Table of Contents
China’s Wildlife Conservation Association is working with the National Zoo in Washington D.C. This could mean that more pandas come to the United States, a sign of improving relations between the two countries.
China has shared its pandas with zoos in many countries as friendly animal ambassadors. It’s called “panda diplomacy” and it has also helped relations between China and the U.S. before.
Mao Ning, from the Chinese foreign ministry, recently said “Chinese groups have made agreements with the Madrid Zoo in Spain and the San Diego Zoo in the U.S. for a new round of international cooperation to protect giant pandas.”
“They are also working with the Washington National Zoo in the U.S. and Vienna Zoo in Austria.”
The Wildlife Conservation Association said on social media that it made and signed agreements to protect giant pandas with several zoos.
In November, the National Zoo in Washington sent three pandas back to China. Now, Zoo Atlanta is the only U.S. zoo with a giant panda program.
The agreement for Zoo Atlanta’s four pandas ends this year. This means there would be no pandas in the U.S. for the first time since 1972. That year, the Chinese government gave two giant pandas to the United States after President Nixon’s important visit to China during the Cold War.
Mao says that the program will help scientific research on protecting endangered species, and promote friendship between people.
China and the United States have had tense relations over many global issues. Leaders from both countries have had some talks recently to improve relations.
Vocabulary
- Wildlife – Animals and plants that live in nature, not in cities or homes
- Conservation – The act of protecting and saving the environment
- Association – a group of people/organizations that come together; union; partnership;
- Sign – a signal that something exists or that shows what might happen in the future; indication; demonstration; mark; proof
- Relation(s) – The way in which two things are connected; relationship
- Share – to have or use something at the same time as someone else; to divide food, money, goods, etc. and give some of it to someone else; to have something and let someone else use it
- Ambassador – an official representative for his or her country, that lives in a foreign country; envoy; diplomat
- Diplomacy – Using discussions and agreements to solve problems between countries
- Foreign – from another country; something from outside of your country; belonging or connected to a country that is not your own
- Ministry – a department of a government (education ministry, health ministry, foreign ministry, etc.)
- Foreign ministry – A part/department of the government that deals with other countries.
- Agreement – an understanding; a plan or contract made between two or more people/groups
- Round – A part or stage of an activity; Another time of doing something
- Cooperation – Working together to do something;
- Protect – keep safe or secure; guard; defend
- Social media – Websites and apps that allow people to communicate and share information online (Facebook, X, TikTok, etc.)
- Sign – to write your name on a document to show that you agree with it
- Several – some; more than 2, but not many
- Program – project; initiative; a group of activities or things to be achieved; a plan with many parts
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Scientific – Related to science;
- Research – the process of studying a subject/something to learn more about it and gain new understanding
- Endangered – close to extinction; animals or plants that may soon not exist/live because there are very few alive now
- Species – a set of animals or plants that have similar characteristics/qualities to each other; type of animal or plant
- Promote – to advertise; to market; to push; to make people aware; to make popular
- Tense – When a situation is stressful or makes people anxious/nervous
- Global – related to the whole world; everywhere in the world; 🌍
- Issue – a subject or problem that people are thinking and/or talking about; matter; topic; problem
- Leader – someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
Quiz
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Discussion Questions
- Why do you think China shares its pandas with zoos in many countries?
- How do you think the agreements with the zoos will help protect the giant pandas?
- Is it important for zoos to participate in conservation efforts for endangered species? Why or why not?
- Do you think scientific research is important for protecting wildlife? Why or why not?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
China’s _____ Conservation Association is working with the National _____ in Washington D.C. This could mean that more pandas _____ to the United States, a sign of improving relations between the _____ countries.
China has _____ its pandas with zoos in many countries as friendly animal ambassadors. It’s _____ “panda diplomacy” and it has also helped _____ between China and the U.S before.
Mao Ning, _____ the Chinese foreign ministry, recently said “Chinese _____ have made agreements with the Madrid Zoo in _____ and the San Diego Zoo in the U.S. for a new round of international cooperation to _____ giant pandas.”
“They are also working with the _____ National Zoo in the U.S. and Vienna Zoo in Austria.”
The Wildlife Conservation Association _____ on social media that it made and signed agreements to protect giant pandas with _____ zoos.
In November, the National Zoo in Washington sent _____ pandas back to China. Now, Zoo Atlanta is the only U.S. zoo with a giant panda _____.
The agreement for Zoo Atlanta’s _____ pandas ends this year. This means there would be no pandas in the _____ for the first time since 1972. That year, the Chinese government gave two _____ pandas to the United States after President Nixon’s _____ visit to China during the Cold War.
Mao says that the program _____ help scientific research on protecting endangered species and _____ friendship between people.
China and the United States _____ had tense relations over many global issues. _____ from both countries have had some talks recently to _____ relations.
