A2CEFRReading12 min

Amazing Animals of the Ocean

Oceans and sea life

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12-Minute Reading • A2 Level

🌊 Amazing Animals of the Ocean

Learn about giant whales, clever octopuses, sea turtles, and dolphins.

⏱️ Read & Practice
a realistic, high-quality photograph of a vibrant ocean ecosystem with a whale and a sea turtle swimming, bright blue wa

📋 How to Use This Lesson

👩‍🏫 For Teachers:

1. Give learners 3 to 4 minutes to read the text. Check new words in the box.

2. Students answer the 8 questions alone. Check the answers together.

🧑‍🎓 For Students:

1. Read the text carefully once or twice. Then start the questions.

2. Answer each question. Check the feedback to see proof from the text.

📖 Reading Passage

121 Words

The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet. Many amazing animals live in its deep waters. The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth. It can grow up to 110 feet (about 33 metres) long, but it eats tiny sea creatures called krill.

Another special creature is the octopus. An octopus has three hearts, and its blood is blue! Sea turtles spend most of their lives swimming, but they breathe air. When resting underwater, a sea turtle can hold its breath for up to two hours.

Dolphins also have a clever way to survive. When a dolphin sleeps, only half of its brain rests. The other half stays awake so the dolphin can swim to the surface and breathe.

an illustrative, clean graphic of a clever octopus camouflaged on a coral reef, bright colors, artistic style, no text

💡 Words to Know

Word Simple Meaning Example in Text
planet Earth or another large world in space "...more than 70% of our planet."
krill very small sea animals that whales eat "...tiny sea creatures called krill."
breathe to take air in and let it out "...swim to the surface and breathe."
awake not sleeping "The other half stays awake..."

✏️ Check Your Understanding (8 Exercises)

Answer the questions from easy to hard.

1 True / False

The ocean covers more than 70% of planet Earth.

____ True ____ False
2 True / False

An octopus has three hearts and blue blood.

____ True ____ False
3 Multiple Choice

How long can a blue whale grow, and what does it eat?

____ a. Up to 70 feet long, and it eats large octopuses ____ b. Up to 110 feet (about 33 metres) long, and it eats tiny krill ____ c. Up to 33 feet long, and it eats sea plants only
4 Multiple Choice

How long can a resting sea turtle hold its breath underwater?

____ a. Up to twenty minutes ____ b. Up to thirty-three minutes ____ c. Up to two hours
5 Matching Table

Match each animal to its size or food:

Item
The biggest animal on Earth
Very small sea animals
An animal with blue blood
Blue whale
____ The biggest animal on Earth ____ Very small sea animals ____ An animal with blue blood
Krill
____ The biggest animal on Earth ____ Very small sea animals ____ An animal with blue blood
6 Matching Table

Match each animal to how it breathes or sleeps:

Animal
Stays under water for up to two hours
Sleeps in a special way
Has three hearts
Sea turtle
____ Stays under water for up to two hours ____ Sleeps in a special way ____ Has three hearts
Dolphin
____ Stays under water for up to two hours ____ Sleeps in a special way ____ Has three hearts
7 Short Answer

When a dolphin sleeps, how much of its brain rests? (Type one or two words)

____ (Type your answer here...)
8 Short Answer

Why does a dolphin swim to the surface? (Type two or three words)

____ (Type your answer here...)

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