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FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes on British Squirrels
(11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)

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Prince Charles Wants To Fight Squirrels

Britain’s Prince Charles is not a big fan of the grey squirrel. He says they are bad for the British countryside. Grey squirrels came to Britain in the eighteenth century. They are a big threat to the red squirrel, which is native to the UK. The Prince is worried the number of grey squirrels will get bigger. If this happens, red squirrels might die out. There are about two million grey squirrels in Britain. They are eating the trees that red squirrels need. The red squirrels cannot fight the grey squirrels, so they need Prince Charles’ help.

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I thought all squirrels were cute and soft and cuddly. Now I have changed my mind. If I hear about the grey squirrel, I no longer think they are so cute. I think it is important to protect Britain’s animals. British people need to help the red squirrel. I’m a little bit worried about them disappearing. Grey squirrels in Britain outnumber red squirrels by 66 to 1. If I go to America, I will think grey squirrels are cute. That’s because grey squirrels are from America. I want all the grey squirrels to disappear, but I can’t kill them myself.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	not a big fan	a.	to the red squirrel
2	bad for the	b.	out
3.	a big threat	c.	British countryside
4.	red squirrels might die	d.	Prince Charles’ help
5.	red squirrels cannot	e.	of the grey squirrel
6.	they need	f.	fight

Paragraph 2

1.	soft and	a.	bit worried
2	I have changed	b.	cuddly
3.	protect Britain’s	c.	outnumber red squirrels
4.	I’m a little	d.	my mind
5.	Grey squirrels in Britain	e.	myself
6.	kill them	f.	animals

LISTENING GAP FILL

Britain’s Prince Charles is _______________ the grey squirrel. He says they are bad for the British countryside. Grey squirrels came to Britain in the eighteenth century. They _______________ the red squirrel, which _______________ UK. The Prince is worried the number of grey squirrels will get bigger. If this happens, red squirrels _______________. There are about two million grey squirrels in Britain. They are eating the trees that red squirrels need. The red squirrels _______________ grey squirrels, so they need Prince Charles’ help.

I thought all squirrels were cute and _______________. Now I have changed my mind. If _______________ grey squirrel, I no longer think they are so cute. I think it is important to protect Britain’s animals. British people _______________ the red squirrel. I’m a little bit worried about them disappearing. Grey squirrels in Britain outnumber red squirrels _______________. If I go to America, I will think grey squirrels are cute. That’s because grey squirrels are from America. I want all the grey squirrels to disappear, but I can’t _______________.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Britain’s Prince Charles is not a big fan (1) ____ the grey squirrel. He says they are bad for the British countryside. Grey squirrels came to Britain in the (2) ____ century. They are a big threat to the red squirrel, which is native (3) ____ the UK. The Prince is worried the number of grey squirrels will get bigger. If this (4) ____, red squirrels might die out. There are about two million grey squirrels in Britain. They are eating the trees that red squirrels (5) ____. The red squirrels cannot fight the grey squirrels, so they need Prince Charles’ help.

I thought all squirrels were cute and soft and cuddly. Now I have changed my (6) ____. If I hear about the grey squirrel, I no (7) ____ think they are so cute. I think it is important to protect Britain’s animals. British people need (8) ____ help the red squirrel. I’m a little bit worried about them disappearing. Grey squirrels in Britain outnumber red squirrels (9) ____ 66 to 1. If I go to America, I will think grey squirrels are cute. That’s because grey squirrels are from America. I want (10) ____ the grey squirrels to disappear, but I can’t kill them myself.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	of	(b)	by	(c)	with
2.	(a)	eighteen	(b)	eighteenth	(c)	eighteens
3.	(a)	by	(b)	to	(c)	with
4.	(a)	happens	(b)	happening	(c)	happened
5.	(a)	necessary	(b)	needs	(c)	need
6.	(a)	mind	(b)	brain	(c)	head
7.	(a)	length	(b)	longest	(c)	longer
8.	(a)	of	(b)	to	(c)	at
9.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	on
10.	(a)	every	(b)	whole	(c)	all

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	the British cytuirensdo
2.	the eighteenth ytenruc
3.	a big hrtate
4.	tnieav to the UK
5.	about two lmolini
6.	They are atgeni the trees
Paragraph 2
7.	soft and dyclud
8.	canhegd my mind
9.	tcretop Britain’s animals
10.	I’m a little bit dwieror
11.	rumtnuoeb red squirrels by 66 to 1
12.	grey squirrels to edpsrpaai

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	die out. There are about two million grey squirrels in Britain. They are eating the
( )	mind. If I hear about the grey squirrel, I no longer think they are so cute. I think it is important to protect Britain’s
( )	trees that red squirrels need. The red squirrels cannot fight the grey squirrels, so they need Prince Charles’ help.
( )	cute. That’s because grey squirrels are from America. I want all the grey squirrels to disappear, but I can’t kill them myself.
( )	in Britain outnumber red squirrels by 66 to 1. If I go to America, I will think grey squirrels are
( )	animals. British people need to help the red squirrel. I’m a little bit worried about them disappearing. Grey squirrels
( )	to the UK. The Prince is worried the number of grey squirrels will get bigger. If this happens, red squirrels might
( )	I thought all squirrels were cute and soft and cuddly. Now I have changed my
( 1 )	Britain’s Prince Charles is not a big fan of the grey squirrel. He says they are bad for the British
( )	countryside. Grey squirrels came to Britain in the eighteenth century. They are a big threat to the red squirrel, which is native

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	the grey squirrel Charles is not a big fan of.
2.	He are the they for countryside says bad British.
3.	red They big the a to squirrel are threat.
4.	bigger grey squirrels The will number get of.
5.	red need The that squirrels trees.
6.	cute I all were thought squirrels.
7.	have my I changed mind Now.
8.	Britain’s protect to important is It animals.
9.	a I’m them about worried bit little.
10.	grey I squirrels want to all disappear the.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about native animals for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about native animals in your country. Are any dying out? Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about native animals. Include imaginary interviews with people who are worried native animals might die out. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Prince Charles. Ask him three questions about squirrels. Give him three of your opinions on squirrels in Britain. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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News English Lessons FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes on British Squirrels (11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)