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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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sachin9sharma

India

i like Ms. Novita statement that she likes cat and me too

my first pet was cat in my early childhood i used to feed milk but doggy r more friendly. My cousion has three cats he feed milk but we think its boring to feed milk everyday. We are non vegetarian thatswhy we can't feed fish or any other thing.  Could anybody suggest me what cats like to eat in vegetarian food?

01:39 AM Mar 10 2009 |

Novita

Novita

Germany

Yes. And even though a pet is just an animal I think it should always live as free as possible. And a bird in a small cage doesn't equate to my imagination of a free flying bird.

10:28 PM Mar 09 2009 |

luciana_0322

Argentina

I agree with Novita!!

10:16 PM Mar 09 2009 |

luciana_0322

Argentina

I love animals!!! But i don´t agree with Mason… since my point of view, a pet isn´t only to satisfy your maternal(or paternal) instinct, but just to have a good friend that welcomes you at home when you come back from work or something… I have a cat, and the thing that I like the most about it is that she is self-sufficient, she has her own personality and she´s always with me…

10:15 PM Mar 09 2009 |

Novita

Novita

Germany

My family has always had budgies but I found them very boring because you can't them cuddle. I'm more into cats. There are fascinating cause of their personality and independence.

10:06 PM Mar 09 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

My little cat is much like me,strong personality and modest part,the physical too hehe!
Make yourself at home and check out my photo album in my profile hehe :)

08:07 PM Mar 09 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

I have one little black cat called Juca,it's great! It is much like me hehe,comedy! it is almost two years old :)

08:00 PM Mar 09 2009 |

vague2008

vague2008

Yemen

i 4got to say that pets could be or considered to be members of a family Laughing,u can imagine how cutie its to have sons or daughters in the form of pets,LOL

02:30 PM Mar 09 2009 |

Carola1

Colombia

I love dogs and cats.. they bring too much happiness to home!! they really make your life easier Laughing

01:11 PM Mar 09 2009 |

zhong yulu

zhong yulu

China

i haven't got any pets now. I haven't got time to take care of them, it is too many responsibilities to me. I dont' want to see my pet to suffer from hunger, loneliness, or any other bitterness just becasue i have no time to take care of them, i can' stand that. so i would rather not raise one on my own.My parents have ever raised dogs when i was a child. In my hometown, there is a folk customs, we don't offer lunch to dogs. 'coz there is a saying the dogs would shout to anyone even his owner if it eats lunch. So my parents can't skeep the customs also, they didn't serve the dog lunch. But when i saw the dog's begging and hungry eyes, i felt really uncomfortable and even want to cry. I told my parents we should never believe in that old saying. It's really sad to see dogs go hungry without lunch. After my earnest, my dad forgave up, and sent the dog to my grandpa who can't be more love pets.

12:47 PM Mar 09 2009 |

sachin9sharma

India

i mee too

but i like to eat meat but killing animals without purpose is really disgusting

09:37 AM Mar 09 2009 |

bee0214

bee0214

China

i like many animals.and i hate the people who eat or kill them!

09:25 AM Mar 09 2009 |

sachin9sharma

India

i do like pets albiet i dont have any pet but i always give food to stray dogs. I also want to keep a dog at my home as i live alone at home and i do not want to leave my pet alone like me thats why i did not owned yet. i request all to give food to stray animals coz they r also human being and creation of God. If anybody is not in condition to own he must provide food

I think i m right to the best of my knowledge…....

09:22 AM Mar 09 2009 |

sachin9sharma

India

ya it helps a lot

but where can i chat here ?

09:16 AM Mar 09 2009 |

master_x3x@hotmail.com

Saudi Arabia

nice cat and dog

07:48 AM Mar 09 2009 |

tanliyoung

tanliyoung

China

Well, it is acceptable to raise a dog as the pet. However, I do not believe that to keep the animal around us is the only and right way to show the love.

For example, keeping the birds in cage is kind of brutal, because most of the birds are looking forward to the sky and nature. That's the dream home for them.

07:08 AM Mar 09 2009 |

s_u_r_e

China

I have a dog,I named him Aodi.He's pretty good.I like it very much.Since I have it,I have to do more housework then before.But I still like to keep him.Because I've had a world of pleasure out of him.

03:25 AM Mar 09 2009 |

redamec

Morocco

hi
how are you
I am 27 years old
As you know
What are you doing in the lives of

12:42 AM Mar 09 2009 |

firar

firar

Turkey

Everything is fond of something. Some like pets in order to play with them. Pets or animals, however, is not toys. I don't like people who think animals are toys as well as zoos. I think people are the worst things for world. Why are people so selfish!!!

09:22 PM Mar 08 2009 |

master_x3x@hotmail.com

Saudi Arabia

I want to say one thing

I will be your the best friend

 all love

09:08 PM Mar 08 2009 |

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