Zebras

8/31/2022 3:49:00 PM
10 Fascinating Facts About Zebras
Image: Treehugger

Do you know?

  • Our planet is home to three different species of zebra, the plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra and mountain zebra, all three species are native to Africa.
  • Closely related to horses, zebras have thick bodies, thin legs, a tufted tail, and a long head and neck sporting a short mane.

Let's explore more about zebras!

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen and complete the passage.

dominant endangered roam
judge stallions distinctive


The zebra is closely related to the donkey and the horse. They look very similar, except for the striking colors of the zebra. The zebra has very white stripes on a dark background. The dark color can be either black or dark brown. No two zebras have the same stripe pattern. The stripes on the zebra can help the zebra get away from its predators. The stripes make it difficult for the predator to distances. The zebra runs very fast, going as fast as 40 mph in no time at all. This quick speed enables the zebra to escape from predators easily.

Zebras live together in groups of up to 17. The , or the males, stand at the back of the group to protect the young and the old zebras from predators. The female leads the group. The zebras around looking for food. They are nomads. They eat grasses and stay close to the water so that they have a water supply. A zebra can live to be up to 45 years old.

Zebras are most active in the early morning and in the late afternoon. They spend half of their waking hours eating. Zebras are hunted for their striking skins. They are also because more and more of their grazing land is being replaced with farming land.

Read and answer the following questions.

Zebras

Zebra | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants
Zebras are part of the Equidae family along with horses and donkeys. Image: Forbes

The zebra is closely related to the donkey and the horse. They look very similar, except for the striking colors of the zebra. The zebra has very distinctive white stripes on a dark background. The dark color can be either black or dark brown. No two zebras have the same stripe pattern. The stripes on the zebra can help the zebra get away from its predators. The stripes make it difficult for the predator to judge distances. The zebra runs very fast, going as fast as 40 mph in no time at all. This quick speed enables the zebra to escape from predators easily.

Zebras live together in groups of up to 17. The stallions, or the males, stand at the back of the group to protect the young and the old zebras from predators. The dominant female leads the group. The zebras roam around looking for food. They are nomads. They eat grasses and stay close to the water so that they have a water supply. A zebra can live to be up to 45 years old.

Zebras are most active in the early morning and in the late afternoon. They spend half of their waking hours eating. Zebras are hunted for their striking skins. They are also endangered because more and more of their grazing land is being replaced with farming land.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 5

In a group of zebras, the stallions are in charge of _____.

  • protecting vulnerable zebras
  • looking for sources of water
  • leading the whole group
  • marking the group's territory

What is the purpose of the stripes on the zebra?

  • to aid the zebra in gathering food
  • to attract the zebra's mate
  • to help the zebra confuse their hunters
  • to keep the zebra's balance

What is NOT true according to the passage?

  • Each zebra is unique regarding its stripe pattern.
  • A herd of zebras is headed by a female.
  • People hunt zebras for their distinctive skins.
  • A zebra has a maximum lifespan of 17 years.

After reading the passage, which question could you answer about the zebra?

  • How many different types of zebras are there?
  • Where does the zebra usually roam for food?
  • Why is the zebra in danger of extinction?
  • How do distinctive stripes on the zebra form?

The author wrote this passage to _____.

  • compare the zebra and the donkey
  • inform the readers about a type of mammal
  • prove the uniqueness of the zebra
  • raise the readers' awareness of animal protection

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

The bank robbers _____ the police in a stolen car.

  • got across
  • got around to
  • got away from
  • got about

Choose the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s).

Electricity and basic foodstuffs are in short supply on the island.

  • abundant
  • scarce
  • complicated
  • inevitable

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between THREE and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.

After many years of performing in small-town shows, she finally got a Broadway part. (STRIPES)

=> She finally in Broadway theater after years of performing in small-town shows.

Rearrange the words in a correct order to make a complete sentence (kéo từng từ/cụm từ về vị trí đúng để tạo thành câu hoàn chỉnh).