Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
Mary Anning was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, a town on the south coast of England. As a child, she collected fossils from the cliffs and beaches with her family. She later became an expert fossil hunter and seller. Anning discovered important remains of ancient sea animals, including an ichthyosaur and a nearly complete plesiosaur. At the time, geology and palaeontology were developing sciences, and her finds helped scientists understand that very different animals had lived on Earth in the distant past. Because she was a woman from a poor family, Anning was often excluded from scientific organisations and did not always receive full credit for her work. Today she is recognised as an important figure in the history of palaeontology. Her life also shows how careful observation and practical knowledge can contribute greatly to science.
Comprehension questions
Where was Mary Anning born?
What did she collect?
Name one ancient animal she discovered.
Why was she sometimes excluded from scientific organisations?
