, English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 7
Name and Surname:
Grade 7:
50
Date:
The Mystery Arrival of Antarctic
Seals in South Africa
On the 28 January 2021, the SPCA received reports of a seal resting on some
rocks on the beach at Ramsgate in KwaZulu-Natal. On closer inspection, they
were amazed to discover that the seal was a Crabeater seal. What made this
discovery so surprising is that Crabeater seals live along the
coast of Antarctica and this is only the third time in the
last 40 years that one has been spotted on the coast of
KwaZulu-Natal. Concerned for the seal’s safety and his
condition so far from home, the SPCA members caught
him and took him through to uShaka Marine World
where he would be able to receive treatment from their
veterinarian, Dr Francois Lampen, should he need it.
Catching him proved an easier task than expected as animals
who live in Antarctica have not developed a fear of humans as
they never come into contact with them. Even stranger than the Crabeater arriving
in Ramsgate was a second Crabeater seal arriving in East London on the same
day! When the seal arrived at uShaka he was checked over by Dr Lampen, who
happily reported that although the sub-adult seal was stressed from the trip, he
was not ill or hurt so he was admitted to a rehabilitation pool to rest. The staff
named him Ragnar after the legendary Viking hero, Ragnar Lothbrok.
Looking after Ragnar proved to be quite tricky as, contrary to their name, Crabeater
seals don’t eat crabs but feed off the krill that are available in huge numbers in
the Southern Ocean. This meant that the rehabilitation team at uShaka had to be
very creative in the methods they used to feed him fish each day. At first, he didn’t
recognise the pieces of defrosted fish as food so the team tried feeding him in the
dark. This idea worked as his curiosity got the better of him and soon he was eating
up to 3kg of fish a day! The team discovered that his favourite food is Corvina (a
type of fish) and squid.
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, English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 7
The rehabilitation team also introduced ice blocks into his area, both in and out of
the water. This helped Ragnar feel right at home; he enjoyed resting by the ice and
playing with the blocks in the water. When Ragnar first arrived, he spent most of his
day sleeping but as his strength returned, he started showing an interest in what the
staff were doing. He always kept an eye out for the cooler box which meant food was
on its way; this prompted the staff to change their routine, not allowing Ragnar to see
them when they fed him so that he didn’t start associating people with food. On the
18th of February 2021, Ragnar was strong enough to start his trip back to Antarctica.
The journey began with a flight from Virginia Airport to Port Elizabeth and then onto
Bayworld for the final preparations for his trip the next day. Ragnar and Sebastian,
the other Crabeater seal that arrived in East London, were both taken by boat out
to the Agulhas current to be released. It was hoped that the pair would be able to
ride the current to help them get back to Antarctica. Before they were released, both
seals were fitted with satellite tags. The tags were to track their
movements to help the team learn more about Crabeater seals and
hopefully help solve the mystery
of how these two ended up so far
from home.
Section A: Comprehension
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 6 Marks
1. In which province is this passage set? (1)
Western Cape
Cape Town
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
2. Which two organisations were responsible for taking care of Ragnar? (2)
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, English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 7
3. What is Dr Francois Lampen’s role at uShaka? (1)
4. Who is Sebastian? (1)
5. Why is the arrival of Crabeater seals in South Africa surprising? (1)
Level Three: Inference Questions 6 Marks
6. What did the researchers do to make Ragnar feel more at ease in his surroundings? Why
do you think this tactic was successful? (2)
7. Crabeater seals have been misnamed. Explain this statement. (2)
8. a. What problem did the team discover as Ragnar regained his strength? (2)
b. Refer to your answer in 8.a. Why was this a problem?
Page 3 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za
Name and Surname:
Grade 7:
50
Date:
The Mystery Arrival of Antarctic
Seals in South Africa
On the 28 January 2021, the SPCA received reports of a seal resting on some
rocks on the beach at Ramsgate in KwaZulu-Natal. On closer inspection, they
were amazed to discover that the seal was a Crabeater seal. What made this
discovery so surprising is that Crabeater seals live along the
coast of Antarctica and this is only the third time in the
last 40 years that one has been spotted on the coast of
KwaZulu-Natal. Concerned for the seal’s safety and his
condition so far from home, the SPCA members caught
him and took him through to uShaka Marine World
where he would be able to receive treatment from their
veterinarian, Dr Francois Lampen, should he need it.
Catching him proved an easier task than expected as animals
who live in Antarctica have not developed a fear of humans as
they never come into contact with them. Even stranger than the Crabeater arriving
in Ramsgate was a second Crabeater seal arriving in East London on the same
day! When the seal arrived at uShaka he was checked over by Dr Lampen, who
happily reported that although the sub-adult seal was stressed from the trip, he
was not ill or hurt so he was admitted to a rehabilitation pool to rest. The staff
named him Ragnar after the legendary Viking hero, Ragnar Lothbrok.
Looking after Ragnar proved to be quite tricky as, contrary to their name, Crabeater
seals don’t eat crabs but feed off the krill that are available in huge numbers in
the Southern Ocean. This meant that the rehabilitation team at uShaka had to be
very creative in the methods they used to feed him fish each day. At first, he didn’t
recognise the pieces of defrosted fish as food so the team tried feeding him in the
dark. This idea worked as his curiosity got the better of him and soon he was eating
up to 3kg of fish a day! The team discovered that his favourite food is Corvina (a
type of fish) and squid.
Page 1 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za
, English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 7
The rehabilitation team also introduced ice blocks into his area, both in and out of
the water. This helped Ragnar feel right at home; he enjoyed resting by the ice and
playing with the blocks in the water. When Ragnar first arrived, he spent most of his
day sleeping but as his strength returned, he started showing an interest in what the
staff were doing. He always kept an eye out for the cooler box which meant food was
on its way; this prompted the staff to change their routine, not allowing Ragnar to see
them when they fed him so that he didn’t start associating people with food. On the
18th of February 2021, Ragnar was strong enough to start his trip back to Antarctica.
The journey began with a flight from Virginia Airport to Port Elizabeth and then onto
Bayworld for the final preparations for his trip the next day. Ragnar and Sebastian,
the other Crabeater seal that arrived in East London, were both taken by boat out
to the Agulhas current to be released. It was hoped that the pair would be able to
ride the current to help them get back to Antarctica. Before they were released, both
seals were fitted with satellite tags. The tags were to track their
movements to help the team learn more about Crabeater seals and
hopefully help solve the mystery
of how these two ended up so far
from home.
Section A: Comprehension
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 6 Marks
1. In which province is this passage set? (1)
Western Cape
Cape Town
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
2. Which two organisations were responsible for taking care of Ragnar? (2)
Page 2 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za
, English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 7
3. What is Dr Francois Lampen’s role at uShaka? (1)
4. Who is Sebastian? (1)
5. Why is the arrival of Crabeater seals in South Africa surprising? (1)
Level Three: Inference Questions 6 Marks
6. What did the researchers do to make Ragnar feel more at ease in his surroundings? Why
do you think this tactic was successful? (2)
7. Crabeater seals have been misnamed. Explain this statement. (2)
8. a. What problem did the team discover as Ragnar regained his strength? (2)
b. Refer to your answer in 8.a. Why was this a problem?
Page 3 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za
