The UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, are going back to China without having any babies, even though they tried to make it happen with artificial insemination. The pandas, also known as Sweetie and Sunshine, came to Edinburgh in 2011 and were treated like famous people. It took five years to work out the deal for the pandas to come to the zoo, and Edinburgh Zoo had to pay China one million dollars every year. They also agreed that any baby pandas born in Edinburgh would go back to China when they turned two.

Some people were worried about the high fee for the pandas, and wondered if they were brought to Scotland to help the pandas or just to make money. An animal activist named Yvonne Taylor compared the pandas to rock stars because they attracted big crowds wherever they went. But it’s important to know that no pandas born in captivity have ever been successfully released back into the wild. The person in charge of the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo, Iain Valentine, said that working with the pandas in the zoo made people care more about protecting nature.

When the pandas arrived, they became really famous, and the zoo had to make a lot of changes to take care of them. Even though they had their own separate spaces, people hoped that Tian Tian and Yang Guang would have babies. But female giant pandas can only get pregnant for a short time each year, just 36 hours. In early April 2012, they tried to get the pandas to mate, but Tian Tian’s tail got in the way. They tried artificial insemination many times, but Tian Tian didn’t stay pregnant.

Some people who care about animals say that the zoo cared more about making money than taking care of the pandas. The zoo made extra money in the years after the pandas came, but fewer people have been coming to the zoo lately, and the Covid pandemic made things even worse. Because of the pandemic, the pandas’ stay in the UK was extended by two years, but it was announced that they would be going back to China in December. Now more people are coming to the zoo because they know they won’t have a chance to see the pandas for much longer. In the end, the pandas’ story was more like having noisy neighbors than a love story.

Original news source: Rock star’ pandas – not exactly a love story (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the main points in a news summary format.
4. Encourage them to include important details and key events.
5. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their news summaries with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. Choose a student from the first team to come to the front of the class.
4. Show the student a vocabulary word and have them draw a picture to represent that word.
5. The student’s team members have to guess the word based on the drawing within a certain time limit.
6. If the team guesses correctly, they earn a point. If not, the other team has a chance to steal the point.
7. Repeat the process with students from the second team, taking turns until all the vocabulary words have been used.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group the task of discussing the pros and cons of having giant pandas in a zoo.
3. Instruct them to consider factors such as conservation efforts, public interest, financial costs, and ethical considerations.
4. Give the groups time to brainstorm and discuss their ideas.
5. Have each group present their arguments to the class, taking turns to share their points.
6. Encourage respectful discussion and debate among the students.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Choose a thought-provoking question related to the article, such as “Should zoos prioritize conservation efforts over profit?”
2. Pose the question to the class and give them a few minutes to think about their response individually.
3. Pair up the students and ask them to share their thoughts with their partner, discussing their reasons and supporting arguments.
4. After a designated amount of time, bring the class back together and invite a few pairs to share their discussions with the whole group.
5. Encourage students to actively listen and respond to each other’s ideas, fostering a respectful and engaging conversation.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Ask each group to brainstorm and discuss what they think will happen to the giant pandas in the future.
3. Instruct them to consider factors such as conservation efforts, captivity vs. wild environments, and public interest.
4. Give the groups time to share their predictions and discuss their reasoning.
5. Have each group present their predictions to the class, allowing for a brief discussion after each presentation.
6. Encourage students to support their predictions with evidence from the article and their own knowledge.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the two giant pandas mentioned in the article?
2. How long did it take for the deal to bring the pandas to Edinburgh Zoo to be worked out?
3. Why did some people worry about the pandas being brought to Scotland?
4. What did Yvonne Taylor compare the pandas to?
5. Why did some people think the zoo cared more about making money than taking care of the pandas?
6. How long is the window of time in which female giant pandas can get pregnant each year?
7. Why did fewer people visit the zoo recently?
8. Why are more people coming to the zoo now?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, are (1)______ back to China without having any babies, even though they tried to make it happen with (2)______ insemination. The pandas, also known as Sweetie and Sunshine, came to Edinburgh in 2011 and were (3)______ like famous people. It took five years to work out the deal for the pandas to come to the zoo, and Edinburgh Zoo had to pay China one million dollars every year. They also (4)______ that any baby pandas born in Edinburgh would go back to China when they turned two.

Some people were worried about the high fee for the pandas, and wondered if they were brought to Scotland to help the pandas or just to make money. An (5)______ activist named Yvonne (6)______ compared the pandas to rock stars because they attracted big crowds wherever they went. But it’s important to know that no pandas born in captivity have ever been successfully released back into the wild. The person in charge of the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo, Iain Valentine, said that working with the pandas in the zoo made (7)______ care more about (8)______ nature.

When the pandas arrived, they became really famous, and the zoo had to make a lot of (9)______ to take care of them. Even though they had their own separate spaces, people hoped that Tian Tian and Yang Guang would have (10)______. But female giant pandas can only get pregnant for a short time each year, just 36 hours. In early April 2012, they tried to get the pandas to mate, but Tian Tian’s tail got in the way. They tried artificial (11)______ many (12)______, but Tian Tian didn’t stay pregnant.

Some people who care about animals say that the zoo cared more about making money than taking care of the pandas. The zoo made extra money in the (13)______ after the pandas came, but fewer people have been coming to the zoo lately, and the Covid (14)______ made things even (15)______. Because of the pandemic, the pandas’ stay in the UK was extended by two years, but it was announced that they would be going back to China in December. Now more people are coming to the zoo because they know they won’t have a chance to see the pandas for much (16)______. In the end, the pandas’ story was more like having noisy neighbors than a love story.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is artificial insemination and why do you think the zoo tried it with the pandas?
2. How would you feel if you were in charge of taking care of the pandas at the zoo?
3. Do you think it was fair for the zoo to have to pay one million dollars every year for the pandas? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of keeping animals in captivity for the purpose of entertainment?
5. How do you think the pandas felt being in a zoo instead of in the wild?
6. Do you like going to the zoo? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the pandas being in the zoo helped people care more about protecting nature?
8. What is your opinion on the decision to send the pandas back to China?
9. How do you think the pandas’ fame affected the zoo’s decision-making?
10. Why do you think fewer people have been coming to the zoo lately?
11. Do you think the pandas’ stay being extended due to the pandemic was a good thing? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the pandas feel about going back to China after living in the UK for so long?
13. What do you think about the comparison between the pandas and rock stars?
14. How would you feel if you were one of the people who got to see the pandas before they left?
15. Do you think it’s important for zoos to focus more on conservation and protecting animals, or on making money? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pandas
2. babies
3. artificial insemination
4. famous
5. captivity
6. pregnant
7. pandemic
8. neighbors

Meanings:
(a) Large black and white bears from China
(b) Being kept in a confined space or enclosure
(c) A widespread outbreak of a disease
(d) Well-known and recognized by many people
(e) Young offspring of animals
(f) People who live next to you in a residential area
(g) Expecting and carrying a baby in the womb
(h) The process of helping animals reproduce artificially
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are the names of the UK’s only giant pandas?
(a) Tian Tian and Yang Guang
(b) Sweetie and Sunshine
(c) Edinburgh and Scotland
(d) Rock Star and Nature

2. How long did it take to arrange for the pandas to come to Edinburgh Zoo?
(a) Five years
(b) One year
(c) Ten years
(d) Three years

3. How much money did Edinburgh Zoo have to pay China every year for the pandas?
(a) One hundred thousand dollars
(b) Two million dollars
(c) Five hundred thousand dollars
(d) One million dollars

4. What would happen to any baby pandas born in Edinburgh?
(a) They would stay in Edinburgh Zoo
(b) They would go back to China when they turned two
(c) They would be released into the wild
(d) They would be given to other zoos in the UK

5. Why did some people worry about the high fee for the pandas?
(a) They thought the pandas were not being taken care of properly
(b) They thought the pandas were not popular with visitors
(c) They thought the pandas were brought to Scotland to make money
(d) They thought the pandas were causing problems for other animals in the zoo

6. How long can female giant pandas get pregnant for each year?
(a) 24 hours
(b) 48 hours
(c) 72 hours
(d) 36 hours

7. What did the zoo have to do to take care of the pandas when they arrived?
(a) Move other animals to different zoos
(b) Make a lot of changes
(c) Close the zoo to the public
(d) Build a new enclosure

8. Why have more people been coming to the zoo lately?
(a) They want to see the noisy neighbors
(b) They want to support the zoo during the pandemic
(c) They know the pandas will be leaving soon
(d) They are interested in protecting nature

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The pandas’ stay in the UK was cut short by two years due to the Covid pandemic, but they will be returning to China in December.
2. Any baby pandas born in Edinburgh would be sent back to China when they turned two.
3. Edinburgh Zoo had to pay China one thousand dollars every year for the pandas’ stay.
4. The UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, are returning to China without having any babies.
5. Some people were unconcerned about the high fee for the pandas and questioned if they were brought to Scotland for profit.
6. No pandas born in captivity have ever been successfully released into the wild.
7. The person in charge of the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo believes that working with them has increased people’s concern for nature conservation.
8. The pandas arrived in Edinburgh in 2011 and were treated like ordinary animals.
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. Why are the UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, going back to China?
2. How long did it take for the pandas to come to Edinburgh Zoo?
3. What did Edinburgh Zoo have to pay China every year for the pandas?
4. What did some people worry about regarding the pandas being brought to Scotland?
5. Why did the zoo have to make a lot of changes when the pandas arrived?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the two giant pandas mentioned in the article?
The two giant pandas mentioned in the article are Tian Tian and Yang Guang.

2. How long did it take for the deal to bring the pandas to Edinburgh Zoo to be worked out?
It took five years for the deal to bring the pandas to Edinburgh Zoo to be worked out.

3. Why did some people worry about the pandas being brought to Scotland?
Some people worried about the pandas being brought to Scotland because of the high fee that the zoo had to pay China and they wondered if the pandas were brought to make money rather than to help them.

4. What did Yvonne Taylor compare the pandas to?
Yvonne Taylor compared the pandas to rock stars because they attracted big crowds wherever they went.

5. Why did some people think the zoo cared more about making money than taking care of the pandas?
Some people thought the zoo cared more about making money than taking care of the pandas because they saw an increase in profits after the pandas arrived and believed that the zoo prioritized financial gain over the well-being of the pandas.

6. How long is the window of time in which female giant pandas can get pregnant each year?
The window of time in which female giant pandas can get pregnant each year is just 36 hours.

7. Why did fewer people visit the zoo recently?
Fewer people visited the zoo recently because of the Covid pandemic, which led to restrictions and decreased tourism.

8. Why are more people coming to the zoo now?
More people are coming to the zoo now because they know that the pandas will be returning to China soon, and this is their last chance to see them.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) going
(2) artificial
(3) treated
(4) agreed
(5) animal
(6) Taylor
(7) people
(8) protecting
(9) changes
(10) babies
(11) insemination
(12) times
(13) years
(14) pandemic
(15) worse
(16) longer
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pandas
Answer: (a) Large black and white bears from China

2. babies
Answer: (e) Young offspring of animals

3. artificial insemination
Answer: (h) The process of helping animals reproduce artificially

4. famous
Answer: (d) Well-known and recognized by many people

5. captivity
Answer: (b) Being kept in a confined space or enclosure

6. pregnant
Answer: (g) Expecting and carrying a baby in the womb

7. pandemic
Answer: (c) A widespread outbreak of a disease

8. neighbors
Answer: (f) People who live next to you in a residential area
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are the names of the UK’s only giant pandas?
Answer: (a) Tian Tian and Yang Guang

2. How long did it take to arrange for the pandas to come to Edinburgh Zoo?
Answer: (a) Five years

3. How much money did Edinburgh Zoo have to pay China every year for the pandas?
Answer: (d) One million dollars

4. What would happen to any baby pandas born in Edinburgh?
Answer: (b) They would go back to China when they turned two

5. Why did some people worry about the high fee for the pandas?
Answer: (c) They thought the pandas were brought to Scotland to make money

6. How long can female giant pandas get pregnant for each year?
Answer: (d) 36 hours

7. What did the zoo have to do to take care of the pandas when they arrived?
Answer: (b) Make a lot of changes

8. Why have more people been coming to the zoo lately?
Answer: (c) They know the pandas will be leaving soon
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The pandas’ stay in the UK was cut short by two years due to the Covid pandemic, but they will be returning to China in December. (Answer: False)
2. Any baby pandas born in Edinburgh would be sent back to China when they turned two. (Answer: True)
3. Edinburgh Zoo had to pay China one thousand dollars every year for the pandas’ stay. (Answer: False)
4. The UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, are returning to China without having any babies. (Answer: True)
5. Some people were unconcerned about the high fee for the pandas and questioned if they were brought to Scotland for profit. (Answer: False)
6. No pandas born in captivity have ever been successfully released into the wild. (Answer: True)
7. The person in charge of the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo believes that working with them has increased people’s concern for nature conservation. (Answer: True)
8. The pandas arrived in Edinburgh in 2011 and were treated like ordinary animals. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧