Learn English with Quirks & Quarks

• ☐ ☐ ☐ vast [n] - large
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a marsupial [n] - a type of animal that carries its babies in a pouch, like a kangaroo
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a mole [n] - a small, burrowing animal [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ mammalian [adj] - related to mammals
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an endangered species [n] - a species at risk of extinction
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a decade [n] - 10 years
• ☐ ☐ ☐ cylindrical [adj] - shaped like a cylinder [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a protrusion [n] - something that sticks out
• ☐ ☐ ☐ burrowing [v] - digging underground
• ☐ ☐ ☐ fused shut [exp] - permanently closed
• ☐ ☐ ☐ external [adj] - on the outside
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an optic nerve [n] - the nerve that connects the eye to the brain
• ☐ ☐ ☐ tease apart [phv] - separate or understand
• ☐ ☐ ☐ anecdotally [adv] - based on personal stories
• ☐ ☐ ☐ forage [v] - search for food
• ☐ ☐ ☐ claws [n] - sharp, curved nails [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ backfill [v] - fill the space behind
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a burrow [n] - a tunnel dug by an animal [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a pouch [n] - a pocket-like part of an animal [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ inverted [adj] - turned upside down
• ☐ ☐ ☐ speculate [v] - guess

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb, [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

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1. Marsupial moles are more closely related to kangaroos than to moles.
   True
   False
   
   
2. People rarely see marsupial moles in the Australian desert.
   True
   False
   
   
3. The marsupial mole's nose is shaped like a claw.
   True
   False
   
   
4. The marsupial mole has no eyelids.
   True
   False
   
   
5. The marsupial mole has no external ear structure.
   True
   False
   
   
6. The marsupial mole is blind.
   True
   False
   
   
7. The loss of eyesight in the marsupial mole may help it conserve energy.
   True
   False
   
   
8. Marsupial moles are skilled at both swimming and tunneling through sand.
   True
   False
   
   
9. The marsupial mole’s movement leaves a clear tunnel behind it.
   True
   False
   
   
10. The pouch of the marsupial mole opens downward.
    True
    False
    
    

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1. What is the main topic of the discussion?
   A) The habitat preferences of the marsupial mole.
   B) The unique adaptations and characteristics of the marsupial mole.
   C) The diet and feeding habits of the marsupial mole.
   D) The evolutionary history of marsupials in Australia.
   
   
2. Why is the marsupial mole rarely seen?
   A) It lives underground and is endangered.
   B) It avoids human contact during the day.
   C) It is too small to notice.
   D) It is nocturnal.
   
   
3. What is the primary function of the marsupial mole’s claws?
   A) Climbing trees
   B) Defending against predators
   C) Tunneling through sand
   D) Catching prey
   
   
4. Which of the following is true about the marsupial mole’s vision?
   Select two answers.
   A| It eyes are highly sensitive to light.
   B| Its eyes are covered by fused eyelids.
   C| It has excellent nocturnal vision.
   D| It lacks an optic nerve.
   
   
5. How does the marsupial mole’s pouch differ from other marsupials?
   A) It is located on its back.
   B) It is smaller than typical marsupial pouches.
   C) It is inverted to avoid collecting sand.
   D) It is used only for storing food.
   
   
6. Why might the marsupial mole’s loss of vision be considered an advantage?
   A) It allows the mole to burrow faster.
   B) It reduces the energy needed for vision.
   C) It helps the mole detect predators more easily.
   D) It increases its ability to find food above ground.
   
   
7. What idea does the woman express when she says this:
   
   A) She is sure that marsupial moles lost their eyesight through lack of use.
   B) It is unclear how much energy marsupial moles require to see clearly.
   C) It is still not perfectly clear why marsupial moles lost their eyesight.
   D) She is not sure whether marsupial moles are completely blind.
   
   
8. Which of these images best matches the woman's description of a marsupial mole?
   A) B)
   C) D)
   
   

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Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order.
( ) = optional   [ ] = necessary

Instrucciones: Escriba oraciones sobre el videoclip usando las palabras dadas. Puede cambiar la forma de la palabra o agregar palabras, pero no puede cambiar el orden de las palabras.

Instruções:: Escreva orações sobre o videoclipe usando as palavras-chave. Você pode alterar a forma da palavra ou adicionar palavras, mas não pode alterar a ordem das palavras.

지시 : 주어진 단어를 사용하여 비디오 클립에 대한 문장을 씁니다. 어형을 변경하거나 단어를 추가할 수 있지만 어순은 변경할 수 없습니다.

the / marsupial / mole / rare / and / unique / animal / find / desert / Australia

The marsupial mole is a rare and unique animal (that is/that can be) found in the deserts of Australia.

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it / more / close / relate / kangaroo / typical / mole

It is more closely related to a kangaroo than (to) a typical mole.

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it / have / long / cylindrical / body / shield / like / nose

It has a long, cylindrical body and a shield-like nose.

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it / lack / external / ear / and / eye / cover / by / fused / eyelid

It lacks external ears, and its eyes are covered by fused eyelids.

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it / also / have / no / optic / nerve / so / it / effective / blind

It also has no optic nerve, so it is effectively blind.

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its / loss / eyesight / may / energy / conserving / adaptation

Its loss of eyesight may be an energy-conserving adaptation.

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movement / through / sand / resemble / swim

Its movement through (the) sand resembles swimming.

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its / pouch / invert / prevent / sand / enter / and / thus / protect / young

Its pouch is inverted, preventing sand from entering and thus protecting its young.
Its pouch is inverted, which prevents sand from entering and thus protecting its young.

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1. What is the most unusual or interesting idea expressed in the discussion?
2. How do the physical adaptations of the marsupial mole help it survive in its desert environment?
3. They suggest two reasons why marsupial moles have lost their eyesight. What are they? Which one does the woman seem to favor? Which one do you believe is more likely?
4. What are some animals that have adapted to their environment in unusual ways? Can you think of any that have unique physical features like the marsupial mole?
5. What is the strangest animal you have seen face-to-face? What did you find unusual about it? When and where did you see it?