Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. pilfer
(v.) [pil-fer] – to steal in small quantities
Example: The official kept on pilfering the
public funds until it amounted to a huge sum.
2. isolated
(adj.) [ahy-suh-ley-tid, is-uh-] – being alone or separated from persons or other things
Example: Being isolated from modern
civilization, the remote village maintained their ancient traditions.
3. automated
(adj.) [aw-tuh-meyt] – controlled or driven by machines
Example: Automated factories do not require much
manual labor.
4. keep
track (idiom) [keep] [trak] – to be aware or to be kept informed
Example: He arrived late because he was not
able to keep track of the time
5. slaughterhouse
(n.) [slaw-ter-hous] – a place where animals are butchered for food
Example: Slaughterhouses should be kept clean
for health purposes.
Article
Read the text below.
Hundreds of pigs at farms in Minnesota and Iowa
were pilfered late September.
Authorities believe the "hognappers" are familiar with the
hog-raising business.
One of the farms belongs to Ryan Bode and his
family who raise a total of 4,000 hogs in one of their facilities. Bode's
staff noticed, after doing an inventory, that 150 hogs were missing, a number
worth $30,000.
According to Investigator Marc Chadderdon,
several factors work in the hognappers' favor.
First, hognappers strike farms in isolated areas where their vehicles
get hidden by tall corn fields, making them hardly noticeable.
Second, the largely automated farm needs fewer people on the site. This leaves
security quite loose. In addition, large operations with large numbers of
animals make it hard to keep track
of every animal.
Third, the pigs had no identifying marks. Bode
says putting earmarks or tattoos on each pig is additional work and that they
had no reason to do in the first place.
For pigs to be accepted at slaughterhouses, the seller must have paperwork. Chadderdon and
Bode therefore contend that the hognappers are well-connected in the
livestock raising business. Everyone involved in the transactions have to
know each other.
While investigations are ongoing, Chadderdon
advises pork producers to increase security by adding alarms, cameras, and
motion-sensing detectors. Moreover, farmers are advised to regularly count
their animals and check their facilities.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
are the security measures done by animal farms in your country?
·
If
you had a farm, what security measures would you adopt?
Discussion
B
·
Why
do you think theft occurs?
·
How
do you think can theft be prevented?