Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever visited a museum with animal specimens? If so, what did you find interesting? If not, would you like to visit one?
- Do you think snakes are important for science? If yes, why? If not, what animals do you think are more important?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- transfer /trans-FUR/
- primarily /prahy-MAIR-uh-lee/
- acquisition /ak-wuh-ZISH-uhn/
- solution /suh-LOO-shuhn/
- enthusiasm /en-THOO-zee-az-uhm/
[noun] – the process of moving something from one place to another
The transfer of the books took all day.
[adverb] – mainly
This book is primarily written for beginners.
[noun] – the act of getting something
The acquisition of new books made the library bigger.
[noun] – a liquid in which something has been dissolved; an answer to a problem
The salt dissolved in the water to make a solution.
[noun] – strong excitement and interest in something
She showed great enthusiasm for the new project.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology has recently become the world’s largest holder of snake specimens after receiving a significant donation from Oregon State University. This transfer involved tens of thousands of reptile and amphibian specimens, primarily snakes, to the university’s Research Museums Center. The collection represents the lifelong work of retired herpetologists Lynne Houck and Stevan Arnold. With this acquisition, the University of Michigan now surpasses the Smithsonian Institution and the American Museum of Natural History in herpetological holdings. Many specimens date back to before the Civil War, providing not only scientific importance but also historical value. Amphibians and reptiles are considered crucial indicators of environmental health, offering insights into ecosystem stability.
The collection includes about 30,000 snake specimens and nearly 30,000 frozen tissue samples, enabling advanced genetic and evolutionary research. Associate Professor Hernán López-Fernández from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology noted that these materials will support studies in molecular genetics and have potential applications in medicine. The specimens, preserved in a solution of 75% ethanol, offer rare opportunities to examine both adult snakes and their offspring, a feature uncommon in many museum collections. Although cataloging the collection is a meticulous process, the university staff has shown renewed enthusiasm due to the scientific opportunities these specimens present. This acquisition is expected to facilitate new research on trait evolution, especially between mother snakes and their young.
The collection includes about 30,000 snake specimens and nearly 30,000 frozen tissue samples, enabling advanced genetic and evolutionary research. Associate Professor Hernán López-Fernández from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology noted that these materials will support studies in molecular genetics and have potential applications in medicine. The specimens, preserved in a solution of 75% ethanol, offer rare opportunities to examine both adult snakes and their offspring, a feature uncommon in many museum collections. Although cataloging the collection is a meticulous process, the university staff has shown renewed enthusiasm due to the scientific opportunities these specimens present. This acquisition is expected to facilitate new research on trait evolution, especially between mother snakes and their young.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Which museum received the snake specimens?
- Where did the donation of specimens come from?
- What types of animals were included in the transfer?
- Who collected the specimens over their lifetime?
- What does the University of Michigan now have more of than the Smithsonian?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen a snake in real life? If so, where did you see it? If not, would you like to?
- Have you ever collected something, like coins or stamps? If yes, what did you collect? If not, would you like to collect something?
- Do you agree that museums are important for learning?
- Why might it be important to study both adult snakes and their young?
- What could happen if these specimens were not preserved properly?