The Giant Panda
The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply the panda, is a bear that
comes from China. The name ‘giant’ panda is used because there is another animal
called a panda – the red panda. Although they are both called pandas, they are very
different.
The giant panda is easily recognised. It has large, black patches around its eyes 5
and ears and across its body. Adult pandas are 1.2 to 1.9 metres long. Males can weigh
160 kilograms, but females are much smaller and lighter. Although scientists are
unsure why these animals are black and white, they think the colouring allows the
panda to hide in its snowy and rocky habitat.
The giant panda’s unusual paws have five fingers and a thumb, which helps the 10
panda to hold bamboo while eating it. Although 99% of the panda’s food is bamboo,
giant pandas are actually omnivores because, in the wild, they will occasionally eat birds or
small mammals. While in zoos, they are also given honey, eggs, fish, oranges or
bananas as well as grasses, such as bamboo.
The giant panda is found in mountain ranges in China, mainly in Sichua 15
province, but also in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. As a result of farming and
deforestation, the giant panda no longer inhabits the lowland areas where it once existed.
At the moment, pandas are an endangered species. Scientists are not sure about
the number of pandas living in the wild. Some believe there are only about 1 600,
while other scientists estimate there may be up to 3 000. Some studies show thatthe number
of giant pandas in the wild is actually rising.
Read the above passage and answer questions 1 to 7.
1 Look at the first sentence: ‘The giant panda, also known as the panda bear
orsimply the panda, is a bear that comes from China.’ (lines 1–2).
What type of sentence is it? Tick () one box.a
question
a statement
an instruction
an exclamation
2 Why are some pandas called ‘giant’ pandas?
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3 Look at the second paragraph (lines 5–9).
(a) Give two pronouns and two prepositions.
pronouns
prepositions
(b)Why do scientists think pandas are black and white?
4 Look at the third paragraph (lines 10–14).
(a) Give one word that tells you that pandas eat both plants and meat
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(b) Give two examples of things pandas eat in their natural habitat that are not
plants.
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5 Why have pandas moved away from lowland areas?
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6 Why do some scientists think the panda will have a good future?
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7 Match the sub-heading to the correct paragraph.
First paragraph What is the giant panda’s diet?
Second paragraph Where does the giant panda live?
Third paragraph What is a giant panda?
Fourth paragraph How many giant pandas are there?
Fifth paragraph What does the giant panda look like?
Fun facts about a super-plant: bamboo
Everyone knows that bamboo is a panda’s favourite food. But what else do weknow
about bamboo?
How does it grow?
Well, did you know bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth? It cangrow
as much as 90 centimetres in 24 hours! However, the growth rate depends
on the soil and weather conditions, as well as the type of bamboo. China has the 5
best climate and soil conditions to grow the most valued bamboo in the world.
When does it flower?
Well, actually, most types of bamboo don’t flower very often. In fact, some only flower at
intervals of 120 years! Sometimes, all bamboo plants from the same species flower
simultaneously, wherever they are growing or whatever the weather conditions are
like. After flowering, the bamboo dies. 10
What’s so super about it?
Well, apart from growing ‘super’ fast, bamboo is also really beneficial for our planet. It
releases more oxygen and absorbs more carbon dioxide than other plants – in other
words, it cleans our air.
Does it have any other uses?
Yes, it certainly does. Bamboo is so strong that it is used for building purposes. It
is also used in Chinese medicine for healing. Not only that, but bamboo is a 15
popular ingredient in many Asian dishes. So, pandas aren’t the only ones thatlove
bamboo!
3
Read the above text and answer questions from 8 to 12.
8 Explain why an exclamation mark ( ! ) is used in line 4.
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9 Look at lines 7–10.
Give one word that means ‘at the same time’.
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10 Look at lines 11–13.
(a) Bamboo grows super-fast.
Give another reason why super is a good word to describe bamboo.
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(b) Give one word or phrase that means ‘another way of saying something’.
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11 What does the idea in the last sentence (lines 16–17) link back to?
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12 How is the text organised to make the information easy for us to read? Give
three ideas.
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13 Write a letter to your friend describing to them about your favourite animal.
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