PRACTICE PASSAGE
A Day at the Zoo
It was a bright and sunny morning when we decided to visit the city zoo. As we walked
through the gates, the sounds of chirping birds, roaring lions, and chattering monkeys filled
the air. The first stop was the bird aviary, where colorful parrots, majestic eagles, and playful
toucans greeted us with their vibrant feathers and loud calls. The guide explained that these
birds came from various parts of the world, each with unique adaptations that help them
survive in their natural habitats.
Next, we moved on to the big cat enclosure. The lions, tigers, and leopards were lazing in the
sun, their powerful bodies stretched out on the warm ground. One of the tigers stood up,
yawned, and gracefully walked towards a pool of water to take a drink. The children were
fascinated by the sheer size and strength of these magnificent animals.
The highlight of the visit was the elephant enclosure. These gentle giants were happily
splashing water on themselves, using their long trunks as makeshift hoses. One of the
elephants came close to the viewing area, allowing us to see the intricate patterns on its rough
skin. The guide told us that elephants are highly intelligent creatures with strong social bonds,
often forming close-knit family groups.
As the day drew to a close, we visited the reptile house, where cold-blooded creatures like
snakes, lizards, and crocodiles lived. The dim lighting and eerie silence in the reptile house
created a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere outside. The guide pointed out the
differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes, explaining how each species has
evolved to become a master of its environment.
Finally, we ended our zoo trip with a visit to the souvenir shop, where we picked up a few
mementos to remember our day. As we left the zoo, the sounds of the animals faded, but the
memories of the amazing creatures we saw would stay with us for a long time.
Questions:
(a) Reread the first sentence. Give one word that suggests the weather was favorable for the
zoo visit.
(b) Using your own words, explain what the writer means when they describe the elephants
as "gentle giants."
(c) Give two main differences between the atmosphere in the bird aviary and the reptile
house.
(d) Why does the writer suggest that seeing the elephants up close was the highlight of the
visit?
(e) Give two things the writer enjoys when observing the elephants.
(f) Give two details the writer suggests make the reptile house less lively compared to other
parts of the zoo.
(g) Give the meaning of the underlined words in the following three phrases as the writer uses
them in the passage:
i. "vibrant feathers and loud calls"
ii. "magnificent animals"
iii. "highly intelligent creatures"
(h) Identify the type of text:
i. narrative
ii. descriptive
iii. informative
iv. persuasive
(i) What is the purpose of using a dash (-) in the first sentence?
(j) How is the dash (-) used in the second paragraph different from the dash used in the first
sentence?
(k) Does the writer experience any change in their perspective during the zoo visit? If yes,
what is it?