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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. make headlines
    • ex. The famous singer makes headlines after giving millions of dollars to charity.
  2. childless
    • ex. The couple chose to be childless and adopted many cats instead.
  3. a companion
    • ex. My cat is a nice companion. She likes sitting on my lap when I read a book.
  4. coincide
    • ex. In the Philippines, the end of the school year coincides with the start of summer, making students excited for summer vacation.
  5. unsettling
    • ex. The loud noise in the middle of the night was unsettling.

Article

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

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Buenos Aires, Argentina, makes headlines for being one of the cities with the most pets in the world. 80% of homes in the city have pets. This is because a growing number of Argentines are choosing to be childless, and they are getting dogs as their main companion. In fact, there are more dogs than children younger than 14 in the city today.

Argentina’s birth rate has decreased a lot in the last 10 years. The country also has economic problems, like fewer jobs and low pay. As a result, many young people feel it’s too hard to raise children. This coincides with the country’s love for dogs. They choose to spend money on their pets instead. Some pet owners even call themselves “parents.”

This new lifestyle has changed Buenos Aires. There are pet hotels, dog cafés, and beauty salons for pets now. Some offer special services, like nail care and massages. Some leaders are talking about new laws to make things easier for people with pets. However, other leaders think the trend is unsettling. They worry about the future of a society with fewer children and more pets.

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

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Owning a Pet

  • There are pet hotels, dog cafés, and beauty salons for pets now. Do you think these businesses are a good idea? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The new lifestyle of owning a pet has changed Buenos Aires. Have you observed this change in your country as well? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Some leaders are talking about new laws to make things easier for people with pets. Should the Argentinian government give more support to pet owners? Why or why not? Discuss.

Choosing Pets over Children

  • Many young people choose to have pets over having a child. Why do you think that is? Discuss.
  • Some pet owners call themselves “parents,” not “owners.” Do you think having a pet is the same as being a parent? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Some leaders are worried about the future of a society with fewer children and more pets. How do you think this trend can impact the future? Discuss.