Flying squirrel colony found in unexpected university tree removal mission

admin 2024年7月9日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - intermediate

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Have you ever heard about flying squirrels?
Have you ever visited a place where you could observe wildlife closely?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

university /yoo-nuh-VER-si-tee/

[noun] – a school that offers courses leading to a degree (such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree) and where research is done
She plans to attend a university in New York to study engineering.

team /teem/

[noun] – refers to a group of people working together
Our team won the basketball game last night.

squirrel /SKWUR-uhl/

[noun] – a small animal with a long tail and soft fur that lives in trees and eats nuts
We saw a squirrel climbing the tree in our backyard.

natural resource /NA-chuh-ruhl REE-sawrs/

[noun] – materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
The country is rich in natural resources like coal and oil.

observe /uhb-ZURV/

[noun] – to watch carefully the way something happens or the way someone does something, especially in order to learn more about it
During the science experiment, the students carefully observed the changes in the chemical reactions.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

A university team discovered a group of flying squirrels while removing a dying tree. This was surprising since these animals are not usually found in Nebraska. The discovery was recorded by a team member. Professor Larkin Powell, a nature conservation expert, explained that flying squirrels are hard to find because they are small and active at night. These squirrels were living in the tree canopy near the School of Natural Resources. Flying squirrels glide through the air rather than flying like birds. According to the National Wildlife Federation, southern flying squirrels are common in the eastern U.S., while northern flying squirrels live in the Northeast, West Coast, and parts of the Northwest. Scientist Shaun Dunn, who has observed flying squirrels in Lincoln since 2018, notes that they glide smoothly. Professor Don Althoff, who has studied southern flying squirrels for nearly thirty years, explains that they look clumsy on the ground despite their graceful gliding. This discovery has excited university faculty and students, encouraging them to learn more about flying squirrels and highlighting the need to protect wildlife.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

A group of flying squirrels was found in Nebraska.
Flying squirrels usually live in Nebraska.
The discovery of flying squirrels was recorded by a professor.
Flying squirrels fly like birds.
Southern flying squirrels are common in the western U.S.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

university

team

squirrel

natural resources

observe

Conservationists work to protect ______ for future generations.
The ______ has a large library with many resources.
The ______ quickly gathered acorns before winter.
The park ranger asked visitors to ______ the wildlife quietly to avoid disturbing the animals.
The science ______ worked together on the project.