The Reading / Listening - White Rhinos - Level 6

The word "auction" usually conjures up images of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity memorabilia. It rarely makes us think of a near-threatened species of rhinoceros. However, those rich enough to splash out in excess of $10 million can bid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which is International Save the Rhino Day. The majestic beasts are being sold by multi-millionaire conservationist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino breeding project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase his stock of the animals ten-fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-hectare ranch 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.

Mr Hume's ranch is home to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal fortune on increasing rhino numbers, but can no longer afford to maintain the creatures. His expenses include vets' bills, security guards to keep poachers at bay and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all my life savings spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and I finally ran out of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would rather save the population of rhinos from extinction than own a super-yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are underdogs. They stand the least chance of surviving poaching."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    White Rhinos - Level 4  or  White Rhinos - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/28/white-rhinos-for-sale-one-careful-owner-tycoon-looks-for-a-millionaire-to-buy-his-conservation-ranch
  • https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/worlds-largest-rhino-farm-in-south-africa-with-2-000-rhinos-to-be-auctioned-3973922
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rhino-farm-auction-john-hume-seeks-millionaire-to-carry-on-conservation-work/


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. RHINOS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about rhinos. 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?
       auction / priceless art / fine wines / celebrity / memorabilia / rhinos / conservationist /
       ranch / personal fortune / vets / bills / poachers / life savings / millionaire / underdogs
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SUPER-YACHTS: Students A strongly believe it is better to buy a super-yacht at an auction than to buy rhinos; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AUCTION: Why might people bid for these things at auction? How much would you pay? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why People Bid for This

How Much You'd Pay

A white rhino

 

 

A Picasso painting

 

 

Antique watches

 

 

A castle

 

 

Einstein's notebooks

 

 

A car license plate

 

 
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. ENTREPRENEUR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "entrepreneur". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THREATENED SPECIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the ones that need the most help at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • The white rhinos
  • The gray bat
  • The ball python
  • The Corfu cave cricket
  • The shy albatross
  • The copper shark
  • The Asian leaf turtle
  • The Guinea baboon

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. auction a. Spend a lot of money freely.
      2. conjure up b. So precious or valuable that a value cannot be put on it.
      3. priceless c. Make an image appear in the mind.
      4. memorabilia d. Animals that are bred and kept for their meat or milk, or for conservation.
      5. splash out e. A public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder.
      6. breeding f. Objects kept or collected because of their associations with famous people or events.
      7. stock g. The mating and production of offspring by animals.

    Paragraph 2

      8. ranch h. A large amount of money or assets.
      9. fortune i. Prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect.
      10. vet j. A competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.
      11. poacher k. An animal doctor.
      12. keep at bay l. The process of a particular thing ceasing to exist.
      13. extinction m. A person who hunts or catches game or fish illegally.
      14. underdog n. A large farm, especially in North America or Australia, where cattle or other animals are bred.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says we think of cars when we hear the word "auction".     T / F
  2. The article says the rhinos will cost $10 million.     T / F
  3. A South African billionaire is selling 1,993 white rhinos.     T / F
  4. The rhino seller started with 200 rhinos and bred them for three decades. T / F
  5. The rhino seller owns over 10% of the world's rhino population.     T / F
  6. The article says the owner only has $150 million in the bank.     T / F
  7. The owner needs a millionaire with a super-yacht to buy the rhinos.     T / F
  8. The owner called rhinos underdogs.     T / F

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

  1. conjures up
  2. species
  3. splash out
  4. majestic
  5. increase
  6. total
  7. expenses
  8. at bay
  9. lamented
  10. chance
  1. splurge
  2. rued
  3. dignified
  4. likelihood
  5. entire
  6. brings to mind
  7. enlarge
  8. away
  9. breed
  10. outgoings

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

  1. conjures up
  2. celebrity
  3. those rich enough to
  4. He started a rhino breeding
  5. increase his stock of the animals
  6. security guards to keep poachers
  7. I've used all my life
  8. save the population of rhinos
  9. Hume lamented that rhinos
  10. They stand the least chance
  1. are underdogs
  2. project
  3. of surviving poaching
  4. memorabilia
  5. savings
  6. from extinction
  7. images of priceless art
  8. at bay
  9. splash out
  10. ten-fold

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
species
beasts
conjures
stock
splash
memorabilia
ranch
breeding

The word "auction" usually (1) _____________________ up images of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity (2) _____________________. It rarely makes us think of a near-threatened (3) _____________________ of rhinoceros. However, those rich enough to (4) _____________________ out in excess of $10 million can bid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which is International Save the Rhino Day. The majestic (5) _____________________ are being sold by multi-millionaire conservationist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino (6) _____________________ project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase his (7) _____________________ of the animals ten-fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-hectare (8) _____________________ 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
extinction
fortune
poaching
bay
underdogs
home
savings
afford

Mr Hume's ranch is (9) _____________________ to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal (10) _____________________ on increasing rhino numbers, but can no longer (11) _____________________ to maintain the creatures. His expenses include vets' bills, security guards to keep poachers at (12) _____________________ and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all my life (13) _____________________ spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and I finally ran out of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would rather save the population of rhinos from (14) _____________________ than own a super-yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are (15) _____________________. They stand the least chance of surviving (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The word "auction" usually conjures up images ______
     a.  of priceless art
     b.  of priced less art
     c.  off priceless art
     d.  off price less art
2)  It rarely makes us think of a near-threatened ______
     a.  speeches of rhinoceros
     b.  specials of rhinoceros
     c.  species off rhinoceros
     d.  species of rhinoceros
3)  However, those rich enough to splash out in ______
     a.  access of $10 million
     b.  excerpts of $10 million
     c.  assess of $10 million
     d.  excess of $10 million
4)  The majestic beasts are being sold by multi-millionaire ______
     a.  conservation mist John Hume
     b.  conservation missed John Hume
     c.  conservationist John Hume
     d.  conversationist John Hume
5)  He managed to increase his stock of the ______
     a.  animals ten-field
     b.  animals ten-foaled
     c.  animals ten-fold
     d.  animals ten-folds

6)  Hume has spent $150 million of his personal fortune on ______
     a.  increasing rhino number
     b.  increasing rhino numbers
     c.  increase in rhino numbers
     d.  increase sin rhino numbers
7)  but can no longer afford to ______
     a.  maintain the creatures
     b.  maintain a creatures
     c.  maintain a creature
     d.  main chain the creatures
8)  security guards to keep poachers at bay and a helicopter ______
     a.  foray patrols
     b.  four air patrols
     c.  fairer patrols
     d.  for air patrols
9)  a millionaire that would rather save the population of ______
     a.  rhinos from extinction
     b.  rhinos for extinction
     c.  rhino from extinction
     d.  rhinos from extinct shun
10)  Hume lamented that: "______"
     a.  Rhinos are underdogs
     b.  Rhinos are under dogs
     c.  Rhinos are adder dogs
     d.  Rhinos are under dog

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The word "auction" usually (1) ____________________ of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity memorabilia. It (2) ____________________ think of a near-threatened species of rhinoceros. However, those rich enough to splash (3) ____________________ of $10 million can bid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which is International Save the Rhino Day. The (4) ____________________ being sold by multi-millionaire conservationist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino breeding project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase (5) ____________________ the animals ten-fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-(6) ____________________ miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.

Mr Hume's (7) ____________________ to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal (8) ____________________ rhino numbers, but can no longer afford to maintain the creatures. His expenses include vets' bills, security guards to keep (9) ____________________ and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all (10) ____________________ spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and I (11) ____________________ of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would rather save the population of rhinos from extinction than own a super-yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are underdogs. They (12) ____________________ chance of surviving poaching."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the word "auction" make us think about besides art and wine?
  2. How many white rhinos will be auctioned?
  3. When is International Save the Rhino Day?
  4. When did the seller start breeding rhinos?
  5. Where do the rhinos currently live?
  6. What proportion of the world's rhinos does the seller own?
  7. What outgoings does the seller have besides paying for vets and guards?
  8. What has the seller used all of on looking after the rhinos?
  9. Who does the seller hope will save the rhinos?
  10. What did the seller call rhinos?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the word "auction" make us think about besides art and wine?
a) houses
b) cars
c) endangered species
d) celebrity memorabilia
2) How many white rhinos will be auctioned?
a) 1,393
b) 1,993
c) 1,933
d) 1,999
3) When is International Save the Rhino Day?
a) May 3
b) May 2
c) May 1
d) May 4
4) When did the seller start breeding rhinos?
a) 30 years ago
b) 40 years ago
c) 20 years ago
d) 50 years ago
5) Where do the rhinos live?
a) 100 miles south-west of Johannesburg
b) 100 miles north-east of Johannesburg
c) 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg
d) 100 miles north-west of Johannesburg

6) What proportion of the world's rhinos does the seller own?
a) exactly 10%
b) more than 10%
c) just less than 10%
d) around 10%
7) What outgoings does the seller have besides paying for vets and guards?
a) food
b) electric fencing
c) marketing
d) helicopter patrols
8) What has the seller used all of on looking after the rhinos?
a) his life savings
b) his patience
c) his stock of rhino food
d) his ideas
9) Who does the seller hope will save the rhinos?
a) the WWF
b) the world's zoos
c) a billionaire
d) South Africa's government
10) What did the seller call rhinos?
a) Bob and June
b) underdogs
c) top cats
d) fat cats

Role play

Role  A – The White Rhino
You think the white rhino is most in need of protection. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): the grey bat, the shy albatross or the copper shark.

Role  B – The Grey Bat
You think the grey bat is most in need of protection. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): the white rhino, the shy albatross or the copper shark.

Role  C – The Shy Albatross
You think the shy albatross is most in need of protection. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): the grey bat, the white rhino or the copper shark.

Role  D – The Copper Shark
You think the copper shark is most in need of protection. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their creatures aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): the grey bat, the shy albatross or the white rhino.

After reading / listening

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

'auction'

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

    • and 'rhino'.

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

    • • 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:

    • images
    • rarely
    • splash
    • beasts
    • 200
    • ten
    • home
    • personal
    • afford
    • life
    • ran
    • stand

    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 - White Rhinos

    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 'auction'?
    3. What do you think of auctions?
    4. What would you like to buy at an auction?
    5. What do you think of white rhinos?
    6. What do you think of the white rhino auction?
    7. How can we help to protect the white rhino?
    8. What do you think of the success of Mr Hume's project?
    9. Should governments set up rhino breeding projects?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Hume?

    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 'rhino'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How would you feel if rhinos went extinct?
    5. What should we do to stop poachers?
    6. What punishment should poachers get?
    7. Should there be a condition that all the rhinos be kept together?
    8. Would you buy the rhinos or a super-yacht?
    9. Why might rhinos be underdogs?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Hume?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The word "auction" usually (1) ____ up images of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity memorabilia. It (2) ____ makes us think of a near-threatened species of rhinoceros. However, those rich enough to splash (3) ____ in excess of $10 million can bid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which is International Save the Rhino Day. The (4) ____ beasts are being sold by multi-millionaire conservationist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino (5) ____ project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase his (6) ____ of the animals ten-fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-hectare ranch 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.

    Mr Hume's ranch is (7) ____ to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal fortune on increasing rhino (8) ____, but can no longer afford to maintain the creatures. His expenses include vets' bills, security guards to keep poachers at (9) ____ and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all my (10) ____ savings spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and I finally ran out of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would (11) ____ save the population of rhinos from extinction than own a super-yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are (12) ____. They stand the least chance of surviving poaching."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     projects     (b)     conjures     (c)     magics     (d)     appears    
    2. (a)     rare     (b)     rarely     (c)     rarify     (d)     rarified    
    3. (a)     over     (b)     across     (c)     up     (d)     out    
    4. (a)     majesty     (b)     majestic     (c)     majority     (d)     majorly    
    5. (a)     bleeding     (b)     breeding     (c)     brooding     (d)     blooding    
    6. (a)     stick     (b)     stack     (c)     stock     (d)     stuck    
    7. (a)     homed     (b)     homer     (c)     home     (d)     homie    
    8. (a)     figures     (b)     stats     (c)     numbers     (d)     statistics    
    9. (a)     day     (b)     way     (c)     may     (d)     bay    
    10. (a)     life     (b)     live     (c)     living     (d)     livelihood    
    11. (a)     rather     (b)     prefer     (c)     opt     (d)     choose    
    12. (a)     puppy love     (b)     dog-eared     (c)     underdogs     (d)     dog-eat-dog

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. sncurjeo up images of priceless art
    2. fine wines or celebrity mlieaabriom
    3. splash out in xscsee of $10 million
    4. The jiesacmt beasts are being sold
    5. a South African ernurpreeetn
    6. selling the 8,500-eaectrh ranch

    Paragraph 2

    1. $150 million of his personal rnoetfu
    2. maintain the cerrtaseu
    3. His xpseeesn include vets' bills
    4. save the population of rhinos from onicitxetn
    5. Rhinos are nesgruddo
    6. stand the least chance of surviving cogahpni

    Put the text back together

    (...)  Mr Hume's ranch is home to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino
    (...)  enough to splash out in excess of $10 million can bid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which is
    (...)  International Save the Rhino Day. The majestic beasts are being sold by multi-millionaire
    (...)  project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase his stock of the animals ten-
    (...)  population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal fortune on increasing rhino numbers, but can no longer
    (...)  afford to maintain the creatures. His expenses include vets' bills, security guards to keep poachers at
    (...)  for 30 years and I finally ran out of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would
    (  1  ) The word "auction" usually conjures up images of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity
    (...)  yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are underdogs. They stand the least chance of surviving poaching."
    (...)  conservationist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino breeding
    (...)  rather save the population of rhinos from extinction than own a super-
    (...)  bay and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all my life savings spending on that population of rhinos
    (...)  fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-hectare ranch 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.
    (...)  memorabilia. It rarely makes us think of a near-threatened species of rhinoceros. However, those rich

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   up   art   .   The   word   conjures   auction   images
    2. of   rhinoceros   .   near-threatened   think   a   species   of   We
    3. out   to   Rich   million   .   more   splash   enough   $10 million   than
    4. of   animals   He   stock   the   ten-fold   .   increased   his
    5. is   the   Hume   ranch   .   also   8,500-hectare   Mr   selling
    6. has   personal   $150 million   fortune   .   his   spent   He   of
    7. savings   on   that   .   my   spending   used   life   I've
    8. He   the   from   of   rhinos   extinction   .   population   saved
    9. Hume   that   are   the   underdogs   .   lamented   rhinos
    10. stand   surviving   of   They   the   poaching   .   least   chance

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The word "auction" usually conjures down / up images of priceless art, fine wines or celebrity memorabilia. It rarely makes us think of a near-threatened species as / of rhinoceros. However, those rich enough to splash out in access / excess of $10 million can bid / lid for 1,993 white rhinos on May the 1st, which / that is International Save the Rhino Day. The majestic beasts are being selling / sold by multi-millionaire conservationist / conversationalist John Hume, a South African entrepreneur. He started a rhino breeding / bleeding project with about 200 animals 30 years ago. He managed to increase his stack / stock of the animals ten-fold. Mr Hume is also selling the 8,500-hectare ranch / raunch 100 miles south-east of Johannesburg where the rhinos live.

    Mr Hume's ranch is house / home to more than 10 per cent of the world's total rhino population. Hume has spent $150 million of his personal fortunate / fortune on increasing rhino numbers, but can no lengthen / longer afford to maintain the creatures. His expenses include veterans' / vets' bills, security guards to keep poachers at / in bay and a helicopter for air patrols. He told reporters: "I've used all my live / life savings spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and I finally ran / running out of money. I'm hoping that there is a billionaire that would prefer / rather save the population of rhinos from extinction / exhaustion than own a super-yacht." Hume lamented that: "Rhinos are underdogs. They stand the last / least chance of surviving poaching."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  w_rd  "__ct__n"  _s__lly  c_nj_r_s  _p  _m_g_s  _f  pr_c_l_ss  _rt,  f_n_  w_n_s  _r  c_l_br_ty  m_m_r_b_l__.  _t  r_r_ly  m_k_s  _s  th_nk  _f  _  n__r-thr__t_n_d  sp_c__s  _f  rh_n_c_r_s.  H_w_v_r,  th_s_  r_ch  _n__gh  t_  spl_sh  __t  _n  _xc_ss  _f  $10  m_ll__n  c_n  b_d  f_r  1,993  wh_t_  rh_n_s  _n  M_y  th_  1st,  wh_ch  _s  _nt_rn_t__n_l  S_v_  th_  Rh_n_  D_y.  Th_  m_j_st_c  b__sts  _r_  b__ng  s_ld  by  m_lt_-m_ll__n__r_  c_ns_rv_t__n_st  J_hn  H_m_,  _  S__th  _fr_c_n  _ntr_pr_n__r.  H_  st_rt_d  _  rh_n_  br__d_ng  pr_j_ct  w_th  _b__t  200  _n_m_ls  30  y__rs  _g_.  H_  m_n_g_d  t_  _ncr__s_  h_s  st_ck  _f  th_  _n_m_ls  t_n-f_ld.  Mr  H_m_  _s  _ls_  s_ll_ng  th_  8,500-h_ct_r_  r_nch  100  m_l_s  s__th-__st  _f  J_h_nn_sb_rg  wh_r_  th_  rh_n_s  l_v_.

    Mr  H_m_'s  r_nch  _s  h_m_  t_  m_r_  th_n  10  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_  w_rld's  t_t_l  rh_n_  p_p_l_t__n.  H_m_  h_s  sp_nt  $150  m_ll__n  _f  h_s  p_rs_n_l  f_rt_n_  _n  _ncr__s_ng  rh_n_  n_mb_rs,  b_t  c_n  n_  l_ng_r  _ff_rd  t_  m__nt__n  th_  cr__t_r_s.  H_s  _xp_ns_s  _ncl_d_  v_ts'  b_lls,  s_c_r_ty  g__rds  t_  k__p  p__ch_rs  _t  b_y  _nd  _  h_l_c_pt_r  f_r  __r  p_tr_ls.  H_  t_ld  r_p_rt_rs:  "_'v_  _s_d  _ll  my  l_f_  s_v_ngs  sp_nd_ng  _n  th_t  p_p_l_t__n  _f  rh_n_s  f_r  30  y__rs  _nd  _  f_n_lly  r_n  __t  _f  m_n_y.  _'m  h_p_ng  th_t  th_r_  _s  _  b_ll__n__r_  th_t  w__ld  r_th_r  s_v_  th_  p_p_l_t__n  _f  rh_n_s  fr_m  _xt_nct__n  th_n  _wn  _  s_p_r-y_cht."  H_m_  l_m_nt_d  th_t:  "Rh_n_s  _r_  _nd_rd_gs.  Th_y  st_nd  th_  l__st  ch_nc_  _f  s_rv_v_ng  p__ch_ng."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the word auction usually conjures up images of priceless art fine wines or celebrity memorabilia it rarely makes us think of a nearthreatened species of rhinoceros however those rich enough to splash out in excess of 10 million can bid for 1993 white rhinos on may the 1st which is international save the rhino day the majestic beasts are being sold by multimillionaire conservationist john hume a south african entrepreneur he started a rhino breeding project with about 200 animals 30 years ago he managed to increase his stock of the animals tenfold mr hume is also selling the 8500hectare ranch 100 miles southeast of johannesburg where the rhinos live

    mr humes ranch is home to more than 10 per cent of the worlds total rhino population hume has spent 150 million of his personal fortune on increasing rhino numbers but can no longer afford to maintain the creatures his expenses include vets bills security guards to keep poachers at bay and a helicopter for air patrols he told reporters ive used all my life savings spending on that population of rhinos for 30 years and i finally ran out of money im hoping that there is a billionaire that would rather save the population of rhinos from extinction than own a superyacht hume lamented that rhinos are underdogs they stand the least chance of surviving poaching

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theword"auction"usuallyconjuresupimagesofpricelessart,finewines
    orcelebritymemorabilia.Itrarelymakesusthinkofanear-threateneds
    peciesofrhinoceros.However,thoserichenoughtosplashoutinexcess
    of$10millioncanbidfor1,993whiterhinosonMaythe1st,whichisIntern
    ationalSavetheRhinoDay.Themajesticbeastsarebeingsoldbymulti-
    millionaireconservationistJohnHume,aSouthAfricanentrepreneur.H
    estartedarhinobreedingprojectwithabout200animals30yearsago.H
    emanagedtoincreasehisstockoftheanimalsten-fold.MrHumeisalsos
    ellingthe8,500-hectareranch100milessouth-eastofJohannesburgw
    heretherhinoslive.MrHume'sranchishometomorethan10percentofth
    eworld'stotalrhinopopulation.Humehasspent$150millionofhisperso
    nalfortuneonincreasingrhinonumbers,butcannolongeraffordtomain
    tainthecreatures.Hisexpensesincludevets'bills,securityguardstokee
    ppoachersatbayandahelicopterforairpatrols.Hetoldreporters:"I'veu
    sedallmylifesavingsspendingonthatpopulationofrhinosfor30yearsa
    ndIfinallyranoutofmoney.I'mhopingthatthereisabillionairethatwoul
    drathersavethepopulationofrhinosfromextinctionthanownasuper-
    yacht."Humelamentedthat:"Rhinosareunderdogs.Theystandthelea
    stchanceofsurvivingpoaching."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The World Wildlife Fund should pay the expenses to help Mr Hume's rhinos. 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. RHINOS: Make a poster about rhinos. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. POACHING: Write a magazine article about having sentences of life in prison for poaching. 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 rhinos. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to save them. 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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