Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. survive (v.) [ser-vahyv] – to continue
living usually despite a difficult situation
Example: The hiker survived the heat of the sun because of
his training.
2. delicacy (n.) [del-i-kuh-see] – a special kind
of food which is not very common or cannot be easily found and is usually
expensive
Example: Bird’s Nest which
can only be harvested in mountains is used in cooking a Chinese delicacy.
3. suffocation (n.) [suhf-uh-key-shuhn] – the lack of
air or oxygen which can cause difficulty in breathing or death
Example: Paint factories
should let the air in to keep workers from suffocation.
4. premature (adj.) [pree-muh-choor] – too early;
happening before the maturity or right age
Example: Premature babies are born during the 7th or 8th month
of pregnancy.
Article
Read
the text below.
Live baby turtles, fishes and lizards sealed in plastic bags are
being sold on the streets of China as cellphone accessories and key chains for
$1.50 per piece.
The animals are kept inside plastic bags that are filled with
colored water and solidified oxygen and nutrients. The animals are said
to survive for
days until the oxygen runs out.
One of the said animals is the young Chinese soft-shell turtles
which are also used in cooking a popular Chinese delicacy.
Animal rights groups reacted negatively to this cruel act saying
that suffocation could cause
the premature death
of these animals.
Furthermore, they likewise mentioned that some animals, like
turtles, carry bacteria which can cause harm to people who keep them as pets.
The groups blame the lack of animal protection laws in China.
Without these laws, cruel acts such as this continue.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
laws on animal protection are being implemented in your country?
·
If
you were to come up with a law protecting animals, what law would that be?
Discussion B
·
Who should be blamed for illegal selling of
animals: the sellers or the buyers?
·
Are there animals in your country that are
being sold illegally?
