The Reading / Listening - Hero Mother - Level 6

A woman in California has been hailed a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying away her five-year-old son. Her maternal instincts kicked in as she dragged her little boy from the jaws of the big cat. She fought off the wild animal with her bare fists in the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had been playing in the garden when the lion pounced. The boy suffered bites and lacerations to his head and torso, but is now in a stable condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The true hero of this story is his mom because she absolutely saved her son's life."

Officials reported that the mountain lion was a juvenile and was less than a year old. They said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its hunting skills. They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting in an "aggressive" nature. The officials later stated: "Wildlife forensics scientists analyzed samples from underneath the claws of the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces of human tissue and blood with a DNA profile that matched the young victim." They added: "Results were conclusive that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on scene." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a non-lethal tranquilizer and released.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Hero Mother - Level 4  or  Hero Mother - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/29/california-mom-fights-mountain-lion-attacked-5-year-old-son/5643763001/
  • https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/california-mom-mountain-lion-attack-bare-hands
  • https://news.yahoo.com/california-mother-fought-mountain-lion-103022874.html


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. MOTHERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about mothers. 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?
       California / hero / lion / maternal / instincts / wild animal / bites / stable / torso / life /
       juvenile / creature / hunting / aggressive / forensics / DNA / results / tranquilizer
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HEROISM: Students A strongly believe we are all heroes; Students B strongly believe that's not true. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HEROES: Who are your biggest heroes? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Who?

Why?

Political

 

 

Sporting

 

 

Business

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Family

 

 

Environmental

 

 
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. CAT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cat". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DANGEROUS ANIMALS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most dangerous animals at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Lion
  • Buffalo
  • Snake
  • Shark
  • Elephant
  • Blowfish
  • Crocodile
  • Mosquito

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. hailed a. Not clothed or covered.
      2. maternal b. The trunk of the human body.
      3. instincts c. Praised
      4. bare d. A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking.
      5. pounced e. Relating to a mother, especially during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.
      6. laceration f. Of an animal or bird springing or jumping suddenly to catch prey.
      7. torso g. A deep cut or tear in skin or flesh.

    Paragraph 2

       8. juvenile h. An animal, rather than a human being.
       9. creature i. Relating to using scientific methods and techniques to investigate crime.
       10. forensics j. Likely to have the effect of proving a case.
       11. claws k. Relating to young birds and animals.
       12. carcass l. A medicinal drug taken to reduce tension or anxiety; a drug used to make animals unconscious.
       13. conclusive m. The dead body of an animal.
       14. tranquilizer n. Curved, sharp pointed nails on the feet of birds, lizards, dogs, cats, etc.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy in Kenya.     T / F
  2. The boy's mother beat the lion off with her fists.     T / F
  3. The boy is doing well in a hospital.     T / F
  4. The boy is expected to be back to normal.     T / F
  5. The lion was 10 years old.     T / F
  6. The article says the lion was an expert hunter.     T / F
  7. DNA was used to confirm which lion attacked the boy.     T / F
  8. A different lion was tranquilized and set free.     T / F

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

  1. hailed
  2. maternal
  3. bare
  4. lacerations
  5. absolutely
  6. creature
  7. traces
  8. conclusive
  9. scene
  10. tranquilizer
  1. totally
  2. cuts
  3. undeniable
  4. motherly
  5. location
  6. praised
  7. sedative
  8. signs
  9. uncovered
  10. animal

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

  1. A woman in California has been hailed
  2. Her maternal
  3. She fought off the wild animal
  4. The boy suffered bites and lacerations
  5. He is expected to make
  6. the mountain lion was a
  7. practising its hunting
  8. forensics
  9. blood with a DNA profile that matched
  10. It was shot with a non-
  1. to his head and torso
  2. the young victim
  3. juvenile
  4. with her bare fists
  5. skills
  6. a hero
  7. scientists
  8. lethal tranquilizer
  9. instincts kicked in
  10. a full recovery

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
absolutely
hailed
pounced
stable
full
instincts
torso
bare

A woman in California has been (1) _____________________ a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying away her five-year-old son. Her maternal (2) _____________________ kicked in as she dragged her little boy from the jaws of the big cat. She fought off the wild animal with her (3) _____________________ fists in the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had been playing in the garden when the lion (4) _____________________. The boy suffered bites and lacerations to his head and (5) _____________________, but is now in a (6) _____________________ condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a (7) _____________________ recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The true hero of this story is his mom because she (8) _____________________ saved her son's life."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hunting
traces
juvenile
scene
claws
tranquilizer
nature
DNA

Officials reported that the mountain lion was a (9) _____________________ and was less than a year old. They said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its (10) _____________________ skills. They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting in an "aggressive" (11) _____________________. The officials later stated: "Wildlife forensics scientists analyzed samples from underneath the (12) _____________________ of the suspect lion carcass and isolated (13) _____________________ of human tissue and blood with a (14) _____________________ profile that matched the young victim." They added: "Results were conclusive that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on (15) _____________________." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a non-lethal (16) _____________________ and released.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A woman in California has been hailed a hero after ______ mountain lion
     a.  fighting oft a
     b.  fighting offer
     c.  fighting of a
     d.  fighting off a
2)  maternal instincts kicked in as she dragged her little boy ______
     a.  from the jars
     b.  from the doors
     c.  from the jaws
     d.  from the jabs
3)  She fought off the wild animal with ______
     a.  her barely fists
     b.  her bares fists
     c.  her bare fists
     d.  her bear fists
4)  Her son had been playing in the garden when ______
     a.  the lion pounced
     b.  the lion bounced
     c.  the lion pants
     d.  the lion pounds
5) is now in a stable condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make ______
     a.  a full recoveries
     b.  a full recovery
     c.  a full recover
     d.  a full recovering

6)  Officials reported that the mountain lion ______
     a.  was a juvenile
     b.  what a juvenile
     c.  what's a juvenile
     d.  wizard juvenile
7)  They said the attack probably happened because the ______
     a.  creative was young
     b.  creatures was young
     c.  create chair was young
     d.  creature was young
8)  They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting in ______
     a.  on aggression nature
     b.  in aggressive nature
     c.  a aggressively nature
     d.  an aggressive nature
9)  it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife ______
     a.  officer on seen
     b.  officer on scone
     c.  officer scorning
     d.  officer on scene
10)  It was shot with a non-lethal ______
     a.  tranquilized and released
     b.  tranquil as a and released
     c.  tranquility and released
     d.  tranquilizer and released

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A woman in California has been (1) ____________________ after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying away her five-year-old son. Her maternal instincts kicked in (2) ____________________ her little boy from the jaws of the big cat. She fought off the wild animal with her (3) ____________________ the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had been playing in the garden when (4) ____________________. The boy suffered bites and lacerations to his (5) ____________________, but is now in a stable condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The (6) ____________________ this story is his mom because she absolutely saved her son's life."

Officials reported that the mountain lion was (7) ____________________ was less than a year old. They said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its hunting skills. They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting (8) ____________________ nature. The officials later stated: "Wildlife (9) ____________________ samples from underneath the claws of the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces of human tissue and blood with a (10) ____________________ matched the young victim." They added: "Results (11) ____________________ it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on scene." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a (12) ____________________ and released.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where is the woman from?
  2. What does the article say kicked in regarding the mother?
  3. Where was the little boy playing when the lion pounced on him?
  4. What kind of condition is the little boy in?
  5. What did a wildlife official call the mother?
  6. How old was the mountain lion?
  7. What does the article say the lion was practising?
  8. From which part of the lion did scientists take samples?
  9. What kind of profile matched the young victim?
  10. What did officials shoot a different lion with?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where is the woman from?
a) Oklahoma
b) Nebraska
c) California
d) North Dakota
2) What does the article say kicked in regarding the mother?
a) her maternal instincts
b) her panic
c) her rage
d) her autopilot
3) Where was the little boy playing when the lion pounced on him?
a) in the mountains
b) in the desert
c) in a local park
d) in his garden
4) What kind of condition is the little boy in?
a) a critical condition
b) a stable condition
c) a satisfactory condition
d) a good condition
5) What did a wildlife official call the mother?
a) inspirational
b) Bob
c) a true hero
d) beyond brave

6) How old was the mountain lion?
a) 18 months
b) less than a year old
c) 3 years
d) 10 years
7) What does the article say the lion was practising?
a) living in the city
b) stalking
c) foraging alone
d) its hunting skills
8) From which part of the lion did scientists take samples?
a) its teeth
b) under its claws
c) its fur
d) its nose
9) What kind of profile matched the young victim?
a) a DNS profile
b) a personal profile
c) a victim profile
d) an animal profile
10) What did officials shoot a different lion with?
a) a dart
b) a taser
c) a big net
d) a non-lethal tranquilizer

Role play

Role  A – Lions
You think lions are the most dangerous animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their animals aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): sharks, crocodiles or snakes.

Role  B – Sharks
You think sharks are the most dangerous animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their animals aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): lions, crocodiles or snakes.

Role  C – Crocodiles
You think crocodiles are the most dangerous animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their animals aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): sharks, lions or snakes.

Role  D – Snakes
You think snakes are the most dangerous animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their animals aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): sharks, crocodiles or lions.

After reading / listening

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

'hero'

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

    • and 'mother'.

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

    • • 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:

    • hailed
    • kicked
    • garden
    • suffered
    • now
    • true
    • less
    • skills
    • nature
    • tissue
    • results
    • non

    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 - Hero Mother

    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 'mother'?
    3. Have you ever been a hero?
    4. Who are your heroes?
    5. Would you fight a mountain lion?
    6. What do you think of the mother's actions?
    7. Are there any wild animals living near your town?
    8. Should the woman be given a medal?
    9. What do you know about mountain lions?
    10. What advice do you have for the little boy?

    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 'hero'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would you do if you saw a lion in your garden?
    5. Should the officials have killed the lion?
    6. What does a forensics scientist do?
    7. Would you like to work with wildlife?
    8. What is the world's most dangerous animal?
    9. Has anyone ever come to your rescue?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the mother?

    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)

    A woman in California has been (1) ____ a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying away her five-year-old son. Her maternal instincts kicked (2) ____ as she dragged her little boy from the jaws of the big cat. She fought off the wild animal with her (3) ____ fists in the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had been playing in the garden when the lion (4) ____. The boy suffered bites and lacerations to his head and (5) ____, but is now in a stable condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The true hero of this story is his mom because she (6) ____ saved her son's life."

    Officials reported that the mountain lion was a (7) ____ and was less than a year old. They said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its hunting skills. They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting (8) ____ an "aggressive" nature. The officials later stated: "Wildlife forensics scientists analyzed samples from underneath the (9) ____ of the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces of human tissue and blood with a DNA (10) ____ that matched the young victim." They added: "Results were conclusive that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer (11) ____ scene." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a non-lethal (12) ____ and released.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     failed     (b)     hailed     (c)     mailed     (d)     wailed    
    2. (a)     up     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     over    
    3. (a)     barer     (b)     barely     (c)     bares     (d)     bare    
    4. (a)     renounced     (b)     pounced     (c)     trounced     (d)     flounced    
    5. (a)     fresco     (b)     lasso     (c)     fiasco     (d)     torso    
    6. (a)     relatively     (b)     unilaterally     (c)     absolutely     (d)     verily    
    7. (a)     juvenile     (b)     senile     (c)     quartile     (d)     futile    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    9. (a)     antlers     (b)     tusks     (c)     horns     (d)     claws    
    10. (a)     profile     (b)     acronym     (c)     abbreviation     (d)     biography    
    11. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     of    
    12. (a)     tranquilizer     (b)     pill     (c)     medicine     (d)     lozenge

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Her maternal ctnnitiss kicked in
    2. when the lion pcendou
    3. The boy suffered bites and lnsrctoiaea
    4. to his head and oorts
    5. in a satebl condition
    6. she soellutyba saved her son's life

    Paragraph 2

    1. the mountain lion was a enjeuilv
    2. the eautrerc was young
    3. acting in an svgaergeis nature
    4. sfrnsieco scientists
    5. lion ascacrs
    6. a non-lethal qituinzlraer

    Put the text back together

    (...)  jaws of the big cat. She fought off the wild animal with her bare fists in the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had
    (...)  of human tissue and blood with a DNA profile that matched the young victim." They added: "Results were
    (...)  near the boy's home that was acting in an "aggressive" nature. The officials later stated: "Wildlife forensics
    (...)  Officials reported that the mountain lion was a juvenile and was less than a year old. They said the attack probably
    (...)  hero of this story is his mom because she absolutely saved her son's life."
    (...)  been playing in the garden when the lion pounced. The boy suffered bites and lacerations to his head
    (...)  recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The true
    (  1  ) A woman in California has been hailed a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying
    (...)  scientists analyzed samples from underneath the claws of the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces
    (...)  conclusive that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on
    (...)  and torso, but is now in a stable condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a full
    (...)  scene." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a non-lethal tranquilizer and released.
    (...)  away her five-year-old son. Her maternal instincts kicked in as she dragged her little boy from the
    (...)  happened because the creature was young and was practising its hunting skills. They shot a lion

    Put the words in the right order

    1. A   Californian   hero   .   has   woman   hailed   a   been
    2. dragged   jaws   .   little   its   from   boy   her   She
    3. his   suffered   boy   to   torso   .   bites   The
    4. full   make   expected   is   recovery   .   He   to   a
    5. is   The   his   mom   .   hero   story   of   this
    6. was   young   .   The   the   creature   happened   because   attack
    7. the  samples  analyzed  claws  . underneath   scientists  Forensics  from
    8. young   DNA   that   matched   A   profile   the   victim   .
    9. Results   lion   .   conclusive   it   attacking   the   was   were
    10. tranquilizer   It   and   a   released   .   was   with   shot

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A woman in California has been mailed / hailed a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying allay / away her five-year-old son. Her maternal distinct / instincts kicked in as she dragged her little boy from the jaws of the big cat. She fought off / on the wild animal with her bare / barely fists in the garden of her house on Thursday morning. Her son had been playing in the garden when the lion pouncing / pounced. The boy suffered bites and alliterations / lacerations to his head and torso, but is now in a stable / staple condition in a local hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Patrick Foy, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: "The true heroism / hero of this story is his mom because she absolute / absolutely saved her son's life."

    Officials reported that the mountain lion was a juvenile / senile and was less than a year old. They said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its haunting / hunting skills. They shot a lion near the boy's home that was acting on / in an "aggressive" mature / nature. The officials later stated: "Wildlife forensics scientists analyzed samples from underneath the claws of / at the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces of human issue / tissue and blood with a DNA profile that matched / matchless the young victim." They added: "Results were conclusive / conclusion that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on / in scene." Another mountain lion was found at the scene. It was shot with a non-lethal pill / tranquilizer and released.

    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)

    _  w_m_n  _n  C_l_f_rn__  h_s  b__n  h__l_d  _  h_r_  _ft_r  f_ght_ng  _ff  _  m__nt__n  l__n  th_t  w_s  c_rry_ng  _w_y  h_r  f_v_-y__r-_ld  s_n.  H_r  m_t_rn_l  _nst_ncts  k_ck_d  _n  _s  sh_  dr_gg_d  h_r  l_ttl_  b_y  fr_m  th_  j_ws  _f  th_  b_g  c_t.  Sh_  f__ght  _ff  th_  w_ld  _n_m_l  w_th  h_r  b_r_  f_sts  _n  th_  g_rd_n  _f  h_r  h__s_  _n  Th_rsd_y  m_rn_ng.  H_r  s_n  h_d  b__n  pl_y_ng  _n  th_  g_rd_n  wh_n  th_  l__n  p__nc_d.  Th_  b_y  s_ff_r_d  b_t_s  _nd  l_c_r_t__ns  t_  h_s  h__d  _nd  t_rs_,  b_t  _s  n_w  _n  _  st_bl_  c_nd_t__n  _n  _  l_c_l  h_sp_t_l.  H_  _s  _xp_ct_d  t_  m_k_  _  f_ll  r_c_v_ry.  P_tr_ck  F_y,  _  sp_k_sp_rs_n  fr_m  th_  C_l_f_rn__  D_p_rtm_nt  _f  F_sh  _nd  W_ldl_f_,  s__d:  "Th_  tr__  h_r_  _f  th_s  st_ry  _s  h_s  m_m  b_c__s_  sh_  _bs_l_t_ly  s_v_d  h_r  s_n's  l_f_."

    _ff_c__ls  r_p_rt_d  th_t  th_  m__nt__n  l__n  w_s  _  j_v_n_l_  _nd  w_s  l_ss  th_n  _  y__r  _ld.  Th_y  s__d  th_  _tt_ck  pr_b_bly  h_pp_n_d  b_c__s_  th_  cr__t_r_  w_s  y__ng  _nd  w_s  pr_ct_s_ng  _ts  h_nt_ng  sk_lls.  Th_y  sh_t  _  l__n  n__r  th_  b_y's  h_m_  th_t  w_s  _ct_ng  _n  _n  "_ggr_ss_v_"  n_t_r_.  Th_  _ff_c__ls  l_t_r  st_t_d:  "W_ldl_f_  f_r_ns_cs  sc__nt_sts  _n_lyz_d  s_mpl_s  fr_m  _nd_rn__th  th_  cl_ws  _f  th_  s_sp_ct  l__n  c_rc_ss  _nd  _s_l_t_d  tr_c_s  _f  h_m_n  t_ss__  _nd  bl__d  w_th  _  DN_  pr_f_l_  th_t  m_tch_d  th_  y__ng  v_ct_m."  Th_y  _dd_d:  "R_s_lts  w_r_  c_ncl_s_v_  th_t  _t  w_s  th_  _tt_ck_ng  l__n  th_t  w_s  sh_t  by  th_  w_ldl_f_  _ff_c_r  _n  sc_n_."  _n_th_r  m__nt__n  l__n  w_s  f__nd  _t  th_  sc_n_.  _t  w_s  sh_t  w_th  _  n_n-l_th_l  tr_nq__l_z_r  _nd  r_l__s_d.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a woman in california has been hailed a hero after fighting off a mountain lion that was carrying away her fiveyearold son her maternal instincts kicked in as she dragged her little boy from the jaws of the big cat she fought off the wild animal with her bare fists in the garden of her house on thursday morning her son had been playing in the garden when the lion pounced the boy suffered bites and lacerations to his head and torso but is now in a stable condition in a local hospital he is expected to make a full recovery patrick foy a spokesperson from the california department of fish and wildlife said the true hero of this story is his mom because she absolutely saved her sons life

    officials reported that the mountain lion was a juvenile and was less than a year old they said the attack probably happened because the creature was young and was practising its hunting skills they shot a lion near the boys home that was acting in an aggressive nature the officials later stated wildlife forensics scientists analyzed samples from underneath the claws of the suspect lion carcass and isolated traces of human tissue and blood with a dna profile that matched the young victim they added results were conclusive that it was the attacking lion that was shot by the wildlife officer on scene another mountain lion was found at the scene it was shot with a nonlethal tranquilizer and released

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AwomaninCaliforniahasbeenhailedaheroafterfightingoffamountainli
    onthatwascarryingawayherfive-year-oldson.Hermaternalinstinct
    skickedinasshedraggedherlittleboyfromthejawsofthebigcat.Shefou
    ghtoffthewildanimalwithherbarefistsinthegardenofherhouseonThur
    sdaymorning.Hersonhadbeenplayinginthegardenwhenthelionpoun
    ced.Theboysufferedbitesandlacerationstohisheadandtorso,butisno
    winastableconditioninalocalhospital.Heisexpectedtomakeafullrecov
    ery.PatrickFoy,aspokespersonfromtheCaliforniaDepartmentofFisha
    ndWildlife,said:"Thetrueheroofthisstoryishismombecausesheabsol
    utelysavedherson'slife."Officialsreportedthatthemountainlionwasaj
    uvenileandwaslessthanayearold.Theysaidtheattackprobablyhappe
    nedbecausethecreaturewasyoungandwaspractisingitshuntingskills.
    Theyshotalionneartheboy'shomethatwasactinginan"aggressive"nat
    ure.Theofficialslaterstated:"Wildlifeforensicsscientistsanalyzedsam
    plesfromunderneaththeclawsofthesuspectlioncarcassandisolatedtr
    acesofhumantissueandbloodwithaDNAprofilethatmatchedtheyoung
    victim."Theyadded:"Resultswereconclusivethatitwastheattackingli
    onthatwasshotbythewildlifeofficeronscene."Anothermountainlionw
    asfoundatthescene.Itwasshotwithanon-lethaltranquilizerandrelea
    sed.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Everyone is brave enough to fight a dangerous animal.  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. MOTHERS: Make a poster about mothers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HEROISM: Write a magazine article about there being a hero in all of us. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with people who do not believe 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 mountain lions. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how wild animals and people can co-exist. 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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