• APOPO – rats rock

Not easy,
believe me,
a challenge

Interviewer: Good morning! Thank you for talking to us. Can you tell us about yourself and your work?

Trainer: Good morning! My name is David, and I work for APOPO in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I train rats to find landmines. I also help to care for them. My work is important because landmines are dangerous for people.

Interviewer: What is APOPO?

Trainer: APOPO is an organisation that trains rats to help people. The rats can find landmines. They can also help to find diseases, such as tuberculosis. We train the rats and teach them to do these jobs.

Interviewer: Why do you use rats to find landmines?

Trainer: Rats have a very good sense of smell. They can smell things that people cannot smell easily. They are also small and light. They do not set off landmines when they walk over the ground. They can also search large areas quite quickly.

Interviewer: How do you choose the rats for training?

Trainer: We choose young rats that are healthy and active. We look at how they move and how they react to new things. We want rats that are interested in their surroundings and like to learn. We start training when they are young.

Interviewer: What do you teach them first?

Trainer: First, we teach them to know the smell of TNT. TNT is an explosive that can be inside a landmine. We let the rats smell it in a safe place. When a rat finds the right smell, we give it a small piece of food. The rat learns that this smell means a reward.

Interviewer: How do the rats learn what you want them to do?

Trainer: We repeat the same exercise many times. The rat smells a sample, and then it gets food when it finds the right smell. If it does not find the smell, it does not get the reward. We are patient because learning takes time. We never hurt the rats. We use food and praise to help them learn.

Interviewer: Do the rats enjoy their training?

Trainer: Yes, many rats enjoy it because they get food and have something to do. They learn that finding the right smell brings a reward. For them, training can be like a game. We also give them time to rest and play.

Interviewer: How long does the training take?

Trainer: It takes many months. We train the rats step by step. First, they learn to find the smell in simple exercises. Later, they practise in larger areas. Before they start working in the field, they must show that they can find the right smell again and again.

Interviewer: What happens when the rats are ready for field training?

Trainer: We take them to safe training areas. We teach them to search the ground and look for the smell of TNT. A trainer walks with the rat and watches it carefully. The rat wears a special harness and works on a leash. We always follow safety rules.

Interviewer: How does a rat show that it has found a landmine?

Trainer: When the rat smells TNT, it stops at that place and scratches the ground. This is its signal. The trainer sees the signal and marks the place. The rat does not touch or move the landmine.

Interviewer: How do you know that the rat has found the right place?

Trainer: We watch the rat very carefully. We also train it to give the correct signal when it smells TNT. We check its work during training. The rats must learn to find the smell correctly and give a clear signal. This is very important because people depend on our work.

Interviewer: Are the rats safe when they search for landmines?

Trainer: Yes, the rats are very light, so they cannot set off most landmines. They also work with trained people who follow safety rules. However, the whole team must be careful. We never allow visitors to walk into an area that has not been made safe.

Interviewer: What happens after a rat finds a landmine?

---

Trainer: First, the trainer marks the place. Then the rat continues its work with the team. Later, trained mine-clearance workers check the marked area. They remove or destroy the landmine safely. The rat never has to do this dangerous work.

Interviewer: Can the rats find every landmine?

Trainer: No, we cannot say that a rat will find every landmine. Rats are very good at finding the smell of explosives, but we must always check their work. We use trained people and special methods to make sure that we find as many landmines as possible.

Interviewer: How do you know if a rat is good at its job?

Trainer: We check how well it finds the right smell. We also watch how it works and how it behaves. A good working rat follows the training and gives the correct signal. If a rat has problems, we practise with it again.

Interviewer: How do you care for the rats every day?

Trainer: We give them good food and clean water. They live in clean cages with places to rest. We check their health and take them to a vet when they need help. We also give them time to sleep, play and spend time with other rats. Healthy rats can learn and work better.

Interviewer: What happens when a rat gets old?

Trainer: Rats cannot work forever. When a rat is too old to work, it can stop working and enjoy its life. We continue to care for it. These rats help people for many years, so they deserve good care.

Interviewer: Can these rats help people in other ways?

Trainer: Yes. Some rats learn to find signs of diseases, such as tuberculosis. They smell samples from people and help us find samples that may contain the disease. Doctors can then check the results and help patients get treatment. The rats can help us find some cases more quickly.

Interviewer: What makes you proud of your work?

Trainer: I am proud when our rats help make an area safer. Landmines can hurt or kill people many years after a war ends. When we find them, people can use their land more safely. Children can play, and farmers can work in their fields with less danger.

Interviewer: Can visitors in Siem Reap learn about the rats?

Trainer: Yes. Visitors can learn about our work and see how the rats train. They can learn why we use rats and how we teach them to find landmines. It is a special experience because the rats are small, but their work can make a big difference.

Interviewer: What would you like visitors to remember after their visit?

Trainer: I would like them to remember that rats can help people in surprising ways. Our rats need good training, patience and care. They cannot do everything alone. Trainers, mine-clearance workers and other experts work together with them. Together, we can help make communities safer.

Interviewer: Thank you very much for telling us about your work.

Trainer: You are welcome! Thank you for your interest in our rats and their important work.

##################

True or false

1. The rats wear a special harness and work on a leash.
2. APOPO trains rats only to find landmines, not diseases.
3. The trainers choose young rats that are healthy and active.
4. When a rat finds a landmine, it removes it from the ground.
5. The rats learn to find the smell of TNT by getting food as a reward.
6. Visitors can watch the rats train in Siem Reap.
7. The rats work without people watching them.
8. When rats get too old to work, APOPO continues to care for them.
9. The rats can find every landmine without any further checks.
10. Trainers use food and praise to help the rats learn.
11. Rats are small and light, so they do not set off most landmines.
12. The rats learn to find TNT in just a few days.
13. Mine-clearance workers check the places marked by the rats.
14. The rats never need time to rest or play.
15. Some rats help find samples that may contain tuberculosis.
16. The trainer marks the place when a rat gives the correct signal.
17. The rats learn to find landmines by watching other rats work.
18. Finding landmines can help farmers use their fields more safely.
19. The rats live in dirty cages and do not see a vet.
20. The trainers repeat exercises many times to help the rats learn.

___________________________

Answer key

1 T, 2 F, 3 T, 4 F, 5 T, 6 T, 7 F, 8 T, 9 F, 10 T, 11 T,
12 F, 13 T, 14 F, 15 T, 16 T, 17 F, 18 T, 19 F, 20 T
####################

Multiple-choice questions

1. What is David’s job?

• A. He trains dogs.
• B. He works in a hospital.
• C. He trains rats.

2. What is TNT?

• A. Rat food
• B. An explosive
• C. A training game

3. What reward does a rat get for finding the right smell?

• A. Food
• B. A new cage
• C. More time to sleep

4. Which rats do trainers choose?

• A. The biggest rats
• B. Rats with dark fur
• C. Healthy, active rats

5. How do rats learn to find TNT?

• A. By watching films
• B. By repeating exercises
• C. By following visitors

6. What does a rat wear in the field?

• A. A harness
• B. A helmet
• C. A backpack

7. What does a rat do when it finds TNT?

• A. It barks.
• B. It carries the landmine away.
• C. It scratches the ground.

8. Why are rats useful for finding landmines?

• A. They can fly.
• B. They smell very well.
• C. They see underground.

9. What happens if a rat does not find the right smell?

• A. It gets no reward.
• B. It goes home.
• C. It gets extra food.

10. Who removes landmines?

• A. Visitors
• B. The rats
• C. Trained workers

11. How long does training take?

• A. One week
• B. Many months
• C. Two days

12. What happens if a rat has problems during training?

• A. It gets a new job.
• B. It stops eating.
• C. The trainer practises with it again.

13. What do rats need every day?

• A. Clean water
• B. A large field
• C. New toys

14. What happens when a rat gets too old to work?

• A. It leaves APOPO forever.
• B. It receives care.
• C. It must find another job.

15. What else can some APOPO rats help to find?

• A. Lost animals
• B. Underground water
• C. Tuberculosis

16. Why do rats need time to rest and play?

• A. To stay healthy
• B. To avoid all training
• C. To remove landmines

17. What happens after a trainer marks a place?

• A. The rat removes the landmine.
• B. Workers check the place.
• C. Visitors enter the area.

18. Why must trainers check the rats‘ work?

• A. Rats need more food.
• B. Rats cannot smell TNT.
• C. Rats may miss some landmines.

19. How can removing landmines help farmers?

• A. It makes their land safer.
• B. It gives them new animals.
• C. It makes their fields larger.

20. What is an important message from David?

• A. Rats can do every job alone.
• B. Rats can help people.
• C. Only large animals can help people.

_____________________________

Answer key

1 C, 2 B, 3 A, 4 C, 5 B, 6 A, 7 C, 8 B, 9 A, 10 C, 11 B,
12 C, 13 A, 14 B, 15 C, 16 A, 17 B, 18 C, 19 A, 20 B
#####################

Find the reason – complete each sentence with a reason from the interview. Use your own words

1. Rats are useful for finding landmines because …….

YOU ADD:
……..they have a very good sense of smell and are small and light.

2. Trainers give rats food when they find the right smell because …

3. Trainers must watch the rats carefully because …

4. Rats need time to rest and play because …

5. People must not enter an unsafe area because …

6. Mine-clearance workers check the marked places because …

7. Trainers choose young, healthy rats because …

8. Trainers repeat the same exercises many times because …

9. Rats do not touch or move landmines because …

10. The trainers must follow safety rules because …

11. Rats need clean water and good food because …

12. Trainers take old rats out of work because …

13. Some rats help find signs of tuberculosis because …

14. Finding landmines makes life safer for farmers because …

15. APOPO uses trained people as well as rats because …

____________________________

Correct version:

1. Rats are useful for finding landmines because they have a very good sense of smell and are small and light.

2. Trainers give rats food when they find the right smell because the rats learn that the right smell brings a reward.

3. Trainers must watch the rats carefully because they need to see when a rat finds the right smell and gives a signal.

4. Rats need time to rest and play because they need time to relax and stay healthy.

5. People must not enter an unsafe area because landmines can hurt or kill them.

6. Mine-clearance workers check the marked places because they must find and safely remove or destroy the landmines.

7. Trainers choose young, healthy rats because they want rats that are active and like to learn.

8. Trainers repeat the same exercises many times because the rats need practice to learn the right smell.

9. Rats do not touch or move landmines because this dangerous work is done by trained mine-clearance workers.

10. The trainers must follow safety rules because landmines are dangerous and the whole team must be careful.

11. Rats need clean water and good food because healthy rats can learn and work better.

12. Trainers take old rats out of work because rats cannot work forever and need to enjoy their lives when they get old.

13. Some rats help find signs of tuberculosis because they can smell samples that may contain the disease.

14. Finding landmines makes life safer for farmers because they can work in their fields with less danger.

15. APOPO uses trained people as well as rats because the rats cannot do everything alone and people must check their work.

###################

Match the sentence halves

Sentence beginnings

1. Rats have a very good sense of smell, so …
2. When a rat finds the right smell, …
3. Trainers choose young rats because …
4. Rats are very light, so …
5. During training, the rats get food when …
6. When a rat finds a landmine, …
7. After the trainer marks a place, …
8. Old rats can stop working, but …
9. Some rats can help doctors because …
10. Farmers can work more safely when …

Sentence endings

A. … trained workers check the marked area.

B. … they smell samples that may contain tuberculosis.

C. … they can learn new things.

D. … they do not set off most landmines.

E. … landmines have been found and removed.

F. … it receives a small piece of food.

G. … they can find smells that people may not notice easily.

H. … they can still receive good care.

I. … the rat stops and scratches the ground.

J. … they find the smell of TNT.

________________________

Answer key:

1–G, 2–F, 3–C, 4–D, 5–J, 6–I, 7–A, 8–H, 9–B, 10–E

##################

###################

##################

################

Please use the box below
to write your feedback.
Only I can read it.
It is not public.

Please tell me:

• Are the texts and exercises OK?
• Are the topics OK?
• Is the level OK?
• Is it too easy or too difficult?
• tIs it oo short, too long?
• Do you want texts about other topics?

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback.

##################

##################

##################

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at