A lion that escaped from a circus in Italy was found roaming the streets of a town called Ladispoli, located west of Rome. Videos posted on social media captured the surprise and shock of locals as they witnessed the big cat walking through their residential area. The lion, named Kimba, was eventually captured after more than five hours of searching. The circus owner, Rony Vassallo, assured that the lion was in good health and mentioned that an investigation was underway to determine how the escape occurred.
The incident of the escaped circus lion in Ladispoli, Italy, has gained attention due to the unusual sight of a wild animal freely wandering through a populated area. The videos shared on social media highlight the surprise and concern of the residents who encountered the lion. The capture of the lion was a relief for both the locals and the circus owner, who expressed gratitude for the safe return of the animal.
The circus lion’s escape raises questions about the safety measures in place to prevent such incidents. The investigation into the escape will likely focus on identifying any lapses in security or negligence that allowed the lion to break free. It is crucial to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public in circus environments to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as there have been previous cases of animals escaping from zoos and circuses. These incidents highlight the importance of proper containment and security measures to prevent potential dangers to both the animals and the surrounding communities. It is essential for circus owners and zookeepers to prioritize the safety and well-being of the animals under their care.
The capture of the escaped lion serves as a reminder of the need for stricter regulations and protocols in the circus and zoo industries. It is crucial to ensure that animals are kept in secure enclosures and that regular inspections are conducted to identify and address any potential risks. By implementing these measures, the safety of both the animals and the public can be better protected, minimizing the chances of similar incidents occurring in the future.
Original news source: Escaped circus lion roams around Italian town before capture (BBC)
Listen
Slow
Normal
Fast
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Students pair up and take on the roles of a news reporter and a witness. The reporter interviews the witness about the sighting of the lion in Ladispoli. Encourage the use of reported speech, descriptive language, and past tenses. After the interview, they can switch roles.
– Article Timeline
Instructions: Provide the students with a series of events from the article out of order. The students must work together to arrange the events in the correct sequence. This can be done on the board or with pieces of paper on a table. Afterwards, discuss the timeline and have students use sequence words to describe the events.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Write a statement related to the article on the board (e.g., “Circuses should be banned from keeping wild animals”). Students line up according to how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement. Then, students on opposite ends of the spectrum explain their positions, fostering a class discussion on the ethics of wild animals in circuses.
– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Select key vocabulary from the article (escape, capture, investigation, safety, regulations, etc.). Challenge students to come up with as many synonyms as they can for each word. This can be done individually, in pairs, or as a team competition. Discuss the nuances between the synonyms and the original words.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students discuss and write down their predictions about the future implications of the incident described in the article. They should consider the investigation outcomes, changes in regulations, and the impact on the circus industry. Students then share their predictions with the class, using future tense structures.
Comprehension Questions:
1. From which country did the lion named Kimba escape from a circus?
2. In which Italian town was Kimba found roaming the streets?
3. How long did it take to capture the escaped lion after it was spotted?
4. What was the reaction of the locals in Ladispoli when they saw the lion?
5. What did the circus owner, Rony Vassallo, say about Kimba’s health?
6. What is the main focus of the investigation regarding Kimba’s escape?
7. Why is it important for circus owners and zookeepers to have proper containment and security measures?
8. What does the capture of Kimba the lion highlight about the regulations and protocols in the circus and zoo industries?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A lion that (1)______ from a (2)______ in Italy was found roaming the streets of a town called Ladispoli, located west of Rome. Videos posted on social media captured the surprise and shock of locals as they witnessed the big cat walking through their residential area. The lion, (3)______ Kimba, was eventually captured after more than five hours of searching. The circus owner, Rony Vassallo, assured that the lion was in good health and (4)______ that an investigation was underway to determine how the escape occurred.
The incident of the escaped circus lion in Ladispoli, Italy, has gained attention due to the unusual sight of a wild animal freely wandering through a populated area. The videos shared on social (5)______ highlight the surprise and concern of the (6)______ who (7)______ the lion. The capture of the lion was a relief for both the locals and the circus owner, who expressed gratitude for the safe return of the animal.
The circus lion’s escape raises questions about the safety measures in place to prevent such incidents. The (8)______ into the escape will likely focus on identifying any (9)______ in security or negligence that allowed the lion to (10)______ free. It is crucial to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public in circus environments to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the (11)______.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as there have been previous (12)______ of animals escaping from zoos and circuses. These incidents highlight the importance of proper containment and security measures to prevent potential dangers to both the animals and the surrounding communities. It is essential for circus owners and zookeepers to prioritize the (13)______ and well-being of the (14)______ under their care.
The capture of the escaped lion serves as a reminder of the need for stricter regulations and (15)______ in the circus and zoo industries. It is crucial to (16)______ that animals are kept in secure enclosures and that regular inspections are conducted to identify and address any potential risks. By implementing these measures, the safety of both the animals and the public can be better protected, minimizing the chances of similar incidents occurring in the future.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your stance on wild animals being kept in circuses?
2. How would you feel if you saw a lion walking through your neighborhood?
3. Do you think circuses can provide adequate living conditions for wild animals like lions? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever witnessed an animal escape from a zoo or circus? What was the outcome?
5. What safety measures do you think should be in place to prevent animals from escaping captivity?
6. Do you believe that the escape of animals like Kimba the lion indicates a larger problem in the circus industry?
7. How do you think the residents of Ladispoli should respond to the incident of the escaped lion?
8. What is your opinion on the use of social media to spread awareness about incidents like this?
9. Do you think stricter regulations would significantly reduce the number of animal escape incidents? Why or why not?
10. How do you feel about the potential dangers to the public when an animal escapes from a circus or zoo?
11. What are some ethical considerations regarding keeping wild animals for entertainment purposes?
12. Do you like the idea of circuses transitioning to using only human performers instead of animals?
13. In your opinion, how important is it for the public to be educated on how to react when encountering an escaped wild animal?
14. Do you think incidents like this could lead to changes in laws about wild animals in circuses?
15. How would you suggest circus owners and zookeepers improve the safety and well-being of animals in their care?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. lion
2. escaped
3. circus
4. Italy
5. captured
6. investigation
7. safety
8. incidents
Meanings:
(a) A country in southern Europe
(b) A process of examining and gathering information
(c) Caught and brought under control
(d) Measures taken to prevent harm or danger
(e) A large wild cat
(f) A traveling show with performers and animals
(g) Got away from confinement
(h) Occurrences or events that happen unexpectedly
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Where did the lion escape from?
(a) A zoo in Ladispoli
(b) A circus in Italy
(c) A circus in Rome
(d) A zoo in Rome
2. Where was the lion found?
(a) Ladispoli
(b) Rome
(c) Berlin
(d) London
3. How long did it take to capture the lion?
(a) Less than five hours
(b) One hour
(c) More than five hours
(d) Two hours
4. Who is conducting an investigation into the escape?
(a) The circus owner
(b) The police
(c) The government
(d) The residents
5. What does the incident raise questions about?
(a) Safety measures in zoos
(b) Safety measures in both circuses and zoos
(c) Safety measures in circuses
(d) Safety measures in residential areas
6. What is the importance of proper containment and security measures?
(a) To prevent potential dangers to animals only
(b) To prevent potential dangers to communities only
(c) To prevent potential dangers to neither animals nor communities
(d) To prevent potential dangers to animals and communities
7. What does the capture of the lion remind us of?
(a) The need for stricter regulations and protocols in the circus industry only
(b) The need for stricter regulations and protocols in the zoo industry only
(c) The need for stricter regulations and protocols in neither the circus nor zoo industries
(d) The need for stricter regulations and protocols in the circus and zoo industries
8. What can be better protected by implementing stricter regulations and protocols?
(a) The safety of animals only
(b) The safety of both animals and the public
(c) The safety of the public only
(d) The safety of neither animals nor the public
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. This incident highlights the importance of proper containment and security measures in circus and zoo environments.
2. The capture of the lion was a disappointment for both the locals and the circus owner.
3. The circus owner, Rony Vassallo, assured that the lion was in good health.
4. An investigation is underway to determine how the lion escaped.
5. A lion escaped from a circus in Italy and was found in a town called Ladispoli.
6. Videos posted on social media captured the indifference and boredom of locals as they witnessed the lion walking through their residential area.
7. The lion, named Kimba, was eventually released after more than five hours of searching.
8. The incident went unnoticed due to the ordinary sight of a domesticated animal confined to a populated area.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What was the name of the lion that escaped from a circus in Italy, and where was it found?
2. How long did it take to capture the escaped lion in Ladispoli, Italy?
3. What action did the circus owner, Rony Vassallo, take following the lion’s escape, and what is being investigated?
4. Why is the incident of the escaped lion in Ladispoli significant, and what does it highlight about circus environments?
5. What broader issues do incidents like the escaped lion in Ladispoli bring to light regarding animal containment and public safety?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. From which country did the lion named Kimba escape from a circus?
Italy.
2. In which Italian town was Kimba found roaming the streets?
Ladispoli.
3. How long did it take to capture the escaped lion after it was spotted?
More than five hours.
4. What was the reaction of the locals in Ladispoli when they saw the lion?
The locals were surprised and shocked to see the lion walking through their residential area.
5. What did the circus owner, Rony Vassallo, say about Kimba’s health?
Rony Vassallo assured that the lion was in good health.
6. What is the main focus of the investigation regarding Kimba’s escape?
The investigation will likely focus on identifying any lapses in security or negligence that allowed the lion to break free.
7. Why is it important for circus owners and zookeepers to have proper containment and security measures?
It is important to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public in circus environments to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
8. What does the capture of Kimba the lion highlight about the regulations and protocols in the circus and zoo industries?
The capture of Kimba highlights the need for stricter regulations and protocols to ensure that animals are kept in secure enclosures and that regular inspections are conducted to minimize the chances of similar incidents occurring in the future.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) escaped
(2) circus
(3) named
(4) mentioned
(5) media
(6) residents
(7) encountered
(8) investigation
(9) lapses
(10) break
(11) future
(12) cases
(13) safety
(14) animals
(15) protocols
(16) ensure
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. lion
Answer: (e) A large wild cat
2. escaped
Answer: (g) Got away from confinement
3. circus
Answer: (f) A traveling show with performers and animals
4. Italy
Answer: (a) A country in southern Europe
5. captured
Answer: (c) Caught and brought under control
6. investigation
Answer: (b) A process of examining and gathering information
7. safety
Answer: (d) Measures taken to prevent harm or danger
8. incidents
Answer: (h) Occurrences or events that happen unexpectedly
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Where did the lion escape from?
Answer: (b) A circus in Italy
2. Where was the lion found?
Answer: (a) Ladispoli
3. How long did it take to capture the lion?
Answer: (c) More than five hours
4. Who is conducting an investigation into the escape?
Answer: (a) The circus owner
5. What does the incident raise questions about?
Answer: (c) Safety measures in circuses
6. What is the importance of proper containment and security measures?
Answer: (d) To prevent potential dangers to animals and communities
7. What does the capture of the lion remind us of?
Answer: (d) The need for stricter regulations and protocols in the circus and zoo industries
8. What can be better protected by implementing stricter regulations and protocols?
Answer: (b) The safety of both animals and the public
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. This incident highlights the importance of proper containment and security measures in circus and zoo environments. (Answer: True)
2. The capture of the lion was a disappointment for both the locals and the circus owner. (Answer: False)
3. The circus owner, Rony Vassallo, assured that the lion was in good health. (Answer: True)
4. An investigation is underway to determine how the lion escaped. (Answer: True)
5. A lion escaped from a circus in Italy and was found in a town called Ladispoli. (Answer: True)
6. Videos posted on social media captured the indifference and boredom of locals as they witnessed the lion walking through their residential area. (Answer: False)
7. The lion, named Kimba, was eventually released after more than five hours of searching. (Answer: False)
8. The incident went unnoticed due to the ordinary sight of a domesticated animal confined to a populated area. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
