Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.
This is the text (if you need help).
There is a select group of creatures that is synonymous with Christmas – donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not spring to mind when thinking of the festive season. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has gone missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an indication that the holiday season was on its way in the land down under. Its numbers have declined alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 remembers there being huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they were kids, but that just doesn't seem to happen any more."
The Christmas beetle is as unique to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny and harmless bug. Dr Latty told the BBC: "We have in Australia this really unique biological event where Christmas is associated with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to find out why there are so few around. Scientists suspect that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires wiped out huge swathes of forest that were home to the beetles. Australia has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Scientists fear the Christmas beetle may also soon die out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.
- How many creatures does the article say is synonymous with Xmas?
- What does the article say does not spring to mind with Christmas?
- What nickname for Australia is mentioned in the article?
- What is Tanya Latty's job?
- Who remembers there being loads of Christmas beetles as kids?
- What in Australia is as unique as Christmas beetles?
- What do scientists attribute the dwindling numbers of the beetles to?
- What did Australia's 2020 bushfires wipe out?
- Which country has the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world?
- What did Tanya Latty ask people to send her?
Back to the Christmas beetle lesson.
