The Greenland shark can be found in a. the Pacific and Atlantic oceans b. the Atlantic and Arctic oceans c. the Atlantic and Indian oceans
Scientists estimated the lifespan of Greenland sharks by carbon dating tissues in their a. eyes b. mouths c. flesh
The population of Greenland sharks is decreasing because of a. predators b. disease c. human activity
Discussion/essay questions
What do you think should be done to protect life in the oceans?
Transcript
The Greenland shark is a type of shark that lives in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Greenland sharks are known for their long lifespans, which scientists estimate to be between 200 and 500 years. These estimates come from carbon dating of tissues in the sharks’ eyes. This makes Greenland sharks the longest-living vertebrates in the world. They are also one of the largest types of fish in the ocean, growing up to 21 feet long. However, they are difficult to find. Greenland sharks prefer very deep, cold water, which means that they rarely interact with humans. Still, the population of Greenland sharks is decreasing because of human activity. Because they grow very slowly, Greenland sharks may take an entire century to reach reproductive maturity. This means that they can’t repopulate quickly. They are currently considered a near threatened species.
Do you know any other books that have been banned in schools or libraries? What were the reasons?
Transcript
Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s novel written by American author E. B. White. The story begins when a girl named Fern decides to raise a young pig named Wilbur. When Wilbur grows up, Fern’s family sends him away to live on a farm. Once he arrives, Wilbur learns that he will be slaughtered one day. He befriends a spider named Charlotte who agrees to help him stay alive. She begins to weave messages into her spider webs to convince the farmers that Wilbur is special. But even though Charlotte succeeds at delaying Wilbur’s death, she can’t avoid her own. Critics have praised the story for explaining the theme of death in a way that children can understand. However, some people dislike the idea of death being a central theme in a children’s novel. The book has even been banned before for this reason.
Most dogs are enough to understand some important commands from their owners. They may even know the names of a few different toys, or recognize when their owners are offering them . However, a border collie named Chaser is known as the world’s smartest dog. Throughout Chaser’s life, a psychologist named Dr. Pilley trained her every day to recognize the names of her toys. Eventually, she proved that she could understand the of over 1,000 distinct words. She could even recognize if a word was unfamiliar, and use that information to identify toys she’d never seen before. Her ability to learn and language seemed unique, but researchers involved in Chaser’s insisted that any dog could be taught the same thing. Chaser died in 2019 at 15 years old, but her life helped scientists learn more about how dogs think.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Do you have a pet? If so, how do you train your pet to follow commands?
Do you agree that all dogs are capable of learning language just like Chaser? Why or why not?
Transcript
Most dogs are intelligent enough to understand some important commands from their owners. They may even know the names of a few different toys, or recognize when their owners are offering them treats. However, a border collie named Chaser is known as the world’s smartest dog. Throughout Chaser’s life, a psychologist named Dr. Pilley trained her every day to recognize the names of her toys. Eventually, she proved that she could understand the meanings of over 1,000 distinct words. She could even recognize if a word was unfamiliar, and use that information to identify toys she’d never seen before. Her ability to learn and understand language seemed unique, but researchers involved in Chaser’s training insisted that any dog could be taught the same thing. Chaser died in 2019 at 15 years old, but her life helped scientists learn more about how dogs think.
The article says that many people have ethical concerns about the consequences of human cloning. What do you think some of those concerns might be?
Do you think human cloning should be legal? Why or why not?
Transcript
Cloning is the process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism. Researchers have been experimenting with cloning since the 1900s, when they attempted to create genetic copies of animal embryos. As technology became more advanced, it became possible to make clones of fully-grown creatures. The first successful cloning of an adult organism was in 1996, when a British research group managed to produce a cloned sheep. The sheep’s name was Dolly, and she lived for six years. Scientists have since managed to clone many other types of animals. In fact, there are now companies that offer expensive pet cloning services. The idea of human cloning has come up in scientific discussions, but many people have ethical concerns about the consequences. Because of this, human cloning is illegal in several countries.
Dolphins are sometimes kept in aquariums or zoos and taught tricks for human entertainment. This is a controversial topic because many people believe that dolphins and other animals belong in the wild. How do you feel about this?
Transcript
Dolphins are adorable, friendly, and playful creatures. They’re also some of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have very large brains compared to most animals. The dolphin is also one member of a small group of species that can recognize their reflections in a mirror. This shows that dolphins have self-awareness, which is a trait associated with intelligence. Dolphins also communicate with each other using whistles. They seem to use this type of communication to solve problems, which might mean that they have their own language. Dolphins even have individual names. Every dolphin has a “signature whistle” that it can use to introduce itself. Humans are still trying to understand dolphins, but if they really do have their own language, we may be able to communicate with them one day.
