A Day in the Zoo

—Gerald Durrell

Read the passage and answer the following questions:

How do the parrots and parakeets greet visitors?

Ans: The parrots and parakeets greet visitors with a cacophony of sounds.

What does Suku, the grey parrot, say about itself?

Ans: Suku, the grey parrot, cries out, "I'm a very fine bird."

Describe the activity of the mongooses.

Ans: The mongooses patter busily around their cages with quick-footed, bright-
eyed movements.

What is the position of the hairy armadillo?

Ans: The hairy armadillo lies on its back, with its paws and nose twitching.

Where does Peety, the male touraco, perch?

Ans: Peety, the male touraco, perches on one of the higher perches in the big
cage at the end of the house.

How does Peety react when called?

Ans: When called, Peety will fly down and land on the nearest perch, then throw
back his head and give a husky cry.

What is the temperature in the reptile house?

Ans: The temperature in the reptile house is a pleasant eighty degrees.

How do snakes react to visitors in the reptile house?

Ans: Snakes regard visitors calmly with lidless eyes.

What sounds do frogs make in the reptile house?

Ans: Frogs make gulping sounds in the reptile house.

Why must everyone be alert when the zoo gates open?

Ans: Everyone must be alert when the zoo gates open to prevent visitors from
harming the animals, as some exhibit uncivilized behavior such as throwing
stones or prodding sleeping animals with sticks.
  Fill in the chart with information from the text:

Time of Action What Happened

1 At ten o’clock The zoo gates open and the first rush of visitors arrive
2 As the light fades The robin ceases to sing and flies off to perch

Give 2 examples of uncivilized behavior of human beings as you find them in the
text.

Ans: Humans behave in an uncivilized way by throwing stones at a sleeping

animal, prodding it with sticks, or by offering lighted cigarettes and razor blades
to chimpanzees.

Fill in the chart with information from the above text:

Creatures Activities in the zoo

1 Snakes Regard people calmly with lidless eyes
2 Frogs Make gulping sounds
3 Lizards Lie draped over rocks and tree trunks

Why does the zoo staff need to be careful when the zoo opens?

Ans: When the zoo opens the zoo staff needs to be careful to ensure that the
visitors do not hurt the animals.

How do some uncivilized visitors hurt the chimpanzees in the zoo?

Ans: Some uncivilized visitors have been found trying to give the chimpanzees
lighted cigarettes and razor blades.