Circus Animals

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 656.

C Listen to Barbara talking about the circus and its animals and choose the best answer to the following questions.

1. What is the main reason the circus prefers to hire rather than own animals?

A They have to change the programme frequently.

B The large animals are expensive to feed out of season.

C It's easy to get the animals from a Safari Park.

D Hired animals come with their own trainer.

2. What happens to the circus animals which are too old to perform?

A They are destroyed when they no longer earn money.

B They are returned to Safari Parks.

C They stay on the circus's farm until they die.

D They are still kept with the circus.

3. Which of the following is not a serious problem when travelling with animals?

A Ensuring that the animals cannot escape if there is an accident.

B Finding suitable food for the animals.

C Ensuring that they do not become hungry and thirsty during a journey.

D Planning which route to take.

4. Recently problems with anti-circus protesters

A have become worse.

B have become much worse.

C have not been quite as bad as before.

D have been the same as usual.

5. Which of the following do anti-circus protesters do not do?

A They demonstrate outside the circus.

B They give out leaflets.

C They ask circus customers to sign a petition.

D They persuade councils to ban circuses.

6. What does Barbara find particularly annoying about the behaviour of some councils?

A They deprive people of the pleasure of seeing a circus.

B They make it difficult for the circus to make a profit.

C They don't consult the general public.

D They make decisions without consulting the circus.

D Read the article below and see how the ideas expressed by Leon Siegel differ from the ones expressed by Philippa Gregory.

CAGES, CHAINS AND BROKEN SPIRITS

The image that we know of is what circus promoters want us to believe because the circus would lose all its appeal if the truth was revealed. They will never admit to the following but you decide who you want to believe.

Imagine being locked up in your room with bare floors and walls with a few other people. Imagine there being no stereo, no TV, no books. Nothing. Except a window to look out from. Sometimes someone pushes you out and you have to force yourself to do the things the person wants of you although it hurts or you don't want to. After an hour you're pushed back into your prison.

Wild animals which are used to roaming over long distances and having much variety in their lives by seeking food, playing and socialising with their own kind are kept in captivity in circuses. In circuses they are confined in cages or chained for up to 23 hours a day. Try to imagine yourself in this position for 5 minutes. If you cannot even do it for 5 minutes, can you imagine living such a life forever? Never to be able to walk free again?

Circus animals display stereotypic behaviours like zoo animals such as pacing, bar biting, self-mutilation, head rolling, rocking, licking, neck twisting, vomiting, self-clutching and swaying from side to side. Many of us think that these are natural behaviours but they are not. These are signs of mental illness or madness according to animal behaviourists. We may not be able to witness this during the performance as the animals are performing their routine.

The confinement over long periods and distances, the extremes in temperature change experienced with the constant moving, the noise, movement and lights all add to the fear and stress of the animals. Water and food are irregularly given. Water is rationed to certain periods of the day so that the animals won't “mess up” the area.

Some people question, “Why would anyone torture an animal that they were going to get into the ring with?” The answer is ugly but simple: because these brutal methods WORK. No creature wants to be brutalised or hurt. Hence we see lions and tigers leaping through hoops of fire, elephants standing on their hind legs waltzing, and bears riding motorcycles in circles. During the performance the trainer can only use signals and not direct physical force. The untrained animal must be taught to recognise the signals during the initial training period. By baiting, luring, withholding of food, triggering of escape and aggression impulses or by direct physical force using whips, goads, spikes, heat, muzzles or electric prods, the animals are made to repeat the required movements until finally all that is needed is the relevant trigger. Animals have their teeth or claws removed or drugged to make them manageable. Do the animals perform amazing feats because they love to do it or because they trust their trainer and want to please him? On the contrary, they perform these degrading and unnatural stunts in an attempt to avoid the unpleasant consequences.

Measurements of blood pressure and heart rate, ear and tail movements and other such indications give quite an accurate description of the circus animal's experience of fear. When lions or tigers respond to the trainer's commands by slinking across the ring, close to the ground with their ears flattened and sometimes snarling loudly, one can understand this to be an indication of fear.

Elephants are made to balance their tremendous weight on a tiny stool or balance on two feet. "Elephant hooks" are used to control the animal by pulling behind the ear (which is a particularly sensitive area), pulling a leg forward or jabbing it (under the tongue for the sit up and beg position). The elephant's hide is sensitive and the animal is quite conscious of even light jabs at certain areas of its body. Elephants which normally walk miles a day, play, swim, socialise and eat with their herd are chained to the ground for up to 23 hours per day sometimes with no company of their own. Elephants which love wallowing in the mud and submerging themselves in water are forced to stand in their own excrement in the circus, never able to enjoy these activities again.

Lions and tigers which normally would walk about 10 to 15 kilometres a day are also kept for up to 23 hours a day in cages which are so small that they can only pace around in boredom and frustration. These animals which are usually clean are forced to eat, drink and defecate in the same cramped cage. They are made to jump through flaming hoops although fire is instinctively feared by most animals. Leopards are chained to stools and prodded with steel forks while learning to hold up their front legs in a gesture of greeting.

Bears commonly have their noses broken while being trained or have their paws burnt, for example, making them walk on hot plates to make them stand on their hind legs. Many are kept in neck chains and usually muzzled. They often have chains or wires through their lips, cheeks and/or noses – these sometimes pull out leaving irregular flaps. Monkeys are sometimes kept in cages which are so small that they cannot stand up and have sometimes been driven to bite off one another's fingers. Acts which are physically uncomfortable, painful or frightening like bears balancing on balls, apes riding motorcycles, elephants crossing over tigers are forced upon the animals.

Wild animals behave instinctively and unpredictably. Since 1990, several people have been killed and others injured by circus elephants and other animals pushed past their breaking point. Additionally, some circus elephants have been diagnosed with a human strain of tuberculosis, which can spread to spectators such as children who are taken on elephant rides.

Circus-related injuries often result in premature death. The animals that survive the circus face a grim future. When circus owners decide that animals are no longer profitable, they are sent to winter quarters (i.e. traveling crates, barn stalls, or trucks) permanently or sold to: other circuses, zoos, private menageries, roadside attractions, individuals, game farms to be shot and killed, research facilities.

But aren't animal circuses educational, especially for children? Yes! If you want children to learn to laugh and mock at the misery of animals and be taught violence and disrespect for other life-forms. The children do not see the animals' natural behaviour patterns, intelligence, food gathering patterns, social interaction and other remarkable behaviour they exhibit in the wild. All they see are animals performing unnatural tricks learnt under difficult and painful circumstances. They learn that it is alright to force animals to do unnatural tricks, be forced to live in cages and chains, to be tortured and treated as nothing more than commodities. And we're teaching the next generation that this type of tyrannical slave-master relationship with the natural world is acceptable.

What about conservation? Circuses strip the animals of their dignity, respect and natural beauty. They are displayed as freaks. This view is directly opposed to the philosophy of conservation. Then where will my child learn about animals and nature? They can be taken for nature walks and appreciate the wildlife in their natural habitats. Visit Omnimax movies where the children and you will be able to experience an almost real-life experience of being near the world of animals in the wild where they are meant to be. Watch wonderful wildlife and nature documentaries with your children, teaching them to appreciate and respect Nature.

By Leon Spiegel

E Discuss the following questions with the group:

1. In which conditions do circus animals live?

2. Which unusual behaviours do usually wild animals demonstrate in captivity?

3. Which amazing feats can circus animals perform?

4. Which methods do the trainers use to make circus animals obedient and docile?

5. In what way can the animal circus be dangerous for people?

6. Can we regard the animal circus as educational and entertaining?

7. Do you think all animal circuses should be banned?

appalling disgraceful dreadful frightful shocking terrible absurd

incomprehensible odd ridiculous strange ironic admirable praiseworthy

Clearly Obviously Quite frankly There is no doubt that You must agree that Without a shadow of doubt As far as I'm concerned

I feel very strongly that My view is that I would like to stress that I'm all in favour of I reject the idea of Strangely enough In spite of this

Fishing

G Read the text, but do not attempt to fill the gaps until you have listened to the tape. Then complete the text on the next page with a suitable word or phrase according to the information on the tape.

Grammar: position of adverbs

A Discuss the differences in meaning or emphasis in these sentences. How would you complete the last two?

1. Tricia only wants to help.

Only Peter wants to help.

2. Pam doesn't really feel well.

Anne doesn't feel really well.

Jack really doesn't feel well.

3. Tony and Jane still aren't married.

Olivia and Paul aren't still married, are they?

Still, Sue and Bob aren't married.

4. I don't particularly want to see Lisa.

I particularly don't want to see Tim.

5. I enjoy eating normally.

Normally, I enjoy eating.

I normally enjoy eating.

I enjoy eating normally!

6. Carefully, I lifted the lid of the box.

I lifted the lid of the box carefully.

I carefully lifted the lid of the box.

7. Paul just doesn't like flying, he….

Olivia doesn't just like flying, she…

B Look at the examples and feel the gaps with suitable adverbs or phrases from the lists.

I. Some adverbs are almost always placed in front of the main verb in a sentence (or after the verb to be) – but not usually at the beginning or end of the sentence:

II. Some adverbs are usually placed in front of the main verb or after the object – but not normally at the beginning of the sentence:

III. Adverbs consisting of more than one word are usually placed at the end of the sentence, or at the beginning – but not in front of the main verb:

a) The Olympic Games are held ……….. .

b) I don't have the information ……….., so I'll call you back ……….. .

c) ……….. I agree with what she says, but ……….. we don't see eye to eye.

d) Although she had washed her hair ……….., she washed it again ……….. .

Remember that adverbs almost never go betweena verb and a direct object:

He ate quickly his sandwiches. –

She took gently his hand. –

He dropped accidentally the vase. –

IV. Some very common adverbs can be placed at the beginning of the sentence, or in front of the main verb, or after the main verb or the object:

Usually I wash my hair twice a week. +

I wash my hair twice a week usually. +

I usually wash my hair twice a week. + +

a) I can't give you my answer ………..., but I'll let you know ……….. .

b) Let me know ……….. what you thought of the film.

c) It will ……….. be time to go home, so you'll have to finish the work ……….. .

V. Most adverbs of manner, which describe how people act or speak, are commonly placed after the main verb or its object – though other positions are often possible:

He reacted violently to my comments. + +

He reacted to my comments violently. +

a) She was behaving very ……….. .

b) He held up the prize ……….. and thanked everyone ……….. .

c) She took his hand ……….. and looked ……….. into his eyes.

d) I raised my hand ……….. to protect my face.

IV. Adverbs which “comment” on the whole sentence are usually placed at the very beginning of a sentence before a comma – though other positions are often possible.

C Find the mistakes in these sentences and correct them:

1. I have seen him seldom so furious and I was shocked absolutely by his reaction.

2. He from time to time loses his temper but he is most of the time in a good mood.

3. Discretely all enquiries will be handled and you may write in confidence to us.

4. “Don't worry,” she quietly said, taking my hand and squeezing it reassuringly.

5. She many times told them to take care but they ignored repeatedly her advice.

6. The door burst suddenly open and we all looked in surprise up.

7. I do every day my homework and it takes me usually an hour.

8. He just doesn't like ice cream he loves it so much that he eats every day it.

D Rewrite the sentences using the words in italics, but without changing the meaning:

Theme three: The End of the World is at Hand?