Madagascar Stage 4 Comprehension - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Madagascar Text focus: Information Text Madagascar Madagascar is a country that is based entirely on a series of islands off the coast of Africa. You c...

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Madagascar Text focus: Information Text Madagascar Madagascar is a country that is based entirely on a series of islands off the coast of Africa. You can find it in the Indian Ocean to the east of Mozambique and Tanzania. You won’t be able to swim there, though, as there are 250 miles of ocean between the East African coastline and the sandy shores of Madagascar. In total, Madagascar is made up of one main island and several smaller islands scattered along a 3,100 mile coastline. If you include all of the islands of Madagascar, it is over twice as big as the United Kingdom. However, there are less than half as many people in Madagascar. This means that it is not as densely populated. In Madagascar, the people speak a language called Malagasy. In the native language, Madagascar is called Madagasikara, though it is often shortened to Mada. The English name for the island was given to it by Marco Polo. He was one of the first Europeans to arrive on the island in the 15th century. Europeans weren’t the first people to arrive in Madagascar, though. The first settlers are thought to have arrived only 1,300 years ago. That’s around the time that the Saxons were living in England and the Vikings were about to invade. It is thought that these people arrived from Indonesia, and for many years the country was split into smaller kingdoms. It remained an independent country until France invaded in 1883. The kingdoms fought back, but it was eventually declared a French colony in 1896. It remained that way until 1960, when it won back its independence. There are only three islands bigger than Madagascar: Borneo, New Guinea and Greenland. It is mainly covered in hills and mountains, particularly in the middle. The capital city of Antananarivo is situated in the centre of the island amongst the hills. The highest mountain in the country is Mount A Maromokotro. It is 2,876 meters tall. ding ro Rea und all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed e um C u r r ic ul Th http://www.literacyshedplus.com Over 3 million people live in Antananarivo, which makes it the most populated city in the country. However, most people live on the eastern half of the island. Although there are several large cities in Madagascar, most people still live very rural lives. Many of the jobs are agricultural - farms tend to grow rice and coffee, amongst a few other crops. Most of the people who live in Madagascar are young. Over 60% of the population are under 25 years old. Perhaps because of this, there is a vibrant music and dance culture. When it comes time to elect leaders in Madagascar, the public vote to choose a president. The president then puts together a cabinet of ministers, including a prime minister. It is their job to advise the president on what to do. Most of the money that the country makes comes from farming, fishing and forestry. These are often important issues for the president to deal with to ensure the country prospers. VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. Find the phrase “densely populated”. What does it mean? 2. When Madagascar was an “independent” country, what did it mean? 3. What impression do you get from the word “rural”? 4. Find and copy a word that means “bright and cheerful”. 5. If something “prospers”, what does it mean? VIPERS QUESTIONS R Which ocean surrounds Madagascar? R How long is the coastline? I Which fact in the text suggests that Madagascar hasn’t been inhabited by humans for very long? S How do most people make money in Madagascar? I Why might somebody describe Madagascar as “youthful”? all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com