Be Able to Worksheet

Big Cats

Level: B1

The largest and the heaviest cats people are able to meet in the wild are tigers. Tigers are able to swim at a great speed because they have got webbed toes: with webbed toes tigers are able to push a big amount of water with one paw movement.

The second largest cats after tigers are lions. Lion cubs are able to make sounds from the time they are born but they are not able to roar until one year of age. Lions are able to roar nearly as loud as thunder. When lions roar they are able to communicate and claim territory. Lions are not able to hunt successfully on their own because their prey is usually faster. They are able to hunt on a big prey as a team. Lions are not able to live on their own. They live in prides. A pride of lions is able to exhaust their prey on a hunt.

Another species of big cats are the cheetahs. Cheetahs are not able to roar, instead they purr just like domesticated cats. Cheetahs are not able to retract their claws. Instead they are able to speed up sufficiently as they run. Moreover, they are able to change directions quickly because their tails are able to move very fast. Cheetahs have got one other special feature. There are black dots under their eyes. They are able to see well even in bright sunlight with the help of these dots.

Lynxes. All lynxes are able to hear well because the tufts on their ears act as a hearing aid. With their wide paws lynxes are able to move through deep snow. Lynxes are able to live at very low temperatures. Lynxes’ fur is able to change its colour: it is light brown during summer and grey in winter.

(For teachers) Comprehension questions:

When you read stress out the words in italics. Ask your students for a translation.

1. What are the largest wild cats people are able to meet?
2. Why are tigers able to swim fast?
3. What are tigers able to do with one paw movement?
4. When are lion cubs able to make sounds?
5. When are lion cubs able to roar?
6. How loud are lions able to roar?
7. Why tigers are not able to hunt successfully?
8. How are they able to hunt a big prey?
9. Are tigers able to live on their own?
10. What is a pride of lions able to do?
11. What are cheetahs able to do instead of roaring?
12. What are cheetahs able to do with their claws?
13. Why are cheetahs able to speed up sufficiently as they run?
14. Why are cheetahs able to change their directions quickly when they run?
15. Why are cheetahs able to see well even in bright sunlight?
16. Why are lynxes able to hear well?
17. Why are lynxes able to walk through a deep snow?
18. In what temperatures are lynxes able to live?
19. What is lynxes’ fur able to do?

Divide students into two groups. Let one team make up similar questions for the other team. Team earns a point if a student is able to answer correctly.

(For students) Critical analysis questions and ideas:

1. In 5 minutes write what can you do in your free time. Read to a class. You must change can to am able to.
2. In a group compare tigers, lions, cheetahs and lynxes. Who is able to do the most amazing thing?
3. Choose your favourite wild cat from the text. Read about it again. Make a plan. Tell about it.
4. Prepare a ‘Wild dogs’ project. Find information about:
   • Where are they able to live
   • Are they able to live on their own or in a group
   • How are they able to hunt
   • What are they able to do