Research shows dogs used to be more like cats

Research shows dogs used to be more like cats (21st August, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Research says climate change changed dogs from animals resembling cats to how they look today. Researchers say that 40 million years ago, dogs ambushed their prey like cats. The changing climate reduced the amount of forests in North America, so the shape and habits of dogs changed. New grasslands meant dogs had fewer places to hide to ambush their prey. They changed their hunting styles and grew longer legs.

Scientists looked at how dogs changed by looking at the elbows and teeth of species that lived up to 40 million years ago. The dogs' elbows and teeth clearly showed evolutionary change. Dogs used to have elbows like those of cats. The front paws swivelled so they could grab their prey. Elbows changed in dogs to let them run farther. This meant they could chase their prey over long distances. The teeth in dogs became harder so they could hold on to prey.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/so-it-turns-out-dogs-used-to-be-quite-similar-to-cats-348926.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3202370/How-climate-change-shaped-DOGS-Man-s-best-friend-cat-like-North-America-hotter-covered-forests.html
http://www.pressexaminer.com/new-discovery-shows-that-dogs-used-to-look-more-like-cats/42298

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	climate	a.	to hide
2.	animals resembling	b.	longer legs
3.	dogs ambushed their prey	c.	of forests
4.	reduced the amount	d.	change
5.	fewer places	e.	styles
6.	ambush their	f.	cats
7.	They changed their hunting	g.	like cats
8.	grew	h.	prey

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Scientists looked at how	a.	to 40 million years ago
2.	elbows and	b.	paws
3.	species that lived up	c.	long distances
4.	evolutionary	d.	farther
5.	front	e.	dogs changed
6.	let them run	f.	harder
7.	chase their prey over	g.	teeth
8.	The teeth in dogs became	h.	change

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Research says climate change changed dogs from (1) __________________ cats to how they look today. Researchers say that (2) _________________, dogs ambushed (3) ___________________ cats. The changing climate (4) ___________________ of forests in North America, so the shape (5) ___________________ changed. New grasslands meant dogs had fewer places to hide to ambush their prey. They changed their hunting styles and (6) ___________________.

Scientists looked at how dogs changed (7) ___________________ the elbows and teeth of species (8) ___________________ 40 million years ago. The dogs' elbows and teeth clearly showed (9) ___________________. Dogs used to have elbows like those of cats. (10) ___________________ swivelled so they could grab their prey. Elbows changed in (11) ___________________ run farther. This meant they could chase their prey (12) ___________________. The teeth in dogs became harder so they could hold on to prey.

DOGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about dogs in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about dogs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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