Scientists found out why ginger cats, especially boys, have their special color. They learned that a piece of DNA is missing in these cats, which makes their fur orange. This discovery makes cat lovers and scientists very happy. People who love cats even helped pay for this research. They hope to learn more about how this affects the cats’ health too.

Most ginger cats are boys because of where the gene is on the X chromosome. Boys have one X and one Y chromosome, so they only need one gene to be ginger. Girls have two X chromosomes, so they need both to be missing the gene to be fully ginger. This is why girl cats often have mixed colors like calico. The study helps us understand why cats look the way they do.

Original news source: Decades-long mystery of ginger cats revealed (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns acting out different types of cats (e.g., ginger cat, calico cat, etc.) without speaking. The other groups guess which type of cat they are acting out. This helps with vocabulary related to animals and encourages movement and expression.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., ginger, DNA, gene, chromosome) on flashcards. One student draws a card and then draws a picture of the word on the board while their classmates guess the word. This activity enhances vocabulary learning through visual representation.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Have students work in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article. They can use simple phrases and keywords from the text. After they create their headlines, they share them with the class. This encourages creativity and summarization skills.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question to the class about why they think people love cats. Students think about their answer individually, then pair up to share their thoughts, and finally share with the entire class. This promotes speaking practice and critical thinking.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they prefer ginger cats or other types of cats. They can raise their hands to vote. Afterward, have a short discussion about why they chose their preferences. This helps with expressing opinions and understanding different viewpoints.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What color is the fur of ginger cats?
2. Who helped pay for the research about ginger cats?
3. Why are most ginger cats boys?
4. How many X chromosomes do girl cats have?
5. What do girl cats often look like if they are not fully ginger?
6. What did scientists learn about ginger cats?
7. Why are cat lovers and scientists happy about this discovery?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Scientists found out why ginger cats, e(1)______ly boys, have their special color. They learned that a (2)______ of DNA is missing in these cats, which makes their fur orange. This discovery makes cat (3)______ and scientists very (4)______. People who love cats even helped pay for this research. They hope to learn more about how this affects the cats’ health too.

Most ginger (5)______ are boys because of where the gene is on the X chromosome. (6)______ have one X and one Y chromosome, so they only need one gene to be ginger. Girls have two X chromosomes, so they need both to be missing the gene to be fully ginger. This is why girl cats often have mixed (7)______ like calico. The study helps us understand why cats (8)______ the way they do.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite color of cat?
2. Do you like ginger cats? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you had a ginger cat?
4. Do you think all cats are special? Why?
5. What is a calico cat?
6. How do you feel when you see a cat?
7. Do you think it is fun to learn about animals? Why?
8. What is your favorite animal?
9. How would you feel if you could have any pet?
10. Do you like to play with cats? Why or why not?
11. What is a pet you would like to have?
12. How do you think cats feel when they are happy?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. scientists
2. ginger
3. DNA
4. missing
5. discovery
6. research
7. chromosome
8. gene
9. calico
10. understand

Meanings:
(A) Tiny parts inside you that tell your body how to be
(B) To know what something means
(C) Not there when it should be
(D) People who study and learn about things
(E) A color like orange
(F) Looking closely to learn more
(G) A part of your body that holds your DNA
(H) A tiny part inside you that decides things like color
(I) A cat with many colors on its fur
(J) Finding out something new
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What color are ginger cats?
(a) Blue
(b) Orange
(c) Green
(d) Black

2. What do scientists say is missing in ginger cats?
(a) A tail
(b) A leg
(c) A piece of DNA
(d) A whisker

3. Who helped pay for the cat research?
(a) Cat lovers
(b) Dog lovers
(c) Bird lovers
(d) Fish lovers

4. Why are most ginger cats boys?
(a) Because of their tails
(b) Because of their X chromosome
(c) Because of their ears
(d) Because of their eyes

5. How many X chromosomes do girl cats have?
(a) One
(b) Three
(c) Two
(d) Four

6. What do girl cats often look like?
(a) Mixed colors
(b) Only orange
(c) Only black
(d) Only white

7. What does the study help us understand?
(a) Why dogs bark
(b) Why birds fly
(c) Why fish swim
(d) Why cats look the way they do

8. What makes cat lovers happy?
(a) The color of dogs
(b) The size of fish
(c) The sound of birds
(d) The discovery about ginger cats

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Boys need two special genes to be ginger.
2. The study helps us understand how dogs look.
3. A piece of DNA is found in ginger cats.
4. Ginger cats are mostly boys.
5. Most girl cats have mixed colors like calico.
6. Cat lovers helped pay for the research.
7. Scientists learned why ginger cats are orange.
8. The added DNA makes their fur orange.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Why do ginger cats have orange fur?
2. What makes most ginger cats boys?
3. How do people feel about the scientists’ discovery?
4. What do people hope to learn about ginger cats?
5. Why do girl cats have different colors?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What color is the fur of ginger cats?
Ginger cats have orange fur.

2. Who helped pay for the research about ginger cats?
Cat lovers helped pay for the research.

3. Why are most ginger cats boys?
Most ginger cats are boys because they only need one special gene.

4. How many X chromosomes do girl cats have?
Girl cats have two X chromosomes.

5. What do girl cats often look like if they are not fully ginger?
Girl cats often look like they have mixed colors, like calico.

6. What did scientists learn about ginger cats?
Scientists learned that a piece of DNA is missing in ginger cats.

7. Why are cat lovers and scientists happy about this discovery?
They are happy because it helps them understand why cats look the way they do.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) special
(2) piece
(3) lovers
(4) happy
(5) cats
(6) Boys
(7) colors
(8) look
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. scientists
Answer: (D) People who study and learn about things

2. ginger
Answer: (E) A color like orange

3. DNA
Answer: (A) Tiny parts inside you that tell your body how to be

4. missing
Answer: (C) Not there when it should be

5. discovery
Answer: (J) Finding out something new

6. research
Answer: (F) Looking closely to learn more

7. chromosome
Answer: (G) A part of your body that holds your DNA

8. gene
Answer: (H) A tiny part inside you that decides things like color

9. calico
Answer: (I) A cat with many colors on its fur

10. understand
Answer: (B) To know what something means
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What color are ginger cats?
Answer: (b) Orange

2. What do scientists say is missing in ginger cats?
Answer: (c) A piece of DNA

3. Who helped pay for the cat research?
Answer: (a) Cat lovers

4. Why are most ginger cats boys?
Answer: (b) Because of their X chromosome

5. How many X chromosomes do girl cats have?
Answer: (c) Two

6. What do girl cats often look like?
Answer: (a) Mixed colors

7. What does the study help us understand?
Answer: (d) Why cats look the way they do

8. What makes cat lovers happy?
Answer: (d) The discovery about ginger cats
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Boys need two special genes to be ginger. (Answer: False)
2. The study helps us understand how dogs look. (Answer: False)
3. A piece of DNA is found in ginger cats. (Answer: False)
4. Ginger cats are mostly boys. (Answer: True)
5. Most girl cats have mixed colors like calico. (Answer: True)
6. Cat lovers helped pay for the research. (Answer: True)
7. Scientists learned why ginger cats are orange. (Answer: True)
8. The added DNA makes their fur orange. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧