cheetah

Everyday

1. A cheetah is a slim, spotted big cat from Africa (and a few in Iran) and the fastest land animal, able to run as fast as a car on a main road for a short burst. tree →
2. Cheetahs have black «tear lines» running from their eyes to their mouth. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons cheetahs come up in adaptations (long legs, bendy spine, big lungs and a long tail for balance when turning) and food chains: they hunt gazelles in the daytime but tire quickly after a short sprint. In maths lessons the cheetah's speed is used in comparing speeds and distance–time problems. Cheetahs are endangered and can purr but cannot roar.

Examples

• The cheetah is the fastest land animal. tree →
• A cheetah can only sprint for a short time before it gets tired. tree →
• The cheetah chased a gazelle across the plain. tree →
• Cheetahs have black tear marks on their faces. tree →
• Its long tail helps the cheetah turn quickly. tree →
• Cheetahs purr like house cats but cannot roar. tree →
• Mum drives at about the speed a cheetah can run. tree →

Note

Plural «cheetahs». Spelling: «chee-tah», with «h» at the end. Do not confuse with «cheater» (someone who cheats) — they sound almost the same. Cheetahs have solid round spots; leopards and jaguars have rosettes.