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Endangered Species in U.S. Shark Fin Soup (13th August, 2012)

A new study has found that U.S. restaurants are using endangered shark species to make shark fin soup. The study is from the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University in New York. Researchers looked at the DNA of soups in 14 American cities. They found 33 different species of sharks used by various restaurants. The endangered scalloped hammerhead shark was among the species found on some menus.

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Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. Many customers will pay up to $100 for a bowl of the soup. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says around 73 million sharks are killed around the world every year to make shark fin soup. The university scientists warned people about what they might be eating. Researcher Dr Demian Chapman analysed the DNA of the different soups. He said: "US consumers of shark fin soup cannot be certain of what's in their soup. They could be eating a species that is in serious trouble."

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

endangered

a.

looked at the DNA

2

Researchers

b.

hammerhead shark

3.

sharks used by various

c.

shark species

4.

The endangered scalloped

d.

some menus

5.

among the

e.

restaurants

6.

found on

f.

species

Paragraph 2

1.

a delicacy in

a.

they might be eating

2

customers will pay up to $100

b.

in serious trouble

3.

around 73 million sharks

c.

in their soup

4.

warned people about what

d.

for a bowl

5.

cannot be certain of what's

e.

Chinese cuisine

6.

a species that is

f.

are killed


LISTENING GAP FILL

A new (1) ____________________ that U.S. restaurants are using endangered shark (2) ____________________ shark fin soup. The study is from the (3) ____________________ Conservation Science at Stony Brook University in New York. Researchers looked at the (4) ____________________ 14 American cities. They found 33 different species of sharks                                  (5) ____________________ restaurants. The endangered scalloped hammerhead shark was among the species found        (6) ____________________.

Shark fin soup (7) ____________________ Chinese cuisine. Many customers (8) ____________________ $100 for a bowl of the soup. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says                                (9) ____________________ sharks are killed around the world every year to make shark fin soup. The university scientists warned people about what they (10) ____________________. Researcher Dr Demian Chapman analysed the DNA of the different soups. He said: "US consumers of shark fin soup cannot (11) ____________________ in their soup. They could be eating a species that (12) ____________________."

MULTIPLE CHOICE

A new study has found that U.S. restaurants are (1) ____ endangered shark species to make shark fin soup. The study is (2) ____ the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University in New York. Researchers looked at the (3) ____ of soups in 14 American cities. They found 33 different species of sharks used by (4) ____ restaurants. The endangered scalloped hammerhead shark was (5) ____ the species found on some (6) ____.

Shark fin soup is a (7) ____ in Chinese cuisine. Many customers will pay     (8) ____ to $100 for a bowl of the soup. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says (9) ____ 73 million sharks are killed around the world every year to make shark fin soup. The university scientists warned people about what they might (10) ____ eating. Researcher Dr Demian Chapman analysed the DNA of the different soups. He said: "US (11) ____ of shark fin soup cannot be certain of what's in their soup. They could be eating a species that is in  (12) ____ trouble."

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

useful

(b)

used

(c)

using

2.

(a)

with

(b)

from

(c)

as

3.

(a)

DNA

(b)

ABC

(c)

MSG

4.

(a)

variety

(b)

varies

(c)

various

5.

(a)

between

(b)

inside

(c)

among

6.

(a)

menus

(b)

menu

(c)

menial

7.

(a)

delicious

(b)

delicacy

(c)

delicate

8.

(a)

up

(b)

around

(c)

over

9.

(a)

circular

(b)

round

(c)

around

10.

(a)

be

(b)

not

(c)

while

11.

(a)

divers

(b)

consumers

(c)

researchers

12

(a)

series

(b)

serious

(c)

serials

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

A new yustd

2.

the tnutteIsi for Ocean Conservation

3.

14 American sciite

4.

Researchers oelkdo at the DNA

5.

used by iuvraso restaurants

6.

found on some msuen

 

Paragraph 2

7.

Shark fin soup is a aeylccid

8.

Chinese ueisinc

9.

scientists awnrde people

10.

leynaads the DNA

11.

cannot be caernti

12.

in ousisre trouble

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

people about what they might be eating. Researcher Dr Demian Chapman analysed the DNA

(    )

73 million sharks are killed around the world every year to make shark fin soup The university scientists warned

(    )

14 American cities. They found 33 different species of sharks used by

(    )

certain of what's in their soup. They could be eating a species that is in serious trouble."

(    )

various restaurants. The endangered scalloped hammerhead

(    )

to make shark fin soup. The study is from the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at

(    )

Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. Many customers will pay

(    )

Stony Brook University in New York. Researchers looked at the DNA of soups in

(  1  )

A new study has found that U.S. restaurants are using endangered shark species

(    )

up to $100 for a bowl of the soup. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says around

(    )

of the different soups. He said: "US consumers of shark fin soup cannot be

(    )

shark was among the species found on some menus.

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

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

1.

using     are     species     Restaurants     shark     endangered     .

2.

the     From     Science     Conservation     Ocean     for     Institute.    

3.

at     looked     Researchers     soups     of     DNA     the.    

4.

found     They     sharks     of     species     different     33.    

5.

the     Among     menus     some     on     found     species.    

6.

delicacy     cuisine     fin     a     Chinese     Shark     is     in     soup.    

7.

for     a     bowl     Customers     will     pay     up     to     $     100.    

8.

are     killed     73     around     million     the     sharks     world.    

9.

certain     soup     of     what's     Cannot     in     be     their.    

10.

in     a     serious     species     trouble     that     is     Eating.    


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 Endangered Species 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. ENDANGERED SPECIES: Search the Internet and find more information about endangered shark species. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about endangered species. Include an imaginary interview with one. 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 an endangered species expert. Ask him/her three questions about endangered species. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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