Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a boulder
    • ex. After the storm, the road was blocked by a giant boulder that fell from the mountain above.
  2. a national forest
    • ex. National forests are protected by the government so that everyone can enjoy them.
  3. massive
    • ex. Compared to chihuahuas, St. Bernards are massive dogs.
  4. speculate
    • ex. The cause is not clear, but doctors speculate that the virus comes from insects.
  5. a ton
    • ex. African elephants can weigh up to 7 tons!

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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A famous boulder was stolen from a national forest in the US state of Arizona. Called “Wizard Rock” by locals, the massive rock was located on the side of a highway that goes through Prescott National Forest. People often stopped to admire the boulder’s beauty and take pictures of it.

Park officials speculate that the people who stole the one-ton boulder used special equipment to move it. Boulders like the Wizard Rock can be sold for their minerals, but it’s illegal to take rocks, trees, and other natural objects from national forests without permission. People who do so may receive a fine of up to $5,000 or go to jail for six months. As one official explained, treasures like Wizard Rock belong to the public, not individuals.

Only days after the boulder’s disappearance was officially announced, the Wizard Rock was suddenly returned to the national forest. Park officials are happy that the boulder is back. They decided to end the investigation into its disappearance.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Forests

  • Do you think it’s necessary to ask for permission if you want to take something from a forest? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think it’s more important to protect the animals or the plants in forests? Why? Discuss.
  • Do you think everyone should experience hiking or camping in a forest? Why or why not? Discuss.

Public Treasures

  • Do you think public treasures should be available to people for free or for a fee? Why? Discuss.
  • Which do you think is a more valuable public treasure, natural wonders (ex. Mount Fuji) or historic places (ex. Kyoto)? Why? Discuss.
  • Do you think all of your country’s public treasures should be registered as World Heritage Sites? Why or why not? Discuss.