Listening 1 — Using Animals for Work (Debate)

Before You Listen

Listen to the audio track first

Listen to the audio in your Listening and Speaking book.

Unlock 3 – Unit 1 - Listening 1

Track: Unit 1, 1.1 — debate on using animals for work (Amy Johnson & Dr Jacob Kuryan).

Discussion Questions

Discuss with a partner or in small groups. Base your ideas on the listening.

🐕 Animals and history

•Which animals does the host say were domesticated first, and for what kinds of jobs?
•Why were horses, camels, and elephants important for transport and exploration?

⚖️ Amy Johnson’s position

•What examples does she give of animals suffering in war or hard work?
•Why does she compare using animals for work to children working in factories long ago?

🔬 Dr Kuryan’s position

•Why might people in low-income countries still need animals, according to him?
•What does he say about animal shelters, laws, charities — and children in poor countries?

💬 Your opinion

•Do you think technology can fully replace animals for work everywhere? Why or why not?
•Whose introduction did you find more convincing — Ms Johnson’s or Dr Kuryan’s?

Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer based on the listening.

1. What is today’s debate mainly about?

How to train pets at home Using animals for work Cooking with meat Visiting Egypt

2. According to the host, which animal was the first to be domesticated by humans?

The dog The horse The camel The elephant

3. When were the first donkeys used by humans in Egypt, approximately?

About 6,000 years ago About 500 years ago About 60,000 years ago About 100 years ago

4. Horses were domesticated 5,000 years ago in which places?

Egypt only Europe and Asia South America only Australia only

5. Who is Amy Johnson?

A professor of zoology An animal rights activist and writer The host of the programme A farmer from Brazil

6. Dr Jacob Kuryan is described as a professor of what subject?

History Zoology Medicine Law

7. Ms Johnson says animals like elephants and horses were used to build amazing structures such as ______.

Modern airports Shopping centres in Japan The pyramids in Egypt The Great Barrier Reef

8. What is Ms Johnson’s main argument about the modern world?

We should use more animals in factories There is no longer any need to use animals for work because we have technology Only dogs should work Children should work instead of animals

9. According to Dr Kuryan, why do many people in low-income countries still need animals?

They cannot afford cars, house alarms, or expensive machines They do not like technology Laws require animals only Animals are free everywhere

10. What point does Dr Kuryan make about children in low-income countries?

They all have good schools Millions go without food or clothing while people may care a lot about animals They do not need help They work only in offices

Quiz Results

Fill in the Blanks

Use words from the list (order shuffled on purpose). Each answer appears in the listening.

clothing • charities • Asia • technology • logging
activist • zoology • Egypt • domesticated • debate

1. Today’s is on using animals for work.

2. The first animal that was by humans is the dog.

3. The first donkeys were used by humans approximately 6,000 years ago in .

4. Horses were domesticated 5,000 years ago in Europe and .

5. Amy Johnson is an animal rights and writer.

6. Dr Kuryan is a professor of .

7. Even now, elephants are used for .

8. Ms Johnson says we have that can replace animals.

9. People give money to animal that help save wildlife.

10. Dr Kuryan says there are still millions of children who go without food or .

Results

True or False

Based on the listening only.

1. Dogs are still used to protect houses and keep people safe.

True False

2. Ms Johnson believes that using animals for work is a modern and fair practice.

True False

3. Dr Kuryan says that without humans, many domesticated animals would not have been able to survive.

True False

4. The host gives each speaker two minutes to introduce their point of view.

True False

5. Dr Kuryan argues that not all use of animals is abuse.

True False