Comprehension Dark Red

Reading Booklet
Year 6 Reading Assessment -Non-Fiction
Endangered
Page 1 of 3
Endangered
Introduction
Endangered animals are those species that Some animals, like the bald eagle and the
are considered likely to become extinct, American alligator, were once on the brink
based on a current population trend. Their of extinction but are now known to be
numbers known in the wild are low and recovering.
thought to be decreasing.
Sadly, some species of animals are already W h a t c a u s e s
now considered Extinct or Extinct in the
Wild, including the famous dodo, a flightless e n d a n g e r m e n t
bird thought to have been about one metre o r e x t i n c t i o n ?
tall. Further examples include the passenger
pigeon, the Tasmanian tiger and recently the Animal extinction can occur due to natural
West African black rhino. or human causes. Natural causes include
change of climate or sea levels. In more
According to a recent update of the ‘Red modern times, the most common causes
List’ produced by the International Union are from human intervention such as
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 834 hunting or habitat destruction. There are
different species have now been classified as other possibilities too such as pollution,
‘Extinct’ with another 69 as ‘Extinct in the new diseases, new predators or a single
Wild’. catastrophic event.
Some other species are currently classed as
Endangered or Critically Endangered, if W h y s a v e t h e m ?
facing a high or extremely high risk of
extinction. There are further categories Plants and animals can be extremely
including Vulnerable and Near-Threatened important for the ecosystem of the Earth.
for species which may face a risk of Species depend on each other for survival.
endangerment in the near future. Aside from this, we want to be able to enjoy
the beauty of nature and, once a species
A large proportion of primates (such as becomes extinct, it has gone forever.
apes, lemurs and monkeys) are at risk.
However, there are success stories too.
Population: More than 5000
Black Rhino Status: Critically Endangered
Hunted for food or simply entertainment, the black

rhino population went into decline due to European
settlers in Africa during the 20th century. Despite
being one of the oldest groups of mammals on the
planet, their habitats have been destroyed and, for
many years, they have been killed for the illegal
trade of their horn.
Page 2 of 3
Endangered
Population: 880
Mountain Gorilla Status: Critically Endangered
Most surviving mountain gorillas currently live in

the African country of Uganda. The population
has suffered from years of war, hunting, habitat
destruction and disease. At one point, scientists
thought that the species would be extinct some years
ago. Fortunately, due to increased conservation
efforts, their numbers have been increasing again
in recent decades.
Population: None identified in the wild
South China Tiger Status: Functionally Extinct
In the 1950s, there were estimated to be around

4000 of the South China tigers living in the wild.
After decreasing rapidly for decades, the Chinese
government introduced a hunting ban in 1979 to
prevent further decline. However, by 1996 the
population was estimated to be just around 50
individuals. Now, as it has not been seen in the
wild for more than 25 years, the South China
tiger has instead been considered by scientists as
‘functionally extinct’.
Population: 1800 in the wild

Giant Panda Status: Endangered
Considerable efforts have gone into conservation

of the giant panda in recent years both in the wild
as well as captivity. Although the animals have
little in the way of natural predators, they have
seen their habitat destroyed by roads, railways
and other construction. Pandas play an important
role in the bamboo forests where they roam and
spread seeds to encourage growth of new plants. In
turn, this area remains home to many other animal
species that rely on the environment.
Page 3 of 3
English KS2 2016
Year 6 Reading Assessment

Non-Fiction Answer Booklet
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Date of Birth Day Month Year
School Name
DfE Number
Page 1 of 5
Year 6 Reading Assessment: Non-Fiction
20
total marks
Questions 1 to 14 are about ‘Endangered’
1. According to the introduction of the text, how many species have now been classified as
‘Extinct in the Wild’? 1mark
2. How tall was the dodo bird thought to be?

1mark
3. What other animals does the text list as being now extinct? Tick three.
2 marks
passenger pigeon Tasmanian tiger
West African black rhino black rhino
mountain gorilla giant panda
4. Look at this sentence:

1mark
“Some animals, like the bald eagle and the American alligator, were once on the brink of extinction but
are now known to be recovering.”
What is the meaning of the word brink in this sentence?
total for
this page
Page 2 of 5
Year 6 Reading Assessment: Non-Fiction 3
5. Complete this table of information about some of the animals’ features in the text:
3 marks
Animal Status Population
Mountain Gorilla Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered More than 5,000
Giant Panda 1800 in the wild
Look at the section about the South China Tiger.
6. In what year did the Chinese government introduce a hunting ban?

1mark
7. According to the text, why is this species of tiger considered to be ‘functionally extinct’?
1mark
8. Find and copy a word which means reducing or getting smaller in number.
1mark
total for
this page
Page 3 of 5
Look at the section about the Giant Panda.
9. Why might it be surprising that the giant panda is endangered? Give two reasons.
2 marks
1.
2.
10. Why are the pandas important for the bamboo forests?
1mark
11. How do pandas living in the wild benefit other animal species?
1mark
12. Match these facts with the correct animal in the text. One has been done for you.
1mark
Bald Eagle Killed for the illegal trade of their horn
Mountain Gorilla Flightless bird, now extinct
Black Rhino Once at risk of extinction but now recovering
Suffered from years of war, hunting,

Dodo
habitat destruction and disease
total for
this page
Page 4 of 5
13. Give two reasons why animals should be saved from extinction. Use evidence from the text to
support your answer. 2 marks
14. Look at the section called ‘What causes endangerment or extinction?’

2 marks
The text says: ‘Animal extinction can occur due to natural or human causes.’
Which reason do you think is more likely to be responsible for species becoming extinct in recent
years? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
End of questions about ‘Endangered’
** END OF TEST ** total for

this page
Page 5 of 5
English KS2 2016
Year 6 Reading Assessment

Marking Scheme for Non-Fiction
Page 1 of 4
question answer marks notes
According to the introduction of the text, how many species have now been classified a s ‘Extinct in the
1. Wild’?
Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

69 1 identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
Award 1mark for the correct answer indicated.
2. How tall w a s the dodo bird thought to b e ?

identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
About 1metre tall 1
3. What other animals does the text list a s being now extinct? Tick three.

identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
p a sse n g e r pigeon
Award 2 marks for all three ticked correctly and no
West African black rhino Up to 2 others ticked.
Tasmanian tiger
Award 1mark for one or two ticked correctly a n d/o r
other options incorrectly ticked.
Look at this sentence:

“Some animals, like the bald eagle and the American alligator, were once on the brink of extinction but
4. are now known to be recovering.”
What is the meaning of the word brink in this sentence?
the e dg e /v e rge /thre sho ld Content domain: 2a - give/explain the meaning of

words in context.
nearly occurring 1
Award 1mark for answers which indicate the meaning
about to happen of brink.
5. Complete this table of information about some of the animals’ features in the text.
Black Rhino Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

Endangered identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
Up to 3
880 Award 1mark for each box correctly completed.
6. In what year did the Chinese government introduce a hunting ban?

1979 1 identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
Page 2 of 4
7. According to the text, why is this species of tiger considered to b e ‘functionally extinct’?

Because it has not been seen in identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
1
the wild for more than 25 years.
8. Find and copy a word which means reducing or getting smaller in number.
Content domain: 2a - give/explain the meaning of

decreasing or decline 1 words in context.
Award 1mark for either decreasing or decline.
9. Why might it b e surprising that the giant panda is endangered? Give two reasons.
1.Considerable efforts have gone

into conservation.
Up to 2 identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
2.The animals have no natural
Award 1mark for each correct reason indicated.
predators.
10. Why are the pandas important for the bamboo forests?
Content domain: 2d - make inferences from the text/

Spread se e ds/e n c o u ra ge new explain and justify inferences with evidence from the
1 text.
growth
11. How do pandas living in the wild benefit other animal sp e c ie s?
Other species of animals live in

the forest so they need it to keep
growing.
Content domain: 2d - make inferences from the text/
Without the pandas spreading explain and justify inferences with evidence from the
bamboo se e ds, the forests would text.
not grow so well and it is the home 1 Award 1mark for answers which explain the need for
of the other species.
regrowth of the bamboo forest a s a habitat for other
The forest is home to other animal species, which occurs through the pandas spreading
species which rely on the pandas seeds.
spreading the s e e d s to encourage
new growth.
12. Match these facts with the correct animal in the text. One has been done for you.
Bald Eagle - Once at risk of

extinction but now recovering Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/
Black Rhino - Killed for the illegal identify key details from fiction and non-fiction.
trade of their horn 1
Award 1mark for all animals and facts correctly
Dodo - Flightless bird, now matched.
extinct
Page 3 of 4
Give two reasons why animals should b e saved from extinction. Use evidence from the text to support
13. your answer.
Plants and animals can b e

extremely important for the
ecosystem of the Earth. Content domain: 2d - make inferences from the text/
explain and justify inferences with evidence from the
Species depend on each other for
text.
survival.
Up to 2
Award 1mark for each reason given, up to two marks.
We want to b e able to enjoy the
Quotations or information taken directly from the text
beauty of nature.
should b e evident.
Once a species becomes extinct, it
has gone forever.
Look at the section called ‘What causes endangerment or extinction?’

The text says: ‘Animal extinction can occur due to natural or human causes.’
14.
Which reason do you think is more likely to b e responsible for species becoming extinct in recent years?
Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
Human causes are more likely

a s they include examples such
a s hunting or habitat destruction
which have happened more
recently.
Human causes because the text
sa y s ‘In more modern times, the Content domain: 2d - make inferences from the text/
most common causes are from explain and justify inferences with evidence from the
human intervention.’ text.
or Award 2 marks for the answer ‘human causes’, along
2 with appropriate evidence from the text.
Natural causes because
governments have introduced new
Alternatively award 2 marks for the answer
laws, such a s in China in 1979, to
‘natural causes’ if the evidence refers to a change
reduce the decline of animals like
of attitude or laws in recent times.
the giant panda.
Natural causes because ‘increased
conservation efforts’ have helped
to sa v e species such a s the
mountain gorilla, bald e a g le or
American alligator.
Total 20
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Reading Booklet

Year 6 Reading Assessment -Non-Fiction

Hunted for food or simply entertainment, the black

Most surviving mountain gorillas currently live in

Population: None identified in the wild

South China Tiger Status: Functionally Extinct

In the 1950s, there were estimated to be around

Population: 1800 in the wild

Considerable efforts have gone into conservation

Year 6 Reading Assessment

Date of Birth Day Month Year

Questions 1 to 14 are about ‘Endangered’

2. How tall was the dodo bird thought to be?

passenger pigeon Tasmanian tiger

West African black rhino black rhino

mountain gorilla giant panda

4. Look at this sentence:

Animal Status Population

Mountain Gorilla Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered More than 5,000

Giant Panda 1800 in the wild

Look at the section about the South China Tiger.

6. In what year did the Chinese government introduce a hunting ban?

Look at the section about the Giant Panda.

Bald Eagle Killed for the illegal trade of their horn

Mountain Gorilla Flightless bird, now extinct

Black Rhino Once at risk of extinction but now recovering

Suffered from years of war, hunting,

14. Look at the section called ‘What causes endangerment or extinction?’

End of questions about ‘Endangered’

** END OF TEST ** total for

Year 6 Reading Assessment

question answer marks notes

Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

2. How tall w a s the dodo bird thought to b e ?

Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

Look at this sentence:

the e dg e /v e rge /thre sho ld Content domain: 2a - give/explain the meaning of

Black Rhino Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

6. In what year did the Chinese government introduce a hunting ban?

Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

Content domain: 2b - retrieve and record information/

Content domain: 2a - give/explain the meaning of

1.Considerable efforts have gone

Content domain: 2d - make inferences from the text/

11. How do pandas living in the wild benefit other animal sp e c ie s?

Other species of animals live in

Bald Eagle - Once at risk of

Plants and animals can b e

Look at the section called ‘What causes endangerment or extinction?’

Human causes are more likely

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END OF TEST total for