EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• military: the armed forces of a country
• train: to teach someone how to do something
• navy: the section of the military that fights at sea
• mine: a hidden bomb that explodes when it is touched
• echolocation: a method of finding objects by using sound
• drone: a robot that can travel in the air or underwater

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

There are many stories about military dogs who have saved soldiers’ lives. However, dogs are not the only animals that have been trained for . Many naval forces around the world use sea animals to help them detect danger. The first military with sea animals began in 1960, when the U.S. navy started to train to find submarines and underwater mines. They chose dolphins because of their ability to use echolocation, which allows them to find objects in the dark. In 1965, the Soviet Union opened a research centre to train dolphin of their own. Both the U.S. and Russia still train military dolphins today. However, in 2012, the U.S. navy announced that they would eventually their dolphins with underwater drones.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20701″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. Some animal rights activists are concerned about the use of dolphins in the military. They believe it is wrong to keep animals in captivity and put them in danger for human wars. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Transcript

There are many stories about military dogs who have saved soldiers’ lives. However, dogs are not the only animals that have been trained for war. Many naval forces around the world use sea animals to help them detect danger. The first military experiments with sea animals began in 1960, when the U.S. navy started to train dolphins to find submarines and underwater mines. They chose dolphins because of their ability to use echolocation, which allows them to find objects in the dark. In 1965, the Soviet Union opened a research centre to train dolphin soldiers of their own. Both the U.S. and Russia still train military dolphins today. However, in 2012, the U.S. navy announced that they would eventually replace their dolphins with underwater drones. 

Pre-listening vocabulary

• creature: a living animal, insect, or person
• species: a type of animal or group of similar animals
• self-awareness: knowing and understanding one’s own identity
• associated: linked, connected
• communicate: to share information by talking or through body language

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16 — 1.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | More

Gapfill exercise

Dolphins are adorable, , and playful creatures. They’re also some of the most intelligent animals in the world. They have very large compared to most animals. The dolphin is also one member of a small group of species that can recognize their reflections in a . 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 , 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 dolphins, but if they really do have their own language, we may be able to communicate with them one day.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19271″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. 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.