Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you think older animals need to stay healthy and happy?
- If you could design a home for an old elephant, what would it look like?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- decade /DEK-eyd/
- simply /SIM-plee/
- conservation /kon-ser-VEY-shuhn/
- grief /greef/
- arthritis /ahr-THRAHY-tis/
[noun] – a period of ten years
Many new buildings were added to the city over the past decades.
[adverb] – in a plain or easy way; only or just
The museum was built to simply display art, but now it also offers art classes.
[noun] – the protection and careful management of the environment or animals
Conservation of sea life is important for the health of the ocean.
[noun] – deep sadness caused by loss, especially the death of someone
She felt strong grief after her grandmother passed away.
[noun] – a medical condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints
My grandfather has arthritis, so he finds it hard to walk.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
At the Barcelona Zoo, special care is now given to older animals, including Susi and Bully, two elderly African elephants. This change started in recent decades as zoos around the world shifted their purpose from simply showing animals to focusing on conservation and education. As a result, many zoos now provide better living conditions, including larger spaces and improved medical care. In December, the zoo lost Yoyo, a 54-year-old elephant who had been close to Susi and Bully. After her death, the zoo partnered with the University of Barcelona to study how grief affects elephants that are not related — a study that had never been done before.
Many animals, especially those from circuses or long-term captivity, cannot return to the wild. Because of this, zoos are developing programs that meet the special needs of aging animals. These programs include regular health checks, arthritis treatments, and soft foods for animals without teeth. The Barcelona Zoo also uses sand-covered floors to reduce stress on joints and gives its senior elephants daily foot care. Experts from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums explained that better veterinary care has helped animals live longer, so age-specific care is now essential. Similar programs are being used in zoos in cities like Baltimore and Baton Rouge, showing a stronger focus on giving older animals proper and respectful care.
Many animals, especially those from circuses or long-term captivity, cannot return to the wild. Because of this, zoos are developing programs that meet the special needs of aging animals. These programs include regular health checks, arthritis treatments, and soft foods for animals without teeth. The Barcelona Zoo also uses sand-covered floors to reduce stress on joints and gives its senior elephants daily foot care. Experts from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums explained that better veterinary care has helped animals live longer, so age-specific care is now essential. Similar programs are being used in zoos in cities like Baltimore and Baton Rouge, showing a stronger focus on giving older animals proper and respectful care.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Who are Susi and Bully?
- What new things do many zoos give animals now?
- What study did the zoo start after Yoyo’s death?
- Why can some animals not go back to the wild?
- What is one thing the zoo uses to help elephant joints?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever visited a zoo? If so, what animals did you see? If not, what animal would you like to see at a zoo?
- Have you ever taken care of an old pet or animal? If yes, what did you do to help it? If not, how do you think old animals should be cared for?
- Do you agree that studying animal feelings, like grief, is important?
- What can happen if old animals do not get special care in zoos?
- How do you think animals feel when they lose a close companion, like Yoyo?