Table of Contents
China is working with the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and will maybe give them more pandas.
China has given pandas to zoos in different countries. People call this “panda diplomacy” and it has helped make China and the U.S. closer.
Mao Ning from the Chinese government said that there are plans with zoos in Spain and the U.S. to help protect pandas. They are also working with zoos in Washington D.C. and Vienna, Austria.
Mao says that this plan will help protect endangered animals, and make new friendships.
Last year, the National Zoo in Washington sent three pandas back to China. Now, Zoo Atlanta is the only zoo in the U.S. with pandas.
The pandas in Atlanta will go back to China this year. It could be the first time there are no pandas in the U.S. since 1972. That year, China gave two pandas to the U.S. after an important visit by a U.S. president.
Vocabulary
- Diplomacy – Using discussions and agreements to solve problems between countries
- 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
- Protect – keep safe or secure; guard; defend
- Endangered – close to extinction; animals or plants that may soon not exist/live because there are very few alive now
- Friendship – When two people like each other and enjoy spending time together; a good relationship between to people
- Send back – To return something or someone to the place they came from
- Visit – To go and spend time in a place or with a person
- President – leader; the top person in a large company, organization, or country; boss
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Discussion Questions
- Why do you think China shares its pandas with zoos in many countries?
- Do you think giving pandas to other countries is a good way for China to make friends? Why or why not?
- Should zoos keep animals like pandas, even if it helps protect them? What are the pros and cons?
- Would you like to see pandas in a zoo someday? 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 is _____ with the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and will _____ give them more pandas.
China has given _____ to zoos in different countries. People call this “panda diplomacy” and it has _____ make China and the U.S. closer.
Mao Ning _____ the Chinese government said that there are plans with zoos in _____ and the U.S. to help protect pandas. They are also _____ with zoos in Washington D.C. and Vienna, Austria.
Mao _____ that this plan will help protect endangered _____, and make new friendships.
Last year, the _____ Zoo in Washington sent three pandas back to China. _____, Zoo Atlanta is the only zoo in the U.S. _____ pandas.
The pandas in _____ will go back to China this year. It could be the first time _____ are no pandas in the U.S. since _____. That year, China gave two pandas to the U.S. _____ an important visit by a U.S. president.
