A. Match the words to their definitions on the right (write the correct letter in each box).

dash (n)

a pipe that carries away dirty water

aquarium (n)

work that is done to keep a road, building, machine, etc. in good

condition

roam (v)

enclosure (n)

soft and easily crushed or shaped

drain (n)

to move or travel with no particular purpose

ajar (adj)

an escape from prison, usually by a group of prisoners

maintenance (n)

the act of running somewhere very quickly

reveal (v)

a glass or plastic container in which fish and other water animals

can live

breakout (n)

slightly open

10

squishy (adj)

an area surrounded by a fence or wall

to make (something) known

B. Watch the video and decide whether the following statements are true or false. Write T for
True or F for False. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlZCilkCNEw

The octopus escaped from a New England aquarium.

Apparently it is swimming in the Pacific Ocean now.

Inky made his way to the sea through a drain pipe.

He managed to escape when he found a small hole in the tank.

The tanks lid was closed when he got away.

Staff had been checking and repairing the tank before Inkys escape.

The story of Inkys escape appeared in the newspapers as soon as it happened.

Inkys body is approximately as big as a squash ball.

An octopus can pass through any space as long as its mouth can get through.

10 Inkys mate decided to follow him when he broke out of the aquarium.
http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

C. Read the story about Inkys escape and put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense, active
or passive. (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36025141)
An octopus (make) . a successful dash for freedom from a New
Zealand aquarium and (think)..now. to be roaming the Pacific Ocean.
Inky the octopus (take) . his chance to escape through a small gap in
his enclosure at the National Aquarium in the coastal city of Napier. After managing to squeeze his way
out, Inky (slide) . across the floor and (find) . a
15cm-wide (6in) drain pipe which - luckily for him (lead) . to the sea, the
Stuff.co.nz website reports.
Aquarium manager Rob Yarrall says the tank's lid (leave) . slightly
ajar following maintenance work. "He (manage) . to make his way to one of
the drain holes that go back to the ocean and off he (go) . - didn't even
leave us a message," he tells Radio New Zealand. Staff later (find) .
"octopus tracks" which (reveal) . Inky's escape route. The breakout
(happen) . earlier this year but only (come) . to
light in the national press on Tuesday.
Of the aquarium's two octopuses, only Inky (decide) . to take his
chances on the outside, leaving his tank-mate behind. Mr Yarrell says it's the first escape he
(experience) . at the aquarium, telling the Hawkes Bay Today paper: "Yes,
it's most unusual and yes, we (watch) . the other one."

D. How much do you know about octopuses? Take the quiz below and find out.
(Source: Wikipedia)

1) There are around..species of octopus.

a) 200
b) 300
c) 400
2) Finless varieties live in..
a) deep water habitats
b) shallow waters around coral reefs
3) Octopuses have .. heart(s).
a) one
b) two
c) three
4) An octopus has a hard beak, similar in shape to a .. beak, which they use to break into
and eat their prey.
a) woodpeckers
b) parrots
c) pigeons
5) The largest octopus is believed to be the giant Pacific octopus, which usually weighs about
.. kg.
a) 15
b) 20
c) 25
6) Octopuses have very .. eyesight.
a) good
b) bad
7) A female octopus can lay on average about .. eggs.
a) 150,000 b) 200,000
c) 250,000
8) The blood of an octopus is ..
a) bluish
b) light green c) red.
http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

ANSWER KEY

A. Match the words to their definitions on the right (write the correct letter in each box).

dash (n)

a pipe that carries away dirty water

aquarium (n)

work that is done to keep a road, building, machine, etc. in good

condition

roam (v)

to make (something) known

enclosure (n)

soft and easily crushed or shaped

drain (n)

to move or travel with no particular purpose

ajar (adj)

an escape from prison, usually by a group of prisoners

maintenance (n)

the act of running somewhere very quickly

reveal (v)

a glass or plastic container in which fish and other water animals

can live

breakout (n)

slightly open

10

squishy (adj)

an area surrounded by a fence or wall

B. Watch the video and decide whether the following statements are true or false. Write T for
True or F for False. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlZCilkCNEw

The octopus escaped from a New England aquarium.

Apparently it is swimming in the Pacific Ocean now.

Inky made his way to the sea through a drain pipe.

He managed to escape when he found a small hole in the tank.

The tanks lid was closed when he got away.

Staff had been checking and repairing the tank before Inkys escape.

The story of Inkys escape appeared in the newspapers as soon as it happened.

Inkys body is approximately as big as a squash ball.

An octopus can pass through any space as long as its mouth can get through.

10 Inkys mate decided to follow him when he broke out of the aquarium.

http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/

C. Read the story about Inkys escape and put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense, active
or passive. (Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36025141)
An octopus has made a successful dash for freedom from a New Zealand aquarium and is now
thought to be roaming the Pacific Ocean.
Inky the octopus took his chance to escape through a small gap in his enclosure at the National
Aquarium in the coastal city of Napier. After managing to squeeze his way out, Inky slid across the
floor and found a 15cm-wide (6in) drain pipe which - luckily for him - led to the sea, the
Stuff.co.nz website reports.
Aquarium manager Rob Yarrall says the tank's lid was left slightly ajar following maintenance
work. "He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean and off he
went - didn't even leave us a message," he tells Radio New Zealand. Staff later found "octopus
tracks" which revealed Inky's escape route. The breakout happened earlier this year but only
came to light in the national press on Tuesday.
While Inky's body is about the size of a rugby ball, he's considerably more squishy and can get
through seemingly impassable spaces. "Even quite a large octopus, they can squeeze down to the
size of their mouth which is the only really hard part of their body," he says. "It's a beak, very
much like a parrot beak."
Of the aquarium's two octopuses, only Inky decided to take his chances on the outside, leaving his
tank-mate behind. Mr Yarrell says it's the first escape he has experienced at the aquarium, telling
the Hawkes Bay Today paper: "Yes, it's most unusual and yes, we'll be watching the other one."

D. How much do you know about octopuses? Take the quiz below and find out.
(Source: Wikipedia)

1) There are around..species of octopus.

a) 200
b) 300
c) 400
2) Finless varieties live in..
a) deep water habitats
b) shallow waters around coral reefs
3) Octopuses have .. heart(s).
a) one
b) two
c) three
4) An octopus has a hard beak, similar in shape to a .. beak, which they use to break into and
eat their prey.
a) woodpeckers
b) parrots
c) pigeons
5) The largest octopus is believed to be the giant Pacific octopus, which usually weighs about
.. kg.
a) 15
b) 20
c) 25
6) Octopuses have very .. eyesight.
a) good
b) bad
7) A female octopus can lay on average about .. eggs.
a) 150,000 b) 200,000
c) 250,000
8) The blood of an octopus is ..
a) bluish b) light green c) red.
http://areti-aroundtheworldinenglish.blogspot.gr/