The Reading / Listening - Risky Behaviour - Level 3

Teenagers are well known for doing crazy things. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot more risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps ranged in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the animals swung through trees. The youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches firmly.

Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura MacLatchy suggested why children and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are at an age when parents supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might cause injuries. However, young teens have more freedom and want to try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for male and female chimps and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Risky Behaviour - Level 0,  Risky Behaviour - Level 1   or  Risky Behaviour - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/chimps-reveal-why-teenagers-are-notorious-for-risky-behaviors
  • https://www.earth.com/news/young-chimpanzees-take-more-risks-similar-to-human-behavior/
  • https://www.sciencenews.org/article/chimpanzees-thrill-seeking-toddlerd


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. RISKS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about risks. 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?
       teenagers / crazy things / child / injury / chimpanzee / national park / animals / risks
       anthropologist / supervise / parents / freedom / thrill seeking / play / old-fashioned
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MORE RISK: Students A strongly believe teenagers should take more risks; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TENAGE RISKS: What risks do teenagers take? Why? Did you take these risks? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Risks

Why?

You

Food

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

 

Bicycle

 

 

 

Relationships

 

 

 

Internet

 

 

 

Studying

 

 

 
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. INJURY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "injury". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RISKS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest risks at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Not exercising
  • Smoking
  • Unhealthy eating
  • Easy passwords
  • Wasting time
  • Ignoring traffic signals
  • Clicking email links
  • Walking across the road

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. seems a. Moved back and forth in the air.
      2. teen b. Harm or damage to the body.
      3. injury c. A person who is 13 to 19 years old.
      4. wild d. Held something tightly.
      5. swung e. Looks like something is true, but you are not sure.
      6. branches f. Living in nature, not with people.
      7. gripped g. Parts of a tree that grow from the main stem.

    Paragraph 2

      8. anthropologist h. Say why you think something is true.
      9. supervise i. From the past; from a long time ago; not modern.
      10. cause j. Wanting to do exciting or dangerous things.
      11. argue k. Watch and take care of someone.
      12. thrill-seeking l. About the bones in the body.
      13. old-fashioned m. A person who studies people and how they live.
      14. skeletal n. Make something happen.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says all teenagers do very crazy things.     T / F
  2. Young children take more risks than teenagers.     T / F
  3. Researchers studied more than 100 chimps in Uganda.     T / F
  4. Researchers said older chimps were more likely to let go of branches.     T / F
  5. A researcher said chimpanzee behaviour helps explain teen behaviour.    T / F
  6. Teenagers take more risks because their parents aren't around.     T / F
  7. A researcher said male chimps took more risks than female chimps.     T / F
  8. The researcher hoped more children would play on monkey bars.     T / F

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

  1. well known
  2. injury
  3. behaviour
  4. fall
  5. gripped
  6. supervise
  7. cause
  8. thrill
  9. access
  10. develop
  1. conduct
  2. expand
  3. held
  4. harm
  5. look after
  6. fun
  7. famous
  8. use of
  9. drop
  10. lead to

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

  1. Teenagers are well known
  2. Some of these are dangerous and
  3. The chimps ranged in
  4. researchers looked at how the animals
  5. made sure they gripped
  6. doing things that might cause
  7. the risk-taking was the same for
  8. increasing children's access to thrill-
  9. a way to help them develop motor
  10. skeletal
  1. age from 2 to 65 years
  2. skills
  3. branches firmly
  4. seeking play
  5. lead to injury
  6. for doing crazy things
  7. strength
  8. injuries
  9. swung through trees
  10. male and female chimps

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
swung
more
firmly
explain
letting
crazy
ranged
injury

Teenagers are well known for doing (1) ______________________________________________ things. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot (2) _____________________________________________ risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to (3) ____________________________________________, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may (4) ______________________________________________ risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps (5) ______________________________________________ in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the animals (6) ______________________________________________ through trees. The youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, like (7) ______________________________________________ go of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
female
age
freedom
fashioned
suggested
strength
cause
argue

Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura MacLatchy (9) ______________________________________________ why children and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are at an (10) ______________________________________________ when people supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might (11) ______________________________________________ injuries. However, young teens have more (12) ______________________________________________ and want to try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for male and (13) ______________________________________________ chimps and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists (14) ______________________________________________ for increasing children's access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-(15) ______________________________________________ monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal (16) ______________________________________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Teenagers are well known for ______
     a.  doing crazy thing
     b.  doing crazily things
     c.  do in crazy things
     d.  doing crazy things
2)  Some of these are dangerous and lead to ______
     a.  injurious, or worse
     b.  injury, or worse
     c.  injured, or worse
     d.  injury, or worsen
3)  The researchers looked at how the animals ______
     a.  swung though trees
     b.  swung through trees
     c.  swung thorough trees
     d.  swung threw trees
4)  do more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and ______
     a.  letting themselves fallen
     b.  letting themselves fall
     c.  letting themselves falls
     d.  letting themselves fell
5)  Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they ______
     a.  gripped branches firm
     b.  griped branches firmly
     c.  gripped branches firmly
     d.  gripped branch is firmly

6)  Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura ______
     a.  MacLatchy suggestion why
     b.  MacLatchy suggestive why
     c.  MacLatchy suggest it why
     d.  MacLatchy suggested why
7)  She believes it is because they are at an age when parents ______
     a.  supervise them less
     b.  supervise them lest
     c.  supervise them lesser
     d.  supervise them lessen
8)  carers often stop very young children from doing things that ______
     a.  might clause injuries
     b.  might cause injuries
     c.  might case injuries
     d.  might course injuries
9)  ScienceAlert said that some anthropologists argue for ______
     a.  increasing children's reccess
     b.  increasing children's success
     c.  increasing children's excess
     d.  increasing children's access
10)  old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills ______
     a.  and skeletal strengthen
     b.  and skeletal strengthens
     c.  and skeletal strength
     d.  and skeletal strong

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Teenagers are well known for (1) __________________________________________________. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot more risks. Some of these are dangerous and (2) __________________________________________________, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. (3) __________________________________________________ 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps ranged in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the (4) __________________________________________________ trees. The youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, (5) __________________________________________________ of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they (6) __________________________________________________.

(7) __________________________________________________ anthropologist Laura MacLatchy suggested why children and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are (8) __________________________________________________ when people supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that (9) __________________________________________________. However, young teens have more freedom and want to try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for (10) __________________________________________________ chimps and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's access to (11) __________________________________________________, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help (12) __________________________________________________ skills and skeletal strength".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say teenagers are well known for doing?
  2. What happens once a child become a teenager?
  3. How many chimpanzees did researchers look at in the research?
  4. How old were the chimps?
  5. Who (or what) gripped branches more firmly?
  6. What kind of researcher is professor Laura MacLatchy?
  7. What does the article say teenagers have more of?
  8. Who did researchers say risk-taking was the same for?
  9. What do anthropologists want children to have more access to?
  10. What kind of skills can monkey bars develop in children?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say teenagers are well known for doing?
a) homework
b) crazy things
c) climbing trees
d) being moody
2) What happens once a child become a teenager?
a) They get angrier.
b) They are more respectful.
c) They take fewer risks
d) They take more risks.
3) How many chimpanzees did researchers look at in the research?
a) more than 100
b) exactly 100
c) fewer than 100
d) around 100
4) How old were the chimps?
a) between 3 and 55
b) between 2 and 35
c) between 2 and 65
d) between 3 and 65
5) Who (or what) gripped branches more firmly?
a) teenagers
b) older chimps
c) younger chimps
d) children

6) What kind of researcher is professor Laura MacLatchy?
a) She's an anaesthesiologist.
b) She's an archaeologist.
c) She's an anthropologist.
d) She's an astrologist.
7) What does the article say teenagers have more of?
a) intelligence
b) money
c) muscles
d) freedom
8) Who did researchers say risk-taking was the same for?
a) male and female chimps
b) women and men
c) boys and girls
d) all of humanity
9) What do anthropologists want children to have more access to?
a) thrill-seeking play
b) smartphone games
c) good food
d) advice
10) What kind of skills can monkey bars develop in children?
a) language skills
b) motor skills
c) communication skills
d) computer skills

Role play

Role  A – Not Exercising
You think not exercising is the biggest risk in life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): smoking, clicking on email links or walking across the world.

Role  B – Smoking
You think smoking is the biggest risk in life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): not exercising, clicking on email links or walking across the world.

Role  C – Clicking on Email Links
You think clicking on email links is the biggest risk in life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): smoking, not exercising or walking across the world.

Role  D – Walking Across the Road
You think walking across the world is the biggest risk in life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which is the least risky of these (and why): smoking, clicking on email links or not exercising.

After reading / listening

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

'chimpanzee'

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

    • and 'teenager'.

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

    • • 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:

    • known
    • worse
    • explain
    • park
    • letting
    • firmly
    • suggested
    • less
    • carers
    • male
    • argue
    • way

    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 - Risky Behaviour

    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 'chimpanzee'?
    3. What crazy things did you do when you were a teenager?
    4. What crazy things do very old people do?
    5. How much of a risk-taker are you?
    6. What are the good and bad things about taking risks?
    7. Does chimpanzee behaviour explain human behaviour?
    8. Why do we take fewer risks as we get older?
    9. Are smartphones making children take fewer risks today?
    10. What's the biggest risk you've ever taken?

    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 'teenager'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How many risks do we take every day?
    5. Should parents encourage children to take more risks?
    6. Would you like to take more risks?
    7. What would happen if all world leaders were teenagers?
    8. Did any risk you took go badly?
    9. What do you think of old-fashioned monkey bars?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    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)

    Teenagers are well known for doing (1) ____ things. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot (2) ____ risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may (3) ____ risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps (4) ____ in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the animals (5) ____ through trees. The youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches (6) ____.

    Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura MacLatchy (7) ____ why children and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are (8) ____ an age when parents supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might cause injuries. However, young teens have more (9) ____ and want to try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the (10) ____ for male and female chimps and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's (11) ____ to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, (12) ____ a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     crazily     (b)     craze     (c)     crazy     (d)     crazes    
    2. (a)     more     (b)     most     (c)     many     (d)     some    
    3. (a)     explain     (b)     explanatory     (c)     explained     (d)     explanation    
    4. (a)     ranged     (b)     ranges     (c)     deranged     (d)     ranger    
    5. (a)     stung     (b)     swung     (c)     sung     (d)     slung    
    6. (a)     firmed     (b)     firmware     (c)     firm     (d)     firmly    
    7. (a)     suggestive     (b)     suggest     (c)     suggested     (d)     suggestion    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    9. (a)     freedom     (b)     frees     (c)     freer     (d)     freely    
    10. (a)     same     (b)     samey     (c)     similar     (d)     similarly    
    11. (a)     recess     (b)     access     (c)     success     (d)     excess    
    12. (a)     on     (b)     such     (c)     as     (d)     up

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Some of these are aoudregsn
    2. lead to iyrjun, or worse
    3. lipxaen risky behaviour in children
    4. chimps gardne in age from 2 to 65
    5. how the animals gunsw through trees
    6. letting go of scraenhb

    Paragraph 2

    1. Lead researcher and hgsltapooitrno
    2. at an age when parents iesuevspr them less
    3. young teens have more eodmerf
    4. argue for increasing children's ascsec
    5. lrihlt-seeking play
    6. develop motor skills and skeletal sghtertn

    Put the text back together

    (    )           age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the animals swung through trees. The youngest
    (    )     age when parents supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing
    (    )           and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's access to
    (    )     and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are at an
    (    )     chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and letting themselves
    (    )     explain risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan
    (    )     fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches firmly.
    (    )           in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps ranged in
    (    )           Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura MacLatchy suggested why children
    (    )     more risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may
    (    )     new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for male and female chimps
    (  1  )    Teenagers are well known for doing crazy things. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot
    (    )     things that might cause injuries. However, young teens have more freedom and want to try
    (    )     thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength".

    Put the words in the right order

    1. are   Teenagers   known   well   doing   for   things   crazy   .
    2. Some   these   of   dangerous   are   lead   and   injury   to   .
    3. A   of   study   may   chimpanzees   risky   explain   behaviour   .
    4. studied   They   100   over   chimpanzees   wild   Uganda   in   .
    5. The   seemed   chimps   do   to   dangerous   more   things   .
    6. an   At   when   age   supervise   people   less   them   .
    7. Carers   stop   often   children   young   doing   from   things   .
    8. was   Risk-taking   same   the   males   for   females   and   .
    9. Some   argue   anthropologists   increasing   for   access   children's   .
    10. A   to   way   them   help   motor   develop   skills   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Teenagers are well known for doing crazy / crazily things. It seems that once a child becomes the / a teen, they take a lot more / many risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worsen / worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour at / in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps ranges / ranged in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at what / how the animals swung through trees. The youngest chimps seamed / seemed to do more dangerous things, like letting go off / of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches firm / firmly.

    Lead researcher and anthropology / anthropologist Laura MacLatchy suggested why children and youngster / young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are at / that an age when parents supervise them / him less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might cause / causing injuries. However, young teens have more freedom and want to / and try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for male and female chimps and humans / human. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's access for / to thrill-seeking play, including / include the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to / for help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength".

    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)

    T__n_g_rs  _r_  w_ll  kn_wn  f_r_  d__ng  cr_zy  th_ngs.  _t  s__ms  th_t  _nc_  _  ch_ld  b_c_m_s  _  t__n,  th_y  t_k_  _  l_t  m_r_  r_sks.  S_m_  _f  th_s_  _r_  d_ng_r__s  _nd  l__d  t_  _nj_ry,  _r  w_rs_.  _  n_w  st_dy  _f  y__ng  ch_mp_nz__s  m_y  _xpl__n  r_sky  b_h_v___r  _n  ch_ldr_n.  Th_  st_dy  _s  fr_m  r_s__rch_rs  _t  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  M_ch_g_n  _n  th_  _S_.  Th_y  st_d__d  _v_r  100  w_ld  ch_mp_nz__s  _n  _  n_t__n_l  p_rk  _n  _g_nd_.  Th_  ch_mps  r_ng_d  _n  _g_  fr_m  2  t_  65  y__rs.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  l__k_d  _t  h_w  th_  _n_m_ls  sw_ng  thr__gh  tr__s.  Th_  y__ng_st  ch_mps  s__m_d  t_  d_  m_r_  d_ng_r__s  th_ngs,  l_k_  l_tt_ng  g_  _f  br_nch_s  _nd  l_tt_ng  th_ms_lv_s  f_ll.  _ld_r  ch_mps  t__k  l_ss  r_sks  _nd  m_d_  s_r_  th_y  gr_pp_d  br_nch_s  f_rmly.

    L__d  r_s__rch_r  _nd  _nthr_p_l_g_st  L__r_  M_cL_tchy  s_gg_st_d  why  ch_ldr_n  _nd  y__ng  ch_mp_nz__s  t_k_  m_r_  r_sks.  Sh_  b_l__v_s  _t  _s  b_c__s_  th_y  _r_  _t  _n  _g_  wh_n  p_r_nts  s_p_rv_s_  th_m  l_ss.  P_r_nts  _nd  c_r_rs  _ft_n  st_p  v_ry  y__ng  ch_ldr_n  fr_m  d__ng  th_ngs  th_t  m_ght  c__s_  _nj_r__s.  H_w_v_r,  y__ng  t__ns  h_v_  m_r_  fr__d_m  _nd  w_nt  t_  try  n_w  _nd  r_sky  th_ngs.  Pr_f_ss_r  M_cL_tchy  s__d  th_  r_sk-t_k_ng  w_s  th_  s_m_  f_r  m_l_  _nd  f_m_l_  ch_mps  _nd  h_m_ns.  Th_  w_bs_t_  Sc__nc__l_rt  s__d  th_t  "s_m_  _nthr_p_l_g_sts  _rg__  f_r  _ncr__s_ng  ch_ldr_n's  _cc_ss  t_  thr_ll-s__k_ng  pl_y,  _ncl_d_ng  th_  _ld-f_sh__n_d  m_nk_y  b_rs,  _s  _  w_y  t_  h_lp  th_m  d_v_l_p  m_t_r  sk_lls  _nd  sk_l_t_l  str_ngth".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    teenagers are well known for doing crazy things it seems that once a child becomes a teen they take a lot more risks some of these are dangerous and lead to injury or worse a new study of young chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour in children the study is from researchers at the university of michigan in the usa they studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in uganda the chimps ranged in age from 2 to 65 years the researchers looked at how the animals swung through trees the youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things like letting go of branches and letting themselves fall older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches firmly

    lead researcher and anthropologist laura maclatchy suggested why children and young chimpanzees take more risks she believes it is because they are at an age when parents supervise them less parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might cause injuries however young teens have more freedom and want to try new and risky things professor maclatchy said the risktaking was the same for male and female chimps and humans the website sciencealert said that some anthropologists argue for increasing childrens access to thrillseeking play including the oldfashioned monkey bars as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Teenagersarewellknownfordoingcrazythings.Itseemsthatonceachil
    dbecomesateen,theytakealotmorerisks.Someofthesearedangerous
    andleadtoinjury,orworse.Anewstudyofyoungchimpanzeesmayexpl
    ainriskybehaviourinchildren.ThestudyisfromresearchersattheUnive
    rsityofMichiganintheUSA.Theystudiedover100wildchimpanzeesinan
    ationalparkinUganda.Thechimpsrangedinagefrom2to65years.Ther
    esearcherslookedathowtheanimalsswungthroughtrees.Theyounges
    tchimpsseemedtodomoredangerousthings,likelettinggoofbranches
    andlettingthemselvesfall.Olderchimpstookfewerrisksandmadesuret
    heygrippedbranchesfirmly.LeadresearcherandanthropologistLaura
    MacLatchysuggestedwhychildrenandyoungchimpanzeestakemoreri
    sks.Shebelievesitisbecausetheyareatanagewhenparentsuperviseth
    emless.Parentsandcarersoftenstopveryyoungchildrenfromdoingthi
    ngsthatmightcauseinjuries.However,youngteenshavemorefreedom
    andwanttotrynewandriskythings.ProfessorMacLatchysaidtherisk-ta
    kingwasthesameformaleandfemalechimpsandhumans.Thewebsite
    ScienceAlertsaidthat"someanthropologistsargueforincreasingchildr
    en'saccesstothrill-seekingplay,includingtheold-fashionedmonkeyb
    ars,asawaytohelpthemdevelopmotorskillsandskeletalstrength".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Children should experiment and take more risks.  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. RISKS: Make a poster about risks. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RISK-TAKERS: Write a magazine article about encouraging children to take more risks. 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 risks. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on children taking risks. 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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