Firefighters in Smolensk, Russia, recently saved a hurt owl from a group of crows. The owl was found outside a fire station, being pecked by the crows. The firefighters quickly helped it by keeping it warm and giving it food. They then took it to a vet for an x-ray and more care. The plan is to eventually send the owl to a place where it can get better and be released back into the wild.

Natalia Arbuzova, a spokesperson for Smolensk’s emergency services, explained that the firefighters saw the owl not moving and with a hurt wing, while crows were attacking it. They scared the crows away, put the owl on a shovel, and brought it inside the fire station. They kept it in a dark box to protect it from light, as it was sensitive to it. The firefighters also gave the owl some food.

The bird is expected to recover well, but it will stay at the vet’s office until it’s ready to go to the rehabilitation center. This heartwarming story shows how dedicated and caring the firefighters in Smolensk are. They go beyond their duties to help animals in need.

This isn’t the first time an owl has been saved in Russia. In another similar incident, a fishing crew saved an owl from a seagull attack. Another owl was saved by a man after getting stuck in a rat trap. These stories show how important it is for people to step in and help injured wildlife.

In summary, firefighters in Smolensk, Russia, saved a hurt owl from crows and gave it warmth and food. The owl was then taken to a vet for more care and will eventually be sent to a place where it can get better. This act of kindness shows how committed the firefighters are to rescuing animals. Similar things have happened in Russia, showing how important it is for people to help injured wildlife.

Original news source: Firefighters rescue injured owl from crows (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually and then work in pairs or small groups to summarize the main points of the article. They should focus on the key details and the overall message of the story. Afterward, each group can share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs and have them discuss and share their opinions on the actions of the firefighters in the article. Do they think it was important for the firefighters to help the owl? Why or why not? Afterward, conduct a class poll to see the overall opinion of the students. Discuss the results as a class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a piece of paper and a pen. One student from each group will come to the board and draw a picture representing one of the vocabulary words. The other students in the group must guess the word. Each group can take turns until all the words have been guessed.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work individually or in pairs to write a short paragraph predicting what will happen to the owl in the future. They can use the information from the article and their own imagination to create their predictions. Afterward, students can share their predictions with the class and discuss the different possibilities.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a piece of paper. In their groups, students must come up with a catchy headline for the article. The headline should capture the main idea and be attention-grabbing. Afterward, each group can share their headline with the class and explain why they chose it. The class can vote on the best headline.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the firefighters find the hurt owl?
2. What were the crows doing to the owl?
3. How did the firefighters help the owl?
4. Why did they keep the owl in a dark box?
5. What did the firefighters give the owl?
6. Where will the owl go after it recovers at the vet’s office?
7. Can you give an example of another time an owl was saved in Russia?
8. Why do the stories of saving owls show the importance of helping injured wildlife?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Firefighters in Smolensk, (1)______, recently saved a hurt owl from a group of crows. The owl was found outside a fire station, being pecked by the crows. The firefighters quickly helped it by (2)______ it warm and (3)______ it food. They then took it to a vet for an x-ray and more care. The plan is to eventually send the owl to a place where it can get better and be (4)______ back into the wild.

Natalia Arbuzova, a spokesperson for Smolensk’s emergency (5)______, (6)______ that the firefighters saw the owl not (7)______ and with a hurt wing, while crows were attacking it. They scared the crows away, put the owl on a shovel, and brought it inside the fire station. They kept it in a dark box to (8)______ it from light, as it was sensitive to it. The firefighters also gave the owl some food.

The bird is expected to recover well, but it will stay at the vet’s office until it’s ready to go to the rehabilitation (9)______. This heartwarming story shows how dedicated and caring the firefighters in Smolensk are. They go beyond their duties to help animals in need.

This isn’t the first time an owl has been (10)______ in Russia. In another (11)______ incident, a fishing crew saved an owl from a seagull (12)______. Another owl was saved by a man after getting stuck in a rat trap. These stories show how important it is for people to step in and help (13)______ wildlife.

In summary, firefighters in Smolensk, Russia, saved a hurt owl from (14)______ and gave it warmth and food. The owl was then taken to a vet for more care and will eventually be sent to a place where it can get better. This act of kindness shows how committed the firefighters are to (15)______ animals. Similar (16)______ have happened in Russia, showing how important it is for people to help injured wildlife.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think the firefighters did when they saw the owl being attacked by crows?
2. How do you think the owl felt when it was being pecked by the crows?
3. If you saw an injured animal, would you try to help it? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were the owl and the firefighters saved you?
5. Do you think it’s important for people to help injured wildlife? Why or why not?
6. Have you ever seen an owl in real life? What did it look like?
7. What do you think the owl’s life will be like after it recovers and is released back into the wild?
8. How do you think the firefighters felt after they saved the owl?
9. Do you like birds? Why or why not?
10. What would you do if you found an injured owl? Why?
11. How do you think the owl got hurt in the first place?
12. Why do you think the firefighters kept the owl in a dark box?
13. Have you ever had to go to the vet? What was it like?
14. How do you think the owl’s life would be different if it hadn’t been saved by the firefighters?
15. What is your opinion about the firefighters in Smolensk saving the owl?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. firefighters
2. owl
3. crows
4. pecked
5. vet
6. x-ray
7. rehabilitation center
8. dedicated
9. caring
10. duties
11. wildlife
12. injured
13. rescued
14. warmth
15. committed

Meanings:
(A) A type of picture that shows the inside of something
(B) People who put out fires and help in emergencies
(C) A doctor for animals
(D) Attacked by repeatedly biting or striking with the beak
(E) The things that someone is responsible for doing
(F) Black birds that make loud cawing sounds
(G) Showing kindness and concern for others
(H) Hurt or wounded
(I) Animals that live in nature, not in cities or towns
(J) Saved or delivered from danger or harm
(K) The quality or state of being comfortably warm
(L) A type of bird that is known for being wise
(M) Very devoted and focused on a task or goal
(N) Very dedicated and willing to work hard to achieve something
(O) A place where animals go to get better after being hurt
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the firefighters find the hurt owl?
(a) In a vet’s office
(b) In the wild
(c) Outside a fire station
(d) Inside a dark box

2. What were the crows doing to the owl?
(a) Feeding it
(b) Protecting it
(c) Ignoring it
(d) Pecking it

3. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
(a) They threw rocks at them
(b) They shouted at them
(c) They put the owl on a shovel
(d) They gave them food

4. Why did the firefighters keep the owl in a dark box?
(a) Because it was afraid of the dark
(b) Because it was sensitive to light
(c) Because it needed to sleep
(d) Because it was too big for a cage

5. Where will the owl go after it recovers at the vet’s office?
(a) Back into the wild
(b) To a zoo
(c) To a rehabilitation center
(d) To another fire station

6. What does this story show about the firefighters in Smolensk?
(a) They are dedicated and caring
(b) They are afraid of birds
(c) They only help people, not animals
(d) They don’t do their duties properly

7. What did a fishing crew save an owl from?
(a) A rat trap
(b) A fire
(c) A car accident
(d) A seagull attack

8. What is the main message of this article?
(a) It is important for people to help injured wildlife
(b) Firefighters are the best at rescuing animals
(c) Owls are always getting attacked by other birds
(d) Crows are dangerous to owls

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. They took the owl to a vet for a physical examination and further care.
2. The plan is to eventually release the owl back into the wild after it recovers.
3. This act of kindness highlights the firefighters’ dedication to helping animals in need.
4. The firefighters saw the owl with a hurt wing and scared the crows away to protect it.
5. The owl was found inside a fire station and was being protected by the crows.
6. False versions:
7. Firefighters in Smolensk, Russia, recently released an injured owl to a group of crows.
8. The owl was kept in a well-lit box at the fire station for observation.
9. The firefighters quickly provided warmth and food to help the owl.
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 happened to the owl before the firefighters found it?
2. How did the firefighters help the owl?
3. Why did the firefighters keep the owl in a dark box?
4. Where will the owl go after it recovers at the vet’s office?
5. Why is it important for people to help injured wildlife?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where did the firefighters find the hurt owl?
The firefighters found the hurt owl outside a fire station in Smolensk, Russia.

2. What were the crows doing to the owl?
The crows were pecking at the owl.

3. How did the firefighters help the owl?
The firefighters scared the crows away, kept the owl warm, and gave it food.

4. Why did they keep the owl in a dark box?
They kept the owl in a dark box to protect it from light, as it was sensitive to it.

5. What did the firefighters give the owl?
The firefighters gave the owl some food.

6. Where will the owl go after it recovers at the vet’s office?
The owl will go to a rehabilitation center after it recovers at the vet’s office.

7. Can you give an example of another time an owl was saved in Russia?
Yes, in another incident, a fishing crew saved an owl from a seagull attack.

8. Why do the stories of saving owls show the importance of helping injured wildlife?
The stories show the importance of helping injured wildlife because they demonstrate how people can step in and make a difference in saving animals in need.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Russia
(2) keeping
(3) giving
(4) released
(5) services
(6) explained
(7) moving
(8) protect
(9) center
(10) saved
(11) similar
(12) attack
(13) injured
(14) crows
(15) rescuing
(16) things
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. firefighters
Answer: (B) People who put out fires and help in emergencies

2. owl
Answer: (L) A type of bird that is known for being wise

3. crows
Answer: (F) Black birds that make loud cawing sounds

4. pecked
Answer: (D) Attacked by repeatedly biting or striking with the beak

5. vet
Answer: (C) A doctor for animals

6. x-ray
Answer: (A) A type of picture that shows the inside of something

7. rehabilitation center
Answer: (O) A place where animals go to get better after being hurt

8. dedicated
Answer: (M) Very devoted and focused on a task or goal

9. caring
Answer: (G) Showing kindness and concern for others

10. duties
Answer: (E) The things that someone is responsible for doing

11. wildlife
Answer: (I) Animals that live in nature, not in cities or towns

12. injured
Answer: (H) Hurt or wounded

13. rescued
Answer: (J) Saved or delivered from danger or harm

14. warmth
Answer: (K) The quality or state of being comfortably warm

15. committed
Answer: (N) Very dedicated and willing to work hard to achieve something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the firefighters find the hurt owl?
Answer: (c) Outside a fire station

2. What were the crows doing to the owl?
Answer: (d) Pecking it

3. What did the firefighters do to scare the crows away?
Answer: (b) They shouted at them

4. Why did the firefighters keep the owl in a dark box?
Answer: (b) Because it was sensitive to light

5. Where will the owl go after it recovers at the vet’s office?
Answer: (c) To a rehabilitation center

6. What does this story show about the firefighters in Smolensk?
Answer: (a) They are dedicated and caring

7. What did a fishing crew save an owl from?
Answer: (d) A seagull attack

8. What is the main message of this article?
Answer: (a) It is important for people to help injured wildlife
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. They took the owl to a vet for a physical examination and further care. (Answer: False)
2. The plan is to eventually release the owl back into the wild after it recovers. (Answer: True)
3. This act of kindness highlights the firefighters’ dedication to helping animals in need. (Answer: True)
4. The firefighters saw the owl with a hurt wing and scared the crows away to protect it. (Answer: True)
5. The owl was found inside a fire station and was being protected by the crows. (Answer: False)
6. False versions: (Answer: False)
7. Firefighters in Smolensk, Russia, recently released an injured owl to a group of crows. (Answer: False)
8. The owl was kept in a well-lit box at the fire station for observation. (Answer: False)
9. The firefighters quickly provided warmth and food to help the owl. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧