WHEN WHALES WALKED THE EARTH

BEFORE STARTING

You should keep in mind that the following short film is not original TOEFL iBT material. However, having said that, any practice is good practice and the film has been chosen because of its content and use of academic language. Once you have listened to the film you may answer the questions that follow (the answers of which can be found at the bottom of the page). Please remember that in the real exam you will not be able to see the questions as you are listening to the dialogue.

WHILST WAITING

Depending on your connectivity, it may take some time for the film to fully download on to your screen. So I have included the following list of facts to keep you entertained whilst waiting. Enjoy!

When Whales Hag Legs

Whales were believed to be land animals with legs before they were known to be animals of the sea. Today, there are over 80 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises

• In 1859 Charles Darwin suggested that whales had evolved from large bearlike animals that swam in the sea.
• The evolution of whales started around 50 million years ago.
• The evolution of whales is one of the most extraordinary transformations – in less than 10 million years the whale’s ancestors completely transformed from a four legged terrestrial animal to ocean dwelling giants.
• The oldest known early whale was called Pakicetus – a small furry wolf-like animal that lived in the region now known as Pakistan.
• A descendant of the modern whale was the giant serpent like Basilosaurus, meaning King Lizard - measuring up to 60 feet long.
• Modern whales share many land-based mammalian features – they are warm blooded, breathe with their lungs, take care of their newborns and the mothers nurse their calves with milk.
  The Blue Whale is the largest animal ever to inhabit the earth.
• Archaeologists dated a harpoon lodged in the blubber of a living Bowhead whale in Alaska to the 19th century. New ageing techniques also calculated another Bowhead to be over 200 years.
  The Grey Whale has the longest known migrations of any animal – each whale will travel up to 20,000 km (12,500 miles) in an annual migration.
• Whales rest – they do this by closing off half their brain at a time. They continue to swim and rise to the surface to breathe even if they are in a deep sleep.
• Whale carcasses (or whale falls) often float down into deep waters, reaching depths in excess of 1000 m. In these depths, the whale bodies serve as a major source of organic material for decades at a time- housing more than 30,000 animals.

Read more:

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/morphed/3001/Videos/06300_00#tab-facts#ixzz0LmmStpN8


NOW LISTEN AND TAKE NOTES.






NOW ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. YOU MAY USE YOUR NOTES TO HELP YOU.

1) What is the main subject of the film?

• The life of the Pakicetus.
• The link between early whales and modern whales.
• The discovery of Ambulocetus fossils.
• The link between Pakicetus and Ambulocetus.

2) It can be implied that the Ambulocetus lived?

• 46 million years ago.
• 4 million years after the Rodhocetus.
• 1 million years after Pakicetus.
• 5 million years before Rodhocetus.

3) According to the film, where was the fossil of the Rodhocetus found?

• In an area that was once an ancient seabed.
• In a place just outside Pakistan.
• In an ancient lake located in Pakistan.
• In a country bordering Pakistan.

4) According to the film, which three adaptations did the Rodhocetus have that other early fossils did not. Choose three answers.

• A larger skull.
• Wider flipper like legs.
• Shorter neck.
• Better eye sight.
• Better developed tail muscles.

TO HELP YOU ENRICH YOUR VOCABULARY, I HAVE INCLUDED A LIST OF THE MOST USEFUL VOCABULARY FROM THE FILM BELOW.

• Remote
• Ancient
• Seabed
• Fossil
• Tools
• Discovery
• Dive
• Rear
• Muscle
• Elusive
• Bone
• Mineral
• Reveal
• Creature
• Struggle
• Hunt
• Predator
• Species
• Ingenious

ANSWER KEY:

1=B, 2=C, 3=A, 4=B,C,D