SeaWorld - Dances with Dolphins (B1)

A Before you start

Answer the questions with a partner.
1. What do you know about dolphins?
2. Do you like them? Why (not)?
3. Have you ever been to a marine park like SeaWorld?
4. If so, what did you think of it?
5. What other animals can you usually see at a marine park?
B Read and answer
Read the main article and the information boxes and answer the questions.
1. What is Robert Trejos job at SeaWorld?
2. What animals does he work with apart from dolphins?
3. How long has he been interested in animals?
4. What kind of person do you need to be to do this job?
5. In what way is working with animals similar to working with children?
6. What does Robert particularly like about his job?
7. Why are some people against places like SeaWorld?
8. How does Robert defend what he does?
9. Does he think the animals enjoy their training?
10. What are his working hours like?
C Listen and answer (Optional)
N.B. This interview is graded as C1, so dont be discouraged if you find it difficult. Try to understand the main
points.

Read these statements. Then listen to the interview with Robert Trejo, without reading, and choose
the correct answer.
1. Part of Robert Trejos job is teaching other animal trainers.
a) True.
b) False.
c) The interviewer doesnt say.
2. Trainers use whistles
a) only with dolphins.
b) only with whales.
c) with dolphins and whales.
3. They communicate with sea lions
a) in the same way.
b) in a different way.
c) Robert doesnt say.
4. When the animals touch the trainers hand, the trainer
a) indicates they have done a good job.
b) gives them fish. c) does both of these things.
5. The trainers teach the animals to jump
a) by throwing fish in the air.
b) by holding a pole in the air.
c) by placing a pole in the
water.
D Listen, read and check your answers
Listen to the interview while reading the text.(If you did Exercise C, check your answers while
reading.)

E Learn it! Use it!

Complete these sentences with words from the glossary. (You may have to adapt the expression in
some way; e.g. change from plural to singular.)
1. Whales and dolphins are both ________ .
2. Carol likes her new job because it isn't too ________ .
3. We realised the machine wasn't working properly because it started making a strange ________
noise.
4. Metal detectors have been installed to counter the ________ of terrorism.
5. Yesterday one of our classmates was suspended for bad ________ .
6. If you go swimming in the sea in winter, you should wear a ________ .
F Ready for PET? (Paper 1, Reading: Part 5)
Choose the correct word in brackets for each space.
Marine parks have been popular 1_________ (from/of/for/since) almost a century. Marineland of
Florida, 2_________ (that/was/has/which) opened in 1938, was one of the 3_________
(earlier/earliest/last/latest). Originally it was called Marine Studios and was founded 4_________
(as/for/like/how) an oceanarium that could be used 5_________ (to/for/when/in) film marine life.
Marine parks 6_________ (such/as/like/how) Marineland and SeaWorld now attract millions of
visitors 7_________ (each/for/all/at) year. In some of them, it is 8_________
(allowed/permitted/possible/able) for children of five upwards to swim and interact with dolphins in
their 9_________ (deep/profound/high/low) water tank, and 10_________ (also/including/even/only)
children as young as three can touch and feed the dolphins in the shallow water tanks.
G Write about it
Your teacher has asked you to write a composition on the following subject:
"The Pros and Cons of Marine Parks"
Write a composition of about 150 words in which you look at the arguments for and against marine
parks and then give your own opinion.

Answers
B Read and answer
1. He's an animal trainer. 2. He also works with whales and sea lions. 3. Since he was a child. 4.
You need to love animals and to be able to swim. You need a lot of patience and an understanding
of child psychology. You also need to be an extrovert. 5. A lot of the work is about building
relationships and trust. 6. He likes interacting with the animals./He likes spending time in the
water with the animals and learning about them. 7. Because they don't think animals should be
made to perform for our entertainment. 8. He says everything the animals do at SeaWorld is what
they are capable of doing in their natural environment. 9. Yes, he says they have fun and they play
and exercise. 10. They're long.
D Listen, read and check your answers
1. a 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. b
E Learn it! Use it!
1. mammals 2. demanding 3. high-pitched 4. threat 5. behaviour 6. wetsuit
F Ready for PET?
1. for 2. which 3. earliest 4. as 5. to 6. like 7. each 8. possible 9. deep 10. even