You work at the front desk of a * **** hotel in Siem Reap. A guest approaches you and wants to have information on the APOPO Visitor Center and how rats help find landmines.
The APOPO Visitor Center is in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is a special place where visitors can learn how rats help find landmines. Many years of war left landmines in the ground. These landmines are very dangerous. People can get hurt or even die if they step on them.
APOPO trains African giant pouched rats to find these landmines. The rats are very smart and light, so they do not set off the landmines. They use their noses to smell the explosives in the ground. When they smell something, they stop and scratch the ground. Then the human team marks the place and removes the landmine safely.
At the visitor center, you can watch a live demonstration. You see how the rats work and learn how they are trained. There are also stories from people who are now safe because the rats cleared the land.
This work is very important. It makes land safe again for people to walk, farm, and live. APOPO’s rats help save lives. Visiting the center is both interesting and educational. It shows how animals and people can work together to make the world better.
_________________________-
Vocabulary::
- a landmine – a bomb that is hidden in the ground. it explodes when someone steps on it.
- to approach somebody – to go near a person.
- dangerous – something that can hurt you.
- to get hurt – to feel pain in your body because of an accident.
- to step on something – to put your foot on something.
- to train somebody – to teach someone how to do something.
- giant – very big.
- a pouched rat – a big rat with pouches (small bags) in its cheeks.
- to be smart – to be clever or to learn things quickly.
- to be light – not heavy. easy to carry.
- to set off a mine – to make a landmine explode.
- to smell – to use your nose to sense something.
- an explosive – a thing that can blow up or explode.
- to scratch – to rub something with your nails or fingers.
- to remove something safely – to take something away in a way that is not dangerous.
- to watch – to look at something carefully.
- to be safe – to be not in danger.
- to clear the land from mines – to take away landmines from the ground.
- educational – you can learn something from it.
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Multiple-choice test – only one answer correct:
1. What is a landmine?
A. a bomb in the ground that can explode
B. a kind of animal that lives underground
C. a machine that digs holes
2. What does „to approach somebody“ mean?
A. to call someone loudly
B. to go near a person
C. to go away from someone
3. What does „dangerous“ mean?
A. something that can hurt you
B. something that is very nice
C. something that is soft and quiet
4. What does „to get hurt“ mean?
A. to run very fast
B. to feel pain from an accident
C. to be very hungry
5. What does „to step on something“ mean?
A. to hold something in your hand
B. to jump over something
C. to put your foot on something
6. What does „to train somebody“ mean?
A. to teach someone how to do something
B. to talk to someone
C. to play with someone
7. What does „giant“ mean?
A. very quiet
B. very big
C. very fast
8. What is a pouched rat?
A. a machine that finds landmines
B. a bird with a big beak
C. a big rat with small bags in its cheeks
9. What does „to be smart“ mean?
A. to be very old
B. to learn things quickly
C. to sleep a lot
10. What does „to be light“ mean?
A. not short
B. not heavy
C. not cold
11. What does „to set off a mine“ mean?
A. to move something with a machine
B. to make a landmine explode
C. to clean the land
12. What does „to smell“ mean?
A. to touch something with your hand
B. to use your nose to sense something
C. to see something with your eyes
13. What is an explosive?
A. a thing that can blow up
B. a toy for children
C. a kind of soft ball
14. What does „to scratch“ mean?
A. to hit something
B. to rub something with nails or fingers
C. to wash something
15. What does „to remove something safely“ mean?
A. to cover something
B. to break something
C. to take something away in a safe way
16. What does „to watch“ mean?
A. to look at something carefully
B. to jump up and down
C. to read a book
17. What does „to be safe“ mean?
A. to be tired
B. to be not in danger
C. to be in danger
18. What does „to clear the land from mines“ mean?
A. to water the ground
B. to make a map
C. to take landmines out of the ground
19. What does „educational“ mean?
A. something that helps you learn
B. something you can cook
C. something you can wear
_____________________
Answers:
- A, 2. B, 3. A, 4. B, 5. C, 6. A, 7. B, 8. C, 9. B,
10. B, 11. B, 12. C, 13. A, 14. B,
15. C, 16. A, 17. B, 18. C, 19. A
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Gap-fill exercise :
- A ______ is a bomb hidden under the ground.
a) landmine
b) book
c) tree - When you ______ someone, you go near them.
a) run away from
b) approach
c) sleep - Something ______ can hurt you.
a) nice
b) dangerous
c) soft - If you ______, you feel pain from an accident.
a) jump
b) get hurt
c) laugh - To ______ on something means to put your foot on it.
a) hold
b) fly
c) step - People ______ animals to teach them.
a) watch
b) train
c) play - A giant is very ______.
a) big
b) small
c) fast - A pouched rat has small bags in its ______.
a) nose
b) cheeks
c) ears - To be smart means to learn ______.
a) quietly
b) slowly
c) quickly - If something is light, it is not ______.
a) heavy
b) loud
c) short - To set off a mine means to make it ______.
a) disappear
b) explode
c) grow - We use our nose to ______ things.
a) hear
b) see
c) smell - An explosive can ______.
a) run
b) blow up
c) sleep - To scratch means to rub with your ______.
a) eyes
b) feet
c) nails - To remove something safely means to take it away without ______.
a) danger
b) food
c) noise
_________________
a, 2. b, 3. b, 4. b, 5. c, 6. b, 7. a, 8. b,
9. c, 10. a, 11. b, 12. c, 13. b, 14. c, 15. a
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True or false?
- A landmine is a bomb hidden under the ground.
- To approach somebody means to run away from them.
- Dangerous things can hurt you.
- Getting hurt means feeling pain from an accident.
- To step on something means to hold it in your hand.
- People train animals to teach them skills.
- A giant means something very small.
- A pouched rat has small bags in its cheeks.
- To be smart means to learn slowly.
- If something is light, it is not heavy.
- To set off a mine means to make it explode.
- We use our nose to see things.
- An explosive is something that can blow up.
- To scratch means to rub with your nails.
- To remove something safely means to take it away with danger.
_________________________
True: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14
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Fill in, words below:
- A landmine is a bomb that is hidden under the ground and is very __________.
- Rats help people find landmines because they can __________ the bombs under the soil.
- Landmines can hurt people if they __________ on them by mistake.
- If someone __________ on a landmine, they can get hurt very badly.
- People train rats to find landmines by teaching them to smell __________.
- Rats are light and smart, so they do not make the mines __________ when they walk.
- A pouched rat has small bags on its body to carry __________ or things.
- Rats use their nose to smell explosives hidden deep in the __________.
- When rats __________ the ground, they find landmines safely without setting them off.
- People __________the rats while they work to make sure they are safe.
- It is safe for people when rats find and __________ the landmines from the land.
- After rats find the mines, the land becomes __________ to live and work on.
- Rats help clear the land from mines so that children can __________ there.
- The APOPO Visitor Center is a place where people __________how rats find landmines.
- The trained rats help save many lives by __________ landmines quickly and safely.
______________________
food – dangerous – safe – scratch – finding – steps – play – smell – watch – explode – learn – ground – step – remove – explosives
______________________
Answer:
1 dangerous
2 smell
3 step
4 steps
5 explosives
6 explode
7 food
8 ground
9 scratch
10 watch
11 remove
12 safe
13 play
14 learn
15 finding
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Match each word with its correct definition:
Words:
- to scratch
- educational
- dangerous
- a landmine
- to be light
- to approach somebody
- to get hurt
- to set off a mine
- to smell
- giant
- to step on something
- to train somebody
- to be smart
- a pouched rat
- an explosive
- to watch
- to clear the land from mines
- to remove something safely
- to be safe
Definitions:
a) To put your foot on something.
b) Something very big.
c) To teach someone or an animal new skills.
d) Something that can explode and cause damage.
e) To rub or scratch a surface with your nails or claws.
f) Not heavy; easy to carry or move.
g) A dangerous bomb hidden under the ground.
h) To make a bomb explode.
i) To use your nose to notice a smell.
j) A type of rat that has small bags on its body.
k) To watch carefully.
l) To take something away without danger.
m) When something can cause harm or injury.
n) To be close to someone or something.
o) To be clever or able to learn well.
p) To become hurt or injured.
q) A place or thing that teaches people new things.
r) To remove landmines and make land safe.
s) Not in danger; protected from harm.
__________________________
e, 2. q, 3. m, 4. g, 5. f, 6. n, 7. p,
8. h, 9. i, 10. b, 11. a, 12. c, 13. o, 14. j,
15. d, 16. k, 17. r, 18. l, 19. s
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Gap-fill sentences:
train, dangerous, scratch, light, landmine, smell, smart, approach, safe, explosive, watch, clear
- A _______ is a hidden bomb under the ground that can hurt people.
- Rats are very _______ and can learn to find landmines.
- People _______ rats to find landmines safely.
- Rats use their nose to _______ the explosives underground.
- When rats _______ the ground, they find landmines without making them explode.
- Landmines are very _______ and can cause serious injury.
- It is important to _______ the rats while they work to keep them safe.
- Rats are very _______ so they do not set off the mines when they walk.
- To _______ somebody means to come closer carefully.
- After rats work, they help to _______ the land from mines.
- The mines contain an _______ that explodes if stepped on.
- People feel _______ when the land is free from landmines.
______________________-
1 landmine, 2 smart, 3 train, 4 smell, 5 scratch, 6 dangerous, 7 watch, 8 light, 9 approach, 10 clear, 11 explosive, 12 safe
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Interview with a rat trainer, complete – no words given 😉
Interviewer: What do you do as a rat trainer?
Trainer: I train rats to find __________ safely.
Interviewer: How do you train the rats?
Trainer: I teach the rats to smell __________ and find landmines.
Interviewer: Why do you use rats for this work?
Trainer: Rats are __________ and light, so they do not set off the mines.
Interviewer: How do the rats find the landmines?
Trainer: They use their nose to __________ the explosive chemicals under the ground.
Interviewer: What happens when a rat finds a mine?
Trainer: The rat __________ the ground to show the location.
Interviewer: Is it dangerous for the rats?
Trainer: No, the rats are very __________and safe while working.
Interviewer: How long does it take to train a rat?
Trainer: It takes __________ nine months to train a rat well.
Interviewer: What do people __________ at the visitor center?
Trainer: People learn how rats help clear landmines and save lives.
Interviewer: How do you watch the rats when they work?
Trainer: We watch them carefully to make sure they stay __________.
Interviewer: Why is this work important?
Trainer: It makes the land safe for people to __________ and work.
________________________
In correct order:
landmines, explosives, smart, smell, scratches, light, about, learn, safe, live
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A trainer tells about his everyday work:
I wake up early every day. First, I check the rats in their cages. I give them food and water. Then, I take the rats to the training area. I teach them to smell landmines. When the rats work, I watch them carefully. If a rat finds a mine, I mark the place. After training, I clean the cages and prepare for the next day. Sometimes, I talk to visitors and explain how rats help find landmines. I like my job because it helps make land safe for people.
_____________
Rewrite the story starting with
He wakes up early every day. First, he checks……….
and make all changes necessary.
_____________________
He wakes up early every day. First, he checks the rats in their cages. He gives them food and water. Then, he takes the rats to the training area. He teaches them to smell landmines. When the rats work, he watches them carefully. If a rat finds a mine, he marks the place. After training, he cleans the cages and prepares for the next day. Sometimes, he talks to visitors and explains how rats help find landmines. He likes his job because it helps make land safe for people.
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