Listening 2 — African Forest Elephants

Before You Listen

Listen to the audio track first

Listen to the audio in your Listening and Speaking book.

Unlock 3 – Unit 1 - Listening 2

Track: 1.2 — talk about the African forest elephant, ivory, and conservation.

Discussion Questions

Discuss with a partner or group. Use the listening for ideas.

🐘 Numbers and species

•How many elephants did the speaker say lived in Africa a century ago, compared with today?
•What is the difference between the Savanna elephant and the African forest elephant?

⚠️ Threats

•What three main threats does the speaker describe (poaching, habitat, human contact)?
•Why might local people kill elephants even though they are endangered?

✅ Solutions

•What three kinds of action does the speaker say “really ought to happen”?
•Why does she stress a complete ban on buying or selling ivory?

💭 Your view

•Which fact from the talk surprised you most?
•What else do you think could help protect endangered species?

Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer based on the listening.

1. The speaker says she is there today mainly to talk about which elephant?

The Asian elephant The African forest elephant The Savanna elephant only Sea turtles

2. About how many elephants lived across Africa a century ago?

Around five million Less than 500,000 Around 500 About 50,000

3. Today, it is believed there are how many elephants across Africa?

More than five million Less than 500,000 Exactly five million Zero

4. The main human threat from poachers is hunting elephants for their ______.

Skin only Long white tusks (ivory) Meat for restaurants Ears

5. When was the international trade of ivory banned?

1989 1899 1999 2009

6. The second threat the speaker describes is ______.

Too much rain in the rainforest Loss of the elephants’ habitat when land is used for farming Too many zoos Tourists taking photos

7. Why do elephants sometimes go into villages, according to the talk?

Habitat loss sometimes forces them to leave the rainforest They prefer city life They are looking for ivory They only travel at night

8. What is the first solution the speaker suggests?

Increase the number of specially trained guards in rainforests to catch poachers Stop all farming everywhere Move all elephants to Europe Ban students from talks

9. What kind of ban does the speaker say governments must introduce?

An immediate and complete ban on buying or selling ivory, even between countries sharing a border A ban only on elephant tourism A ban on studying zoology A temporary ban on rain

10. What does the speaker say may happen without a ban on ivory?

The African forest elephant may soon become extinct Elephants will double in number next year Ivory will become free Rainforests will disappear in one day

Quiz Results

Fill in the Blanks

Use words from the list (order shuffled on purpose).

poaching • ivory • crops • guards • rainforest
Africa • habitat • 1989 • critically • extinct

1. The African forest elephant is ______ endangered because of threats from humans.

(one word — level of danger)

2. A century ago, there were around five million elephants across ______.

3. Poachers hunt forest elephants for tusks made of ______.

4. The international trade of ivory was banned in ______.

5. The second threat is the loss of the elephants’ ______ when land is cleared for farming.

6. Humans destroy ______ areas to make land suitable for farming.

7. In villages, elephants may damage ______ growing in farmers’ fields.

8. We need more specially trained ______ working in rainforests to catch poachers.

9. The main threat to forest elephants comes from ______ — the illegal ivory trade must end.

10. Without action, the African forest elephant may soon become ______.

Results

True or False

Based on the listening only.

1. Both species of African elephants are endangered.

True False

2. The speaker says the Savanna elephant is less well-known than the African forest elephant.

True False

3. The speaker says buying and selling ivory across borders has decreased in recent years.

True False

4. Local communities should be helped to build fences that can protect their land.

True False

5. The speaker lists rhinos, orangutans, and sea turtles as examples of animals that are disappearing.

True False