JAo N43 OYBOCh 7 RH I

Cambridge International School
English worksheet stage 5

Name: ______________________ Grade: __________
Reading Comprehension
Extinct and Endangered Animals
There are no more dinosaurs living on the Earth.
They are extinct, which means there is no
longer a certain kind of plant or animal living
anywhere in the world. A species is a certain
group of living organisms, like dinosaurs,
humans, birds, and many others. Scientists
believe many organisms, along with the
dinosaurs, died out when a large asteroid
collided with the Earth. The collision caused a mass extinction, which occurs at
a faster rate over a very short time-period.
There are usually two reasons for the extinction of animals and other living
things. The first is naturally, which may take place when animals do not adapt
to natural changes in their environment. For example, if the habitat of a bird
suddenly changes, and if the bird does not adapt, it could become extinct.
Examples of naturally occurring extinction may take place during a change in
the climate. This took place during the Ice Age when the temperature of the
Earth was much lower. During a natural extinction, the species may be
eliminated by new predators that move into their environment. The food
needed to survive may no longer be available.
Another example of this type of extinction was the wooly mammoth, a relative
of the elephant, which died out 10,000 years ago due to climate change and
the disappearance of its habitat.
The second reason for the extinction of animals is human interaction, which
includes hunting and habitat destruction caused by people. An animal's
environment may be destroyed by pollution or construction, such as the
destruction of parts of a rainforest. Humans also overhunt sometimes wiping out
an entire species. In addition, the moving of non-native species into an area
where they are not usually found may lead to the extinction of another species.
Examples include the Dodo bird that became extinct due to overhunting and
other animals moving into its environment. The passenger pigeon died out due
to the destruction of its habitat, as well as overhunting. There are many animals
that have become extinct, but when animals are in danger of becoming
extinct, yet still survive, they are called endangered animals.
Endangered means a plant or animal is at risk of becoming extinct. This occurs
when the population of a certain animal is so low, that they are in danger of
dying out forever and becoming extinct. The reasons for an animal to become
endangered are mostly the same as for those that have become extinct. There
are many animals in the world today that are on the endangered species list.
Some are so in danger of becoming extinct, they can only be found in a zoo.
Some of the endangered animals in the world as of 2017 include the black
rhino, found in Africa, where hunting has led to the decline of its population
with fewer than 5,000 of them still surviving. The orangutan found in the country
of Malaysia is a highly intelligent relative of the ape family, but it too has been
endangered due to the loss of their habitat and overhunting. The blue whale is
endangered and threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and poisonous
substances in the water. Finally, two other endangered species examples
include the Bengal tiger, giant panda, mountain gorilla, sea lions, and others.
Answer the questions.

1) All the following are endangered animals EXCEPT:
A: Sea lions
B: Wooly mammoths
C: Bengal tigers
D: Giant pandas
2) All the following are extinct species EXCEPT:
A: Dinosaurs
B: Orangutans
C: Carrier pigeons
D: Dodo birds
3) Which of the following is a reason for the extinct and endangered animals?
A: Climate change
B: Habitat destruction
C: Overhunting
D: All the above
4) New predators moving into the environment may first lead to which of the
following?
A: Extinction of another species
B: An increase in new food sources
C: Endangered species
D: Loss of land resources
5) Which of the following best defines a mass
extinction?
A: An extinction that occurs at a faster rate compared to a typical extinction
B: An extinction of just one animal or plant species
C: An extinction in just one area of the world
D: All the above
6) Hunting and habitat destruction are reasons for which of the following types
of extinction?
A: Natural
B: Human interaction
C: Mass
D: None of the above.
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Cambridge International School

English worksheet stage 5

Answer the questions.

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