Skills Development Lesson: Revision Test - The Fennec Fox

Read the text and answer the questions.

The Big-Eared, Bushy-Tailed Fennec Foxby Guy Belleranti

1 In the deserts of North Africa and Saudi Arabia lives the smallest of all foxes with the largest of ears: the fennec fox. Fennec foxes have ears that are 12 to 15

centimeters long, which is big for an animal that weighs less than two kilograms. Their ears help shed body heat and also provide great

hearing.

2 It's interesting to compare the big ears of fennec foxes to the small ears of arctic foxes. Arctic foxes live in cold climates, so they don't need to shed heat. Instead, they need to save heat. Big ears would not save heat and would probably cause an arctic fox to get frostbite!

3 It's also interesting to think about the hair of fennec foxes and ask why a fox that lives in the desert needs a thick, fur coat. Although the desert is often very hot in the daytime, during the night it can be extremely cold! For this reason, a fennec fox has thick fur to keep it warm during the chilly nights. They can also use their long bushy tails as a blanket to retain heat.

4 Fennec foxes live in small communities of burrows or dens. They spend most of the day sleeping in their dens, out of the hot sun. Then, when night comes, out they come in search of food. In addition to their great hearing, fennecs also use their great sense of smell and big eyes to track down food. Animals that are active at night are called nocturnal.

5 Like other foxes, fennecs are omnivores, as they eat both meat and plants. Their favorite food includes rodents, birds, eggs, insects, lizards, snails, fruit and leaves, which are available in the desert throughout the year. This means that there is enough food for the fox to survive in the desert.

6 In the difficult desert environment, fennec fox mothers have to work hard to raise their young. They give birth to one to five babies (called kits), which she protects in the burrow for about a month. After that, the young ones come out and learn to hunt. The average lifespan of a Fennec fox is ten to twelve years.

7 The cream coloration of fennec foxes help them blend into their desert habitat. Still, they have to watch out for predators. These include caracals (a type of wild cat), jackals, eagle owls, hyenas and humans. Humans catch them for their fur and to sell them as exotic pets.

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It’s almost time for a test! So let’s revise!

Skills Development

Skills Development Lesson: Revision Test - The Fennec Fox

A. Use the underlined letters in bold to make words from the passage that match the definitions.

1. To get rid of (throw away) something you do not need (paragraph 1)hsde …………………….……………..………

2. Quite cold (paragraph 3)

lcyihl …………………….……………..………3. A cover, usually on a bed, that keeps you warm (paragraph 3)

kabelnt …………………….……………..………4. A group of living things that live in the same area (paragraph 4)

tmcuoniym …………………….……………..………5. A hole an animal digs to live in (paragraph 4)

wurrbo …………………….……………..………6. The place where plants, animals or people live and grow (paragraph 7)

biahatt …………………….……………..………7. From another part of the world; different or strange (paragraph 7)

xoceti …………………….……………..………8. An animal you that you keep at home and treat well (paragraph 7)

tpe …………………….……………..………

B. Choose the correct answer according to the text.

1. The fennec fox has thick fur to help it …… .a. survive the cold, arctic climate b. survive the cold, desert

nightsc. hear enemies approaching d. lose heat

2. You might find the fennec fox in the wild in …… .a. Brazil b. Russiac. South Africa d. Algeria

3. Nocturnal animals are active …… .a. after sunrise b. before sunsetc. after sunset d. during the day

4. People catch fennec foxes to …… .

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Skills Development Lesson: Revision Test - The Fennec Fox

a. watch them eat meat and plants. b. see how they blend in with the desert.

c. do business. d. look at their big ears.

C. Are these sentences TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN (there is no information)?

1. A baby fennec fox is called a cub. …………………2. The fennec fox’s big ears help keep it cool. …………………3. A fennec fox can sometimes live for 20 years. …………………

4. The fennec fox uses its large eyes to find food. …………………

D. These sentences are taken from the text. Is each sentence a point (topic sentence), evidence or explanation?

1. In the difficult desert environment, fennec fox mothers have to work hard to raise their young (paragraph 6) …………………

2. Their favorite food includes rodents, birds, eggs, insects, lizards, snails, fruit and leaves, which are available throughout the year. (paragraph 5) …………………

3. Although the desert is often very hot in the daytime, during the night it can be extremely cold! (paragraph 3) …………………

4. This means that there is enough food for the fennec fox to survive in the difficult desert environment. (paragragh 5) …………………

E. Summarize the text. Remember to give the main ideas and present evidence. Use different words from those in the passage (paraphrase). You should write approximately 100 words.

……..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Skills Development Lesson: Revision Test - The Fennec Fox

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Skills Development Lesson: Revision Test - The Fennec Fox

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