The Reading / Listening - Tasmanian Devils - Level 3

An animal that has not lived on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 years is back. The creature is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in the state of New South Wales on Australia's east coast released a group of 26 of the mammals. They put them in a large nature reserve north of the city of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is the size of a small dog. It feeds on large birds and household waste. It has been an endangered species for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) wiped them out on mainland Australia. The devil gets its name from its high-pitched squeal and the fierce way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, experts say it is not a danger to humans.

The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal protection groups on the project to release the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their chances of survival high. They have been left to find their own food and survive by themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, told National Geographic: "They are free. They're out there. We've got some basic means of keeping an eye on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was hopeful about the future of the devils, saying: "This release of devils will be the first of many. We are talking about something monumental, a true landmark in history."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tasmanian Devils - Level 0,  Tasmanian Devils - Level 1   or  Tasmanian Devils - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54417343
  • https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/tasmanian-devils-returned-to-mainland-as-chris-hemsworth-and-elsa-pataky-release-in-barrington-tops-national-park/news-story/5e29f493ca3d2f5380dcb68d8928a213
  • https://www.odt.co.nz/news/australia/tasmanian-devils-reintroduced-aust-mainland


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TASMANIAN DEVILS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Tasmanian devils. 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 / mainland / creature / mammal / dog / endangered species / squeal / fierce
       conservation / protection / survival / president / basic / devil / the future / landmark
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ENDANGERED SPECIES: Students A strongly believe endangered species should live in zoos; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CONSERVATION: How important is it to conserve these thigs? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Important Is This?

Conservation Efforts

A building

 

 

A dying language

 

 

A flower

 

 

A beach

 

 

A tradition

 

 

A local area

 

 
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. DEVIL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "devil". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SPECIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the endangered species we should protect first at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Black rhino
  • Gorilla
  • Sea turtle
  • Polar bear
  • Yellowfin tuna
  • Monarch butterfly
  • Poison dart frog
  • Texas wild rice

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. creature a. A person who has a lot of knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      2. conservation b. A warm-blooded animal with a backbone, hair or fur, milk for its young, and usually the birth of live young.
      3. mammal c. Things that are no longer wanted; trash; garbage.
      4. feeds d. An animal, as distinct from a human being.
      5. waste e. A group of living things that are similar and can produce young together.
      6. species f. The protection of the natural environment and of wildlife.
      7. expert g. Take food and eat something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. release h. Forming an essential part or starting point.
      9. reserve i. Feeling good about a future event.
      10. survive j. An event, discovery, or change showing an important stage in something.
      11. basic k. A protected area for wildlife.
      12. hopeful l. Great in importance, extent, or size.
      13. monumental m. Continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.
      14. landmark n. Allow or enable to escape from somewhere; set free.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said the Tasmanian devil is 3,000 years old.     T / F
  2. Conservationists released 260 Tasmanian devils into the wild.     T / F
  3. The Tasmanian devil is about the size of a small dog.     T / F
  4. The Tasmanian devil is very dangerous to humans.     T / F
  5. A conservation group put the Tasmanian devils on an ark.     T / F
  6. The released Tasmanian devils must find their own food.     T / F
  7. The conversation group will keep an eye on the Tasmanian devils.     T / F
  8. The conservation group wants to build a landmark to the devils.     T / F

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

  1. creature
  2. released
  3. reserve
  4. waste
  5. experts
  6. project
  7. chances
  8. basic
  9. hopeful
  10. landmark
  1. program
  2. trash
  3. turning point
  4. possibility
  5. set free
  6. optimistic
  7. specialists
  8. animal
  9. simple
  10. national park

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

  1. The creature is
  2. They put them in a large
  3. It has been an endangered species
  4. The devil gets its name from its high-
  5. experts say it is not a
  6. They have been left to find
  7. keeping an eye
  8. it's over to the devils to
  9. This release of devils will be the
  10. a true landmark
  1. nature reserve
  2. on them
  3. in history
  4. the Tasmanian devil
  5. first of many
  6. pitched squeal
  7. do what they do
  8. danger to humans
  9. their own food
  10. for decades

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
state
name
size
back
experts
fierce
reserve
species

An animal that has not lived on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 years is (1) _____________________. The creature is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in the (2) _____________________ of New South Wales on Australia's east coast released a group of 26 of the mammals. They put them in a large nature (3) _____________________ north of the city of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is the (4) _____________________ of a small dog. It feeds on large birds and household waste. It has been an endangered (5) _____________________ for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) wiped them out on mainland Australia. The devil gets its (6) _____________________ from its high-pitched squeal and the (7) _____________________ way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, (8) _____________________ say it is not a danger to humans.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
eye
protection
there
first
chances
landmark
future
survive

The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal (9) _____________________ groups on the project to release the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their (10) _____________________ of survival high. They have been left to find their own food and (11) _____________________ by themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, told National Geographic: "They are free. They're out (12) _____________________. We've got some basic means of keeping an (13) _____________________ on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was hopeful about the (14) _____________________ of the devils, saying: "This release of devils will be the (15) _____________________ of many. We are talking about something monumental, a true (16) _____________________ in history."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) An animal that has not lived on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 ______
     a.  years back
     b.  year is back
     c.  years are back
     d.  years is back
2)  Conservation groups in the state of New South Wales on Australia's ______
     a.  east coaster
     b.  east coastal
     c.  east coast
     d.  east coasts
3)  They put them in a large nature reserve ______ city
     a.  north of the
     b.  north off the
     c.  north oft the
     d.  north aft the
4)  It feeds on large birds and ______
     a.  house holder waste
     b.  housed hold waste
     c.  houses hold waste
     d.  household waste
5)  The devil gets its name from its high-pitched squeal and the ______ fights
     a.  fierce way it
     b.  farce way it
     c.  force way it
     d.  fleece way it

6)  The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal protection groups ______
     a.  on the protect
     b.  on the project
     c.  on the prospect
     d.  on the pro-jet
7)  The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their chances ______
     a.  of survival highs
     b.  of survival height
     c.  of survival high
     d.  of survival hi
8)  They are free. They're out there. We've got some basic means of ______ on them
     a.  keeping an I
     b.  keeping an elbow
     c.  keeping an ear
     d.  keeping an eye
9)  the future of the devils, saying: "This release of devils will be the ______
     a.  fast of many
     b.  first of many
     c.  fist of many
     d.  thirst of many
10)  We are talking about something monumental, a true ______ history
     a.  lands mark in
     b.  land marks in
     c.  landed mark in
     d.  landmark in

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An animal that has not lived on the Australian mainland (1) ____________________ years is back. The creature is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in (2) ____________________ New South Wales on Australia's east coast released a group of 26 of the mammals. They put them in a (3) ____________________ north of the city of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is (4) ____________________ a small dog. It feeds on large birds and household waste. It has been an endangered species for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) (5) ____________________ on mainland Australia. The devil gets its name from its high-pitched squeal and the fierce way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, experts say it is not (6) ____________________ humans.

The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal protection groups on the (7) ____________________ the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their (8) ____________________ high. They have been left to find their own food (9) ____________________ themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, told National Geographic: "They are free. They're out there. We've got (10) ____________________ of keeping an eye on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was hopeful about the future of the devils, saying: "This (11) ____________________ will be the first of many. We are talking about something monumental, a true (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. When did Tasmanian devil last live on the Australian mainland?
  2. How many Tasmanian devils were released into the wild?
  3. What kinds of creatures do Tasmanian devils eat?
  4. What creature was responsible for endangering the Tasmanian devil?
  5. Who said the Tasmanian devil is not a danger to humans?
  6. What is the name of the conservation group the article mentioned?
  7. What do the Tasmanian devils have to find for themselves?
  8. What did a conservationist say he would keep on the devils?
  9. How did a conservationist feel about the future of the devils?
  10. What kind of landmark did a conservationist call the devils' release?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did Tasmanian devil last live on the Australian mainland?
a) exactly 3,000 years ago
b) over 3,000 years ago
c) around 3,000 years ago
d) just under 3,000 years ago
2) How many Tasmanian devils were released into the wild?
a) 22
b) 28
c) 24
d) 26
3) What kinds of creatures do Tasmanian devils eat?
a) large birds
b) rats
c) reptiles
d) insects
4) What creature was responsible for endangering the Tasmanian devil?
a) the wolf
b) kangaroos
c) the dingo
d) snakes
5) Who said the Tasmanian devil is not a danger to humans?
a) zoologists
b) experts
c) journalists
d) a zookeeper

6) What is the name of the conservation group the article mentioned?
a) the Aussie Ark
b) the Outback Ark
c) the Tasmanian Ark
d) the Devil Ark
7) What do the Tasmanian devils have to find for themselves?
a) shelter
b) friends
c) food
d) a future
8) What did a conservationist say he would keep on the devils?
a) an eye
b) a microchip
c) a monitor
d) a blog
9) How did a conservationist feel about the future of the devils?
a) hopeful
b) worried
c) sad
d) excited
10) What kind of landmark did a conservationist call the devils' release?
a) a great landmark
b) a stone landmark
c) a nice landmark
d) a true landmark

Role play

Role  A – Black Rhino
You think the black rhino is the species most in need of protecting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their species isn't in as great need. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): the sea turtle, the monarch butterfly or Texas wild rice.

Role  B – Sea Turtle
You think the sea turtle is the species most in need of protecting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their species isn't in as great need. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): the black rhino, the monarch butterfly or Texas wild rice.

Role  C – Monarch Butterfly
You think the monarch butterfly is the species most in need of protecting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their species isn't in as great need. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): the sea turtle, the black rhino or Texas wild rice.

Role  D – Texas Wild Rice
You think Texas wild rice is the species most in need of protecting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their species isn't in as great need. Also, tell the others which of these is the least in need of protection (and why): the sea turtle, the monarch butterfly or the black rhino.

After reading / listening

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

'animal'

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

    • and 'devil'.

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

    • • 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:

    • creature
    • state
    • north
    • feeds
    • wiped
    • experts
    • other
    • help
    • own
    • basic
    • future
    • true

    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 - Tasmanian Devils

    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 'devil'?
    3. What do you know about Tasmanian devils?
    4. What do you think of the name Tasmanian devil?
    5. What do you know about Australian animals?
    6. How do animals become endangered?
    7. What can we do to protect endangered animals?
    8. What animals are endangered in your country?
    9. What do you think of wild animals?
    10. What do you know about Tasmania?

    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 'animal'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do conservation groups do?
    5. Would you like to work with animals?
    6. Should endangered species be kept in zoos?
    7. What endangered species would you most like to protect?
    8. Should more animals be released in the wild?
    9. How hopeful are you about the future of animals in the wild?
    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)

    An animal that has not (1) ____ on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 years is back. The creature is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in the state of New South Wales on Australia's east coast (2) ____ a group of 26 of the mammals. They put them in a large nature reserve north (3) ____ the city of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is the size of a small dog. It feeds (4) ____ large birds and household waste. It has been an endangered species for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) (5) ____ them out on mainland Australia. The devil gets its name from its high-pitched squeal and the (6) ____ way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, experts say it is not a danger to humans.

    The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal protection groups on the (7) ____ to release the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their chances of (8) ____ high. They have been left to find their own food and survive by themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, (9) ____ National Geographic: "They are free. They're out there. We've got some basic (10) ____ of keeping an eye on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was (11) ____ about the future of the devils, saying: "This release of devils will be the first of many. We are talking about something monumental, a true (12) ____ in history."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     life     (b)     living     (c)     alive     (d)     lived    
    2. (a)     relived     (b)     relieved     (c)     realised     (d)     released    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    4. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    5. (a)     polished     (b)     cleansed     (c)     wiped     (d)     death    
    6. (a)     fierce     (b)     first     (c)     farce     (d)     force    
    7. (a)     protect     (b)     project     (c)     prospect     (d)     prompt    
    8. (a)     survival     (b)     survive     (c)     survivor     (d)     survives    
    9. (a)     telling     (b)     told     (c)     tell     (d)     teller    
    10. (a)     averages     (b)     medians     (c)     means     (d)     thing    
    11. (a)     hopefully     (b)     hoped     (c)     hopeful     (d)     hope    
    12. (a)     birthmark     (b)     trademark     (c)     watermark     (d)     landmark

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The arectuer is the Tasmanian devil
    2. in a large nature srreeve
    3. an endangered ciepses for decades
    4. its high-pitched sluaeq
    5. the iefcre way it fights
    6. pxserte say it is not a danger

    Paragraph 2

    1. The niserotavnco group Aussie Ark
    2. other animal ecptionrto groups
    3. find their own food and suvirev by themselves
    4. This esaeler of devils
    5. talking about something eommnluant
    6. a true rlkandam in history

    Put the text back together

    (...)  endangered species for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) wiped them
    (...)  many. We are talking about something monumental, a true landmark in history."
    (...)  hopeful about the future of the devils, saying: "This release of devils will be the first of
    (...)  out on mainland Australia. The devil gets its name from its high-pitched squeal and the fierce
    (...)  told National Geographic: "They are free. They're out there. We've got some basic means of keeping
    (...)  way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, experts say it is not a danger to humans.
    (...)  high. They have been left to find their own food and survive by themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark,
    (...)  of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is the size of a small dog. It feeds on large birds and household waste. It has been an
    (...)  The conservation group Aussie Ark worked with other animal protection groups on the project to
    (...)  release the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their chances of survival
    (...)  an eye on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was
    (...)  coast released a group of 26 of the mammals. They put them in a large nature reserve north of the city
    (...)  is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in the state of New South Wales on Australia's east
    (  1  ) An animal that has not lived on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 years is back. The creature

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   in   reserve   .   large   nature   They   put   them
    2. It   has   species   been   endangered   an   for   decades   .
    3. name   its   its   from   squeal   .   It   high-pitched   gets
    4. way   fights   The   its   it   food   .   for   fierce
    5. it   to   humans   .   isn't   Experts   a   danger   say
    6. the   project   .   groups   Worked   with   protection   animal   on
    7. are   a   nature   on   animals   The   reserve   .
    8. left   They've   been   own   to   their   food   .   find
    9. eye   an   means   on   them   .   of   A   keeping
    10. release   first   the   will   be   many   .   This   of

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An animal that has not lived / living on the Australian mainland in over 3,000 years is backed / back. The creature is the Tasmanian devil. Conservation groups in the state of New South Wales on Australia's east coast release / released a group of 26 of the mammal / mammals. They put them in a large nature deserve / reserve north of the city of Sydney. The Tasmanian devil is the sizable / size of a small dog. It feeds on / in large birds and household waste. It has been an endangered / dangerous species for decades after dingoes (an Australian wild dog) wiped them out on mainland Australia. The devil gets its name / naming from its high-pitched squeal and the fierce way it fights for food. Despite its scary-sounding name, experts say it is not a danger to humans / humane.

    The conservation group Aussie Ark worked to / with other animal protection groups on the project / protect to release the Tasmanian devils. The animals are on a nature reserve to help keeping / keep their chances of survival high / highly. They have been left to find their owner / own food and survive by themselves. Tim Faulkner, president of Aussie Ark, told National Geographic: "They are freedom / free. They're out there. We've got some basic mean / means of keeping an eye / ear on them, but essentially, now it's over to the devils to do what they do." He was hopeful about the future of the devils, saying: "This release / law of devils will be the first of many. We are talking about something monumental, a true landmark in / on history."

    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)

    A n _n_m_l t h_t h_s n_t l_v_d _n t h_ A_s t r_l__ n m__ n l_n d _n _v_r 3 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _s b_c k . T h_ c r__ t_r_ _s t h_ T_s m_n__ n d_v_l . C_n s_r v_t__ n g r__ p s _n t h_ s t_t_ _f N_w S__ t h W_l_s _n A_s t r_l__ ' s __ s t c__ s t r_l__ s_d _ g r__ p _f 2 6 _f t h_ m_m m_l s . T h_y p_t t h_m _n _ l_r g_ n_t_r_ r_s_r v_ n_r t h _f t h_ c_t y _f S y d n_y . T h_ T_s m_n__ n d_v_l _s t h_ s_z_ _f _ s m_l l d_g . I t f__ d s _n l_r g_ b_r d s _n d h__ s_h_l d w_s t_. I t h_s b__ n _n _n d_n g_r_d s p_c__ s f_r d_c_d_s _f t_r d_n g__ s (_n A_s t r_l__ n w_l d d_g ) w_p_d t h_m __ t _n m__ n l_n d A_s t r_l__ . T h_ d_v_l g_t s _t s n_m_ f r_m _t s h_g h - p_t c h_d s q___l _n d t h_ f__ r c_ w_y _t f_g h t s f_r f__ d . D_s p_t_ _t s s c_r y - s__ n d_n g n_m_, _x p_r t s s_y _t _s n_t _ d_n g_r t_ h_m_n s .

    T h_ c_n s_r v_t__ n g r__ p A_s s__ A r k w_r k_d w_t h _t h_r _n_m_l p r_t_c t__ n g r__ p s _n t h_ p r_j_c t t_ r_l__ s_ t h_ T_s m_n__ n d_v_l s . T h_ _n_m_l s _r_ _n _ n_t_r_ r_s_r v_ t_ h_l p k__ p t h__ r c h_n c_s _f s_r v_v_l h_g h . T h_y h_v_ b__ n l_f t t_ f_n d t h__ r _w n f__ d _n d s_r v_v_ b y t h_m s_l v_s . T_m F__ l k n_r , p r_s_d_n t _f A_s s__ A r k , t_l d N_t__ n_l G__ g r_p h_c : " T h_y _r_ f r__ . T h_y ' r_ __ t t h_r_. W_' v_ g_t s_m_ b_s_c m__ n s _f k__ p_n g _n _y_ _n t h_m , b_t _s s_n t__ l l y , n_w _t ' s _v_r t_ t h_ d_v_l s t_ d_ w h_t t h_y d_. " H_ w_s h_p_f_l _b__ t t h_ f_t_r_ _f t h_ d_v_l s , s_y_n g : " T h_s r_l__ s_ _f d_v_l s w_l l b_ t h_ f_r s t _f m_n y . W_ _r_ t_l k_n g _b__ t s_m_t h_n g m_n_m_n t_l , _ t r__ l_n d m_r k _n h_s t_r y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an animal that has not lived on the australian mainland in over 3000 years is back the creature is the tasmanian devil conservation groups in the state of new south wales on australias east coast released a group of 26 of the mammals they put them in a large nature reserve north of the city of sydney the tasmanian devil is the size of a small dog it feeds on large birds and household waste it has been an endangered species for decades after dingoes an australian wild dog wiped them out on mainland australia the devil gets its name from its highpitched squeal and the fierce way it fights for food despite its scarysounding name experts say it is not a danger to humans

    the conservation group aussie ark worked with other animal protection groups on the project to release the tasmanian devils the animals are on a nature reserve to help keep their chances of survival high they have been left to find their own food and survive by themselves tim faulkner president of aussie ark told national geographic they are free theyre out there weve got some basic means of keeping an eye on them but essentially now its over to the devils to do what they do he was hopeful about the future of the devils saying this release of devils will be the first of many we are talking about something monumental a true landmark in history

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnanimalthathasnotlivedontheAustralianmainlandinover3,000year
    sisback.ThecreatureistheTasmaniandevil.Conservationgroupsinthe
    stateofNewSouthWalesonAustralia'seastcoastreleasedagroupof26o
    fthemammals.Theyputtheminalargenaturereservenorthofthecityof
    Sydney.TheTasmaniandevilisthesizeofasmalldog.Itfeedsonlargebir
    dsandhouseholdwaste.Ithasbeenanendangeredspeciesfordecadesa
    fterdingoes(anAustralianwilddog)wipedthemoutonmainlandAustral
    ia.Thedevilgetsitsnamefromitshigh-pitchedsquealandthefierceway
    itfightsforfood.Despiteitsscary-soundingname,expertssayitisnotad
    angertohumans.TheconservationgroupAussieArkworkedwithothera
    nimalprotectiongroupsontheprojecttoreleasetheTasmaniandevils.T
    heanimalsareonanaturereservetohelpkeeptheirchancesofsurvivalhi
    gh.Theyhavebeenlefttofindtheirownfoodandsurvivebythemselves.T
    imFaulkner,presidentofAussieArk,toldNationalGeographic:"Theyar
    efree.They'reoutthere.We'vegotsomebasicmeansofkeepinganeyeo
    nthem,butessentially,nowit'sovertothedevilstodowhattheydo."Hew
    ashopefulaboutthefutureofthedevils,saying:"Thisreleaseofdevilswil
    lbethefirstofmany.Wearetalkingaboutsomethingmonumental,atrue
    landmarkinhistory."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Endangered animals should be kept in zoos to keep them safe. 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. TASMANIAN DEVILS: Make a poster about Tasmanian devils. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ENDANGERED SPECIES: Write a magazine article about spending lots of money on saving Tasmanian devils. 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 Tasmanian devils. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect endangered species. 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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