Uncontacted Tribes of the World | Elementary ESL Reading Worksheet PDF

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A simple reading worksheet for young or beginner ESL learners about the small number of tribes in the world who choose to live without contact with outsiders.

Most people in the world live near cities, roads, and the internet. But a few small groups of people live in a very different way. They are called an uncontacted tribe. This means the group does not meet people from the outside world. They choose to stay by themselves.

One famous example lives on North Sentinel island, a small island in the Indian Ocean. The people there are called the Sentinelese. They hunt with bows and spears, just like their families did long ago. No one knows exactly how many people live there — maybe 50, maybe 200.

The government of India made a law to protect the Sentinelese. Boats cannot go near the island. This keeps the people safe. It also stops sickness from the outside world from reaching them. A cold or flu that is easy for us can be very dangerous for them.

Far away, deep in the Amazon forest in South America, there are more tribes like this. A group called FUNAI works to protect them. FUNAI believes more than 100 tribes live hidden in the Amazon forest, and most people have never seen them.

Scientists do not try to visit these tribes. They want the tribes to stay safe and alone, the way they choose. Today, when people study these tribes, they fly over in a plane and take pictures from far away instead.

A. Vocabulary

tribe ____
world ____
island ____
hunt ____
law ____
protect ____
forest ____
visit ____
alone ____
government ____

a. to keep someone or something safe from harm
b. without anyone else near you
c. a large area of land covered with trees
d. a group of people who live together and share customs
e. a piece of land surrounded by water
f. the group of people who run and make rules for a country
g. to chase and catch wild animals for food
h. to go and see a person or place
i. a rule made by a government that people must follow
j. the Earth and all the people living on it

B. True or False

____ An uncontacted tribe chooses not to meet people from the outside world.
____ The Sentinelese live on an island in the Pacific Ocean.
____ The Sentinelese hunt with bows and spears.
____ Scientists know the exact number of people on North Sentinel Island.
____ The government of India made a law to protect the Sentinelese.
____ Boats are allowed to visit North Sentinel Island any time they want.
____ A common cold can be very dangerous for an uncontacted tribe.
____ FUNAI works to protect tribes in the Amazon forest.
____ FUNAI believes fewer than 10 tribes live in the Amazon forest.
____ Scientists usually fly over the forest instead of visiting the tribes.

C. Fill in the Blanks

Word Bank: tribe, island, hunt, protect, law, forest, alone, world

The Sentinelese live on a small _______ in the Indian Ocean.
People in the tribe _______ with bows and spears.
The government made a _______ to keep the Sentinelese safe.
More than 100 tribes may live hidden in the Amazon _______.
These groups choose to stay _______, away from the outside world.

D. Comprehension Questions

What does “uncontacted tribe” mean?
Why did the government of India make a law about North Sentinel Island?
Why do scientists study tribes from far away instead of visiting them?

E. Discussion Questions

Why do you think staying uncontacted is important to these tribes?
If you could ask an uncontacted tribe one respectful question, what would it be?

Answer Key (click to reveal)

A. Vocabulary: 1-d, 2-j, 3-e, 4-g, 5-i, 6-a, 7-c, 8-h, 9-b, 10-f

B. True/False: 1-T, 2-F, 3-T, 4-F, 5-T, 6-F, 7-T, 8-T, 9-F, 10-T

C. Fill Blanks: 1-island, 2-hunt, 3-law, 4-forest, 5-alone

D. Comprehension:

It means a group of people who choose not to meet people from the outside world.
To protect the Sentinelese from danger, including sickness that outsiders could bring.
Because they want the tribes to stay safe and alone, the way the tribes choose.

🇹🇼 Also in Chinese: This topic is available on 18KEnglish.com — bilingual worksheets for Chinese-speaking students.