Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What is traditional Chinese medicine? Which animals do you know of that are used in this practice?
- Did you know that bile is collected from bears to be used as medicine? Would you be open to trying it? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- surgery /SUR-juh-ree/
- profitable /PROF-i-tuh-buhl/
- eliminate /ih-LIM-uh-neyt/
- evidence /EV-i-duhns/
- consumption /kuhn-SUHMP-shuhn/
[noun] – an occasion when a medical operation involving cutting open the body is performed on someone
The surgeon performed a delicate surgery to repair a torn ligament in the athlete’s knee.
[adjective] – making or likely to make a profit
The stock market investment proved to be profitable, as the value of the shares increased over time.
[noun] – to remove or take away someone or something
The new software system aims to eliminate manual data entry and streamline the workflow.
[noun] – one or more reasons for believing that something is or is not true
The surveillance footage served as compelling evidence in the court trial, showing the defendant’s involvement in the crime.
[noun] – the act of using, eating, or drinking something
Insufficient consumption of healthy food can lead to malnutrition.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Animals Asia has been rescuing bears from bile farms in Vietnam and China, where these captive animals are subjected to bile extraction. The extraction methods used on these bears, particularly Asiatic black bears, are extremely cruel. In Vietnam, invasive procedures are performed, while in China, surgery creates a tube for bile extraction. Despite being banned in many Asian countries, the trade remains profitable in China. The bears suffer from malnutrition, hair loss, and broken teeth due to the deplorable conditions they endure. Efforts to eliminate bile farming face challenges due to its profitability and consumer preference for real bear bile, despite the availability of synthetic alternatives. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) continues to rely on bear bile for various ailments despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.
In Vietnam, a legal loophole allows farmers to keep bears by claiming they do not extract bile, although evidence suggests otherwise. Activists and authorities are taking a softer approach by working with local communities to encourage them to voluntarily hand over their bears. China’s bear bile industry operates legally and has a significant market for bear bile products, which are considered legal medicines. The number of bears kept for bile extraction is increasing, with farms housing thousands of bears for breeding and extraction. The impact of bear farming on the consumption of wild bile remains inconclusive.
In Vietnam, a legal loophole allows farmers to keep bears by claiming they do not extract bile, although evidence suggests otherwise. Activists and authorities are taking a softer approach by working with local communities to encourage them to voluntarily hand over their bears. China’s bear bile industry operates legally and has a significant market for bear bile products, which are considered legal medicines. The number of bears kept for bile extraction is increasing, with farms housing thousands of bears for breeding and extraction. The impact of bear farming on the consumption of wild bile remains inconclusive.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is Animals Asia’s mission in Vietnam and China?
- What cruel methods are used for bile extraction on bears?
- Why does the bear bile trade remain profitable in China?
- What are some of the health issues that bears suffer from on bile farms?
- Why are efforts to eliminate bile farming facing challenges?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Were you aware of the use of bear bile in traditional Chinese medicine before reading this information? If so, what are your thoughts on its continued use despite the lack of scientific evidence?
- If you were a resident of Vietnam or China, how would you personally contribute to the efforts to eliminate bile farming and raise awareness about its impact on animal welfare?
- Do you believe that education and awareness campaigns aimed at local communities are effective in convincing farmers to voluntarily surrender their bears?
- How important is it for governments to take aggressive measures to ban bile farming, even if it means challenging deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and traditions?
- What steps can be taken to reduce consumer demand for bear bile products and promote the use of synthetic alternatives?