WASHING THE DOG

BACKGROUND
I've heard about people washing their pets in the bath.

I've even heard stories about people trying to wash their pets in washing machines.

However, until today, I'd never heard of anyone trying to wash their pet in the toilet...

DISCUSS
1. Do you know any funny stories about children and animals?

LISTENING COMPREHENSION
1. Why did the little boy put the dog in the toilet?
2. How was the dog rescued?
3. Why is the puppy named "dyno"
4. At the end, why does the reporter compare the puppy to a cat?

WATCH THE VIDEO

LANGUAGE
newborn = a child or animal that has just been born
cage = a kind of wire box in which animals can be kept
flush = you do this to the toilet to make the water go down
drains = pipes that carry waste water away
ending up = arriving somewhere you didn't plan to be
"cue" = something you say when sth is about to happen
plumber = a person whose job is to repair water pipes, toilets, etc
manhole = a covered hole in the road used to access underground pipes, cables, etc
monitor (n) = a kind of display (like a TV or computer screen)
fire crews = teams of firefighters
sewage pipe = a pipe that carries away waste water (like a drain)
astonishing, incredible = extremely surprising; amazing
mild = not too serious
hypothermia = a dangerous physical condition caused by extreme cold
scratch = a mark, like a line, made by a sharp object
not a scratch on him = not hurt at all
good intentions = meaning to do good things

What the plumber says...

"My boss phoned me up telling me there's a dog stuck down a drain ... it's been flushed down the toilet by a toddler. I didn't believe him at first; I thought he was winding me up"

"He was a bit distressed, obviously. No-one would like to get prodded with a camera"

toddler = a very young child
winding sb up = playing a joke on sb
distressed = very upset
prodded = quickly pushed (with something like a finger or pointed object)

RSPCA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) - a well-known charity in the UK that protects animals from cruel treatment. There is a similar organization in the USA called the ASPCA

Characters in the story:

Daniel = the little boy
Will = the plumber
Dyno = the puppy

FEAR OF FLYING

BACKGROUND
On Monday there was another plane crash. An Air France plane flying from Brazil to France went down somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. 228 people lost their lives.

No wonder many people are afraid of flying.

Personally, I'm not really afraid of flying. In fact, I still quite enjoy flying, even though I have now flown many, many times.

However, there are some people who are terrified of flying. So, what can they do to overcome their fear?

Watch the video below to find out.

terrified = very, very scared

DISCUSS
1. Are you scared of flying? If yes, why?
2. Have you ever had a scary experience when flying?

QUESTIONS
1. What advice does the man in the story give to people who are afraid of flying?
2. What advice does the woman give?
3. How did Tim Lloyd used to feel about flying? How does he feel about flying now?

WATCH THE VIDEO


LANGUAGE
tackle = deal with; cope with
at some point = at some time
sweating = an uncomfortable wet feeling when you are hot or scared
palpitations = your heart beating fast and irregularly
nausea = feeling sick and wanting to throw up
aerophobia = fear of flying
commercial pressure = pressure from work
commit to = promise to definitely do sth
stricter = increasingly demanding that people follow rules
attitude = opinions and feelings about sth
session = period of time used for an activity
bumps = feeling of hitting against things
turbulence = strong and sudden movements of air
perspective = a way of looking or thinking about sth
fearful of = scared of
G-forces = pressures our bodies feel when moving very fast
perception = the way you think about sth
react = respond
coping in the air = feeling OK while you are flying
anxiety = a feeling of extreme tension and nervousness
kicks in = begins to happen
build up = the time leading up to some event
boarding = getting on the plane
replaying = remembering; going over sth (in your head)
psychologist = a person who studies the mind
in accordance with = based on; following some rules
the long-term = learning to do sth over a period of time
"7-11 technique"= a special breathing method
to the count of = counting (1... 2... 3... etc)
do one's utmost = do the best you can
an ordeal = a terrible or painful experience
panic / panicky / panic attack = sudden strong feelings of fear
uncertainty = not sure; doubtful
sensation of = feeling about sth
by-products = unplanned, additional things
an accumulation of = an increasing, growing or building-up
stress = extreme worry (lasting for a period of time)
a combination of = a mix of
claustrophobia = fear of small spaces
agoraphobia = fear of crowds and open spaces
pilot's license = an document that allows you to legally fly planes
magnificent = wonderful, great, amazing
completely the other way = totally the opposite

Also:
"Aviatours" = an organization to help people cure their fear of flying

SMART MONKEY!

BACKGROUND
Of course, an orangutan isn't really a monkey; it is one of the "great apes," and is a member of a family which Includes gorillas, chimpanzees, and... us. Humans. If you don't believe me, see here.

Given that orangutans and other apes are, literally, our relatives, it seems incredible that we do so many awful things to them: we kill them, we destroy their homes (the jungle), and we put them in jails (zoos). We wouldn't do these things to our aunts, uncles and grandparents, would we? So perhaps we shouldn't do these things to our other relatives, either, the great apes (or any animal, for that matter).

Anyway, here is one orangutan in Adelaide, Australia, who obviously doesn't like living in a zoo.

literally = really; actually; in fact
relatives = family members
awful = terrible
destroy = damage sth so badly so it cannot be used or no longer exists



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QUESTIONS
1. How did the orangutan try to escape? Was it successful?
2. What action did the zoo take?
3. What is your opinion of zoos?

WATCH THE VIDEO


LANGUAGE
an orangutan = a large ape; one of the "great apes"
an enclosure = an area where animals are kept [= pen]
an attraction = sth people want to see
a ledge = a narrow, flat rock that sticks out
essentially = basically
bid for freedom = attempt to escape
branch = one of the smaller parts of a tree
short circuit = break the electricity supply
electric barrier = part of the electric fence
proceeded to = went onto (do sth)
a set up = a device or thing used to do something
allowing = enabling
hot wire = part of the electric fence
evacuated = moved all the people out of a dangerous area
refunds = returned money; money given back to customers
has a history of = has done sth many times before
trying to outsmart = attempting to trick (sb) [= outwit]
(zoo) keepers = people who take care of zoo animals
a lot of late hours = often working overtime

Also:

"didn't make it inside" = not able to enter
"it was amazing how he done it" (notice the grammar!)
"he used a plant" (probably a big leaf or a stick)

CHINA'S GRIEVING PARENTS

BACKGROUND
On May 12, 2008, there was a massive earthquake in Sichuan province, China. Nearly 69,000 people were killed, 374,000 were injured, and 15 million people lost their homes.

Tragically, many of the dead were schoolchildren. They were killed when the schools in which they were studying simply fell down on top of them.

There can be no greater sense of loss and pain for a mother or a father than to lose their child.

Personally, I'm glad I don't live in China. It is a police state, the people have no political freedom, and I believe that there is cronyism and corruption at every level of government, from the very top right down to the very bottom (think of the "milk scandal" in 2008).

I don't know about you, but I felt like crying at the end of this news report...

grieving = extremely sad and upset
massive = very, very big; huge
injured = hurt
tragically = (something extremely sad, like an accident)
police state = a country where people are always watched by the police
cronyism = giving jobs to people because they are your friends, family
corruption = dishonest behaviour by people in power


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QUESTIONS
1. Why is the woman so full of grief?
2. Why are the local people unhappy with the government?
3. Why is a government official watching the local people?
4. What is your opinion? Do you think it is a government cover up?

WATCH THE VIDEO


LANGUAGE
officials = people who work for the government
a police checkpoint = a place where the police stop you to check who you are
collapsed = fallen down
the right credentials = the correct qualifications, papers
secret location = secret place
quake = earthquake
primary school (BrE) = elementary school (AmE)
left standing = not fallen down
dulled the pain = made to feel not so terrible
dug around = looked around (digging to try to find something)
rubble = broken bricks and parts of building that has fallen down
a government cover up = an event that the government keeps secret
sub-standard materials = low quality, cheap materials that are not good enough
natural disaster = (earthquake, typhoon, landslide, flood, etc)
never far away = always nearby
site = place, location (where something happens or happened)
file a law suit = take a problem to a court of law for a legal decision
stage demonstrations = protest or argue against something
on the side of = supports (for example, a person, an idea, etc)
contractors = companies or people who are paid to do some work
common people = normal people
anniversary = special date (when something is remembered)
full of grief = terribly, terribly sad
maintains = keeps saying
sheer force of = total power of (something)
no evidence = no proof
construction process = the way things are built
shrine = a kind of temple, often to remember somebody
incense = something you burn that has a strong smell
fake money = money that isn't real ("ghost money")
after-life = the place where you go after you die
guilt = a bad feeling about something you should or shouldn't have done
protected = took care of
“the sky fell down” = your life destroyed by something terrible that happened