Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Who is your favorite Hollywood actor? Could you tell me something about him/her?
- What do you think about naming a newfound plant after a famous person?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- vast /vast/
- outline /OUT-lahyn/
- endangered /en-DEYN-jerd/
- social media /SOH-shuhl MEE-dee-uh/
- abandon /uh-BAN-duhn/
[adjective] – extremely big
The movie had a vast audience.
[verb] – to give the main facts about something
She outlined what I would be doing during the interview.
[adjective] – in danger of being harmed, lost, unsuccessful, etc.
The list of endangered species includes nearly 300 fishes
[noun] – websites and computer programs that allow people to communicate and share information on the internet using a computer or cell phone
Companies are increasingly using social media to sell their products.
[verb] – to stop doing an activity before you have finished it
Their attempt to climb the mountain had to be abandoned.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said they wanted to honor Leonardo DiCaprio for his help in saving a rainforest from devastation, so they named a recently discovered tree after him. The tree, now known as Uvariopsis dicaprio, is found solely in Cameroon’s forest, which is known for its incredible biodiversity. “We think he was crucial in helping to stop the logging of the Ebo Forest,” said Dr. Martin Cheek of Kew.
Scientists and campaigners were upset when they learned of plans to open up vast swathes of the Ebo Forest to logging. It is home to the Banen people and a variety of unusual flora and endangered animals. A letter from international scientists to the government outlined the endangered animal and plant species. DiCaprio took the cause, and his social media messages to his millions of followers helped the campaign gain traction. Although the forest has yet to be designated as a national park, the government later abandoned plans to allow logging. “This could just be a stay of execution,” Dr. Cheek added. Following its publication in the peer-reviewed journal PeerJ, the “dicaprio” tree will be the first plant to be officially named by Kew scientists in 2022. It belongs to the ylang ylang family and is critically threatened. It can only be found in a small area of the woods.
Scientists and campaigners were upset when they learned of plans to open up vast swathes of the Ebo Forest to logging. It is home to the Banen people and a variety of unusual flora and endangered animals. A letter from international scientists to the government outlined the endangered animal and plant species. DiCaprio took the cause, and his social media messages to his millions of followers helped the campaign gain traction. Although the forest has yet to be designated as a national park, the government later abandoned plans to allow logging. “This could just be a stay of execution,” Dr. Cheek added. Following its publication in the peer-reviewed journal PeerJ, the “dicaprio” tree will be the first plant to be officially named by Kew scientists in 2022. It belongs to the ylang ylang family and is critically threatened. It can only be found in a small area of the woods.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- How would the Kew scientists like to honor Leonardo DiCaprio?
- What is the new name of the plant?
- How did DiCarpio help save Ebo Forest?
- Why were the scientists and campaigners upset?
- To which plant family does the Uvariopsis dicaprio belong?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What are some plants/animals that were named after a famous person? Could you tell me something about them?
- To what forest have you already been? Could you tell me about it?
- If you were to name a newly discovered plant/animal, to whom would you name it after? Why?
- Do you agree with the scientist to name the plant after Leonardo DiCaprio?
- What do you think about the initiative done by Leonardo DiCaprio? Please elaborate on your answer.