第12章 Lesson 12: Madagascar

Madagascar is an island country about 480 kilometres east of southern Africa. It is famous for its unique fauna (animal life) and flora (plant life). There are many things in Madagascar that you cannot find anywhere else on Earth!

Lemurs are the most famous of Madagascar's unique animals. They are a primitive type of monkey, and are related to humans. The fanaloka is a kind of cat and the tenrec is a kind of hedgehog unique to the island. Madagascar has hissing cockroaches, flying fox bats, bee-eating birds, and giant tortoises. Almost all of the reptiles and half the birds on the island are not found anywhere else. Plants and animals that are only found in one place are called endemic.

Madagascar has many strange and unusual plants. There are huge palms and many orchids. The national tree of Madagascar is the baobab tree. There are eight different species of baobab tree on the island.

Why does Madagascar have so many special plants and animals? Madagascar used to be connected to Africa. About 165 million years ago, it broke off from Africa and began to drift away. The animals and plants in Africa changed over time, but on Madagascar they didn't change as much. The flora and fauna have been separated from their ancestors for millions of years.

Many of Madagascar's unique plants and animals are extinct. We must make sure we protect what is left.

I. Word List

unique: different from others

primitive: very old, one of the first kinds

drift: to move slowly, usually on water

extinct: all dead (for example-dinosaurs are extinct)

species: kinds / types

II. Fill in the blanks with scrambled words from the story.

1. Madagascar has its own (quueni) ____________ animals and plants.

2. Many (sseepic) _________________ of animals and plants on the island cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

3. The fauna and flora are all different from their (cessanort) _______.

4. Hissing cockroaches and flying fox bats are some (lanuuus) _______ animals living in Madagascar.

5. Millions of years ago, Madagascar was (notedccen) _____ to Africa.

III. Answer the following questions.

1. Endemic animals can only be found in one part of the world. Are there any endemic animals in your country?

___________________________________________________________.

2. Would you like to travel to Madagascar? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________.

3. Do you think you would be scared of any of the animals on Madagascar? Which ones? Why?

___________________________________________________________.

4. Why are the animals and plants in Madagascar different from the ones in Africa?

___________________________________________________________.

5. Why is it important for us to protect the plants and animals on Madagascar and other parts of the world?

___________________________________________________________.

IV. Circle the sentences that are true.

1. Madagascar is on an island.

2. Many animals are endemic to Madagascar.

3. Madagascar is connected to Africa.

4. The plants and animals in Africa changed more than the plants and animals in Madagascar.

5. Lemurs are extinct.

6. There is only one kind of baobab tree.