A Coyote on Alcatraz Island

Introduction

A male coyote swam to Alcatraz Island in January. Scientists wanted to know where the animal came from.

Main Body

At first, people thought the coyote came from San Francisco. But scientists checked the animal's DNA. They found the coyote came from Angel Island. It swam 3.2 kilometers. This is a very long swim for a coyote. Experts think the coyote wanted a partner or a new home. Coyotes can swim, but this swim was very difficult. The water moves very fast around the island. People worried about the birds on the island. They put cameras to find the coyote. They wanted to move the animal to a safe place. But they did not find the coyote again after January.

Conclusion

Nobody knows where the coyote is now. It probably left the island.

Learning

🐾 The 'Past Action' Secret

In this story, almost everything happened in the past. To speak at an A2 level, you must change your action words (verbs) to show the time is finished.

The Pattern: Add -ed Look at how the words change from 'now' to 'then':

  • Want →\rightarrow Wanted*
  • Check →\rightarrow Checked*

The Tricky Ones (Irregular) Some words don't follow the -ed rule. You just have to memorize them:

  • Come →\rightarrow Came*
  • Swim →\rightarrow Swam*
  • Find →\rightarrow Found*

Quick Guide for Your Speaking: If you are telling a story about yesterday or last year, use these 'finished' words.

Example: "The coyote swam (past of swim) to the island and wanted (past of want) a home."

Vocabulary Learning

swim
move through water using limbs
Example:I like to swim in the pool.
animal
living creature that is not a plant
Example:The zoo has many different animals.
home
a place where someone lives
Example:She returned to her home after the trip.
water
clear liquid that covers Earth
Example:Drink enough water every day.
fast
moving quickly
Example:The rabbit ran fast across the field.
move
change position
Example:Please move your chair closer to the table.
safe
not dangerous
Example:The new park is a safe place for children.
place
a particular area or location
Example:Find a quiet place to study.
again
one more time
Example:Try again if you make a mistake.
now
at the present time
Example:I will finish the work now.
island
land surrounded by water
Example:The vacation spot is on a small island.
January
first month of the year
Example:We celebrated the new year in January.