Post-reading tasks:

Task 1. Answer the following questions.

1. What species does the class amphibians include?

2. What are the main characteristics of all amphibians?

3. Are there any difference between hibernation and aestivation?

4. What three orders of amphibians do you know?

5. Are there any differences between frogs and toads?

6. What are the differences between lizards and salamanders?

7. Describe stages of development through which amphibians pass?

Task 2. Finish the sentences, choosing the option which corresponds to the text.

1. The class Amphibians include

1. frogs;

2. salamanders;

3. toads;

4. all of the above;

5. none of the above.

2. Amphibians have

1. a three-chambered heart and well-developed limbs;

2. a four-chambered heart and two pairs of limbs;

3. no heart and wings.

3. The body temperature of amphibians

1. doesn’t vary with the environment;

2. varies with the water;

3. varies with the soil;

4. none.

4. Toads have

1. powerful jumping legs;

2. a tail;

3. teeth;

4. none.

5. Frogs have

1. poison glands;

2. tail;

3. powerful jumping legs;

4. none.

Task 3. Put the parts of the sentences in the right order.

1. Have / moist / salamanders / smooth / without / skins / scales.

2. Live / in water / most / both / and / amphibians / on land.

3. Aestivate / some / during / periods / amphibians / dry.

4. Pass / frogs / different / through / and / stages / toads /of / development.

5. Spend / sheltered / toads / at night / in / hunt / and / the / a cool spot.

6. An adult / are / that / as / salamanders / their tail / amphibians / retain.

7. A ball/ start / as / all / of jelly / amphibians / life / an egg / in.

8. The young / gills / underwater / amphibian / and / has / to breathe / a tail.

9. 5 years / for / live / frogs / can / more / and / most / toads / than.

10. Are / the hind / a great / legs /delicacy / of / frogs / certain / considered.

Task 4. Fill in the blanks below using words from the box

water	hibernate	amphibians	tadpoles	lungs	eggs
legs	tail	mud	land	winter	frogs

Frogs are 1)_______________________, animals that spend part of their lives under water and the remainder on 2)_____________________. They have long, powerful jumping 3)___________________ and a very short backbone. Most frogs have teeth (but toads do not).

Like all amphibians, frogs spend their lives near water because they must return to the water to lay their 4)_____________________. Frog eggs are laid in the 5)_____________________, and they hatch into 6)_____________________. Tadpoles breathe with gills and swim using a long 7)_____________________. As they mature into adult 8)_____________________, they lose their tail, and they develop _9)____________________ for breathing air. In harsh climates, frogs bury themselves in sand and 10)_____________________, and 11)_____________________ (sleep very deeply) through the cold 12)_____________________.

Task 5. Label the red-eyed tree frog using the words below

belly upper legs skin ear

lower legs nostril eyes

feet  pupil toes

TRANSLATION: Translate the sentences into English.

1. Основными характеристиками амфибий являются трехкамерное сердце и хорошо развитые конечности.

2. Амфибии – класс позвоночных животных, включающий в себя тритонов, саламандр, лягушек и жаб.

3.  Размножение и развитие у большинства видов происходит в водной среде, а взрослые особи обитают на суше.

4. Все земноводные имеют гладкую тонкую кожу.

5. Органами дыхания у амфибий являются легкие, кожа и жабры (у некорых видов и головастиков).

6. У земноводных, глаза похожи на глаза рыб.

7. Большинство проводит жизнь во влажных местах, чередуя пребывание на суше и в воде.

8. Некоторые земноводные, например, морская жаба, могут жить в солёной воде.

9. Амфибии обитают в самых разнообразных условиях, на всех континентах, кроме Антарктиды.

10. Многие виды обладают способностью быстро закапываться в землю.

SPEAKING: Find some information about newts and share your ideas with others.

WRITING: Prepare a report about “Amphibians of Belarus”.