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Most people do not know what a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked 11 celebrities and comedians to make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest creature on Earth. Thousands of people voted to decide the winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't want to use a cute animal as the society's mascot. He wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also in danger. Mr Watt said: "We've needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time…For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the limelight." He thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals.
Blobfish live in the seas and oceans near Australia and New Zealand. They stay largely on the seabed or ocean floor between 600 to 1,200 metres deep. They can grow up to 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads, small bodies and thin tails. Their name comes from the fact that they look like a large blob of jelly. This is because they have no muscles. They float in the water and swallow things that swim past them, like small crabs and shellfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are inedible), fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year. They are caught in the nets of fishing boats. Scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the list of endangered animals.
Read also: "In Defense of the Blobfish" to see how much like "normal" fish blobfish are when they swim 1,200m under the sea.
Try Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2
Sources:
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/12/whats-the-worlds-ugliest-animal/
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/3945/20130912/king-ugly-blobfish-crowned-worlds-ugliest-animal-video.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blobfish
WARM-UPS
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1. BLOBFISH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about blobfish. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
mascot / animal preservation / celebrities / voted / winner / cute animal / fluffy / oceans / jelly / muscles / inedible / fishermen / accidentally / worried / endangered
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CUTE: What is cute (or not cute) about these animals? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.
Cute
Not cute
Frog
Kitten
Panda
Ladybird / Ladybug
Bear
Octopus
4. ENDANGERED: Students A strongly believe cute animals are more important than ugly animals; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
MY e-BOOK
See a sample5. ANIMALS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the cutest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
• Frog
• Caterpillar
• Bat
• Lion
• Octopus
• Eagle
• Wolf
• Whale
6. FLUFFY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fluffy". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a.
The blobfish is the mascot of a group that helps animals.
T / F
b.
Eleven scientists made a video about blobfish.
T / F
c.
Millions of people voted to decide which animal was ugliest.
T / F
d.
A president said the blobfish will help people to not forget ugly animals.
T / F
e.
Blobfish usually swim near the surface of seas and oceans.
T / F
f.
The biggest blobfish ever found was 3 centimetres long.
T / F
g.
Blobfish have big heads and thin tails.
T / F
h.
Scientists are worried that the blobfish is in danger.
T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
preservation
a.
uneatable
2.
celebrities
b.
soft
3.
creature
c.
famous people
4.
cute
d.
at risk
5.
fluffy
e.
protection
6.
largely
f.
eat
7.
swallow
g.
adorable
8.
inedible
h.
trapped
9.
caught
i.
animal
10.
endangered
j.
mainly
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1.
Most people do not know
a.
and thin tails
2.
It is also the new
b.
the uglier animals
3.
Thousands of people voted
c.
or ocean floor
4.
cute and
d.
mascot
5.
make people remember
e.
animals
6.
They stay largely on the seabed
f.
to decide the winner
7.
small bodies
g.
what a blobfish is
8.
This is because they have
h.
(they are inedible)
9.
humans do not eat blobfish
i.
fluffy animals
10.
the list of endangered
j.
no muscles
GAP FILL
Most people do not know what a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new (1) ____________ of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked 11 celebrities and (2) ____________ to make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest (3) ____________ on Earth. Thousands of people (4) ____________ to decide the winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't want to use a (5) ____________ animal as the society's mascot. He wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also in danger. Mr Watt said: "We've needed an ugly (6) ____________ for endangered animals for a long time…For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the (7) ____________." He thinks the blobfish will make people (8) ____________ the uglier animals.
cute
creature
remember
mascot
limelight
comedians
voted
face
Blobfish live in the seas and (9) ____________ near Australia and New Zealand. They stay largely on the seabed or (10) ____________ floor between 600 to 1,200 metres deep. They can grow up to 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads, small bodies and thin (11) ____________. Their name comes from the fact that they look like a large blob of jelly. This is because they have no (12) ____________. They float in the water and (13) ____________ things that swim past them, like small crabs and shellfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are (14) ____________), fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year. They are caught in the (15) ____________ of fishing boats. Scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the (16) ____________ of endangered animals.
muscles
nets
ocean
list
oceans
swallow
tails
inedible
LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1)
It is also the new mascot of the Ugly Animal ______
a. Preserving Society
b. Preservation Societies
c. Presentation Society
d. Preservation Society2)
make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest ______
a. creature in Earth
b. creature and Earth
c. creature on Earth
d. creature of Earth3)
Watt said he didn't want to use a cute animal as ______
a. the city's mascot
b. the cities musket
c. the society's mass got
d. the society's mascot4)
For too long the cute and fluffy animals have ______
a. taken the light lime
b. taken the lime right
c. taken the rhyme write
d. taken the limelight5)
He thinks the blobfish will make ______
a. people remembers
b. people remembered
c. people remembering
d. people remember6)
They stay largely on the seabed ______
a. or ocean flaw
b. or ocean flour
c. or ocean floor
d. or ocean flow7)
They have very large heads, small bodies ______
a. and fin tails
b. and sin tails
c. and thing tails
d. and thin tails8)
Their name comes from the fact that they look like a ______
a. large blob or jelly
b. large blob of jelly
c. large blob for jelly
d. large blob if jelly9)
things that swim past them, like small ______
a. crabs and selfish
b. crabs and shellfish
c. crabs and shelled fish
d. crabs and shells, fish10)
Scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the list ______
a. of in danger the animals
b. of endangers the animals
c. of endangered animals
d. of endangering animalsLISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Most people (1) ___________________ a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked 11 celebrities and comedians (2) ___________________ video on what they thought was the ugliest creature on Earth. Thousands of people (3) ___________________ the winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't (4) __________________ cute animal as the society's mascot. He wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also in danger. Mr Watt said: "We've (5) ___________________ for endangered animals for a long time…For too long the cute and fluffy animals have (6) ___________________." He thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals.
Blobfish live (7) ___________________ oceans near Australia and New Zealand. They stay largely on the seabed or ocean floor between 600 to 1,200 metres deep. They (8) ___________________ 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads, small bodies and thin tails. Their name comes from the fact that they look (9) ___________________ of jelly. This is because they have no muscles. They float in the water and swallow things that (10) ___________________, like small crabs and shellfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are inedible), fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year. They (11) ___________________ nets of fishing boats. Scientists are (12) ___________________ will put the blobfish on the list of endangered animals.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1.
How will the UAPS use the blobfish?
2.
How many people made a video?
3.
How many people voted?
4.
What did Mr Watts not want to use as a mascot?
5.
What animals usually take the limelight?
6.
What two countries do blobfish live near?
7.
What is the deepest blobfish live?
8.
What kind of tails do blobfish have?
9.
What do blobfish eat?
10.
What do blobfish get trapped in?
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1.
How will the UAPS use the blobfish?
6.
What two countries do blobfish live near?
a) carefully
b) with vinegar and ketchup
c) to bring tourists in
d) as its mascot
a) Zealand and New Australia
b) New Zealand and Australia
c) Guyana and Venezuela
d) Austria and New Zealand2.
How many people made a video?
7.
What is the deepest blopfish live?
a) around 11
b) 11
c) just over 11
d) fewer than 11
a) the ocean floor
b) 600 metres
c) 30 metres
d) 1,200 metres3.
How many people voted?
8.
What kind of tails do blobfish have?
a) hundreds
b) tens of thousands
c) thousands
d) millions
a) thin ones
b) cute ones
c) fluffy ones
d) large ones4.
What did Mr Watts not want to use as a mascot?
9.
What do blobfish eat?
a) cute animals
b) the panda
c) a koala
d) a tuna fish
a) fishermen
b) jelly
c) shellfish and crabs
d) plankton5.
What animals usually take the limelight?
10.
What do blobfish get trapped in?
a) tough and strong ones
b) koalas and caterpillars
c) cute and fluffy ones
d) cuddly and playful ones
a) fishing boats
b) fishing nets
c) shellfish
d) crabs' clawsROLE PLAY
Role A – Blobfish
You think blobfish are the cutest animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not cute about their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least cute of these (and why): caterpillars, lions or pigeons.
Role B – Caterpillars
You think caterpillars are the cutest animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not cute about their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least cute of these (and why): blobfish, lions or pigeons.
Role C – Lions
You think lions are the cutest animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not cute about their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least cute of these (and why): caterpillars, blobfish or pigeons.
Role D – Pigeons
You think pigeons are the cutest animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not cute about their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least cute of these (and why): caterpillars, lions or blobfish.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'cute' and 'ugly'.
cute
ugly
- Share your findings with your partners.
- Make questions using the words you found.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
- Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
- new
- short
- president
- decide
- long
- remember
- near
- 600
- thin
- things
- eat
- list
BLOBFISH SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about blobfish 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.
BLOBFISH DISCUSSION
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a)
What did you think when you read the headline?
b)
What springs to mind when you hear the word 'ugly'?
c)
What do you think about what you read?
d)
Is it good to have a society to protect ugly animals?
e)
Is it unfair to say an animal is ugly?
f)
What do you think is the cutest animal?
g)
What is the best animal to be mascot of a preservation society?
h)
Should fashion magazines also use not-so-cute models?
i)
Is there too much "cute" in this world?
j)
Will you remember the blobfish?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a)
Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)
What would you like to know about blobfish?
c)
Would you like a blobfish as a pet?
d)
Would a Pixar/Disney movie about blobfish make them cuter?
e)
What do you think of the name "blobfish"?
f)
What do you think is the world's ugliest animal?
g)
What can we do to help protect blobfish from being more endangered?
h)
What endangered animal are you most worried about?
i)
Why do you think blobfish are inedible?
j)
What questions would you like to ask Simon Watt?
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.
________________________________________________________
2.
________________________________________________________
3.
________________________________________________________
4.
________________________________________________________
5.
________________________________________________________
6.
________________________________________________________
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
Most people do not know what a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new (1) ____ of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked 11 celebrities and comedians to make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest (2) ____ on Earth. Thousands of people voted to (3) ____ the winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't want to (4) ____ a cute animal as the society's mascot. He wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also (5) ____ danger. Mr Watt said: "We've needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time…For too long the cute and (6) ____ animals have taken the limelight." He thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals.
Blobfish live in the seas and oceans near Australia and New Zealand. They stay (7) ____ on the seabed or ocean floor between 600 to 1,200 metres (8) ____. They can grow up to 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads, small bodies and thin tails. Their name (9) ____ from the fact that they look like a large blob of jelly. This is because they have (10) ____ muscles. They float in the water and swallow things that swim past them, like small crabs and shellfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are (11) ____), fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year. They are caught in the nets of fishing boats. Scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the (12) ____ of endangered animals.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1.
(a)
musket
(b)
masked
(c)
mast
(d)
mascot
2.
(a)
critter
(b)
beast
(c)
living thing
(d)
creature
3.
(a)
decision
(b)
decide
(c)
decider
(d)
decides
4.
(a)
create
(b)
breed
(c)
form
(d)
use
5.
(a)
at
(b)
by
(c)
in
(d)
on
6.
(a)
fluffy
(b)
crappy
(c)
nutty
(d)
snazzy
7.
(a)
biggest
(b)
largely
(c)
hugely
(d)
enormous
8.
(a)
deep
(b)
depth
(c)
deepen
(d)
deepest
9.
(a)
stays
(b)
comes
(c)
goes
(d)
knows
10.
(a)
not
(b)
non
(c)
no
(d)
nod
11.
(a)
indelible
(b)
inaudible
(c)
inedible
(d)
indubitable
12.
(a)
lost
(b)
last
(c)
lust
(d)
list
SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1.
the new tmoasc
2.
Ugly Animal Preservation ceSioty
3.
11 elbisiertec and comedians
4.
the ugliest aeetrruc on Earth
5.
agnedenred animals
6.
taken the liigtmhel
Paragraph 2
7.
seas and oensca
8.
they have no sceumls
9.
olslwaw things that swim past them
10.
humans do not eat blobfish (they are idenbeil)
11.
fishermen cicetyaldlna kill thousands
12.
Scientists are ewidorr
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
limelight." He thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals.
( )
an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time…For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the
( )
small bodies and thin tails. Their name comes from the fact that they look like a large blob of jelly. This is because they have no
( )
accidentally kill thousands each year. They are caught in the nets of fishing boats. Scientists are
( )
voted to decide the winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't want to use a cute animal
( )
shellfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are inedible), fishermen
( )
as the society's mascot. He wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also in danger. Mr Watt said: "We've needed
( )
mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked 11 celebrities and
( 1 )
Most people do not know what a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new
( )
muscles. They float in the water and swallow things that swim past them, like small crabs and
( )
comedians to make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest creature on Earth. Thousands of people
( )
ocean floor between 600 to 1,200 metres deep. They can grow up to 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads,
( )
Blobfish live in the seas and oceans near Australia and New Zealand. They stay largely on the seabed or
( )
worried that this will put the blobfish on the list of endangered animals.
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1.
do what is people know blobfish Most not a.
2.
voted to Thousands decide of the people winner.
3.
face We've for needed endangered an animals ugly.
4.
and the fluffy limelight animals have Cute taken.
5.
will uglier make animals people remember Blobfish the.
6.
they that fact The jelly of blob large a like look.
7.
swallow in things the water They and float.
8.
inedible) Humans eat (they . not do blobfish are
9.
caught nets boats are the fishing They in of.
10.
list Put animals on the of the blobfish endangered.
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
Most people do not know / knowledge what a blobfish is. It is the world's ugliest animal. It is also the new mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS). The UAPS asked / asks 11 celebrities and comedians to make a short video in / on what they thought was the ugliest creature on Earth. Thousands of people voted to / for decide the win / winner. UAPS president Simon Watt said he didn't want to abuse / use a cute animal as the society's mascot. He wanted / thought people to know that not-so-cute animals are also on / in danger. Mr Watt said: "We've needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long / length time…For too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the flashlight / limelight." He thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals.
Blobfish live / lively in the seas and oceans near Australia and New Zealand. They stay largely on the seabed or ocean ceiling / floor between 600 to 1,200 metres deep / depth. They can grow up to 30 centimetres long. They have very large heads, small bodies and thin tails. Their name goes / comes from the fact / true that they look like a large blob of jelly. This is because they have new / no muscles. They float in the water and shallow / swallow things that swim past them, like small crabs and shellfish / selfish. Even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are indelible / inedible), fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year. They are caught in the nets of fishing boats. Scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the lost / list of endangered animals.
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
M_st p__pl_ d_ n_t kn_w wh_t _ bl_bf_sh _s. _t _s th_ w_rld's _gl__st _n_m_l. _t _s _ls_ th_ n_w m_sc_t _f th_ _gly _n_m_l Pr_s_rv_t__n S_c__ty (__PS). Th_ __PS _sk_d 11 c_l_br_t__s _nd c_m_d__ns t_ m_k_ _ sh_rt v_d__ _n wh_t th_y th__ght w_s th_ _gl__st cr__t_r_ _n __rth. Th__s_nds _f p__pl_ v_t_d t_ d_c_d_ th_ w_nn_r. __PS pr_s_d_nt S_m_n W_tt s__d h_ d_dn't w_nt t_ _s_ _ c_t_ _n_m_l _s th_ s_c__ty's m_sc_t. H_ w_nt_d p__pl_ t_ kn_w th_t n_t-s_-c_t_ _n_m_ls _r_ _ls_ _n d_ng_r. Mr W_tt s__d: "W_'v_ n__d_d _n _gly f_c_ f_r _nd_ng_r_d _n_m_ls f_r _ l_ng t_m_…F_r t__ l_ng th_ c_t_ _nd fl_ffy _n_m_ls h_v_ t_k_n th_ l_m_l_ght." H_ th_nks th_ bl_bf_sh w_ll m_k_ p__pl_ r_m_mb_r th_ _gl__r _n_m_ls.
Bl_bf_sh l_v_ _n th_ s__s _nd _c__ns n__r __str_l__ _nd N_w Z__l_nd. Th_y st_y l_rg_ly _n th_ s__b_d _r _c__n fl__r b_tw__n 600 t_ 1,200 m_tr_s d__p. Th_y c_n gr_w _p t_ 30 c_nt_m_tr_s l_ng. Th_y h_v_ v_ry l_rg_ h__ds, sm_ll b_d__s _nd th_n t__ls. Th__r n_m_ c_m_s fr_m th_ f_ct th_t th_y l__k l_k_ _ l_rg_ bl_b _f j_lly. Th_s _s b_c__s_ th_y h_v_ n_ m_scl_s. Th_y fl__t _n th_ w_t_r _nd sw_ll_w th_ngs th_t sw_m p_st th_m, l_k_ sm_ll cr_bs _nd sh_llf_sh. _v_n th__gh h_m_ns d_ n_t __t bl_bf_sh (th_y _r_ _n_d_bl_), f_sh_rm_n _cc_d_nt_lly k_ll th__s_nds __ch y__r. Th_y _r_ c__ght _n th_ n_ts _f f_sh_ng b__ts. Sc__nt_sts _r_ w_rr__d th_t th_s w_ll p_t th_ bl_bf_sh _n th_ l_st _f _nd_ng_r_d _n_m_ls.
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
most people do not know what a blobfish is it is the world's ugliest animal it is also the new mascot of the ugly animal preservation society (uaps) the uaps asked 11 celebrities and comedians to make a short video on what they thought was the ugliest creature on earth thousands of people voted to decide the winner uaps president simon watt said he didn't want to use a cute animal as the society's mascot he wanted people to know that not-so-cute animals are also in danger mr watt said "we've needed an ugly face for endangered animals for a long time…for too long the cute and fluffy animals have taken the limelight" he thinks the blobfish will make people remember the uglier animals
blobfish live in the seas and oceans near australia and new zealand they stay largely on the seabed or ocean floor between 600 to 1200 metres deep they can grow up to 30 centimetres long they have very large heads small bodies and thin tails their name comes from the fact that they look like a large blob of jelly this is because they have no muscles they float in the water and swallow things that swim past them like small crabs and shellfish even though humans do not eat blobfish (they are inedible) fishermen accidentally kill thousands each year they are caught in the nets of fishing boats scientists are worried that this will put the blobfish on the list of endangered animals
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
Mostpeopledonotknowwhatablobfishis.Itistheworld'sugliestanimal.Itisalsoth
enewmascotoftheUglyAnimalPreservationSociety(UAPS).TheUAPSasked11c
elebritiesandcomedianstomakeashortvideoonwhattheythoughtwastheuglies
tcreatureonEarth.Thousandsofpeoplevotedtodecidethewinner.UAPSpreside
ntSimonWattsaidhedidn'twanttouseacuteanimalasthesociety'smascot.Hewa
ntedpeopletoknowthatnot-so-cuteanimalsarealsoindanger.MrWattsaid:"W
e'veneededanuglyfaceforendangeredanimalsforalongtime…Fortoolongthecu
teandfluffyanimalshavetakenthelimelight."Hethinkstheblobfishwillmakepeo
pleremembertheuglieranimals.BlobfishliveintheseasandoceansnearAustrali
aandNewZealand.Theystaylargelyontheseabedoroceanfloorbetween600to1,
200metresdeep.Theycangrowupto30centimetreslong.Theyhaveverylargehe
ads,smallbodiesandthintails.Theirnamecomesfromthefactthattheylooklikeal
argeblobofjelly.Thisisbecausetheyhavenomuscles.Theyfloatinthewaterands
wallowthingsthatswimpastthem,likesmallcrabsandshellfish.Eventhoughhum
ansdonoteatblobfish(theyareinedible),fishermenaccidentallykillthousandse
achyear.Theyarecaughtinthenetsoffishingboats.Scientistsareworriedthatthi
swillputtheblobfishonthelistofendangeredanimals.FREE WRITING
Write about blobfish for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Compare and contrast a blobfish and a cute, fluffy kitten.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about blobfish. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CUTEST / UGLIEST: Make a poster about the world's cutest and ugliest creatures. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BLOBFISH: Write a magazine article about the blobfish being voted the world's ugliest animal. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it is cute and people who think it is ugly.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to a blobfish expert. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
a
T
b
F
c
F
d
T
e
F
f
F
g
T
h
T
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
1.
preservation
a.
protection
2.
celebrities
b.
famous people
3.
creature
c.
animal
4.
cute
d.
adorable
5.
fluffy
e.
soft
6.
largely
f.
mainly
7.
swallow
g.
eat
8.
inedible
h.
uneatable
9.
caught
i.
trapped
10.
endangered
j.
at risk
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
1.
As its mascot
2.
11
3.
Thousands
4.
A cute animal
5.
Cute and fluffy ones
6.
Australia and New Zealand
7.
1,200 metres
8.
Thin ones
9.
Crabs and shellfish
10.
Fishing nets
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
1.
d
2.
b
3.
c
4.
a
5.
c
6.
b
7.
d
8.
a
9.
c
10.
b
ALL OTHER EXERCISES
Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)
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