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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 Science & Technology Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 3 Sept 2026 Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) contains chemicals called flavonoids that can help relieve anxiety. Cavan Images/Amanda Star Capps/Getty Images Plus Teens Invent Chewing Gum to Help Reduce Anxiety Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Two young students create a new gum with plant extract. b) A new computer helps children do their homework fast. c) A company makes chocolate to help people sleep well. Ask: (1) How do you feel when you must speak in front of your class? (2) Do you like to chew gum when you study or relax? VOCABULARY anxiety (/æŋˈzaɪ.ə.ti/ , noun) Meaning: A feeling of worry or nervousness about something. Example: She felt some anxiety before her big school music test. invent (/ɪnˈvent/ , verb) Meaning: To design or make something new for the first time. Example: The clever kids want to invent a fun new board game. calm (/kɑːm/ , adjective) Meaning: Peaceful, quiet, and not worried or excited. Example: Listening to soft songs helps me stay calm at night. plant (/plɑːnt/ , noun) Meaning: A living thing that grows in earth and has leaves and roots. Example: Water this green plant every day so it grows strong. test (/test/ , verb) Meaning: To examine something carefully to see if it works. Example: The young scientists test their new toys in the room. helpful (/ˈhelp.fəl/ , adjective) Meaning: Giving aid or making something easier and better. Example: Good friends are always helpful when you have a problem. Many teenagers feel nervousness or anxiety before big school tests. Two clever teenagers named Zackary and Sara want to help these students. They invent a special new chewing gum. The gum uses juice from a purple plant. This natural plant extract helps people feel calm. Zackary and Sara mix the plant juice with sweet sugar and gum base. Then, they cut the long gum into neat little pieces. Next, the two students test their gum in a quiet room. They chop the gum into small bits to show how teeth chew it. They check that the helpful plant chemicals stay safe inside the sweet gum. Zackary and Sara hope their product helps many people feel relaxed. Chewing this nice gum can help a student feel calm before a big presentation at school. It is a very clever idea! Listen 00:00 / 00:47 Share Lesson Zackary Nizker (left) and Sara Hoti (right), both 16, developed a medicinal chewing gum. It aims to help people struggling with anxiety. K.G. Carpenter DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) What do you do to feel calm when you are nervous? (2) Would you like to try this new passionflower chewing gum? (3) Why do many students feel anxious before school tests? (4) What is your favourite flavour of chewing gum? (5) Do you think chewing gum should be allowed in school classrooms? 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: anxiety | calm | invent | test Many teenagers feel nervousness or _______(1) before big school tests. Two clever teenagers named Zackary and Sara want to help these students. They _______(2) a special new chewing gum. The gum uses juice from a purple plant. This natural plant extract helps people feel _______(3). Zackary and Sara mix the plant juice with sweet sugar and gum base. Then, they cut the long gum into neat little pieces. Next, the two students _______(4) their gum in a quiet room. They chop the gum into small bits to show how teeth chew it. They check that the helpful plant chemicals stay safe inside the sweet gum. Zackary and Sara hope their product helps many people feel relaxed. Chewing this nice gum can help a student feel calm before a big presentation at school. It is a very clever idea! Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this article? a) Two teenagers created a chewing gum with plant extract to help people feel calm. b) Chewing gum is bad for your teeth, so students should stop buying it. c) Purple plants are very hard to find during the cold winter months. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) Zackary and Sara created a new type of fruit juice. T/F (2) The new chewing gum uses chemicals from a purple plant. T/F (3) The students chopped the gum to show how teeth chew it. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) The students cut the gum into small pieces to test it carefully. ( ) Zackary and Sara mixed plant juice with sugar and gum base. ( ) The teenagers wanted to help students who feel nervous before tests. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) anxiety (2) invent (3) calm (4) test (5) helpful a) Peaceful, quiet, and not worried b) Giving aid or making things better c) A feeling of worry or nervousness d) To check something carefully e) To make something new for the first time USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) When I have a big exam, I feel _______ and need to take a deep breath. a) anxious b) green c) noisy (2) Drinking warm tea helps me stay _______ before I go to sleep. a) tall b) calm c) fast Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) Unscramble the sentence: A) created / B) Zackary and Sara / C) chewing gum / D) a new / E) plant-based (2) Unscramble the sentence: A) helps / B) feel / C) this gum / D) students / E) relaxed SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a) Two young students create a new gum with plant extract. Section 1 Answers: (1) anxiety (2) invent (3) calm (4) test Section 2 Answer: a Section 3 Answers: (1) False (2) True (3) True Section 4 Answers: 3, 2, 1 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 - E - C (Zackary and Sara created a new plant-based chewing gum) (2) C - A - D - B - E (This gum helps students feel relaxed) Section 8 Answers: Answers will vary based on student opinion. 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 15 Jun 2026 Can Music Keep Our Animal Friends Calm? Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Animals playing musical instruments b) Dogs and cats feeling relaxed with music c) Fish dancing to rock songs Ask: (1) Do you listen to music when you feel tired? (2) What is your favourite animal? VOCABULARY 1. Music (n) 2. Animal (n) 3. Calm (adj) 4. Happy (adj) 5. Listen (v) 6. Shelter (n) 1. Sounds that people or animals make to create a beautiful tune. 2. A living thing that is not a human or a plant. Line 3. Peaceful, quiet, and not worried or excited. 4. Feeling glad, joyful, or pleased about something. 5. To pay attention to a sound that you can hear. 6. A safe place where animals without a home are cared for. Do animals like music? Scientists want to know the answer. They play different tunes to pets and zoo animals. Many dogs and cats feel very relaxed when they hear soft classical music. Their hearts beat slower, and they stop barking or crying. In animal shelters, soft music helps lonely dogs feel safe and sleep better. But animals do not like loud or fast music. Rock music can make them jump and run around. Some scientists even make special music just for cats. This music has sounds like a cat purring. It makes them very happy. So, next time your dog is scared of a big storm, try playing some slow, beautiful piano music. It can help your favourite pet feel calm and happy inside the house. Music is a wonderful gift for animals and humans to share together every day. Listen 00:00 / 01:04 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why do you think soft music helps dogs sleep? 2. Do you play music for your pets at home? 3. What music makes you feel happy? 4. Do you think zoo animals like quiet or noisy spaces? 5. How do cats show they are happy? 6. Should all animal shelters play music for dogs? 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 the Gaps Word Bank: happy, music, relaxed, shelters Do animals like _______(1)? Scientists want to know the answer. They play different tunes to pets and zoo animals. Many dogs and cats feel very _______(2) when they hear soft classical music. Their hearts beat slower, and they stop barking or crying. In animal _______(3), soft music helps lonely dogs feel safe and sleep better. But animals do not like loud or fast music. Rock music can make them jump and run around. Some scientists even make special music just for cats. This music has sounds like a cat purring. It makes them very _______(4). So, next time your dog is scared of a big storm, try playing some slow, beautiful piano music. It can help your favourite pet feel calm and happy inside the house. Music is a wonderful gift for animals and humans to share together every day. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of the story? a) Rock music is good for young cats. b) Safe animal shelters have many wild animals. c) Soft classical music can help animals feel calm. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Many dogs and cats feel relaxed when they hear soft classical music. T/F 2. Animals love to listen to loud rock music. T/F 3. Scientists make special music that sounds like a cat purring. T/F Section 4: Put the events in order (1-3) _______ Scientists play special music that has sounds like a cat purring. _______ Animals jump and run around because they hear loud rock music. _______ Dogs and cats stop barking when they listen to soft classical music. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Music 2. Calm 3. Happy 4. Shelter a) Feeling glad or joyful b) A safe place for homeless animals c) Peaceful, quiet, and not worried d) Sounds that make a beautiful tune USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. I think playing soft music for lonely dogs is _______ because it helps them sleep. a) terrible b) great c) noisy d) boring 2. My favourite pet always feels _______ when there is a loud storm outside. a) scared b) glad c) calm d) happy Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the sentence parts to form a sentence: 1. A) like B) soft C) music D) dogs E) classical 2. A) makes B) happy C) music D) cats E) special SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Option: b Section 1 Answers: 1) music 2) relaxed 3) shelters 4) happy Section 2 Answers: c Section 3 Answers: 1) T 2) F 3) T Section 4 Answers: 3, 2, 1 Section 5 Answers: 1) d 2) c 3) a 4) b Section 6 Answers: 1) b 2) a Section 7 Answers: 1) D, A, B, E, C 2) E, C, A, D, B Section 8 Answers: Student answers will vary. 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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 30 Aug 2026 Wikimedia Hermit Crabs Use Plastic Trash as New Shells Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Hermit crabs wear plastic bottle caps on their backs. b) Hermit crabs build houses out of sea sand. c) Hermit crabs eat glass bottles on the beach. Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a hermit crab on a sandy beach? (2) Why do small animals need hard homes to protect their bodies? VOCABULARY crab (/kræb/ , noun) Meaning: A small sea animal with ten legs and two claws. Example: A little red crab walks on the sand. shell (/ʃel/ , noun) Meaning: A hard cover that protects a sea animal. Example: The hermit crab hides inside its hard shell. plastic (/ˈplæs.tɪk/ , noun) Meaning: A light material used to make bottles and toys. Example: We do not throw plastic into the ocean. beach (/biːtʃ/ , noun) Meaning: An area of sand next to the sea. Example: Children play and run on the beach. cap (/kæp/ , noun) Meaning: A small round cover for a bottle. Example: The red bottle cap is on the sand. clean (/kliːn/ , verb) Meaning: To remove dirt or rubbish from a place. Example: We clean the beach to help small animals. Hermit crabs live on warm beaches near the blue sea. These small crabs do not grow hard shells. They need empty sea shells to protect their soft bodies. The crabs walk on the sand and look for new homes. Today, many beaches have plastic rubbish. Scientists see hermit crabs with colourful plastic bottle caps on their backs. The crabs choose these plastic caps because real sea shells are hard to find. The caps are light and cover their bodies well. However, plastic is not always safe for tiny sea animals. Some crabs get trapped inside deep bottles and cannot get out. Children can help the crabs today. We must pick up plastic rubbish and keep our beaches clean. Now, people around the world are working together. Children pick up rubbish on the sand every weekend. The ocean becomes safer for hermit crabs and fish. Beautiful sea shells stay on the beach for small crabs to find. Listen 00:00 / 00:56 Share Lesson Flickr DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever seen a hermit crab on a beach? 2. Why do hermit crabs need hard shells? 3. What colours of bottle caps do you see in recycling bins? 4. How can we keep beaches clean for sea animals? 5. Why is it important to pick up rubbish? 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: cap, crab, plastic, shell Hermit crabs live on warm beaches near the blue sea. These small crabs do not grow hard shells. They need empty sea _______(1)s to protect their soft bodies. The crabs walk on the sand and look for new homes. Today, many beaches have _______(2) rubbish. Scientists see hermit crabs with colourful plastic bottle caps on their backs. The crabs choose these plastic caps because real sea shells are hard to find. The _______(3)s are light and cover their bodies well. However, plastic is not always safe for tiny sea animals. Some crabs get trapped inside deep bottles and cannot get out. Children can help the _______(4)s today. We must pick up plastic rubbish and keep our beaches clean. Now, people around the world are working together. Children pick up rubbish on the sand every weekend. The ocean becomes safer for hermit crabs and fish. Beautiful sea shells stay on the beach for small crabs to find. Section 2: Main Idea Choose the main idea of the story: a) Hermit crabs use plastic bottle caps as homes because real shells are hard to find on beaches. b) Hermit crabs like to eat colourful plastic bottles on the beach. c) Scientists build big plastic houses for crabs in the sea. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Hermit crabs grow their own hard shells. T/F 2. Many hermit crabs wear plastic bottle caps on their backs. T/F 3. Plastic bottles are always safe for small sea animals. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the events in order (1-3): ( ) Scientists see crabs wearing plastic bottle caps on beaches. ( ) People work together to clean plastic rubbish from the sand. ( ) Hermit crabs search for empty shells to protect their soft bodies. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. crab 2. shell 3. plastic 4. beach 5. cap a. A small round cover for a bottle. b. A light material used to make bottles and toys. c. A sea animal with ten legs and two claws. d. An area of sand next to the ocean. e. A hard outer cover that protects an animal. USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. Hermit crabs walk along the beach to _______ new homes. a) search for b) fly over c) paint blue 2. We should clean the sand so sea animals stay _______. a) safe and happy b) cold and angry c) noisy and tall Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. [A] Hermit crabs [B] live on [C] warm beaches [D] near the [E] blue sea. 2. [A] Children pick up [B] plastic rubbish [C] to keep [D] the ocean [E] clean. SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY A1 Level Answer Key Warm Up: a Section 1: (1) shell, (2) plastic, (3) cap, (4) crab Section 2: a Section 3: 1. False, 2. True, 3. False Section 4: Order: 2, 3, 1 Section 5: 1-c, 2-e, 3-b, 4-d, 5-a Section 6: 1-a, 2-a Section 7: 1. Hermit crabs live on warm beaches near the blue sea. 2. Children pick up plastic rubbish to keep the ocean clean. Section 8: Open-ended student answers. 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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 Art & Culture Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 3 Jul 2026 The Secrets Inside Van Goghs Starry Night Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A giant space monster b) A bright planet called Venus c) A modern driving car Ask: (1) Do you like looking at the stars at night? (2) What is your favourite colour to paint with? VOCABULARY Famous (adjective) Colour (noun) Crescent (noun) Swirl (noun) Remember (verb) Flame (noun) Known by many people. Example: He is a famous artist. Red, blue, green, or yellow. Example: The sky has a bright blue colour. A curved shape like the new moon. Example: The moon looks like a yellow crescent. A twisting or spinning shape. Example: There are many blue swirls in the sky. To think of something from the past. Example: I remember my old school. A hot, bright stream of burning gas from a fire. Example: The tree looks like a dark flame. Vincent van Gogh was a famous artist. He painted a beautiful picture called The Starry Night. He painted it in France long ago. The painting has many bright colours. It shows a night sky with eleven bright stars. The moon is big and yellow, like a crescent. There is a very bright star near a tree. This star is actually the planet Venus. Van Gogh loved to use thick paint. You can see the lines and swirls in the sky. The sky looks like it is moving. Below the sky, there is a small town with a church. Van Gogh did not see this town from his window. He remembered it from his old home. There is also a dark cypress tree. It looks like a green flame going up to the stars. People love this beautiful painting today. Listen 00:00 / 00:49 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you like the painting The Starry Night? 2. What colours do you see when you look at the night sky? 3. Why do you think Van Gogh used thick paint? 4. If you painted a picture of your bedroom window, what would we see? 5. Do you like drawing pictures from your memory? 6. Why do people still love beautiful art today? 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: colours, crescent, swirls, remembered Vincent van Gogh was a famous artist. He painted a beautiful picture called The Starry Night. He painted it in France long ago. The painting has many bright _______(1). It shows a night sky with eleven bright stars. The moon is big and yellow, like a _______(2). There is a very bright star near a tree. This star is actually the planet Venus. Van Gogh loved to use thick paint. You can see the lines and _______(3) in the sky. The sky looks like it is moving. Below the sky, there is a small town with a church. Van Gogh did not see this town from his window. He _______(4) it from his old home. There is also a dark cypress tree. It looks like a green flame going up to the stars. People love this beautiful painting today. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) A story about how to fly to the planet Venus. b) An article about a famous painting called The Starry Night and its details. c) A lesson on how to build a small church in France. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night in the United Kingdom. T/F 2. The big yellow moon in the painting is shaped like a crescent. T/F 3. The village in the painting was exactly what Van Gogh saw from his window. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these details in order as they appear in the text from first to last: a) The text talks about a dark cypress tree that looks like a green flame. b) The text introduces Vincent van Gogh and his painting The Starry Night. c) The text explains that the bright star is actually the planet Venus. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Famous 2. Crescent 3. Swirl 4. Flame a) A twisting or spinning shape b) A hot, bright stream of burning gas from a fire c) Known by many people d) A curved shape like the new moon USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. Van Gogh used many bright _______ to show the beautiful night sky. a) cats b) colours c) cars 2. I can always _______ my favourite art lesson from last year. a) remember b) run c) cry Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the sentences by ordering parts A-E: 1. A) a famous B) Vincent van Gogh C) artist D) was E) long ago 2. A) looking at B) I love C) stars D) the bright E) at night SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: b Section 1: colours crescent swirls remembered Section 2 Answer: b Section 3: False True False Section 4: Answers: b, c, a Section 5: c d a b Section 6: b a Section 7: B, D, A, C, E (Vincent van Gogh was a famous artist long ago.) B, A, D, C, E (I love looking at the bright stars at night.) Section 8: 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 27 Jun 2026 Emperor Penguins Need Cold Ice to Live Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Penguins learning to fly b) Baby penguins needing ice to grow c) Penguins swimming to Africa Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a penguin in a book or a movie? (2) Why do you think penguins like cold weather? VOCABULARY Ice Noun Chick Noun Melt Verb Freeze Verb Safe Adjective Sea Noun Frozen water. We love to skate on the ice during winter. A baby bird. The small penguin chick stayed close to its mother. To change from ice to water. The hot sun will melt the snow quickly. To become very cold or turn into ice. Water will freeze when it is very cold. Not in danger. The birds are safe from big animals on the high ice. A large area of salty water. Fish live deep inside the blue sea. Emperor penguins live in Antarctica. It is a very cold place with lots of ice. These beautiful birds need the sea ice to live and grow. Emperor penguins lay eggs on the ice. When a baby chick is born, it stays on the ice. The chick needs time to grow strong feathers. But the world is getting warmer. The hot air makes the sea ice melt too early. This is very dangerous for the little chicks. If the ice breaks, the chicks can fall into the cold water. They do not have waterproof feathers yet, so they cannot swim well. Scientists are worried about the penguins. They say the penguins are endangered because of the warming oceans. We need to protect our planet to keep the ice frozen and save the emperor penguins. Listen 00:00 / 00:48 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Would you like to visit Antarctica to see real penguins? Why or why not? 2. Why do baby penguins need to stay on the solid ice? 3. How does warm weather change the home of the emperor penguins? 4. What can people do to help keep our planet cool? 5. Why do you think scientists are worried about the warming oceans? 6. What other animals do you know that live in cold, icy places? 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: ice, chick, melt, sea Emperor penguins live in Antarctica. It is a very cold place with lots of _______(1). These beautiful birds need the _______(2) ice to live and grow. Emperor penguins lay eggs on the ice. When a baby _______(3) is born, it stays on the ice. The chick needs time to grow strong feathers. But the world is getting warmer. The hot air makes the sea ice _______(4) too early. This is very dangerous for the little chicks. If the ice breaks, the chicks can fall into the cold water. They do not have waterproof feathers yet, so they cannot swim well. Scientists are worried about the penguins. They say the penguins are endangered because of the warming oceans. We need to protect our planet to keep the ice frozen and save the emperor penguins. Section 2: Main Idea Choose the best summary of the article. a) Emperor penguins are moving to warm countries to find more fish. b) Emperor penguins need sea ice to raise chicks, but the ice is melting. c) Emperor penguins like to swim in deep oceans during the summer. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False Emperor penguins lay eggs on green grass. T/F Warm air causes the sea ice to melt too early. T/F Baby penguin chicks can swim perfectly as soon as they are born. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in the correct order from 1 to 3. a) The sea ice melts too early because of the warm air. b) Emperor penguins lay eggs and look after their chicks on the safe sea ice. c) Young chicks fall into the cold water before they have waterproof feathers. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Ice 2. Chick 3. Melt 4. Freeze a) To turn into water because of heat b) A very young baby bird c) To become solid and cold like an ice block d) Frozen water that forms in cold places USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder I think it is important to save the penguins because they are _______ animals.a) beautifulb) boringc) funny If the ice melts completely, the penguins will have no place to _______.a) sleepb) livec) fly Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the words to make a sentence. 1. A) live B) in C) penguins D) Antarctica E) Emperor 2. A) ice B) warm C) air D ) melts E) The SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up: Answer: b Section 1: (1) ice, (2) sea, (3) chick, (4) melt Section 2: Answer: b Section 3: 1. False, 2. True, 3. False Section 4: 1. b, 2. a, 3. c Section 5: 1-d, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c Section 6: 1. a, 2. b Section 7: 1. E-C-A-B-D (Emperor penguins live in Antarctica.), 2. E-B-C-D-A (The warm air melts ice.) 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 18 Jul 2026 (Credit: Chris Meyer) The Secret Sky: The World's Largest Mammal Migration Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Flying mammals b) Big elephants c) Fast fish Ask: (1) Do you like bats? (2) Where do wild animals find foo VOCABULARY Bat (noun) /bæt/ Fruit (noun) /fruːt/ Forest (noun) /ˈfɒr.ɪst/ Sky (noun) /skaɪ/ Large (adjective) /lɑːdʒ/ Travel (verb) /ˈtræv.əl/ A small animal that flies and hunts at night. Example: I saw a black bat flying above the trees last night. The sweet part of a plant that you can eat. Example: My favourite fruit is a red apple. A large area of land covered with many trees. Example: The birds live happily in the green forest. The space above the earth where clouds and the sun are. Example: The blue sky looks beautiful today. Big in size or amount. Example: An elephant is a very large animal. To go from one place to another place. Example: We travel to school by bus every morning. Do you know the largest mammal migration on Earth? It is not the wildebeest. It is a small animal that flies. Every year, millions of bats fly across Africa. They are called straw-coloured fruit bats. In October, they travel from the Congo rainforest. They fly towards a small forest in Zambia. This place is called Kasanka National Park. More than eight million bats arrive here. They come to eat delicious wild fruit. The fruit grows after the first rains. At night, the bats fly into the sky to find food. They look like a giant cloud. This dark cloud covers the trees. It is a wonderful sight. Very few travellers see this amazing event because the park is small and quiet. The bats help the forest grow by dropping seeds. They stay for only a few months before they leave again. Listen 00:00 / 00:57 Share Lesson Straw-coloured fruit bats consume their body weight in fruit each night (Credit: Wim Werrelman) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever seen a real bat? 2. What is your favourite fruit to eat? 3. Why do you think animals travel long distances? 4. Would you like to visit a forest at night? 5. What other animals can fly besides bats and birds? 6. Why is rain important for plants and trees? 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: bats, fruit, sky, travel Do you know the largest mammal migration on Earth? It is not the wildebeest. It is a small animal that flies. Every year, millions of _______(1) fly across Africa. They are called straw-coloured fruit bats. In October, they _______(2) from the Congo rainforest. They fly towards a small forest in Zambia. This place is called Kasanka National Park. More than eight million bats arrive here. They come to eat delicious wild _______(3). The fruit grows after the first rains. At night, the bats fly into the _______(4) to find food. They look like a giant cloud. This dark cloud covers the trees. It is a wonderful sight. Very few travellers see this amazing event because the park is small and quiet. The bats help the forest grow by dropping seeds. They stay for only a few months before they leave again. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) Many bats fly to a forest in Zambia to eat fruit. b) Rain falls in the Congo rainforest every October. c) Travellers like to visit big parks in Africa. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. The straw-coloured fruit bats come from the Congo rainforest. T/F 2. The bats arrive in Zambia during the month of January. T/F 3. Many travellers visit the park to see the bats because it is very loud. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order a) The bats fly into the sky at night to find food. b) The bats travel from the Congo rainforest in October. c) The bats drop seeds and help the forest grow. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Bat 2. Fruit 3. Forest 4. Sky a) A large area of land covered with many trees. b) The sweet part of a plant that you can eat. c) A small animal that flies and hunts at night. d) The space above the earth where clouds are. USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. I think bats are very _______(1) because they can fly. a) interesting b) boring 2. Animals travel to find _______(2) when it rains. a) cars b) food Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. A) bats B) million C) arrive D) eight E) here 2. A) fly B) into C) bats D) the E) sky SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Section: Warm Up Think Ahead: a Section 1: Fill in the Gaps ( 1) bats (2) travel (3) fruit (4) sky Section 2: Main Idea Answer: a Section 3: True or False True False False Section 4: Put Events in Order Correct sequence: 2, 1, 3 Section 5: Vocab Match 1 - c 2 - b 3 - a 4 - d Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) a (2) b Section 7: Sentence Unscramble D, B, A, C, E (Eight million bats arrive here) C, A, B, D, E (Bats fly into the sky) 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 Science & Technology Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 27 Aug 2026 Hackers deployed an autonomous AI system to carry out cyberattacks on Taiwan, in what experts believe is the first known fully autonomous attack on government agencies. Thana Prasongsin/Moment RF/Getty Images Taiwan Government Systems Targeted by Autonomous AI Cyberattack Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Hackers used artificial intelligence agents to attack computer systems in Taiwan. b) Robots physically entered government buildings to take paper documents. c) Computer systems in schools were updated with exciting video games. Ask: (1) Have you ever used artificial intelligence to help you complete a task? (2) Why is it important for computer systems to be secure and safe? VOCABULARY agent (/ˈeɪ.dʒənt/ , noun) Meaning: A computer program that acts independently to complete tasks. Example: The smart software agent helped organize the computer files quickly. attack (/əˈtæk/ , noun) Meaning: An attempt to hurt, damage, or break into something. Example: The website stopped working after a cyber attack. cybersecurity (/ˈsaɪ.bə.sɪˈkjʊə.rə.ti/ , noun) Meaning: Ways to keep computers and data safe from online threats. Example: Good cybersecurity helps protect our private photos and passwords. detect (/dɪˈtekt/ , verb) Meaning: To notice or discover something that is hidden. Example: The safety alarm can detect smoke in the kitchen. government (/ˈɡʌv.ən.mənt/ , noun) Meaning: The group of people who officially rule a country. Example: The national government built a brand new public library. network (/ˈnet.wɜːk/ , noun) Meaning: A group of connected computers that share information. Example: All computers in the school are on the same network. protect (/prəˈtekt/ , verb) Meaning: To keep someone or something safe from harm. Example: You must protect your personal accounts with strong passwords. In July 2026, computer experts discovered unusual activity in Taiwan. Overseas hackers tried to break into official computers. The hackers used artificial intelligence to help them. This was a special kind of cyberattack. They used small computer programs called AI agents. These smart agents worked together very fast to search for secret files. Safety teams in Taiwan detected the problem quickly. They saw that the agents tried to enter government networks and energy company computers. The agents checked many different paths to find open doors. Experts said this technology made the attack fast and cheap to run. Taiwan acted to protect its computer systems. They closed the safety gaps and added stronger monitoring. Experts said governments around the world must learn from this event. Today, cybersecurity teams are working hard to stop AI attacks before they start. Listen 00:00 / 00:56 Share Lesson The logo of OpenClaw, an open-source AI assistant, is seen on the software's website in this photo illustration taken March 12, 2026. Florence Lo/Reuters DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Why is it important to keep government computer networks safe? (2) How can artificial intelligence help people in their everyday lives? (3) What should you do if your computer password stops working? (4) How can people create strong passwords for their accounts? (5) Do you think artificial intelligence will make computers safer or more dangerous? 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: agents, cybersecurity, detect, government In July 2026, computer experts discovered unusual activity in Taiwan. Overseas hackers tried to break into official computers. The hackers used artificial intelligence to help them. They used small computer programs called AI _______(1). Safety teams in Taiwan were able to _______(2) the unusual activity. They saw that the attackers tried to enter _______(3) networks. Taiwan acted quickly to improve its safety. Today, _______(4) teams are working hard to keep all systems secure. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of the article? a) Taiwan built new artificial intelligence robots for public schools. b) Overseas hackers used smart AI agents to attack computer networks in Taiwan. c) Computer experts recommend that everyone changes their mobile phone numbers. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) The cyberattack took place in July 2026. T/F (2) Hackers used physical robots to enter offices in Taiwan. T/F (3) Taiwan improved its computer security after detecting the threat. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in order from 1 to 3: ( ) Safety teams in Taiwan detected unusual computer activity. ( ) Hackers used AI agents to target official computer networks. ( ) Taiwan closed safety gaps to protect its computer systems. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) agent (2) attack (3) network (4) detect (5) protect a) to keep someone or something safe b) an attempt to cause damage or break into something c) to notice or discover something hidden d) a smart computer program that acts independently e) a group of connected computers USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) The expert tried to _______ the secret computer code. a) detect b) run (2) We must _______ our personal information online. a) protect b) open Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) A: AI agents / B: used / C: Hackers / D: networks / E: to target (2) A: systems / B: Taiwan / C: computer / D: protected / E: its SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a Section 1: (1) agents (2) detect (3) government (4) cybersecurity Section 2: b Section 3: (1) T (2) F (3) T Section 4: 2, 1, 3 Section 5: (1) d, (2) b, (3) e, (4) c, (5) a Section 6: (1) a, (2) a Section 7: (1) C-B-A-E-D (Hackers used AI agents to target networks.), (2) B-D-E-C-A (Taiwan protected its computer systems.) 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 30 Aug 2026 Memories fill our brains. But despite the popular fictional trope of a photographic memory, we can’t retain them all. Some slip away over time or blur at the edges, and that’s a good thing. Studio Desk Is a Photographic Memory Real or Not? Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A brain that works like a video camera b) A test where students try to draw a coin c) A robot that remembers everything Ask: (1) Can you remember what you ate for breakfast yesterday? (2) Do you think human brains can take real photographs? VOCABULARY camera (/ˈkæm.ər.ə/ , noun) Meaning: A tool used to take photos or record videos. Example: She pointed her camera at the sleeping cat. brain (/breɪn/ , noun) Meaning: The part inside your head that thinks and feels. Example: Your brain helps you solve tricky puzzles. picture (/ˈpɪk.tʃər/ , noun) Meaning: An image or drawing of a person or thing. Example: He drew a colourful picture of a sunny day. draw (/drɔː/ , verb) Meaning: To make a picture using a pen or pencil. Example: Can you draw a circle on the paper? forget (/fəˈɡet/ , verb) Meaning: To not remember something. Example: Do not forget your coat when you go outside. secret (/ˈsiː.krət/ , noun) Meaning: Something special that is not known by everyone. Example: They shared a fun secret in the playground. Many popular stories show super smart people with special minds. These amazing people look at a page or picture once. They remember every single detail forever. People call this a photographic memory. They think the human brain works just like a video camera. However, modern scientists study how our minds really work. They say this camera memory is not real at all. Our human brain does not take instant photographs. In one clever test, teachers ask students to draw a simple coin. Children see coins every day, but no student can draw the coin correctly from memory. Our brain is doing something very different and clever. It stores main facts and ideas, not perfect pictures. It cleans away tiny useless details every single night. We forget small things to make fresh space for new learning. Forgetting is actually a wonderful secret of the human mind. It keeps our brains happy, healthy, and strong. Listen 00:00 / 00:59 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (1) Do you think having a photographic memory would be fun? (2) Why is it helpful to forget small details? (3) What is something important that your brain remembers well? (4) How do you feel when you forget your homework or lunchbox? (5) What can you do to help your brain remember new words? 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: camera, draw, pictures, secret Many popular stories show super smart people with special minds. These amazing people look at a page or picture once. They remember every single detail forever. People call this a photographic memory. They think the human brain works just like a video _______(1). However, modern scientists study how our minds really work. They say this camera memory is not real at all. Our human brain does not take instant photographs. In one clever test, teachers ask students to _______(2) a simple coin. Children see coins every day, but no student can draw the coin correctly from memory. Our brain is doing something very different and clever. It stores main facts and ideas, not perfect _______(3). It cleans away tiny useless details every single night. We forget small things to make fresh space for new learning. Forgetting is actually a wonderful _______(4) of the human mind. It keeps our brains happy, healthy, and strong. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this story? a) Human brains store every picture like a camera. b) Photographic memory is not real, and forgetting helps our brains. c) Students do not like using coins in school tests. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False (1) Photographic memory works just like a real camera in your head. T/F (2) Students in the test could draw a coin perfectly from memory. T/F (3) Forgetting small details helps make room for new learning. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these events in order (1, 2, 3): ( ) Teachers ask students to draw a simple coin from memory. ( ) People read stories about characters with special camera memories. ( ) Scientists explain that forgetting cleans away small details at night. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match (1) camera (2) brain (3) draw (4) forget (5) secret a) the part inside your head that thinks b) to make a picture with a pencil c) a tool that takes photos d) something special that is not known by all e) to not remember something USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder (1) The human _______ helps us think and learn new things every day. a) camera b) brain (2) I try not to _______ my school bag when I leave home. a) forget b) draw Section 7: Sentence Unscramble (1) Unscramble the words: A) brain B) camera C) like D) works E) Your (2) Unscramble the words: A) helps B) us C) learn D) Forgetting E) new facts SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: b) A test where students try to draw a coin Section 1 Answers: (1) camera (2) draw (3) pictures (4) secret Section 2 Answer: b) Photographic memory is not real, and forgetting helps our brains. Section 3 Answers: (1) False (2) False (3) True Section 4 Answers: ( 2 ) Teachers ask students to draw a simple coin from memory. ( 1 ) People read stories about characters with special camera memories. ( 3 ) Scientists explain that forgetting cleans away small details at night. Section 5 Answers: (1) c (2) a (3) b (4) e (5) d Section 6 Answers: (1) b (2) a Section 7 Answers: (1) Your brain works like camera. (E-A-D-C-B) (2) Forgetting helps us learn new facts. (D-A-B-C-E) Section 8 Answers: Student individual 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 Science & Technology Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 4 Aug 2026 A chimpanzee lies in a sleeping nest in a tree canopy in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park. dpa/picture alliance/Alamy Stock Photo Why Humans Are the Sleepless Apes of the Animal Kingdom Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Humans sleep more than monkeys. b) Early humans slept on the ground. c) Chimpanzees do not sleep at night. Ask: (1) How many hours do you sleep every night? (2) Do you like sleeping in a big bed? VOCABULARY Human /hjumən/ noun Sleep /slip/ verb Animal /ænɪməl/ noun Night /naɪt/ noun Deep /dip/ adjective Protect /prətekt/ verb Definition: A person, not an animal or plant. Example: A human needs food and water every day. Definition: To rest your body and mind with your eyes closed. Example: I sleep for eight hours every night. Definition: A living creature that is not a human or plant. Example: A dog is a friendly animal. Definition: The time when it is dark and people go to bed. Example: Stars shine bright in the night. Definition: Going far down or strong. Example: He fell into a deep sleep after playing sports. Definition: To keep someone or something safe from danger. Example: Parents protect their children from harm. Did you know that humans sleep less than most animals? A chimpanzee sleeps for twelve hours every night. A monkey can sleep for ten hours. However, a human only sleeps for about seven hours. Scientists say that humans are the sleepless apes. Long ago, early humans slept on the hard ground. They did not sleep high up in safe trees like other primates. Because of dangerous animals, they had to stay alert and protect their family group. Fire also changed how humans lived. When early humans made fire, they could sit together at night. They talked, cooked food, and learnt new things in the dark. Even though humans sleep less, our sleep is very special. We have more deep sleep than other animals. This deep sleep helps our brain stay healthy and strong. So, you do not need to sleep all day like a lazy cat to feel great!Sleep_ Listen 00:00 / 00:59 Share Lesson Author David Samson has climbed trees to study chimpanzee nests in his quest to understand how human sleep evolved. Bill McGrew DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How many hours of sleep do you get every night? 2. What time do you go to bed during the school week? 3. Why do you think early humans needed fire at night? 4. Do you like sleeping in total darkness or with a small light? 5. What happens when you do not get enough sleep? 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: animals, deep, night, protect Did you know that humans sleep less than most _______(1)? A chimpanzee sleeps for twelve hours every night. A monkey can sleep for ten hours. However, a human only sleeps for about seven hours. Scientists say that humans are the sleepless apes. Long ago, early humans slept on the hard ground. They did not sleep high up in safe trees like other primates. Because of dangerous animals, they had to stay alert and _______(2) their family group. Fire also changed how humans lived. When early humans made fire, they could sit together at _______(3). They talked, cooked food, and learnt new things in the dark. Even though humans sleep less, our sleep is very special. We have more _______(4) sleep than other animals. This deep sleep helps our brain stay healthy and strong. So, you do not need to sleep all day like a lazy cat to feel great! Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of the article? a) Monkeys sleep on top of tall trees. b) Humans sleep fewer hours than animals, but our sleep is deep and special. c) Fire helps animals sleep better at night. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Chimpanzees sleep for twelve hours every night. T/F 2. Early humans slept high up in safe trees. T/F 3. Deep sleep helps the human brain stay healthy. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following events in order from 1 to 3: - A) Early humans made fire and talked together at night. B) Early humans started sleeping on the ground instead of in trees. C) Deep sleep helps modern humans keep their brains strong. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Human 2. Sleep 3. Animal 4. Night 5. Protect a) A person, not an animal b) The dark time when people rest c) To keep someone safe from danger d) A living creature like a dog or lion e) To rest your eyes and mind at night USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. I usually go to _______ at nine o'clock. a) sleep b) tree c) fire 2. Parents always _______ their children from danger. a) sleep b) protect c) talk Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Unscramble the words to make correct sentences: 1. A) sleeps / B) chimpanzee / C) twelve / D) hours / E) A 2. A) Humans / B) sleep / C) less / D) animals / E) than SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: b Section 1: Fill in the Gaps animals protect night deep Section 2: Main Idea Answer: b Section 3: True or False True False True Section 4: Put Events in Order Early humans started sleeping on the ground instead of in trees. Early humans made fire and talked together at night. Deep sleep helps modern humans keep their brains strong. Section 5: Vocab Match 1-a, 2-e, 3-d, 4-b, 5-c Section 6: Discussion Builder a b Section 7: Sentence Unscramble E - B - A - C - D (A chimpanzee sleeps twelve hours) A - B - C - E - D (Humans sleep less than animals) Section 8: Discussion Questions (Student responses 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 Art & Culture Next Select a Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 NEW 4 Jul 2026 A Journey Through The Flavours of Canada Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A recipe for a giant space cake b) A story about chips with cheese and warm gravy c) A list of the best places to catch fish Ask: (1) What is your absolute favourite food to eat when it is cold? (2) Have you ever tried sweet syrup on pancakes? VOCABULARY Chips Noun Sweet Adjective Soup Noun Cheese Noun Gravy Noun Snack Noun Thin pieces of fried potato. I love eating hot chips with my lunch. Tasting like sugar. This maple syrup is very sweet. A hot liquid food made with vegetables or meat. My mum makes warm soup in winter. A yellow or white food made from milk. He puts cheese on his food. A warm brown sauce for food. She pours warm gravy over her chips. A small amount of food eaten between meals. A biscuit is a nice sweet snack. Canada is a very large country. It has many delicious types of food. People love to eat different meals here. One very famous food is called poutine. This dish has hot crispy chips. Workers put soft white cheese on the chips. Then they pour warm brown gravy over the top. It is a favourite snack for children and adults. Canada is also famous for its sweet maple syrup. People get this sweet syrup from maple trees. They put it on pancakes. There is also a great winter food called split pea soup. This soup has yellow peas and small pieces of meat. It keeps people warm when it is very cold outside. Visitors can try many special flavours when they travel across Canada. Every city has a new snack to choose from. Listen 00:00 / 01:00 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you prefer sweet foods or savoury foods? 2. What is a famous food that comes from your country? 3. Would you like to try poutine with cheese and gravy? 4. Why do you think warm soup is good to eat in winter? 5. What do you usually eat for breakfast in the morning? 6. If you could visit Canada, which food would you try first? 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: chips, cheese, gravy, soup Canada is a very large country. It has many delicious types of food. People love to eat different meals here. One very famous food is called poutine. This dish has hot crispy _______(1). Workers put soft white _______(2) on the chips. Then they pour warm brown _______(3) over the top. It is a favourite snack for children and adults. Canada is also famous for its sweet maple syrup. People get this sweet syrup from maple trees. They put it on pancakes. There is also a great winter food called split pea _______(4). This soup has yellow peas and small pieces of meat. It keeps people warm when it is very cold outside. Visitors can try many special flavours when they travel across Canada. Every city has a new snack to choose from. Section 2: Main Idea Choose the best answer. What is the main idea of this article? a) Canada only has one type of food for children. b) Canada has many special foods, including poutine and sweet syrup. c) Canada is too cold for people to eat food outside. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Poutine is made with hot chips and cold ice cream. T/F 2. Maple syrup comes from special trees in Canada. T/F 3. Split pea soup is a popular food for hot summer days. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put these sentences in the correct order from 1 to 3. a) The cook pours warm brown gravy over the food. b) The cook prepares hot crispy chips on a plate. c) The cook adds soft white cheese to the chips. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Chips 2. Sweet 3. Cheese 4. Gravy a) A yellow or white food made from milk b) Thin pieces of fried potato c) A warm brown sauce for food d) Tasting like sugar USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder Choose the correct word to complete the sentence. 1. I want to buy a small sweet _______ to eat after school. a) soup b) snack c) gravy 2. My grandmother makes delicious yellow _______ when it snows. a) soup b) chips c) cheese Section 7: Sentence Unscramble Put the words in the correct order. 1. A) syrup B) is C) maple D) very E) sweet 2. A) love B) children C) hot D) chips E) eating SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Section: Warm Up Answer: b Section 1: Fill in the Gaps chips cheese gravy soup Section 2: Main Idea Answer: b Section 3: True or False False True False Section 4: Put Events in Order Correct order: b, c, a Section 5: Vocab Match b d a c Section 6: Discussion Builder b a Section 7: Sentence Unscramble C, A, B, D, E (Maple syrup is very sweet) B, A, E, C, D (Children love eating hot chips) 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 12 Jun 2026 Scientists Discover Glowing Purple Creature Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) A bird that flies high b) A slug that glows in the deep sea c) A fish that can walk on land Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a creature that glows in the dark? (2) What do you think lives at the very bottom of the ocean? VOCABULARY Ocean (n) Deep (adj) Glow (v) Scientist (n) Discover (v) Rare (adj) The large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth. Going a long way down from the surface. To produce a steady, soft light. A person who studies science to learn about the world. To find something for the first time. Not found or seen very often. Scientists found a new creature in the deep ocean. The ocean is very dark and cold. This creature is a rare sea animal. It looks like a soft, purple slug. It can glow in the dark. This means it makes its own bright light. A scientist used a special robot with a camera to see it. The robot travelled deep down into the water. The scientists watched the animal swim. They say the light helps the animal find food. It also helps the animal hide from big fish. This discovery is very exciting. It shows us that many secrets are still hidden in the deep sea. We can learn a lot from this small, colourful animal. Listen 00:00 / 00:33 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Would you like to travel in an underwater robot? 2. Why do you think the ocean is so dark at the bottom? 3. What other animals can make their own light? 4. What colour would you like a new sea creature to be? 5. Why do scientists use cameras to study animals? 6. Is it important to learn about the deep sea? 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 Gap Word Bank: ocean, rare, glow, scientist Scientists found a new creature in the deep _______(1). The ocean is very dark and cold. This creature is a _______(2) sea animal. It looks like a soft, purple slug. It can _______(3) in the dark. This means it makes its own bright light. A _______(4) used a special robot with a camera to see it. The robot travelled deep down into the water. The scientists watched the animal swim. They say the light helps the animal find food. It also helps the animal hide from big fish. This discovery is very exciting. It shows us that many secrets are still hidden in the deep sea. We can learn a lot from this small, colourful animal. Section 2 Main Idea What is the main idea of this article? a) Scientists like to build robots for fun. b) A new glowing purple creature was discovered in the deep ocean. c) Big fish love to eat purple slugs in the dark. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. The deep ocean is warm and bright. T/F 2. The new sea creature can make its own light. T/F 3. Scientists used a robot with a camera to see the animal. T/F Section 4: Put the events in order from 1 to 3 a) The robot travelled deep down into the dark water. b) Scientists watched the purple creature swim and glow. c) Researchers built a special robot with a camera. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Ocean 2. Glow 3. Scientist 4. Rare a) Not seen very often b) A person who studies the world c) To make a soft light d) The large salt water on Earth USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. I think the deep ocean is very _______ because it has glowing animals. a) boring b) exciting 2. If I were a scientist, I would want to _______ new things in the sea. a) discover b) forget Section Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. A) found B) a C) new D) creature E) scientists 2. A) can B) glow C) it D) dark E) in the SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up: b Section 1: (1) ocean, (2) rare, (3) glow, (4) scientist Section 2: b Section 3: 1. F, 2. T, 3. T Section 4: 1. c 2. a 3. b Section 5: 1-d 2-c 3-b 4-a Section 6: 1-b, 2-a Section 7: 1. E-A-B-C-D (Scientists found a new creature), 2. C-A-B-E-D (It can glow in the dark) Section 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 30 Jul 2026 Imagine talking to — and understanding — other animals. Advances in decoding animal sounds might someday make that a possibility. ROBERT NEUBECKER Cats and Dogs Could One Day ‘Speak’ in Our Language Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It WARM UP Warm Up Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story? a) Scientists using technology to understand animal sounds. b) Dogs learning to write words in English. c) Whales living in a zoo in London. Ask: (1) What sounds does your pet or favourite animal make? (2) Would you like to know what animals are saying? VOCABULARY communicate (verb) technology (noun) pattern (noun) translate (verb) excited (adjective) complicated (adjective) To share information or feelings with others. Example: Dogs communicate by barking and wagging their tails. Modern machines and equipment made using science. Example: Scientists use new technology to study animal sounds. A set of sounds or shapes that repeat. Example: The computer found a pattern in the whale calls. To change words from one language to another. Example: An app might translate cat meows into English. Feeling very happy and full of energy. Example: The dog is excited to go to the park. Difficult to understand or explain. Example: Animal communication is very complicated. Many people have pets at home like dogs and cats. We love our pets, but we do not always know what they want. When a dog barks or a cat meows, they are trying to communicate with us. Today, scientists are using special technology to learn more about animal sounds. Artificial intelligence, or AI, can listen to thousands of animal noises. The computer program finds patterns in the sounds. For example, scientists used AI to study how whales make sounds in the sea. The AI showed that whale calls have different meanings. Other researchers are studying birds and farm animals. In the future, we might have smart phone apps that translate pet sounds into human words. Imagine a collar that tells you when your dog is hungry or excited! However, scientists say that animal communication is still complicated. Dogs and cats do not use words with grammar like humans do. Even so, technology is helping humans understand our animal friends much better than before. Listen 00:00 / 00:57 Share Lesson DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What animal would you like to talk to first? 2. What do you think your pet says when it is hungry? 3. Do you think dogs or cats are easier to understand? 4. How would a pet translator help pet owners? 5. Why is animal communication interesting to scientists? 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: communicate, pattern, technology, translate Many people have pets at home like dogs and cats. We love our pets, but we do not always know what they want. When a dog barks or a cat meows, they are trying to _______(1) with us. Today, scientists are using special _______(2) to learn more about animal sounds. Artificial intelligence, or AI, can listen to thousands of animal noises. The computer program finds _______(3) in the sounds. For example, scientists used AI to study how whales make sounds in the sea. The AI showed that whale calls have different meanings. Other researchers are studying birds and farm animals. In the future, we might have smart phone apps that _______(4) pet sounds into human words. Imagine a collar that tells you when your dog is hungry or excited! However, scientists say that animal communication is still complicated. Dogs and cats do not use words with grammar like humans do. Even so, technology is helping humans understand our animal friends much better than before. Section 2: Main Idea What is the main idea of this article? a) Technology is helping scientists understand how animals communicate. b) Dogs and cats are learning to speak human languages. c) Whales are the only animals that make sounds in the sea. UNDERSTANDING Section 3: True or False 1. Scientists are using artificial intelligence to listen to animal sounds. T/F 2. Whale calls all have the exact same meaning. T/F 3. Dogs and cats use complex grammar just like humans. T/F Section 4: Put Events in Order Put the following statements in the correct order from 1 to 3: a) Scientists use AI to find patterns in animal noises. b) People wonder what their pets are trying to say. c) Smart phone apps may translate pet sounds in the future. LANGUAGE Section 5: Vocab Match 1. Communicate 2. Technology 3. Pattern 4. Translate 5. Complicated a) Modern machines made using science b) To share information with others c) Something that is difficult to understand d) A set of sounds that repeat e) To change from one language to another USE IT Section 6: Discussion Builder 1. If I had a pet translator app, I would use it to _______ . a) talk to my cat b) sleep all day c) build a house 2. Technology helps scientists _______ animal calls. a) paint b) understand c) forget Section 7: Sentence Unscramble 1. A) scientists B) animal C) study D) sounds E) modern 2. A) app B) translate C) pet D) can E) sounds SHOW ANSWERS BACK TO TOP ANSWER KEY Warm Up Answer: a Section 1: Fill in the Gaps communicate technology pattern translate Section 2: Main Idea a Section 3: True or False True False False Section 4: Put Events in Order b a c Section 5: Vocab Match 1 - b 2 - a 3 - d 4 - e 5 - c Section 6: Discussion Builder a b Section 7: Sentence Unscramble A - C - E - B - D (Scientists study modern animal sounds.) C - A - D - B - E (Pet app can translate sounds.) Section 8: Discussion Questions Answers will vary. Student discussion. BACK TO TOP Suggest Feature Report an Error Close Thank you for your feedback! SUBMIT Report an error