Animals Vocabulary Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on animal names, habitats, sounds, baby animals and collective nouns. A2–B1 English vocabulary quiz.
This quiz focuses on how the target vocabulary for Animals is actually used in context at A2–B1 level, rather than testing bare definitions. Correct answers you will need to identify include terms such as Elephant, Kitten, Crocodile, Neighs and Shoal, each embedded in a full example sentence so you have to judge meaning from context, not just recognise an isolated word.
Working through all 12 questions and checking the explanations in the FAQ below is a quick way to spot any terms you are still unsure of. Revisiting the quiz again after a day or two, rather than only once, is one of the most reliable ways to move new vocabulary from passive recognition into words you can use confidently yourself in speaking and writing.
Animals Vocabulary — FAQ
What are some common English words for animal groups?
A group of fish is a shoal or school. A group of wolves is a pack. A group of lions is a pride. A group of geese is a gaggle (on the ground) or flock (in flight). A group of elephants is a herd. A group of crows is a murder. A group of bees is a swarm. These collective nouns are a rich part of English vocabulary.
What sounds do common animals make in English?
Dogs bark and growl, cats meow and purr, cows moo, horses neigh, pigs oink, sheep baa, ducks quack, frogs croak, lions roar, snakes hiss, elephants trumpet, wolves howl, bees buzz, and birds tweet or chirp. These English words must be learned separately as other languages describe animal sounds differently.
What is the difference between 'mammal', 'reptile' and 'amphibian'?
Mammals are warm-blooded, give birth to live young and nurse them with milk. Reptiles are cold-blooded, have scales, and usually lay eggs (snakes, lizards, crocodiles). Amphibians can live both on land and in water, have moist skin without scales, and go through metamorphosis (frogs, toads, salamanders).
What are some useful animal idioms in English?
Common animal idioms: 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' (a dangerous person pretending to be harmless), 'let the cat out of the bag' (reveal a secret accidentally), 'the elephant in the room' (an obvious problem no one discusses), 'kill two birds with one stone' (achieve two things at once), and 'hold your horses' (wait, slow down).
What are the words for baby animals in English?
Baby animals: dog → puppy, cat → kitten, cow → calf, horse → foal, sheep → lamb, pig → piglet, chicken → chick, duck → duckling, bear → cub, lion → cub, kangaroo → joey, deer → fawn, frog → tadpole, goat → kid, and rabbit → kit or kitten.
What is the difference between 'poisonous' and 'venomous'?
Venomous means an animal injects toxin through a bite or sting (venomous snake, venomous spider). Poisonous means an organism is harmful if you touch or eat it (poisonous frog, poisonous mushroom). A snake that bites and injects venom is venomous, not poisonous.
What are some endangered animals to know in English?
Key vocabulary: giant panda, Amur leopard, Sumatran orangutan, mountain gorilla, snow leopard, blue whale, leatherback sea turtle, and black rhino. Learning vocabulary in context — including habitats and threats — improves retention.
How do you say male, female and young for different animals?
Cow (female) / bull (male) / calf (young); hen (female) / rooster or cock (male) / chick (young); vixen (female fox); mare (female horse) / stallion (male) / foal (young); ewe (female sheep) / ram (male) / lamb (young); doe (female deer) / stag or buck (male) / fawn (young).
What is the difference between 'carnivore', 'herbivore' and 'omnivore'?
A carnivore eats only meat (lions, sharks). A herbivore eats only plants (horses, cows, elephants). An omnivore eats both (humans, pigs, bears). From Latin: carni = flesh, herbi = grass/plant, omni = all, vore = eat.
What are some common animal-related verbs in English?
Animal-related verbs: to hatch (eggs opening), to hibernate (sleep through winter), to migrate (travel seasonally), to hunt, to graze (eat grass), to nest, to moult (shed feathers or skin), to swarm, to burrow (dig a tunnel), and to forage (search for food). These appear in nature writing and IELTS reading passages.