Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Couple must lose pets or home (4th November, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A couple in England could lose their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their rented home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the couple have too many pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get rid of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not allowed in the contract the couple signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must move out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.

Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped him fight cancer. Doctors told him he had cancer in 2010. Soon after, he bought several guinea pigs to help take his mind off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special powers to help people. He said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped me through my cancer. They've helped me cope." He added: "The local community love them just as much as I do. I sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/01/couple-with-21-guinea-pigs-face-eviction-because-they-wont-give-up-their-pets-5475033/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/couple-claim-21-guinea-pigs-6746928
http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Devon-couple-evicted-refusing-21-8216-mystic-8217/story-28089830-detail/story.html

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. PETS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about pets. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

couple / lose / home / pets / rented / guinea pigs / animals / unacceptable / contract / fight / cancer / mind / happy / reporters / mystic / special powers / personal problems

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PET: What would these animals be like as a pet? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Animal	Good things	Bad things
Guinea pig
Snake
Spider
Fox
Goldfish
Chicken

4. WILD: Students A strongly believe all animals should be in the wild and not in people's homes as pets; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. BEST PET: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• dog

• cat

• hamster

• snake

• koala

• parrot

• cow

• goldfish

6. HOME: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "home". 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.	A couple in England have to chose between their pets or their house.	T / F
b.	The couple have 21 pet pigs.	T / F
c.	The house owners say the number of pets is not acceptable.	T / F
d.	The owners of the house want the couple to sign a "no-pet" contract.	T / F
e.	The husband said his pets helped him to fight cancer.	T / F
f.	The husband said his guinea pigs have special powers.	T / F
g.	The local community does not like couple's pets.	T / F
h.	The husband refuses to let anyone see, touch or talk to his pets.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	couple	a.	unsatisfactory
2.	get rid of	b.	journalists
3.	unacceptable	c.	shortly
4.	allowed	d.	nearby
5.	warned	e.	husband and wife
6.	fight	f.	manage
7.	soon	g.	notified
8.	reporters	h.	remove
9.	cope	i.	battle
10.	local	j.	permitted

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	A couple in England could	a.	out of the house
2.	they want to live	b.	as much as I do
3.	not allowed in	c.	of the guinea pigs
4.	they must move	d.	cancer
5.	if they do not get rid	e.	lose their home
6.	they have helped him fight	f.	off his cancer
7.	help take his mind	g.	are mystic
8.	his guinea pigs	h.	with their pets
9.	helped his neighbours with personal	i.	the contract
10.	love them just	j.	problems

GAP FILL

A couple in England could (1) ____________ their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their (2) ____________ home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The (3) ____________ of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the couple have too (4) ____________ pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get rid of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the (5) ____________ of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not (6) ____________ in the contract the couple signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must (7) ____________ out of the house if they do not get (8) ____________ of the guinea pigs.

owners
number
move
lose
rid
rented
allowed
many

Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped him (9) ____________ cancer. Doctors told him he had cancer in 2010. Soon after, he (10) ____________ several guinea pigs to help take his (11) ____________ off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are (12) ____________ – they have special powers to help people. He said the animals have (13) ____________ helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped me through my cancer. They've helped me (14) ____________." He added: "The local (15) ____________ love them just as much as I do. I sometimes (16) ____________ them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

mind
even
bought
community
fight
loan
mystic
cope

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A couple in England could lose their home because they want to ______
	a. live with their pet b. live with their pets c. live with them pets d. live with there pets
2)	Clive and Rose Restall live in their rented home in southwest England with their ______
	a. 21 pet bunny pigs b. 21 pet grinning pigs c. 21 pet gleaming pigs d. 21 pet guinea pigs
3)	A spokesperson from the PCH said the number of animals in the couple’s ______
	a. house is not acceptable b. house is unaccepted c. house is unacceptable d. house is not accepted
4)	the number of pets is not allowed in the contract the couple signed ______
	a. to rent the house b. to lend the house c. to rend the house d. to lent the house
5)	they must move out of the house if they do not get rid of ______
	a. the guinea pig b. them guinea pigs c. them guinea pig d. the guinea pigs
6)	Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped ______
	a. him fight cancer b. him flight cancer c. him fright cancer d. him fights cancer
7)	Soon after, he bought several guinea pigs to help take his ______
	a. mend off his cancer b. mined off his cancer c. mind off his cancer d. minds off his cancer
8)	He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him ______ cancer
	a. forgot about his b. forget about his c. forgets about his d. forgetting about his
9)	He said the animals have even helped his neighbours ______
	a. with personality problems b. with personalise problems c. with personally problems d. with personal problems
10)	I sometimes loan them out to people if they need ______
	a. someone too talk to b. someone to talk to c. someone to talk too d. someone too talk too

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A couple in England (1) ___________________ home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall (2) ___________________ rented home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the (3) ___________________ many pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get rid of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number (4) ___________________ the couple’s house is unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets (5) ___________________ in the contract the couple signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they (6) ___________________ of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.

Mr Restall, 57, (7) ___________________ guinea pigs because they have helped him fight cancer. Doctors told him (8) ___________________ 2010. Soon after, he bought several guinea pigs to help (9) __________________ his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made (10) ___________________ his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special powers to help people. He said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped (11) ___________________ cancer. They've helped me cope." He added: "The local community love them just as much as I do. I sometimes (12) ___________________ people if they need someone to talk to."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	In which part of England do the couple live?
2.	How many pets do the couple have?
3.	What did the PCH say about the number of animals in the house?
4.	What did the couple sign to live in the house?
5.	What must the couple do to be able to stay in their house?
6.	How old is Mr Restall?
7.	When did Mr Restall find out he had cancer?
8.	What makes Mr Restall forget about his cancer?
9.	What do the guinea pigs help neighbours with?
10.	Who loves the guinea pigs as much as Mr Restall?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	In which part of England do the couple live?	6.	How old is Mr Restall?
	a) the north b) the southwest c) the middle d) London		a) 57 b) 56 c) 55 d) 54
2.	How many pets do the couple have?	7.	When did Mr Restall find out he had cancer?
	a) 19 b) 20 c) 21 d) 22		a) 2007 b) 2008 c) 2009 d) 2010
3.	What did the PCH say about the number of animals in the house?	8.	What makes Mr Restall forget about his cancer?
	a) it's OK b) nothing c) there should be more d) it's unacceptable		a) medicine b) long walks c) his pets d) music
4.	What did the couple sign to live in the house?	9.	What do the guinea pigs help neighbours with?
	a) a cheque b) a contract c) a credit card d) a birthday card		a) security b) snakes c) cats d) personal problems
5.	What must the couple do to be able to stay in their house?	10.	Who loves the guinea pigs as much as Mr Restall?
	a) get rid of their pets b) pay more rent c) decorate d) cut the grass		a) the local farmer b) the local community c) the local foxes d) the local pet shop

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Dog

You think a dog is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a hamster, a cow or a goldfish.

Role B – Hamster

You think a hamster is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a dog, a cow or a goldfish.

Role C – Cow

You think a cow is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a hamster, a dog or a goldfish.

Role D – Goldfish

You think a goldfish is the best pet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their pets. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a hamster, a cow or a dog.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'south' and 'west'.

south

west

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:

rented
many
number
allowed
signed

move

fight
mind
happy
reporters
cope

loan

PETS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pets 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.

PETS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'pet'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	How important are pets?
5)	What should Mr and Mrs Restall do?
6)	What do you think of the property company?
7)	What kind of pets do you think guinea pigs make?
8)	Should there be a limit to the number of pets you can have?
9)	Why does the property company think 21 pets is too many?
10)	What pet would you really like?

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

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What do you know about guinea pigs?
13)	What's the strangest pet you can think of?
14)	How unfair would it be for Mr Restall to lose his pets?
15)	How can pets help people who are ill?
16)	What do you think of the guinea pigs being mystic?
17)	How do you cope with personal problems?
18)	Why do people keep pets?
19)	What advice do you have for Mr and Mrs Restall?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the property company?

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

A couple in England could (1) ____ their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their rented home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The (2) ____ of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the couple have too (3) ____ pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get (4) ____ of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not (5) ____ in the contract the couple signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they (6) ____ move out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.

Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have (7) ____ him fight cancer. Doctors told him he had cancer in 2010. Soon (8) ____, he bought several guinea pigs to help take his (9) ____ off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special (10) ____ to help people. He said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped me (11) ____ my cancer. They've helped me cope." He added: "The local community love them just as much as I (12) ____. I sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	lost	(b)	loses	(c)	lose	(d)	losing
2.	(a)	owners	(b)	owns	(c)	owned	(d)	owes
3.	(a)	many	(b)	most	(c)	much	(d)	maximum
4.	(a)	rid	(b)	riddance	(c)	rids	(d)	ride
5.	(a)	allowance	(b)	allowed	(c)	allows	(d)	allowable
6.	(a)	had	(b)	ought	(c)	have	(d)	must
7.	(a)	helping	(b)	helps	(c)	helped	(d)	help
8.	(a)	now	(b)	later	(c)	then	(d)	after
9.	(a)	mind	(b)	brain	(c)	head	(d)	think
10.	(a)	powerful	(b)	powers	(c)	powered	(d)	powering
11.	(a)	thought	(b)	through	(c)	thorough	(d)	though
12.	(a)	love	(b)	fall	(c)	be	(d)	do

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	live in their neetrd home
2.	eshowsttu England
3.	The esonwr of the house
4.	the couple’s house is neaccaetulbp
5.	not wodlael in the contract
6.	The PCH ndarwe Mr and Mrs Restall
Paragraph 2
7.	helped him ihgtf cancer
8.	he bought valeser guinea pigs
9.	his guinea pigs are smitcy
10.	helped his sbgrehouni (UK) / gnhsiboer (USA)
11.	pnosaler problems
12.	The local tunmicomy

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must move
( )	out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.
( )	about his pets, saying: "They've helped me through my cancer. They've helped me cope." He added: "The local
( )	cancer in 2010. Soon after, he bought several guinea pigs to help take his mind
( )	rid of the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number of animals in the couple’s house is
( )	Mr Restall, 57, said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped him fight cancer. Doctors told him he had
( )	him forget about his cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special powers to
( )	Homes (PCH), say the couple have too many pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get
( )	help people. He said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke
( )	rented home in southwest England with their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, Plymouth Community
( )	unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not allowed in the contract the couple
( 1 )	A couple in England could lose their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their
( )	off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made
( )	community love them just as much as I do. I sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	home their Lose pets their with live to want they because .
2.	in have pets house couple many the The too .
3.	animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable The number of .
4.	rent the to house contract signed the The couple .
5.	not of pigs do rid guinea they get the If .
6.	have He guinea they him his because helped needs pigs .
7.	made again said pets happy He new him his .
8.	reporters guinea mystic told his are He that pigs .
9.	community local The do I as much as just them love .
10.	loan sometimes I someone need they if people to out them .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A couple in England could lose / lost their home because they want to live with their pets. Clive and Rose Restall live in their rent / rented home in southwest England with them / their 21 pet guinea pigs. The owners of the house, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), say the couple have too much / many pets in the house. PCH want Mr and Mrs Restall to get rid of / for the guinea pigs. A spokesperson from the PCH said the number / numeral of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptably / unacceptable. The spokesperson added that the number of pets is not allowable / allowed in the contract the couple singed / signed to rent the house. The PCH warned Mr and Mrs Restall that they must move / movement out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs.

Mr Restall, 57, said he needs / needing his guinea pigs because they have helped him fight / fighting cancer. Doctors told him he had cancer in 2010. Soon after, he bought / brought several guinea pigs to help take his mind from / off his cancer. He said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his / him cancer. He told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have specially / special powers to help people. He said the animals have even help / helped his neighbours with personal problems. Mr Restall spoke about his pets, saying: "They've helped me through / though my cancer. They've helped me cope / coped." He added: "The local community love them just as much as I do / them. I sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to."

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)

_ c__pl_ _n _ngl_nd c__ld l_s_ th__r h_m_ b_c__s_ th_y w_nt t_ l_v_ w_th th__r p_ts. Cl_v_ _nd R_s_ R_st_ll l_v_ _n th__r r_nt_d h_m_ _n s__thw_st _ngl_nd w_th th__r 21 p_t g__n__ p_gs. Th_ _wn_rs _f th_ h__s_, Plym__th C_mm_n_ty H_m_s (PCH), s_y th_ c__pl_ h_v_ t__ m_ny p_ts _n th_ h__s_. PCH w_nt Mr _nd Mrs R_st_ll t_ g_t r_d _f th_ g__n__ p_gs. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n fr_m th_ PCH s__d th_ n_mb_r _f _n_m_ls _n th_ c__pl_’s h__s_ _s _n_cc_pt_bl_. Th_ sp_k_sp_rs_n _dd_d th_t th_ n_mb_r _f p_ts _s n_t _ll_w_d _n th_ c_ntr_ct th_ c__pl_ s_gn_d t_ r_nt th_ h__s_. Th_ PCH w_rn_d Mr _nd Mrs R_st_ll th_t th_y m_st m_v_ __t _f th_ h__s_ _f th_y d_ n_t g_t r_d _f th_ g__n__ p_gs.

Mr R_st_ll, 57, s__d h_ n__ds h_s g__n__ p_gs b_c__s_ th_y h_v_ h_lp_d h_m f_ght c_nc_r. D_ct_rs t_ld h_m h_ h_d c_nc_r _n 2010. S__n _ft_r, h_ b__ght s_v_r_l g__n__ p_gs t_ h_lp t_k_ h_s m_nd _ff h_s c_nc_r. H_ s__d h_s n_w p_ts m_d_ h_m h_ppy _g__n b_c__s_ th_y m_d_ h_m f_rg_t _b__t h_s c_nc_r. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs th_t h_s g__n__ p_gs _r_ myst_c – th_y h_v_ sp_c__l p_w_rs t_ h_lp p__pl_. H_ s__d th_ _n_m_ls h_v_ _v_n h_lp_d h_s n__ghb__rs w_th p_rs_n_l pr_bl_ms. Mr R_st_ll sp_k_ _b__t h_s p_ts, s_y_ng: "Th_y'v_ h_lp_d m_ thr__gh my c_nc_r. Th_y'v_ h_lp_d m_ c_p_." H_ _dd_d: "Th_ l_c_l c_mm_n_ty l_v_ th_m j_st _s m_ch _s _ d_. _ s_m_t_m_s l__n th_m __t t_ p__pl_ _f th_y n__d s_m__n_ t_ t_lk t_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a couple in england could lose their home because they want to live with their pets clive and rose restall live in their rented home in southwest england with their 21 pet guinea pigs the owners of the house plymouth community homes (pch) say the couple have too many pets in the house pch want mr and mrs restall to get rid of the guinea pigs a spokesperson from the pch said the number of animals in the couple’s house is unacceptable the spokesperson added that the number of pets is not allowed in the contract the couple signed to rent the house the pch warned mr and mrs restall that they must move out of the house if they do not get rid of the guinea pigs

mr restall 57 said he needs his guinea pigs because they have helped him fight cancer doctors told him he had cancer in 2010 soon after he bought several guinea pigs to help take his mind off his cancer he said his new pets made him happy again because they made him forget about his cancer he told reporters that his guinea pigs are mystic – they have special powers to help people he said the animals have even helped his neighbours with personal problems mr restall spoke about his pets saying "they've helped me through my cancer they've helped me cope" he added "the local community love them just as much as i do i sometimes loan them out to people if they need someone to talk to"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AcoupleinEnglandcouldlosetheirhomebecausetheywanttolivewithth
eirpets.CliveandRoseRestallliveintheirrentedhomeinsouthwestEngl
andwiththeir21petguineapigs.Theownersofthehouse,PlymouthCom
munityHomes(PCH),saythecouplehavetoomanypetsinthehouse.PC
HwantMrandMrsRestalltogetridoftheguineapigs.Aspokespersonfro
mthePCHsaidthenumberofanimalsinthecouple’shouseisunacceptabl
e.Thespokespersonaddedthatthenumberofpetsisnotallowedintheco
ntractthecouplesignedtorentthehouse.ThePCHwarnedMrandMrsRe
stallthattheymustmoveoutofthehouseiftheydonotgetridoftheguinea
pigs.MrRestall,57,saidheneedshisguineapigsbecausetheyhavehelp
edhimfightcancer.Doctorstoldhimhehadcancerin2010.Soonafter,he
boughtseveralguineapigstohelptakehismindoffhiscancer.Hesaidhis
newpetsmadehimhappyagainbecausetheymadehimforgetabouthis
cancer.Hetoldreportersthathisguineapigsaremystic–theyhavespec
ialpowerstohelppeople.Hesaidtheanimalshaveevenhelpedhisneighb
ourswithpersonalproblems.MrRestallspokeabouthispets,saying:"Th
ey'vehelpedmethroughmycancer.They'vehelpedmecope."Headded
:"ThelocalcommunitylovethemjustasmuchasIdo.Isometimesloanth
emouttopeopleiftheyneedsomeonetotalkto."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Animals should live in the wild, not as pets in people's houses. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 pets. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PETS: Make a poster about pets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PET LIMIT: Write a magazine article about a limit on the number of pets people can have. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 an expert on pets. Ask him/her three questions about pets. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	couple	a.	husband and wife
2	get rid of	b.	remove
3.	unacceptable	c.	unsatisfactory
4.	allowed	d.	permitted
5.	warned	e.	notified
6.	fight	f.	battle
7.	soon	g.	shortly
8.	reporters	h.	journalists
9.	cope	i.	manage
10.	local	j.	nearby

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The southwest
2.	21
3.	There are too many / It’s unacceptable
4.	A contract
5.	Get rid of their pets
6.	57
7.	2010
8.	His guinea pigs
9.	Personal problems
10.	The local community

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Couple must lose pets or home (4th November, 2015)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS