The Reading / Listening - Conservation - Level 6

Zoologists have long hailed saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success story. For decades, the panda has been the "poster animal" for all endangered species. It is even on the logo of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed it from the endangered species list in 2016, although it remains "vulnerable". Many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a cost to other mammals, especially those sharing its habitat. A study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild dog have almost disappeared from the majority of areas in which the giant panda lives.

Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, commended the efforts to protect the giant panda but lamented this has come at the expense of some of China's larger, carnivorous mammals. Since panda conservation areas were established in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% of protected reserves, leopards from 81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his findings "indicate the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these large carnivore species". However, he added: "Failing to safeguard these large carnivore species does not erase the power of the giant panda as an umbrella that has effectively sheltered many other species."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Conservation - Level 4  or  Conservation - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53616593
  • https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/03/giant-panda-conservation-efforts-have-harmed-other-mammals-study
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/04/asia/china-panda-conservation-study-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.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. CONSERVATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about conservation. 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?
       zoologists / hailed / giant / panda / extinction / endangered / species / journal / dog
       efforts / carnivorous / mammals / leopards / wolves / safeguard / umbrella / power
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FINES: Students A strongly believe huge fines should be given to countries where species become extinct; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ENDANGERED: What do you know about these endangered animals? How can we better protect them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What You Know

How Better to Protect Them

Black rhino

 

 

Whale shark

 

 

Sea turtle

 

 

Mountain gorilla

 

 

Arctic fox

 

 

Galapagos penguins

 

 

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. LOGO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "logo". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. EXTINCTION: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that are most important to save from extinction at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Giant pandas
  • Plankton
  • A language
  • An Amazonian tribe
  • Snails
  • Polite manners
  • A recipe
  • Roses

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. zoologists a. The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
      2. hailed b. A point at which something, typically something bad, is about to happen.
      3. brink c. A symbol or other design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc.
      4. extinction d. An expert in or student of the behavior, physiology, classing, and distribution of animals.
      5. logo e. More likely to be attacked or harmed.
      6. vulnerable f. Acclaimed and praised enthusiastically.
      7. habitat g. Of a species, language, tradition, etc. totally dying out and no longer being in existence.

    Paragraph 2

      8. commended h. A warm-blooded animal that has a backbone, hair or fur, milk for its young, and the birth of live young.
      9. lamented i. A protected area for wildlife.
      10. carnivorous j. A protecting force or influence.
      11. mammal k. Expressed regret or disappointment over something that is bad or unreasonable.
      12. reserve l. Protect from harm or damage.
      13. safeguard m. Of an animal that eats other animals.
      14. umbrella n. Praised formally or officially.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Zoologists said they have long failed giant panda conservation.     T / F
  2. The giant panda is on the logo for the World Wildlife Fund.     T / F
  3. The giant panda is now vulnerable but not endangered.     T / F
  4. The snow leopard has suffered because of panda conservation efforts.     T / F
  5. Panda conservation started in the 1950s.     T / F
  6. Over 90% of Asian wild dogs have gone from areas where pandas live.    T / F
  7. A professor said panda conservation helped to protect large carnivores.   T / F
  8. A conservation group said umbrellas were effective in helping pandas.     T / F

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

  1. brink
  2. logo
  3. vulnerable
  4. cost
  5. disappeared
  6. commended
  7. lamented
  8. established
  9. safeguard
  10. erase
  1. vanished
  2. loss
  3. protect
  4. symbol
  5. set up
  6. verge
  7. remove
  8. at risk
  9. praised
  10. rued

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

  1. saving the giant panda from the brink
  2. removed it from the endangered
  3. this has come at a cost
  4. A study published
  5. disappeared from the majority
  6. commended the efforts to
  7. conservation areas were established
  8. large
  9. Failing to safeguard
  10. erase the power
  1. species list
  2. of the giant panda
  3. of areas
  4. in the 1960s
  5. to other mammals
  6. these
  7. of extinction
  8. protect the giant panda
  9. in the journal
  10. carnivore species

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
story
concerned
vulnerable
majority
hailed
journal
logo
mammals

Zoologists have long (1) _____________________ saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success (2) _____________________. For decades, the panda has been the "poster animal" for all endangered species. It is even on the (3) _____________________ of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed it from the endangered species list in 2016, although it remains "(4) _____________________". Many conservationists are now (5) _____________________ this has come at a cost to other (6) _____________________, especially those sharing its habitat. A study published in the (7) _____________________ Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild dog have almost disappeared from the (8) _____________________ of areas in which the giant panda lives.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
established
sheltered
commended
erase
indicate
expense
reserves
carnivore

Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, (9) _____________________ the efforts to protect the giant panda but lamented this has come at the (10) _____________________ of some of China's larger, carnivorous mammals. Since panda conservation areas were (11) _____________________ in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% of protected (12) _____________________, leopards from 81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his findings "(13) _____________________ the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these large (14) _____________________ species". However, he added: "Failing to safeguard these large carnivore species does not (15) _____________________ the power of the giant panda as an umbrella that has effectively (16) _____________________ many other species."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Zoologists have long hailed saving the giant panda from the ______
     a.  blink of extinction
     b.  brink of extinction
     c.  blank of extinction
     d.  bring of extinction
2)  the panda has been the "poster animal" for all ______
     a.  endanger species
     b.  in danger species
     c.  endanger the species
     d.  endangered species
3)  removed it from the endangered species list in 2016, although ______
     a.  it remains vulnerable
     b.  it remains vulnerability
     c.  it remains vulnerableness
     d.  it remains vulnerabilities
4) concerned this has come at a cost to other mammals, especially those ______
     a.  sharing its habitat
     b.  sharing its habit that
     c.  sharing its cohabitate
     d.  sharing its habit hat
5) wolf and Asian wild dog have almost disappeared from the ______
     a.  majorities of areas
     b.  majority of areas
     c.  major city of areas
     d.  major ratty of areas

6)  Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, ______
     a.  commanded the efforts
     b.  condemned the efforts
     c.  commandeered the efforts
     d.  commended the efforts
7)  Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% ______
     a.  of protect it reserves
     b.  of protected reverses
     c.  of protected preserves
     d.  of protect it reserves
8) the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these ______
     a.  large carnivore specials
     b.  large carnivore species
     c.  large carnivore specimens
     d.  large carnivore spacious
9) these large carnivore species does not erase the power of the giant panda ______
     a.  as a numb broiler
     b.  as a number oiler
     c.  as an umbrella
     d.  Asian number
10)  that has effectively ______ species
     a.  sheltered many another
     b.  sheltered many others
     c.  sheltered many the other
     d.  sheltered many other

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Zoologists have (1) ____________________ the giant panda from the (2) ____________________ as a conservation success story. For decades, the panda has been the "poster animal" for (3) ____________________. It is even on the logo of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed it from the endangered species list in 2016, although (4) ____________________. Many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a cost to other mammals, especially those (5) ____________________. A study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild dog have almost disappeared from (6) ____________________ areas in which the giant panda lives.

Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, commended the (7) ____________________ the giant panda but lamented this has come at the expense of some of China's (8) ____________________. Since panda conservation areas were established in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% (9) ____________________, leopards from 81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his findings "(10) ____________________ of giant panda conservation for protecting (11) ____________________ species". However, he added: "Failing to safeguard these large carnivore species does not erase the power of the giant panda as (12) ____________________ has effectively sheltered many other species."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say the giant panda was on the brink of?
  2. What did the article say the giant panda was the "poster animal" for?
  3. What did the article say the panda is used on?
  4. When was the giant panda removed from the endangered species list?
  5. What dog has suffered because of giant panda conservation efforts?
  6. Where does researcher Professor Sheng Li work?
  7. When did panda conservation efforts begin?
  8. What percentage of snow leopards disappeared from protected reserves?
  9. What did Professor Li indicate was insufficient?
  10. What did the professor compare the panda to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say the giant panda was on the brink of?
a) an ice age
b) the edge
c) extinction
d) victory
2) What did the article say the giant panda was the "poster animal" for?
a) endangered species
b) all mammals
c) China's animals
d) carnivores
3) What did the article say the panda is used on?
a) cups
b) the World Wildlife Fund logo
c) souvenirs
d) United Nations flags
4) When was the giant panda removed from the endangered species list?
a) 2017
b) 2014
c) 2015
d) 2016
5) What dog has suffered because of giant panda conservation efforts?
a) Labradors
b) Chihuahuas
c) the Asian wild dog
d) Shih Tzus

6) Where does researcher Professor Sheng Li work?
a) Shanghai University
b) Peking University
c) Wuhan University
d) Nanjing University
7) When did panda conservation efforts begin?
a) 1972
b) the late fifties
c) 1962
d) in the 1960s
8) What percentage of snow leopards disappeared from protected reserves?
a) 28%
b) 38%
c) 81%
d) 95%
9) What did Professor Li indicate was insufficient?
a) bamboo stocks
b) giant panda conservation
c) government aid
d) the area of protected land
10) What did the professor compare the panda to?
a) an umbrella
b) a baby
c) a rainbow-coloured unicorn
d) a bear

Role play

Role  A – Giant Pandas
You think giant pandas are the most important thing to be protected. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): polite manners, a language or roses.

Role  B – Polite Manners
You think polite manners the most important thing to be protected. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): giant pandas, a language or roses.

Role  C – A Language
You think a language is the most important thing to be protected. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): polite manners, giant pandas or roses.

Role  D – Roses
You think roses are the most important thing to be protected. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): polite manners, a language or giant pandas.

After reading / listening

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

'conservation'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'extinction'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • brink
    • logo
    • list
    • cost
    • study
    • majority
    • expense
    • established
    • reserves
    • indicate
    • failing
    • umbrella

    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 - Conservation

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'panda'?
    3. What do you know about pandas?
    4. How sad are you that animals are on the brink of extinction?
    5. What other conservation success stories do you know of?
    6. What do you think of the World Wildlife Fund?
    7. What animals are you worried about?
    8. Why are so many species becoming extinct?
    9. How interesting are conservation journals?
    10. What advice do you have for conservationists?

    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 word 'conservation'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How happy are you that pandas are not on the brink of extinction?
    5. What is your favourite mammal?
    6. What do you think of the idea of conservation reserves?
    7. What will the endangered species list look like in 50 years from now?
    8. What three adjectives best describe the giant panda?
    9. Is it OK for the panda to be saved at the expense of other animals?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the conservationists?

    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)

    Zoologists have long (1) ____ saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success story. For (2) ____, the panda has been the "poster animal" for all endangered species. It is even on the logo of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed it from the endangered species (3) ____ in 2016, although it remains "vulnerable". Many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a (4) ____ to other mammals, especially those sharing its habitat. A study published in the (5) ____ Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild dog have almost disappeared from the (6) ____ of areas in which the giant panda lives.

    Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, (7) ____ the efforts to protect the giant panda but lamented this has come at the expense (8) ____ some of China's larger, carnivorous mammals. Since panda conservation areas were established in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% of protected (9) ____, leopards from 81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his findings "(10) ____ the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these large carnivore species". However, he added: "Failing to (11) ____ these large carnivore species does not erase the power of the giant panda as an (12) ____ that has effectively sheltered many other species."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     failed     (b)     mailed     (c)     hailed     (d)     tailed    
    2. (a)     decades     (b)     millennia     (c)     light years     (d)     seconds    
    3. (a)     to-do list     (b)     list     (c)     lisp     (d)     A-list    
    4. (a)     write-off     (b)     depreciation     (c)     worth     (d)     cost    
    5. (a)     journey     (b)     adjourn     (c)     journal     (d)     joie de vivre    
    6. (a)     diameter     (b)     majority     (c)     radius     (d)     circumference    
    7. (a)     commended     (b)     redeemed     (c)     profiteered     (d)     teemed    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     books     (b)     saves     (c)     reserves     (d)     keep    
    10. (a)     turn     (b)     reverse     (c)     beep     (d)     indicate    
    11. (a)     safety     (b)     safeguard     (c)     safe     (d)     safes    
    12. (a)     umbrella     (b)     parasol     (c)     auspices     (d)     aerial

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. zlotsoosgi have long hailed saving the giant panda
    2. the brink of tiionctnxe
    3. the andedgeren species list
    4. although it remains aleuvenbrl
    5. A study published in the njluaor
    6. disappeared from the imjrytoa of areas

    Paragraph 2

    1. ondecmmed the efforts to protect the giant panda
    2. China's larger, uiovnrocras mammals
    3. protected sseererv
    4. the ucsnifyifcnie of giant panda conservation
    5. Failing to afseugdar these
    6. eelthdrse many other species

    Put the text back together

    (...)  dog have almost disappeared from the majority of areas in which the giant panda lives.
    (...)  story. For decades, the panda has been the "poster animal" for all endangered species. It is even on the logo
    (...)  added: "Failing to safeguard these large carnivore species does not erase the power
    (...)  of the giant panda as an umbrella that has effectively sheltered many other species."
    (...)  Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild
    (...)  of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed it from the endangered species
    (...)  Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, commended the efforts to protect the giant panda but lamented this has
    (...)  81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his findings "indicate the insufficiency
    (...)  established in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95% of protected reserves, leopards from
    1  ) Zoologists have long hailed saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success
    (...)  list in 2016, although it remains "vulnerable". Many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a cost
    (...)  come at the expense of some of China's larger, carnivorous mammals. Since panda conservation areas were
    (...)  to other mammals, especially those sharing its habitat. A study published in the journal
    (...)  of giant panda conservation for protecting these large carnivore species". However, he

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   the   extinction   .   panda   brink   from   Saving   the
    2. animal   poster   endangered   for   all   The   species   .
    3. the   endangered   species   Removed   from   it   list   .
    4. has   cost   This   at   come   mammals   .   to   a
    5. of   the   majority   lives   .   areas   panda   The   where
    6. protect   giant   panda   .   efforts   the   the   to   Commended
    7. the   carnivorous   of   expense   mammals   .   At   some   larger,
    8. findings   insufficiency   conservation   .   His   panda   the   indicate   of
    9. safeguard   species   .   these   carnivore   to   Failing   large
    10. that   An   many   umbrella   has   sheltered   species   .   effectively

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Zoologists have long mailed / hailed saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success story. For decadence / decades, the panda has been the "poster animal" for all endangered / dangerous species. It is even on the Lego / logo of the World Wildlife Fund. The International Union for Conservation of Nature removed / removal it from the endangered species list in 2016, although it stay / remains "vulnerable". Many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a worth / cost to other mammals, especially those sharing its habitat. A study published in the journey / journal Nature Ecology and Evolution found that the leopard, snow leopard, wolf and Asian wild dog have most / almost disappeared from the majority of areas in which the giant panda lives / living.

    Researcher Professor Sheng Li, from Peking University, commended / commanded the efforts to protect the giant panda but laminated / lamented this has come at the expense / expanse of some of China's larger, carnivorous mammals. Since panda conservation areas were establishment / established in the 1960s, Asian wild dogs have / had disappeared from 95% of protected reserves, leopards from 81%, wolves from 77%, and snow leopards from 38%. Professor Li said his funding / findings "indicate the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protection / protecting these large carnivore species". However, he added: "Failing to safeguard / safety these large carnivore species does not erase / praise the power of the giant panda as an umbrella that has effectively sheltered many other others / species."

    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)

    Z__ l_g_s t s h_v_ l_n g h__ l_d s_v_n g t h_ g__ n t p_n d_ f r_m t h_ b r_n k _f _x t_n c t__ n _s _ c_n s_r v_t__ n s_c c_s s s t_r y . F_r d_c_d_s , t h_ p_n d_ h_s b__ n t h_ " p_s t_r _n_m_l " f_r _l l _n d_n g_r_d s p_c__ s . I t _s _v_n _n t h_ l_g_ _f t h_ W_r l d W_l d l_f_ F_n d . T h_ I n t_r n_t__ n_l U n__ n f_r C_n s_r v_t__ n _f N_t_r_ r_m_v_d _t f r_m t h_ _n d_n g_r_d s p_c__ s l_s t _n 2 0 1 6 , _l t h__ g h _t r_m__ n s " v_l n_r_b l_" . M_n y c_n s_r v_t__ n_s t s _r_ n_w c_n c_r n_d t h_s h_s c_m_ _t _ c_s t t_ _t h_r m_m m_l s , _s p_c__ l l y t h_s_ s h_r_n g _t s h_b_t_t . A s t_d y p_b l_s h_d _n t h_ j__ r n_l N_t_r_ E c_l_g y _n d E v_l_t__ n f__ n d t h_t t h_ l__ p_r d , s n_w l__ p_r d , w_l f _n d A s__ n w_l d d_g h_v_ _l m_s t d_s_p p__ r_d f r_m t h_ m_j_r_t y _f _r__ s _n w h_c h t h_ g__ n t p_n d_ l_v_s .

    R_s__ r c h_r P r_f_s s_r S h_n g L_, f r_m P_k_n g U n_v_r s_t y , c_m m_n d_d t h_ _f f_r t s t_ p r_t_c t t h_ g__ n t p_n d_ b_t l_m_n t_d t h_s h_s c_m_ _t t h_ _x p_n s_ _f s_m_ _f C h_n_' s l_r g_r , c_r n_v_r__ s m_m m_l s . S_n c_ p_n d_ c_n s_r v_t__ n _r__ s w_r_ _s t_b l_s h_d _n t h_ 1 9 6 0 s , A s__ n w_l d d_g s h_v_ d_s_p p__ r_d f r_m 9 5 % _f p r_t_c t_d r_s_r v_s , l__ p_r d s f r_m 8 1 % , w_l v_s f r_m 7 7 % , _n d s n_w l__ p_r d s f r_m 3 8 % . P r_f_s s_r L_ s__ d h_s f_n d_n g s "_n d_c_t_ t h_ _n s_f f_c__ n c y _f g__ n t p_n d_ c_n s_r v_t__ n f_r p r_t_c t_n g t h_s_ l_r g_ c_r n_v_r_ s p_c__ s " . H_w_v_r , h_ _d d_d : " F__ l_n g t_ s_f_g__ r d t h_s_ l_r g_ c_r n_v_r_ s p_c__ s d__ s n_t _r_s_ t h_ p_w_r _f t h_ g__ n t p_n d_ _s _n _f f_c t_v_ _m b r_l l_ t h_t h_s _f f_c t_v_l y s h_l t_r_d m_n y _t h_r s p_c__ s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    zoologists have long hailed saving the giant panda from the brink of extinction as a conservation success story for decades the panda has been the poster animal for all endangered species it is even on the logo of the world wildlife fund the international union for conservation of nature removed it from the endangered species list in 2016 although it remains vulnerable many conservationists are now concerned this has come at a cost to other mammals especially those sharing its habitat a study published in the journal nature ecology and evolution found that the leopard snow leopard wolf and asian wild dog have almost disappeared from the majority of areas in which the giant panda lives

    researcher professor sheng li from peking university commended the efforts to protect the giant panda but lamented this has come at the expense of some of chinas larger carnivorous mammals since panda conservation areas were established in the 1960s asian wild dogs have disappeared from 95 of protected reserves leopards from 81 wolves from 77 and snow leopards from 38 professor li said his findings indicate the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these large carnivore species however he added failing to safeguard these large carnivore species does not erase the power of the giant panda as an umbrella that has effectively sheltered many other species

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Zoologistshavelonghailedsavingthegiantpandafromthebrinkofextin
    ctionasaconservationsuccessstory.Fordecades,thepandahasbeenth
    e"posteranimal"forallendangeredspecies.ItisevenonthelogooftheW
    orldWildlifeFund.TheInternationalUnionforConservationofNaturere
    moveditfromtheendangeredspecieslistin2016,althoughitremains"v
    ulnerable".Manyconservationistsarenowconcernedthishascomeata
    costtoothermammals,especiallythosesharingitshabitat.Astudypubli
    shedinthejournalNatureEcologyandEvolutionfoundthattheleopard,s
    nowleopard,wolfandAsianwilddoghavealmostdisappearedfromthe
    majorityofareasinwhichthegiantpandalives.ResearcherProfessorSh
    engLi,fromPekingUniversity,commendedtheeffortstoprotectthegia
    ntpandabutlamentedthishascomeattheexpenseofsomeofChina'slar
    ger,carnivorousmammals.Sincepandaconservationareaswereestab
    lishedinthe1960s,Asianwilddogshavedisappearedfrom95%ofprotec
    tedreserves,leopardsfrom81%,wolvesfrom77%,andsnowleopardsf
    rom38%.ProfessorLisaidhisfindings"indicatetheinsufficiencyofgiant
    pandaconservationforprotectingtheselargecarnivorespecies".Howe
    ver,headded:"Failingtosafeguardtheselargecarnivorespeciesdoesn
    oterasethepowerofthegiantpandaasanumbrellathathaseffectivelys
    helteredmanyotherspecies."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    It is a crime against humanity if a species of animal becomes extinct. 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 news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. CONSERVATION: Make a poster about conservation. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HUGE FINES: Write a magazine article about imposing huge fines on countries in which species become extinct. 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 conservation. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to increase conservation efforts. 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

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    Answers

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

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