In the African savannah lived an antelope named Amber. Amber had shiny golden fur and could run extremely fast. She was also very playful and often got into funny situations.

One day, Amber saw a group of animals by a big tree. Curious, she ran over to see what was happening. Tilly the tortoise said they were planning a race and needed a special runner to join. Amber excitedly said, “I want to race!” and everyone cheered.

On the day of the race, many animals gathered to watch. Competitors included a wise elephant, a quick rabbit, and slow-but-steady Tilly. Amber was very confident she would win. When the race started, Amber zoomed off, but Ziggy the zebra blocked her path, making her trip and fall. Amber laughed, got up, and started running again.

As the race went on, Amber saw the elephant and rabbit were also fast. Amber decided to outsmart them by running towards a waterfall and jumping across. She splashed water everywhere, surprising the other racers!

Eventually, all the animals crossed the finish line laughing together. Amber didn’t win, but she had lots of fun with her friends. They all agreed it was more important to enjoy the race and support each other. Amber became known for bringing everyone together and having the best adventures.

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What kind of animal is Amber?

2. What did Tilly the tortoise tell Amber about?

3. How did Amber feel when she wanted to join the race?

4. Who were some of the other animals racing with Amber?

5. What did Amber do to surprise the other racers during the race?

6. What did all the animals agree was more important than winning the race?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the African savannah (1)______ an antelope named (2)______. Amber had shiny golden fur and could run extremely fast. She was also very playful and often got into funny situations.

One day, Amber saw a (3)______ of animals by a big tree. Curious, she ran over to see what was happening. Tilly the tortoise said they were planning a race and needed a special runner to join. Amber excitedly said, “I want to race!” and everyone (4)______.

On the day of the race, many animals gathered to (5)______. Competitors included a wise elephant, a quick rabbit, and slow-but-steady (6)______. Amber was very confident she would win. When the race started, Amber zoomed off, but Ziggy the zebra (7)______ her (8)______, making her trip and fall. Amber laughed, got up, and started running again.

As the race went on, Amber saw the elephant and rabbit were also fast. Amber decided to outsmart them by running towards a (9)______fall and jumping across. She splashed water everywhere, surprising the other racers!

Eventually, all the animals crossed the finish (10)______ laughing together. Amber didn’t win, but she had (11)______ of fun with her friends. They all agreed it was more important to enjoy the race and support each other. Amber (12)______ known for bringing everyone together and having the best adventures.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite animal and why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if you fell during a race?
3. Do you like to run or play sports? Why or why not?
4. What is a fun game you like to play with your friends?
5. Do you think it is important to help your friends? Why?
6. How would you feel if you didn’t win a race but had fun?
7. What is a special place you like to visit with your friends?
8. Do you think animals can be friends? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. savannah
2. antelope
3. extremely
4. playful
5. competitors
6. confident
7. zoomed
8. blocked
9. tripped
10. outsmart
11. waterfall
12. adventures

Meanings:
(A) Stopped someone or something from moving forward
(B) Feeling sure about yourself
(C) People or animals who are trying to win a race or contest
(D) Fell over something
(E) To be cleverer than someone else
(F) Very, very much
(G) A place where water falls from a high place to a lower place
(H) Exciting and fun experiences
(I) A type of animal that looks like a deer and lives in the wild
(J) Moved very quickly
(K) Liking to have fun and play
(L) A large, grassy plain with few trees, often found in Africa
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the antelope in the story?
(a) Bella
(b) Amber
(c) Daisy
(d) Lucy

2. What color is Amber’s fur?
(a) Brown
(b) White
(c) Black
(d) Golden

3. Who suggested that they needed a special runner for the race?
(a) Ziggy the zebra
(b) The wise elephant
(c) The quick rabbit
(d) Tilly the tortoise

4. What animal blocked Amber’s path during the race?
(a) Ziggy the zebra
(b) Tilly the tortoise
(c) The wise elephant
(d) The quick rabbit

5. What did Amber do to try to outsmart the other racers?
(a) Hid behind a tree
(b) Jumped across a waterfall
(c) Ran in the opposite direction
(d) Took a shortcut through the bushes

6. How did the other animals react when they crossed the finish line?
(a) They were upset
(b) They argued about who won
(c) They laughed together
(d) They went home immediately

7. What was the main lesson that Amber and her friends learned from the race?
(a) It’s more important to enjoy the race and support each other
(b) Winning is everything
(c) Tortoises are the best runners
(d) Zebras are too fast to catch

8. What did Amber become known for after the race?
(a) Being the fastest runner
(b) Always winning races
(c) Bringing everyone together and having the best adventures
(d) Jumping over waterfalls

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Instead of getting upset, Amber cried and stopped running.
2. A group of animals, excluding Tilly the tortoise, were planning a race.
3. Amber dislikes playing and rarely finds herself in funny situations.
4. Amber is an antelope who lives in the African savannah.
5. Although Amber didn’t win the race, she had a great time with her friends.
6. She has dull golden fur and is very slow.
7. Amber wanted to join the race and everyone cheered for her.
8. During the race, Amber tripped when Ziggy the zebra blocked her path.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What kind of animal is Amber?
Amber is an antelope.

2. What did Tilly the tortoise tell Amber about?
Tilly told Amber they were planning a race and needed a special runner.

3. How did Amber feel when she wanted to join the race?
Amber felt excited when she wanted to join the race.

4. Who were some of the other animals racing with Amber?
Some other animals racing with Amber were a wise elephant, a quick rabbit, and Tilly the tortoise.

5. What did Amber do to surprise the other racers during the race?
Amber jumped across a waterfall and splashed water everywhere to surprise the other racers.

6. What did all the animals agree was more important than winning the race?
All the animals agreed that having fun and supporting each other was more important than winning the race.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lived
(2) Amber
(3) group
(4) cheered
(5) watch
(6) Tilly
(7) blocked
(8) path
(9) water
(10) line
(11) lots
(12) became
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. savannah
Answer: (L) A large, grassy plain with few trees, often found in Africa

2. antelope
Answer: (I) A type of animal that looks like a deer and lives in the wild

3. extremely
Answer: (F) Very, very much

4. playful
Answer: (K) Liking to have fun and play

5. competitors
Answer: (C) People or animals who are trying to win a race or contest

6. confident
Answer: (B) Feeling sure about yourself

7. zoomed
Answer: (J) Moved very quickly

8. blocked
Answer: (A) Stopped someone or something from moving forward

9. tripped
Answer: (D) Fell over something

10. outsmart
Answer: (E) To be cleverer than someone else

11. waterfall
Answer: (G) A place where water falls from a high place to a lower place

12. adventures
Answer: (H) Exciting and fun experiences
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the antelope in the story?
Answer: (b) Amber

2. What color is Amber’s fur?
Answer: (d) Golden

3. Who suggested that they needed a special runner for the race?
Answer: (d) Tilly the tortoise

4. What animal blocked Amber’s path during the race?
Answer: (a) Ziggy the zebra

5. What did Amber do to try to outsmart the other racers?
Answer: (b) Jumped across a waterfall

6. How did the other animals react when they crossed the finish line?
Answer: (c) They laughed together

7. What was the main lesson that Amber and her friends learned from the race?
Answer: (a) It’s more important to enjoy the race and support each other

8. What did Amber become known for after the race?
Answer: (c) Bringing everyone together and having the best adventures
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Instead of getting upset, Amber cried and stopped running. (Answer: False)
2. A group of animals, excluding Tilly the tortoise, were planning a race. (Answer: False)
3. Amber dislikes playing and rarely finds herself in funny situations. (Answer: False)
4. Amber is an antelope who lives in the African savannah. (Answer: True)
5. Although Amber didn’t win the race, she had a great time with her friends. (Answer: True)
6. She has dull golden fur and is very slow. (Answer: False)
7. Amber wanted to join the race and everyone cheered for her. (Answer: True)
8. During the race, Amber tripped when Ziggy the zebra blocked her path. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧