Toronto Zoo wants to limit gorillas' screen time

Nick's ESL News Lessons

A printable worksheet for news-based English conversation classes.

Date: 2023/07/14

Difficulty: Upper Intermediate B2

PDF: Toronto Zoo wants to limit gorillas' screen time

Vocabulary Match

exposure -   - important
significant -   - manager
behavior -   - conduct
interaction -   - engagement
controlled -   - contact
supervisor -   - regulated

Article

The Toronto Zoo has requested visitors to stop showing mobile videos and photos to their gorillas. The zoo's concern is that screen exposure could affect the gorillas' relationships and behavior within their group. Despite not observing significant changes in the gorillas' behavior so far, the zoo aims to maintain as natural a life as possible for these animals.

A gorilla named Nassir, born in 2009, has shown considerable interest in visitors' videos. He would watch them to the point of distraction, impacting his interaction with other gorillas. While the zoo permits gorillas to watch videos, including nature documentaries, under controlled conditions, they want to ensure appropriate content is being viewed. This new rule is comparable to managing screen time and content for a child, as expressed by Hollie Ross, the zoo's behavioral supervisor.

Quiz

  1. What is the zoo's concern about showing mobile videos and photos to gorillas?
  2. Have there been significant changes in the gorillas' behavior?
  3. What does the zoo want to ensure when gorillas watch videos?

Conversation

A: Hey, have you heard about the new rule at the zoo?
B: Yeah, they don't want people showing videos to the gorillas anymore.
A: I guess they're worried it might affect their behavior.
B: Makes sense. Nassir was getting too distracted by the videos.
A: It's like managing screen time for kids, but for gorillas.
B: Exactly. They want to make sure they watch the right stuff.
A: Well, I hope it helps them have a more natural life.

Discussion

  1. Have you ever been to a zoo? What was your favorite animal there?
  2. How do you manage screen time for yourself or your children?
  3. What kind of videos do you enjoy watching?

Vocabulary Answers

exposure → contact
significant → important
behavior → conduct
interaction → engagement
controlled → regulated
supervisor → manager

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. The zoo is concerned that screen exposure could affect the gorillas' relationships and behavior within their group.
  2. No, there have not been significant changes in the gorillas' behavior so far.
  3. The zoo wants to ensure appropriate content is being viewed.

Source Material

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2023/07/10/canada-Toronto-Zoo-cellphone-videos-gorillas/8931689006966/

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