B2: Wojtek the Polish Bear Hero
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Introduction
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Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II. He became an official member of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company in the 2nd Polish Corps.​
Early Life
Polish soldiers bought Wojtek as an orphaned cub near Hamedan, Iran, in 1942 from a boy whose hunters had killed its mother. Initially fed condensed milk from a vodka bottle, he grew under the care of soldiers and a refugee girl named Irena Bokiewicz.​
Military Service
To transport Wojtek to Italy, soldiers enlisted him as a private with a paybook and serial number, bypassing pet restrictions on British ships. During the 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino, he carried heavy 100-pound crates of artillery shells, mimicking the troops and never dropping any.
For his bravery, Wojtek was promoted to corporal, and the company adopted a bear-carrying-shell emblem. He enjoyed beer, cigarettes (which he ate), wrestling soldiers, and saluting.
Post-War Life
After the war, Wojtek moved to Scotland with his unit, settling at Edinburgh Zoo in 1947 where Polish veterans visited him. He died on December 2, 1963, at age 21, weighing nearly 500 kg and standing over 1.8 meters tall.​
Legacy
Statues of Wojtek stand in Edinburgh, Kraków, and other sites, with recent adaptations like a 2024 play and animated film. His story symbolizes Polish soldiers' resilience and camaraderie
Wojtek the Bear Soldier is a famous story from World War II. In 1942, Polish soldiers found a small brown bear cub in Iran. A young boy was selling the cub because his father had killed its mother. The soldiers bought Wojtek with money and a Swiss Army knife. They fed him milk from a bottle at first, and later fruit, honey, and even beer!
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Wojtek grew up with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish army. To take him on a ship to Italy, they made him an official soldier. He got a name, a serial number, and a paybook. During the tough Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, Wojtek helped by carrying heavy boxes of ammunition. He never dropped them and worked as hard as the men. For his bravery, the soldiers promoted him to corporal. They even made a new badge for their unit: a bear carrying an artillery shell.
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After the war, Wojtek went to Scotland with his friends. He lived at Edinburgh Zoo from 1947 until his death in 1963. He weighed over 500 pounds and loved wrestling with visitors. Today, statues of Wojtek stand in Edinburgh and other places. His story shows how animals can boost soldiers' morale during war.​
Task Directions
Read the passage above carefully. Then answer the 8 multiple-choice questions. Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) for each. This is a B2-level task to practice comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills.
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Where did the Polish soldiers find Wojtek?
A) In Scotland
B) In Italy
C) In Iran
D) In Poland -
What did the soldiers give the boy to buy the bear cub?
A) Money and a knife
B) Beer and fruit
C) Milk and honey
D) Ammunition boxes -
Why did Wojtek become an official soldier?
A) To fight in battles
B) To get a promotion
C) To live in a zoo
D) To join a ship to Italy -
What did Wojtek carry during the Battle of Monte Cassino?
A) Beer bottles
B) Heavy ammunition
C) Swiss knives
D) Bear food -
What was the new unit badge?
A) A cub in Iran
B) A bear carrying an artillery shell
C) A soldier wrestling
D) A bear with beer -
Where did Wojtek live after the war?
A) Iran
B) Monte Cassino
C) Edinburgh Zoo
D) Polish army base -
How did Wojtek behave at the zoo?
A) He carried shells
B) He wrestled visitors
C) He drank milk
D) He ate only honey -
What does Wojtek's story show?
A) Bears like beer
B) Animals boost morale
C) Statues are heavy
D) Animals make good soldiers
Answer Key
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C
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A
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D
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B
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B
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C
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B
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B
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