B2: The Brave & Mighty Mongoose
Below is a B2 level English reading task about Mongoose for kids. Good luck and enjoy!
A Brief Introduction to the Mongoose
A mongoose is a small, sleek, and fast mammal with a long body, a pointy nose, and sharp claws, often known for its ability to fight snakes. They live in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and Hawaii and can eat a variety of foods, including insects, lizards, and sometimes fruit. Mongooses are also known for their social behavior and the story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.
What they look like
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Body: They have a long body, short legs, and a long tail.
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Coat: Their fur is typically brown or gray.
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Head: They have a long head with a pointy nose and short ears.
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Claws: They have five toes on each foot with long claws they cannot retract.
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Where they live
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Mongooses are found in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and Hawaii.
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They are adaptable and can live in various habitats.
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They often live in burrows that were previously dug by other animals.
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What they eat
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Mongooses are carnivores, meaning they eat meat.
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Their diet includes insects, lizards, rodents, and birds.
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They will also occasionally eat plant foods like fruit.
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Interesting facts
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Snake fighters: They are famous for fighting and killing venomous snakes, using their speed and agility to their advantage.
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Thick fur: Their dense, loose hair can protect them from snake venom.
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Social animals: Some kinds, like the banded mongoose, are very social and live in large groups called "mobs".
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Vocal: They are very chatty and use alarm calls to warn others of danger.
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"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi": Many kids know mongooses from the story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, which is about a brave mongoose that saves a human family from snakes
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The Mongoose
Mongooses are small, clever mammals found mostly in Africa and southern Asia. They have long bodies, short legs, and bushy tails. Most mongooses are brown or gray and live in grasslands, forests, or semi-deserts. They are famous for their courage and quick movements. Even though they are small, they can defend themselves against poisonous snakes. Their fast reflexes and thick fur help protect them from snake bites.
Mongooses are very social animals. Many species live in large family groups called packs or colonies. They hunt, play, and rest together. A typical mongoose pack can have up to 20 members. Each mongoose has a role in the group; for example, some watch for predators while others search for food. This teamwork helps them survive in the wild.
Their diet includes insects, small animals, birds, and eggs. Some mongooses even break open bird eggs by throwing them against rocks. They also eat fruits and roots when meat is hard to find. Because of their intelligence and adaptability, mongooses can live in many different environments and stay safe from enemies. They are truly remarkable creatures that show how cooperation and cleverness can lead to success in the animal world.
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Quiz 1
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Where are mongooses mostly found?
A. North America
B. Africa and southern Asia
C. Europe
D. South America -
What physical feature helps mongooses when fighting snakes?
A. Long tails
B. Thick fur
C. Sharp claws
D. Big eyes -
What does a typical mongoose pack do together?
A. Sleep all day
B. Fight other packs
C. Hunt, play, and rest
D. Travel alone -
How many members might a mongoose pack have?
A. Up to 5
B. Up to 10
C. Up to 15
D. Up to 20 -
What do some mongooses do to open bird eggs?
A. Roll them on the ground
B. Throw them against rocks
C. Bite them open
D. Sit on them -
What helps mongooses survive in different environments?
A. Size and color
B. Intelligence and adaptability
C. Laziness and speed
D. Strength and size -
What term describes their group behavior?
A. Cooperation
B. Competition
C. Aggression
D. Isolation -
What type of animals can mongooses defend themselves against?
A. Birds
B. Snakes
C. Tigers
D. Insects -
What do mongooses eat when meat is hard to find?
A. Only water
B. Fruits and roots
C. Grass
D. Stones -
What can we learn from mongooses?
A. That being alone is best
B. That sleeping all day helps survival
C. That cleverness and teamwork lead to success
D. That power is the key to survival
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Quiz 1 Answer Key
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B
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B
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C
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D
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B
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B
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A
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B
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B
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C
The Mighty Mongoose vs. The Killer King Cobra
Who do you think is going to win?
Mongoose Diet
What do you think Mongoose like to eat?
Mongooses eat rodents, frogs, birds, insects, and plants for most of their diet. Mongooses are predominantly carnivores, but some species have been seen eating fruits, seeds, and nuts. They have tapered snouts with short legs to carry their long bodies.
The triangular snouts of mongooses house a mouth with rows of sharp teeth. They will use their sharp teeth to eat anything that comes their way as food. Hence, they are termed “opportunistic and nondiscriminatory” feeders.
A study in the Journal of Mammalogy examining mongooses in Hawaii found that their diet comprises 39.6% mammals, 27% insects, 4.1% birds, and 29.3% plants. In this study, it was concluded that insects are essential to a mongoose’s diet. Cockroaches have been discovered to contribute over 13.9% of their diets. Mongooses also eat eggs. To get into eggs, they throw them against hard surfaces.
Here is a list of the most common foods that mongooses will eat:
Mongooses are dynamic in their dieting when in captivity. The same study also shows that they eat foods not recorded in their natural habitat. Mongooses eats coconut meat, earthworms, bread, centipedes, and bananas when in captivity.
Mongooses will also augment their diet with berries and roots.
Where do Mongoose live? How do they make they living quarters?
Mongooses live in many parts of Africa, southern Asia, and sections of Europe, such as the Iberian Peninsula. Their habitats range from grasslands, woodlands, forests, rocky terrain, and sometimes areas near rivers or water. While most species avoid pure deserts and dense rainforests, some, like the Indian or bushy-tailed mongoose, are comfortable in tropical zones and even semi-aquatic locations.
When creating their living quarters, mongooses are adaptable and resourceful. Most species build burrows underground, using their sharp claws to dig complex tunnel systems for safety and shelter. Sometimes, they take over crevices or abandoned tunnels made by other animals, or they find shelter in hollow logs, rock crevices, or even tree hollows. Some semi-aquatic or arboreal species make nests or dens in trees or near water.
Social species, such as the banded mongoose, live in colonies and share dens, which they may stay in only for a few days before moving together to a new location. Their dens are usually designed to protect the group from predators and provide hiding spaces, with a system for guard rotation, allowing the colony to rapidly hide underground if danger approaches. This teamwork helps them stay safe and adapt to life in many environments
Multiple Choice Quiz: Mongoose Homes and Habitats
Multiple Choice Quiz: Mongoose Homes and Habitats
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Where do mongooses live?
A. Antarctica
B. Africa, southern Asia, and parts of Europe
C. North America
D. Australia -
Which habitat do mongooses often avoid?
A. Grasslands
B. Rocky terrain
C. Pure deserts
D. Forests -
How do most mongooses create their homes?
A. Building nests in trees
B. Digging burrows underground
C. Living under water
D. Making piles of leaves -
What do mongooses sometimes use for shelter, besides burrows?
A. Hollow logs
B. Open fields
C. Mud huts
D. Snow caves -
How do social mongooses protect their colonies?
A. By building tall fences
B. By rotating guards and sharing dens
C. By hiding in water
D. By living alone -
Which species is known for living in colonies and sharing dens?
A. Indian mongoose
B. Banded mongoose
C. Bushy-tailed mongoose
D. Egyptian mongoose -
Why do mongooses move to new dens frequently?
A. For fun
B. To stay safe from dangers
C. For more sunlight
D. Because they cannot dig
Answer Key:
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B
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C
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B
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A
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B
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B
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B
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