Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. orphaned
    • ex. The child took home an orphaned cat wandering alone on the road.
  2. a kit
    • ex. The mother fox gave birth to a kit in the cave within the forest.
  3. a precaution
    • ex. When riding your bike, remember to take precautions. Always wear a helmet and check the brakes.
  4. in captivity
    • ex. Animals in captivity need support and care.
  5. reproduce
    • ex. The scientist is studying how insects are reproducing.

Article

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

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In Virginia, the members of the Richmond Wildlife Center pretended to be a red fox while taking care of an orphaned kit. In a Facebook video, Executive Director Melissa Stanley was shown wearing a red fox mask and rubber gloves while feeding the tiny kit. The kit was only less than a day old when a man found her and took her to the center.

The Facebook post also explained why the staff were wearing masks, making less human noise, and taking other precautions. It is because they have to make sure that orphaned animals raised in captivity do not become too familiar with humans. This way, they can recognize their own kind when they go back to their natural home. This increases their chances of surviving and reproducing.

The staff tried to find the kit‘s mother, but it had been taken away. The staff then immediately looked for other kits in captivity in Virginia, and they found three. Later on, the center will send the kit to the Animal Education and Rescue Organization, which will release all four kits together to their natural home.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Orphaned Animals

  • What do you think people should do when they find orphaned animals (ex. call an animal center, leave the animal alone)? Discuss.
  • Do you think it is necessary to release the orphaned kit back to its natural home? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The Richmond Wildlife Center is an organization that provides care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. What do you think of the center’s work (ex. it’s an important job, it’s dangerous)? Discuss.

Animals in Captivity

  • Do you think it is okay to keep animals in captivity? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Why do you think some animals are kept in captivity (ex. because they are endangered, because they are sick)? Discuss.
  • How do you think people should treat animals in captivity? Discuss.