UNIT

2 Relationships

Speaking B
Photographs
a Look at the photographs below and compare the animals, people and settings in photographs 1 and 2.
b Describe the person and activity in photograph 3.
1 2

Useful words and phrases

a primitive tribe a leopard cub the spoils of a hunt a source of food/clothing
thatched huts (to) bind (to) suspend/hang a laboratory a research scientist
(to) perform/carry out an experiment aspects of psychology/behaviour
(to) lead by the reins heavily laden a beast of burden firewood
Judging from his/her clothing, I’d say he/she was …
As far as I can see from the landscape/background, the photo was probably taken in …

c What different aspects of relationships between man and animals are illustrated by the
three photographs?

Discussion points
Work with a partner and discuss the following questions.
What are the most common examples of relationships between man and animals in:
● tribal cultures? ● agricultural societies? ● urban, technologically-advanced societies?
Choose from the following categories and give examples.
Animals are:
● a source of food. ● a source of sport or entertainment.
● beasts of burden or a means of transport. ● used in testing.
● a source of company and comfort. ● a source of clothing.
● a source of income.

18
 Speaking B
2
Communicative activities
1 Discussing pros and cons
a Brainstorm points in favour of and against each of the following topics.
Make notes of your ideas.
● keeping animals in zoos
● farming animals for fur
● using animals in circus acts
● hunting non-threatened species (e.g. hares, pheasants, deer, etc.) for sport
b Develop the notes into a short argument, using the following example as a guide.

keeping animals in zoos

+
preserves otherwise threatened is cruel because animals’
species, such as the panda freedom is restricted
is educational because people takes animals away from their
can learn about animals they natural habitat
would never see elsewhere
many zoo animals were born in
captivity, so have never known
their natural habitat and thus do
not suffer

On the whole, I’m in favour of keeping animals in zoos. One benefit is that it preserves
otherwise threatened species, such as the panda. What’s more, zoos are educational because
people can learn about animals they would never see elsewhere. On the other hand, zoos
are cruel because the animals’ freedom is restricted. Another argument against zoos is that
they take many animals away from their natural habitat but, as many zoo animals were
born in captivity, they do not suffer as they have never known their natural habitat.

Useful phrases
On the whole, I’m in favour of/not in favour of …
One benefit/drawback is that …
What’s more, …
On the other hand, …
Another argument in favour of/against … is …

2 Selecting
Which of the following practices concerns you most, and which concerns you least?
Give reasons for your choices.
● factory farming ● cruelty to domestic pets
● using animals for laboratory experiments ● hunting animals for food
● poaching threatened species ● putting animals to work
● using animals as fashion accessories ● cloning animals

19