Popular US Circus to Phase Out Elephant Acts 

Vocabulary 

Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
phase out
[feɪz aʊt] (idiom)
– to stop using something gradually in stages over a period of time
ex.The group is phasing him out of the project because he is not helpful.

prominent
[ˈprɑːmɪnənt] (adjective)
– important or well known
ex.The prominent politician will be jailed for fraud.

tout
[taʊt] (verb)
– to try to persuade people that somebody/something is important or valuable by praising them/it
ex.He is being touted as “the next Maradona”.

rebuff
[rɪˈbʌf] (verb)
– to refuse a friendly offer, request or suggestion in an unkind way
ex.She has rebuffed my offer to help.

patchwork
[ˈpætʃwɜːrk] (noun)
– a thing that is made up of many different pieces or parts
ex.The USA is a patchwork of many different cultures.

preserve
[prɪˈzɜːrv] (noun)
– an area where plants, animals, minerals, etc., are protected
ex.This lion preserve is the biggest in Africa.

Article 

Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.

Popular US Circus to Phase Out Elephant Acts

The most prominent touring circus in the U.S. said Thursday that by 2018 it will end its century-old display of Asian elephants, bowing to growing public concern about how the giant animals are treated.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus uses 13 elephants in its three shows that travel to 115 cities a year. For decades, the elephants have been featured in parades as the Ringling circus arrives in cities. They also play prominent roles in the shows.

Even now, Ringling’s parent company, Feld Entertainment, has an elephant highlighted on its web site, where a sign on an elephant’s head touts its circus as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

For years, the Ringling circus has rebuffed animal-rights critics, alleging that it mistreats the animals.

But Feld vice president Stephen Payne told VOA that “we started to feel the mood shift” among customers worried about the circus transporting the pachyderms from city to city.

The company also noted that some U.S. jurisdictions have passed what it calls “anti-circus” or “anti-elephant” laws that make it difficult to plan tours, creating what Payne called a “regulatory patchwork that’s constantly changing.”

Payne said, “We’re not in the business of fighting city hall.”

Ringling said that as use of the touring elephants is phased out, the animals will join 29 others the company owns at its elephant preserve in the southern state of Florida, a facility it uses for research on the elephants, the births of 26 elephants in recent years and the eventual retirement of older elephants.

Payne said Feld needs to expand the Florida facility before it can accommodate the elephants now appearing in its shows.

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Questions 

Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.

1Why is the circus ending its elephant shows?

It is “bowing to growing public concern about how the giant animals are treated.”

2How many elephants does this circus use in its shows?

13

3What did animal-right critics accuse the circus of?

They accused the circus of “mistreating the elephants”.

4Why is it more difficult now to plan tours?

Because “U.S. jurisdictions have passed what it calls “anti-circus” or “anti-elephant” laws”.

5Where will the elephants be sent after they will no longer take part in shows?

“The animals will join 29 others the company owns at its elephant preserve in the southern state of Florida.”

Discussion 

Direction: Discuss the topics.

1Do you think that circuses exploit animals?

Follow-up question1: What do you think of the circus industry?
Follow-up question2: Have you ever been at the circus? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: Have you ever seen a clown?

2Do you think that circuses are responsible for animal cruelty? Why or why not?

Follow-up question1: What do you think of anti-animal cruelty laws in your country?
Follow-up question2: Are there enough animals shelters in your country?
Follow-up question3: What is your favorite animal? Why?

3Do you have any pets? Why or why not?

Follow-up question1: Are you more of a dog person or a cat person?
Follow-up question2: What do you think of “cat-cafes”?
Follow-up question3: Why do you think dogs and cats are the most common pets in the world?

Quoted from

http://www.voanews.com/content/popular-us-circus-to-phase-out-elephant-acts/2668814.html