Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. catch fire
    • ex. The paper caught fire when I accidentally left it too close to the candle.
  2. miniature
    • ex. The miniature garden has small flowers and tiny trees.
  3. a trailer
    • ex. Dad attached a trailer to the car to carry our bikes on our family trip.
  4. roam
    • ex. The little kids roamed around the playground to explore and play with their friends.
  5. inhale
    • ex. Sarah inhaled the fresh air deeply while walking in the park.

Article

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

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A truck carrying circus animals for a weekend performance caught fire on a highway in northeastern Indiana. Police successfully rescued five zebras, four camels, and a miniature horse from the burning trailer. Police also rescued animals that roamed along the road. None of the animals were harmed. However, some officers had inhaled smoke and were taken to the hospital.

Unfortunately, a fire started while the truck staff stopped to check a problem with the vehicle. The fire quickly grew which had put the animals in the trailer in danger. Through Facebook, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office posted videos of the animals roaming through the highway. One video shows some of the zebras eating grass several miles from the highway. The Facebook post says that all the animals are safe.

The truck was moving the animals from Florida to Fort Wayne for the circus performances. The Mizpah Shrine Circus is an annual event organized by the Mizpah Shrine Center in Fort Wayne. The event is held to support the Shrine Center’s mission. The center says it uses the money to take care of kids.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Circus

  • Do you like watching circus performances? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • A truck carrying the Mizpah Shrine Circus animals caught fire. In your opinion, should the show be continued? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The Mizpah Shrine Circus is an annual event organized by the Mizpah Shrine Center to raise money. Do you think holding a circus event is an effective way to raise money? Why or why not? Discuss.

Circus Animals

  • How do you feel about the use of animals in circus performances (ex. it’s cruel, it’s entertaining)? Discuss.
  • Police successfully rescued the Mizpah Shrine Circus animals from the truck that caught fire. What do you think should be done to the animals (ex. return them to the circus, put them in an animal rescue center)? Discuss.
  • Do you think the Mizpah Shrine Center should be punished for the truck that caught fire and put the animals in danger? Why or why not? Discuss.