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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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jianghui87

jianghui87

China

my friend once found a  deserted dog,and she brought it back .we raised it together,we named it duoduo.but we really were so busy with our studies,then my friend brought it home and asked her mother to raise it.then after he went,we missed he very much .from then on ,as long as i saw a dog walking along the street ,i feel very sorry for it,i hope people not desert their pet dogs any more.

12:11 PM Mar 19 2009 |

raquel1011

Colombia

When i was living in my country, my oldest son finded out a kitten into a trash bag and he brought it to our home. At the beginning my ex husband didn't like the idea to have a cat a home cause he said that cats are very destructive. With the time she just grewn on him and she could stay at home!!!Smile

04:30 AM Mar 17 2009 |

bezabee98

Ethiopia

I really like this dialog I learned lots of new words and how to use them in a way that I can apply in my everyday conversation.

 I really love cats and dogs. I used to have them back when I was very little and play with it .

 

05:35 PM Mar 16 2009 |

amyamychan

Hong Kong

I like small dog because it seems adorable.Tongue out

 

02:31 PM Mar 16 2009 |

salmonbell1

Singapore

I have a big aquarium tank full of different variety of fishes. They are my best friends. Whenever i'm in problem or in Anger, i just sit infornt of the tank. They washes away my anger or gives me courage to swim out of my problem.

   When i go near to the tank they will come closer to the glass and start playing near to me. they do have sense of love.

 Taking care of them is really challenging. But i love to do it, so it always been my cup of tea.

Salmomani 

 

 

11:54 AM Mar 16 2009 |

clemmie

clemmie

Canada

I had a very cute funny dog 6 years ago. I am really regret that I did not take good care of him when he lived with me. I missed him very much. I plan to have another dog when I own a house. He will be part of my family and my loyal friend.

07:11 AM Mar 16 2009 |

Liem

Viet Nam

In my country.Almost family also has some pets.The most popular is dog and cat.I have ,too.I like the baby's dog than they grow up.How cute they are..Have you ever seen a fleet of small pigs.what a mess and lovely.when they are food.Smile.I don't want to talk to people who hates animal.What a pity!

04:06 AM Mar 14 2009 |

superstar-

Turkey

i like all pets but i dislike to have them in my house

03:29 PM Mar 13 2009 |

sgambato

sgambato

Brazil

each animal lives with animals of its species…appearance in first, nobody wants exotic pets, it´s not feeling

04:55 PM Mar 12 2009 |

sonjalevesque

India

I own a few parrots and Boy its a pain cleaning after them. That said, we love them and my mum has taken the responsibility of looking after them.  But its a great feeling to have pets and I think every family should have one :) 

04:01 PM Mar 12 2009 |

almajroha

almajroha

Oman

HI

I LIKE TO KEEP PETS

I HAVE CAT , I CALL HER BABY

AND I LOVE HER TOO MUCH

I SPEND MY TIME WITH HER

02:11 PM Mar 12 2009 |

sachin9sharma

India

hi dear, dont be upset if u dont have any place.

It being nice to read that u r a animal lover. U must feed stray animals if u can and offer some waste food of dinner or lunch.

09:17 AM Mar 12 2009 |

chinyaoliu

Taiwan

I do like to have a pet but I don't have a place for it.

08:16 AM Mar 12 2009 |

profesorjuancarlosq

Colombia

i love pets when i was a child i had a beautiful dog. her name was canela i loved her. i suffered a lot when she died but sometimes i missed her veru much. Now I remembered when i was at the university during an oral examination i had to answer some questions about animals and the nature.

05:20 AM Mar 12 2009 |

calonia_12@yahoo.com.ph

Philippines

They are both pet lovers Mason got manny alibie how to care of it specially Dog and Cat  because  Ella she open topic about responsabilities of how to care animals . Mason had a little share about the rabit of here sister, I think Mason always obserb of how to care of it because he always insest that he dont care about it. Honestly I like pet animals specially Cat and Dog. 

03:47 AM Mar 12 2009 |

gufangfei

China

I like pets very much especially the dogs.I own two dogs in my home now and they are my best friends。I hope all the people should treat the pets kindly with the genuinely hearts!

08:21 AM Mar 11 2009 |

tony tanjung perak

Indonesia

i think it is good to have a pet, because after we works all the day we need refresing our mind with play with pet, feeding them or others, so pet become good friend

01:22 AM Mar 11 2009 |

Aimee love

China

"Spoil"probably means that you loves so much that you can bear it disvantage.

08:08 AM Mar 10 2009 |

sachin9sharma

India

hi Zoe its going nice to write here . if u don't mind may u pls make me understand use of word 'spoilt'

03:45 AM Mar 10 2009 |

zoebaby

zoebaby

China

i have not taste for any pets,but my sister does…but we have a dog called little White… but he is amazing and cool. all of us spoilt him.

02:30 AM Mar 10 2009 |

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