Cubic kangaroo

CUBIC LISTENING – SURPRISE SURPRISE

The Kangaroo

Vocabulary:  mammal   crawl   pouch   hopping  

Did you know that there are around 50 million kangaroos in Australia? That means that there are many more kangaroos in Australia than people. Kangaroos are found throughout Australia, and this is the only country where they live in the wild.

The kangaroo is an unusual type of mammal. Its babies—known as joeys— are born very small and undeveloped. In fact, a baby red kangaroo is only 2.5 centimeters long at birth. As soon as it is born, the joey crawls slowly up the front of the mother’s body and into a special pouch, where it stays for the next seven months.

There are over 40 different species of kangaroo. The largest is the red kangaroo, which can weigh up to 90 kilos and, at one meter 80 centimeters, is as tall as a large man. At the other end of the scale is the musky-rat kangaroo. At around 23 centimeters long and half a kilogram in weight, it’s the smallest kangaroo.

Most kangaroos have long, thick tails which they use for balance as they hop along. And speaking of hopping, a large red kangaroo can move surprisingly quickly. It has a comfortable hopping speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It can travel at this speed for long distances without becoming tired. If necessary, the red kangaroo can travel at 40 kilometers per hour for two kilometers. And at its fastest, the big red can accelerate to a speed of 70 kilometers per hour, and keep this speed for short distances.

Kangaroo meat is very healthy. It’s high in iron and low in fat. Because of this, some Australian supermarkets sell kangaroo meat. However, sales are low. Interestingly, kangaroo meat is more popular in Europe. More kangaroo meat is eaten in Germany, France, Switzerland and Belgium than in Australia.

People are always looking for new ways to use kangaroo skin. Fashion capitals around the world now make bags, gloves and slippers from lightweight kangaroo skin. And—Surprise, Surprise—kangaroo skin is also used to make soccer shoes. In fact, many professional soccer players choose to wear soft, light kangaroo-skin shoes because they can control the ball better.

Questions

1. How many kangaroos are there in Australia?

2. When does a joey enter its mother’s pouch?

3. How many different species of kangaroo are there?

4. Why is kangaroo meat healthy to eat?

2 Second Challenge

Listen to the story again and answer the questions.

1. Kangaroos are ( ______ ) to hop backwards because of their (______ ) feet and (______ ). 


2. The kangaroo is on the Australian Coat of Arms as a (______ ) of progress, because it can (______ ) move (_______ ). 


3. (______ ) out when driving in Australia. A large kangaroo will cause a lot of (______ ) to your car if you (______ ) into one. 


4. Some Australian drivers (______ ) an ultrasonic device to their (______ ) to scare kangaroos (______ ). 


5. Kangaroos often (______ ) in large (______ ) called mobs. Mobs are led by one dominant (______ ).