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Pets

Pets

Date: Mar 06 2009

Themes: Family, Pets

Grammar: Definite & Indefinite Articles

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

There’s a saying in English that dogs are “man’s best friend.” That’s because dogs usually make loyal, affectionate companions. Plus, they love to cuddle and they never talk back to you. So in that way, maybe they’re even better than a best friend.

Dogs and cats are the most popular pets, but there’s a huge variety of pets out there, from little furry animals like rabbits or gerbils to reptiles like lizards or snakes. Some people even keep rats or spiders as pets!

But not all people are pet-people, and not all countries have pet-owning cultures. Listen to Mason try to convince Ella that owning pets is a beautiful thing.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Ella

Ella

Mason:  Man, I gotta clean my rabbit’s cage. It’s been sittin’ there for like a week longer than it should have.

Ella:  That’s disgusting.

Mason:  Well, I mean, it’s one of the hazards that you go through when you’ve got an animal that you like.

Ella:  Really? Why? Why would you ever want a pet?

Mason:  Well, listen, the rabbit kind of fell into my arms. It was my sister’s and she couldn’t take care of it anymore. So I was like, yeah, alright, I’ll take your rabbit. But I mean, man, that thing has grown on me.

Ella:  I bet.

Mason:  Not like a cancer or anything, like something that blossoms in your heart.

Ella:  Well, I don’t know. I just think that animals should just be eaten. Why should we have them as pets?

Mason:  Animals should just be eaten, why should we have them as pets…I have eaten rabbit. That said, I don’t think I could anymore. You know, there’s definitely something that…Like, that caring instinct. And they’re cute.

Ella:  Have you ever had a dog or a cat growing up?

Mason:  We grew up with dogs in my family. Cats, I have no taste for cats.

Ella:  It’s a lot of responsibility?

Mason:  A lot of responsibility, no… I just don’t like their personality. They’re…They don’t need me. I like things that need me, that’s kind of the point of pets, in all honesty.

Ella:  Did you take it to the dog pound or get it euthanized?

Mason:  The dog, we did have euthanized. We had to put it down, and it was tragic.

 

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Discussion

Mason tells Ella that he needs to clean his rabbit’s cage. Cleaning up after pets is one of the many responsibilities of being a pet owner. Mason thinks it’s worth it, but Ella doesn’t understand why he would ever want to own a pet.

Mason explains that he didn’t want the rabbit at first. It belonged to his sister and she asked him to take care of it for her. Now it’s really grown on him.

When he was growing up, Mason had a dog. He likes dogs better than cats because cats aren’t as affectionate or needy as dogs. Mason was really sad when he had to take his dog to be euthanized.

Do you have any pets? Or do you think being a pet owner is too much responsibility?

 

Comments

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zydoon

Saudi Arabia

nice

06:31 PM Apr 13 2009 |

likam

Italy

I had one cat when I was child and I loved her (she was a female) because she wasn't so independent; I remember that I was very happy when I was at home with my cat; but I had to give her to my grandparents because she was very lonely at home. I think that have a pet it's responsibility as have a baby; it's very important to look after pets and don't neglect them.

10:09 PM Apr 11 2009 |

Rose.

Rose.

Saudi Arabia

i had so many rabbits befor but now i'm not interesting any more  after they died, to have any pets Cry 

Cry

Cry  

03:05 PM Apr 11 2009 |

mutaka

mutaka

Turkey

I like animals but ı think living with them in the same house not healthy, you know

09:12 PM Apr 10 2009 |

orugantivvsraja

India

I love to have pets.

I would like to have horse and dog as my pet animals.

I like to play with them.

I will take good care of them.

07:43 AM Apr 09 2009 |

folvarchuk

folvarchuk

Russian Federation

I likes animals! To take care of it – is very much responsibility. I wouldn't take a pit if I will not shure that I am ready to provide the comfort life for it.

12:07 PM Apr 06 2009 |

ramesh.sinha1

India

I likes Dogs, they are cute !

05:17 PM Apr 05 2009 |

kamandavin

India

It is good to have pets.

it keeps you busy,reminds your responsibikities,and some time you learn from them.

11:53 AM Apr 05 2009 |

*Pink*

*Pink*

Germany

I live on  a farm so i grow up with a lot of pets.For example  I got my first own horse with 3 years.My pets always meant a lot to me. so in my opinion a young child really needs a pet to learn to take responsibility for it . If a young dog makes a terrible mess in a house this is pretty normal because it needs education. pets are often called the best friend of a person and this is right in my opinion. If I was sad or had stress with my parents I told it my pet.  He couldn't answer me so I always thaught ,, hey , it thinks I`m right" After telling it I was always more happy. I had to let my feelings out , I couldn't hide them all the time. I think a pet would be great for persons with depressions because they have someone to tell their problems. So they feel understand.

10:44 AM Apr 03 2009 |

wilfred_cameron11

Guyana

i love pets
i love when they lick me ;-)
oh yes !

04:11 PM Apr 01 2009 |

Eydo

Eydo

Turkey

We all have to love not only the pets but all the animals as gift of  ALLAH J

12:05 PM Apr 01 2009 |

zeinabou

zeinabou

Egypt

I used to have pets{cats- dogs-rabbits}  in our country side house where i grew up but since i live in a flat it is not practical at all to be a pet owner ..

07:53 PM Mar 31 2009 |

jenny5382286

China

I like cats very much!There are 2 cats in my family,they are lovely,but i am afraid of snake,so i have no taste for them.

06:57 AM Mar 29 2009 |

Gil Dias

Brazil

I think who likes dogs or cats must like enough to take care of them as: feed them, wash, brush and take them to pet shops and so…

11:17 PM Mar 27 2009 |

Bomi

South Korea

I didn't like to take care of animals except for dogs.
So when I was a child, I had small dogs. One is the white and the other is the black. Although they were cute, I couldn't tolerate their flying furs and their smell ,etc. Therefore,nowadays I don't like to look after animals, but like to see them.  

01:43 PM Mar 27 2009 |

Gil Dias

Brazil

I love dogs, i take care of them and i work at a pet shop.

11:46 PM Mar 25 2009 |

lovine

Germany

i love dogs but i don’t like to take care of them.

03:18 AM Mar 25 2009 |

StillFree

StillFree

Algeria

I love catsWink

 

10:51 AM Mar 21 2009 |

meilin810

Taiwan

Last summer, my young sister took a dog back home. It is the trouble begining. First, she lets "wada" come in the living room. "Wada" makes the hourse dirty. And he barks midnight. Espically, my sister seldom helps my mother to clean the house. So they quarrel everday. I think because my sister is lonely (doesn't marry) so she pays her love on the dog. Now she buys a new house for "wada" . Next month, she will move to the new house. I hope she can learn to be independent and understand to keep the house clean needs more efforts. I think my mother will to miss her soon after she leaves.

07:53 AM Mar 21 2009 |

antimouse

antimouse

Brazil

I had a female dog, its name was Maila. It stayed with us for about 10 years. So it fell sick and had to be euthanized. When you have a pet, you have a certain responsibility, but nothing that you can't handle. Just feed it, take it to have a walk and play with it and it will be happy.

05:57 AM Mar 21 2009 |

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