The Fish That Draws Circles in the Sand

A2 Reading and Vocabulary · Homework · Complete every task and submit your answers.

1. Read the text

Read the text carefully. You need it for all the tasks below.

Deep under the sea near Japan, a small fish makes something amazing. The male white-spotted pufferfish is only about twelve centimetres long, but he builds a very big circle in the sand. The circle is about two metres wide. The fish works for about one week. He swims close to the sea floor and flaps his fins many times every day. His fins push the sand and make ridges and valleys.

The finished pattern looks like a beautiful flower. Why does he do it? He wants to attract a female. When a female likes the circle, she lays her eggs in the middle. The soft sand in the centre protects the eggs. Scientists still study how this little artist keeps the shape so exact.

2. Key vocabulary

Match each word from the text with its meaning.

• fin
• sea floor
• ridge
• pattern
• attract
• female
• protect
• exact

• a thin part of a fish's body that helps it swim
• the ground at the bottom of the sea
• a long, narrow line of raised sand or land
• a design made of shapes and lines
• to make someone interested and want to come closer
• an animal that can lay eggs or have babies
• to keep something safe from danger
• completely correct, with no mistakes

3. Check your understanding

Choose the correct answer for each question.

1. Where does the pufferfish build his circle?

• on the beach
• in the sand on the sea floor
• in a river

2. How long is the fish?

• about twelve centimetres
• about two metres
• about one metre

3. How long does he work on the circle?

• about one day
• about one month
• about one week

4. Why does he build the pattern?

• to catch small fish for food
• to attract a female
• to hide from big fish

5. Where does the female lay her eggs?

• in the middle of the circle
• outside the circle
• under a rock

6. True or false? Scientists know everything about how the fish keeps the shape so exact.

• True
• False

4. Use the new words

Complete each sentence with one word or phrase from the box.

finssea floorridgespatternattractfemaleprotectexact

1. A fish swims with its ______ .

2. Crabs and starfish live on the ______ .

3. The fish pushes the sand into long lines called ______ .

4. The circle has a beautiful ______ of lines, like a flower.

5. Bright flowers ______ bees and other insects.

6. The ______ pufferfish lays her eggs in the centre.

7. Animal parents ______ their babies from danger.

8. The lines of the circle are very ______ , with no mistakes.

5. Your turn

Write 40-60 words about an animal that surprised you. What animal is it? What does it do? Why does it surprise you?

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