Audio Time: 3
min 9 sec
Level: Intermediate and up
Vocabulary: To help
learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might
be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the
lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story
(in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).
Definitions
are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s
Dictionary
Pound: a unit
of weight that is equal to 0.4536 kilograms
To examine: to look
at (something) closely and carefully in order to learn more about it, to find
problems, etc.
Dilemma: a
situation in which you have to make a difficult choice.
To wash
ashore: to be carried by the movement of water to the shore.
Whale: an often
very large animal that lives in the ocean and that is a mammal rather than a
fish. See a picture.
To decay: to be
slowly destroyed by natural processes : to be slowly broken down by the natural
processes that destroy a dead plant or body.
Plenty: a large
number or amount of something : a number or amount of something that is enough
for a particular purpose.
Fascination: to cause
(someone) to be very interested in something or someone.
Stench: a very bad smell.
Carcass: the body of a dead animal.
Beached: When a large ocean animal, such as a whale, comes out
of the water onto land and is unable to return to the water.
To tow: to pull
(a vehicle) behind another vehicle with a rope or chain.
To bury: to put
(a dead person or animal) in a grave.
Landfill:
an
area where waste is buried under the ground.
TNT: dynamite; a very powerful explosive.
Seagull: a large,
common, usually gray and white bird that lives near the ocean. See
picture.
Timeframe: a period
of time that is used or planned for a particular action or project.
Nature to
take its course: to allow something to happen without trying to
control it.
Critters:
(informal, US) a usually small creature or animal.
Niche: an
environment that has all the things that a particular plant or animal needs in
order to live.
Discussion
questions:
1. Do you think they picked the right option to solve their
problem?
2. Why do you think whales beach themselves?
3. What’s a difficult problem you had in your life and how did
you solve it?
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