Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Level 1
1

Elementary

Key words

Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text. optimistic vet calm breed anxious bowl pessimistic emotional bark research

1. the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts _________________________ (para 1) 2. If a person or an animal is _________________________, they are quiet and not angry, shocked or afraid. (para 1) 3. If you are _________________________, you are hopeful about the future and expect that good things will happen. (para 1) 4. A _________________________ is the short, loud sound that a dog makes. (para 1) 5. If you are _________________________, you always think the worst thing will happen in every situation. (para 1) 6. If you are _________________________, you are worried because you think that something bad might happen. (para 2) 7. The word _________________________ means related to feelings. (para 2) 8. A _________________________ is a doctor for animals. (para 3) 9. A _________________________ is a particular type of dog, for example, a German shepherd, a rottweiler or a poodle. (para 4) 10. A _________________________ is a round container used for eating, serving or preparing food. (para 5)

Find the information

Find the following information in the text as quickly as possible. 1. Where did the researchers study dogs behaviour? 2. How many dogs are there in the UK? 3. How many dogs did the research team study? 4. How old were the dogs? 5. How long did the researchers play with each dog? 6. How long did they leave the dogs alone for?

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2010 NEWS LESSONS / Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists / Elementary

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Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Level 1

Elementary
other. When the dogs had learned the difference, the scientists tested the animals mood by placing the bowls in different positions in the middle of the room, for example and recording how quickly each dog went to the bowl. 6 The dogs that were more anxious in the first test were slower to go to food bowls placed in or near the middle of the room. This suggested that they expected to find the bowl empty. The calmer dogs ran to the food bowls, suggesting that they were more optimistic, according to the research. We know that happy people are more likely to react positively in a difficult situation, Mendl said. Our study shows that dogs are similar that an optimistic dog is less likely to be anxious when left alone than a more pessimistic dog.
Guardian News & Media 2010 First published in The Guardian, 11/10/10

Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Ian Sample 11 October, 2010 1 Many pet owners believe that some dogs have a more pessimistic view of life than others and now scientists have confirmed that this is true. Researchers at Bristol University have studied how dogs behave when they are alone. They found that dogs that were usually calm when left alone also had an optimistic attitude. On the other hand, dogs that barked and destroyed furniture were more pessimistic, according to the research. 2 Michael Mendl, head of animal welfare and behaviour at the university, says that if a dog is anxious when it is left alone by its owner, its behaviour will be pessimistic. The research shows that the problems some dogs cause when they are left alone could be a sign of deeper emotional problems that might need special treatment. 3 Owners react in different ways to anxious behaviour in dogs. Some are very worried, some take the dog to a dogs home, but others think the dog is happy or just being nasty, said Mendl. Some of these dogs could have emotional problems and owners should talk to their vets about possible treatments, he added. Around half of the ten million dogs in the UK may be anxious when they are left alone, the researchers said. 4 Mendls team studied 24 animals at two dog homes in the UK. Half of the dogs were male and they were different breeds. They were from nine months to nine years old. Researchers began the study by going to a room and playing with each dog for 20 minutes. They returned the next day, but this time they left the dog alone for five minutes. They recorded the animals behaviour with a video camera. They used the film to decide how anxious each dog was. 5 A day or two later, they trained the dogs to walk to a food bowl that was full when placed at one end of a room and empty when placed at the

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2010 NEWS LESSONS / Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists / Elementary

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N T O FR BE C O DO O M W P W N IA EB LO B SI A L TE DE E D

Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Level 1

Elementary

3 Comprehension check
Match the beginnings with the endings to make sentences about the text. 1. The researchers found that 2. The study shows that dogs 3. Dog owners 4. The less anxious dogs 5. The researchers played with the dogs and a. ran to the food bowls. b. then left them alone for five minutes. c. become anxious when they are left alone. d. anxious dogs are more pessimistic than calm dogs. e. react in different ways when dogs are anxious.

4 Chunks
Rearrange the words to make phrases from the text. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. the on hand other old to nine years months from nine for alone minutes five two or day later a to research according the to less anxious be likely

5 Comparatives
Complete the table. adjective 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. deep pessimistic anxious slow calm optimistic comparative

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2010 NEWS LESSONS / Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists / Elementary

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N T O FR BE C O DO O M W P W N IA EB LO B SI A L TE DE E D

Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Level 1

Elementary

6 Word stress
Put these words from the text into one of the two groups according to their stress. confirm record(verb) alone suggest research likely anxious worried treatment expect empty welfare

0 o

o 0

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2010 NEWS LESSONS / Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists / Elementary

CA O N T O FR BE C O DO O M W P W N IA EB LO B SI A L TE DE E D

Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists

Level 1 KEY

Elementary

1 Key words
1. research 2. calm 3. optimistic 4. bark 5. pessimistic 6. anxious 7. emotional 8. vet 9. breed 10. bowl

4 Chunks
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. on the other hand from nine months to nine years old alone for five minutes a day or two later according to the research less likely to be anxious

4 Comparatives
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. deeper more pessimistic more anxious slower calmer more optimistic

2 Find the information

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bristol University ten million 24 from nine months to nine years old 20 minutes five minutes

5 Word stress
0 o o 0 confirm alone research record suggest expect

3 Comprehension check
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. d c e a b

anxious treatment empty likely worried welfare

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2010

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NEWS LESSONS / Dogs are either optimists or pessimists, claim scientists / Elementary

O FR BE C O DO O M W P W N IA EB LO B SI A L TE DE E D