Question

Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about penguins. Ask about: • where penguins live?• if they live near the North or the South Pole?• in what penguins are different from other birds?• what they look like?• what they were like long ago?• how it happened that they can’t fly?• what they can do very well?• why penguins don’t feel cold?​

Answer 1

Where do penguins live?

They live along the Antarctic continent, in Peru, Brazil, Southwest Africa, New Zealand and in the south of Australia.

Do they live near the North or the South Pole?

They live near the South Pole.

In what are penguins different from other birds?

They can stand up straight and walk but they can’t fly.

What do they look like?

They look like people wearing black coats and white shirts.

What were they like long ago?

Ages ago, the penguins were about 2 metres tall and could fly as well as any other bird.

How did it happen that they can’t fly?

Many scientists say that it happened because penguins had very few enemies. They lived on the territories where there was practically nobody dangerous for them. So they could safely spend all the time on land or in the water. They stopped using their wings. In time those wings became very small, until today they are useless for flying.

What can they do very well?

Penguins are fantastic swimmers.

Why don’t penguins feel cold?

Penguins developed a thick coat of fat to protect them from the icy cold of the territories where they live.

Answer 2

Partner 1: Where do penguins live?

Partner 2: Penguins primarily live in the southern hemisphere, particularly in Antarctica, although they can also be found in other regions such as the coasts of South America, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Partner 1: Do penguins live near the North or the South Pole?

Partner 2: Penguins predominantly inhabit the southern hemisphere, so they live near the South Pole, particularly in Antarctica. There are no wild penguin populations near the North Pole.

Partner 1: How are penguins different from other birds?

Partner 2: Penguins have several distinct characteristics that set them apart from other birds. Firstly, they are flightless birds, meaning they cannot fly. Secondly, they have adapted to a marine lifestyle and are excellent swimmers. Their wings are modified into flippers for efficient underwater propulsion. Additionally, penguins have a unique way of walking, with an upright posture on land.

Partner 1: What do penguins look like?

Partner 2: Penguins have a distinctive appearance. They are generally black and white in color, with a sleek, streamlined body shape. They have short, stiff wings that serve as flippers for swimming. Penguins vary in size depending on the species, ranging from the small-sized Little Blue Penguin to the Emperor Penguin, which is the largest species standing about 3.7 feet tall.

Partner 1: What were penguins like long ago?

Partner 2: Fossil evidence suggests that penguins have existed for around 60 million years. While some prehistoric penguin species were similar in appearance to their modern counterparts, there were also some notable differences. Some ancient penguins were significantly larger, with some species reaching heights of over six feet. These ancient penguins also had longer beaks compared to the shorter, more streamlined beaks of today's penguins.

Partner 1: How did it happen that penguins can't fly?

Partner 2: Over time, penguins evolved to adapt to their aquatic environment. Their wings, which were once used for flying, gradually transformed into flippers for efficient swimming. This adaptation allowed them to become highly skilled divers and swimmers, but it rendered them flightless. The lack of land predators in their environment further reduced the need for flight.

Partner 1: What can penguins do very well?

Partner 2: Penguins are exceptional swimmers and divers. They have streamlined bodies, strong flippers, and dense feathers that provide insulation and reduce drag in the water. Penguins can dive to considerable depths, with some species capable of reaching depths of over 1,500 feet and staying underwater for several minutes. They use their wings as flippers to maneuver and propel themselves gracefully through the water.

Partner 1: Why don't penguins feel cold?

Partner 2: Penguins have several adaptations that help them withstand the cold temperatures of their environment. Firstly, they have a thick layer of insulating feathers that trap air close to their bodies, providing excellent insulation. Additionally, they have a layer of fat beneath their skin, known as blubber, which acts as insulation and helps regulate their body temperature. Penguins also have a unique circulatory system that helps reduce heat loss from their extremities, such as their flippers and feet, by minimizing blood flow to those areas. These adaptations collectively allow them to thrive in cold environments without feeling excessively cold.