Are Baiji extinct?

By Kong Fusheng

Gaochun Senior Middle School

Curriculum focus:

Cultural awareness:

Animals are our loyal friends. We should try our best to protect them.

Reading and writing skills :

Train students’ reading skills such as skimming ,scanning and so on. Learn to write a position paper.

A lot of animals are endangered. Do you know what animals are the most endangered ones? Give some examples.

1. Lead-in

北部白犀牛 (Sumatran rhinocerous)/ 白鳍豚 (Baiji) / 苏门答腊虎 / 奥里诺科鳄鱼 / 僧海豹 (monachus-monachus ormonkseal) / 小嘴狐猴 (Mouse lemur) / 兰 . 坎皮海龟 (L. Kemp’sRidleyTurtle) / 奥瑞纳克鳄鱼 (Orinoco Crocodile) / 泰国猪鼻蝙蝠 (Kittis Hog-nosed Bat)…

北部白犀牛 苏门答腊虎

僧海豹(monachus-monachus or monkseal)

白鳍豚 (Baiji) 泰国猪鼻蝙蝠

(Kittis Hog-nosed Bat)

兰 . 坎皮海龟

(L. Kemp’sRidleyTurtle)

奥里诺科鳄鱼

What is the woman doing? Why doesn’t she touch baiji in the sea? How is she feeling now?

Can we see it dance so beautifully in the future?

2. SkimmingSkim the text and try to find answers tothe questions.

1. For what purpose did the team of scientists go to Yangtze River for a research?

2. How many animals are the most endangered animals in the world?

3. In which year did the numbers of baiji decline to two?

1. For what purpose did the team of scientists go to Yangtze River for a research?

They wanted to find whether there were still baiji left in the Yangtze River.

2. How many animals are the most endangered animals in the world?

12 in all.

3. In which year did the numbers of baiji decline to two?

In 1999.

3. While reading

After reading the text, please answer the following questions.

1. Who should be to blame for the disappearance of baiji?

2. What are the reasons which lead to the fact that baiji are extinct? How do they affect the life of baiji?

1. Who should be to blame for the disappearance of baiji?

Human beings should be to blame as 90% of the deaths are caused by human activities.

2. What are the reasons which lead to the fact that baiji are extinct? How do they affect the life of baiji?

1. Over-fishing has cut the dolphin’s food sources.

2. Dams built along the river and neighboring water-ways have kept them from swimming into and out of their habitats.

3. Waste discharge has seriously polluted the river.

4. Heavy river traffic has greatly reduced their living space.

4. Post-reading: A. Please finish the following exercises designed for the text.

1. What’s the main idea of the passage? A. To introduce us some features of baiji. B. To tell us the fact that a lot of scientists wante

d to find some baiji in the Yangtze River. C. To show us baiji are really lovely. D. To warn us of the extinction of baiji. 2. How does baiji navigate to move forwards? A. Through small eyes. B. Via sonic waves. C. Via its nose. D. With the help of both eyes and sonic waves.

D

D

3.What does coincide with most probably mean? A. happens soon B. happens before C. happens after D. happens at the same time 4. Baiji become extinct because of the following

except _____. A. over-fishing B. air pollution C. heavy river traffic D. dams built along the river.

D

B

5. What’s the feeling of Wang Ding towards the extinction of baiji?

A. He felt disappointed again and he had no courage to accept the fact.

B. He felt it was natural because it was the result of the balance of nature.

C. He felt lonely because no baiji would accompany him any more.

D. He felt regretful because he didn’t try to protect them.

A

B. True of False. 1.The baiji is both shy and blind. 2.The scientists found only a few baiji in th

e river. 3. In the 1980s, people could find baiji in m

any rivers in China. 4. Monk seal became extinct for the lack of

food. 5. In 1997, there were still 13 baiji left in th

e Yangtze River. 6. Baiji’s living space decreased as a resul

t of heavy river traffic.

F

T

F

F

F

T

5. Word power:Please match column A with column B.

A. B. 1. as long as a. to kill something one at a time 2. meanwhile b. on condition that 3. kill off c. a simple fact; example 4. instance d. at the same time 5. decade e. to deteriorate 6. decline f. ten years

1—b 2—d 3—a 4—c 5—f 6—e

6. Open questions:

1. Why did so many scientists from different countries go to search for any sign of the freshwater dolphin?

2. Why does animal become extinct one after another?

3. How can we live in harmony with animals?

7. Writing: Please write a passage entitled , “Which will be the next extinct animal?” within 120 words. Reference points: 1. The relationship between animals and human

beings. 2. Why have so many animals disappeared in

the world? 3. Who should be responsible for it? 4. Why can’t we live in harmony with animals? 5. If we don’t take measures to protect them,

maybe we will become extinct in the near future.

Please try our best to protect the living environment of animals and make sure we are in harmony with them. Let’s take action now!

Thank you!

1. The price has been reduced by 21%. 2. She refused to accept their invitation. 3. Now testing on animals is regarded to be crue

l. 4. He remained silent until his lawyer arrived. 5. Babies rely entirely on others for food. 6. The song reminded me of my childhood. 7. I still remember Grandpa playing with us. 8. Raise your hands if you know the right answer. 9. Medicine should be kept out of the reach of ch

ildren. 10. The couple often quarrel with each other abo

ut/ over money.

1. Someone robbed Lily of her diamond. 2. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy

of our country. 3. Our gas ran out on the way. We ran out of gas on t

he way. 4. It’s said that the singer is a spy. 5. He can’t resist showing off his new car. 6. I got rid of all old furniture. 7. The teacher was very satisfied with your plan. 8. I bought the same cellphone as yours. 9. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C. 10. The police were searching the room for the top s

ecret file.