News by Levels · Level 1 · For teachers

Teacher guide & answers

In this lesson: Identify the fossil evidence and the difference between approximate and exact weight.

Ancient Rodent May Have Weighed 30 Kilograms

How to use these two pages

Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.

Student worksheet

A simple 15–20-minute lesson

Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.

Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.

Answers to the 2 questions

The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.

What fossils did researchers find?
Correct answer: B — Teeth
Why: The opening paragraph identifies fossil teeth.
Clue in the story: Researchers found fossil teeth from a giant rodent in southern Thailand. The animal lived about 34 million years ago, McGill reported on November 10.
What do the teeth not reveal?
Correct answer: A — The exact weight
Why: The second paragraph explicitly states the weight is not exact.
Clue in the story: They estimate it weighed around 30 kilograms. The teeth do not reveal its exact weight.

The open question: accept different answers

Ask learners: Explain what was found and how heavy the animal may have been.

One possible answer: Researchers found fossil teeth from a giant rodent in southern Thailand. They estimate that it weighed around 30 kilograms, but its exact weight is unknown.

This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.

Grammar to discuss

An approximate value

around 30 kilograms

Around means approximately; it does not make 30 kilograms an exact measurement.