Baby Monkey Learns to Live With Group

Level 2 Lesson by: Aron Thode Source: usatoday.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A soft, textured children’s-book illustration of a young macaque sitting on sandy ground beside an orange plush toy, against a rocky background.
Punch and his stuffed orangutan toy.

A baby monkey named Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. This week, many people watched videos of him online. In one video, he carries a stuffed orangutan toy. Zoo workers gave him the toy because he often felt alone.

Punch's mother left him right after birth, so zoo workers raised him. Another new video then upset many animal lovers. A bigger monkey pulled Punch in circles on the ground. Punch then ran to a corner and held his toy. People near the cage gasped when they saw this scene.

The zoo said Punch tried to meet another baby monkey before this happened. That baby did not accept him. Then an adult female monkey came to Punch. The zoo thinks she was the baby's mother and wanted to protect her baby.

Punch was born on July 26, 2025, at the zoo. Recent zoo updates show better days for him. Other monkeys now groom him and play with him. Staff say he is learning how to live with the monkey group.

Vocab List

  • raise (v.) — To take care of a child or young animal while it grows.
  • protect (v.) — To keep someone safe from danger.
  • cage (n.) — A structure with bars where an animal is kept.
  • accept (v.) — To agree to take or allow something.
  • scene (n.) — A part of an event that people can see.
  • groom (v.) — To clean another animal's fur.
  • gasp (v.) — To take in air quickly because of surprise or shock.
  • animal lovers (n. phrase) — People who care a lot about animals.
  • stuffed toy (n. phrase) — A soft toy filled with material.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:36

YouTube link

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

A baby monkey named Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in (1) __________. This week, many people watched videos of him online. In one video, he carries a stuffed orangutan toy. Zoo workers gave him the toy because he often felt alone. Punch's mother left him right after birth, so zoo workers raised him. Another new video then upset many animal lovers. A bigger monkey pulled Punch in (2) __________ on the ground. Punch then ran to a corner and held his toy. People near the cage gasped when they saw this scene. The zoo said Punch tried to meet another baby monkey before this happened. That baby did not accept him. Then an adult female monkey came to Punch. The zoo thinks she was the baby's mother and wanted to (3) __________ her baby. Punch was born on July 26, 2025, at the zoo. Recent zoo updates show better days for him. Other monkeys now (4) __________ him and play with him. Staff say he is learning how to live with the monkey (5) __________.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
    The story says Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
  • Punch's mother raised him after birth.
    The story says Punch's mother left him right after birth.
  • Recent updates say other monkeys now groom Punch.
    The story says other monkeys now groom him.

True or False

1. Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. T / F

2. Punch's mother raised him after birth. T / F

3. Recent updates say other monkeys now groom Punch. T / F

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):

  • ___ Punch ran to a corner and held his toy.
  • ___ Zoo workers gave Punch a stuffed toy because he felt alone.
  • ___ Recent updates show other monkeys now groom and play with Punch.
  • ___ A bigger monkey pulled Punch in circles on the ground.

Multiple Choice

1. Why did workers give Punch a stuffed orangutan toy?

   A) To help him when he felt alone.

   B) To help him meet another baby monkey.

   C) To stop a bigger monkey from pulling him.

   D) Because many people watched videos online.

2. Who pulled Punch in circles on the ground?

   A) Zoo workers

   B) Another baby monkey

   C) A bigger monkey

   D) People near the cage

3. When was Punch born?

   A) July 26, 2026

   B) June 26, 2025

   C) July 16, 2025

   D) July 26, 2025

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Raise (v)

2. Protect (v)

3. Cage (n)

4. Accept (v)

5. Scene (n)

a) A part of an event that people can see.

b) To agree to take or allow something.

c) A structure with bars where an animal is kept.

d) To keep someone safe from danger.

e) To take care of a child or young animal while it grows.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Recent updates show other monkeys now play with Punch. ________ Punch is learning to live with the monkey group.

    But, / I think, / For example,

  2. The zoo gave Punch a toy ________ he often felt alone.

    because / but / or

  3. Some videos about Punch were upsetting for people. ________ recent updates show better days for him.

    Also, / But, / For example,

Discussion Questions

  1. How did you feel when you read about Punch?
  2. A bigger monkey pulled Punch in circles. Is this normal monkey behavior?
  3. If you were there, would you help Punch? How?
  4. Do you think Punch will be okay in the future? Why?
  5. Do you watch animal videos online? If not, what kinds of videos do you like?
  6. Do you have any stuffed toys, like teddy bears?
  7. Why do young people (and young monkeys) like stuffed toys?
  8. What can a person do if they feel alone?
  9. Are you an animal lover?

Answers

Think Ahead: c

Listening: (1) Japan, (2) circles, (3) protect, (4) groom, (5) group

True or False:

  1. True. The story says Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
  2. False. The story says Punch's mother left him right after birth.
  3. True. The story says other monkeys now groom him.

Multiple Choice: A, C, D

Put Events in Order:

  1. Zoo workers gave Punch a stuffed toy because he felt alone.
  2. A bigger monkey pulled Punch in circles on the ground.
  3. Punch ran to a corner and held his toy.
  4. Recent updates show other monkeys now groom and play with Punch.

Vocabulary:

  1. Raise (v): To take care of a child or young animal while it grows.
  2. Protect (v): To keep someone safe from danger.
  3. Cage (n): A structure with bars where an animal is kept.
  1. Accept (v): To agree to take or allow something.
  2. Scene (n): A part of an event that people can see.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.

  1. I think,
  2. because
  3. But,

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