A baby Sumatran rhino was born in a special place in Indonesia. The baby rhino is small and does not have a name yet. Sumatran rhinos are very rare and there are not many of them left in the whole world. They live on two islands called Sumatra and Borneo. People are very happy when a baby rhino is born because it helps to keep the rhinos from disappearing.

A group that helps animals, called WWF, says that these rhinos used to live in many places. But now, they can only be found on the two islands in Indonesia. The new baby rhino gives people hope that these animals can keep living. It is very important to look after the places where the rhinos live. Every time a baby rhino is born, it is a big deal because it helps the rhinos not to go away forever.

Original news source: Rare Sumatran rhino born in Indonesia (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper with an animal name written on it (e.g. rhino). One student from each group will act out the animal without speaking, while the other students try to guess the animal.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a piece of paper and a pen. One student will draw a picture of a rhino, while the other student tries to guess what it is. Then, switch roles and repeat with different animals.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to create a headline for the news article about the baby rhino. Encourage them to be creative and use vocabulary related to the topic.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about why it is important to protect endangered animals like the Sumatran rhino. Then, have them pair up and share their thoughts with a partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine what the world would be like if the Sumatran rhino went extinct. Have them write or discuss their predictions in pairs or small groups. Encourage them to use vocabulary and grammar structures they have learned.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where was the baby rhino born?
2. What is special about the baby rhino?
3. Are there a lot of Sumatran rhinos in the world?
4. Where do Sumatran rhinos live?
5. Why are people happy when a baby rhino is born?
6. Who helps animals and says that the rhinos used to live in many places?
7. Why is it important to take care of the places where the rhinos live?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A baby (1)______ rhino was born in a special place in Indonesia. The baby rhino is small and does not have a name yet. Sumatran rhinos are very rare and there are not many of them (2)______ in the (3)______ world. They live on two islands (4)______ Sumatra and Borneo. People are very happy when a baby rhino is born because it helps to keep the rhinos from disappearing.

A group that helps animals, called WWF, says that these rhinos used to (5)______ in many places. But now, they can only be found on the two islands in Indonesia. The new baby rhino gives (6)______ hope that these animals can keep living. It is very important to look after the places where the rhinos live. Every (7)______ a baby rhino is born, it is a big deal because it (8)______ the rhinos not to go away forever.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a Sumatran rhino?
2. How would you feel if you saw a baby rhino?
3. Do you like animals? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the most important thing about taking care of animals?
5. Have you ever seen a rhino before? Where?
6. How do you think the baby rhino’s birth helps the other rhinos?
7. Do you think it’s good that there are organizations like WWF that help animals? Why or why not?
8. What other animals do you know that are endangered?
9. How do you think we can help protect the places where the rhinos live?
10. Do you think it’s important to learn about animals? Why or why not?
11. What other animals do you like? Why?
12. If you could name the baby rhino, what name would you choose? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. baby
2. rhino
3. small
4. name
5. rare
6. islands
7. disappearing
8. hope

Meanings:
(a) Going away and never coming back
(b) Feeling good about the future, thinking good things will happen
(c) A young animal that is not grown up yet
(d) Pieces of land surrounded by water
(e) What you call something or someone
(f) Not big, but little
(g) A big animal with a horn on its nose
(h) Not common, very hard to find
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where was the baby Sumatran rhino born?
(a) Indonesia
(b) Africa
(c) Australia
(d) Europe

2. Why are people happy when a baby rhino is born?
(a) It makes the rhinos go away forever
(b) It makes the rhinos angry
(c) It helps to keep the rhinos from disappearing
(d) It makes the rhinos sad

3. Where do Sumatran rhinos live?
(a) Africa and Europe
(b) Australia and Asia
(c) North and South America
(d) Sumatra and Borneo

4. What does WWF stand for?
(a) World Wrestling Federation
(b) A group that helps animals
(c) World Wildlife Fund
(d) World Wide Friends

5. Why is it important to look after the places where the rhinos live?
(a) So the rhinos can go away forever
(b) So the rhinos can keep living
(c) So the rhinos can become angry
(d) So the rhinos can become sad

6. How many islands do Sumatran rhinos live on?
(a) Two
(b) One
(c) Three
(d) Four

7. What is the name of the group that helps animals?
(a) WWE
(b) WFF
(c) WAA
(d) WWF

8. What does the new baby rhino give people?
(a) Sadness
(b) Anger
(c) Hope
(d) Happiness

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. There are many Sumatran rhinos left in the world.
2. A baby rhino was born in Indonesia.
3. The baby rhino is small and doesn’t have a name yet.
4. The WWF is a group that harms animals.
5. People are unhappy when a baby rhino is born because it harms the protection of the rhinos.
6. The new baby rhino gives no hope that the rhinos can keep living.
7. Sumatran rhinos live on two islands called Sumatra and Borneo.
8. It is important to take care of the places where the rhinos live.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Where was the baby rhino born?
2. Are there a lot of Sumatran rhinos in the world?
3. What is the name of the group that helps animals?
4. Why are people happy when a baby rhino is born?
5. Why is it important to take care of the places where the rhinos live?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where was the baby rhino born?
The baby rhino was born in Indonesia.

2. What is special about the baby rhino?
The baby rhino is small and doesn’t have a name yet.

3. Are there a lot of Sumatran rhinos in the world?
No, there are not many Sumatran rhinos left in the world.

4. Where do Sumatran rhinos live?
Sumatran rhinos live on two islands called Sumatra and Borneo.

5. Why are people happy when a baby rhino is born?
People are happy because it helps to keep the rhinos from disappearing.

6. Who helps animals and says that the rhinos used to live in many places?
WWF, a group that helps animals, says that the rhinos used to live in many places.

7. Why is it important to take care of the places where the rhinos live?
It is important to take care of the places where the rhinos live because it helps the rhinos not to go away forever.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sumatran
(2) left
(3) whole
(4) called
(5) live
(6) people
(7) time
(8) helps
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. baby
Answer: (c) A young animal that is not grown up yet

2. rhino
Answer: (g) A big animal with a horn on its nose

3. small
Answer: (f) Not big, but little

4. name
Answer: (e) What you call something or someone

5. rare
Answer: (h) Not common, very hard to find

6. islands
Answer: (d) Pieces of land surrounded by water

7. disappearing
Answer: (a) Going away and never coming back

8. hope
Answer: (b) Feeling good about the future, thinking good things will happen
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where was the baby Sumatran rhino born?
Answer: (a) Indonesia

2. Why are people happy when a baby rhino is born?
Answer: (c) It helps to keep the rhinos from disappearing

3. Where do Sumatran rhinos live?
Answer: (d) Sumatra and Borneo

4. What does WWF stand for?
Answer: (b) A group that helps animals

5. Why is it important to look after the places where the rhinos live?
Answer: (b) So the rhinos can keep living

6. How many islands do Sumatran rhinos live on?
Answer: (a) Two

7. What is the name of the group that helps animals?
Answer: (d) WWF

8. What does the new baby rhino give people?
Answer: (c) Hope
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True or False Answers:

1. There are many Sumatran rhinos left in the world. (Answer: False)
2. A baby rhino was born in Indonesia. (Answer: True)
3. The baby rhino is small and doesn’t have a name yet. (Answer: True)
4. The WWF is a group that harms animals. (Answer: False)
5. People are unhappy when a baby rhino is born because it harms the protection of the rhinos. (Answer: False)
6. The new baby rhino gives no hope that the rhinos can keep living. (Answer: False)
7. Sumatran rhinos live on two islands called Sumatra and Borneo. (Answer: True)
8. It is important to take care of the places where the rhinos live. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧