The Reading / Listening - Pressure Groups - Level 6

The animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased shares in the French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the shares in order to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made from exotic animal skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just a single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise its option to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and addressed.

The main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding the treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: "In the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to a tannery owned by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes hacked into while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder of LVMH…to put pressure on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge of ... any cruel method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Pressure Groups - Level 4  or  Pressure Groups - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38608231
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/peta-buys-louis-vuitton-fashion-moet-hennessey-shares-stocks-lvmh-crocodile-skin-products-exotic-a7525631.html
  • http://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-wwd-peta-lvmh-share-20170113-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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. PRESSURE GROUPS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about pressure groups. 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?

       animal rights / pressure group / luxury goods / shares / rumours / exotic / agenda /
       treatment / crocodiles / parent company / shareholder / knowledge / suffering / cruel

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

3. EXOTIC SKINS: Students A strongly believe any use of exotic skins should be banned; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ANIMAL PRODUCTS: Should or shouldn't they be used? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why they should

Why they shouldn't

Leather

 

 

Fur

 

 

Honey

 

 

Meat

 

 

Eggs

 

 

Milk

 

 
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5. LUXURY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "luxury". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. MERCHANDISE: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • turtle shells
  • stuffed animals
  • butterfly collections
  • shark fin soup
  • ivory statues
  • mink coats
  • crocodile skin shoes
  • tiger skin rugs

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. An animal rights group called PETA has bought shares in Louis Vuitton.    T / F
  2. The animal rights group is worried about the sale of exotic skins.     T / F
  3. There are rumours the group bought just one share in Louis Vuitton.     T / F
  4. The group wants to do exercise at shareholder meetings.     T / F
  5. The main reason the group bought shares is the treatment of crocodiles. T / F
  6. The group says crocodiles live in spaces that are too big.     T / F
  7. Louis Vuitton's parent company is called LV.     T / F
  8. An LV spokeswoman said she knew about the cruelty to crocodiles.     T / F

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

  1. purchased
  2. pressure
  3. exotic
  4. stake
  5. option
  6. main
  7. in the wake of
  8. confined
  9. merchandise
  10. contradiction
  1. principal
  2. share
  3. conflict
  4. force
  5. following
  6. bought
  7. goods
  8. choice
  9. striking
  10. enclosed

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

  1. luxury goods
  2. exotic
  3. eligible to attend
  4. exercise its option to question the LVMH
  5. make sure its agenda to protect animals
  6. bring LVMH to
  7. reptiles on crocodile
  8. put
  9. We have no knowledge of  any cruel
  10. This is in clear contradiction
  1. method
  2. board members
  3. pressure on the company
  4. account
  5. animal skins
  6. of our principles
  7. company
  8. is heard
  9. farms
  10. shareholder meetings

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
order
eligible
purchased
agenda
exotic
goods
option
disclosed

The animal rights pressure group PETA has (1) ____________ shares in the French luxury (2) ____________ company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the shares in (3) ____________ to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made from (4) ____________ animal skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not (5) ____________ what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just a single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is (6) ____________ to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise its (7) ____________ to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its (8) ____________ to protect animals is heard and addressed.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hacked
treatment
principles
pressure
supplied
cruel
main
owned

The (9) ____________ reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding the (10) ____________ of crocodiles. PETA said: "In the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two that have (11) ____________ skins to a tannery (12) ____________ by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes (13) ____________ into while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder of LVMH…to put (14) ____________ on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge of ... any (15) ____________ method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our (16) ____________ and rules."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  PETA has purchased shares in the French luxury ______
     a.  goods company
     b.  goodness company
     c.  goodies company
     d.  good is company

2)  stop selling bags and other products made from ______ skins
     a.  exotically animal
     b.  erotic animal
     c.  exotic animal
     d.  erotica animal

3)  although there are rumours that it has bought just ______
     a.  a singular share
     b.  a single share
     c.  a shingle share
     d.  a shingles share

4)  Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend ______
     a.  shareholder meetings
     b.  shareholders meeting
     c.  stallholders meetings
     d.  stallholder meeting

5)  in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is ______
     a.  herd and redressed
     b.  hoard and  all dressed
     c.  hard and add rest
     d.  heard and addressed

6)  The main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring ______
     a.  LVMH to account
     b.  LVMH two account
     c.  LVMH too account
     d.  LVMH true account

7)  In the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on ______
     a.  crocodile firms
     b.  crocodile forms
     c.  crocodile ferns
     d.  crocodile farms

8)  confined to tiny pits and sometimes hacked into while they're still ______
     a.  a lively and trashing
     b.  a life and thrash in
     c.  alive and thrashing
     d.  alive and trashing

9)  We have no knowledge of  any cruel method involving the ______ animal
     a.  suffer in of the
     b.  sufferance of the
     c.  suffered in of the
     d.  suffering of the

10)  This is in clear contradiction of our ______
     a.  principals and rules
     b.  principalities and rules
     c.  prince appalls and rules
     d.  principles and rules

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The animal rights pressure group PETA has (1) ___________________ the French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the (2) ___________________ pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made (3) ___________________ skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just (4) ___________________. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also (5) ___________________ to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make (6) ___________________ to protect animals is heard and addressed.

The (7) ___________________ PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding the treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: "(8) ___________________ exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including (9) ___________________ supplied skins to a tannery owned by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes (10) ___________________ they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder of LVMH… (11) ___________________ the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge (12) ___________________ method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the animal rights pressure group?
  2. What kind of animal skins is the group against being sold?
  3. How many shares is it rumoured the group has bought?
  4. Who will the group question at meetings?
  5. What does the group want to be heard and addressed?
  6. What animal is behind the reason for the group's share purchase?
  7. Where in Vietnam were reptiles living, according to an exposé?
  8. What were the animals confined to?
  9. Who denied any knowledge of cruelty to crocodiles?
  10. What did a woman say animal cruelty contradicted?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the animal rights pressure group?
a) PETS
b) PETA
c) PETER
d) PITA

2) What kind of animal skins is the group against being sold?
a) mink
b) bear skins
c) whale skin
d) exotic animal skins

3) How many shares is it rumoured the group has bought?
a) 1
b) 1,000
c) 1,000,000
d) 100,000,000

4) Who will the group question at meetings?
a) Louis Vuitton customers
b) animal lovers
c) board members
d) crocodile farmers

5) What does the group want to be heard and addressed?
a) noise pollution
b) its agenda
c) birdsong
d) animal sounds

6) What animal is behind the reason for the group's share purchase?
a) the panda
b) the rhino
c) the crocodile
d) the snake

7) Where in Vietnam were reptiles living, according to an exposé?
a) the north
b) the mountains
c) Saigon
d) a crocodile farm

8) What were the animals confined to?
a) tiny pits
b) a meal a day
c) barracks
d) a cage

9) Who denied any knowledge of cruelty to crocodiles?
a) an LVMH spokeswoman
b) a crocodile farmer
c) a Louis Vuitton customer
d) the head of the group

10) What did a woman say animal cruelty contradicted?
a) human rights
b) the company's rules
c) animal rights
d) customer service

Role play

Role A — Ivory Statues

You think ivory statues are the worst examples of animal products for sale. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as bad. Tell the others which is the most acceptable of these (and why): crocodile skin shoes, turtle shells or butterfly collections.

Role B — Crocodile Skin Shoes

You think crocodile skin shoes are the worst examples of animal products for sale. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as bad. Tell the others which is the most acceptable of these (and why): ivory statues, turtle shells or butterfly collections.

Role C — Tirtle Shells

You think turtle shells are the worst examples of animal products for sale. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as bad. Tell the others which is the most acceptable of these (and why): crocodile skin shoes, ivory statues or butterfly collections.

Role D — Butterfly Collections

You think butterfly collections are the worst examples of animal products for sale. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their products aren't as bad. Tell the others which is the most acceptable of these (and why): crocodile skin shoes, turtle shells or ivory statues.

After reading / listening

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

'animal'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'rights'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • main
    • wake
    • tiny
    • become
    • cruel
    • rules
    • goods
    • order
    • such
    • just
    • eligible
    • agenda

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Animal rights pressure group buys LV shares

    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 term 'animal rights'?
    3. What do you know about PETA?
    4. What are the main rights animals have?
    5. Should humans never kill animals?
    6. Would the world be better if we were all vegetarian?
    7. How can we educate people more about animal rights?
    8. Why do people buy things made from crocodile skin?
    9. How successful do you think PETA will be?
    10. What do you think of companies that sell exotic animal skins?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the term 'pressure group'?
    3. Is using crocodile skin ethically different from using leather from cows?
    4. What do you think of people that buy products made from fur?
    5. What are your feelings about animal rights?
    6. What do you think about Louis Vuitton?
    7. What advice do you have for PETA officials?
    8. What advice do you have for LVMH's boss?
    9. What questions would you like to ask PETA officials?
    10. What questions would you like to ask LVMH's boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased shares in the French luxury (1) ____ company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the shares in (2) ____ to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and (3) ____ products made from exotic animal skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed (4) ____ its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just a single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also (5) ____ its option to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and (6) ____.

    The main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to (7) ____ regarding the treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: "In the (8) ____ of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to a tannery (9) ____ by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes (10) ____ into while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder of LVMH…to put pressure on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have (11) ____ knowledge of ... any cruel method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our (12) ____ and rules."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     goddess     (b)     goodies     (c)     goods     (d)     goodness    
    2. (a)     order     (b)     list     (c)     sequence     (d)     control    
    3. (a)     other     (b)     the others     (c)     another     (d)     others    
    4. (a)     what     (b)     that     (c)     much     (d)     value    
    5. (a)     workout     (b)     exercise     (c)     active     (d)     run    
    6. (a)     sealed     (b)     stamped     (c)     mailed     (d)     addressed    
    7. (a)     index     (b)     statement     (c)     account     (d)     list    
    8. (a)     sake     (b)     make     (c)     bake     (d)     wake    
    9. (a)     owned     (b)     owed     (c)     vowed     (d)     wowed    
    10. (a)     attacked     (b)     hacked     (c)     ransacked     (d)     tracked    
    11. (a)     not     (b)     no     (c)     non     (d)     know    
    12. (a)     principals     (b)     principalities     (c)     principles     (d)     principled

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. PETA has aecsupdrh shares
    2. xyulur goods
    3. products made from xoceit animal skins
    4. PETA is geibllei to attend shareholder meetings
    5. exercise its toipno to question the LVMH board
    6. its aaengd to protect animals

    Paragraph 2

    1. an exposé eelngvira that reptiles…
    2. oncdinfe to tiny pits
    3. skins arescimdenh
    4. any lecur method
    5. This is in clear rtocodaninict…
    6. our slnpeiricp and rules

    Put the text back together

    (    )     sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and addressed.

    (    )     company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the shares in

    (    )     crocodiles. PETA said: "In the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two

    (    )     a single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise

    (    )     that have supplied skins to a tannery owned by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny

    (  1  )     The animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased shares in the French luxury goods

    (    )     of LVMH…to put pressure on the company to stop selling exotic skins

    (    )     method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules."

    (    )     as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just

    (    )     merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge of...any cruel

    (    )     pits and sometimes hacked into while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder

    (    )     order to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made from exotic animal skins, such

    (    )     The main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding the treatment of

    (    )     its option to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make

    Put the words in the right order

    1. group   The  PETA   animal   has  rights   purchased  pressure   shares  .
    2. Selling  other  from   skins  and  made  animal  bags  products  exotic  .
    3. bought   just  a   single   share   There   are   rumours   that   it   has   .
    4. question   Exercise   the   its   LVMH   option   board   to   members   .
    5. to   Make   protect   sure   animals   its   is   agenda   heard   .
    6. PETA's   bring   share   LVMH   purchase   to   is   account   to   .
    7. owned   Vuitton's   ,  tannery   Louis  company  A   by  parent   LVMH   .
    8. company   selling   Put   the   stop   skins   on   to   exotic   pressure   .
    9. no   have   We   method   cruel   any   of   knowledge   .
    10. This   principles   our   of   contradiction   clear   in   is   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased / purchasing shares in the French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical / Ethics Treatment of Animals) brought / bought the shares in order to pressure LVMH to stop selling / sales bags and other products made from exotically / exotic animal skins, such as / was crocodile. PETA has not disclosure / disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just a single / singed share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible / eligibility to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise its option to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and stamped / addressed.

    The main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to statement / account regarding the treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: "In the awake / wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms / farming in Vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to a tannery owed / owned by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pit / pits and sometimes hacked into / onto while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has became / become a shareholder of LVMH…to put pressure in / on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." An LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge of ... any cruel / cruelty method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principals / principles and rules."

    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)

    Th_ _n_m_l r_ghts pr_ss_r_ gr__p P_T_ h_s p_rch_s_d sh_r_s _n th_ Fr_nch l_x_ry g__ds c_mp_ny L___s V__tt_n M__t H_nn_ssy (LVMH). P_T_ (P__pl_ f_r th_ _th_c_l Tr__tm_nt _f _n_m_ls) b__ght th_ sh_r_s _n _rd_r t_ pr_ss_r_ LVMH t_ st_p s_ll_ng b_gs _nd _th_r pr_d_cts m_d_ fr_m _x_t_c _n_m_l sk_ns, s_ch _s cr_c_d_l_. P_T_ h_s n_t d_scl_s_d wh_t _ts sh_r_h_ld_ng _s, _lth__gh th_r_ _r_ r_m__rs th_t _t h_s b__ght j_st _ s_ngl_ sh_r_. _v_n th_s st_k_ _n LVMH w_ll m__n P_T_ _s _l_g_bl_ t_ _tt_nd sh_r_h_ld_r m__t_ngs. P_T_ w_ll _ls_ _x_rc_s_ _ts _pt__n t_ q__st__n th_ LVMH b__rd m_mb_rs _n fr_nt _f _th_r sh_r_h_ld_rs t_ m_k_ s_r_ _ts _g_nd_ t_ pr_t_ct _n_m_ls _s h__rd _nd _ddr_ss_d.

    Th_ m__n r__s_n f_r P_T_'s sh_r_ p_rch_s_ _s t_ br_ng LVMH t_ _cc__nt r_g_rd_ng th_ tr__tm_nt _f cr_c_d_l_s. P_T_ s__d: "_n th_ w_k_ _f _n _xp_sé r_v__l_ng th_t r_pt_l_s _n cr_c_d_l_ f_rms _n V__tn_m (_ncl_d_ng tw_ th_t h_v_ s_ppl__d sk_ns t_ _ t_nn_ry _wn_d by L___s V__tt_n's p_r_nt c_mp_ny, LVMH) _r_ c_nf_n_d t_ t_ny p_ts _nd s_m_t_m_s h_ck_d _nt_ wh_l_ th_y'r_ st_ll _l_v_ _nd thr_sh_ng, P_T_ h_s b_c_m_ _ sh_r_h_ld_r _f LVMH…t_ p_t pr_ss_r_ _n th_ c_mp_ny t_ st_p s_ll_ng _x_t_c sk_ns m_rch_nd_s_." _n LVMH sp_k_sw_m_n r_pl__d: "W_ h_v_ n_ kn_wl_dg_ _f ... _ny cr__l m_th_d _nv_lv_ng th_ s_ff_r_ng _f th_ _n_m_l. [Th_s] _s _n cl__r c_ntr_d_ct__n _f __r pr_nc_pl_s _nd r_l_s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the animal rights pressure group peta has purchased shares in the french luxury goods company louis vuitton moet hennessy (lvmh) peta (people for the ethical treatment of animals) bought the shares in order to pressure lvmh to stop selling bags and other products made from exotic animal skins such as crocodile peta has not disclosed what its shareholding is although there are rumours that it has bought just a single share even this stake in lvmh will mean peta is eligible to attend shareholder meetings peta will also exercise its option to question the lvmh board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and addressed

    the main reason for peta's share purchase is to bring lvmh to account regarding the treatment of crocodiles peta said "in the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to a tannery owned by louis vuitton's parent company lvmh) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes hacked into while they're still alive and thrashing peta has become a shareholder of lvmh…to put pressure on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise" an lvmh spokeswoman replied "we have no knowledge of  any cruel method involving the suffering of the animal [this] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheanimalrightspressuregroupPETAhaspurchasedsharesintheFrenc
    hluxurygoodscompanyLouisVuittonMoetHennessy(LVMH).PETA(Pe
    oplefortheEthicalTreatmentofAnimals)boughtthesharesinordertopr
    essureLVMHtostopsellingbagsandotherproductsmadefromexoticani
    malskins,suchascrocodile.PETAhasnotdisclosedwhatitsshareholdin
    gis,althoughtherearerumoursthatithasboughtjustasingleshare.Eve
    nthisstakeinLVMHwillmeanPETAiseligibletoattendshareholdermeeti
    ngs.PETAwillalsoexerciseitsoptiontoquestiontheLVMHboardmembe
    rsinfrontofothershareholderstomakesureitsagendatoprotectanimal
    sisheardandaddressed.ThemainreasonforPETA'ssharepurchaseisto
    bringLVMHtoaccountregardingthetreatmentofcrocodiles.PETAsaid:
    "InthewakeofanexposérevealingthatreptilesoncrocodilefarmsinViet
    nam(includingtwothathavesuppliedskinstoatanneryownedbyLouisV
    uitton'sparentcompany,LVMH)areconfinedtotinypitsandsometimes
    hackedintowhilethey'restillaliveandthrashing,PETAhasbecomeasha
    reholderofLVMH…toputpressureonthecompanytostopsellingexotics
    kinsmerchandise."AnLVMHspokeswomanreplied:"Wehavenoknowl
    edgeof ... anycruelmethodinvolvingthesufferingoftheanimal.[This]i
    sinclearcontradictionofourprinciplesandrules."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All animal skin and fur products should be banned. Discuss.

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

    3. PRESSURE GROUPS: Make a poster about pressure groups. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. PETA: Write a magazine article about the pressure group PETA. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    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 pressure groups. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how PETA can help animal rights. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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