Zoo asks people to stop showing videos to gorillas

Nick's ESL News Lessons

A printable worksheet for news-based English conversation classes.

Date: 2023/07/14

Difficulty: Beginner A1

PDF: Zoo asks people to stop showing videos to gorillas
YouTube: Zoo asks people to stop showing videos to gorillas

Vocabulary Match

change -   - ask
behave -   - staff member
worried -   - concerned
important -   - necessary
worker -   - act
request -   - alter

Article

The Toronto Zoo in Canada is asking people to stop showing videos and pictures from phones to the gorillas.

The zoo workers think that watching videos can change how gorillas behave with each other. They're worried about it.

One gorilla, Nassir, loves watching videos. He spends so much time watching that he doesn't play with other gorillas. The zoo thinks it's important for Nassir to play with others. They allow gorillas to watch some videos if a zoo worker is there. The worker makes sure the videos are safe to watch.

Hollie Ross, who works at the zoo, compares it to a parent deciding what their children can watch. The zoo wants the gorillas' lives to be as normal as possible. They hope visitors will understand and follow their request.

Quiz

  1. What is the Toronto Zoo asking people to stop doing?
  2. Why are the zoo workers worried about showing videos to gorillas?
  3. When does the zoo allow gorillas to watch some videos?

Conversation

A: Did you hear about the new rule at the zoo?
B: Yeah, people can't show videos to the gorillas now.
A: I think it's because they worry it changes how they act.
B: That's right. Nassir stopped playing with the other gorillas.
A: Really? I guess he likes YouTube more than his friends!
B: Now, he can only watch it if a zoo worker is there.
A: Well, I hope people listen and do what the zoo asks.

Discussion

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

Vocabulary Answers

change → alter
behave → act
worried → concerned
important → necessary
worker → staff member
request → ask

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. The zoo is asking people to stop showing videos and pictures from phones to the gorillas.
  2. Because they think that watching videos can change how gorillas behave with each other.
  3. They allow gorillas to watch videos if a zoo worker is there.

Source Material

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

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