English, baby!

Pets

Date: Mar 06 2009

Themes: Family, Pets

Grammar: Definite & Indefinite Articles

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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.

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

Mason

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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dofkele15

Lithuania

I like animals. Now I have a dog and a cat. But a month before I had a rat, but it died :(

86103426

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hi to all

g8k009

Taiwan

I have a dog,he’s 7 years old.I love him,and he just like my brother.

atmd

Syrian Arab Republic

its so nice

nike12580

China

yeah,,when i was a boy ,i have a dog for 13 years.his name is ahua,which is a cute and meekly friend.but he was beaten to death.somebody kill him ,at that time ,i was crying ,as well as my family.we are so sad .until now ,,we also love him.

iskierkax1991x

Poland

i have a dog for 11 years so I was a little girl when my parents bought him yet. I don't have to take care about him because he doesn't need to. He has place to run and playin front of my house and he is happy I think.

nike12580

China

wow ,,what a bravery friend.

nike12580

China

yeah,,i have two pets.one is very meekly.the other one is very bravery..they are so cute.i like to play with them .dog is very familiar to people.i love them.

Olgytka

Ukraine

I am also a dog golden retriever
her name is Coco Chanel

Truc

Viet Nam

My aunt has more than ten dogs, cats and one monkeys, she is a spinster and she like animals very much, sometimes she bring dogs, cats which be uncared to her home, some dogs are too old or painful… I love dogs too, but i have no. but, i will try when i have my own house.

pyun

China

aha,I'm not like pet.

chenduo

China

I have a dog named benben, l like she very much , she is 2 years old.

ocookiepig

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

I have a dog called Sakura, she is two years old now.When there is stranger who shows up in her protecting-land, she barks as best as she can.We live in countryside, so she can pi or pu directly outside the cage, i don't have to clean up for her.But she is fraid of taking bath. At first, it just liked a war between us, now better.I like to walk with her very much, especially in Spring.

徐慧

China

when I was in middle school, my sister and I owned a puppy and named him Henry. Henry was very clever and cute,we played with him after school,he seemed know what we were talking about,sometimes he was very quite,sometimes very alive,just pandering us. Two years later,Henry was beaten to death by one of our neighbors with a crabstick. It's said his son was bitten by our dog,my sister and I did't believe that,we got very angry and deeply hurt by Henry's death. Even today my sister and I can't forget about that.

ronnieluo

China

okay。。but…you'll really feel good when you're be with your pets. even no talk or play..just like a good friend~!

himanshu12345

India

i haven’t got pet, because i would have failure to maitain them. and haven’t time to give them pet’s needs time to expense with each other making understandings.