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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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Vincent_lin

China

I like dogs as my pet, they are loyal, cute, and do good role of a door guard, it will bark when the stranger come in my house. Sometimes it can help us to catch the thief for their sharp teeth. Now there is a small white dog in my home, it is so cute, like a child, you should pay a lot of responsibility on it, it will bark when it hungry, it will ask for cuddle when it want to sleep…ect, sometime I think it is better than a good friend, I can complain to it and it never talk back to you, I can say the secret to it and never afraid it will say to others. Any way, I like the dog as my pet.

03:23 PM Mar 08 2009 |

cook8

South Korea

i like pets too. especially cats. ^^ .but sometimes i'm afraid. because death of pets is very sadT_T.  

03:04 PM Mar 08 2009 |

pengkelee

pengkelee

China

Dogs are our friends,and the man who likes dog is our friend.Laughing

02:10 PM Mar 08 2009 |

Aimee love

China

Talking about dogs could be fun and happy. Because it make me recall my dog we had in my childhood. It seem like a wolf. I felt frightend when i was next to him. He would bark as someone came in my house. But we love this dog. Since it was good at keeping guard. We still remeber it even if it had gone. Since then, we have had any dog in my home.My mother think the animal is messy. But i believe dogs always bring the lucky to everybody!

01:29 PM Mar 08 2009 |

s3rin

s3rin

Turkey

I think having pet, it can be cat, dog, bird, any thing, is too responsibility.The times when you go somewhere for work you sit and begin to think what will happened to him/her or should I give it my neighbours etc..

11:32 AM Mar 08 2009 |

pengkelee

pengkelee

China

I am sad to hear that! Happy for tomorrow!

10:07 AM Mar 08 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

I don't have any pets yet… I used to hate them, well, but I don't think that way anymore. I would love to have some cats or dogs at home now..

Yes, you have to prepare to take the responsibility before you decide to keep a pet.

10:05 AM Mar 08 2009 |

Mader

Mader

Slovakia

Oh, of course I like pets. Especialy my dog ( you can see him in my photoalbum)

I agree with Mason about cats.

That´s all!

08:28 AM Mar 08 2009 |

billtian

China

i like dogs and i had have several dogs, but ,all of them got down ,one after another .I feel so sad that i would never have a dog from then on but ,i still like dogs.i think they are kind,friend ,loyal ,and fun,

05:44 AM Mar 08 2009 |

tiagon85

Brazil

I like dogs and a own one that is very special, friendly and sometimes (when it is necessary) angry but reliable with my family and friends, it is a nice dog. But about cats, I have the same Mason´s opinion about them.

03:27 AM Mar 08 2009 |

okumamichael

United States

i like the animal such as dog. i can go any place with my white dog and never afriad other animal to bit in my child time  . of course it is a good guilde when i was lost . now i also like to have a pet when i grow up . becaues it can give me more happy and good mind

03:04 AM Mar 08 2009 |

single juan

China

After all, a rat is a rat. Don't so sorry about it! Happy eveyday!

01:53 AM Mar 08 2009 |

limeihong-linda

China

where can i listen the audio?

12:08 AM Mar 08 2009 |

deemah2008

United Arab Emirates

I like cats only to watch them not to won themSmile I belive strongly that pets could be your closest friends. I like the topic thanks alot.

08:57 PM Mar 07 2009 |

fef

fef

Philippines

I love Dogs their so cute! So sweet! So friendly!  It's their nature.

 Feels so much relieved playing with them after work…

I never feel bored being with them they always bring smile to me…

 Just realize how nice it is how they can show we are also especial in their own little way…

Love them so much! Kiss

08:51 PM Mar 07 2009 |

vague2008

vague2008

Yemen

Thats right I believe in the fact that sometimes dogs can be even better than a closer friend of ya,THANX E-baby for that topic. :)

08:03 PM Mar 07 2009 |

fef

fef

Philippines

<a href="http://www.glitter-graphics.com"><img src="http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/271/271549wx53hduhsn.gif" width=152 height=101 border=0></a><br><a href="http://www.glitter-works.org" target=_blank>glitter-graphics.com</a>

07:59 PM Mar 07 2009 |

fef

fef

Philippines

<a href="http://www.glitter-graphics.com"><img src="http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/271/271549wx53hduhsn.gif" width=152 height=101 border=0></a><br><a href="http://www.glitter-works.org" target=_blank>glitter-graphics.com</a>

07:59 PM Mar 07 2009 |

fef

fef

Philippines

[url=http://www.glitter-graphics.com][img]http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/271/271549wx53hduhsn.gif[/img][/url]

  LOVE THEM THEIR SO CUTE!!!  Kiss 

07:55 PM Mar 07 2009 |

iman82

iman82

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

 i haven`t any pets in my home, but i like cats its so cut and i would like to get one in the future, dogs is very loyal to us, and its able to play role of protection to us

07:47 PM Mar 07 2009 |

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