Reading Test. 2nd term. 11th grade

Read the text below and choose the correct answer

"Anybody can have a cat or a dog," says Jackie Coleman Wren. "But I wanted a pet that would fit my personality." So, what's her choice? Chico, a hog-sized capybara. Capybaras are the world's largest rodents and resemble giant guinea pigs. In the wild, these water-loving South American natives spend days feeding on aquatic plants in lakes and rivers, and roaming the savannas to graze on grasses and fruit. But not Chico.

Chico loves to wear hats, swimming and diving in the family pool with Wren's grandchildren, sleeping in bed with Wren and her husband, and he adores weekly barbecues where he likes to relax on a chair in the middle of everything. Oh, and his best friend is Darla, a mini-pig, who also lives*at home with the Wrens, along with a possum, a pet Chihuahua and occasional rescued animals.

Not only is Chico a much loved family member who keeps everyone laughing, he's also extremely adorable. "He thinks he's a lapdog," Wren says. "If you're sitting on the couch or someone comes over to visit, the first thing Chico does is climb up and start giving kisses." Apparently, he's also highly intelligent and expressive with a wide range of sounds, from whistles to clicking his teeth as a warning.

In fact, Chico's extreme people-friendliness (unusual for a capybara) has made him a star, both in his community and around the world. Chico has appeared on Animal Planet and the BBC. He even has his own Facebook page.

Chico is also part of several research and charitable projects. He receives specialised veterinary care at Texas A&M University, which keeps track of his growth and health in an effort to better understand capybaras' medical needs and help train vets to care for them. Wren also supplies regular updates on Chico's diet and any health issues to the ROUS (Rodents of Unusual Size) Foundation. The group has a research program to "improve the quality and duration of life" for pet capybaras and those living in zoos. The information eventually may also be used to help wild capybaras, which are getting smaller in number in some areas where they are heavily hunted.

One of Chico's (and Wren's) favourite outreach activities is touring schools and visiting kids with special needs. Chico loves the attention, teachers use the hands-on lesson to teach kids about South America, and students get to see and touch a creature they're not likely to meet anywhere else. Wren views it as an opportunity to teach tolerance with Chico serving as an ambassador. "I want kids to see that even though an animal looks different, it's just like with human beings. Everybody is different, but everybody has his or her role. We should embrace each other for our differences. Children are more likely to listen to this message than adults."

Why did Wren decide to have a capybara as a pet?

Read the text below and choose the correct answer

"Anybody can have a cat or a dog," says Jackie Coleman Wren. "But I wanted a pet that would fit my personality." So, what's her choice? Chico, a hog-sized capybara. Capybaras are the world's largest rodents and resemble giant guinea pigs. In the wild, these water-loving South American natives spend days feeding on aquatic plants in lakes and rivers, and roaming the savannas to graze on grasses and fruit. But not Chico.

Chico loves to wear hats, swimming and diving in the family pool with Wren's grandchildren, sleeping in bed with Wren and her husband, and he adores weekly barbecues where he likes to relax on a chair in the middle of everything. Oh, and his best friend is Darla, a mini-pig, who also lives*at home with the Wrens, along with a possum, a pet Chihuahua and occasional rescued animals.

Not only is Chico a much loved family member who keeps everyone laughing, he's also extremely adorable. "He thinks he's a lapdog," Wren says. "If you're sitting on the couch or someone comes over to visit, the first thing Chico does is climb up and start giving kisses." Apparently, he's also highly intelligent and expressive with a wide range of sounds, from whistles to clicking his teeth as a warning.

In fact, Chico's extreme people-friendliness (unusual for a capybara) has made him a star, both in his community and around the world. Chico has appeared on Animal Planet and the BBC. He even has his own Facebook page.

Chico is also part of several research and charitable projects. He receives specialised veterinary care at Texas A&M University, which keeps track of his growth and health in an effort to better understand capybaras' medical needs and help train vets to care for them. Wren also supplies regular updates on Chico's diet and any health issues to the ROUS (Rodents of Unusual Size) Foundation. The group has a research program to "improve the quality and duration of life" for pet capybaras and those living in zoos. The information eventually may also be used to help wild capybaras, which are getting smaller in number in some areas where they are heavily hunted.

One of Chico's (and Wren's) favourite outreach activities is touring schools and visiting kids with special needs. Chico loves the attention, teachers use the hands-on lesson to teach kids about South America, and students get to see and touch a creature they're not likely to meet anywhere else. Wren views it as an opportunity to teach tolerance with Chico serving as an ambassador. "I want kids to see that even though an animal looks different, it's just like with human beings. Everybody is different, but everybody has his or her role. We should embrace each other for our differences. Children are more likely to listen to this message than adults."

Which of the following is TRUE about Chico?

Read the text below and choose the correct answer

"Anybody can have a cat or a dog," says Jackie Coleman Wren. "But I wanted a pet that would fit my personality." So, what's her choice? Chico, a hog-sized capybara. Capybaras are the world's largest rodents and resemble giant guinea pigs. In the wild, these water-loving South American natives spend days feeding on aquatic plants in lakes and rivers, and roaming the savannas to graze on grasses and fruit. But not Chico.

Chico loves to wear hats, swimming and diving in the family pool with Wren's grandchildren, sleeping in bed with Wren and her husband, and he adores weekly barbecues where he likes to relax on a chair in the middle of everything. Oh, and his best friend is Darla, a mini-pig, who also lives*at home with the Wrens, along with a possum, a pet Chihuahua and occasional rescued animals.

Not only is Chico a much loved family member who keeps everyone laughing, he's also extremely adorable. "He thinks he's a lapdog," Wren says. "If you're sitting on the couch or someone comes over to visit, the first thing Chico does is climb up and start giving kisses." Apparently, he's also highly intelligent and expressive with a wide range of sounds, from whistles to clicking his teeth as a warning.

In fact, Chico's extreme people-friendliness (unusual for a capybara) has made him a star, both in his community and around the world. Chico has appeared on Animal Planet and the BBC. He even has his own Facebook page.

Chico is also part of several research and charitable projects. He receives specialised veterinary care at Texas A&M University, which keeps track of his growth and health in an effort to better understand capybaras' medical needs and help train vets to care for them. Wren also supplies regular updates on Chico's diet and any health issues to the ROUS (Rodents of Unusual Size) Foundation. The group has a research program to "improve the quality and duration of life" for pet capybaras and those living in zoos. The information eventually may also be used to help wild capybaras, which are getting smaller in number in some areas where they are heavily hunted.

One of Chico's (and Wren's) favourite outreach activities is touring schools and visiting kids with special needs. Chico loves the attention, teachers use the hands-on lesson to teach kids about South America, and students get to see and touch a creature they're not likely to meet anywhere else. Wren views it as an opportunity to teach tolerance with Chico serving as an ambassador. "I want kids to see that even though an animal looks different, it's just like with human beings. Everybody is different, but everybody has his or her role. We should embrace each other for our differences. Children are more likely to listen to this message than adults."

How is Chico different from other capybaras?