Useful Information
Man's relationship with animals has always been ambivalent. On the one hand, animals have been worshipped and attributed with all kinds of mysterious and superior powers. On the other hand, they have been hunted, domesticated, exterminated, and even exploited as a source of entertainment. In many countries, man has also created imaginary creatures that play a major role in popular cultures. The Chinese dragon is perhaps one of the most famous examples.
Comparisons between animals and man have been made throughout the centuries. In some cultures, the sinister and aggressive aspect of man is regarded as the animal side of human nature. Recent research on human behavior, for example, draws parallels between the aggressiveness of modern man to the abnormal behavior of a caged animal. Some scientists believe that unnatural conditions, such as overcrowding and alienating routine jobs, cause people to perform acts of violence. Other scientists feel that aggression is a natural instinct that could be directed towards positive and creative activities.
The idea of an animalistic side of human nature is foreign to the North American Indians who regard animals as equals of man. They are not only equal to man, but they are considered to be the founders and guardians of their tribes. The raven, the eagle, the bear and other animals always appear in stylized forms on their totem poles.
Ever since the dawn of civilization, animals have been used to help and to serve man in many ways. Sheep and goats were bred to provide wool, meat, and fat. Large animals like oxen, water buffalo and horses were used to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads. Capable of sensing water from a great distance and going days without water, camels proved to be the ideal animal for the nomadic people of the desert. The dog, known in English-speaking countries as \"man's best friend,\" is one of the most versatile animals. Dogs have been bred to hunt, to guard, to herd sheep and cattle, to find people in the snow or in the rubble of earthquakes, to lead the blind, and to sniff for illegal drugs.
For many centuries in the West, it was thought that animals did not feel pain and that there was no such thing as cruelty to animals. It was in England in the eighteenth century that the advocacy of animal rights began. It should be said, however, that respectful treatment of animals had existed in the East for thousands of years as a result of the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism. The first national animal welfare organization was created in England in 1824 under the name of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The SPCA, as it is commonly known, now exists throughout the world.
The animal rights movement has grown considerably in recent decades. As a result of protests by animal rights groups, hunting of endangered species has been banned in most countries. Many efforts have been made, for example, to stop the killing of elephants by hunters participating in the ivory trade. Some animal rights groups have focused their attention on the treatment of animals in scientific research and on the use of animals in the testing of beauty products such as perfumes, creams and makeup. Zoos and pet stores are now constantly inspected and criticized by animal rights groups. Many people regard zoos as cruel environments and favor safari parks where animals are free to roam in a more natural setting.
The destruction of forests and other natural habitats has resulted in the disappearance of many species of animals throughout the world. Wildlife protection organizations have conducted educational campaigns drawing public attention to the serious decline in the biological diversity of the planet as more and more species disappear because of pollution and industrial development.
Part One Preparation
1. Word Association
ant, antelope（羚羊）, bat, bear, beaver, bee, bird, bull, butterfly, camel, cat, chicken, cod, cow, crab, crocodile, cuttlefish (乌贼), deer, dog, dolphin, donkey, dragonfly, duck, eagle, eel, elephant, fish, fly, fox, frog, goat, goose, giraffe, hippo (河马), horse, koala, leopard, lion, lizard, mandarin duck（鸳鸯）, monkey, mosquito, mouse, mule, ostrich, owl, ox, panda, parrot, peacock, penguin, pig, pigeon, pony, rabbit, rat, rhino (犀牛), salmon, scorpion (蝎), sea lion, shark, sheep, shrimp, skunk, snail, snake, spider, squirrel, swallow, tiger, tortoise, turkey, turtle, weasel (黄鼠狼), whale, worm, zebra, etc.
2. Test Your Animal Knowledge
Directions: Finish the quiz individually, then compare your answers with your neighbors’.
Part I: What is it?
1) A squirrel 2) An owl 3) A dolphin 4) A tiger 5) A monkey 6) A dog 7) A beaver 8) A lion 9) A penguin 10) An ostrich
Part II: Which is the best choice? 1) B 2) C 3) D 4) C 5) B 6) A 7) D 8) C 9) C 10) C
3. Interesting Facts about Animals (More for teachers’ reference) 1. A newborn kangaroo is about 1 inch in length. 2. Each year, insects eat 1/3 of the Earth's food crop.
3. A rat can last longer without water than a camel can. 4. A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime. 5. The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat. 6. A bird requires more food in proportion to its size than a baby or a cat. 7. The animal responsible for the most human deaths world-wide is the mosquito. 8. There are more than 100 million dogs and cats in the United States. Americans
spend more than 5.4 billion dollars on their pets each year.
4. The Pet Show May: dog, speak, third Beth: bird, jump, first
Kim: snake, roll over and play dead, second
Since the snake rolls over (clue #3) and the bird does not speak (clue #2), the bird must jump. The pet that jumps took first place (clue #4), and the bird is owned by Beth (clue #5), so Beth owns the first-place pet. Since Beth owns the first-place pet and May owns the third-place pet (clue #1), then Kim must own the second-place pet. Since the snake took second (clue #6), it must belong to Kim. If Beth owns the bird, and Kim owns the snake, then May must own the dog. Since the bird jumps and the snake rolls over, the dog must speak. Since May owns the dog, and May’s pet took third, the dog must be the third-place pet.
Part Two Reading-Centered Activities
I. Pre-Reading
– Yes, extremely frightened. I’m terrified of them because I feel they can easily become fierce and nasty. They attack and bite people. They also carry diseases.
– No, not at all. Actually I love dogs and we keep a dog at home. When I’m at home, the dog will be always around me. We often share food at meal time. For example, I have the meat and she’ll eat the bone. We’re very good friends.
When they are threatened; When they are attacked or hurt; When they want to protect their young; When they are cornered.
When they are put in certain situations: in war; in self-defense;
when they are extremely angry; when they lack space and freedom.
4) Fighting, beating, slapping, invasion, war, etc.
II. In-Class Reading
Words, Phrases and Grammatical Points
Some zoologists and psychologists compare modern man to a caged lion.
―compare…to…‖ 除了有―把……比作……‖的意思外，还有―把……与…比较‖的意思（可用 ―compare…with…‖ 来替代）。
I) He compared London to/with Pairs.
II) It was a very small place then compared with/to what it is now. III) This road is quite busy compared to/with ours.
IV) Children seem to learn more interesting things compared to/with when we were at school.
In fact, it is almost impossible for them to behave otherwise.
The word ―otherwise‖ means in a way that is different from what has been mentioned. I) The government claims that the economy is improving, but this survey suggests otherwise.
II) Take approximately 60mg up to four times a day, unless advised otherwise by a doctor.
III) All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
IV) There is no way anything would ever happen between us, and believe me I’ve tried to convince myself otherwise.
3. in itself, by itself, to itself, of itself
in itself considered without other related ideas or situation 本身
I) The plan wasn’t illegal in itself but it would lead to some doubtful practices. II) The problem is unimportant in itself, but its long-term effects could be very serious.
by itself 1) alone 单独地
I) The animal had been left in the house by itself. II) The farmhouse stands by itself in the fields. 2) without help 自动地
I) The dog managed to drag the box into the room by itself. II) The door opened by itself. to itself not shared with others
e.g. I) This idea deserves a chapter to itself.
II) The committee kept the results of the survey to itself, fearing a bad public reaction.
of itself 自行地，自然地 The light went out of itself.
4. The word “constructive” derives from “construction”, “aggressive” from “aggression” and “destructive” from “destruction”. Similar word formation can be found in: appreciation—appreciative extension—extensive creation—creative investigation—investigative production—productive impression—impressive competition—competitive generation—generative deception—deceptive perception—perceptive exclusion—exclusive inclusion—inclusive conclusion—conclusive evaluation—evaluative protection—protective 5. Unable in these conditions to channel their aggression into creative work, people will probably express it through resentment and anger. The word ―channel‖ means ―to direct something into a particular place or situation‖ (把……引导向……，转到……). If she could only channel all that nervous energy into something useful. A lot of money has been channeled into research in that particular field. He channeled his thought toward one phase of the problem. III. Post-Reading Reading Comprehension 1. Understanding the Main Idea of the Passage A Comparison of Animal and Human Aggression Animals Human beings 8) Living conditions in crowded cities. Consequences 2) It will show abnormal 9) People A once may behave self-employed aggressiveness. aggressively toward each other. Causes of aggression 1) Abnormal conditions 3) A tiger once came out of the 10) man. Examples jungle into a village and attacked a crafts-man and people who once worked in a small firm will aggression 4) The caged lion often becomes express in the wild. more aggressive than it would be through resentment and anger. 11) A man may kill thousands of people by dropping a bomb from a plane. 5) The tiger would have stayed in 12) People might have been no the jungle and hunted for food in more aggressive than their the customary way. fellow creatures. Behavior in desirable 6) The caged lion would be 13) The man would hesitate situations continually active, ranging over to hit another person in front of long distances, hunting in family his eyes. groups. 7) The lion should be free to 14) Hostility and aggression Possible solutions wander on the grassy plains of should Africa. be expressed activity and inconstructive non-violent competition. 2. Understanding Specific Information 1) D 2) C 3) A 4) C 5) D 6) B 3. Questions for Group Discussion 1) –Yes. There were 2 world wars before, during which large numbers of people were killed and the great majority of them were innocent. Human beings or the whole world can be destroyed if nuclear or biological weapons should be used by violent insane people. We have never heard of anything like these in the animal world. Besides humans have killed large numbers of animals for food, clothes, medical research, pleasure, or for no reason at all. So I think humans are much more aggressive than animals. – No, animals are, in general, more aggressive than humans. Humans are good by nature, while animals have no power of reasoning. What’s more, animals have more physical force and other defenses such as claws and fangs. Without weapons, man is weaker and less aggressive than animals. 2) – Yes, sports are generally a good way to channel energy and aggression, especially boxing, wrestling, ball games, etc. International sports enable athletes from many countries to meet and to compete for medals. To prepare for international sports competitions, they have to improve their skills, strengthen their muscles, develop effective strategies, etc. Others, non-athletes, will feel concerned with them, excited with them, and proud of them, and cheer for them. – No, the Olympic Games are just sports competitions. They won’t change the political ideas of nations. We have never heard of any sports games that have stopped disputes, conflicts, wars, etc., but on the other hand there were athletes who were prevented from participating in the Games because of international conflicts. And there have been acts of terrorism, and examples of unfair judgments and aggressive behavior at the Olympic Games. Vocabulary Verb aggress / behave / / disable compare destroy resent construct compete / 2. violent —non-violent doubtfully — undoubtedly satisfied — dissatisfied normal — abnormal constructive — destructive personal — impersonal diminish — increase encourage — discourage 3. 1) survive 5) injuring 9) hesitated 4. Aggression is the fighting instinct in beast and man, which is directed against members of the same species. It is theorized that in natural conditions aggression helps to ensuresurvival of individuals (and thus the species), by preventing too dense a population from developing and exhausting all of its food sources. Fighting is generally considered to be a trait characteristic of males and uncharacteristic of females. However, 6) absorbed 10) similar 7) competition 8) instinct 2) conflicts 3) available 4) likely Noun aggression violence behavior territory hostility disability comparison destruction resentment construction competition evidence Adjective aggressive violent / territorial hostile disabled Adverb aggressively violently / / / / comparative/comparable comparatively/comparablely destructive resentful constructive competitive evident destructively resentfully constructively competitively evidently many but not all female mammals exhibit aggression during the postpartum (产后的) period in defense of their young. The great animal behaviorist Konrad Lorenz observed that in every individual the readiness to fight is greatest in the most familiar place: in the middle of its territory. As the distance from territory increases, readiness to fight decreases proportionately. This was not the case with my pet rat; he was ready and willing to beat up his neighbors the minute he stepped through their door. What causes some rats to be more aggressive than others? There is certainly evidence that aggression has a genetic basis, at least in some animals.
Translation
1. She always behaves badly when her aunt comes to visit.
2) If it hadn’t been for your help, we wouldn’t have been able to finish the task in time.
3) I warned him off going to the east coast because it was full of tourists. 4) The fact that something is cheap doesn’t necessarily mean it’s of low quality. 5) Without anyone to turn to for help, making an appropriate choice can be difficult. 6) His sadness at the death of his wife found expression in his music. 7) Only if Peter goes to the evening party will she go. 8) I can only compare the experience to a nightmare. Reading for Fun
Reading for Fun
Directions: Work in pairs. Choose one joke to read and then share it with your partner.
Bear Alert
The Colorado State Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and golfers to take extra precautions and be on the alert for bears.
They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly.
They also advise people to carry pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for signs of bear activity.
People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly（灰色的）bear droppings.
Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur. Grizzly bear droppings have bells in them and smell like pepper spray. Catching A Rabbit
The LAPD, the FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at apprehending（拘捕）criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and has each of them try to catch it.
The CIA goes in. They place animal informants（提供信息的人）throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.
Then the FBI goes in. After two weeks with no clue they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming. Then the LAPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten raccoon（浣熊）. The raccoon is yelling: \"Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!\"
Notes:
LAPD 洛杉矶警察局 FBI 美国联邦调查局 CIA 美国中央情报局
More readings for fun
I. A frog telephoned the Psychic（精神的）Hotline and was told, \"You are going to meet a beautiful young woman who will want to know everything about you.\"
The frog said, \"That's great! Will I meet her at a party, or what?\" \"No,\" said the psychic, \"Next term--in her biology class.\"
II. A wife says to her husband one weekend morning, \"We've got such a clever dog. He brings in the daily newspapers every morning.\"
Her husband replied, \"Well, lots of dogs can do that.\"
The wife responded, \"But we've never subscribed to any papers!\"
Part Three Further Development Enriching Your Word Power
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) A 5) C 6) B 7) A 8) B 9) B 10) C
2. Do You Know What They Mean?
1) It is risky to sacrifice one thing or accomplishment which has been attained, for the uncertain hope of gaining more.
2) When one is close to one's limits (of strength, tolerance, endurance, patience, etc.), an otherwise insignificant thing can surpass these limits and cause disaster.
3) One cannot rely on expectations or assumptions; it is better to rely only on what is certain.
4) Too much curiosity can cause one to abandon caution and encounter unseen danger.
5) Don't stir up trouble when all is calm.
6) Don't be discouraged if you don't get the one you want -- others are available. 7) People should be treated equally, regardless of their gender.
8) Changing one's mind in the middle of a task or event will cause more problems than if the task/event had been thought through beforehand.
9) It's too late to protect yourself after something bad has happened; take appropriate precautions.
10) One may suggest something to another, but cannot force the other to do what he does not wish to do.
3. Do Animals Love Each Other?
This activity can also be conducted as a debate. Put the students with the same opinion into the same group.
Opinion A: I think it’s love, because love is the most common feeling in human beings as well as in animals. To love her calf is the mother’s instinct. Both geese and swans are symbols of marital fidelity or love because they stay together all their lives and form lasting pairs.
Opinion B: Animals don’t know what love means. It is the ―bond between‖ rather than the ―love between‖ the mother elephant and her calf. The mother is not displaying ―true love‖, but simply following the dictates of her genes. Animals don’t experience joy, love and heartbreak like our own.
Opinion C: The elephant is driven by a natural instinct. All animals protect their young and the bond between any mother animal and her babies is very strong. The maternal instinct exists in animals and humans alike. Perhaps part of the love between a mother and her child is a natural instinct. If this is the case, then the elephant and her calf are also linked by a form of love.
4. Interesting Stories about Animals Sample 1
Mandarin ducks are the symbol of love and loyalty. But according to scientific observations, it would seem that the male mandarin duck is not really that loyal. The couple stay together in the spring but when the mating season is over, the male goes away and does not wait for the ducklings to hatch or help to look after them.
However, swans pair for life and remain loyal to each other in their relationship. I think they are qualified to replace mandarin ducks as the symbol of love and loyalty. It is said that the couple will stay together all their life. When one of them dies, the other becomes so sad that it doesn’t eat and may dash around until it kills itself.
Sample 2
I grew up on a farm and it was my job to look after ducks. I spent so much time with them that they knew my gestures. I just had to point a certain way and they would all move together to go for their food. One day, some of my classmates were walking by my home. There were boys and girls. To play a joke on them, I pointed to the girls and all the ducks went over to them. The girls were terrified!
5. How Man Uses Animals STEP ONE
1) for sports and entertainment: bull fighting, horse-racing, fishing, rooster fighting, cricket fighting, greyhound racing, dog sled racing, monkey show, equestrian, etc. 2) for food: meat, milk, eggs, blood, bones, honey, edible bird’s nest, bear’s paw, etc. 3) for pets: dogs, snakes, turtles, cats, goldfish, fish, rabbits, parrots, guinea pigs, etc. 4) for various products: ivory, fur, leather, wool, silk, oil, bones, feathers, horns, etc. 5) for work: horses, dogs, camels, oxen, elephants, monkeys, pigeons, donkeys, buffalo, etc.
STEP TWO Possible answers:
-- If we were forbidden to use or abuse animals in all of the ways mentioned, life for man would be quite different and difficult, too.
-- If we were not allowed to use animals for sports and entertainment, we would have fewer activities.
-- If we were not allowed to use animals for food, people’s health would be much poorer. We would suffer a lot of illnesses because of the lack of proteins. Perhaps people would be less intelligent for the lack of certain trace elements. Perhaps people would be healthier by not eating meat, and also stay slim.
-- If we were not allowed to use animals as pets, some old people and children would be much more lonely, because pets are their good companions. Some stray animals would not be taken good care of. But animals would enjoy more freedom by living in their natural environment.
-- If we were not allowed to use animals for clothes, people especially women would have fewer choices for clothing. But the animals would be well protected, people wouldn’t hunt animals for money, and the balance of nature could be kept. Some animals would not be extinct. If we were not allowed to use animals for assorted products, some animals such as elephants and whales, would face less danger of extinction.
-- If we were not allowed to use animals for work, people themselves would have to work harder. Or, they would have to think of others ways to make the work easier.
6. Debate Possible answers:
Animals should be trained to help humans because:
-- in this way we can make better use of the resources on the earth; -- we can develop a closer relationship between humans and animals; -- we can protect them better by giving them food and shelter.
-- animals are savage and wild and thus should not have the same rights as humans; -- the basic right of animals is to live;
-- those who say no to this question are killing animals for such things as food and leather;
-- otherwise we have to train ourselves for a living. Animals should not be trained because: -- animals should have the right to live freely;
-- animals shouldn’t be enslaved as the blacks used to be; -- some animals have to be trained, for example, dogs; -- animals are not personal belongings of human beings; -- animals should live peacefully in nature; -- humans are selfish in doing so.
Part Four Writing and Translation
1. Translation Practice 主语从句：
这种理论的核心是，我们的环境同我们的才能、性格特征和行为，即使有什么联 系的话，也是不足道的。
遗憾的是，我们的呼吁没有得到响应。
众所周知，肺癌至少部分是由于吸烟过多引起的。
现在把话题转到一个月以前在那里发生的惨案上，这是很自然的事。 那位老太太解释说她在为一个女孩找一双手套。
宾语从句：
他再三提醒大家说，决定这件事的不止他一个人，还有其他许多人。 他们想要说明，为什么我们有某些性格特征和表现出某些行为。
在这场争论中，赞成\"天性\"的那些人认为：我们的性格特征和行为模式大多是由生物因素所决定的。
伽利略最光辉的业绩在于他在1609年第一个把新发明的望远镜对准天空，以证实行星是围绕太阳旋转而不是围绕地球。
3. Writing
Animals Should be Trained
There are a wide variety of animals in the world. And many of them are highly intelligent. So if we train some animals to work for human beings, we can save a lot of money and manpower.
First, some kinds of animals can be trained based on their capacity to do certain types of jobs better than humans. For example, since dogs have a superior ability to track down odors, we can train them to find illegal things, earthquake victims, or even ancient tombs.
Second, some animals can even lend us their hands. The monkey is a good example. Monkeys can be trained to learn to open doors, fetch tools, bring books, etc. So they can help those who cannot move about freely because of some physical problems. Monkeys make the lives of these people happier and more comfortable.
Finally, in some cases, using animals not only saves money but also trouble. Using dolphins as underwater guards can be better and cheaper than any man-made tracking devices.
In a word, animals should be trained to help humans. If we train animals in the proper way, both humans and animals can get along very well. (194 words)
Give Animals Their Freedom
Humans and animals are both creatures of nature, so we are equals. We have no right to take advantage of them. However, many animals are now being trained to work for us. Monkeys are trained as servants, dogs as hunters and sniffers, and dolphins as soldiers.
Beasts should be allowed to run freely over great distances and birds, fly freely in the blue sky. When they are in nature, they are active and able to live a normal life. But when they are kept in captivity, they are bored and frustrated.
If we have the right to choose our fate, so do animals. So when we force them to serve us, they have no freedom and are like slaves. What’s more, a lot of animals lose their lives when they help humans. But most of them don’t care about their lives at all. As we know, life belongs to us only once and therefore is priceless, and it is also true with animals. But we show no mercy to animals when they have done so much for us. We are cold-blooded creatures and we should criticize ourselves.
In brief, we should treat animals in the same way we treat other people. Give animals their freedom. (205 words)
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