Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. abandon
(v.) [uh-ban-duhn] – to leave someone or something behind
Example: The animals started dying when they
were abandoned by their owners.
2. undernourished
(adj.) [uhn-der-nur-isht, -nuhr-] – lacking enough nutrients for good health
Example: Feeding program helps undernourished
children in poor communities.
3.
enclosure (n.) [en-kloh-zher] –an area of land surrounded by a fence, wall, or other
boundary
Example: The large enclosure prevents big
animals from escaping.
4. amid (prep.) [uh-mid] – while something is happening; used to indicate the circumstances or events
accompanying something
Example: Peter managed to attend school this
morning amid the strong typhoon.
5.
languish (v.) [lang-gwish] – to suffer as a
result of being deprived of something
Example: The poet languished for years because
of his frustrations in love.
Article
Read the text below.
The recent war in Libya left animals in Tripoli
Zoo abandoned without food and
water.
Nic Robertson, a CNN Senior International
Correspondent, found many neglected and undernourished
animals at Tripoli Zoo struggling inside their cages.
Tigers, lions, giant tortoises, hippos, hyenas,
bears, monkeys, deer, emus and other animal species had been in enclosures with nothing to eat or
drink. From Robertson’s observation, the tiger’s skinny back thighs and the loose
skin hanging on its bones showed how thin the animals had become.
During the visit of CNN in August, the zookeeper
arrived in the abandoned zoo and explained that the animals had been in this
condition for seven days amid the
conflict in Tripoli.
Nobody could tell the CNN Team how often the
animals were fed and how much food was given to them. There was not even any
veterinarian to look after their needs.
Meat eaters, like tigers and lions, got only half
of the amount of food they needed while all the animals languished from a very limited supply of water. In Libya’s hot
temperature, animals would continue to suffer if deprived of water.
Fortunately, by the end of August, ten zoo
employees out of the 200 returned to feed all the animals.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
Should
the government limit the number of animals that a zoo should keep? Why or why
not?
·
Do
you think that animals in zoos get the right kind of care that they should
have?
Discussion
B
·
Do
you think animals kept in zoos should be rescued in time of war?
·
Do
you agree that animals should have rights?
