Why Kiwi Lives on the Forest Floor

 

Linking phrases (A–F) — mixed up

• Next
• Finally
• One day
• After a few minutes of silence
• As a last attempt
• Next

 

Words (1–6) — mixed up

• said
• building
• are
• wet
• be
• am

Why Kiwi Lives on the Forest Floor

_____________ (A) the king of the forest, Tanemahuta, was walking through the bush. He looked at his trees and noticed that they _____________ (1) sick. They were being eaten by the bugs that lived on the forest floor. Tanemahuta told his brother Tanehokahoka, King of the sky, what had happened to his children, the trees.

Tanehokahoka wanted to help, so when he heard the news, he called all the birds together for a meeting. Tanemahuta said to them, “I need one of you to give up your life in the sky and come and live on the forest floor so the trees will _____________ (2) saved. Who will come?” Tanemahuta and Tanehokahoka waited and listened – but everything was quiet, and not a single bird spoke.

_____________ (B), Tanehokahoka turned to Tui. “Tui, will you come down from the forest roof?” Tui said “Oh no Tanehokahoka – it is too dark and I _____________ (3) afraid of the dark.”

_____________ (C), Tanehokahoka turned to Pukeko. “Pukeko, will you come down from the forest roof?” "Oh no, there’s too much water down there and I don't like getting my feet _____________ (4)," replied Pukeko.

_____________ (D), Tanehokahoka turned to Pipiwharauroa and asked “Pipiwharauroa, will you come down from the forest roof?” Pipiwharauroa said "No, I am too busy _____________ (5) a nest for my family.” Tanehokahoka knew that if one of the birds did not come down from the forest roof, not only would all the trees die, but the birds would have nowhere to live.

_____________ (E), Tanehokahoka turned to Kiwi and asked, “Please, will you come down from the skies and save the trees?” Kiwi looked around and saw his family. He then looked at the cold damp earth and turned to Tanehokahoka.

_____________ (F), Kiwi _____________ (6) “Yes.” Tanehokahoka and Tanemahuta were very happy. This little bird would save the trees. Tanemahuta spoke to Kiwi: “Kiwi, do you realise that if you do this, you will have to grow strong legs? You will lose your beautiful wings and colourful feathers so you blend in with the colour of the forest floor. You will not be able to return to the forest roof and will never see the light of day again.”