Grazing Cousins

Cows are raised mainly for meat, milk, and other dairy products. Some cows are used for pulling carts.

Sheep appear in many stories and nursery rhymes like “The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”, “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” and “Mary had a Little Lamb.”

Alpaca fiber is used to make items like blankets, sweaters, gloves, and hats. It is similar to sheep’s wool but it’s warmer.

It’s very soft and luxurious.

Unit 1

Animals:

Grazing Cousins

Warm Up Warm Up

Talk about these questions and share your opinions with your classmates.

1. Do you have many grazing animals in your country? Do you often see them?

2. What other grazers can you think of?

3. Do you think grazers are interesting animals? Why or why not?

Kangaroos hop from one place to another. The regular hopping speed for a Kangaroo is about 20-25 km/h, but speeds of up to 70 km/h can be achieved over short distances.

The zebra’s stripes are unique to each individual. It has been suggested that zebras can recognize one another by their stripes.

Fact File

Grazers are animals that eat grass. The word “graze” comes from the Old English word for “grass”. The zebra, horse, cow, sheep, and kangaroo are all grazers.

Riding horses usually range in height from 142 cm to 173 cm, weighing from 380 kg to 600 kg.

Draft horses are at least 163 cm to 183 cm high and can weigh from 700 kg to 1,000 kg.

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Discussion A

Key Vocabulary

Write each word next to its definition using the base form of the word.

B

1. ________________ successful in getting the result you want 2. ________________ possible in the future

3. ________________ a long, narrow line of color 4. ________________ something that helps

5. ________________ to make something look different so you can’t recognize it 6. ________________ an animal that hunts other animals

7. ________________ to notice or see something that is hard to see 8. ________________ a mark left on skin from an old cut, burn, or wound 1. Look at the picture above and discuss.

a. Why do you think zebras have stripes?

b. What would zebras look like if they don’t have any stripes?

2. Which do you think is true? Compare and discuss your answers.

a. It is easy for lions to see zebras. T F b. Zebras’ stripes have many purposes. T F c. The stripes on a zebra change over time. T F

1. Pre-Reading

Zebra Stripes ^{Lesson 1}

Track 01

Lesson 01 13 A zebra grazing on the African

plains.

A zebra hides in some long grass.

A tsetse fly.

Fact File 1 Did you know?

* to “camouflage” means to change the color and shape of something so that it cannot easily be seen in its natural surroundings.

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The zebra’s stripes make it a very handsome animal, but what are the stripes really for? Zoologists have long been interested in the same question, and they have come up with several possibilities.

Firstly, they think stripes act as “camouflage*,” which means they help the zebra to hide. On the African plains, lions are the zebra’s main predator, so hiding from them is very important.

The shape of the stripes helps the zebra to hide in the long grass that is common on these plains. Black and white zebras are able to hide in brown and green grass because lions are color-blind!

This means that lions see everything as black, white, or gray.

Even though the Zebra’s stripes are black and white they are good camouflage.

More recently, it has been proven that stripes are an effective means of confusing the blood-sucking tsetse fly as well. The tsetse fly is another resident of the African plains. They fly around and use their big eyes to find a tasty meal. Because horses, cows, and other animals with warm blood have a shape that is easy to see, the tsetse fly has no problem spotting them. However, in the case of the zebra the stripes disguise the zebra’s shape. This means that they are much less likely to be seen by the tsetse fly.

Finally, stripes are also believed to play a role in attracting female zebras. Wounds caused by fighting change the pattern of the stripes, so potential partners can see which male zebras are the best fighters. Apparently, female zebras are attracted to male zebras with lots of scars!

Useful for both camouflage and finding a mate, a zebra’s stripes are more than just a handsome accessory. They are an important aid to life on the African plains. ^{298 words}

Zebra Stripes

Zebra Stripes

2. During Reading

Scanning for Information

A

Fact File 2 Did you know?

Walter Rothschild was a famous banker and zoologist from England. He was fascinated by animals and loved to collect them.

He opened a museum in 1892.

He could often be seen driving through London in a carriage pulled by a team of zebras.

1. Who is the zebra’s main predator?

a. the tsetse fly b. the lion

c. other grazers like horses and cows

2. Why are the zebra’s stripes an important aid to life on the African plains?

a. because they look nice

b. because they are useful when zebras fight each other c. because they are good camouflage

3. Lions are color-blind. What does that mean?

a. Lions are short-sighted.

b. Lions see everything as black, white or gray.

c. Lions can see all colors except black and white.

4. Which sentence about the zebra’s stripes is true?

a. The most important role of the stripes is to make the zebra look handsome.

b. The pattern of the stripes can cause a fight between zebras.

c. The tsetse fly can’t recognize the zebra’s shape easily because of the stripes.

5. Which sentence about the zebra’s stripes is NOT true?

a. They help the zebra to hide in the long grass.

b. Lions cannot see the zebra’s stripes because they are color-blind.

c. Zoologists have been studying Zebra stripes for a long time.

Reading Skill Tip

When you scan, don’t read every word, and don’t stop when you see a word you don’t know. Read quickly and stop only to find the information you are looking for.

Identifying Main Ideas

B-1

1. Which is the main idea of paragraph 2?

a. Zebra stripes act as camouflage.

b. Zebras hide in long grass on the plains.

c. Lions are color-blind.

d. Lions are the Zebra’s main predator.

2. Which is the main idea of paragraph 3?

a. The tsetse fly is another resident of the African plains.

b. A Zebra’s stripes also confuse the tsetse fly.

c. Tsetse flies use their big eyes to find a meal.

d. Horses, cows, and other animals have a shape that is easy to see.

B-2 Organizing Information Skills: Identifying Cause and Effect

Every paragraph has a main idea. Often, but not always, the main idea is contained in a topic sentence.

Reading Skill Tip

Lesson 01 15 Identify the various

actions that occur in the passage. Now consider the consequences of each of those actions.

Use this method to summarize what happened in the passage.

Reading Skill Tip

Cause Effect

Lions are _____________ so the Zebra’s stripes are good _______.

Zebras hide __________________

__________________ and survive.

The stripes disguise ___________

_____________________.

The zebras are much less ________

________________ by the tsete fly.

Wounds caused by fighting change _____________________________.

Female zebras are __________

_________________________.

Reading Skill Tip

Think about how the target word is related to the topic of the passage.

Then look at the words around the target word to guess its meaning.

Identifying Purpose

F

1. Why does the writer ask a question in line 1, “what are the stripes really for?”

a. to test whether the readers know the answer or not b. to introduce the topic of the passage

c. to emphasize that the writer really wants to know the answer

Recognizing Restatement

G

1. Which of the following sentences best restates the highlighted information in line 14?

a. The tsetse fly keeps away from the stripes because it gets scared.

b. The tsetse fly can’t see zebras easily or clearly because of the stripes.

c. The tsetse fly is confused whether to suck blood or not when it sees the stripes.

Making Inferences

E

1. What can be inferred about female zebras?

a. Female zebras are not attracted to male zebras that have lots of changes in the pattern of the stripes.

b. Female zebras don’t like male zebras with lots of scars because their stripes don’t look nice.

c. Female zebras like male zebras with lots of scars because they are the best fighters.

Identifying Referents

D

1. In line 11, what does this refer to?

a. Zebras are black and white.

b. Lions are color-blind.

c. Grass is brown and green.

2. In line 21, what does they refer to?

a. tsetse flies b. zebra’s stripes c. zebras

Understanding Words in Context

C

1. In line 2, what does the word ‘zoologists’ mean?

a. people who work in the zoo b. people who study animals c. people who love animals

2. In line 23, what does the word ‘wounds’ mean?

a. colors b. shapes c. damage

A referent refers to something that has been mentioned before.

Substitute the possible answer for the referent and see if the sentence makes sense.

Reading Skill Tip

While making inferences, you combine the information in the passage with your general knowledge.

Reading Skill Tip

Find out why the writer includes a certain piece of information in the passage.

Reading Skill Tip

Read carefully and choose the restatement that best summarizes the highlighted passage.

Your goal should be to leave the meaning unchanged and to include all important information.

Reading Skill Tip

Writing Practice

C

3. After Reading

Vocabulary Practice

A-1

Lesson 01 17

I would ( like / not like ) to visit the African plains because _______________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

Discussion

B

1. What other animals have stripes? How do they help these animals?

2. Which animals are hard to spot in the wild? What makes these animals hard to spot?

3. What other animals live on the African plains?

Synonyms and Antonyms

A-2

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help cover up ineffective

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possibility notice

lines

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1. Brushing your teeth is an ____________ way to prevent cavities.

2. It’s hard to __________ the difference between real and fake money.

3. My shirt has blue and green ____________.

4. I cut my hand on a glass, and now I have three small ____________.

5. Our country provides poor countries with food ____________.

6. A tiger is a ____________.

7. We don’t have any problems so far, but we need to think about ____________ problems.

8. Many children wear a costume on Halloween to ____________ themselves.

potential aid stripes spot (v)

effective predator disguise scars

= synonym antonym

Discussion A

Key Vocabulary

Write each word next to its definition using the base form of the word.

B

1. ________________ having well developed muscles

2. ________________ to move goods from one place to another

3. ________________ wide; having lots of space from one side to the other 4. ________________ an activity in which you compete; a contest

5. ________________ normal

6. ________________ thick and heavy relative to its size

7. ________________ a black powder that explodes and is found in bombs 8. ________________ a small part of a larger whole; a percentage of something

1. Pre-Reading

The Biggest Horse ^{Lesson 2}

1. Look at the picture above and discuss.

a. What kind of horse is this?

b. What do humans use these horses for?

2. Do you agree or disagree? Compare and discuss your answers.

a. Shire horses weigh 900 kg. Agree Disagree b. Horses were very important in the middle ages. Agree Disagree c. Today, shire horses are still used for farming. Agree Disagree

Lesson 02 19

Track 02

Fact File 1

The largest horse ever recorded was a Shire horse called Mammoth. It was 220 centimeters high and its peak weight was estimated at 1,500 kilograms.

Shire horses pulling a cart.

Covered wagon

Cart Carriage

A Shire horse.

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One of the largest horses in the world is the Shire horse from England. These horses average 178 centimeters tall at the shoulder and weigh about 900 kilograms! They have a powerful and muscular shape, a dense rounded body, a broad back, and strong powerful legs. This is because Shires are draft horses. They are bred to pull heavy loads on wagons, carts, and carriages.

The Shire horse is descended from the European Great Horse.

William the Conqueror brought Great Horses from Europe to England when he invaded England in 1066. The Great Horses were used to carry armored knights into battle. When ready for battle, these knights weighed about 200 kilograms, so they needed large, strong horses. The “English Great Horse” continued to be used by knights for hundreds of years, but the arrival of gunpowder in the late 16^th century brought an end to their usefulness. Soldiers now needed lighter, faster horses, and the Great Horses began to be used for draft work instead. Their great strength made them useful for farming and for transporting heavy loads.

Along with their new job, the Great Horses got a new name.

They became known as “Old English Black Horses” in the 17^th century. In 1878, their name was changed to “English Cart Horse”

because the horses weren’t always black, and they often pulled carts. Six years later, their name was changed again to “Shire horse.”

With the increased use of tractors and trucks in the 20^th century, the numbers of Shire horses began to decline. By 1950, their numbers had been reduced to a small fraction of what they had been in the past. However, today, the Shire horse population is growing again. They are widely used for breeding heavy

hunting horses, and are also seen in draft horse competitions worldwide. ^{302 words}

The Biggest Horse

The Biggest Horse

2. During Reading

Scanning for Information

A

Reading Skill Tip

Fact File 2 Did you know?

In the English speaking world, the height of a horse is measured in “hands.”

This tradition dates back hundreds of years “hands”. A hand is the distance from the left side of your hand to the right, about 10 cm. How many hands tall are you?

Reading Skill Tip

When you scan, don’t read every word, and don’t stop when you see a word you don’t know. Read quickly and stop only to find the information you are looking for.

1. What are draft horses bred to do?

a. run fast

b. pull heavy loads c. look beautiful

2. Why did the number of Shire horses begin to fall?

a. because people used tractors and trucks instead of Shire horses b. because their names were changed many times

c. because people liked lighter and faster horses

3. When did the Great Horses come to England?

a. in 1066 b. in 1878

c. between the 16^th and the 20^th century

4. Which sentence about Shire horses is true?

a. The number of Shires is decreasing now.

b. They weigh about 200 kg.

c. The Shire horse was called the “Old English Black Horse” before.

5. Which sentence about Shire horses is NOT true?

a. The Great Horse is descended from the Shire horse.

b. We can see Shire horses in draft horse competitions worldwide.

c. They have a dense rounded body and strong powerful legs.

Organizing the main events of the passage in time order can help you to understand them better.

Reading Skill Tip

Lesson 02 21

B-2 Organizing Information: Compare and Contrast

Complete the chart.

When you compare and contrast, you explore the similarities and differences between two, or more, things.

Reading Skill Tip

The English Great Horse The Shire Horse

① Used to carry _______________

② Used for _______________ and _____________ heavy loads

① Often pulled _______________

② Used for breeding __________

③ Seen in ___________________

B-1 Organizing Information: Sequencing

Complete the timeline.

William the Conqueror _________________

____________________________________.

After the arrival of ____________________, soldiers needed lighter, faster horses.

From the English Great Horse came the ___

____________________________________.

The name was changed to ______________

____________________________________.

The name was changed again to _________

_________________.

The number of Shires ________________.

The number of Shire horses is ____________.

1066

17^th century

1878

1884

20^th century Today 16^th century

Reading Skill Tip

Think about how the target word is related to the topic of the passage.

Then look at the words around the target word to guess its meaning.

While making inferences, you combine the information in the passage with your general knowledge Reading Skill Tip

Find out why the writer includes a certain piece of information in the passage.

Reading Skill Tip

Read carefully and choose the restatement that best summarizes the highlighted passage.

Your goal should be to leave the meaning unchanged and to include all important information.

Reading Skill Tip

F Recognizing Restatements

Which of the following sentences best restates the highlighted information in line 26?

a. The number of Shires increased little by little until 1950.

b. The number of Shires was very small in 1950, compared to the past.

c. The difference between the number of Shires in the past and in 1950 is very small.

Identifying Purpose

E

Why does the writer mention William the Conqueror in line 7?

a. to explain how and when the Great Horse came to England b. to describe how much he and his knights liked the Great Horse c. to show how successful he was in the battles

Making Inferences

D

1. Why do you think the horses were called the Great Horse at first?

a. because they were great for draft work b. because they were from Great Britain c. because they were very large and strong

2. Why do you think the arrival of gunpowder brought an end to knights in armor?

a. The knights in armor were too heavy.

b. Firearms using gunpowder were more powerful than armor.

c. The knights in armor didn’t need gunpowder.

Understanding Words in Context

C

1. In line 7, what does the word ‘descended’ mean?

a. came from b. different from c. went away

2. In line 25, what does the word ‘decline’ mean?

a. rise b. increase c. decrease

Writing Practice

C

Discussion

B

3. After Reading

Vocabulary Practice

A-1

Synonyms and Antonyms

A-2

Lesson 02 23

I ( think / don’t think ) horses were the most important animal to humans __________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

1. Have you ever been on a horse? If you have, what was it like?

2. What do you think will happen to the number of Shire horses in the future?

3. What animals can do the same work as horses?

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contest carrying

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narrow heavy

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1. You can see a lot of _______________ people in the body building contest.

2. The factory will be _______________ its goods by rail.

3. To get a certificate, you have to _______________ 90% on all tests.

4. Only a small _______________ of lottery tickets are winners.

5. Fireworks are filled with _______________ which explodes in the air.

6. I didn’t like that cake. It wasn’t light at all. It was too _______________.

7. There is a speech _______________ each year at my school.

8. That man is huge! He has very _______________ shoulders.

dense broad transporting muscular

fraction average competition gunpowder

= synonym antonym

Review Review

Main Ideas and Supporting Details

There are two supporting details.

A

1. Summary and Discussion

Connecting Lesson 1 & Lesson 2

Reading Skill Tip

Discussion

B

1. Which animals use camouflage? How does it work?

2. Which animals are predators of grazers?

3. Which animals do people use for doing heavy work?

① The zebra’s stripes seem to be an effective means of confusing the tsetse fly.

② Lions see everything as black, white, or gray because they are color-blind.

③ The number of Shire horses declined in the 20^th century but it’s on the rise again.

④ The zebra’s stripes are also believed to play a role in attracting female zebras.

⑤ The Shire horse is descended from the Great Horse.

⑥ Zoologists think that the zebra’s stripes act as camouflage.

⑦ English Cart Horses were not always black.

⑧ Shire horses are draft horses so they are heavy, strong, and powerful.

A passage has one or more main ideas which give us the most important information in that passage.

Supporting details explain, give examples or give more information about the main ideas.

Review Review

Main Ideas and Supporting Details

There are two supporting details.

A

1. Summary and Discussion

Connecting Lesson 1 & Lesson 2

Reading Skill Tip

A passage has one or more main ideas which give us the most important information in that passage.

Supporting details explain, give examples or give more information about the main ideas.

Lesson

2

●__________________________________________________________

●__________________________________________________________

●__________________________________________________________

Lesson

1

●__________________________________________________________

●__________________________________________________________

●__________________________________________________________

Collect the main ideas to complete the summary.

Review 25

Crossword Puzzle

B

Word Definition

A

2. Vocabulary Review

Down Across

5. Some fish have _____ on their scales.

6. A tiger is a _____. It hunts for other animals.

7. The plane is _____ machinery to Europe.

8. That baseball player looks _____.

1. This week’s temperature will _____ 20°C.

2. I have two _____ from my accident.

3. The inspector will look for _____ problems.

4. _____ was invented and used in ancient China.

average predator transporting scars

gunpowder potential muscular stripes

1.effective a. useful b. unhelpful c. weak

2. broad a. narrow b. long c. wide

3. spot a. end b. see c. dot

4. fraction a. whole b. most c. part

5. aid a. support b. stick c. treatment

6. competition a. opposition b. contest c. feeling

7. dense a. light b. heavy c. tight

8. disguise a. hide b. show c. display

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