds wake up and sing longer. c) Birds like to live inside warm houses in the winter. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Birds sing songs during the sunny day. T/F 2. Night lights trick birds into thinking it is early morning. T/F 3. Birds get plenty of good sleep in bright towns. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these story events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) Birds think the morning sun is coming up. ( ) Yellow street lamps stay on late at night. ( ) Birds wake up early and sing longer songs. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. bright 2. lamp 3. sleep 4. town 5. wake a. a light on a tall pole b. full of strong light c. to stop sleeping and open eyes d. to rest your body at night e. a place where people live USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. The street light is very _______ tonight, so I cannot sleep easily. a) bright b) quiet 2. Little birds _______ up early because the park is full of light. a) sleep b) wake Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. Unscramble the sentence: A) sing B) long C) Birds D) songs. E) daily 2. Unscramble the sentence: A) stay B) Street C) lamps D) on E) night. F) all SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a) Birds sing longer in bright city areas. Section 1: Fill in the Gaps 1. bright 2. lamp 3. wake 4. sleep Section 2: Main Idea b) Bright night lights make birds wake up and sing longer. Section 3: True or False 1. T 2. T 3. F Section 4: Put Events in Order 2, 1, 3 Section 5: Vocab Match 1. b 2. a 3. d 4. e 5. c Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. a) bright 2. b) wake Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. C - A - E - B - D (Birds sing daily long songs.) 2. B - C - A - D - F - E (Street lamps stay on all night.) Section 8: Discussion Questions Student discussion answers will vary. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS World Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 28 Aug 2026 A page of the book "Antiquities of Athens," stamped by a library, is shown on July 30, 2026, after its return in Kiama, Australia, an estimated 150 years late. Catherine Taylor/AP 150-Year Overdue Library Book Returned in Australia Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A book was hidden inside a old fireplace for many years. b) A boy lost his library book on a bus in Sydney. c) A school found a missing dictionary under a desk. Ask: (1) Have you ever returned a library book late? (2) Where is the most unusual place you have found a lost item? VOCABULARY borrow (/ˈbɒr.əʊ/ , verb) Meaning: To take and use something that belongs to someone else, promising to give it back later. Example: You can borrow my book for one week. crate (/kreɪt/ , noun) Meaning: A large wooden box used for moving or storing things. Example: The old items were packed inside a wooden crate. discover (/dɪˈskʌv.ər/ , verb) Meaning: To find something that was hidden or unknown. Example: Workers discover old coins during home renovations. fireplace (/ˈfaɪə.pleɪs/ , noun) Meaning: A special space in a room where a fire can be built for warmth. Example: The room was warm because a fire burned in the fireplace. overdue (/ˌəʊ.vəˈdʒuː/ , adjective) Meaning: Not returned or finished by the expected time. Example: My library book is overdue by two days. return (/rɪˈtɜːn/ , verb) Meaning: To give or bring something back to its place. Example: Please return the key to the main office. A library in Australia recently received a very old book. The book was returned 150 years late! A man named Ross Simmons found the book in his house. He was fixing his home when he saw a wooden crate behind a wall. The crate was sealed inside an old fireplace. Inside the crate, he found a book about ancient Greece. Ross looked inside the cover and saw a stamp. It was from the Kiama Library. His great-great-grandfather probably borrowed the book in the 1870s. The library opened in 1872, but the book was never brought back. If the library charged a late fee today, it would cost thousands of pounds! However, the library manager was just happy to have the book back safely. The book has some water damage, but it is still in good condition. The library will put it in a glass display case. Nobody can borrow it again! Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why was the library book returned so late? 2. Where did Ross Simmons find the old wooden crate? 3. Would you like to visit a library to see a 150-year-old book? 4. Why do you think people forget to return library books? 5. What is your favourite book to read at home or school? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: crate, discover, overdue, return A library in Australia recently received a very old book. The book was _______(1) 150 years late! A man named Ross Simmons found the book in his house. He was fixing his home when he saw a wooden _______(2) behind a wall. The crate was sealed inside an old fireplace. Inside the crate, he was able to _______(3) a book about ancient Greece. Ross looked inside the cover and saw a stamp. It was from the Kiama Library. His great-great-grandfather probably borrowed the book in the 1870s. The library opened in 1872, but the book was never brought back to _______(4) it. If the library charged a late fee today, it would cost thousands of pounds! However, the library manager was just happy to have the book back safely. The book has some water damage, but it is still in good condition. The library will put it in a glass display case. Nobody can borrow it again! Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) A library in Australia built a new building for its readers. b) An overdue book was returned to an Australian library after 150 years. c) A man built a wooden fireplace inside his old home. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. The book was found inside a wooden crate behind a wall. T/F 2. Ross Simmons borrowed the book from the library last week. T/F 3. The library will place the old book in a glass display case. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) Ross Simmons found the book inside a sealed fireplace during house repairs. ( ) A family member borrowed the book from Kiama Library in the 1870s. ( ) The book was safely brought back to the library after 150 years. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. borrow 2. crate 3. discover 4. fireplace 5. overdue a. late or not returned on time b. a large wooden container for storing things c. to find something for the first time d. a space in a wall where fires are made e. to take something to use and return later USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. The old book was _______ inside a wall for over 100 years. a) hidden b) reading 2. It is important to _______ borrowed items to your friends on time. a) return b) forget Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. Put the parts in order (A-E): A) returned B) book C) was D) The E) late. 2. Put the parts in order (A-E): A) found B) Ross C) a D) crate. E) wooden SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a) A book was hidden inside a old fireplace for many years. Section 1: Fill in the Gaps 1. overdue 2. crate 3. discover 4. return Section 2: Main Idea b) An overdue book was returned to an Australian library after 150 years. Section 3: True or False 1. True 2. False 3. True Section 4: Put Events in Order 2 - Ross Simmons found the book inside a sealed fireplace during house repairs. 1 - A family member borrowed the book from Kiama Library in the 1870s. 3 - The book was safely brought back to the library after 150 years. Section 5: Vocab Match 1. e 2. b 3. c 4. d 5. a Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. a) hidden 2. a) return Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. D - B - C - A - E (The book was returned late.) 2. B - A - C - E - D (Ross found a wooden crate.) Section 8: Discussion Questions Student answers will vary. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 19 Sept 2026 Meet the Amazing Flying Squirrel That Glows Pink in the Dark Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A squirrel that turns bright pink under special light b) A squirrel that builds a tiny house in a tree c) A squirrel that swims across a large river Ask: (1) Do you like animals that live in forests? (2) What color do you think is cool for wild animals? VOCABULARY squirrel (/ˈskwɪr.əl/ , noun) Meaning: A small furry animal with a bushy tail that lives in trees. Example: The brown squirrel skips quickly along the tree branch. glow (/ɡləʊ/ , verb) Meaning: To give out a soft bright light in the dark. Example: The stars glow brightly in the night sky. forest (/ˈfɒr.ɪst/ , noun) Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees. Example: Many wild birds live in the green forest. night (/naɪt/ , noun) Meaning: The time when it is dark outside and people sleep. Example: Owls fly through the trees at night. pink (/pɪŋk/ , adjective) Meaning: A soft pale red colour. Example: She wears a nice pink coat to school. fur (/fɜːr/ , noun) Meaning: The soft hair that covers the body of some animals. Example: The cat has soft white fur on its back. Scientists are looking at small flying squirrels in North America. These squirrels live in green forests and stay awake at night. They jump from high trees and glide in the cold air. They look grey or brown in the sun. One scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on a squirrel fur sample. A bright pink color shows up on its belly. The fur glows brightly in the dark under this light. All North American flying squirrels have this fun fur trick. Regular grey squirrels do not glow under the lamp. Flying squirrels glide at night when it is very dark. The pink light helps them talk to friends or hide from scary owls in the woods. Kids like learning about these cool glowing animals. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you see squirrels in your local park? 2. Would you like to explore a forest at night? 3. What is your favourite nocturnal forest animal? 4. Why do you think glowing pink is helpful? 5. Which special animal superpower do you want? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: forest, fur, glow, pink Scientists are looking at small flying squirrels in North America. These squirrels live in green _______(1) areas and stay awake at night. They jump from high trees and glide in the cold air. They look grey or brown in the sun. One scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on a squirrel _______(2) sample. A bright _______(3) color shows up on its belly. The skin and fur _______(4) brightly in the dark under this light. All North American flying squirrels have this fun fur trick. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this article? a) Flying squirrels like to eat nuts during the warm daytime. b) Flying squirrels in North America glow pink under special light. c) Grey squirrels are learning how to jump across high trees. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Flying squirrels stay awake during the sunny daytime. T/F 2. Flying squirrels glow bright pink under ultraviolet light. T/F 3. Regular grey squirrels also glow under special lamp light. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order a) A scientist shines a special ultraviolet light on squirrel fur. b) Flying squirrels glide through cold night forest air. c) A bright pink color shows up on the squirrel belly. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. forest 2. glow 3. fur 4. pink 5. night a) To shine with a soft light in the dark b) The time when it is dark outside c) A soft pale red colour d) A large area filled with many trees e) The soft hair covering an animal body USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. The flying squirrel stays awake at _______ because it likes the dark. a) night b) morning 2. Scientists test animal _______ under special bright lamps. a) fur b) shoes Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. [A) The] [B) glows] [C) belly] [D) bright] [E) pink.] 2. [A) Squirrels] [B) in] [C) live] [D) green] [E) forests.] SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a Section 1: 1. forest, 2. fur, 3. pink, 4. glow Section 2: b Section 3: 1. False (F), 2. True (T), 3. False (F) Section 4: 1. b, 2. a, 3. c Section 5: 1-d, 2-a, 3-e, 4-c, 5-b Section 6: 1. a, 2. a Section 7: 1. A-C-B-D-E (The belly glows bright pink.), 2. A-C-B-D-E (Squirrels live in green forests.) Section 8: Open-ended student discussion answers. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Science & Technology Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 14 Sept 2026 Cuba Finds Clever Ways to Save Energy 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) People using horses and sun power in daily life b) People building huge flying cars c) People living underwater Ask: (1) How do you save electricity at home? (2) Have you ever travelled on a horse or a bicycle? VOCABULARY island (/ˈaɪ.lənd/ , noun) Meaning: Land with water all around it. Example: Cuba is a beautiful island in the sea. power (/ˈpaʊ.ər/ , noun) Meaning: Electricity that makes lights and machines work. Example: We turn off the lights to save power. clever (/ˈklev.ər/ , adjective) Meaning: Quick at learning and thinking of good ideas. Example: The clever boy fixed his old bicycle. useful (/ˈjuːs.fəl/ , adjective) Meaning: Helping you to do or get something. Example: A horse is very useful on a farm. bright (/braɪt/ , adjective) Meaning: Full of light from the sun. Example: The sun is very bright today. hope (/həʊp/ , noun) Meaning: A good feeling that things will be happy soon. Example: The friendly people have a lot of hope. Cuba is a sunny island in the Caribbean Sea. Many people live in beautiful towns there. Right now, the island has less oil for fuel. Because of this, electricity goes off in many homes. The people need power for their lights and cooking. However, Cuban families are very clever and brave. They find great new ways to live every day. Some doctors travel on horses to visit sick people. Many workers ride bicycles to their jobs. Farmers use the bright sun to dry their crops. They also cook food with wood fires outside. Children still go to school with big smiles. They play fun games outdoors with their friends. Everyone helps their kind neighbours every morning. Useful solar panels catch clean energy from the sky. These smart ideas bring happy hope to the warm island every single day. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Where is the sunny island of Cuba? (2) Why does electricity go off in homes? (3) How do some doctors travel to visit sick people? (4) What do farmers use to dry their crops? (5) Would you like to ride a bicycle to school every day? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: clever / island / power / useful Cuba is a sunny _______(1) in the Caribbean Sea. Right now, the island has less oil for fuel. The people need _______(2) for their lights and cooking. However, Cuban families are very _______(3) and brave. Doctors travel on horses to visit sick people. _______(4) solar panels catch clean energy from the sky every single day. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this article? a) Cuban people use smart ideas to live with less electricity. b) Everyone in Cuba is buying new cars. c) It rains every day on the island of Cuba. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) Cuba has a lot of extra oil for fuel. T/F (2) Some doctors ride horses to visit sick people. T/F (3) Children stop going to school completely. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Order the events from 1 to 3: ( ) Solar panels catch clean energy from the bright sky. ( ) Cuba gets less oil for its daily energy. ( ) Clever people use horses and bicycles to travel. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) island (2) power (3) clever (4) bright (5) hope Section 5: Vocab Match a) Full of light from the sun b) A good feeling about the future c) Land surrounded by sea water d) Electricity that makes lights work e) Smart and good at quick thinking USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) When the lights go off, we can use a _______ to see in the dark. a) torch b) spoon (2) Riding a bicycle is a very _______ way to travel without oil. a) noisy b) clean Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) Unscramble the sentence: A) is / B) a / C) sunny / D) Cuba / E) island . (2) Unscramble the sentence: A) helps / B) kind / C) Everyone / D) their / E) neighbours . SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Think Ahead Answer: a Section 1: (1) island (2) power (3) clever (4) useful Section 2: a Section 3: (1) False (2) True (3) False Section 4: 3, 1, 2 Section 5: (1) c, (2) d, (3) e, (4) a, (5) b Section 6: (1) a, (2) b Section 7: (1) D-A-B-C-E (Cuba is a sunny island.), (2) C-A-D-B-E (Everyone helps their kind neighbours.) Section 8: Open-ended conversation practice based on article questions. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 1 Sept 2026 Dogs’ brains showed stronger responses when viewing pictures of happy human faces over neutral ones. Science Shows Dogs Can Tell When You Are Scared or Sad Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Dogs use brain scans to look at humans. b) Dogs can see if a person is happy, scared, or sad. c) Dogs only like to eat fast food. Ask: (1) Do you have a pet dog or know a friendly dog? (2) How do you feel when you see a happy dog? VOCABULARY brain (/breɪn/ , noun) Meaning: The part inside your head that helps you think and feel. Example: My brain helps me learn new words at school. fear (/fɪə/ , noun) Meaning: A feeling when you are scared of something. Example: The loud storm gave the little dog a big fear. happy (/ˈhæp.i/ , adjective) Meaning: Feeling good, glad, or full of joy. Example: The children are happy when they play outside. photo (/ˈfəʊ.təʊ/ , noun) Meaning: A picture made with a camera. Example: I took a nice photo of my brown pet dog. sad (/sæd/ , adjective) Meaning: Feeling unhappy or down. Example: She feels sad when her soft balloon pops. scan (/skæn/ , noun) Meaning: A special test that takes pictures inside the body. Example: The doctor looked at a scan of the dog. Dogs are great animal friends. They live with us and watch us every day. Now, scientists know something cool. Dogs know how we feel! Scientists used a special picture machine. It takes a brain scan. Dogs looked at photos of human faces. Some faces were smiling. Some faces looked sad or scared. The tests show that dog brains change with each face. A smiling face makes the dog brain very happy. Dogs like happy faces best. But dogs also know when you feel sad. They see if your face has fear or anger. Their brains work in a special way for each feeling. Dogs read our faces to help us! Photo by Miguelangel Perez on Unsplash Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Why do you think dogs like happy faces best? (2) How do you help a friend who feels sad? (3) Do you think dogs are good animal helpers? (4) What do you do when your pet feels scared? (5) Would you like to study animal brains one day? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: fear, happy, sad, scan Dogs are great animal friends. They live with us and watch us every day. Now, scientists know something cool. Dogs know how we feel! Scientists used a special picture machine. It takes a brain _______(1). Dogs looked at photos of human faces. Some faces were smiling. Some faces looked sad or scared. The tests show that dog brains change with each face. A smiling face makes the dog brain very _______(2). Dogs like happy faces best. But dogs also know when you feel _______(3). They see if your face has _______(4) or anger. Their brains work in a special way for each feeling. Dogs read our faces to help us! Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) Dogs like to run in the park all day. b) Tests show dog brains know different human feelings. c) Scientists prefer cats over dogs. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) Scientists used a picture machine to look at dog brains. T/F (2) Dogs dislike looking at happy smiling faces. T/F (3) A dog's brain works in a special way for different faces. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these story events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) Dogs looked at photos of human faces. ( ) Scientists used a machine to take a brain scan. ( ) Scientists learned that dog brains know how we feel. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) brain (2) fear (3) happy (4) photo (5) sad a) feeling full of joy b) a picture made with a camera c) feeling unhappy d) the thinking part inside your head e) a feeling of being scared USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) When my dog sees my happy face, it feels _____. a) glad b) cold c) dark (2) A dog brain scan shows us _____ facts about pets. a) new b) hot c) sleepy Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) Unscramble these words to make a sentence: A) know B) how C) feel. D) Dogs E) we (2) Unscramble these words to make a sentence: A) like B) happy C) best. D) faces E) Dogs SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Answer Key - A1 Level Warm Up Think Ahead: b Section 1: (1) scan (2) happy (3) sad (4) fear Section 2: b Section 3: (1) True (2) False (3) True Section 4: 2, 1, 3 Section 5: (1) d (2) e (3) a (4) b (5) c Section 6: (1) a (2) a Section 7: (1) D-A-B-E-C (Dogs know how we feel.) (2) E-A-B-D-C (Dogs like happy faces best.) Section 8: Teacher-guided discussion answers will vary. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Sports & Travel Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 1 Oct 2026 This Italian hiking hut in the Trentino Alto-Adige region now attracts overzealous pastry tourists. Mauro Toccaceli/Alamy Stock Photo The Great Italian Pastry Rush in the Mountains 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) A small shop near the sea sells hot soup to cold swimmers. b) Many people walk up a high mountain to try a sweet snack. c) A famous chef opens a new fast-food cafe in a big city. Ask: (1) Do you like eating sweet snacks like donuts? (2) Is it fun to travel to a new place just to try famous food? VOCABULARY mountain (/ˈmaʊn.tɪn/ , noun) Meaning: A very high hill with steep sides. Example: The children walk up the cold mountain in winter. pastry (/ˈpeɪ.stri/ , noun) Meaning: A sweet food made from flour, butter, and sugar. Example: She buys a fruit pastry for breakfast every morning. quiet (/ˈkwaɪ.ət/ , adjective) Meaning: Making very little or no noise. Example: The library is a quiet place to read books. visitor (/ˈvɪz.ɪ.tə/ , noun) Meaning: A person who goes to see a place or person. Example: Many visitors take photos of the old castle. treat (/triːt/ , noun) Meaning: A special and delicious food that makes you happy. Example: Ice cream is a special treat on a hot day. famous (/ˈfeɪ.məs/ , adjective) Meaning: Known by a lot of people in many places. Example: The painter is famous for his colourful pictures. Italy is famous for nice food. People love gelato and pizza. Now, a sweet pastry makes visitors happy. This pastry is round like a donut without a hole. Local people call it a krapfen. It has a sweet filling inside. The pastries are in a small house high up on a mountain. The area is quiet and beautiful. Usually, hikers walk here to see green trees and gray rocks. Now, everything is different because of online videos. Online writers tell everyone about this special treat. Many people see the pictures on their phones. Now, hundreds of visitors walk up the long path every day. They want to buy the tasty pastry. They stand in long lines outside the small house. Local people live near the hill. They feel surprised by the big crowds. The quiet mountain is now very busy. The bakery works fast to bake enough food for all the new guests. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you like walking in the mountains? 2. What is your favourite sweet treat to eat on holiday? 3. Do you watch food videos on the internet? 4. Would you wait in a long line to buy a tasty donut? 5. Is it better for a mountain path to be quiet or busy? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: famous, mountain, pastry, quiet Italy is _______(1) for nice food. People love gelato and pizza. Now, a sweet _______(2) makes visitors happy. This pastry is round like a donut without a hole. Local people call it a krapfen. It has a sweet filling inside. The pastries are in a small house high up on a _______(3). The area is _______(4) and beautiful. Usually, hikers walk here to see green trees and gray rocks. Now, everything is different because of online videos. Online writers tell everyone about this special treat. Many people see the pictures on their phones. Now, hundreds of visitors walk up the long path every day. They want to buy the tasty pastry. They stand in long lines outside the small house. Local people live near the hill. They feel surprised by the big crowds. The quiet mountain is now very busy. The bakery works fast to bake enough food for all the new guests. Section 2: Main Idea Choose the best summary of the story: a) Local people in Italy are learning how to make gelato in a new shop. b) Many visitors walk up a mountain to try a famous sweet pastry. c) A mountain bakery closes down because no one wants to buy food. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. The special pastry has a hole in the middle like a donut. T/F 2. Online videos tell people about the tasty mountain treat. T/F 3. The mountain path is empty because people stay at home. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these events in order from 1 to 3: [ ] Writers post online videos and pictures of the sweet treat. [ ] Hundreds of visitors stand in long lines on the quiet mountain. [ ] Bakers make a round pastry called a krapfen in a mountain house. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. mountain 2. pastry 3. quiet 4. visitor 5. treat a) making very little noise b) a sweet baked food made with flour c) a person who travels to see a place d) a very high landform with steep sides e) a special and delicious food USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 1. The bakery sits high on a beautiful ________ that many tourists visit. a) ocean b) mountain c) bedroom 2. Everyone wants to try the sweet ________ after reading the news online. a) pastry b) pencil c) jacket Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the words to make correct sentences: 1. A / sweet / buys / child / the / pastry . 2. The / big / mountain / quiet / is / not . SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY A1 Answer Key Warm Up Answer: b) Many people walk up a high mountain to try a sweet snack. Section 1: Fill in the Gaps (1) famous (2) pastry (3) mountain (4) quiet Section 2: Main Idea Correct Answer: b Section 3: True or False 1. F 2. T 3. F Section 4: Put Events in Order 2, 3, 1 Section 5: Vocab Match 1 - d 2 - b 3 - a 4 - c 5 - e Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. b) mountain 2. a) pastry Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. A child buys the sweet pastry. 2. The mountain is not quiet. Section 8: Discussion Questions Answers will vary (Student's own opinions). BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Art & Culture Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 28 Jul 2026 This image released by Universal Pictures shows a scene from Illumination's "Minions & Monsters." (Universal Pictures via AP) Minions and Monsters Tops Holiday Weekend Box Office Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) The Minions go to Hollywood to become stars. b) The Minions build a big spaceship to fly to Mars. c) The Minions open a pizza restaurant in London. Ask: (1) Do you like watching animated films at the cinema? (2) Which movie character makes you laugh the most? VOCABULARY cinema (noun, /ˈsɪn.ə.mɑː/) film (noun, /fɪlm/) famous (adjective, /ˈfeɪ.məs/) success (noun, /səkˈses/) character (noun, /ˈkær.ək.tə/) brilliant (adjective, /ˈbrɪl.i.ənt/) Meaning: A building where you go to watch films on a big screen. Example: We bought tickets to watch a funny movie at the cinema. Meaning: A moving picture with sound that tells a story. Example: The new animated film made everyone in the room laugh. Meaning: Known by a lot of people in many places. Example: The yellow Minions are famous all over the world. Meaning: A good result or something that achieves its goal. Example: The new cartoon was a huge success at the box office. Meaning: A person or animal in a story or movie. Example: Woody is my favourite animated character in the show. Meaning: Extremely good, clever, or wonderful. Example: Watching the funny show was a brilliant way to spend Sunday. Many families visited the cinema during the long holiday weekend. They wanted to watch fun new films on the big screen. The most popular film was Minions and Monsters. In this funny story, the small yellow Minions travel to Hollywood. They want to become famous movie stars. The film made over thirty-six million dollars in just three days. It was a huge success around the world. Another famous film was Toy Story 5. It came in second place at the box office. Millions of children enjoyed watching these exciting characters on screen. Cinema owners were very happy because so many people bought tickets, popcorn, and soft drinks. Going to the cinema is a brilliant way to spend time with friends. This image released by Universal Pictures shows a scene from Illumination's "Minions & Monsters." (Universal Pictures via AP) Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you like going to the cinema with your family? 2. What is your favourite animated film of all time? 3. Do you prefer watching Minions or Toy Story? Why? 4. What delicious snacks do you eat when watching a film? 5. Would you like to be a famous movie star in Hollywood? 6. Why do you think animated films are so popular with children? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: character, cinema, famous, success Many families visited the _______(1) during the long holiday weekend. They wanted to watch fun new films on the big screen. The most popular film was Minions and Monsters. In this funny story, the small yellow Minions travel to Hollywood. They want to become _______(2) movie stars. The film made over thirty-six million dollars in just three days. It was a huge _______(3) around the world. Another famous film was Toy Story 5. It came in second place at the box office. Millions of children enjoyed watching these exciting _______(4) on screen. Cinema owners were very happy because so many people bought tickets, popcorn, and soft drinks. Going to the cinema is a brilliant way to spend time with friends. Section 2: Main Idea Which sentence best describes the main idea of the story? a) Minions and Monsters was the most popular cinema film during the holiday weekend. b) Toy Story 5 was the only film that children watched this summer. c) People prefer staying at home instead of going to the cinema. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Minions and Monsters was the most popular film at the cinema. T/F 2. The Minions travel to London to open a school. T/F 3. Toy Story 5 came in second place at the box office. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in the order they happened in the article (1-3): [ ] Toy Story 5 took second place at the box office. [ ] Families went to the cinema to watch new holiday films. [ ] Minions and Monsters made over thirty-six million dollars. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Cinema 2. Film 3. Famous 4. Character a) A person or animal in a story. b) Known by many people everywhere. c) A building where you watch movies. d) A moving picture that tells a story. USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder Complete the sentences with the correct word. 1. I love going to the _______ to see new cartoons. a) cinema b) kitchen c) library 2. My favourite film was a huge _______ because it was so funny. a) success b) mistake c) problem Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Put the words in order to make complete sentences. 1. A: the B: visited C: families D: many E: cinema 2. A: film B: a C: was D: huge E: success SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Section: Warm Up Correct Answer: a) The Minions go to Hollywood to become stars. Section 1: Fill in the Gaps (1) cinema (2) famous (3) success (4) character Section 2: Main Idea Correct Answer: a) Minions and Monsters was the most popular cinema film during the holiday weekend. Section 3: True or False True False True Section 4: Put Events in Order 3 1 2 Section 5: Vocab Match c d b a Section 6: Discussion Builder a) cinema a) success Section 7: Sentence Unscramble D-A-E-B-C (Many families visited the cinema) B-A-C-D-E (A film was a huge success) Section 8: Discussion Questions Student's own answers. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error

Join our Kids small group Speaking Classes to bring these and other topics to life Book a Free Trial < KIDS NEWS Animals & Environment Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 22 Aug 2026 Image credit: Getty Images Why Flying Insects Circle Lights at Night Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Insects fly in circles near lamps. b) Insects eat glowing street lights. c) Insects sleep inside bright bulbs. Ask: (1) Do you ever see insects flying near lights at night? (2) Why do you think moths fly around lamps? VOCABULARY Insect /ɪn.sekt/ (Noun) Bright /braɪt/ (Adjective) Secret /ˈsiː.krət/ (Noun) Balanced /ˈbæl.ənst/ (Adjective) Lamp /læmp/ (Noun) Discovery /dɪˈskʌv.ər.i/ (Noun) A small creature with six legs. Example: A small insect landed on the green leaf. Having a lot of light. Example: The bright light shines in the garden. Information that is hidden or unknown. Example: They found a secret about how moths fly. Keeping steady so you do not fall. Example: The bird stays balanced on the tree branch. An artificial light object. Example: He turned on the street lamp outside. Learning something new for the first time. Example: The scientists made an exciting discovery. Many people see moths and other flying insects around bright street lights at night. For a long time, people believed that insects liked bright lights very much. Now, clever scientists have discovered an exciting new secret about how insects fly in the dark. Insects do not fly towards lights because they want to touch them. Instead, insects get confused by artificial lights from lamps and buildings. In nature, the open sky is always the brightest thing at night. Insects fly with their backs turned towards the sky to stay balanced in the air. When a flying insect gets near a lamp, it turns its back towards the light source. This makes the insect fly around and around in endless circles. It cannot fly straight anymore and sometimes crashes into the hard ground below. Scientists used special fast cameras to watch insects flying near lamps. They hope this big discovery will help people build safer street lights. Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever seen moths around a porch light or street light? 2. What other flying insects do you know? 3. Why is it important for scientists to study animals and insects? 4. How do you feel when you see an insect in your home? 5. What can people do to help protect insects at night? BACK TO TOP Unlock All Lessons ($3.99/mo) 🚀 Want more exercises and a worksheet pdf? This content is for premium subscribers and tuition parents only! Subscribe for $3.99/mo to unlock. FILL IN THE GAPS FILL THE GAPS Section 1: Fill in the Gaps Word Bank: balanced / confused / discovery / secret Many people see moths and other flying insects around bright street lights at night. For a long time, people believed that insects liked bright lights very much. Now, clever scientists have discovered an exciting new _______(1) about how insects fly in the dark. Insects do not fly towards lights because they want to touch them. Instead, insects get _______(2) by artificial lights from lamps and buildings. In nature, the open sky is always the brightest thing at night. Insects fly with their backs turned towards the sky to stay _______(3) in the air. When a flying insect gets near a lamp, it turns its back towards the light source. This makes the insect fly around and around in endless circles. It cannot fly straight anymore and sometimes crashes into the hard ground below. Scientists used special fast cameras to watch insects flying near lamps. They hope this big _______(4) will help people build safer street lights. Section 2: Main Idea Choose the main idea of the story: a) Insects fly in circles near lamps because the light confuses their flying balance. b) Scientists want to catch all the moths near street lights. c) Moths prefer to fly during the day instead of at night. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. People used to think that insects liked bright lights. T/F 2. Insects turn their backs towards the brightest light to balance. T/F 3. The new study used fast cameras to look at fish. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Number the events from 1 to 3: [ ] An insect flies near a bright street lamp at night. [ ] The insect turns its back to the lamp and flies in circles. [ ] Scientists study the insect using special fast cameras. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Insect 2. Bright 3. Balanced 4. Lamp 5. Secret a) Giving out a lot of light b) A small animal with six legs c) Something hidden or unknown d) A light made by humans e) Steady and not falling over USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: 1. When moths see street lights, they get _______ and lose their direction. a) confused b) happy c) sleepy 2. The sky is the brightest _______ for flying insects at night. a) food b) source c) plant Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the sentence parts to make a correct sentence: 1. A: fly in circles B: near bright lamps C: Night insects D: at night E: when they get confused 2. A: Insects turn B: towards the sky C: their backs D: to stay steady E: while flying SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a) Insects fly in circles near lamps. Section 1: Fill in the Gaps secret confused balanced discovery Section 2: Main Idea a) Insects fly in circles near lamps because the light confuses their flying balance. Section 3: True or False True True False Section 4: Put Events in Order [1] An insect flies near a bright street lamp at night. [2] The insect turns its back to the lamp and flies in circles. [3] Scientists study the insect using special fast cameras. Section 5: Vocab Match 1 - b 2 - a 3 - e 4 - d 5 - c Section 6: Discussion Builder a) confused b) source Section 7: Sentence Unscramble C - A - B - D - E (Night insects fly in circles near bright lamps at night when they get confused.) A - C - B - D - E (Insects turn their backs towards the sky to stay steady while flying.) Section 8: Discussion Questions Student's own answers. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error