Success TutoringWorksheets
Comprehension ExerciseYear 9Level 3 · Challenge

Free Year 9 Saving the Kākāpō — Feature Article Comprehension

A feature article about the kākāpō, the flightless, nocturnal parrot that fell to just 51 known birds in 1995, and the recovery programme that has brought it back from the brink. Students interpret statistics in context, explain how human actions caused the decline and the recovery, and analyse how the writer engages the reader.

Download Free PDFView AnswersComplete online — coming soon

Instant download · No sign-up · Free for personal, classroom and homeschool use

Year
Year 9
Subject
English
Topic
Reading Comprehension
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
New Zealand Curriculum
Questions
11
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4) + print

Students will practise

  • interpreting statistics in a text
  • explaining cause and effect
  • analysing how a writer engages the reader
  • writing an analytical response

Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Saving the Kākāpō — Feature Article Comprehension

  1. 1Active and Passive Voice
  2. 2Apostrophes and Commas: Year 9 Review
← Easier: Level 2 · Standard

How to use this comprehension exercise

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this comprehension exercise for?

Year 9 students (typically ages 13–14) working on reading comprehension. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge; an easier version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 35 minutes for 11 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Active and Passive Voice.

Preview

Year 9 · English · Reading Comprehension

Saving the Kākāpō — Feature Article Comprehension

Success Tutoring

Student name:

Date:

Score: /

Read the article first. Then answer the questions in order.

Part A — Find the facts

1.How many kākāpō were known to exist in 1995?[1 mark]
2.Why did the kākāpō not need to fly?[2 marks]
3.How often do rimu trees usually produce a heavy crop of fruit?[1 mark]
  1. Aevery year
  2. Bevery two to four years
  3. Cevery ten years
  4. Donly in winter
4.Name two ways rangers protect and monitor kākāpō.[2 marks]

Part B — Explain and interpret

5.Explain why freezing worked as a defence for millions of years but failed after people arrived.[3 marks]
6.The population rose from 51 in 1995 to more than 200 in the 2020s. Why might this still not mean the kākāpō is 'safe'?[2 marks]
7.Why is breeding described as 'the hardest part' of the recovery?[2 marks]
worksheets.successtutoring.com · Free to print and share for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

More Year 9 reading comprehension resources

  • Comprehension Exercise

    The Shortcut — Reading Comprehension

    Two friends argue over a dangerous shortcut through a stormwater drain as a summer storm breaks. Students examine how tension is built…

    Difficulty
    Level 3 · Challenge
    Time
    30 min
    Questions
    14 questions
    Answers
    Answers included
  • Comprehension Exercise

    Volunteers Keep the Doors Open — Newspaper Report Comprehension

    A newspaper-style report about a small country town whose residents volunteer to keep their library open after council funding is cut.…

    Difficulty
    Level 2 · Standard
    Time
    30 min
    Questions
    14 questions
    Answers
    Answers included

Reading Comprehension in other year levels

Was this resource helpful?

About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.